So far I haven’t found much to suggest that they do, however, I have edema and have had it for years and it is getting worse. The last 3 doctors that I have had (I’ve moved around a bit) have said that I shouldn’t take them because it will damage the kidneys.
My MIL takes Lasix or Frusamide and has had for years - purely for the treatment of edema and has had no damage to her kidneys as yet. I’ve been researching Lasix and can’t find anything to suggest that it can damage the kidneys - although it has caused deafness in cats, can be dodgy if taken with some other drugs and they are not sure what it may do to babies being breastfed by users.
Has anyone found anything or experienced anything that suggests it can damage kidneys?
I’m not an expert and no doctor, but I really doubt it. The reason I feel somewhat qualified to say that is that about a year and a half ago I was hospitalized with kidney trouble.
To make a long story short, I had a lot of calcium in my system (due to overeating antacid tablets) that was damaging my kidneys with calcium deposits. One of the treatments my nephrologist gave me was Lasix, in order to help flush the excess calcium out of my system. I doubt I would have been given that if it had the potential to do additional damage to my kidneys, but again, I’m not a doctor, and you may wish to wait for a more informed opinion.
There are several types of diuretics.Furosemide is a loop diuretic, named for the part of the kidney it acts on, Henley’s Loop. High doses can cause deafness in humans as well as animals, but rarely. Prolonged use at high doses can cause liver failure. Potassium levels must be monitored during use. They can drop to levels that are incompatible with life.
There are other types of diuretics that do damage the kidneys. Some contain Mercury I don’t know for sure if they are still used in other countries, but I don’t think they are used in the U.S. anymore.
Spironolactone is another type that spares potassium, but has its own set of problems including liver failure.
You need to be followed with lab work in any case.
Thanks so far - I’ve just been chatting with one of the nurses at work and she reckons doctors are loathe to give anyone under 50 medication that they will need to take for a very long time - this may explain the doctors reluctance to prescribe. My MIL told me about the postassium thing - she always eats a banana at breakfast. I’ll do a bit more research on liver damage instead of kidney.
Lasix is actually a fairly safe drug. Of course, as with any medicine, side effects are always possible.
Liver damage from Lasix is extremely rare. Unless a massive overdose is taken, the likelihood of significant liver damage from Lasix is essentially zero. Its safety in this regard is all the more impressive given that Lasix is often used in people with other, serious medical problems who are taking multiple medications (where the possibility of a drug-drug interaction is ever present).
One risk of any diuretic is of “volume depletion” leading to pre-renal failure. In other words, the diuretic may cause sufficient fluid loss from the body such that there is inadequate amount of salt/water left in the circulation to wash through the kidneys. Kidney malfunction results. This is usually, but not always, a reversible problem. It is more likely to occur in people who continue to take their diuretic at times when their fluid intake is low and/or fluid losses are great (eg. diarrhea, vomiting).
The real risk with all diuretics is of disturbances of the salt and electrolyte balance in the body. Anyone taking a diuretic should have periodic measurement made of their electrolytes. Similarly, in view of the fact that excessive fluid loss caused by diuretics can sometimes be subtle, and that many people who use diuretics have other reasons for kidney problems, periodic assessment of kidney function is also advisable.
IMHO.