What are the special precautions to be followed while taking Furosemide?

It is advised to drink an adequate amount of water while taking furosemide because it works by increasing urine production to eliminate excess fluid and electrolytes from your body. This elimination of fluids may increase the chances of dehydration .

Does Furosemide cause weight gain?

Furosemide does not cause weight gain ; instead, people may lose weight as it makes the body get rid of excess fluids .

What happens when Furosemide is taken with alcohol?

It is better to avoid alcohol while taking this medication as it may result in an excessive reduction of blood pressure and cause side effects like headache, dizziness, and fainting .

Can Furosemide be taken with food?

Furosemide tablets or oral solutions are usually taken once or twice a day on an empty stomach , as food may interfere with their absorption .

Is it safe to take Furosemide while breastfeeding?

Furosemide can be avoided while breastfeeding . Lactation is generally suppressed by intense diuresis, so an alternative drug may be preferred. Low doses of furosemide do not suppress lactation .

Mitral Regurgitation

Mitral regurgitation is the most common form of valvular incompetence. About 1 in 5 (20%) of people over 55 years, undergoing an Echocardiogram, have some extent of mitral valve regurgitation.

Mitral Regurgitation [MR] is the abnormal back flow or leaking of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium through the mitral valve.

This is also called “Mitral Insufficiency”. In this condition mitral valve does not close completely. Similar to Mitral Valve stenosis, regurgitation also increases the size of the left atrium. Untreated MR can also lead to heart failure. Patients are usually asymtpomatic with mild Mitral Regurgitation. Patients with moderate to severe MR have abnormal rhythm problems and shortness of breath.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the most common valve diseases. About 1 in 5 (20%) of all people over 55 years of age, undergoing an echocardiogram, have some extent of mitral valve regurgitation. It occurs in about 5 of 10,000 people in the United States. Mitral Valve prolapse and Myxomatous degeneration are the main cause of MR in the western world unlike the other developing countries where rheumatic heart disease is still the principal cause.

Mitral regurgitation can be acute or chronic. Acute MR is frequently caused by a myocardial Infarction [heart attack] or trauma that causes a rupture of the chordae tendinae. The left ventricular blood flow and volume increases, creating an increase in the left atrial pressure. This can lead to dyspnea or shortness of breath, acute pulmonary edema or even cardiogenic shock. 80% mortality rate is associated with acute mitral regurgitation.