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Can Furosemide Dosage Be Increased To Reduce Swelling On Legs And High BP?

Posted on Mon, 12 May 2014

Question: Thank you -- I was 78 the second of December. Seven months ago, I had a triple bypass operation (first time I was in hospital in my life). Since the operation, we are having little success to get my BP down, and to manage swelling in legs/ankles/feet. I was on 2x20mg per day furosemide, and we changed it to 2x40mg six weeks ago. Can see lots of improvement, but still far from normal. Question(s) are: 1. Can we increase dosage again?, and 2. If we increase the dosage to better manage water retention, will that likely lower BP at same time?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Can increase dosage,BP will be reduced... Detailed Answer: Hi, I have gone through your medical history and can say as following: 1. You can increase the dosage. 2. BP will also be reduced However, first should be determined what is causing your BP not to get down although the medications you are taking. Hope it was of help! Let me know if you have further questions! Dr.Benard

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (25 minutes later)

Follow-up question -- I have read elsewhere on the internet, that maximum Furosemide per day is 600mg. As far as you can tell, is that 600mg XXXXXXX applicable in my case? Please have this question answered by a doctor whose first language is English -- I need to share it with a doctor whose first language is french, and two people working and trying to communicate in their second languages is not ideal.

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (40 hours later)

Brief Answer: Can take 600 mg/daily in divided doses... Detailed Answer: Hi back , Thank you for following up. The recommended dose is 80 mg taken twice daily. Gradually, the dose can be increased to 600 mg/day, in divided dose. Be careful not to take the dose of 200 mg at once to avoid kidney toxicity. Hope it was of help! Dr.Benard

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar