Ethacrynic Acid, Oral/Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: loop diuretic

Generic and brand names: ethacrynic acid, injection; ethacrynic acid, oral; Edecrin; Edecrin Sodium

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a diuretic used to remove excess water from the body and control blood pressure. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

You may take it by mouth or be given a shot.

How do I use it?

Take any other medicine your health care provider may prescribe along with this medicine.

This medicine increases the amount and frequency of urination. Take it early in the day to avoid interrupting your sleep at night.

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Taking too much may make you urinate too much and cause dehydration.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

If you have any severe nausea or diarrhea after you start taking this medicine, contact your health care provider right away.

This medicine may drive potassium (a vital mineral) from your body. Your health care provider may prescribe a potassium-rich diet (bananas are rich in potassium), or he or she may prescribe a potassium supplement.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun and may cause you to sunburn more easily. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. While you are in the sun, wear protective clothing and sunscreen lotion until you know how you will react to the sun. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your health care provider right away.

Diabetics: If you are taking insulin or another medicine for diabetes, talk to your health care provider because your dosage may need to be changed.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant. Do not breast-feed while you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical treatment or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing).

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Ringing in your ears, loss of hearing, sore throat, fever, severe nausea or diarrhea, joint pain, yellowish eyes or skin.

Note: Ask your health care provider about the signs of excess potassium loss so you can avoid this reaction.

Other: Dizziness, lightheadedness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• aminoglycosides such as kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Neo-Tabs, Mycifradin), and paromomycin (Humatin)
• aspirin and other salicylates
• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• beta blockers such as propranolol (Inderal)
• charcoal
• chloral hydrate
• cisplatin (Platinol)
• clofibrate (Atromid-S)
• digitalis glycosides such as digoxin (Lanoxin)
• lithium (Lithonate, Lithobid, Lithane, Lithotabs, Eskalith)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), ketoprofen (Orudis), indomethacin (Indocin), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• oral diabetes medicines such as acetohexamide (Dymelor), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), tolazamide (Tolinase), and tolbutamide (Orinase)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• probenecid (Benemid)
• theophylline
• thiazide diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL, Esidrix), bendroflumethiazide (Naturetin), chlorthalidone (Hygroton), and hydroflumethiazide (Diucardin)
• warfarin (Coumadin).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.