一般信息
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Uremide.
It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Uremide against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Uremide is used for
Uremide is used to treat:
oedema (swelling of the ankles, feet or legs) which can occur in some heart, liver or kidney conditions
hypertension (high blood pressure). Uremide may be used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat this condition.
Uremide belongs to a group of medicines called diuretics. These medicines reduce the amount of excess fluid in the body by increasing the amount of urine produced.
Uremide may be taken alone or in combination with other medicines to treat your condition.
Your doctor may have prescribed Uremide for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Uremide has been prescribed for you.
Uremide is available only with a doctor's prescription.
This medicine is not addictive.
Before you take Uremide
When you must not take it
Do not take Uremide if you are allergic to:
frusemide
medicines which contain sulphur, such as sulphur antibiotics or some medicines used to treat diabetes
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some symptoms of an allergic reaction include skin rash, itching, shortness of breath or swelling of the face, lips or tongue, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
Do not take Uremide if you have:
certain kidney problems
certain liver problems
no production or no passing of urine
low blood pressure (hypotension)
low sodium or potassium levels in your blood.
Do not take Uremide if you are breastfeeding or planning to breast-feed.
Uremide passes into breast milk and may harm your baby.
Do not take Uremide if the expiry date (Exp.) printed on the pack has passed.
Do not take Uremide if the packaging shows signs of tampering or the tablets do not look quite right.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to:
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
any other medicines which contain sulphur including sulphur antibiotics and some medicines used to treat diabetes
any other substances, such as foods, dyes or preservatives.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Like most medicines of this kind, Uremide is not recommended to be used during pregnancy. If there is a need to consider Uremide during your pregnancy, your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking it during the pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or planning to breastfeed.
Uremide passes into breast milk and there is a possibility your baby may be affected. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking it if you are beast-feeding or planning to breast-feed.
Tell your doctor if you are on a salt restricted diet.
Restricting your salt intake may lead to increased side effects.
Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any medical conditions, especially the following:
liver problems
kidney problems
heart problems
high cholesterol levels
asthma
diabetes
gout, a disease with painful, swollen joints
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), a disease affecting the skin, joints and kidneys
passing less urine than normal
difficulty passing urine
no production or no passing urine
prostate problems.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Uremide.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may be affected by Uremide, or may affect how well it works. These include:
certain other fluid tablets or diuretics
medicines used to treat high blood pressure and certain heart conditions, especially ACE inhibitors
digoxin and other medicines used to treat heart failure
medicines used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and salicylates
medicines used to treat epilepsy such as phenytoin, barbiturates
antibiotics, medicines used to treat infections especially cephalosporins
muscle relaxants
steroid medicines, such as cortisone, prednisone, dexamethasone
lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depression
adrenaline and noradrenaline, medicines used in emergency situations
strong pain killers such as codeine, morphine and dextropropoxyphene
amphotericin, a medicine used to treat fungal infections
cisplatin, a medicine used to treat cancer
theophylline, a medicine used to treat asthma
probenecid, a medicine used to treat gout
large amounts of laxatives
methotrexate, a medicine used to treat arthritis and some types of cancers
sucralfate, a medicine used to treat stomach and intestinal ulcers
insulin and medicines used to treat diabetes
anticonvulsant medicines such as chloral hydrate or phenytoin
medicines used during scans to see the images of your body.
Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
You should not eat large amounts of liquorice when you are taking Uremide.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Uremide.
How to take Uremide
How much to take
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
The dose varies from patient to patient.
Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you need to take each day and when to take them. This depends on your condition and how you respond to this medicine.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure of the correct dose for you.
How to take Uremide
Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.
When to take Uremide
Take Uremide on an empty stomach, for example, 1 hour before food or 2 hours after food.
Food can interfere with the absorption of Uremide.
Take Uremide at about the same time each day unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take the medicine.
If your doctor prescribes Uremide to be taken once a day, it is best done in the morning, for example, before breakfast.
If you are taking Uremide more than once a day, take your first dose immediately before breakfast and take your last dose around 2:00pm (on an empty stomach), unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
If you forget to take Uremide
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
This may increase the chance of getting an unwanted side effect.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
If there is still a long time to go before your next dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for hints.
If you take too much Uremide (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Uremide. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much Uremide, you may feel confused, dehydrated, dizzy or you may pass excessive urine.
While you are taking Uremide
Things you must do
Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Uremide.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Uremide.
If you become pregnant while taking Uremide, tell your doctor.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Uremide.
Your blood pressure may drop suddenly.
Tell your doctor if you have severe vomiting or diarrhoea, or any of the following symptoms:
dry mouth or thirst
fainting
weakness, tiredness or drowsiness
muscle pain or cramps
passing less urine than normal
fast heart beat.
If you experience these symptoms, you may be dehydrated because you are losing too much fluid.
Make sure you drink enough water in hot weather and during exercise while you are taking Uremide, especially if you sweat a lot.
If you do not drink enough water while taking Uremide, you may feel faint, lightheaded or sick. This is because your blood pressure is dropping suddenly and you are losing too much fluid. If you continue to feel unwell, tell your doctor.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking Uremide.
There may be some interference with the results of these tests.
If you are taking Uremide to treat high blood pressure, make sure you have your blood pressure checked when your doctor says to make sure Uremide is working properly.
Ask your doctor about special dietary requirements while you are taking Uremide.
Uremide affects the levels of sodium and potassium in your blood. Your doctor may recommend a special diet while taking Uremide.
If you have to have any urine tests, tell your doctor that you are taking Uremide.
Uremide may affect the results of some tests.
Visit your doctor regularly so they can check on your progress.
Your doctor may want to perform some blood tests and check your liver function from time to time.
Things you must not do
Do not use Uremide to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give Uremide to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking Uremide, or change the dosage, without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint, get up slowly when getting out of bed or standing up.
You may feel light-headed or dizzy when you begin to take Uremide. This is because your blood pressure is falling suddenly. Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from beds or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Uremide affects you.
Uremide may cause dizziness or lightheadedness in some people. If either of these occurs, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Be careful drinking alcohol while taking Uremide.
Combining Uremide and alcohol can increase the chance of developing side effects. It is not recommended that you drink alcohol while taking Uremide.
If you are taking Uremide for a long period of time, you should check with your doctor to determine whether or not you should eat more potassium-containing foods or take potassium supplements. However, increasing the amount of potassium in your diet may not be necessary and could be harmful. Check with your doctor.
Uremide may cause your skin to become more sensitive to the sun. If this happens you should take care to wear protective clothing including a hat and sun block when you are outside.
Be careful if you eat liquorice while taking Uremide.
Eating large amounts of liquorice can increase the chance of developing side effects.
Things that may help your condition
Some self-help measures suggested below may help your condition.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about these measures and for more information:
alcohol - your doctor may advise you to limit your alcohol intake
diet - eat a healthy diet which includes plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit, bread, cereals and fish. Also eat less fat and sugar
exercise - regular exercise helps reduce blood pressure and helps the heart get fitter, but it is important not to overdo it. Walking is a good exercise, but try to find a route that is fairly flat. Before starting any exercise, ask your doctor about the best kind of program for you
salt - if you have high blood pressure, your doctor may advise you to watch the amount of salt in your diet. To reduce your salt intake you should avoid using salt in cooking or at the table
smoking - your doctor may advise you to stop smoking or at least to cut it down
weight - your doctor may suggest that you lose some weight to help lower your blood pressure and help lessen the amount of work your heart has to do. Some people may need a dietician's help to lose weight.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Uremide.
Like all other medicines, Uremide may have unwanted side effects in some people. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
If you are over 65 years of age, you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
headache
dizziness or lightheadedness
restlessness
very dry mouth or unusual thirst
weight loss
weakness or tiredness
numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
calf muscle spasms
muscle pains or cramps
drowsiness or a lack of energy
blurred or impaired vision
unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin
ringing or buzzing in the ears
loss of appetite
nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation
fever
confusion.
These are more common side effects of Uremide. Mostly they are mild or short-lived.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
irregular or fast heart beat
gout, a disease with painful, swollen joints
dark coloured urine
severe dizziness or a spinning sensation
severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting
flaking or peeling of the skin
passing less urine than is normal for you
signs of frequent infections such as fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
bruising or bleeding more easily than normal
symptoms of anaemia such as tiredness or weakness, shortness of breath when exercising, dizziness and looking pale
increased sensitivity to sunlight
Loss of control of your bladder or bowels (incontinence)
Deafness or ringing in the ears
swelling or redness along a vein that is extremely tender when touched.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
any type of skin rash, itching, hives, flaking or peeling of the skin
swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat which may cause difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Lockjaw
yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
chest pain
fainting or having a rapid, weak pulse
loss of hearing.
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
After taking Uremide
Storage
Keep Uremide where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store Uremide or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave Uremide in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Uremide, or your tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Uremide is a round white tablet marked FE/40 and a Greek alpha symbol.
Each pack contains 100 tablets.
Ingredients
The active ingredient in Uremide is frusemide. Each Uremide tablet contains 40 mg of frusemide.
The tablets also contain:
lactose
maize starch
pregelatinised maize starch
magnesium stearate.
The tablets are gluten free.
Manufacturer
Uremide is made in Australia by:
Alphapharm Pty Limited
(ABN 93 002 359 739)
Chase Building 2
Wentworth Park Road
Glebe NSW 2037
Phone: (02) 9298 3999
www.alphapharm.com.au
Medical Information
Phone: 1800 028 365
Australian registration numbers:
Aust R 17704
This leaflet was prepared on
01 November 2007.