(fyoor-OH-seh-myde)
Furosemide (Lasix®) is a medication known as a diuretic. This medication acts on the kidneys to increase the amount of urine that is made. It removes water from the body and can help treat conditions involving the heart including edema and high blood pressure. It can be given by mouth as either a tablet or liquid or occasionally given by IV injection.
Show All- Contact your doctor if you give your child too much medicine.
- Check with your doctor before taking if your child is allergic to sulfonamides.
- You may be instructed to eat foods that are high in potassium (i.e., bananas) while taking this medication.
- Notify your physician if you become dehydrated or extremely thirsty while taking this medication.
- Give only the amount prescribed by your child's doctor.
- Furosemide can be given once or twice a day. If it is given once a day it should be given in the morning around breakfast time. If it is given twice a day, the first dose should be given early around breakfast time and the second dose with the evening meal (preferably before 6pm.) By giving it early in the evening, this will help decrease your child's need to go to the bathroom during the night.
- If giving your child a liquid, carefully measure each dose using an oral syringe or medicine spoon.
- If too much medicine is taken by accident, call the Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC), 513-636-5111 or 1-800-222-1222, or call your child's doctor immediately.
- Keep this medication out of the reach of children.
If you have been instructed to give this medicine to your child on a regular schedule and miss a dose, give it as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to the regular dosing schedule. Do NOT give double the dose to catch up.
- Dizziness
- Increased skin sensitivity to the sun causing the child to possibly burn more easily
- Loss of potassium. (The doctor may want to draw blood periodically to check the potassium level.)
- Difficulty breathing
- Skin rashes
- Muscle cramps
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Tablets: 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg
Liquid: 40 mg per 5 mL and 10 mg per 1 mL
Injectable
For additional information on this or any Health Topic, please call the Family Resource Center, 513-636-7606, or your pediatrician.
