Furosemide and Swelling: What Users Say

• Sis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2019

Furosemide for Edema "I have been on Lasix for about a year. I think it's amazing! It does make my blood pressure a little low, and I've had problems with my potassium levels, but it's worth it for how well it works. I ran out of my medicine and couldn't fill my script yet. So I was without it for a week. I had severe edema. I mean I could barely climb stairs or take the one step on the porch without almost falling. Got my script and the water was just falling away like magic."

• Noe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2018

Furosemide for Edema "I developed idiopathic (so far my docs are clueless) systemic inflammation over the course of 2 weeks or so. Plus, hypertensive crisis (202/110), never had BP problems before. I’m 5’5 and 120 lbs, but I looked like the Michelin Man after eating the Pillsbury Doughboy. Doc prescribed Lasix, wonder drug! Peed like a horse for 2 days, almost back to normal. Unfortunately, however, the inflammation seems to have damaged my epidermis. My skin from knees on up to my chest looks like I vomited cottage cheese over it. :("

• tra...
• October 2, 2017

Furosemide for Edema "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."

• tra...
• October 2, 2017

Furosemide for Edema "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."

• man...
• March 31, 2015

For Edema "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..."

• Cli...
• October 10, 2013

For Edema "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."

• Cli...
• October 10, 2013

For Edema "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 Edema "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."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2018

For Heart Failure "I was in the ER for hypertension and water in my lungs. Six months ago, they prescribed me Lasix for my kidney. Immediately after that, I had severe edema that lasted two months and ended up in the ER again with excruciating pain. There was nothing they could do. My nephrologist took me off, but this time in the ER, they gave me Lasix again through the IV and sent me home with pills. The very next day, both my legs swelled up, and again in excruciating pain. I don't think this medicine is helping me with swelling, it is making it worse. It is going quite the opposite of what's supposed to do."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2018

For Heart Failure "I was in the ER for hypertension and water in my lungs. Six months ago, they prescribed me Lasix for my kidney. Immediately after that, I had severe edema that lasted two months and ended up in the ER again with excruciating pain. There was nothing they could do. My nephrologist took me off, but this time in the ER, they gave me Lasix again through the IV and sent me home with pills. The very next day, both my legs swelled up, and again in excruciating pain. I don't think this medicine is helping me with swelling, it is making it worse. It is going quite the opposite of what's supposed to do."

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

For Edema "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."

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

For Edema "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."

• dre...
• March 30, 2008

For Edema "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."

• Lza...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2021

For Heart Failure "Taking 3 months. I took a stool softener after the 1st month when I had no change and then peed every 3 minutes for a few days. It was uncomfortable, but I had swollen so much I couldn't bend, and my skin was tearing from the inside out, so it was worth it. Most of the hair on my body had fallen out, and I lost 30 lbs in 3 weeks. I spent 30 days swollen because the 1st hospital said allergy, then the doctor said glands. I went to a different hospital and found I had congestive heart and liver failure. I was severely swollen then. This medication actually brought me back to my real weight of 120 lbs from 149 lbs. The stool softener was critical, though it sucked for the 1st few weeks having to stop if in the car every 15 minutes, but now I am at normal weight, though still taking it, and if I miss a day, I will swell some."

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2019

Furosemide for Edema "Seems the more I take it, the worse the swelling."

• sis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 27, 2014

Furosemide for Edema "Feet, ankles, and legs still badly swollen each day."

• cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2018

Furosemide for Edema "I have developed peeling of skin on my legs. I have bilateral leg edema."

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2020

Furosemide for Edema "My mom's legs swelled. I really do not like this medication."

• Sli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2017

For Edema "Severe swelling of lower legs and ankles. Furosemide seemed to have helped."