Is Lasix dangerous??

[AllyRN82]

Hello all!

I am a new nursing student. Well, I actually just got accepted and I will begin in January.

Anyway, the point of this post was to ask if there are any dangerous side effects of Lasix. I have an elderly friend who has been prescribed Lasix and she takes it every day. I don't know much right now but it just seems like it's not a good thing to take daily for long periods of time. I would just like to be reassured that it is okay for her to be taking this drug so often. She does take a potassium supplement but she hates taking it and won't take it daily like she does Lasix. If anyone has any helpful information, I would greatly appreciate it :)

[Blackheartednurse]

Lasix can cause pancreatitis..I dont know about hearing loss though...I thought that the only way hearing can be damage is if the person is given IV push....also I think she might have a orthostatic hypotension (but I think that goes away with time)

[freefalr]

she doesn't like the (gigantic) KCl tablets/capsules, maybe she would prefer the liquid potassium chloride. she could mix it in juice or something.

we do have patients who don't take potassium chloride supplements while on lasix because they're on an ACE-I like lisinopril, but most older patients seem to need the KCl supplementation. sometimes they'll say, "but i'm taking the OTC potassium, isn't that enough?" the OTC is usually potassium gluconate, which just isn't as effective.

like posters above said, they just need regular chem 7/magnesium checks & MD f/up. older folks can tend to get dehydrated so easily, and then their kidneys, among other things, are at risk. my dad takes lasix 80mg twice a day...and i wish his doc checked into things a little more frequently. you are sweet to look after your friend like that, ally. :)