Most children will be on medication to control their blood pressure for the first 6 months after transplant. The reason children
with heart transplants have high blood pressure is due to the side effects of the immunosuppressants.
Furosemide
What is furosemide?
Furosemide is medicine called a diuretic. It is used to reduce the amount of salt and water in the body by increasing the
flow of urine. The tablet is commonly referred to as a water pill. "Furosemide" is the drug's generic name, while Lasix is
the drug's brand name. Your child might be given a diuretic other than furosemide, such as Novospirozine or Aldactazide.
What does furosemide do?
Furosemide works to lower the blood pressure by getting rid of extra fluid. Furosemide will make your child urinate (pee)
more.
When should you give your child furosemide?
Furosemide is given once or twice a day, depending on your child’s blood pressure and amount of swelling. Furosemide should
not be given right before bedtime for older children because they will wake up during the night to pee a lot.
How is furosemide stored?
Furosemide pills and liquid are stored at room temperature.
What should you do if your child misses a dose of furosemide?
If a furosemide dose is missed, give your child the missed dose as soon as you remember. Contact your clinical nurse specialist
or transplant nurse if there has been more than 1 dose of furosemide missed or if your child is not taking his furosemide.
What should you do if your child throws up after you give furosemide?
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If your child throws up less than 30 minutes after giving the furosemide, give your child the full dose again.
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If your child throws up between 30 minutes and 1 hour after giving the furosemide, give your child half the dose.
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If your child throws up more than 1 hour after giving the dose of furosemide, do not repeat the medication.
What are the most common side effects of furosemide?
What if your child has diarrhea?
If your child has diarrhea, he is at risk for losing too much fluid and getting dehydrated. If your child has diarrhea or
6 watery bowel movements in 12 hours, contact your clinical nurse specialist or transplant nurse.
Do other medications affect furosemide?
Several other medications may change the way furosemide works. Always call your clinical nurse specialist or transplant nurse
before using any new medications.
Amlodipine
What does amlodipine do?
Amlodipine lowers the blood pressure.
When should you give your child amlodipine?
Amlodipine is given once or twice a day, depending on your child’s blood pressure.
How is amlodipine stored?
Amlodipine pills are stored at room temperature. There is no liquid form of amlodipine available. You will be taught how to
make liquid amlodipine if your child is too young and not able to take pills.
What should you do if your child misses a dose of amlodipine?
If an amlodipine dose is missed, give your child the missed dose soon as you remember. Contact your clinical nurse specialist
or transplant nurse if there has been more than 1 dose of amlodipine missed or if your child is not taking his amlodipine.
What should you do if your child throws up after you give amlodipine?
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If your child throws up less than 30 minutes after giving the amlodipine dose, give your child the full dose again.
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If your child throws up between 30 minutes and 1 hour after giving the amlodipine dose, give your child half the dose.
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If your child throws up after 1 hour after giving the amlodipine dose, do not repeat the medication.
What are the most common side effects of amlodipine?
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low blood pressure
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dizziness
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more tired
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headache
What if your child has diarrhea?
If your child has diarrhea, this can affect the amount of amlodipine absorbed. If your child has diarrhea or 6 watery bowel
movements in 12 hours, contact your clinical nurse specialist or transplant nurse.
Do other medications affect amlodipine?
Several other medications may change the way amlodipine works. Always call your clinical nurse specialist or transplant nurse
before using any new medications.
Short-acting nifedipine
What does short-acting nifedipine do?
Short-acting nifedipine works to lower the blood pressure quickly.
When should you give your child short-acting nifedipine?
Short-acting nifedipine is given when your child’s blood pressure is higher than you have been told it should be. It can be
given every 4 hours when the blood pressure is too high. Your child should lie down after taking short-acting nifedipine to
prevent dizziness. There is no liquid form of short-acting nifedipine available. You may be taught how to make a liquid short-acting
nifedipine if your child is too young and not able to take pills.
You should take your child’s blood pressure 30 minutes after giving the short-acting nifedipine to see if it lowered your
child’s blood pressure.
How is short-acting nifedipine stored?
Short-acting nifedipine pills are stored at room temperature.
What should you do if your child throws up after you give short-acting nifedipine?
If your child throws up less than 15 minutes after giving the short-acting nifedipine, repeat it again.
What are the most common side effects of short-acting nifedipine?
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low blood pressure
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dizziness
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more tired
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headache
