Changing your Water Pill (Diuretic)
When you have heart failure, you can have too much or too little fluid in your body. To avoid this, it is important that you stay the same weight all the time. To help you, your doctor might change your water pill (diuretic). This may help keep you out of the hospital.
How do I know if I have too much or too little fluid in my body?
· If you have too much fluid, you might be short of breath. This usually happens when you are lying down or when you are walking.
· If you have too little fluid, you might be weak or dizzy. This usually happens when you stand up quickly.
· Your doctor can check how much fluid you have by looking at the vein in your neck. He will also ask you to get frequent blood tests.
How do I know if my weight has changed?
· It is important to know what you weigh when you don’t have too much or too little fluid. This is called your Dry Weight. Your Dry Weight is: ______. It’s best if you weigh the same amount most of the time.
§ Weigh yourself everyday at the same time.
§ Weigh yourself right when you get up in the morning, after you go to the bathroom and before you eat breakfast.
§ Use the same scale everyday.
§ Weigh yourself naked or always wearing the same amount of clothes.
What if I gain weight?
· If your weight goes up by more than 2 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in one week, compared to your Dry Weight, you need more diuretic medicine.
r Change your diuretic medicine dose to: ______
r Add this diuretic medicine: ______
r While you are taking extra diuretic medicine, take this amount of potassium: ______
You will go to the bathroom more often and lose more potassium when you are taking more of your diuretic. Because of this, your doctor may tell you to take more potassium during this time.
· When you get back to your Dry Weight, start using your regular amount of diuretic medicine and potassium again.
r Your regular diuretic medicine is called: ______.
Take this amount of regular diuretic medicine: ______.
r Your regular potassium medicine is called: ______.
Take this amount of regular potassium medicine: ______.
What if I lose weight?
· If your weight goes down by more than 2 pounds compared to your Dry Weight, stop taking your diuretic medicine until you are back to your Dry Weight.
If you are out of Breath, Especially at Rest, Go to the Emergency Room.
Patient’s Name: ______Date: ______
Doctor’s Name: ______Doctor’s Phone Number: ______