Is Lasix available over the counter? (3+ clinical uses)
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
In this article, we will discuss whether Lasix is available to purchase over the counter. We will also talk about the clinical importance of Lasix and what you should do if you feel the need to take this medication.
Is Lasix available over the counter?
No, Lasix (Furosemide) is not available over the counter. It is a prescription medication, which means you need a doctor’s prescription to purchase it from a pharmacy (1). However, in some countries, medications are easily available without prescriptions, but it is not a good practice.
If you think you need Lasix, please reach out to your healthcare provider. If your doctor believes that Lasix is the right choice of medication, then and only then you should take this medication.
Lasix holds significant clinical importance in treating conditions as severe as heart failure, which is why the medication should never be used without proper guidance.
Why is Lasix not available over the counter?
Lasix is classified as a prescription medication for important reasons. It’s not available over the counter due to its potential risks and complexities. Lasix is a potent diuretic that affects the body’s fluid balance and electrolyte levels (2).
The decision to use Lasix should only be made by a qualified healthcare professional, who has access to an individual’s medical history, current conditions, and details about prescription medications that a person may take.
This is crucial because Lasix can lead to significant changes in fluids and electrolyte levels, which may need to be monitored to prevent complications.
Lasix’s prescription-only status helps ensure that individuals receive proper guidance on its use, potential side effects, and interactions with other medications.
What are the clinical uses of Lasix?
Lasix is a loop diuretic which is used clinically for the management of the following conditions (3,4):
- Edema – which is the buildup of excess fluids in body tissues. Lasix draws water out of the body to reduce edema of all kinds.
- High blood pressure – as the medication reduces excess water and sodium, it causes a decrease in blood volume which helps manage blood pressure.
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) – a condition in which the heart fails to pump blood effectively, which causes fluid accumulation.
- Kidney disorders – as failed kidneys can also cause fluid accumulation, which Lasix can remove.
It is important to note that Lasix can take some time to manage these conditions and reduce edema. Just make sure you closely follow your doctor’s directions and take Lasix as properly as you can.
What to do if you think you need Lasix?
If you think you need Lasix, reach out to your healthcare provider. Your doctor will properly examine your symptoms and physical signs of edema on your body.
Your provider may also recommend some diagnostic tests to monitor the functioning of your vital organs, including the heart and kidneys. This can help with the proper diagnosis of the actual cause of your edema.
Once the root cause is diagnosed, your doctor will prescribe the best possible treatment regimen to help your symptoms. If Lasix is required for your condition, your doctor will prescribe it along with other medications to manage the overall condition.
Lasix only helps remove excess water from your body, but it doesn’t eliminate its cause. This is why a proper diagnosis and prescription are crucial.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the availability of Lasix, a diuretic, We have also discussed why Lasix is not available over the counter and how one should always seek medical advice before using any such medication.
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References
1.-
LABEL: LASIX- furosemide tablet. DailyMed [Internet]. Available from: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/getFile.cfm?setid=2c9b4d8f-0770-482d-a9e6-9c616a440b1a&type=pdf
2.-
Oh SW, Han SY. Loop Diuretics in Clinical Practice. Electrolyte Blood Press. 2015 Jun;13(1):17-21. doi: 10.5049/EBP.2015.13.1.17. Epub 2015 Jun 30. PMID: 26240596; PMCID: PMC4520883. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4520883/
3.-
Khan TM, Patel R, Siddiqui AH. Furosemide. 2023 May 8. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29763096. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499921
4.-
Huxel C, Raja A, Ollivierre-Lawrence MD. Loop Diuretics. 2023 May 22. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31536262. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546656
