Furosemide belongs to the class of medications called diuretics. It is used to treat edema (fluid retention) that occurs with Congestive Heart Failure and disorders of the liver, kidney, and lung. It is also used to control mild to moderate high blood pressure. It may be used in combination with other medications to treat more severe high blood pressure.

Furosemide works by increasing the amount of urine produced and excreted, and by removing excessive water (edema) from the body. The tablet form begins to work within an hour of being taken and usually lasts for 4 to 6 hours. The injectable form begins to work within ½ hour and lasts approximately 2 hours.

Teva Furosemide may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Teva Furosemide may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Teva Furosemide may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Teva Furosemide for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Teva Furosemide, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Teva Furosemide without consulting your doctor.

Do not give Teva Furosemide to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take Teva Furosemide if their doctor has not prescribed it.

The recommended adult starting dose for treating edema is 40 mg to 80 mg. If a satisfactory result occurs within 6 hours, the dose may be decreased or kept the same. If edema continues longer than 6 hours, the dose may be increased by 20 mg to 40 mg.

The recommended adult daily dose of furosemide ranges from 20 mg to 200 mg. Once the effective single dose has been determined, it may be taken 1 to 3 times a day.

When treating hypertension (high blood pressure), the dose of furosemide starts at 20 mg to 40 mg twice a day. Doses of 40 mg twice a day are generally considered the maximum dose to treat high blood pressure. If blood pressure hasn't been reduced enough with this dose, other medications may be added to further reduce blood pressure.

For children, the dose of furosemide used is based on body weight. The recommended dose is up to 2 mg per kilogram of body weight each day, divided into 2 to 4 equal doses.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones above, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Teva Furosemide exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Teva Furosemide at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Teva Furosemide. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Teva Furosemide with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Teva Furosemide. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• blurred vision
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position
• increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight
• Dry Mouth
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• sweating
• thirst
• tiredness
• vomiting

Although most of these side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• abdominal pain
• blurred vision
• difficulty concentrating
• fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
• muscle spasms (particularly in small children)
• painful or difficult urination
• poor weight gain (when given to premature babies)
• ringing or buzzing in ears or any loss of hearing
• signs of dehydration (e.g., confusion, dry mouth, thirst, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting)
• signs of liver problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools)
• skin rash or Hives and itching
• symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g., frequent urination, increased thirst, excessive eating, unexplained weight loss, poor wound healing, infections, fruity breath odour)
• unexpected muscle pain or weakness
• unusual infections (Fever or chills, severe diarrhea, shortness of breath, prolonged dizziness, headache, stiff neck, weight loss, or listlessness)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• signs of a blood clot in blood vessels, such as sudden vision change or dizziness, chest pain, pain and swelling in one leg muscle
• signs of decreased kidney function (e.g., trouble breathing, swelling, fast or irregular heartbeat, confusion, decreased urination, decreased appetite)
• signs of pancreatitis (e.g., abdominal pain on the upper left side, back pain, nausea, fever, chills, rapid heartbeat, swollen abdomen)
• signs of a serious allergic reaction (i.e., abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or swelling of the face and throat)
• signs of a severe skin reaction (i.e., rash, blisters, or red splotches on skin, blisters in mouth, eyes, ears, nose, eye irritation, swelling of eyelids, and flu-like symptoms)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Teva Furosemide.

20 mg
Each white, round, scored tablet contains 20 mg of furosemide.

40 mg
Each yellow, round scored tablet contains 40 mg of furosemide.

80 mg
Each yellow, scored, elongated tablet contains 80 mg of furosemide.