Furosemide for Edema User Reviews (Page 2)

• kso...
• September 30, 2010

Furosemide "I have had pitting edema, severe water retention all over my body mainly my face, hands, ankles, feet, and lower legs. I also have felt the side effects of side aches and leg discomfort. But I have come to find out I also suffered from RLS (restless leg syndrome). I do suffer from very minor headaches. But when one day you are swollen as a balloon and about 2 to 3 days later you are unswollen. I first started out on 10 mg as needed, then had to go up to 20mg when required, then daily. Then eventually kept raising it by 20 after that to 40mg daily. Then I ended up having to take 2 x 40 mg daily, 2 x a day. I also have insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome so that may have something to do with it. I'm now at 80mg daily."

• tra...
• October 2, 2017

Furosemide "Much foot and leg swelling. Just finished 9 days of hospitalization for pneumonia. Took steroids for several days after discharge. As I quit the steroid, swelling started, so I ended up starting Lasix. Urination every 2 hours. I have high blood pressure. Atrial fibrillation. Tremendous sweating. Edema is slowly going down."

• ski...
• August 22, 2009

Furosemide "I took the first dose on a Friday after work. That night I was awake all night with terrible leg cramps and an odd cramp in my midriff. I took the second dose earlier in the afternoon the next day. The cramp in my midriff returned. I called the hospital where my doctor practices and the nurse practitioner from her office called me back. She advised me not to take the Lasix anymore and to go to the ER if the cramping came back tonight. My ankle is nearly normal size, but I am not sure it was worth it."

• J s...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 30, 2019

"I have sudden episodes of ankle and calf swelling and can gain around 8-12 pounds within a few days randomly. Nothing works to reduce the bloat and painful swelling like Lasix. I finally got a regular prescription from my doctor after explaining my symptoms. My doctor thinks the swelling is from overuse of ibuprofen. Lasix: 1 pill, 20mg, and -9 pounds. (painful fluid) No side effects."

• LJB...
• May 6, 2010

Furosemide "I have been using Lasix in combination with Hydrochlorothiazide for 6 months for pitting edema/hypertension, and its effects seem to have worn off. I started on 20mg once a day for 2 months then up to 40mg once a day for the last 4 months. Now my legs are back to swelling as much as if I were taking nothing. My blood pressure is good though. Side effects: headaches."

• man...
• March 31, 2015

"I'm taking 200 mg every night at bedtime. The only time it works is when I'm laying down with pillows between my legs. The docs can't figure out why I'm swelling, and it's been going on for years. So frustrated, and half the time the medicine does not work. I felt so alone in this and really started to think I'm going crazy. On top, I've had massive weight gain since the last baby was born, and it took nearly a year to heal from the C-section, between packing the incision for months to wearing a vacuum for the last months. Then opted to have a third surgery on my ankle, hoping I could get the swelling down and walk better, but now it's 100 times worse since the fusion, and I ballooned up. I feel beaten down and hopeless, and the sad thing is nobody cares, living day to..."

• luv...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 11, 2013

"I was reading a skinny ankles post, and I go through the same thing. I'm no doctor, but my doctor told me that Lasix causes low potassium levels, which cause body cramps. I get them really bad. I have some potassium OTC pills, but my doctor advised me not to take them all the time, they can do more harm than good, so I just take them when I really need them. Try that with caution, it might help you. Seems like all medicines cause more problems."

• Cli...
• October 10, 2013

"I was initially prescribed hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) for edema associated with nephrotic syndrome, and it worked very well, and swelling in my feet, hands, and face began going away. Then I saw a nephrologist who said I needed furosemide instead of HCTZ. I started taking 20 mg/day, and the swelling began coming back. The doc said to give it some time, you probably ate a salty meal or something. Well, the edema really never did completely go away again. I had a kidney biopsy and then was put on prednisone 60 mg/day, and swelling really got bad, gained about 25 pounds of water. Doc bumped me up to 40 mg/day furosemide, and it still didn't work. I still had some HCTZ 50 mg left, so I tried them and lost 4 pounds of water the first day."

• Ren...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2018

"For me, Lasix only works good through IV. I barely pee at times. On 80 mg twice a day. Still have very much edema. Feet and ankles go down after 9 hours of elevate time. Need something better. I've been on it a month. Hospital arrival weight 209 lb. By the time I finally got a room, down to 204 lb. Left hospital a week later, 200 lb."

• Pip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2020

"I have read all these comments and have found all of them useful. I have questions for my doctor. Seems like there are issues with generic Lasix, and also Lasix doesn't work for everyone. I didn't take mine today and feel better than I have for the last 6 weeks. My legs were rock hard in the evenings, severe pitting, skin on fire and full of a tingling, rushing feeling. None of that tonight, but edema and pitting are still present. On Lasix, all the warning I would get was an extreme sudden urge in my bladder, like a shock from lightning, and all the nerves in my core would go crazy. None of that tonight. I'm calling tomorrow for a doctor appointment."

• kar...
• July 30, 2015

"I was given this medication to lower my blood pressure. After taking it for one day, my BP went from 165/100 to 122/80. It worked perfectly for that. BUT... I have had headaches and nausea every single day since I started this medication... which was a week ago."

• Msl...
• January 23, 2014

"I have had several experiences with Lasix. The first time I was on it, I lost a lot of the edema, but then it came back. I have nephrotic syndrome, which comes and goes. So I currently have to be on the Lasix for periods at a time. Yes, it does cause painful muscle spasms that are caused by losing potassium and basically being dried out from constant urination. This time around, Lasix seems to be working better."

• Fre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2012

"I was told by my GP to take one a day for a month, and then go on to two a day. One a day was fine, the swelling was coming right, very slowly, but obviously. But two a day and I could barely stand upright, plus ringing in my ears. I've reverted to one a day."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2024

Furosemide "I was originally taking 40 mg of Lasix, until my cardio doc raised it to 80 mg. I felt so out of it and lost side vision a couple of times, so I decided to go back to 40, and things felt better. I've never had constipation to the level that I needed a laxative every few days. After a blood test, my regular doc said my potassium was at 2.9 and upped my potassium pills. After doing that for a few days, I ended up at the ER where my potassium was at 2.7 and while I was there, it went to 2.3, despite bags of IV potassium. They admitted me for over a day with constant IVs AND pills of potassium, and they told me to quit the Lasix. My level was at 3.3 when I was discharged, which is still a little low. I did gain 12 pounds in 2 days...a rebound effect? PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR POTASSIUM LEVELS, VERY IMPORTANT. Also, your chloride and magnesium. Now I'm on microzide and a potassium-sparing diuretic, and I feel more leveled out. My #2s are normal now also. BE CAUTIOUS."

• Joo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 17, 2017

"I've been diagnosed with pulmonary edema, and that not only affects my lungs, but I get severe swelling of my feet and legs. The doc prescribed 20 mg once per day. I can't take it that often. It works (within 45 minutes I'm running to the bathroom every 20 minutes for about 5 hours), the swelling goes down and I can breathe easier, but it gives me horrendous leg cramps, even up into my thighs. I drink water and Gatorade, as well as eat bananas, but it doesn't help. I call it the 'evil pill.' But if it gets rid of the fluid, I guess I'll keep taking it, even if it's not as often as I should."

• Jil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2022

Furosemide "On 1/30/22, I woke up with ankle and foot swelling and pain out of nowhere. I thought it may have been connected to a full body massage I'd gotten 2 days before that, but at this point, it seems it's not. I'm still having this issue 3.5 weeks later, but now the edema is pitting. I saw my doctor 2 days ago, and she pointed out that my calves are also swollen. She prescribed this medication for me to take twice a day for three days. She's also sending me for an echocardiogram. So far, I've taken one dose, and it may be the last one I take. I've got the absolute worst optical/sinus headache. I've taken my prescription migraine medication, prescription ibuprofen, and 2 over-the-counter sinus pills with no luck. I'm aware headaches are a possible side effect, but I didn't expect it to be this bad. As expected, I'm peeing a lot, but the negatives are outweighing the positives."

• Anonymous
• August 13, 2011

"This is my first time taking this type of medication, and I've been on 40 mg for four days, and the swelling in my legs and ankles went down, but not my feet! So far, I have experienced no side effects."

• 99R...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 3, 2020

"I have been diagnosed with CHF and have had many bouts with pitted edema. During the first few times of extreme swelling, I had already been prescribed furosemide, which is supposed to help with fluid retention. Unfortunately, that was not my experience while dealing with a severe case of pitted edema. I found the furosemide did absolutely nothing, and I mean NOTHING!! I was taking 80 mg twice a day and at times could not urinate at all. After retaining 100 extra lbs. of fluid in a 6-week span, I was forced to go to the ER. I spent 22 days in the IMU unit with 4 IVs pumping 4 different diuretics. Furosemide may work for some, but it only left me feeling dehydrated, severely swollen, and with a horrible case of 'cotton mouth.'"

• S-N...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2024

Furosemide "The drug worked as intended, edema (etiology: rare adverse reaction to Na-valproate) was completely gone by day 7 of treatment. The only 'side effect' was initial frequent and torrential passage of urine (which was the drug working as intended), mostly subsided by day 3. The drug is very cheap."

• dre...
• March 30, 2008

"This medication really does what it is supposed to for me!!! I have edema (sometimes really bad), and it works great, but make sure that you can have full access to the restroom. It usually takes about 20 mins to work."

• Hol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2021

Furosemide "I was on Lasix for swelling in legs, and this has done wonders for me, two 20 mg a day. Really took the swelling down, glad, as swelling was moving quickly to the stomach area. Positive experience, it took swelling down quickly."

• das...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 28, 2022

"Am on 40 mg furosemide 2x a day. It does nothing for my edema. Does nothing to help me urinate. Totally useless for my edema. Still retaining all that water. One alarming side effect is that it makes me faint if I raise up from a squatting position or from sitting on the floor. I'll kneel down to pick something up, then stand up and bam, I'm out within 2 seconds. Have hurt myself many times when hitting the floor from fainting. This is listed as a possible side effect for this drug. I had the same fainting with torsemide too, only worse. I don't know what kind of diuretic will be safe for me, but it isn't furosemide. My cardiologist's response was would I rather have my blood pressure under control with the help of this drug, or whine about fainting. Nice choice, huh."

• Dad...
• October 16, 2009

"I am 62 and never had any problem with pedal edema until I began having to take medications for 'severe restless leg syndrome' and my meralgia paresthetica. Suddenly, I was experiencing such edema problems that not only were my ankles drastically swollen, but the edema moved upward to involve my entire calf area bilaterally. After just one day taking furosemide, there was almost no edema at all - and that was on just 40 mg. I am sure the furosemide is responsible for controlling the edema because if I miss even one day, the drastic ankle and calf edema returns. This is one GREAT medicine."

• Nin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2020

"I had a hip replacement go real bad and had to have it replaced after 11 years. I had a home nurse who weighed me, and I gained 18 lbs in 2 weeks. My blood pressure wasn't dangerously high but higher than normal, and I was extremely short of breath. I was prescribed Furosemide 20 mg and Potassium Chloride CRYS ER 10 TBCR. I've lost the 18 lbs over 4 days, but it gave me a really bad bladder infection with fever. Now I'm taking Nitrofurantoin Monohyd Mac for the infection. My blood pressure is normal and breathing better. I guess I'd say it is helping but watch out for the bladder infection."

• blu...
• December 22, 2008

"I have been retaining fluid really badly in my legs and hands. I tried a mild water pill, but it didn't work very well. My doctor prescribed furosemide 40 mg along with a potassium pill. It has been working really well. I need to do a blood test in 3 weeks to make sure everything is okay."