Health Library

Furosemide (By injection)

Furosemide (fure-OH-se-mide)

Treats fluid retention (edema) and swelling caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease, kidney disease, or other medical conditions. Also treats blockage caused by excess amount of fluid in patients with heart failure. This medicine is a diuretic ("water pill").

Brand Name(s):

Furosemide Novaplus, PremierPro Rx Furosemide

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given through a needle placed into one of your veins, or as a shot into a muscle or under your skin, usually in the stomach area.
• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.
• You may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• Your doctor will give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.
• To use the prefilled cartridge with the single-use on-body infusor:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
  • You will be shown the body areas where the on-body infusor can be worn. Use a different body area each time you wear the infusor. Keep track of the application site to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections. Do not apply into areas where the skin is bruised, hardened, irritated, red, tender, or broken.
  • Do not apply lotions oils, or ointments to the stomach area. Avoid putting the on-body infusor where belts, waistbands, or other types of clothing that may rub against, disturb, or dislodge. Application site should be hairless or nearly hairless. You may shave the skin or cut the hair.
  • Check the liquid in the prefilled cartridge. It should be clear to slightly yellow. Do not use the cartridge if the liquid is cloudy or discolored.
  • Do not use if the packaging is opened, dropped, broken, or damaged. Do not use the medicine within 12 inches of mobile phones, tablets, computers, or wireless devices (including TV remote control, bluetooth keyboard or mouse).
  • Do not touch the blue start button until the on-body infusor is on the skin. Do not touch or fully open the cartridge holder until you are ready. Do not remove until the injection is complete (indicator turns solid green light, beeping sound, and white plunger rod filling the window).
  • Do not shower, bathe, swim, or exercise that will make you sweat while wearing the on-body infusor. Allow the medicine to deliver for at least 5 hours.
  • If the on-body infusor falls off, call your doctor right away. Do not reapply or reuse it. Do not apply new on-body infusor unless your doctor tells you to.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep the medicine in its original carton until you are ready to use it. Protect it from light.
• Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Some medicines can affect how furosemide works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Bepridil, chloral hydrate, cisplatin, cyclosporine, digoxin, indomethacin, licorice, lithium, methotrexate, norepinephrine, phenytoin
  • Blood pressure medicine (including ACE inhibitors)
  • Blood thinner (including warfarin)
  • Laxatives
  • Medicine to treat infection (including amikacin, cephalosporin, gentamicin)
  • Other diuretic (water pill), including ethacrynic acid
  • Salicylates (including aspirin)
  • Steroid medicine
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, gout, hearing problems, low blood pressure, low blood volume, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), electrolyte imbalance, enlarged prostate, low protein in the blood, bladder problems or trouble urinating, or an allergy to sulfa drugs.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood)
  • Ear or hearing problems
  • Hyperglycemia (increase blood sugar)
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
• This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.
• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash
• Blood in the urine, lower back pain, side pain, or sharp back pain just below the ribs
• Confusion, body weakness, and muscle twitching
• Decrease in how much or how often you urinate
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, muscle cramps, or problems urinating
• Fever, chills, cough, or pain in the side or lower back
• Hearing loss or ringing in the ears
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
• Severe diarrhea or stomach pain
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness
• Yellow skin or eyes

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Blurred vision
• Constipation
• Headache
• Mild skin rash
• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the shot or needle is placed
• Sensation of spinning

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 9/6/2024