Exploring Medicine
Treatment Options
If you’re living with heart failure, you may need medicines to help keep your heart and body healthy.
If you’re in the hospital, medicine is often given through an IV (intravenous therapy).
If you are at home, or ready to leave the hospital, your medicines will be taken by mouth.
If you’re living with heart failure, you may need medicines to help keep your heart and body healthy. If you’re in the hospital, medicine is often given through an IV (intravenous therapy). If you are at home, or ready to leave the hospital, your medicines will be taken by mouth.
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Types
Diuretics
Overview
Overview
Diuretics help your kidneys remove extra water and salt (or sodium) from your body. Getting rid of extra water helps your heart pump easier and can help to decrease symptoms of heart failure.
When living with heart failure, it’s important to take medicines that help balance the fluids in your body.
Furosemide (Lasix) and Bumetanide (Bumex)
Bumetanide and Furosemide are in a class of diuretics called “loop diuretics.” Both medicines help your kidneys remove extra water and will make you urinate more often. Both medicines can be given by mouth or through your IV continuously while in the hospital.
Common side effects:
- Frequent urination
- Tiredness or weakness
- Muscle cramps
- Increased thirst
- Dizziness
Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
Chlorothiazide can help your body get rid of extra water. It can also help lower blood pressure. This medicine makes the kidneys release extra water and salt into your urine. This medicine will make you urinate more often. This medication can be given by mouth or through your IV as single or multiple doses.
Common side effects:
- Frequent urination
- Tiredness or weakness
- Muscle cramps
- Increased thirst
- Dizziness
Furosemide (Lasix) and Bumetanide (Bumex)
Bumetanide and Furosemide are in a class of diuretics called “loop diuretics.” Both medicines help your kidneys remove extra water and will make you urinate more often. Both medicines can be given by mouth or through your IV continuously while in the hospital.
Common side effects:
- Frequent urination
- Tiredness or weakness
- Muscle cramps
- Increased thirst
- Dizziness
Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
Chlorothiazide can help your body get rid of extra water. It can also help lower blood pressure. This medicine makes the kidneys release extra water and salt into your urine. This medicine will make you urinate more often. This medication can be given by mouth or through your IV as single or multiple doses.
Common side effects:
- Frequent urination
- Tiredness or weakness
- Muscle cramps
- Increased thirst
- Dizziness
