What is Torsemide?
Torsemide is a diuretic drug used to treat fluid overload caused by heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, or high blood pressure. It is taken by mouth or injection into a vein.
Torsemide uses
Torsemide is used to treat edema (excess fluid in the body) caused by heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease. This may reduce symptoms such as shortness of breath and swelling in your arms, legs, and abdomen. High blood pressure is also handled with this drug. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke, heart attacks, and kidney disease. Torsemide is a diuretic that improves urine production. This assists in the removal of excess salt and water from your body.
How to take?
- Take this drug by mouth once a day, with or without food, as instructed by your doctor. To stop having to get up to urinate, do not take this drug within 4 hours of going to bed.
- Dosage is dictated by your medical condition and treatment reaction. Do not surpass the prescribed dosage or take it more often than recommended.
- To get the most satisfaction from this drug, take it on a daily basis. Taking it at the same time of day as instructed to help you recall. Even if you feel good, keep taking this drug. The majority of people with high blood pressure do not show any symptoms. In most cases, the maximum blood pressure-lowering effect takes 4-6 weeks, and in some cases, up to 12 weeks.
- If you still take bile acid-binding resins like cholestyramine or colestipol to reduce your cholesterol, take torsemide at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours after these drugs.
- If your condition does not change or worsens, contact your doctor. If you're taking this drug to treat high blood pressure, let your doctor know if your levels stay high or get higher.
Torsemide Side Effects:
More common side effects are
- Constipation
- Cough
- Decreased sex drive
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty having an orgasm
- Dizziness
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Excessive or increased urination
- Headache
- Impotence
- Indigestion/heartburn
- Insomnia
- Joint pain
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Stomach upset
- Dizziness on standing
- Ear damage
- Ringing in the ears [tinnitus]
- Hearing loss
- Fatigue
- Hyperuricemia
- Itching
- Low back pain
- Muscle cramps
- Rash
Precautions
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist whether you are allergic to torsemide or whether you have any other reactions until taking it. Inactive ingredients can be found in this product, triggering allergic reactions or other issues. For more information, talk with your pharmacist.
- Before taking this drug, inform your doctor or pharmacist about any prior medical conditions you've had, particularly kidney or liver problems, failure to produce urine, or gout
- Torsemide can have a small effect on your blood sugar if you have diabetes. Check your blood sugar as directed and notify your doctor of the results. Your diabetes medicine, exercise regimen, or diet may need to be changed by your doctor.
- Torsemide can lower your blood potassium levels. To avoid potassium loss, your doctor can encourage you to eat more potassium-rich foods (such as bananas and orange juice) or prescribe potassium supplements. For more details, consult your doctor.
- This prescription has the ability to make you dizzy. You can get dizzy if you ingest alcohol or marijuana (cannabis). Do not indulge in activities like driving, operating big machinery, or engaging in any other operation that involves alertness until you are confident you can do so safely. Limit your consumption of alcoholic drinks. If you use marijuana, talk to your doctor (cannabis).
- Dehydration can be caused by prolonged sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Consult the doctor if you have recurrent diarrhea or vomiting. Follow your doctor's advice on how much water you should drink.
- The effects of this medication, especially dizziness and water/mineral loss, may be more pronounced in older adults.
- This medicine can only be used when absolutely necessary during pregnancy.
- It is unclear whether or not this medicine moves into breast milk. Before you start breastfeeding, talk to your doctor.
Interactions
- Drug interactions can cause your drugs to function way differently or might put you at risk for severe side effects. Keep a list of all you use and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Without your doctor's permission, do not begin, stop, or change the dosage of any medications.
- Desmopressin and lithium are two medications that may interfere with this one.
- Some products contain additives that can increase blood pressure or cause swelling. Tell your pharmacist about the products you're using and how to use them safely (especially cough and cold remedies, diet supplements, or NSAIDs like ibuprofen/naproxen).
Torsemide vs Lasix
Torsemide |
Lasix |
|
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Loop diuretic | Loop diuretic |
| Availability | Brand name and generic available | Brand name and generic available |
| Brand name | Demadex (Brand) | Furosemide (generic) |
| Forms | Oral tablet and injectable solution | Oral tablet, oral solution, injectable solution |
| The standard dosage | 10 mg to 20 mg daily | 40 mg to 120 mg daily |
| Treatment duration | Short-term (days to weeks) and long-term | Short-term (days to weeks) and long-term |
| Used by | Adults | Infants, children, and adults |
