Drug interactions
Furosemide + Hydrocortisone
Severity: Moderate
Furosemide and Hydrocortisone: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both drugs increase urinary potassium loss, so combined use can cause additive hypokalemia. Hydrocortisone's mineralocorticoid activity compounds the effect of the loop diuretic. Low potassium may lead to arrhythmias, particularly with digoxin or underlying heart disease.
What this interaction means in plain words
Furosemide and Hydrocortisone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Furosemide belongs to Cardiovascular; Hydrocortisone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive renal potassium wasting from loop diuretic action and mineralocorticoid effect of hydrocortisone.
What to do
Monitor serum potassium and magnesium regularly and supplement potassium when needed.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Hydrocortisone
- Hydrocortisone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aldesleukin + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aspirin + Hydrocortisone Major
Other interactions of Furosemide
- Amifostine + Furosemide Major
- Amikacin + Furosemide Major
- Carbenoxolone + Furosemide Major
- Cephaloridine + Furosemide Major
- Cisplatin + Furosemide Major
- Digoxin + Furosemide Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Furosemide with Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Furosemide and Hydrocortisone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both drugs increase urinary potassium loss, so combined use can cause additive hypokalemia. Hydrocortisone's mineralocorticoid activity compounds the effect of the loop diuretic. Low potassium may lead to arrhythmias, particularly with digoxin or underlying heart disease.
How serious is the interaction between Furosemide and Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor serum potassium and magnesium regularly and supplement potassium when needed.
What other medicines interact with Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydrocortisone with, for example, Mifepristone, Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent, Smallpox vaccine live. The full list is on the Hydrocortisone page.
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