Lasix is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of fluid retention (edema) in individuals with congestive heart failure, liver disease or kidney disorder. Lasix may be used alone or with other medications. Lasix belongs to a class of drugs called Diuretics, Loop.
Full Answer
What is congestive heart failure and how can Lasix help?
Congestive heart failure is one of the most common health problems in the United States, impacting approximately 5.7 million people. Lasix, also known by the generic name furosemide, is a diuretic aimed at preventing the body from absorbing too much salt, instead sending it out of the body through urine.
Can Lasix be given by IV?
Presuming the patient is not hypotensive, more than likely that patient will be receiving IV Lasix. When I was a resident, I was taught that if the patient is on Lasix at home, find out their home dosage and just give that IV. At SGH, it seems that many residents will find out the home dosage, double it, and give that dosage IV.
What is the generic name for Lasix?
Lasix Generic name: furosemide (fur OH se mide) Brand name: Lasix, Diaqua-2, Lo-Aqua Drug class: Loop diuretics
What is Lasix used for?
What is Lasix? Lasix (furosemide) is a loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt. This allows the salt to instead be passed in your urine. Lasix is used to treat fluid retention ( edema) in people with congestive heart failure, liver disease, or a kidney disorder such as nephrotic syndrome.
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use Lasix if you are allergic to furosemide, or: 1. if you are unable to urinate.To make sure Lasix is safe for you, tell your docto...
What Happens If I Miss A Dose?
Lasix is sometimes used only once, so you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon...
What Happens If I Overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.Overdose symptoms may include feeling very thirsty or hot, heavy sw...
What Should I Avoid While Taking Lasix?
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.Avoid becomi...
What Other Drugs Will Affect Lasix?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may in...
What other drugs will affect Lasix?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
How should I take Lasix?
Take Lasix exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
How long does Lasix last?
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Throw away any Lasix oral solution (liquid) 90 days after opening the bottle, even if it still contains unused medicine.
What is Lasix water pill?
Lasix (furosemide) is a loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt. This allows the salt to instead be passed in your urine.
How to stop feeling dizzy while taking Lasix?
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall. Avoid becoming dehydrated. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink while you are taking Lasix.
Can you use Lasix if you can't urinate?
You should not use Lasix if you are unable to urinate.
Does Lasix cause rash?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Lasix: (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).
Which loop inhibits Na-K-CI?
Inhibition of Na-K-CI co-transporter in the thick ascending loop of Henle
Why are diuretics used in heart failure?
The use of diuretics is common in patients with heart failure (HF), to relieve the congestive symptoms of HF. Although they are widely used, there are limited data on their ability to modulate HF-related morbidity and mortality. Diuretic efficacy may be limited by adverse neurohormonal activation and by ‘congestion-like’ symptoms. Diuretics are an extremely useful and varied class of agent for the management of hypervolaemic states. This review summarises the basic features of diuretics, including their mechanism of action, indications and adverse effects in heart failure.
What is HF syndrome?
HF is the most common cause of hospitalisation in patients over the age of 65.[2] The main manifestations of the syndrome are symptoms resulting from vascular congestion, such as shortness of breath, abdominal distension, oedema formation and symptoms resulting from low systemic perfusion. HF syndrome is of relevant economic importance and in the ADHERE study signs and symptoms of congestion were the most frequent cause of hospital admission.1 Congestion often develops gradually before admission and many patients may have elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressures even when congestion (dyspnoea, jugular venous distension or oedema)[3] is absent. Diuretic therapy, and especially loop diuretic therapy, are the usual way of managing congestion, especially in volume-overloaded patients.[4] The most commonly used diuretics in HF are loop diuretics, thiazides and potassium-sparing diuretics.
What is the effect of loop diuretics on sodium?
This causes decreased sodium and chloride reabsorption and increased diuresis.[5]
What is HF in medical terms?
Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome defined by the failure of the heart to deliver oxygen at a rate commensurate with the requirements of the metabolising tissues, despite normal filling pressures (or only at the exp ense of increased filling pressure s), [1] secondary to an abnormality of the cardiac structure or function.
Do loop diuretics cause dilation?
Loop diuretics also enhance the synthesis of prostaglandins, which cause renal and venous dilatation. This explains some of the cardiac effects, such as reduction in pulmonary wedge pressure.[6] However, it is important to recognise that the diuretic actions of loop diuretics may be decreased by the concomitant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), possibly because this inhibits renal prostaglandin synthesis. Loop diuretics include furosemide, bumetanide, torsemide and ethacrynic acid.
Is aldosterone elevated in ADHF?
Aldosterone levels are elevated in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) despite the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and beta-blockers.
Is hospice medication against the rules?
Remember that no medication or even treatment is against the rules in hospice. Different agencies will approach things very differently, but some agencies will do more aggressive interventions than others.
Can hospice change plan of care?
What can't happen is for hospice to change the plan of care without alerting, more than likely a nurse manager, so the SNF can update their care plans as well. I have seen some hospice D/C all meds, without cause. Or SEVERAL times I have seen orders from hospice to "stop feeding the patient". We can't accept an order like that. But through collaboration between the hospice agencies, we have seen great improvements in maintaining a continuity of care. And for new hospice nurses, please do not discontinue an antidepressant. It does help them with what they are going through. :heartbeat
Is Lasix a treatment?
Don't think of lasix as "treatment". Think of it as a "comfort measure". If your patient is having crackles, then there is a good chance breathing difficulties are not far behind. Having lasix on board now would, possibly, delay those breathing difficulties and all that can bring. Anxiety and/or aggitation being the hardest to deal with and most patients that have breathing problems will have some level of anxiety, so be ready for that.
Can a PT stop all their meds?
I would always be cautious if a pt has come onto hospice and had all their meds stopped. Our goal is not to stop maintenance therapy or hurry people along to their death. Our goal is comfort, and while pts do sometimes decide they want to stop all their meds, this is a decision that should not be made for a pt, but with them. That is not to say that the nursing home pt on 30 meds should not have some meds d/c'd if they are no longer appropriate for the pts condition.
What is Lasix used for?
Lasix is one of the first lines of treatment used to treat edema in those with congestive heart failure, liver disease or certain kidney disorders as well as high blood pressure. 1. But there is a potential problem with the controversial drug, which is often prescribed for those with chronic congestive heart failure.
How does Lasix work?
Lasix works by encouraging the kidneys to release more fluid, and although the drug works to help reduce fluid surrounding the heart, allowing the heart to pump more effectively, there are serious risk factors. Lasix can leave a patient so dehydrated that electrolytes become imbalanced enough to become deadly.
Does Lasix cause heart failure?
Lasix reduces potassium to dangerous levels, which is a particularly troublesome problem for those with congestive heart failure because it can trigger dangerous, potentially fatal heart arrhythmias. Another issue associated with potassium is a drug called digoxin, which can reach toxic levels if the body does not have enough potassium to help regulate digoxin levels.
Can Lasix be deadly?
Lasix can leave a patient so dehydrated that electrolytes become imbalanced enough to become deadly.
Can you die from Lasix?
A person taking Lasix will already have heart troubles. A failure to recognize Lasix on a list of medications could cause medical errors that put additional pressure on the heart and lungs, leading to death because both organs are forced to work harder.
Is Lasix considered medical malpractice?
However, prescribing a drug that would interact negatively with other medications, such as prescribing drugs that would interact poorly with Lasix, could also be considered medical malpractice, especially if it resulted in fatal heart and/or lung failure.
Can diuretics cause kidney failure?
Multiple studies have shown that diuretics have not resulted in the best results for congestive heart failure, and in the wrong dose, can lead to kidney failure, an increased hospital stay, a shortened life span or sudden death.
How do diuretics help with congestive heart failure?
Diuretics are often an important component of the treatment of congestive heart failure to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of fluid retention . These drugs help keep fluid from building up in the lungs and other tissues by promoting the flow of fluid through the kidneys. Although they are effective in relieving symptoms such as shortness of breath and leg swelling, they have not been demonstrated to positively impact long-term survival.
Why are diuretics administered intravenously?
When hospitalization is required, diuretics are often administered intravenously because the ability to absorb oral diuretics may be impaired, when congestive heart failure is severe. Potential side effects of diuretics include:
What is ACE inhibitor?
ACE inhibitors have been used for the treatment of hypertension for more than 20 years. This class of drugs has also been extensively studied in the treatment of congestive heart failure. These medications block the formation of angiotensin II, a hormone with many potentially adverse effects on the heart and circulation in patients with heart failure. In multiple studies of thousands of patients, these drugs have demonstrated a remarkable improvement of symptoms in patients, prevention of clinical deterioration, and prolongation of survival. In addition, they have been recently been shown to prevent the development of heart failure and heart attacks. The wealth of the evidence supporting the use of these agents in heart failure is so strong that ACE inhibitors should be considered in all patients with heart failure, especially those with heart muscle weakness.
What is the diagnosis of congestive heart failure?
Signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure may include fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations, angina, and edema. Physical examination, patient history, blood tests, and imaging tests are used to diagnose congestive heart failure. Treatment of heart failure consists of lifestyle modification and taking medications to decrease fluid in the body and ease the strain on the heart. The prognosis of a patient with congestive heart failure depends on the stage of the heart failure and the overall condition of the individual.
Is congestive heart failure a chronic condition?
Congestive heart failure is a chronic (ongoing) condition. Discuss all medications, herbs, supplements you are taking with your doctor. Listed are some of the medications used to treat congestive heart failure.
Does digoxin help with heart failure?
Digoxin ( Lanoxin) has been used in the treatment of congestive heart failure for hundreds of years. It is naturally produced by the foxglove flowering plant. Digoxin stimulates the heart muscle to contract more forcefully. It also has other actions, which are not completely understood, that improve congestive heart failure symptoms and can prevent further heart failure. However, a large-scale randomized study failed to demonstrate any effect of digoxin on mortality.
Why do people with CHF need hospitalization?
The commonest cause for hospitalisation in patients with CHF is fluid retention and congestion .[4] Hospitalisation itself is associated with an adverse prognosis, and repeated hospitalisations are associated with increasingly poor survival.[33] Congestion itself, and not just reduced cardiac function, thus appears to be associated with a poor prognosis.
Why is congestion important for HF patients?
Congestion is an important cause of symptoms in patients with HF. The discomfort of swollen legs and ascites precipitates hospitalisation. Congestion is associated with the sensation of breathlessness, particularly when patients develop pulmonary oedema and pleural effusions. Congestion reduces hepatic function, and the congested liver can itself be a source of discomfort. As described above, congestion causes renal dysfunction by reducing the transrenal pressure gradient. Anaemia, which is highly prevalent among HF patients, can be made worse by congestion through dilution, and can further exacerbate symptoms and cardiac dysfunction.[32]
What is the mainstay of management for patients with congestion?
Diuretics are the mainstay of management for patients with congestion. It has become a truism to state that their use is based on empirical judgement and subjective clinical evaluation, rather than evidence-based medicine.
How often is LA pressure taken?
In the HOMEOSTASIS trial, measurements of LA pressure were taken twice daily in 40 patients with advanced HF. After the first 3 months, treatment was personalised based on the readings, which led to a fall in LA pressure (17.6 mmHg in the first 3 months to 14.8 mmHg; P =0.003), the prescription of higher doses of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and beta-blockers, a lesser need for high doses of loop diuretics and improvement in both New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and LVEF.[28]
How does HF affect the kidneys?
The development of peripheral oedema in patients with HF is related to fluid excess. As the heart starts to fail, renal perfusion falls . The kidneys respond by increasing the production of renin, leading to more aldosterone production, which is consequently followed by sodium and water retention.[7] Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is also released,[8,9] further enhancing fluid retention and stimulating thirst. The activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone and AVP systems maintain cardiac preload (more fluids) and afterload (vasoconstriction, mainly due to angiotensin II), thereby maintaining the homeostasis of the cardiovascular system but at a cost of increased systemic venous pressure (VP). The heart itself tends to worsen with time as the failing LV tends to dilate, as does the left atrium, particularly if mitral regurgitation develops. The elevated VP can further reduce renal blood flow as the gradient between mean renal arterial pressure (often itself decreased by the HF process) and VP declines. Glomerular filtration rate falls, enhancing and perpetuating the vicious cycle.[10]
How does chronic fluid accumulation affect heart failure?
Chronic fluid accumulation is responsible for a substantial number of hospital admissions, and identifies patients with a worse prognosis than those admitted due to a sudden increase in LV filling pressures.[4] Peripheral congestion in patients with heart failure usually develops over weeks or even months, and patients may present ‘acutely’ having gained over 20 litres of excess fluid, and hence over 20 kg of excess weight. The aim of management is to remove the excess fluid, so that the patient is no longer congested when they leave hospital, now transitioning to a diagnosis of ‘chronic HF (CHF)’. However, for many patients, some degree of congestion remains even with treatment,[5,6] and it is not clear how many patients with CHF have subclinical congestion – that is, have an excess of body fluid falling short of the volume required to cause overt peripheral oedema.
Can digoxin cause diuresis?
It has long been known that digoxin used alone in patients with severe congestion – particularly those with atrial fibrillation – can cause a profound diuresis. The effect is presumably secondary to the improvement in haemodynamics induced by both heart rate slowing and by digoxin’s positive inotropic effect, but there does appear to be a modest direct renal effect of digoxin.[61] Since the introduction of loop diuretics, digoxin is very rarely used only for its diuretic effects.