Furosemide

Furosemide is a loop diuretic that has diuretic, natriuretic and hypotensive effects. This is a fast-acting diuretic, the main part of the effects of which is associated with the blockade of reabsorption of chloride and sodium ions in the ascending limb of the loop of Henley. The drug also affects the convoluted tubules of the kidneys, and this effect is not associated with inhibition of carbonic anhydrase or antialdosterone activity. By reducing the volume of circulating blood, lowering blood pressure and reducing the associated load on the myocardium, furosemide improves the functional class of heart failure (both acute and chronic). This medication reduces peripheral edema, pulmonary congestion, pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary artery and right atrium wedge pressure, and left ventricular filling pressure. The diuretic effect when taking furosemide orally develops within the first hour, the duration of the effect is on average 2-3 hours.

Furosemide Uses

Indications for the use of furosemide include edema syndrome in chronic heart failure of II-III degree; liver cirrhosis (portal hypertension syndrome); nephrotic syndrome; acute left ventricular failure (cardiac asthma, pulmonary edema); cerebral edema; arterial hypertension; hypercalcemia. The drug is widely used in the treatment of acute poisoning with iodine, bromine and fluorine salts; it can be used for eclampsia, as well as for forced diuresis in some other cases.

Unfortunately, quite often furosemide, like some other diuretics, is used for weight loss (mainly by young women). However, furosemide only removes electrolytes and water from the body, not fat, so it actually makes it impossible to lose weight. Although body weight is certainly reduced, this is an extremely bad practice. After all, furosemide is a medicine that has its own clearly defined indications for use and side effects and should be prescribed by a doctor. [1]

The mechanism of weight loss on furosemide is simply water loss. A person does not lose fat, he only loses water, and this is a very temporary effect. But a powerful psychological dependence is formed, developing at the sight of a rapid decrease in the number on the scales. Moreover, with long-term use of furosemide, a dependence develops in the kidneys themselves, that is, a physiological dependence. If people who wanted to lose weight initially started drinking one or two tablets a day, soon they were already drinking 6-10 tablets a day, otherwise the kidneys would stop releasing urine on their own. This is fraught with the development of irreversible kidney damage. [2]

Furosemide Side Effects

The most common side effects from taking furosemide include decreased blood pressure, orthostatic hypotension, collapse, tachycardia, arrhythmias, and decreased circulating blood volume. Patients may develop hypovolemia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia and hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, metabolic alkalosis (changes in the acid-base balance of the internal environment associated with the accumulation of hydroxyl anions OH- and “alkalization” of the blood). Quite often, patients report dizziness and headache. Paresthesia, apathy, adynamia, weakness, lethargy, drowsiness, and confusion occur less frequently. Decreased appetite, dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, and in some cases cholestatic jaundice and pancreatitis may develop.

The most common allergic reactions are skin allergic reactions, dermatitis, itching, photosensitivity.

There are isolated reports of hearing and vision impairment.

The urinary system may respond to furosemide with oliguria, acute urinary retention (in patients with prostatic hypertrophy), interstitial nephritis, hematuria, and decreased potency.

From the hematopoietic system, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, and aplastic anemia may develop.

When using the drug simultaneously with cardiac glycosides, the risk of developing glycoside intoxication increases, and when combined with glucocorticoids, the risk of hypokalemia increases. The drug potentiates the effect of curare-like drugs. When prescribing the drug simultaneously with aminoglycosides or cephalosporins, it is possible to increase their concentration in the blood plasma, which can lead to the development of nephro- and ototoxic effects. With the simultaneous use of furosemide and other antihypertensive drugs, the hypotensive effect is potentiated.

This should not be forgotten during treatment. Particularly careful should be patients who, by occupation, are associated with precise mechanisms and technology, because taking furosemide can cause such a strong decrease in blood pressure, which is fraught with darkening of the eyes and tinnitus. This could result in a life-threatening situation.

Furosemide Dosage

The dosage of furosemide is determined by the doctor. Sometimes the dosage may change during treatment. The instructions for the drug indicate that it is recommended to take the medicine in the morning before meals. For an adult, the initial dosage is 20-40 milligrams, but later, if the effect is insufficient, the dose can be increased to 160 milligrams per day. The break between doses should be about 6 hours.

Buy Furosemide Online

The most convenient way to buy furosemide in 2024 is to place an order in an online pharmacy. When ordering online, the choice of medications with the active ingredient furosemide is much wider. This applies to both dosages and the range of generics.

By purchasing furosemide online, the patient has the opportunity to choose from a large number of generics from various manufacturers, saves time and has the opportunity to carefully study the instructions for the drug of interest. In addition, the patient can compare offers from different pharmacies and suppliers using aggregator sites.

Buying furosemide online allows you to save in some cases up to 80% of the cost of the medicine.

Can You Buy Furosemide over the Counter

How to buy furosemide without a prescription is a question that is often asked by users of various online resources. Unfortunately, most of these are people who want to purchase these medications for the purpose of losing weight. Furosemide has its own strict indications, and only a doctor can prescribe this medicine. If you take furosemide due to CHF or refractory hypertension, then this is normal. If you take furosemide for weight loss, you will most likely get irreversible consequences. If you are taking furosemide for medical reasons (this mainly applies to long-term therapy, in particular in the case of hypertension or chronic heart failure), then there is nothing seditious in buying this medicine without a doctor’s prescription. It is best to do this over the counter in large international and foreign national online pharmacies that are registered in the jurisdictions of those countries where prescription requirements are more lenient. First of all, this is India and all furosemide-based drugs that are produced in this country.

References

[1] Abbott, Lisa M., and Jan Kovacic. “The pharmacologic spectrum of furosemide.” Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 18.1 (2008): 26-39. [DOI:10.1111/j.1476-4431.2007.00267.x]

[2] Stason, William B., et al. “Furosemide: a clinical evaluation of its diuretic action.” Circulation 34.5 (1966): 910-920. [doi/10.1161/01.CIR.34.5.910]