Patient leaflet - FUROSEMIDE TABLETS BP 500MG
1 What Furosemide tablets are and what they are used for
Furosemide tablets belong to 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, lungs, 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.
2 What you need to know before you take Furosemide tablets
Do not take Furosemide tablets if you:
- are allergic (hypersensitive) to furosemide, other sulfonamide related drugs or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
- have kidney failure that is due to medicines or chemicals that are prone to cause kidney or liver damage or if you have kidney failure due to underlying liver disorders
- have very low levels of potassium, sodium or other electrolytes in your blood or low blood volume (your doctor will be able to advise you)
- are dehydrated
- have low blood pressure
take potassium supplements or potassium sparing diuretics for high blood pressure (e.g. amiloride or spironolactone)
- have liver cirrhosis (tiredness, weakness, water retention, feeling or being sick, loss of weight or appetite, yellowing skin or eyes, itch) or liver encephalopathy (confusion, altered levels of consciousness and coma as a result of liver failure)
- have Addison’s disease (low levels of corticosteroid hormones secreted)
- have digitalis poisoning (feeling or being sick, high levels of potassium in the blood, slow, fast or irregular heartbeats)
- are breast-feeding.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Furosemide tablets if you:
- have low blood volume (hypovolaemia)
- are at risk of developing low blood pressure or in the case of premature infants as they may be more prone to development of kidney stones
- have liver congestion (slowed blood flow through the vessels) or other liver problems
- have kidney problems or have low levels of protein in the blood (hypoproteinaemia) as a result of kidney damage
- have an abnormal blood condition
- have or may have diabetes. If you are taking insulin, your doctor may need to adjust your insulin dosage
- are elderly, if you are on other medications which can cause a drop in blood pressure or if you have other medical conditions that put you at risk of a drop in blood pressure
- have low blood pressure or feel dizzy when you stand up
- feel dizzy or dehydrated. This can happen if you have lost a lot of water through being sick, having diarrhoea or passing water very often. It can also happen if you are having trouble drinking or eating
- have low blood levels of essential minerals like sodium or potassium or you have acid base imbalance in the body identified by blood tests
- have prostate trouble i.e. enlarged prostate gland (males only) or difficulty passing urine
- are going to have a glucose test
- have gout (characterised by painful joints due to elevated uric acid levels)
- are about to undergo any blood or urine tests
- have raised levels of calcium or low levels of magnesium in the blood; careful monitoring of fluids and electrolyte levels are recommended
- are already on medicines like NSAIDs (used for inflammation and pain) or ACE inhibitors (medicines used to lower blood pressure).
Your doctor will want to monitor you and may take blood for testing while you are taking this medicine.
Package leaflet: Information for the patient
Furosemide 500mg tablets
Continued over page
Continued top of next column
Date Sent:
Technologist:
Technically Approved
page 2 page3
Date sent:
Date received: Item number:
Originator:
Origination Date: Revision Date:
Revised By:
Supplier:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
CRF number:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Digital signature
Other medicines and Furosemide tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Your doctor may need to change your dose and/or to take other precautions if you are taking one of the following medicines:
- medicines called ACE inhibitors (e.g. ramipril, enalapril, perindopril) or angiotensin II receptor antagonists (e.g. losartan, candesartan, irbesartan). Your doctor may need to change the dose of your tablets or ask you to stop taking them
- aliskiren – used to treat high blood pressure
- drugs to lower blood pressure, such as renin inhibitors, alpha blockers (e.g. prazosin), diuretics (e.g. amiloride, spironolactone), phenothiazines (e.g. promethazine)
- drugs for arrhythmias known as beta-blockers (e.g. sotalol, atenolol, propranolol)
- medicines such as tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g. selegiline) or hypnotics and anxiolytics (e.g. barbiturates)
- medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems (uneven heartbeat) such as calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, clonidine, moxonidine, sodium nitroprusside, amiodarone, disopyramide, flecainide, minoxidil, lidocaine, hydralazine, diazoxide, methyldopa
- digoxin used to treat heart failure. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medicine
- lithium - used for mental illness
- sucralfate - this drug may decrease the absorption of furosemide
- colestyramine or colestipol for high cholesterol
- NSAIDs - drugs used to treat pain and inflammation (e.g. ibuprofen, naproxen, indometacin, ketorolac) or salicylates (e.g. aspirin)
- antibiotics belonging to class of
aminoglycosides or polymixins; as there may be a risk of ear or kidney damage (e.g. cefaclor, gentamicin, vancomycin)
- amphotericin (to treat fungal infections)
- medicines used to treat epilepsy (e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin)
- anti-fungals (risk of potassium loss or renal damage indicated with Furosemide)
- medicines used to treat infections caused by a virus, e.g. ritonavir
- medicines used to treat inflammation known as corticosteroids, such as prednisolone and dexamethasone
- medicines or food containing liquorice (increased risk of loss of potassium with Furosemide)
- cisplatin - used to treat cancers (increased risk of kidney damage with Furosemide)
- methotrexate (increased chance of Furosemide toxicity)
- levodopa - used to treat Parkinson’s disease (increased risk of lowering of blood pressure with Furosemide)
- medicines that modify the immune system (e.g. ciclosporin)
- medicines used as muscle relaxants like baclofen or tizanidine
- birth control pills or oestrogen containing drugs may block the effect of Furosemide if taken concurrently
- medicines such as alprostadil, used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotency)
theophylline used for wheezing or difficulty in breathing
- probenecid used for treatment of gout
- medicines used as general anaesthetics
- laxatives - drugs used to relieve constipation
- medicines for diabetes (e.g. insulin). These may not work as well when you are taking Furosemide Tablets
- medicines used for mental problems called ‘psychoses’, e.g. risperidone, amisulpride, pimozide or chlorpromazine. Avoid using pimozide at the same time as furosemide
- medicines for asthma when given in high doses
- other water tablets (diuretics) such as bendroflumethiazide. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medicine
- potassium salts used to treat low potassium in the blood.
Furosemide tablets and alcohol
You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking Furosemide tablets as this may lower your blood pressure further.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Pregnancy
Do not take Furosemide Tablets if you are pregnant unless you have been told otherwise by your doctor.
Breast-feeding
Do not breast-feed if you are taking Furosemide Tablets. This is because small amounts may pass into the mother’s milk.
Driving and using machines
Furosemide may cause some patients to be dizzy or less alert which could interfere with the ability to drive or to operate machines. If you notice that you are not as alert as usual, do not drive or operate machinery and ask your doctor for advice.
Furosemide tablets contain lactose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3 How to take Furosemide tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.
The recommended dose is:
Adults and children over 12 years: 250mg (half a tablet) once a day up to a maximum of 1.5g (3 tablets) once a day. 2g (4 tablets) a day may be given in exceptional cases.
Elderly: may be reduced in this age group. Children under 12 years: a more suitable dosage form is used in this age group.
Dosage adjustment may be necessary in patients with:
- hypoproteinaemia
- liver congestion/dysfunction.
If you take more Furosemide tablets 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. Signs of an overdose include dehydration, changes in the levels of certain chemicals in the blood, low blood pressure, low blood volume, and cardiac arrhythmia.
If you forget to take Furosemide 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 a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Furosemide tablets
Speak to your doctor before you stop taking Furosemide tablets.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
4 Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you have any of the following serious side effects while taking your medicine tell your doctor immediately or go to hospital straight away:
- Severe allergic reactions such as itching, skin rash with severe itching and nettle rash, fever, sensitivity to light, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Blistering or peeling of the skin around the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals, flu-like symptoms and fever could be a condition called toxic epidermal necrosis
- 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
- Red patches on the skin, joint pain and/or inflammation of the eyes, “acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)” (acute febrile drug eruption) characterised by severe acute (allergic) reaction accompanied by fever and blisters on the skin/peeling skin and tiny spots from bleeding in the skin
- Sudden inflammation of the pancreas accompanied by severe pain in the upper abdomen, shifting towards the back
- Any unexplained bruising or bleeding, fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers. This could be a sign of low blood counts, agranulocytosis
- Abnormal blood count (white blood cell deficiency) accompanied by an increased susceptibility to infection
- Aplastic anaemia (a condition characterised by shortage of red blood cells)
- Signs of kidney inflammation e.g. pain in sides, blood in urine
- Shock (severe drop in blood pressure, extreme paleness, restlessness, weak fast pulse, clammy skin, impaired consciousness) as a result of a sudden severe dilatation of the blood vessels due to allergy to certain substances
- Psychiatric disorder
- Changes in the liver causing yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes
Blood clot (causing pain, swelling or tenderness in the legs).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following side effects:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Dehydration, altered balance of fluid or chemicals in the body (e.g. sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium and magnesium) causing a dry mouth, weakness, tiredness or drowsiness, restlessness, fits, muscle pain, fatigue or cramps, low blood pressure causing loss of concentration and slowed reactions, difficulty passing water, fast or irregular heart rate and feeling and being sick
- Lowering of blood pressure, resulting in impaired concentration and reactions, light-headedness, a feeling of pressure in the head, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, a feeling of weakness, visual disturbances, dry mouth and an inability to stand upright.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Low blood volume (hypovolaemia)
- Increased creatinine and blood urea (seen in blood tests).
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Changes in vision including blurred or yellow vision
- Changes in the body seen in tests such as levels of glucose or uric acid
- The blood levels of some fats (cholesterol and triglyceride) may rise, but usually return to normal within 6 months
- Gout
- Irregular heartbeat
- Muscle cramps or weakness
- Changes in the amount or need to urinate
- If you have a bladder disorder, enlarged prostate or narrowing of the ureters, urine production can stop suddenly
- Sensitivity to light (photosensitivity)
- Feeling of tiredness
- Dry mouth, thirst, disturbances of bowel like diarrhoea, constipation, nausea or vomiting
- Deafness (sometimes irreversible).
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- Increase in certain substances (eosinophilic cells) in the blood
- Increase in certain liver enzymes
- Feeling ‘pins and needles’, itching or tingling sensation of the skin
- Confusion, headache, dizziness, tiredness, generally feeling unwell, fever
- Hearing problems e.g. ‘ringing’ in the ears, reversible or irreversible loss of hearing
- If you have a urinary tract obstruction, increased urine production may occur or worsen
- Skin rashes, including itching.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- Involuntary movements of the muscle.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
Metabolic acidosis characterised by chest pain, irregular heartbeat, headache, feeling sick, vomiting, abdominal pain, altered appetite and weight gain, muscle weakness, bone and joint pain
Continued over page
Continued top of next column
Continued over page
Continued top of next column
- Decreased levels of potassium in the body (potassium deficiency) characterised by muscular weakness and the inability to contract one or more muscles (paralysis), increased excretion of urine and heart problems
- Various forms of dermatitis including urticaria, bullous lesions, erythema multiforme, purpura, exfoliative dermatitis, itching
- Dizziness, fainting and loss of consciousness (caused by symptomatic hypotension).
Additional side effects in children
- Deposits of calcium salts in the kidneys or heart defects like patent ductus arteriosus have been reported in premature babies following treatment with furosemide
- Kidney stones in infants.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5 How to store Furosemide tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Store below 25°C in a dry place.
Protect from light.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6 Contents of the pack and other information
What Furosemide tablets contain
- Each tablet contains 500mg of the active substance (the ingredient that makes the tablets work) furosemide.
- The other ingredients are lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch, stearic acid, E104.
What Furosemide tablets look like and contents of the pack
Furosemide tablets are yellow, circular, flat bevelled-edge uncoated tablets, impressed with the identifying letters “FF” on one face and a double division line on the reverse. Pack size is 28.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Accord, Barnstaple, EX32 8NS, UK.
This leaflet was last revised in February 2026.