Furosemide (Lasix)

Pharmaceutics Group: diuretics; loop diuretics

Pharmacological action: "Loop" diuretics; It is coming quickly, strong and short diuresis. It possesses natriuretic and hlordiuretic effect, increases excretion of K +, Ca2 +, Mg2 +. Penetrating into the lumen of the tubule in the large segment of the ascending limb of Henle's loop, blocks the reabsorption of Na + and Cl-. Due to the increasing allocation of Na + occurs secondary (indirect osmotic bound water) increased excretion of water and an increase in K + secretion in the distal tubule. Simultaneously, excretion of increased Ca2 + and Mg2 +.

Description
Furosemide relates to a class of drugs known as loop diuretics. These drugs work by encouraging the body secrete fluid with potassium, sodium, [[magnesium | magnesium]], and calcium chloride. Most often, these medications are used to treat edema and high blood pressure. Like other drugs of this type, Furosemide acts by inhibiting Na-K-2CI symporter into the thick ascending loop of Henle, which is the carrier protein attracting sodium, potassium and chloride into the cell. This mode of action is not associated with the inhibition of aldosterone. Loop diuretics are among the most potent diuretics, and may have very strong effect on the fluid level and electrolytes in the body. In particular, in their use should be carefully monitored levels of potassium, and patients may require potassium supplementation medications. Without the support of appropriate levels of potassium and other electrolytes can develop serious complications from the heart. potassium overdose has less serious consequences, so it should be noted that the use of Furosemide may be especially risky without proper medical supervision.

Furosemide for slimming
Athletes and bodybuilders use diuretics for their own purposes, and only for short periods of time. Professional athletes participating in competitions with weight restrictions, can use these drugs to reduce weight due to the excretion of excess fluid. Since the weighing procedures are often held in one or several days prior to competition, athletes can significantly reduce their weight through diuretics, and return to normal as a result of rehydration within a few hours after discontinuation of the drug. It can provide them with a strong competitive advantage, allowing to compete with the more heavyweight than the dictates of their weight category. This practice "drop weight" is almost universal in these sports. Bodybuilders use diuretics when preparing for competitions. Here drugs such as furosemide, are effectively used to reduce subcutaneous fluid level, increasing the prominence of body that is so highly valued in the competitive bodybuilding.

History
Furosemide was developed in the early 1960s. Many of the initial studies was conducted diuretic in Europe mainly - in Germany and Italy. The drug proved to be quite successful, and for several years has received worldwide attention and recognition as a means to treat edema, and high blood pressure. For several years, Furosemide becoming the most popular drug in the art of medicine. Currently, almost all parts of the world, you can find one and multy-ingridient preparations, including in the structure is a diuretic. The most recognizable brand Lasix is currently marketed in the US and many other countries under the name Sanofi Aventis. It is difficult to enumerate the actual number of different brands and generic Furosemide.

How supplied
Furosemide often comes in the form of oral tablets of 20mg, 40 mg and 80 mg, and the injection solutions containing 10 mg / ml.

Warnings (dehydration, death)
Furosemide is a very powerful diuretic, use of which can lead to a significant increase in the allocation of water (diuresis) and electrolyte depletion. Abuse of diuretics such as furosemide, to improve productivity or build, has a high degree of risk. Without proper medical supervision, diuretics can lead to life-threatening levels of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Abuse of these drugs is associated significant risk of death.

Furosemide: side effects
Use Furosemide may be due to an imbalance of electrolytes that may include: the depletion of potassium (hypokalemia), sodium (hyponatremia), magnesium (hypomagnesemia) and calcium (hypocalcemia), and hypo-chloric alkalosis, increased blood bicarbonate level from large chloride losses. Signs of electrolyte imbalance include dry mouth, thirst, weakness, lethargy, drowsiness, restlessness, muscle pain, muscle spasms, convulsions, decrease the amount of urine, low blood pressure and gastrointestinal disorders. Other side effects may include: pancreatitis, jaundice, anorexia, irritation of the mouth and stomach, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, hearing loss, numbness or tingling in the extremities, dizziness, headache, blurred vision or other visual disturbances, anemia, reduction in the number of white blood cells or platelets, dermatitis, rashes, itching and sensitivity to light, low blood pressure, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), muscle cramps, weakness, anxiety, bladder spasms, fever, blood clots and excess uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia). Furthermore, certain rare side effects characterized as hypersensitivity reactions, including inflammation of blood vessels, renal inflammation and inflammation of blood vessels or lymph nodes (vasculitis).

Furosemide application

When used in medicine for the treatment of edema, drug is often administered orally in a single dose of 20 mg to 80 mg per day. For the treatment of hypertension, it is generally recommended to apply a dose of 80 mg per day, which is divided into two 40 mg dose used with a difference in 12 hours. Athletes and bodybuilders typically use this medication (off-label) in short periods of time (a few days) to reduce the water level in the body. Dosage and method of use are regulated depending on the desired objectives and the individual characteristics of an athlete. Oral pills are the most common form of application. The athlete, as a rule, begins to use the drug in low doses, and then, in the following days, gradually increase the dosage. The focus is on what to calculate the optimal dose and schedule to determine the best use for the participation in the show or competition. The initial dose is typically 20 to 40 mg and a maximum daily dose rarely exceed 80 mg. In order to minimize the side effects associated with this drug, it is usually not used more than 4-5 days. Note that, as Furosemide exerts such a strong influence on the levels of the electrolytes, instead of increasing the dosage is much safer, it is generally considered the addition of potassium-sparing drugs such as Aldactone (spironolactone). For this reason, a combination of a diuretic such as this, is widely produced in the form of prescription drugs. Usually they start using Aldactone 50 mg and 20 mg of furosemide, which is believed to cause about the same diuretic effect as 40 mg Furosemide, but without the same level of loss of potassium. This dose can then be adjusted to determine the optimal quantity and consumption schedule, but it rarely exceeds 100 mg / 40 mg per day. It is important to remember that these drugs may be active for hours. In this chart it can be difficult to control dehydration, so be careful and do not take diuretics, several times a day. Furosemide Injection solutions are considered to be a much more powerful form of the drug compared milligram per milligram. The solutions can be administered intramuscularly or intravenously, depending on the individual patient's needs. Intramuscular provides much more rapid action, and produces a much higher peak blood levels of the drug. Given that the action of Furosemide can be seen within a few seconds or minutes after injecting, in this method the efficiency of the drug is much easier to assess and control, at least under normal conditions. Since the effect is much more powerful injection oral administration, it is important to emphasize that while the dose should be significantly less. Intramuscular injections are the most popular among bodybuilders and athletes, and is usually taken in a dosage of 10-20 mg. Doses greater than 40 mg per day, is rarely used in bodybuilding and sports.

Availability of Furosemide (Lasix):
Furosemide is a widely available drug, and is produced and sold in many countries under various brand names. At the moment not aware of a large batch of counterfeit medication Lasix (a diuretic or any other). Do not get the drug in the form of 500 mg tablets. Such doses are used only in cases of serious illness and can be deadly to a healthy person.