Furosemide oral tablet side effects: A detailed guide

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved furosemide oral tablet to treat:

• high blood pressure in adults
• fluid retention related to liver cirrhosis, heart failure, or kidney disease in adults and some children

This article describes possible side effects of furosemide oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for furosemide. You can explore this overview article to learn more about furosemide oral tablet, including the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Furosemide oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Lasix. Furosemide also comes in injectable forms and other forms that you swallow, but these aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.

Boxed warning: Risk of fluid and electrolyte loss

Furosemide has a boxed warning for the risk of fluid and electrolyte loss. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

For details, see the “Side effects of furosemide in detail” section below.

More common side effects of furosemide

Furosemide oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of furosemide oral tablet include:

• urinating more frequently*
• abdominal cramps
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of furosemide in detail” section below.

Mild side effects of furosemide

Furosemide may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of furosemide oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• loss of appetite
• abdominal cramps
• constipation
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• feeling restless
• headache
• nausea
• photosensitivity (increased skin sensitivity to sun or UV light)
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• weakness
• urinating more frequently*
• mild allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of furosemide in detail” section below.

Furosemide oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects of furosemide

Furosemide may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from furosemide oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with furosemide.

Serious side effects of furosemide oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• hearing loss*
• liver problems, including jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes)
• orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up or sitting up, which may cause dizziness)
• pancreatitis (inflammation of your pancreas)
• tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
• risk of fluid and electrolyte loss†
• severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of furosemide in detail” section below.
† Furosemide oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of furosemide in detail” section below.

Side effects of furosemide in children

For children, doctors prescribe furosemide oral tablet to treat fluid retention related to liver cirrhosis, heart failure, or kidney disease. The drug is prescribed for this purpose to children of any age.

In studies, the following side effects were more common in children than in adults:

• kidney stones in children under age 4 years old taking furosemide
• a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus when furosemide was given to infants born prematurely

If you’d like to know more about side effects in children taking furosemide oral tablet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Common questions about side effects of furosemide

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of furosemide oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can furosemide 20 mg cause fewer side effects than furosemide 40 mg?

Possibly. All strengths of furosemide can cause the same side effects. But in general, lower doses of a drug carry a lower risk of side effects compared with higher doses. Studies of furosemide didn’t assess whether side effects varied based on the dose.

Talk with your pharmacist or doctor if you’d like to know more about how your furosemide dose affects your risk of side effects.

Does furosemide cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases, furosemide oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time. Others may last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported with furosemide oral tablet include:

• hearing loss*
• liver problems, including jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes)
• orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up or sitting up, which may cause dizziness)
• pancreatitis (inflammation of your pancreas)
• tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
• risk of fluid and electrolyte loss†
• severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of furosemide in detail” section below.
† Furosemide oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Side effects of furosemide in detail” section below.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Your doctor can provide more information about how long side effects of furosemide may last.

Coupon for furosemide

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for furosemide when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Side effects of furosemide in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of furosemide oral tablet.

Risks of fluid and electrolyte loss

Furosemide oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risks of fluid and electrolyte loss. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

In studies, fluid and electrolyte loss were rare in people taking furosemide oral tablet. This side effect may be serious in some cases.

With fluid and electrolyte loss, you have a low amount of fluid, electrolytes, or both in your body. Electrolytes are minerals such as potassium and magnesium that are vital for important processes such as contracting your muscles. And fluid loss can lead to dehydration (low fluid level).

Symptoms can vary depending on your specific situation. For example:

• dehydration can cause dry mouth and weakness, among other symptoms
• a low blood potassium level may cause muscle cramps and fatigue (low energy)
• a low blood magnesium level may cause muscle twitching and an abnormal heart rhythm, among other symptoms

Certain factors can increase the risk of fluid and electrolyte loss with furosemide oral tablet. These include:

• taking a higher furosemide dose
• following a salt-restricted diet
• not drinking enough water
• having liver cirrhosis
• taking furosemide together with a corticosteroid drug, such as prednisone

Ways to manage

If you experience symptoms of fluid or electrolyte loss, tell your doctor. They may recommend you take a lower dose of furosemide or stop treatment until your symptoms go away.

Your doctor may also suggest a treatment for your symptoms, depending on your specific side effects. For example, they may recommend a magnesium supplement if you have muscle twitching caused by a low magnesium level.

Urinating more frequently

A need to urinate more frequently was common in people taking furosemide oral tablet in studies. This side effect is usually mild.

Frequent urination is expected when taking furosemide, based on how the medication works. Furosemide is a diuretic or “water pill.” It causes your body to lose fluid.

Ways to manage

If you need to urinate more frequently when taking furosemide, tell your doctor. Because this is a common side effect when starting furosemide treatment, they may suggest waiting to find out whether your symptoms go away with continued treatment. But if your symptoms are severe or bothersome, they might recommend a different treatment option.

Hearing loss

Hearing loss was rare in people taking furosemide oral tablet in studies. This side effect may be serious.

With hearing loss, you have diminished or complete loss of your sense of hearing. Hearing loss caused by furosemide may be reversible, but in some cases, it may not go away.

Certain factors can increase the risk of hearing loss with furosemide oral tablet. These include:

• having severe kidney problems, such as end stage kidney disease
• taking a furosemide dose that is higher than recommended
• taking other drugs that can cause hearing loss, such as the antibiotic drug vancomycin

Ways to manage

If you experience symptoms of hearing loss, tell your doctor immediately. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with furosemide.

Allergic reaction

For some people, furosemide oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. These reactions were rare in the drug’s studies but can still occur.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

In addition, serious, potentially life threatening allergic skin reactions have happened in people taking furosemide. Reactions reported include Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. The main symptom caused by these reactions is a painful, discolored skin rash. Other symptoms include:

• blisters on your eyes, mouth, nose, skin, or genitals
• fever
• skin that is broken, raw, or shedding
• swelling in your lips or face

These reactions are life threatening emergencies requiring immediate medical treatment.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as a severe skin reaction, swelling, or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening.

If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to furosemide oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for furosemide

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking furosemide oral tablet.

Boxed warning: Risk of fluid loss

Furosemide has a boxed warning for the risk of fluid and electrolyte loss. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For details, see the “Side effects of furosemide in detail” section above.

Other warnings

It may not be safe for you to take furosemide oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether furosemide oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking furosemide oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• bladder conditions, including an enlarged prostate gland
• diabetes
• gout
• kidney conditions
• liver problems
• past allergic reaction to furosemide

Furosemide and pregnancy

It’s not known whether furosemide oral tablet should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Furosemide and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether furosemide oral tablet should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking furosemide.

Furosemide and alcohol

Furosemide oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol.

Furosemide may cause orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up or sitting up, which may cause dizziness). Drinking alcohol while taking furosemide may worsen this side effect or increase your risk of having it.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with furosemide oral tablet.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of furosemide oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here are a few questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How do side effects of furosemide compare with those of other diuretics?
• Does taking furosemide with hydrochlorothiazide raise my risk of side effects?
• Is it safe to take furosemide together with lisinopril?
• Does my health history increase my risk of side effects if I take furosemide?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.