Furosemide is taken by many Brits to manage health concerns such as heart failure and high blood pressure. While most people, including children and infants, may use thisdiuretic medication, there are important rules they need to be aware of over the medication, which was dispensed around 11 million times in 2024 and is one of the 20 most prescribed drugs in the UK.

To ensure furosemide use is safe, the NHS advises eight key groups to tell a doctor before making use of the prescription drug. This crucially encompasses anyone displaying key signs of dehydration, such as feeling thirsty, having a dry mouth or noticing dark-coloured urine.

In addition, the NHS advises that the following people consult a doctor:

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Beyond this, the health service adds that furosemide users should speak to a doctor if:

• You are due to have a glucose test


• You are having a test that involves using a dye containing iodine being injected into your blood, such as X-rays or scans


• You are set to have a major operation, or a general anaesthetic is required for a procedure

Official NHS online guidance adds: "Diuretics are sometimes called 'water tablets' because they make you pee more. This helps get rid of extra fluid in your body.

"Furosemide is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets and a liquid that you swallow. It can also be given by injection, but this is usually only done in hospital."

Furosemide users should also take caution when taking other medications, as certain drugs can reduce its effectiveness or raise the risk of side effects. This even includes common over-the-counter drugs like paracetamol and co-codamol, in addition to heartburn and indigestion remedies.

Anyone prescribed furosemide should consult their doctor before taking these:

• Medicines used to treat mental health problems, such as amisulpride, lithium, pimozide or risperidone


• Medicines that treat high blood pressure, or those that have a side effect of low blood pressure


• A medicine used to treat ulcers, called sucralfate, leave about two hours between the time you take furosemide and sucralfate


• Painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including diclofenac, ibuprofen or naproxen


• Medicines that can change the level of potassium in your blood, such as potassium supplements, steroids, or other diuretics


• Medicines to treat, or which have the side effect of, an irregular heartbeat, including amiodarone, digoxin, disopyramide, flecainide or sotalol


• Soluble paracetamol


• Soluable co-codamol


• Certain remedies for heartburn and indigestion

The NHS adds: "Tell your doctor if you are taking any potassium supplements. These change the levels of potassium in your blood and can affect the way furosemide works.

"There's not enough information to say that other herbal remedies or supplements are safe to take with furosemide. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines."

For more information, visit the NHS website here.