Before taking furosemide:

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to furosemide, sulfonamide medications, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in furosemide tablets or solution. Ask your pharmacist or check the patient information for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin, gentamicin (Garamycin), or tobramycin (Bethkis, Tobi); angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin, in Lotrel), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril, lisinopril (in Prinzide, in Zestoretic), moexipril (Univasc, in Uniretic), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril, in Accuretic), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik, in Tarka); angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARB) such as azilsartan (Edarbi, Edarbyclor), candesartan (Atacand, in Atacand HCT), eprosartan (Teveten, in Teveten HCT), irbesartan (Avapro, in Avalide), losartan (Cozaar, in Hyzaar), olmesartan (Benicar, in Azor, Benicar HCT), telmisartan (Micardis, in Micardis HCT), and valsartan (Diovan, in Diovan HCT, Exforge); aspirin and other salicylates; barbiturates such as phenobarbital and secobarbital (Seconal); corticosteroids such as betamethasone (Celestone), budesonide (Entocort), cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexpak, Dexasone, others), fludrocortisone (Floriner), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Meprolone, others), prednisolone (Prelone, others), prednisone (Deltasone, Meticorten, Sterapred, others), and triamcinolone (Aristocort, Azmacort); cisplatin (Platinol); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); digoxin (Lanoxin), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin); indomethacin (Indocin); laxatives; lithium (Lithobid); medications for diabetes, high blood pressure and pain; methotrexate (Trexall); probenecid (Probalan, Probenemid); and phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• if you are taking sucralfate (Carafate), take it 2 hours before or after you take furosemide.
• tell your doctor if you have kidney disease. Your doctor may tell you not to take furosemide.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any condition that stops your bladder from emptying completely, diabetes, gout, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, a chronic inflammatory condition), or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine. If you become pregnant while taking furosemide, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, tell the doctor that you are using furosemide.
• plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Furosemide may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
• Furosemide may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common when you first start taking furosemide. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up. Alcohol can add to these side effects.
• If your doctor prescribes a low-salt or low-sodium diet, or to eat or drink increased amounts of potassium-rich foods (e.g., bananas, prunes, raisins, and orange juice) in your diet, follow these instructions carefully.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Furosemide can cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• frequent urination
• blurred vision
• headache
• constipation
• diarrhea

Warning: Furosemide is a strong diuretic ('water pill') and may cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. It is important that you take it exactly as told by your doctor.

Call your doctor or seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• decreased urination
• dry mouth
• thirst
• nausea
• vomiting
• weakness
• drowsiness
confusion
• muscle pain
or cramps rapid or pounding heartbeats
• fever
• ringing in the ears
• loss of hearing
• rash
• hives
• blisters or peeling skin
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• yellowing of the skin or eyes

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone (1-800-332-1088).