Side Effects of Torsemide (Demadex)

Torsemide, the generic of Demadex, is a strong diuretic often prescribed for high blood pressure and water retention. Like any prescription medication, Torsemide can have side effects. The side effects may not be problematic for most people, but for those who are sensitive to diuretics, the side effects can be severe and even debilitating.

A Diuretic for Water Retention and High Blood Pressure

I developed water retention after being put on Metoprolol Tartrate for tachycardia and high blood pressure. I was also still having some problems with my blood pressure being too high, so my cardiologist prescribed Hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) to help both the water retention and my high blood pressure. I had terrible side effects that almost sent me to the emergency room with the very first pill I took. I immediately had to stop taking it and my cardiologist switched me to Torsemide. I was prescribed 10mg (half a pill) a day to be taken every morning.

Masked Side Effects Of Torsemide

I was already battling long-term illness from an autoimmune disease when I started taking Torsemide, so it took several month for me to realize that I was having any side effects from this diuretic. As many of the symptoms eased up from the autoimmune disease, I started to notice a daily pattern with Torsemide. I took it every morning with breakfast and about half an hour or so after breakfast I would start to feel hot, weak, shaky, and like I needed to eat something asap or I was going to pass out from having no strength or energy. I also had constant, extreme thirst that couldn't be quenched and went to the bathroom over and over again. It would take several hours to start feeling better and many times I felt terrible for the rest of the day. I would always have to stop what I was doing and sit down for a while before I could try to go on with my day and some times I had to lie down or even take a nap while my body tried to recover.

Stopping Torsemide to Find Out

Once I recognized this pattern, I wanted to find out if it was Torsemide that was making me feel so terrible every day. I decided to test my theory by not taking the diuretic for a while to see what would happen. My theory was quickly proven correct as day after day of not taking it made me feel better, not worse. It took a little time for my body to completely recover from what Torsemide had been doing to me, but once it did I no longer felt hot, weak, shaky or like I had no strength or energy. The constant, extreme thirst and going to the bathroom over and over eased up to my normal amounts again. To rule out any other causes, I did one last test to make sure it was the diuretic that had been causing me so many problems. I took half of a dose of Torsemide (one fourth of a pill) to see what would happen and had all of the side effects come back for most of the day. After that, I knew for sure that I couldn't take this diuretic either.

Long Term Results

Since stopping Torsemide a few months ago, I have gained some weight, but that may partially be due to regaining water that I actually need since this diuretic seemed to be dehydrating my body by removing too much. If I need to go back on a diuretic, I will talk to my cardiologist about an alternative, hopefully to something natural. The side effects of Torsemide were severe and debilitating, affecting my daily life. I was literally unable to go about my normal routine and couldn't accomplish many things. I am so glad that I figured out that the diuretic I was taking was causing me so many problems so I could stop taking it. Even with the weight gain, I feel so much better now that I'm not taking Torsemide and will never take it again.

Sources

MedicineNet.com - Torsemide (Demadex)

MedicineNet.com - Hydrochlorothiazide

Drugs.com - Metoprolol Tartrate