|
Edecrin
Generic Name: ethacrynic acid (eh tha KRIH nik AH sid)
Brand Name: Edecrin
Important Information: Edecrin
- To reduce nighttime urination, take this medication early in the day unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
- Promptly report any muscle weakness or cramps to your doctor.
What is Edecrin
- In a class of drugs called loop diuretics (water pills). It decreases the amount of fluid in the body by increasing the amount of salt and water lost in the urine.
- Used to reduce swelling in the body caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease.
What to Discuss before Using
- Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have:
- an allergy to sulfa medicines such as sulfa-based antibiotics
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- diabetes mellitus
- gout
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- You may not be able to take this medication, or you may require a special dosage or monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
- In the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that this medication is not likely to harm an unborn baby. Do not take without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Do not take without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Dosage Method
- Take exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
- Take each dose with a full glass of water.
- To reduce nighttime urination, take early in the day unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
- Do not stop taking this medication suddenly even if you feel better. Stopping suddenly could make your condition worse.
- Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Miss a dose: Problems?
- If you take one dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as you remember within 12 hours. If more than 12 hours have passed, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.
- If you take more than one dose daily, take the missed dose up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.
Overdose?
- Seek emergency medical attention.
- Symptoms of an overdose include weakness, muscle cramps, fatigue, dizziness, fainting, confusion, irregular pulse, nausea, and vomiting.
Avoid During Treatment
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase the side effects of this medication.
Side effects
- If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking this medication and seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor immediately:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives)
- muscle cramps or weakness
- an irregular heartbeat
- abdominal pain or diarrhea
- low blood pressure (weakness, dizziness, fatigue)
- loss of hearing
- Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take this medication and talk to your doctor if you experience:
- dry mouth or increased thirst
- headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness
- constipation
- increased sensitivity to sunlight
- a rash
- yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
- ringing in the ears
- nausea
- easy bleeding or bruising
- numbness in the hands or feet
- Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs to avoid while undergoing treatment
- Before taking this medication tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications:
- lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others)
- probenecid (Benemid)
- a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), indomethacin (Indocin), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), fenoprofen (Nalfon), ketorolac (Toradol), or flurbiprofen (Ansaid)
- a diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolazamide (Tolinase), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others
- You may not be able to take this medication, or you may require a special dosage or monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medications listed above.
- Also, before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicine to treat high blood pressure, water retention, heart problems, prostate problems, or another condition. Some medicines used to treat these conditions may interact and the effects on your heart may be increased.
- Drugs other than those listed here may also interact. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
|
