Side effects of diuretics Part 2

[Marijo1951]

Thank you for the helpful answers to my query of yesterday. I went to see the GP this morning. She said she'd never heard of extreme fatigue being a side effect of Furosemide. I showed her the leaflet which does indicate that 'tiredness, fever or generally feeling unwell' is one of the less common side effects. I didn't point out that it is counter-indicated for patients taking Prednisolone and Methotrexate and that I take both! Anyway she prescribed me a different diuretic Spironolactone, which she said will be less likely to deplete potassium in case that is a factor. Like some commenters yesterday, my daughter thought I might be excreting too much potassium. I'll start taking it tomorrow and see how it goes.

[SnazzyD]

I have know a few people when I was a nurse complaining of feeling woozy after starting diuretics but I can’t remember which ones. That side effect may be nothing to do with potassium dereliction too.

[Marijo1951 in reply to SnazzyD]

I feel more than woozy - yesterday afternoon I slept for 3 hours and woke up at 10 to 5, completely disorientated, thinking it was 4.50 a.m. This morning I fell asleep at the table after finishing breakfast. I watched the first episode of 'A very British Scandal' twice as I snoozed through so much the first time. I snoozed the second time too but fortunately at different points so I think in the end I saw most of it.

[Hidden in reply to Marijo1951]

Sounds remarkably like how I watch everything. 😂😂😂

[HeronNS]

Looked up this new (to you) drug and you should NOT take a potassium supplement while on it. Best to stick with some potassium rich foods? It also encourages excretion of sodium so I'd be a bit careful with that, too. I wonder whether a good discussion with your pharmacist would be helpful?

everydayhealth.com/drugs/al...

And maybe do a bit of reading about hyponatremia in case your symptoms are an early sign of this? I want to help you solve these issues, not cause you more stress, so I hope someone can help you find a way to feel better soon.

[Marijo1951 in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you for your interest. I read the everyday health entry and find that Spironolactone can have a negative interaction with steroids, though it doesn't mention Methotrexate. I'm thinking the best answer is simply to live with the swelling as long as I'm on pred, and avoid taking any further medication. I read about hyponatremia, but don't think it can be that. After all I only took diuretics for 4 days and I'm pretty sure I don't drink an excess of water.

[HeronNS in reply to Marijo1951]

I was just wondering whether it was the cause of the original problem, worsened by the treatment? Don't mind me, I've always been one to ask questions. My current family doctor doesn't seem to mind, but I've been having problems with a dentist who doesn't like that I did some reading and came up with suggestions for less aggressive treatment, and basically decided to leave me without any intervention.

[Marijo1951 in reply to HeronNS]

My GP was very pleasant this morning and doesn't seem to mind that her patients take an intelligent interest and are capable of making reasonable suggestions. Medics who are confrontational about any kind of question must be very insecure about their own capabilities.

[Hidden in reply to Marijo1951]

Feet up whenever you sit will help.

[Marijo1951 in reply to Hidden]

No hardship in that!

[Hidden]

Good luck.. I hope you get better results!

[piglette]

Hi Marino, I got swollen feet, ankles and legs virtually as soon as I started pred. I keep asking about what I can do. The GP said I cannot take diuretics because they are counter indicative with pred, so I am just left with the discomfort.

[Marijo1951 in reply to piglette]

Obviously your GP is a bit more on the ball than mine. I'm not going to take any more of them while I'm on Pred. I'll just live with it.

[Celebrant in reply to Marijo1951]

plus the diuretics can aggravate gout--the very last thing you need an attack of

[Marijo1951 in reply to Celebrant]

Oh good grief! It gets scarier...

[Brantuk]

Like yourself I'm on pred and mtx and I recently had a procedure in hospital that caused swollen feet due to water retention. Spironolactone cleared the swelling pretty quick (just over a day) but it was very strong and had me so dizzy I couldn't stand up for 20 mins after taking - it also gave me a fair bit of pain in the areas associated with my procedure. Since leaving hospital I was put on furosemide for a few weeks to ensure I didn't swell up again.

Both of these drugs left me feeling light headed and dizzy most of the time (except when seated and inactive). Both made me feel like going to bed cos I was so tired - just the furosemide was less so. I'm very glad to be off both of them now - I'm not aware of any clashes with the pred/mtx - but I feel a heck of a lot less woozy now I've stopped taking diuretics.

[Marijo1951 in reply to Brantuk]

Thank you for getting in touch. I took 4 doses of Furesemide which led to 4 lost afternoons as I was just overwhelmed with fatigue. I was supposed to start Spironolactone this morning as a substitute. However I decided not to take it and I'm glad I did. I still feel very fatigued but it does seem to be lifting. I'm going to accept the swelling as a necessary evil as long as pred is keeping the GCA and PMR under control. The fatigue and malaise associated with these conditions are enough to live with without making them worse.