Lasix vs. Inspra (Eplerenone)

• Are Inspra (Eplerenone) and Lasix the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Lasix?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Inspra (Eplerenone)?
• What Is Lasix?
• What Is Inspra (Eplerenone)?
• What Drugs Interact with Lasix?
• What Drugs Interact with Inspra (Eplerenone)?
• How Should Lasix Be Taken?
• How Should Inspra (Eplerenone) Be Taken?

Lasix (furosemide) and Inspra (Eplerenone) (chlorthalidone) are diuretics (water pills) used to treat excessive fluid accumulation (edema) caused by congestive heart failure, liver failure, renal failure, and nephritic syndrome. Lasix and Inspra (Eplerenone) are also used to control high blood pressure (hypertension).

Side effects of Lasix and Inspra (Eplerenone) that are similar include muscle cramps or spasms, dizziness, diarrhea, stomach upset or pain, and constipation.

Side effects of Lasix that are different from Inspra (Eplerenone) include increased urination, thirst, itching or rash, weakness, and spinning sensation.

Side effects of Inspra (Eplerenone) that are different from Lasix include lightheadedness, headache, blurred vision, loss of appetite, decreased sexual ability, or increased sensitivity to the sun.

Both Lasix and Inspra (Eplerenone) may interact with lithium, seizure medications, blood pressure medications, or steroids.

Lasix may also interact with sucralfate, cisplatin, cyclosporine, ethacrynic acid, methotrexate, antibiotics, heart medications, laxatives, and salicylates such as aspirin.

Inspra (Eplerenone) may also interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicines, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for depression or anxiety), digoxin, and insulin or oral diabetes medicines.

Common side effects of Lasix include:

• increased urination,
• thirst,
• muscle cramps,
• itching or rash,
• weakness,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• diarrhea,
• stomach pain, and
• constipation.

Serious side effects of Lasix include:

• dehydration,
• dark urine,
• clay-colored stools,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• fever,
• jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes),
• electrolyte abnormalities,
• loss of appetite, and
• rapid weight loss.

Common side effects of Inspra (Eplerenone) include:

• headache,
• dizziness,
• diarrhea,
• stomach pain,
• nausea,
• cough or flu-like symptoms (such as fever, chills, body aches, unusual tiredness),
• vaginal bleeding, or
• breast swelling or tenderness.

Tell your doctor if you have rare but serious side effects of Inspra including:

• abnormal vaginal bleeding,
• enlarged or sore breasts in males, or
• symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat).

Lasix (furosemide) is an anthranilic acid derivative that is used as a strong diuretic in adults and children to treat excessive fluid accumulation (edema) caused by congestive heart failure, liver failure, renal failure, and nephritic syndrome. Lasix may be used with antihypertensive drugs to control high blood pressure (hypertension).

Inspra (eplerenone) is an aldosterone receptor blocker, which is an antihypertensive, used to treat congestive heart failure after a heart attack, and is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Inspra is available in generic form.

Lasix may interact with lithium or steroids.

Lasix may also interact with sucralfate, cisplatin, cyclosporine, ethacrynic acid, methotrexate, phenytoin, antibiotics, heart or blood pressure medications, laxatives, or salicylates such as aspirin.

Inspra may interact with lithium, other blood pressure medications, antibiotics, antifungals, ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), HIV/AIDS medicines, or antidepressants. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking.

Lasix is available in tablet (20 to 80 mg) and IV forms. Dosage is determined by the patient's physician and varies according to how much fluid and how fast the fluid should be removed. Patients with poor renal function usually require higher doses; doses in children are weight-based. Lasix may interact with sucralfate, cisplatin, cyclosporine, ethacrynic acid, lithium, methotrexate, phenytoin, antibiotics, heart or blood pressure medications, laxatives, salicylates such as aspirin, or steroids. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Lasix; it is unknown if it will harm a fetus. Lasix passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Lasix may also slow breast milk production. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Treatment with Inspra is initiated at 25 mg once daily and adjusted to the recommended dose of 50 mg once daily, preferably within 4 weeks as tolerated by the patient.