Does anyone take Furosemide?

Yes - I have been taking this for a couple of weeks. I have several pills I take at the moment as I have recently had a course of chemo therapy - two different types. I have theFurosemide as a diuretic and it works quickly after taking for me - I started on 20mg but the doctor doubled the dose this week. At the moment I have swollen ankles and they haven’t slightly reduced since taking the drug and my shoes are more comfortable.
I find that I cannot leave the house for a few hours after taking the pill as I am in frequent need of a loo but then I am OK.

Doctor prescribed it to relieve swollen ankles but I never took it as I don't want to be dehydrated or loose electrolytes. To put it simply, I'd rather have swollen ankles than fall or faint.

Thanks Welshwife it's good to have another opinion. I am on 20mg at the moment. I do find it awkward needing the loo so often,, but I can put up with it, it's just the light-headed feeling I find hard.

I probably wouldn't take it either for swollen ankles Alexa but as it's for blood pressure I feel I need to keep taking it.

I have taken all sort of medication for high bp but luckily I tolerate them quite well apart from when they doubled my calcium channel blocker. I had awful palpitations and the GP agreed I had to stay on the lower dose. I find the water tablets get better as you get used to them, the trips to the loo reduce to almost normal so possibly the lightheadness will go too. I hate it when they decide to change the medication/dosage.

Yes Antonia, I know the connection between water pills and blood pressure. I have high BP too . I had a bad fall and the emergency doctor advised my BP too low and stop some of my BP pills. I did so and the BP was okay so I was not about to risk another fall lowering the BP with water pills.

I'm afraid my trust in doctors' wisdom has diminished and I use my own discretion whether or not to take their advice.

Thanks Bluesky & Alexa I am very much the same when it comes to trusting doctors. I was on a different. medication for bp and then told I had diabetes. When my bp meds were changed recently, my doctor said I was no longer diabetic and that it was the bp meds that had put me in the diabetic category. So I had spent years needlessly worrying about diabetes.

I could do with some for just now and again. Although I already take Spironolactone as a diuretic for heart-failure, it's not strong enough to really flush the kidneys as I know in myself when I have retention, besides the feet swelling.

I've not had high BP for a while now and at the moment it's 122/70, so I'd say that was within normal limits.

The swollen ankles/feet are a symptom of a problem not necessarily the problem itself. The medications do of course work on the kidneys which anyone who has had chemo will tell you need to be watched - the flushing out of toxins is so very important. Chemo does so many other things to your body. This drug is, I have found, good for my BP which was a tad erratic prior to my taking it.

Taken furosemide on and off for some time. It can destroy your sodium which I had a problem with. As Sodium was dropping felt very unwell. It hit 120 the danger zone and had to have infusion to raise it. So keep an eye on that. The reading is nearly there but still not that fit.

The swollen ankles/feet are a symptom of a problem not necessarily the problem itself
Yes! For a few years now, but I've not noticed any side effects. Furo (40mg daily) plus Spiro, doubled to 40mg daily since my recent vacation in hosp. with lymphoedema (swollen "wet" legs}. After innumerable scans, {not including my brain!,), the problem was diagnosed to be a dodgy return venous circulation system coupled with a poor right-side ventricle how's your father! Someone with medical certs. will understand.
Oh!, I almost forgot; leg wraps for the rest of my life!
Otherwise, I'm fine apart from the loo thing; when you want to go it's all systems go and quick about it!

Welshwife, please could you say a little more about how your BP was "a tad erratic before taking it" ?

The trouble with my own BP is has surges up and down. Do water pills even out the surges?

Do water pills even out the surges?
Alexa; They definitely don't "even out" bladder surges!
My daily Furo and Spiro combo. doesn't appear to affect my BP which is always "excellent" and is managed with a daily miniscule amount of Digoxin.
My story started several years ago with atrial fibrillation (A/F)' diagnosed via ultrasound and echograms (quite soothing to hear your blood coursing through your plumbing!)
If you're a true hypochondriac, which fortunately I'm not, take a look at what Dr. Google has to say about chronic A/F. 5X the normal risk of stroke, so definitely worth taking your doctor's advice.
Good Health and Good Luck.