PatientsLikeMe ™
Already a member? Log in
with patients just like you.
- Select a community
- All Communities
Torsemide
What is torsemide?
Torsemide is a loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt, allowing the salt to instead be passed in your urine.
Torsemide treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, liver disease, or a kidney disorder such as nephrotic syndrome. This medication is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Torsemide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Precautions
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to torsemide, or if you are unable to urinate.
Before using torsemide, tell your doctor if you have:
- kidney disease;
- liver disease; or
- an allergy to sulfa drugs.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take torsemide.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether torsemide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Avoid becoming dehydrated. Follow your doctor’s instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink while you are taking torsemide.
Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include ringing in your ears, loss of appetite, weakness, dizziness, or confusion.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Side-effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using torsemide and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting;
- feeling weak, drowsy, restless, or light-headed;
- fast or uneven heartbeat;
- muscle pain or weakness;
- coughing up blood;
- bloody or black, tarry stools; or
- hearing loss.
Less serious side effects may include:
- diarrhea or constipation;
- headache;
- dizziness; or
- decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
Interactions
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
- lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith);
- digoxin (Lanoxin);
- steroids (prednisone and others);
- ethacrynic acid (Edecrin);
- cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran);
- probenecid (Benemid);
- amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), netilmicin (Netromycin), streptomycin, tobramycin (Nebcin, Tobi);
- salicylates such as aspirin, Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others; or
- indomethacin (Indocin).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with torsemide. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04