Lasix – ‘Water’ pill to get rid of that extra water and swelling in the body

Excess salt and calcium are eliminated alongwith water by the body through urine. When this fluid accumulates in the body because of some disorder, it can cause swelling in the tissues or any part of the body, leading to severe complications in those organs. This can be a temporary or permanent condition. Loop diuretics, or water pills, play a major role in expelling excess salt and water through urine. Lasix, containing Furosemide, is one such potent loop diuretic.

Salt, water and other small molecules are filtered out of the blood into the tubules of the kidney. However, most of the sodium, chloride, calcium and water get reabsorbed into the blood before the filtered fluid gets expelled through urine. Generic Furosemide blocks this re-absorption process, causing an increase in the output of urine – diuresis. It’s very name, Lasix, is said to be derived from a phrase that describes its duration - lasting 6 hours. If it is taken orally, Lasix takes about an hour to take effect, after which the diuresis lasts about 6-8 hours; but, if it is injected, it starts working within 5 minutes and the diuresis lasts a couple of hours.

For those who suffer from fluid retention because of disorders of the kidney [such as nephrotic syndrome], liver problem, or heart disease [as in congestive heart failure], those who suffer from hypertension, cerebral or pulmonary edema, and hypercalcemia, all require assistance of a loop diuretic to overcome their problem. Sometimes myeloma [if not treated in time] can result in bone breakdown causing release of calcium in the bloodstream that can lead to hypercalcemia, resulting in acute or chronic renal failure, treatment of which could involve dialysis.

As this medication increases the urine outflow from the body, it also brings down the blood pressure. It is better for people suffering from hypertension and ascites to take the treatment in a hospital as increased flow of urine may lead to severe dehydration, and in a hospital their condition can be monitored and treatment for dehydration be immediately instituted, if so required.

Before Taking Lasix, you must give your medical history to the treating doctor, making a special mention if you have ever suffered from any disease related to the kidney, liver, or heart, and if you have ever suffered from gout, lupus, anuria [disability of the body to make urine], or an untreated mineral imbalance. The physician has to know about all the medicines – prescription as well as OTC and the nutritional supplements or herbal products you take, so that you get a proper regimen. There are certain drugs that should not be taken alongwith Lasix, which are: Ethacrynic acid, Cisapride, Lithium, and other antihypertensive medications; while, Corticosteroids, Aliskerin or other drugs that can affect your hearing, Amphotericin B, Cholestyramine, Cisplatin, Colestipol, Digoxin, Lithium, Salicylates, Sucralfate, NSAIDs, Aspirin in large doses, can all interact with Furosemide, so you must inform your physician if you are taking any of these.

As Furosemide has the capacity to affect blood sugar and potassium levels in the body, you must inform the doctor, so that the doctor can adjust the anti-diabetic medicine for diabetics and give a potassium supplement if needed, besides monitoring blood sugar and potassium levels through regular laboratory tests. Hypertensive patients on Lasix therapy will have to get their blood pressure checked for a few months. If you have to undertake any surgery, it is also important for you to let the dentist or surgeon know that you are taking this medicine.

As with all other medicines, Lasix too has some side effects that may include dizziness, fainting, vomiting, nausea, stomach or abdominal pain, dehydration, headache, fast or irregular heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, diarrhea, constipation, a ringing sound in the ears, a numbness or tingling sensation in the arms or legs. If you suspect an overdose, then contact the emergency room immediately. Pregnant women should take this medicine only if their physician advises, and lactating mothers should do likewise.

This medicine can cause drowsiness and make you feel sleepy, so do not take alcohol or alcoholic beverages when you take a water pill. If you have to drive or handle machinery, be very alert, after taking this medication. Elderly people, too, will need monitoring for the same reason. It can also make your skin more sensitive to sunshine or strong light, so if you have to be outdoors, then be sure to wear a hat and other protective clothing. Lasix itself has to be stored away from heat, light and moisture at a room temperature of 15oC-30oC.

Using Lasix To Prevent Your Body From Absorbing Too Much Salt

Lasix is the brand name for furosemide. It is a loop diuretic (water pill) that allows salt to be passed into the urine instead of being absorbed into one’s body. Apart from being used to treat hypertension or high blood pressure, Lasix is also prescribed for people with liver disease, nephrotic syndrome and other kidney and liver diseases. It is used to treat fluid retention or edema in all the above cases as well as those suffering from congestive heart failure.

Before ingesting Lasix to counter your particular disease, it is pertinent to know some important facts about the drug. One thing to be kept in mind before Using Lasix is that it will cause you to urinate frequently. As a result, you may dehydrate easily. So you need to follow your physicians instructions regarding getting enough salt and potassium in your diet or about potassium supplements. You will also need to vary the amount and type of liquids that you take. It is advisable to consult your doctor for information and guidance on this.

It is critical that you inform your doctor if you are suffering from any type of kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, gout, lupus or if you have an allergy to sulfa drugs. Also, if you are undergoing treatment for high blood pressure, it would be wise to continue using this medication, even if you feel healthy. This is because high blood pressure is not always accompanied by symptoms. If you are an expectant mother or planning to become pregnant, you must let your doctor know. Such medication may prove harmful for an unborn baby. Also, if you are breast-feeding your child, furosemide may pass into breast milk and harm your nursing baby. In case of all the aforementioned conditions, you may not be able to take furosemide or you may need to undergo special tests during treatment or a dosage adjustment.

Furosemide is a drug with dual properties. It can be harmful for you if not taken correctly according to your particular condition. It is best to take Lasix as prescribed by your physician. It is recommended to not exceed the amount or duration of medication as prescribed by your doctor. The doctor may change your dosage from time to time, depending on your condition or level of recovery, in order to maximize the benefits of your medication.

Although furosemide does not usually require a dose schedule, as it is taken once a week in most cases, it is recommended for those who need to take this medication regularly to take the missed dose as soon as they remember. If it is almost time for you next dose, it is strictly advised to not take extra medicine to make up for your missed dose. If you overdose, seek immediate medical attention.

These are just some of the facts about Lasix or Furosemide. So, if you need to use the same or any other medication to treat your health problems, remember to read about it first.

Disclaimer - The information presented here should not be interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk to a qualified professional for more information about Lasix.

Bodybuilder's Drugs!

Despite the amount of press that steroids and prohormones usually receive you’d think that these were the only two substances that bodybuilders were using. But nothing could be further from the truth. There are dozens if not hundreds of compounds available that modern bodybuilders have at their fingertips to boost their muscle-building abilities and fat loss. The following are some of the more popular drugs that you’ll find in gym bags these days.

Estrogen blockers (i.e. Tamoxifen)

Estrogen blockers are a perfect example of using one drug to reduce the side effects caused by another drug. Even though steroids are relatively safe, they may cause side effects in certain individuals. One of the most unsightly of these is called gynecomastia. Essentially males also have receptors for the female hormone estrogen in their bodies, and one of the highest concentrations is found in the nipple region. As one of the breakdown products of steroids is estrogen, the increased levels of the female hormone can activate the estrogen receptors in the nipple region. The end result is the development of feminine-like breasts. The term “bitch tits” is often used as the growth may actually start to look just like women’s breasts. In most cases the condition will clear up after termination of steroid use, but in some cases the growth will need to be surgically removed.

Although some bodybuilders rely on luck or surgery to deal with gynecomastia, the smart ones turn to estrogen blockers. As the name suggests, estrogen blockers are compounds that block the feminizing effects of estrogen in the male’s body. The exact mechanism of action is unknown but it is believed that the drug binds to estrogen receptors preventing the real hormone from activating the cells.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Although steroids may accelerate muscular growth, there is one part of the anatomy that they may actually shrink – the testes!

Following the old saying “use it or lose it” steroids often cause the body to shut down it’s own natural production of testosterone. After a period of time the testes begin to atrophy (shrink) because of a lack of use. In most cases they’ll begin remanufacturing testosterone when the steroids are stopped, but depending on the length of the cycle and the individual’s genetics, recovery may take weeks if not months. To combat this bodybuilders have once again turn to pharmacology.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin is a hormone only found in the placenta of pregnant women. It doesn’t seem to play much of a role for women, but for bodybuilders it has one appealing property; it mimics the action of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the body. LH is a pituitary hormone that once released, signals the testes to begin manufacturing testosterone. Hopefully you can now see why HCG would be an important drug for bodybuilders who are coming off long steroid cycles.

Diuretics (i.e. Lasix)

One of the most difficult tasks facing competitive bodybuilders is getting that “shredded” look for competition. But even when they experience significant fat loss and manage to drop their body fat percentages down to two or three percent, there is often a thin layer of water blurring the muscularity, giving that dreaded “smooth” look. Years ago saunas and wearing four layers of clothes were the usual choices for shedding water, but things have “evolved” and as with most things in bodybuilding now days, the solution for many is found in a pill bottle.

Diurectics are drugs that stimulate the body to lose water. Most work by blocking the actions of the water-conserving hormone, aldosterone. The most popular diuretic for shedding water is Lasix which can be taken in pill or injectable forms. Lasix and other diuretcis are very effective for shedding water, but they also cause the body to excrete important substances called electrolytes. These electrrcally-charged ions such as sodium, potassium, and chlorine, play vital roles in modulating various metabolic systems including, muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and heart beat. A number of individuals have died from diuretic overdosing over the years.

Thyroid Drugs (i.e. Cytomel). Compare pictures of competitors today with those from the 1970’s or 1980’s and you’ll see two important differences. First of all today’s contestants are carrying a lot more muscle mass. Bodybuilders are also much more ripped onstage. While steroids and growth hormone have probably contributed the most to the increased muscle size, the lower body fat levels are usually the result of thyroid drugs.

The thyroid gland is located in the middle of the lower neck, just below the larynx (voice box) and slightly above your collarbones. The thyroid gland produces two primary peptide hormones called tetraiodothyronine (thyroxine or T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Both these iodine-containing hormones are essential for life and have many effects on body metabolism, growth, and development.

Bodybuilders refer to the thyroid gland as the body’s “furnace” since one of its primary functions is the regulating of metabolism and temperature. The two primary disorders of the thyroid gland are hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones) and hyperthyroidism (thyroid hormone levels too high). It’s the drugs that are used to treat hypothyroidism that have become popular.

My Heart Transplant Experience After Congestive Heart Failure

For almost 6 years, I worked as a retail store manager. In April of 1997, I was put on medical disability due to my declining heart condition.

My problems all started when I was an 18 year old freshman in college. One day, I started noticing that I was becoming extremely fatigued when I was walking to my classes. Also, the 3 flights of stairs to my dorm room were causing me to nearly pass out by the time that I climbed to the top. My roommate took me to the campus infirmary twice. However, because I had also developed a non-productive cough, both times I was given cough syrup and sent on my way.

After fainting in one of my classes, I was sent to my hometown for tests. However, no cause for my symptoms was found.

Finally, after once again complaining on the phone to my mother about how awful that I felt, my mother contacted my brother, David, who was also a student at the same college where I was attending. He took me to a doctor in a nearby town. That doctor performed an EKG on me. He then proceeded to tell me that I needed to be in the hospital "now". However, the doctor did not tell me the specifics of my problem. He just said that my EKG was abnormal.

My brother drove me to the hospital 4 hours away in our hometown. Immediately, doctors, nurses, and other hospital personnel were surrounding me. I found out that I was experiencing Congestive Heart Failure. If only 24 more hours had elapsed, I would have been dead. A truly sobering thought.

After losing 10 pounds of fluid overnight, from all of the Lasix, a strong diuretic, that was pumped into my body, my muscles drew up into unfathomable cramping pain. This was the result of all of the potassium that had been eliminated from my body because of the Lasix that I had been given. Eventually, 3 days had passed and I was sent home.

I was told that I would be fine. I was told that there probably would not be any permanent damage to my heart muscle.

Two years later, I experienced a very rapid heart rate called tachycardia. I was put on Lanoxin (digoxin). This drug, I was told, was to increase my heart muscle function and to keep my heart beating at a normal rate.

For the next 3 1/2 years, I lived a normal life. After 4 months of marriage to Jimmy, I found out that I was pregnant. Because I had been on Lanoxin for 3 1/2 years, my OB/GYN sent me to see a cardiologist as a precautionary measure. My cardiologist performed several tests on me. Next, he asked to speak to Jimmy and me in his office. We were truly unprepared for the news that he had to tell us. The doctor told me that if I remained pregnant, most likely I would die and my unborn baby would die. I had Cardiomyopathy, a degenerative disease of the heart muscle. Jimmy and I were completely devastated. My doctor even looked as though he were about to cry. I did not want to go on. At that moment, I just wanted to die.

I was sent to a cardiologist at UAB (University of Alabama in Birmingham) for a second opinion. Unfortunately, the second opinion confirmed the first. There was almost no chance that I or my unborn baby would survive the pregnancy. The sorrow of the decision to end my pregnancy because of my deteriorating health is inexplicable. The next few days and weeks were a living nightmare.

While I was pregnant, my ejection fraction, the force at which the heart pumps blood throughout the body, was 23%. A normal person's is typically greater than 60%.

Four months later, I wound up back in the hospital. Once again, I was suffering from congestive heart failure. Obviously, my heart was permanently damaged. After 3 days, I was sent home. Now, I was on a daily regimen of Lasix to prevent me from having fluid to continue to back up in my lungs.

For the next 5 years, I continued to work full time. My hours on the job were usually long. My job was very stressful. I made many more trips to my doctor at UAB. I underwent many more tests. I was put on several more drugs. I landed in the hospital several more times.

Finally, my heart couldn't take it anymore. I was put on medical disability from my job in April of 1997. A month later I was evaluated for a heart transplant. On one test, I did better than expected. I was not put on "the list" at that time. My life at that point was in limbo. I was happy that I wasn't going to have to consider risky surgery. However, I still felt physically lousy most of the time. Also, I was not able to work. It was a very frustrating feeling.

A few months later I was put on Coreg. This drug helped my heart rate drop from approximately 115bpm, beats per minute, to 75bpm. After I got used to it, I did feel somewhat better.

In August of 1998, I was once again evaluated for a heart transplant. After 4 days of tests, my doctor listed me for a heart transplant.

On October 30, 1998, I was called as a back-up for a heart at UAB. I was excited, nervous, and scared. Several preliminary tests were performed on me. After several hours, however, I was told that I could go home. I wasn't a match.

I won't tell you that I wasn't disappointed. I, also, won't tell you that I wasn't a little bit relieved. After all, I wouldn't be human if I didn't have some conflicting emotions.