Ethacrynic acid is a loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much
salt, allowing the salt to instead be passed in your urine.
Ethacrynic acid treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, liver
disease, or a kidney disorder such as nephrotic syndrome.
Ethacrynic acid may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ethacrynic acid?
Do not use this medication if you are unable to urinate, or if you have recently had severe
watery diarrhea.
Before using ethacrynic acid, tell your doctor if you have:
kidney disease;
liver disease; or
gout.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or
special tests to safely take this medication.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn
baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether ethacrynic acid passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take ethacrynic acid?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this
medication.
Take this medication with food unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Ethacrynic acid will make you urinate more often and you may get dehydrated easily. Follow
your doctor's instructions about using potassium supplements or getting enough salt and potassium in
your diet.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood and your weight will need
to be checked on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not
miss any scheduled appointments.
Store this medication at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture.
What happens if I miss a dose of ethacrynic acid?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about ethacrynic acid?
Your pharmacist has information about ethacrynic acid written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of ethacrynic acid?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using ethacrynic acid and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side
effects:
dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting;
feeling weak, drowsy, restless, or light-headed;
fast or uneven heartbeat;
muscle pain or weakness;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
severe or watery diarrhea;
blood in your urine or stools;
coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
rapid weight loss;
hearing loss, feeling of fullness in the ear; or
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
mild diarrhea, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
trouble swallowing;
headache; or
dizziness.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about ethacrynic acid?
Do not use this medication if you are unable to urinate, or if you have recently had severe
watery diarrhea.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or gout.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood and your weight will need
to be checked on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. It is
important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Ethacrynic acid will make you urinate more often and you may get dehydrated easily. Follow
your doctor's instructions about using potassium supplements or getting enough salt and potassium in
your diet.
Avoid becoming dehydrated. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of
liquids you should drink while you are taking ethacrynic acid.
There are many other medicines that can interact with ethacrynic acid. Tell your doctor about
all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal
products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling
your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other
healthcare provider who treats you.
What should I avoid while taking ethacrynic acid?
Avoid becoming dehydrated. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of
liquids you should drink while you are taking ethacrynic acid.
What other drugs will affect ethacrynic acid?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
lithium;
digoxin (Lanoxin);
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
other diuretics, especially furosemide (Lasix) or torsemide
(Demadex);
blood pressure medicines;
steroids (prednisone and others);
cancer medicine such as cisplatin (Platinol), carboplatin
(Paraplatin), or oxiplatin (Eloxatin);
a cephalosporin antibiotic such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef,
Keflex, Omnicef, Spectracef, and others;
salicylates such as aspirin, Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid,
Salflex, Tricosal, and others;
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin, naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn),
piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others; or
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
ethacrynic acid. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.
This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start
using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of ethacrynic acid?
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
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warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
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a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
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interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009