BUMETANIDE ORAL

GENERIC NAME(S): BUMETANIDE

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Bumex

Description

A diuretic that causes you to make more urine.
- Helps body get rid of extra water and salt

Uses

Reduction of extra fluid in the body (edema) caused by conditions such as heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease. This can lessen symptoms such as shortness of breath and swelling in your arms, legs, and abdomen.
May also be used to treat high blood pressure, especially in people who have heart failure, too much fluid in the lungs, or kidney disease. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.

How to use bumetanide

Always refer to your doctors instructions before taking this medication. Duration and dosage will be determined by your medical condition and its response to the medication. Make sure to take this mediciation in the prescribed amount and time period even after symptoms disappear. Discontinuing the medication before completion of treatment may cause incomplete treatment of condition. If Symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
Taken mouth as directed by your doctor, usually once or twice daily. It is best to avoid taking this medication within 4 hours of your bedtime to prevent having to get up to urinate.
Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Older adults usually start with a lower dose to decrease the risk of side effects. Do not increase your dose or take it more often than directed.
Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) of the day as directed. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick.
Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens. If you are taking this medication to control high blood pressure, tell your doctor if your blood pressure readings remain high or increase.

Warnings

Very potent
- Overuse can lead to serious water and salt/mineral loss.
- It is important that you are closely monitored by your doctor while taking this medication. Tell your doctor right away if you become very thirsty or confused, or develop muscle cramps/weakness.

Side Effects

Minor side effects (if these symptoms persist or worsen, inform your doctor)
- Dizziness
  - To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
Serious side effects (inform your doctor immediately)
- may cause a serious loss of body water (dehydration) and salt/minerals
- muscle cramps, weakness, unusual tiredness, confusion, severe dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, unusual dry mouth/thirst, nausea, vomiting, fast/irregular heartbeat, unusual decrease in the amount of urine
- numbness/tingling/pain/redness/swelling of the arms/legs, hearing changes (such as ringing in the ears, temporary or permanent decreased hearing/deafness), easy bruising/bleeding
Severe allergic reactions are rare. Get immediate medical help if you notice the following:
- Rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing

Precautions

Precautions

Inform your doctor
- Allergy to the medication or any allergies
- Medical History, especially of:
  - kidney problems, liver problems, inability to make urine, gout
If with diabetes:
- Check your blood sugar level regularly as directed and share the results with your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medication or diet.
May decrease the potassium level in your blood
- Doctor may instruct you to add potassium-rich foods to your diet (such as bananas, orange juice) or prescribe potassium supplements to prevent potassium loss
May cause dizziness
- Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages
Severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting can increase the risk of dehydration. Report prolonged diarrhea or vomiting to your doctor. Follow your doctor’s instructions about the amount of fluids you can drink.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products)
Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug, especially dizziness and water/mineral loss.
During pregnancy, this drug should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is uknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Before breast-feeding, consult your physician.

Interactions

Taking multiple drugs may affect how medications work and/or cause unwanted side effects. List down all the medications you are taking and inform your physician and pharmacist. Do not take, discontinue, or alter any dose of medications without prior approval of your physician.

Products that may interact with this medication include:
- indomethacin, lithium, probenecid.

Check the labels on all your medicines (such as cough-and-cold products, diet aids, or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure or worsen swelling (edema).

Overdose & Brands

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Lifestyle changes that may help this medication work better include exercising, stopping smoking, reducing stress, and changing your diet. Consult your doctor for more details.
Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as kidney tests, blood mineral levels such as potassium) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.
Regular blood pressure measurements should be done while taking this medication. Learn how to monitor your own blood pressure at home, and share the results with your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and as soon as you remember, take a regular dose or if the time of the next dose is near, wait for it before taking another dose and resume your usual schedule. Do not increase the dose to compensate for the missed dose.

Storage

Room temperature
Do not expose to light and moisture
Do not store in the bathroom
Keep all medications away from pets and children
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so
Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed
- Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product