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Brand name: Furosemide (AN) TM
Active ingredients: furosemide (frusemide)
What it is used for
Oedema Frusemide is indicated in adults, infants and children for the treatment of oedema associated with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver and renal disease including the nephrotic syndrome. Frusemide is particularly useful when an agent with greater diuretic potential than that of those commonly employed is desired.,Parenteral therapy with frusemide should be reserved for patients unable to take oral medication or for patients in emergency clinical situations. If gastrointestinal absorption is impaired or oral medication is not practical for any reason, frusemide is indicated by the intravenous or intramuscular route. Parenteral use should be replaced with oral frusemide as soon as practical.,Hypertension Oral Frusemide may be used in adults for the treatment of hypertension alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents. Hypertensive patients who cannot be adequately controlled with thiazides will probably also not be adequately controlled with frusemide alone.
How to take it
The way to take this medicine is: Oral. This medicine is taken by mouth.
- Store below 25 degrees Celsius
- Store in Original Container
- Protect from Light
- Shelf lifetime is 3 Years.
You should seek medical advice in relation to medicines and use only as directed by a healthcare professional.
Always read the label. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional.
Visual appearance
White to off-white, round tablets, debossed 'F4' on one side and breakline on the other side.
Food interactions
For the active ingredient furosemide (frusemide)
- Avoid alcohol.
- Avoid excess salt/sodium unless otherwise instructed by your physician.
- Increase potassium intake; add a banana or orange juice; unless instructed otherwise.
- Take with food to reduce irritation.
Do I need a prescription?
This medicine is available from a pharmacist and requires a prescription. It is
Is this medicine subsidised?
This medicine was verified as being available on the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) on March 1, 2019. To learn more about this subsidy, visit the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) website.
Pregnant or planning a pregnancy?
For the active ingredient furosemide (frusemide)
You should seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist about taking this medicine. They can help you balance the risks and the benefits of this medicine during pregnancy.
Download leaflet
For side effects, taking other medicines and more
Download consumer medicine information leaflet (pdf) from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website
Reporting side effects
You can help ensure medicines are safe by reporting the side effects you experience.
You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
Changing Australian medicine names | Issue 3 | Volume 40 | Australian Prescriber | Australian Prescriber
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is changing the names of approximately 200 medicines.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Managing acute pulmonary oedema | Issue 2 | Volume 40 | Australian Prescriber | Australian Prescriber
In an area of limited clinical evidence, what are the first-line treatments for acute pulmonary oedema?
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Ototoxicity information | myVMC
Ototoxicity refers to chemical ear damage which causes hearing loss. It is associated with antibiotics, aspirin and anti-malarial medicines and chemicals.
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The Return Unwanted Medicines Project is a free and safe way for consumers to dispose of unwanted medicines at...
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Prescribing for people with acute rheumatic fever | Issue 2 | Volume 40 | Australian Prescriber | Australian Prescriber
Check out the recent changes in Australian recommendations for antibiotic use, aspirin dose and prevention of endocarditis.
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Top results
Furosemide for prevention of morbidity in indomethacin-treated infants with patent ductus arteriosus | Cochrane
There is no strong evidence of benefit from routine use furosemide, a loop diuretic, in preterm babies receiving indomethacin for treatment of patent ductus arteriosus. A blood vessel (ductus arteriosus), which is required for blood circulation for the fetus in the womb, closes soon after birth in babies born around the expected date of delivery (term infants). Babies born early (preterm) may develop symptoms if they do not close that blood vessel after birth. Preterm infants who have symptoms due to the ductus arteriosus may receive therapy (indomethacin) for closing that vessel. Indomethacin may decrease kidney function and the amount of urine. Furosemide, a medication which reduces body water (diuretic), might help limit the effects of indomethacin on the kidney. This review analyzed the effects of furosemide on preterm babies receiving indomethacin to close the ductus arteriosus. The review of trials found not enough evidence to recommend routine use of furosemide in preterm infants who receive indomethacin for closing a ductus arteriosus.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Diuretic therapy for newborn infants with posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation | Cochrane
Bleeding (hemorrhage) into the fluid-producing cavities (ventricles) of the brain is a serious complication of premature birth. Large hemorrhages may result in fluid building up under pressure, progressively enlarging the brain and head. Current treatment approaches, including the insertion of a valve drainage system (shunt) are fraught with problems. Acetazolamide and furosemide, two drugs with diuretic action, reduce the production of fluid in the ventricles of the brain and have been proposed as safe treatments to treat dilatation of the ventricles after intraventricular hemorrhage in newborn infants. When compared with standard treatment, diuretic therapy was found not to reduce the need for shunt surgery. Diuretic drugs are neither safe nor effective in treating ventricular dilatation in infants with intraventricular hemorrhage.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Aerosolized diuretics for preterm infants with (or developing) chronic lung disease | Cochrane
There is no evidence of benefit from routine use of inhaled diuretics in preterm babies at risk of chronic lung disease. Lung disease in babies born early (preterm) is often complicated with excess accumulation of water in the lungs. Medications that reduce body water (diuretics) might help the baby recover from lung disease. In theory, giving the diuretic as an inhaled mist (aerosol) could drain water from the lung more than from the rest of the body, which could reduce adverse effects. The review found several small trials of a single type of diuretic (furosemide). A single dose improved lung function, but only temporarily. No information was available about long term outcome.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Loop diuretics cause modest blood pressure lowering | Cochrane
While more commonly used to reduce water retention, loop diuretics are are also indicated for lowering elevated blood pressure. We asked to what degree this drug class lowers blood pressure, whether individual drugs within the class produce different effects, and what the estimate of harms is associated with this class of drugs. We searched the available scientific literature to find all the trials that had addressed these questions. We found 9 trials studying the blood pressure-lowering ability of 5 different loop diuretics (furosemide, cicletanine, piretanide, indacrinone and etozolin) in 460 participants. The blood pressure-lowering effect was modest, with systolic pressure lowered by 8 mmHg and diastolic pressure by 4 mmHg. No loop diuretic drug appears to be any better or worse than others in terms of blood pressure-lowering ability. Due to lack of reporting and the short duration of included trials, this review could not provide an estimate of the harms associated with loop diuretics.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Diuretics for transient tachypnoea of the newborn (TTN) | Cochrane
Review question: Does diuretic treatment reduce the duration of oxygen therapy and respiratory symptoms and shorten hospital stay in term infants presenting with the clinical syndrome of transient tachypnoea of the newborn?
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Diuretics for respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants | Cochrane
There is not enough data to support the routine use of diuretics for respiratory distress syndrome in newborn babies. Diuretics are drugs that increase the production of urine by encouraging salt and water to be released from the kidneys. When newborn babies have respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), their lungs may also contain excess fluid that can cause breathing problems. Babies with RDS sometimes may also have a reduced urine output. Using diuretics in these babies may improve lung or kidney function transiently, but may also increase cardiovascular complications. The review of trials did not find enough evidence supporting the routine use of diuretics in these infants.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Prevention and treatment of postpartum hypertension | Cochrane
After birth, it is not uncommon for women to experience high blood pressure (hypertension), but it can have serious consequences. It can lead to stroke and, very rarely, death. It is unclear what causes hypertension after childbirth, or which women may develop the problem, although women with antenatal severe pre-eclampsia appear to be at highest risk. The review of nine trials found no reliable evidence to guide care for these women. Further research is needed, particularly as the problem occurs most commonly three to six days after birth when most women have left hospital.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Changing Australian medicine names | Issue 3 | Volume 40 | Australian Prescriber | Australian Prescriber
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is changing the names of approximately 200 medicines.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Intravenous or enteral loop diuretics for preterm infants with (or developing) chronic lung disease | Cochrane
There is no strong evidence of benefit from routine use of loop diuretics in preterm babies at risk of, or with, chronic lung disease. Lung disease in babies born early (preterm) is often complicated with excess of water. Medications that reduce body water (diuretics) might help the baby recover from lung disease. The review analysed the effects of diuretics working on the deep part of the small kidney tubes (loop diuretics). The review of trials found that diuretics, given from a single dose to one week's treatment, inconsistently improved lung function and oxygen levels in the blood. There was not enough evidence to show any improvement in long-term outcome.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Managing acute pulmonary oedema | Issue 2 | Volume 40 | Australian Prescriber | Australian Prescriber
In an area of limited clinical evidence, what are the first-line treatments for acute pulmonary oedema?
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
