|
These medicines, known as “water pills,” make your body produce more urine. This helps get rid of extra fluids and sodium. As a result, they reduce the fluid that collects in the feet, lungs, and other areas in some people with heart failure.
Some water pills can make your body lose potassium. This is an important element in your blood. Your doctor may want you to take a potassium supplement.
These medicines can help to:
- Ease water buildup in your body, which can help you feel better.
- Also, other heart failure medicines work better when you don’t have extra water weight.
Some things to watch for:
- Trips to the bathroom at night. If you have trouble sleeping because you have to urinate often, ask your doctor if you can take this drug earlier in the day.
- Feeling dizzy or light-headed when you get up from sitting or lying down. If this problem continues or gets worse, call your doctor.
- Signs of potassium loss. These include dry mouth; increased thirst; heartbeat that skips; mood or mental changes; and muscle cramps or pain (especially in the legs). Also, nausea or vomiting; being more tired and weak than usual; or a weak pulse. Call your doctor right away.
- Skin rash. Call your doctor right away.
Also of Interest
|
