DIURETICS

CONTENT

What arediuretics

Missed or vomited dose

How long to give the medicine

Call the doctor if…

Special Instructions

The prescription

Information on Individual Diuretics

Lasix

Diuril

Spironolactone/Aldactone

Side effects

Giving the medicine

WHAT ARE DIIRETICS

1.A diuretic (water medicine) helps the body get rid of extra water.

2.It reduces the amount of water in the baby’s body by by increasing the amount of urine your baby makes.

3.It helps ease the work of breathing by decreasing the amount of fluid in your baby’s lungs.

4.It helps ease the workload of the heart by decreasing the amount of fluid the heart must pump.

5.Diuretics are used to treat babies with heart failure, hypertension (high blood pressure) or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD.)

MISSED OR VOMITED DOSE

  1. The medicine should be given as ordered by the baby’s doctor.
  1. If you forget a dose, give the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
  1. Do not make up for a missed dose by doubling or increasing the next dose.
  1. One missed dose is usually not a problem.
  1. If the baby vomits the dose or you have any questions, CALL THE BABY’S DOCTOR FOR INSTRUCTIONS AND ASSISTANCE.

HOW LONG TO GIVE THE MEDICINE

1.Do not stop giving the medicine without talking with your baby’s doctor. He will tell you when to stop the medicine.

CALL THE DOCTOR IF…

1.You baby vomits the medicine.

2.Your baby does not eat.

3.Your baby has diarrhea.

4.Your baby’s mouth seems very dry.

5.Your baby’s eyes seem sunken or have blue circles around them

6.Your baby does not have at least 6 wet diapers in a day.

7.The soft spot (fontanel………font-ton-nell) on the top of your baby’s head seems sunken in.

8.Your baby is restless, sleepy or weak.

9.Your baby’s skin seems jaundiced (yellow).

SPECIAL INFORMATATION

1.KEEP ALL MEDICINES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

2.Always give the amount of medicine ordered by the doctor.

3.Medicines have an expiration date printed on their label:

a.Discard an opened bottle of medicine at the expiration date printed on the label

b.If the bottle does not have a expiration date printed on the label, discard the medicine 90 days after opening the bottle.

THE PRESCRIPTION

  1. You may be given a prescription to fill when the baby is discharged or you may be given some of the medicine to take home.

a.Make sure you have some medicine for the baby’s next dose when the baby is discharged from the hospital.

  1. Always check the medicine when you get it from the pharmacy (drug store)—It should be labeled with the same name and same dosage that your baby was getting in the hospital.
  1. The medicine’s instructions will tell you:
  1. The mLs or cc’s to give (mL=milliliters)
  2. How to give the medicine
  3. How often to give the medicine.
  1. Use a 1 cc or a 3 cc syringe to draw up the medicine. You will be given at least one syringe to take home.
  1. Parents always keep at least a week’s supply of each of the baby’s medicines on hand.
  1. Call your baby’s doctor if more medicine is needed and you do not have a refill on the prescription.
  1. The local drugstore pharmacist may also be able to help you obtain refills.

information on idividula diuretics

LASIX (LAY-SIX)

SIDE EFFECTS

1.Nausea and Vomiting.

2.Diarrhea.

3.Skin rashes.

4.Dehydration.

5.Hearing loss—but this is very rare

6.Jaundice (yellow color to skin, eyes.)

GIVING THE MEDICINE

1.Draw the medicine up in a syringe.

2.Always give this medicine in about ½ ounce of formula or breast milk to prevent choking the baby and/or stomach upset.

3.Lasix can be stored at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.

DIURIL & SPIRONOLACTONE/ALDACTONE

1.If your baby is going home on a diuretic, it is usually one of these medicines. However, not every baby goes home on a diuretic. The doctor decides if your baby needs to go home on a diuretic.

a.Diuril (Dye-u-rill)

b.Spironolactone (Spir-on-oh-lack-tone)

c.Aldactone (Al-dack-tone).

2.Spironolactone and Aldactone are the same medicine but with different names.

GIVING THE MEDICINE

1.Draw the medicine up in a syringe.

2.Add the medicine to ½ ounce of formula to prevent choking the baby or stomach upset.

3.If your baby is on more than one (1) diuretic, do not give the medicines at the same time. Give the medicines 12 hours apart (for example; Diuril at 9:00 am and Spironolactone at 9:00 pm), unless your baby’s doctor tells you differently.

4.Diuril, Spironolactone & Aldactone can be stored at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.

SIDE EFFECTS

Diuril / Spironolactone/Aldactone
1.Dehydration / 1.Dehydration
2.Nausea and vomiting / 2.Nausea and vomiting
3.Diarrhea or constipation / 3.Diarrhea
4.Rash / 4.Rash
5.Drowsiness or sleeping more than usual / 5.Drowsiness or sleeping more than usual
6.Breast enlargement (in boys)

Reviewed/Revised: 04/98……06/13

Diuretics 1