Both "Furosemide" and "Lasix" belong to the class of pharmacological drugs with a pronounced diuretic effect. Under some conditions, the use of such funds is justified. In terms of composition, both drugs are identical. The main active ingredient in both cases is furosemide, the concentration of this substance is also the same. And what is better - "Lasix" or "Furosemide"? Given that these drugs differ only in the country of origin, let's try to conclude which of these two drugs is better to purchase.
Why are diuretics prescribed?
To begin with, let's figure out why diuretics are generally prescribed, how toxic they are, what form of release is better. As a rule, the need to take diuretics is due to the patient's generalized edematous syndrome. This condition is a symptom of serious diseases of the cardiovascular system,kidneys, lungs.
There is no point in taking diuretics such as Lasix and Furosemide for local edema. For example, if your ankles or hands swell at the end of the working day, then in this case you should not take diuretics. It also makes no sense to take a diuretic for edema that accompanies diabetes. The instructions for "Lasix" and "Furosemide" report that it is impossible to simply suppress the puffiness by taking drugs. The reasons for the appearance of local edema can be very serious - blockade of the lymph nodes, diabetes mellitus, etc. And mindlessly taking a diuretic, patients aggravate their condition and the root cause of the swelling only gets worse.
What is the principle of action of drugs with a diuretic effect? In the kidneys, after some time from the moment of administration, the process of reabsorption of potassium, sodium and chlorine is inhibited. These electrolytes begin to be rapidly excreted from the tissues of the patient's body along with fluid in the form of urine. The volume of blood in the body decreases and blood pressure decreases. If you take diuretics in large doses, then the person begins to feel very bad. However, in moderate dosages, taking Lasix and Furosemide is relatively safe and leads to a decrease in the load on the heart. Diuretics are also used for diseases of the liver, kidneys, eyes (glaucoma).
You can't prescribe a diuretic on your own. Often, patients are interested in a pharmacist: which is better - Lasix or Furosemide? In fact, these two drugs are not diuretics.limited - there are also thiazide diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics, etc. Only a doctor who is aware of the course of the disease and the clinical picture of the patient's condition can prescribe a medicine that is safe for a particular patient. Some girls start taking Lasix and Furosemide to lose weight. Needless to say, such an irresponsible attitude to one's own he alth can harm oneself? The side effects of taking diuretics are described below. Instructions for use for Lasix and Furosemide confirm that these drugs are not at all as harmless as they might seem at first glance to an inexperienced person in pharmaceuticals.
Composition, form of release and principle of action of drugs
Both drugs have the same release form - tablets. What is the difference between "Lasix" and "Furosemide"? In both preparations, the main active ingredient is furosemide in the same concentration. The difference between the drugs lies in the manufacturer and the country of issue. Furosemide is produced in Russia or Bulgaria (Sopharma), Lasix is produced in France or India. If we compare both drugs in terms of the severity of their diuretic effect, then there is no difference.
Both Lasix and Furosemide are so-called loop diuretics. As a rule, they are prescribed for the fastest and most powerful removal of fluid from body tissues. Although both drugs canpurchased at a pharmacy without the need to provide a prescription from a doctor, self-administration is undesirable. Alas, many women take diuretics to get rid of local edema and excess weight, which is reduced due to dehydration.
"Lasix" and "Furosemide" - drugs from the loop group of diuretics. This means that the point of application of the active substance furosemide is the ascending section of the loop of Henle of the nephron of the kidney. Based on this, we can conclude about the pharmacological action of both drugs:
- acceleration and increased blood flow in the tissues of the kidneys;
- removal of water molecules from body tissues;
- increased urination leads to the washing out of ions of certain vital substances, which can provoke the development of life-threatening conditions (in particular, the functioning of the cardiovascular system may suffer).
Indications for the use of Lasix
Instructions for "Lasix" and "Furosemide" are almost identical, since both drugs work due to the presence of the same active ingredient in the composition. Indications for the use of Lasix:
- edema caused by pathology of the kidneys and bladder, including nephrotic syndrome;
- edema caused by cirrhotic liver disease;
- hypertensive crisis;
- severe arterial hypertension;
- cerebral edema;
- hypercalcemia;
- eclampsia.
The attending physician prescribes the exact dosage of the drug after clarifying the clinical picture of the patient's condition. The instructions indicate only approximate dosages. Depending on the height, weight and age of the patient, these dosages may be increased or decreased at the discretion of the attending physician.
Indications for the use of "Furosemide"
So, we figured out what Lasix pills are from. "Furosemide" has exactly the same indications for use, as reflected in the instructions. True, the instructions for "Furosemide" are supplemented with information that it is also advisable to use the drug for intoxication with chemicals. The goal of taking the drug in this case is to achieve forced diuresis and increase the rate of excretion of a toxic substance in the urine.
With high blood pressure that occurs in patients with chronic renal failure, it is advisable to use Furosemide if the patient is unable to take thiazide diuretics for one reason or another.
Expediency of taking diuretics for weight loss
You can find a lot of reviews about "Lasix" and "Furosemide", promising rapid weight loss. Is this true and is it really possible to get rid of extra pounds without harming your own he alth? Of course, such reviews are partly based on the truth. After taking a diuretic tablet and three hours later, standing onscales, it can be noted that a kilogram or two really evaporated. But this does not mean that by taking another pill, a person will lose another kilogram. The fact is that such a "miraculous" effect is achieved due to dehydration of the body, which in itself is a rather dangerous condition.
Can you really lose weight by taking Furosemide? Yes and no. After taking even one pill, the weight really decreases by one, and sometimes even two kilograms. But fat deposits do not burn. So if the goal is to get rid of fat rolls on the stomach or elsewhere in the body, then taking diuretics for this purpose is simply stupid. In addition, the next morning, the exhausted body will restore the water balance, and it is highly likely that with a margin. And the numbers on the scale will be the same, and often even higher than before taking the diuretic pill.
Reviews of "Furosemide" and "Lasix" for weight loss are different. As a rule, at first girls are happy with even a slight weight loss. However, everyone very quickly realizes that the next day the lost weight returns. After taking diuretics, many feel weak, blood pressure changes and efficiency decreases, an unpleasant odor begins to emanate from the body.
What are the side effects and consequences of girls taking a diuretic for weight loss? The main side effect is disruption of he althy electrolyte balance. The normal acidity of urine is shifted, as a result of which acidosis may develop. This causes a violation of the outflow of fluidfrom the body, an unpleasant odor resembling acetone begins to emanate from the skin. At the same time, the person himself may not feel this smell.
Contraindications for taking
Loop diuretics have a relatively large number of contraindications:
- individual intolerance to furosemide;
- acute renal failure, provided that the value of GFR is below 5 ml per minute;
- diseases accompanied by anuria;
- urethral stenosis;
- hyperglycemic conditions;
- hepatic or hyperglycemic coma;
- decompensated stenosis of the mitral valve or aortic orifice;
- gout at any stage;
- blockage of the ureter by a stone, sand or any other calculus;
- myocardial infarction;
- lupus erythematosus;
- electrolyte imbalance of any etiology;
- chronic alcoholism, hangover condition;
- acute pancreatitis (depending on the course of chronic pancreatitis, loop diuretics may also be prohibited);
- hypocalcemia, hypochloremia and other disorders of s alt metabolism;
- a state of intoxication provoked by the use of cardiac glycosides.
Relative contraindications to the use of loop diuretics:
- diabetes mellitus;
- benign prostatic hyperplasia;
- hypotension and circulatory failure, which can provoke ischemia;
- hypoproteinemia;
- cirrhotic disease complicated by ascites.
Possible side effects of taking diuretics
Since Furosemide and Lasix are one and the same, and the difference between these drugs, as mentioned earlier, is only at the place of production, then the side effects when using these loop diuretics will be the same:
- disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, in particular severe dizziness, headache, decreased performance, muscle weakness;
- temporary dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus;
- apathy, tetany, adynamia, confusion;
- dry mouth, intense thirst;
- constipation, indigestion;
- oliguria, hematuria, impotence and other disorders of the urogenital tract;
- urticaria, exfoliative dermatitis, vasculitis, eczema multiforme;
- fever, chills, fever;
- leukopenia, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia;
- violations of water-s alt metabolism, dehydration and increased risk of thrombosis;
- changing indicators in laboratory tests.
Signs and effects of dehydration
The most obvious and dangerous consequence of taking loop diuretics is a violation of the water-s alt balance, as a result of which the tissues and organs of the body suffer from dehydration. This is a rather dangerous condition, which, if predisposed, can lead to the development of serious diseases.
You can tell if you are dehydrated by the following symptoms:
- strong weakness;
- dizziness;
- desire to lie down, muscle weakness;
- headache;
- increased heart rate;
- blood pressure spikes.
Drug interactions with other drugs
While taking "Furosemide" and "Lasix" with ethacrynic acid, aminoglycosides, cisplatin, the concentration in the blood of the latter increases.
When taken simultaneously with "Theophylline" and "Dazoxide", their pharmacological action is enhanced. It should be noted that the use of loop diuretics reduces the rate of renal excretion of lithium, so that the risk of intoxication with it increases.
Reception of loop diuretics increases the nerve blockade provoked by the intake of non-depolarizing muscle relaxants. Significantly reduces the effect of non-depolarizing relaxants.
Concomitant use of loop diuretics with cardiac glycosides is fraught with the development of toxic effects due to a decrease in potassium in the blood.
Lasix and Furosemide: what's the difference?
The only difference is that these two drugs are produced by different factories. The composition, the concentration of the active substance, the form of release, indications and contraindications for admission - all these characteristics are the same for Lasix and Furosemide.
The difference is only in the manufacturer and the country that produces the drug. "Furosemide"is produced by the Sopharma plant in Russia or Bulgaria, Lasix is produced in France or India.
Which drug to choose if the composition is the same?
So, what is better - "Lasix" or "Furosemide" Patient reviews indicate that you should not intentionally give preference to one of the drugs. In addition, most doctors prescribe Furosemide, as it is always available at any pharmacy and is cheaper. The cost of "Lasix" is also low and fluctuates around one hundred rubles, but "Furosemide" is still cheaper (about 70 rubles per pack).
Since the main characteristics and principle of action of both drugs are the same, it makes no sense to deliberately look for a specific one. If Furosemide is not available in the pharmacy, purchase Lasix, and vice versa. Self-administration can result in a large number of side effects. In addition, many patients acquire diuretics for weight loss, which leads to unpleasant consequences for the state of the whole organism as a whole. It is optimal to take loop diuretics only after a doctor's prescription and at the dosage that he recommended. Otherwise, there is a high risk of experiencing side effects in all their manifestations.
