Lasix vs. Aldactone

• Are Aldactone and Lasix the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Lasix?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Aldactone?
• What is Lasix?
• What is Aldactone?
• What Drugs Interact with Lasix?
• What Drugs Interact with Aldactone?
• How Should Lasix Be Taken?
• How Should Aldactone Be Taken?

Lasix(furosemide) andAldactone(spironolactone) are used to reduce edema (fluid accumulation) caused by heart, liver or kidney problems, orhigh blood pressure(hypertension).

Lasix may also be used withantihypertensivedrugs to control high blood pressure (hypertension).

Aldactone is also used to reduce edema caused by certain patients withhyperaldosteronism.

Lasix and Aldactone belong to different drug classes. Lasix is an anthranilic acid derivative used as a strong loopdiureticand Aldactone is analdosteronereceptorantagonist.

Common side effects of Lasix include:

• increased urination,
• thirst,
• muscle cramps,
• itching or rash,
• weakness,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• diarrhea,
• stomach pain, and
• constipation.

Serious side effects of Lasix include:

• dehydration,
• dark urine,
• clay-colored stools,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• fever,
• jaundice(yellowing of skin or eyes),
• electrolyteabnormalities,
• loss of appetite, and
• rapid weight loss.

Common side effects of Aldactone include:

• skin rash,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• gas, and
• stomach pain.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Aldactone including irregular heart rate, muscle pain or weakness, urinating less than usual, shallow breathing, tremors, confusion, or a severe skin reaction,hyperkalemia(high levels ofpotassiumin the blood), and numbness.

Lasix (furosemide) is an anthranilic acid derivative that is used as a strong diuretic in adults and children to treat excessive fluid accumulation (edema) caused bycongestive heart failure,liver failure, renal failure, and nephritic syndrome. Lasix may be used with antihypertensive drugs to control high blood pressure (hypertension).

Aldactone (spironolactone) is an aldosterone receptor antagonist that causes the kidneys to remove water and sodium from the body, with reduced losses of potassium. Aldactone is used to reduce edema caused by heart, liver or kidney problems, high blood pressure (hypertension), and certain patients with hyperaldosteronism.

Lasix may interact withlithiumor steroids.

Lasix may also interact withsucralfate,cisplatin,cyclosporine, ethacrynic acid,methotrexate,phenytoin, antibiotics, heart or blood pressure medications, laxatives, or salicylates such asaspirin.

Aldactone may interact with lithium or steroids.

Aldactone may also interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold orallergymedicine, sedatives,narcoticpain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety),digoxin,ACE inhibitors, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Lasix is available in tablet (20 to 80 mg) and IV forms. Dosage is determined by the patient's physician and varies according to how much fluid and how fast the fluid should be removed. Patients with poor renal function usually require higher doses; doses in children are weight-based. Lasix may interact with sucralfate, cisplatin, cyclosporine, ethacrynic acid, lithium, methotrexate, phenytoin, antibiotics, heart or blood pressure medications, laxatives, salicylates such as aspirin, or steroids. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Lasix; it is unknown if it will harm a fetus. Lasix passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Lasix may also slow breast milk production. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Aldactone is available in 25, 50 and 100 mg tablets. Because of tumor formation in experimental animals, use in pregnancy should be avoided unless the benefits outweigh the potential risks to the fetus; women who are breastfeeding are advised not to use Aldactone. In addition, the drug should not be used to decrease the normal edema of pregnancy. An active metabolite of Aldactone appears in breast milk. Breastfeeding while using Aldactone is not recommended. If use of Aldactone is deemedessential, an alternative method of infant feeding should be used.