Lasix (furosemide) during blood tx?

Hi all,

I'm wondering how common is it for Lasix to be administered during blood transfusions? at my hospital, it's the SOP; we are given Lasix in between pints. Is it really necessary?

The reason i'm asking is because, when the nurse pumps the stringe of Lasix into the tubing stopper, and especially if she does it really quick, my entire arm feels like it's on fire! it feels like she poured acid into my veins!! also a few minutes later, i get very bad cramps where i'm thinking is my bladder. they last about 5 - 10 mins during which it can be really agonizing. is this normal?

Are you guys or your kids having Lasix too?

Lilian

Hi Lilian,
We get it when either there is some allergic reaction during the Transfusion or half way between if the pre transfusion Hb is too low.

It's quite common for transfusion-dependent individuals to receive Lasix, but it's not something that must be given, unless there is a large volume of blood being administered, or if heart function is decreased and cannot tolerate the amount of fluid given.  I get it between my two transfusions because I feel all bloated afterward, so it relieves me of some of the fluid.  Intravenous Lasix is not supposed to be given at a rapid rate.  It should be administered over 1 to 2 minutes, at least.  This is most-likely the reason why you are experiencing the burning sensation.  If you must be given Lasix, be sure to tell your nurse that you do not want it administered at a rapid rate.

hi pastel,

Good question. I have been forgetting to ask about it whwnever i'm visiting this site.

I have been given lasix too in between or at the end of my transfusion. Like you, I do expirience terrible pain at my lower back and it last for abot 5-10 minutes too. At one time I asked for them to stop giving me lasix and after quite a long argument, it was stopped (but that i have to take my own responsibilities if something terrible happened).

But after a while, they started giving it again. I am tired of arguing and unwillingly took lasix and bear the pain again.....  

i always wonder what other good thing that it can do to you? Does anyone knows?

The only benefit that it has is to relieve fluid retention, which gives you that bloated feeling after getting transfused.   Unless, of course, there is a decrease in function of the heart, as I had said before.  If that is the case, then there is the benefit of not having cardiac overload and stress on the heart. 

My son has received Lasix once - a few months ago his pre-trans hg was low and his pediatrician decided to give him a little extra blood.  I don't know if he experienced pain but once the kid started peeing I didn't know if he'd ever stop   

My understanding is that extra fluid can be a load on the heart and that Lasix can decrease that effect.  Too bad it's so uncomfortable - that last thing thals need is more discomfort.  I must say - you guys are brave bunch 

My son too got Lasix during his first four transfusions. We changed hospitals after that and in the five transfusions he has had in this hospital Lasix was not administered. Now when I think again his first four transfusions were very difficult, Hassan was crying all the time. We just related his discomfort to needles and hospital atmosphere. Was it the LASIX
maha

hi danielle,

thanks for the advice. i'll be sure to tell the nurse to administer it slowly.

Nur, it's SOP for govermment hospitals in Malaysia to give Lasix during every transfusion, even for one pint.  I'm having my transfusions done in Sultanah Aminah, JB. What about you? Which part of M'sia are you from?

hi Pastel,

You had your tranfusions in Johor? I thought you are from S'pore?

Anyway, I am way up in Kedah and currently i am having my tranfusions in Penang. It's Easier to get blood there and excellent service too 

I didn't know that the lasix is best administered slowly. I must tell my nurse that. Most of them just push it down fast....

Hi Nur,

Yea, i'm having my tx done in JB although i'm living and working in Spore. YOu see, i'm Malaysian, i went to Spore for futher studies and am currently working there. I go back to JB every fortnight for my tx. I've been living in Spore for about 8 years now.

Reason i'm doing my tx in JB is due to cost efficiency. THe cost of during it in Spore is astronomical, while i hardly pay anything for my procedures in JB. hehe.

Will you be attending the Thal Conference in Spore later this year?

take care,
lilian

p/s: yea, the nurses just push in the Lasix in less than 2 sec. hahahhaha.

The only reason for Lasix to be administered is to relieve water retention (that's what doc told me)

Whenever the nurse administered the Lasix it feels like cold icy water is going through my viens and I felt like I'm having a bad stomach ache which lasted for 5-10mins. The next thing u know is I keep on going to the toilet to pass urine even though I have not drink much water. This is also one of the reason why I don't like getting Lasix. 

At the hospital where I go for my transfusions, usually the nurse will administered Lasix when it come to the last pint of blood. For patients who complained that they have pains or bad cramps the nurse will not administered Lasix but patient will have to wait for half hour before proceeding to the next pint of blood.

Wonder if they practice that in other hospitals?

 

Dear Pastel,

Oh so i see.... thank god our hospital is kind enough to give affordable treatment. Otherwise, it's another problem to think about.

I would really love to go to Singapore but the only thing that's keeping me from going is the cost to travel. So, unless i get a very cheap price, i will certainly go 

Olivia,

That's what the doctor told me too. I wish that i don't have to take lasix too because of the pain and the going to the toilet thing. It's pretty annoying when you have to go back and forth and I really wonder where does all of this water came from...

I don't know about the half hour wait before another pint of blood. That's something new. But if you are using filters, wont the filter be slow running if there is a 30 minutes delay?

Once the nurse gave me lasix in the form of a pill at the end of transfusion after i complained of back pain. She said it will slowly be digested and see if it still hurts. well, it did. And since it's digesting slowly, the pain also last a bit longer. 

I don't kow which is better....

Ｎｕｒ，

Ｆｒｏｍ　ｗｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｓｅｅｎ，　ｔｈｅ　ｎｕｒｓｅ　ｔｕｒｎ　ｏｆｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｏｐｐｅｒ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｌｔｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｎｅｅｄｌｅ　ｄｕｒｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　３０　ｍｉｎｓ　ｗａｉｔ．　

I have not tried this before so I'm not too sure how effective it is to relieve fluid retention. Most of the time the Lasix pain is still bearable for me so I rather go for the Lasix instead of wasting 30 mins waiting.

Hi to you all,
I have just read the comments about Lasix.
I have never received it apart from when I get fluid retention from my tachycardia.
The notion that you guys get it for transfusions is "WOW"
I always thought the bloatness was because my liver had to cope with that amount of blood at one time, which is why I get extended in the belly. Never thought about the fluid and using Lasix.
I think I will see my specialist and throw another one of my brilliant ideas at her....
Maybe just 1 tablet of furosemide after a transfusion when its really bad.
Reading your comments about the Lasix during transfusions has detered me from that option.
My poor specialist.... I'm in the scheming mode. Just as well she loves me. hehehe

Concerning the administration of Lasix with transfusions. This article covers transfusion reactions in depth.

http://www.emedicine.com/med/TOPIC2297.HTM

Drug Name   Furosemide (Lasix)...
Adult Dose   Acute pulmonary edema: 40 mg IV slowly
Pediatric Dose   Acute pulmonary edema: 1 mg/kg IV/IM; not to exceed 6 mg/kg/d

This drug should NOT be rushed into the system, regardless of how busy and nurse may be at the time.