Free Mexico: Furosemide Tablets 20mg (Actavis UK Ltd)

Furosemide 20mg tablets

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.

Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.

If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Index

1 What Furosemide tablets are and what they are used for

2 Before you take

3 How to take

4 Possible side effects

5 How to store

6 Further information

What Furosemide tablets are and what they are used for

Furosemide tablets is one of a group of medicines called diuretics (water tablets).

Your doctor has prescribed Furosemide tablets to treat a condition called oedema where there is too much water in your body. This could be due to problems with your heart, kidneys, liver, blood vessels or high blood pressure. Furosemide helps your kidneys to get rid of the extra water that is not needed in your body.

Before you take

Do not take Furosemide tablets if you:

are allergic (hypersensitive) to furosemide, other sulphonamide related drugs or any of the other ingredients in Furosemide tablets (see section 6)

have low blood pressure

have severe kidney failure

have liver cirrhosis (tiredness, weakness, water retention, feeling or being sick, loss of weight or appetite, yellowing skin or eyes, itch )

have any disorder of body chemicals (this may make you feel weak, apathetic or have muscle spasms)

are not producing any urine

have digitalis poisoning (feeling or being sick, high levels of potassium in the blood, slow, fast or irregular heart beats).

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Furosemide tablets if you have:

or have had gout (severe joint pain)

prostate trouble or difficulty passing urine

low blood volume (hypovolaemia)

or may have diabetes. If you are taking insulin, your doctor may need to adjust your insulin dosage.

Your doctor will want to monitor you, and may take blood for testing while you are taking this medicine.

Taking other medicines

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Especially:

drugs to lower blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) e.g. ibuprofen or naproxen

digoxin for your heart

curariform muscle relaxants (eg vercuronium)

corticosteroids used to treat allergic reactions

laxatives used over a long period of time

certain treatments for asthma such as theophylline

antibiotics for infections that affect your kidneys or ears (eg cefaclor, colistin, gentamicin, vancomycin)

lithium for depression or mania

aspirin for pain

medicines to control diabetes such as insulin or tablets

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Speak to your doctor before you take Furosemide tablets if you are pregnant, thinking of getting pregnant, or breast-feeding.

Driving and using machines

Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel less alert after taking Furosemide tablets.

Important information about some of the ingredients in Furosemide tablets

Your medicine contains lactose; do not take Furosemide tablets if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to a sugar called lactose.

How to take

Always take Furosemide tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. If you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.

Doses:

Adults and children over 12 years:
Water retention: the usual starting dose is 40mg in the morning, then 20mg a day or 40mg on alternate days. Up to 80mg a day may be given.
High blood pressure: 20-40mg twice a day.

Elderly: may be reduced in this age group.

Children under 12 years: 1-3mg per kg of bodyweight.

If you take more than you should

If you take more medicine than your doctor has told you to, contact a doctor or your nearest hospital casualty department immediately and take your Furosemide tablets with you. Symptoms of an overdose include dehydration, changes in the levels of certain chemicals in the blood and low blood pressure.

If you forget to take the tablets

If you forget to take a dose, take another as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the normal time. Do not take double the amount to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Furosemide tablets

Speak to your doctor before you stop taking Furosemide tablets.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Furosemide tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

If you have any of the following side effects while taking your medicine tell your doctor immediately or go to hospital straight away:

severe allergic reaction which may include a skin rash, itching, dermatitis, peeling skin, sensitivity to sunlight or sun lamps or fever

inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis, which may cause rash, fever and joint or muscle pains) or kidney inflammation, this may change the number of times you pass urine or you may see blood in your urine. You may have a fever, feel drowsy, or notice swelling e.g. of the ankles

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following side effects:

Altered balance of fluid or chemicals in the body (e.g. sodium, potassium, chlorine and magnesium) causing a dry mouth, weakness, tiredness or drowsiness, restlessness, fits, muscle pain fatigue or cramps, low blood pressure, difficulty passing water, fast heart rate and feeling and being sick

Blood: furosemide can occasionally cause changes in your blood; your doctor will perform regular blood tests to ensure no changes have occurred. The symptoms of these changes include anaemia, leading to tiredness and lethargy; unusual bleeding or bruising, blood slow to clot; ulcers in your throat, mouth or on your skin

Metabolism: changes in levels of body chemicals (glucose, fats or calcium)

Stomach and intestines: stomach irritation or feeling sick

Pancreas: inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) which may cause severe pains in your abdomen or back, nausea, vomiting and fever

Muscles and joints: muscle tension

Urinary and genital: kidney stones in premature babies

Senses: hearing problems or ringing in your ears (tinnitus)

Other: generally feeling unwell

If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Store below 25°C in a dry place. Protect from light

Do not use Furosemide after the expiry date stated on the label/carton/bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

Further information

What Furosemide tablets contain

Each tablet contains 20mg of the active substance furosemide (the ingredient that makes the tablets work).

The other ingredients are lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch, stearic acid.

What Furosemide tablets look like and contents of the pack

Furosemide tablets are white, uncoated tablets. Pack size is 28.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Actavis

Barnstaple

EX32 8NS

This leaflet was last revised in September 2008