Edecrin (Ethacrynic Acid) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 26, 2012

Edecrin

Diuretics »

What are diuretics and how do they work?

The amount of fluid (water) retained by the body is controlled primarily by the kidneys. This occurs due to the kidney's ability to control the retention and elimination of sodium and chloride, because the amounts of sodium, chloride, and water in the body are carefully balanced. Thus, if sodium and chloride are eliminated from the body, water also is eliminated. Conversely, if sodium and chloride are retained by the body, so is water.

The elimination of sodium, chloride, and water from the body is somewhat complex. In the kidneys, sodium, chloride, and other small molecules are filtered out of the blood and into the tubules of the kidney where urine is formed. Most of the sodium, chloride, and water are reabsorbed into the blood before the filtered fluid leaves the kidney in the form of urine. To make matters even more complex, there are different mechanisms that are active in different parts of the tu...

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EDECRIN®
(ethcynic acid) Tablets

SODIUM EDECRIN® (ethacrynic acid)
(ethacrynate sodium) Intravenous

EDECRIN* (Ethacrynic Acid) is a potent diuretic which, if given in excessive amounts, may lead to profound diuresis with water and electrolyte depletion. Therefore, careful medical supervision is required, and dose and dose schedule must be adjusted to the individual patient's needs (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Ethacrynic acid is an unsaturated ketone derivative of an aryloxyacetic acid. It is designated chemically as [2,3-dichloro-4-(2-methylene-1-oxobutyl)phenoxy] acetic acid, and has a molecular weight of 303.14. Ethacrynic acid is a white, or practically white, crystalline powder, very slightly soluble in water, but soluble in most organic solvents such as alcohols, chloroform, and benzene.

Its empirical formula is C₁₃H₁₂C_l2O₄ and its structural formula is:

EDECRIN* (Ethacrynic Acid) Structural Formula Illustration

Ethacrynate sodium, the sodium salt of ethacrynic acid, is soluble in water at 25°C to the extent of about 7 percent. Solutions of the sodium salt are relatively stable at about pH 7 at room temperature for short periods, but as the pH or temperature increases the solutions are less stable. The molecular weight of ethacrynate sodium is 325.12. Its empirical formula is C₁₃H₁₁Cl₂NaO₄ and its structural formula is:

EDECRIN®(Ethacrynate sodium) Structural Formula Illustration

EDECRIN (ethacrynic acid) is supplied as 25 mg tablets for oral use. The tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, lactose, magnesium stearate, starch and talc. Intravenous SODIUM EDECRIN (ethacrynic acid) * (Ethacrynate Sodium) is a sterile freeze-dried powder and is supplied in a vial containing:

Ethacrynate sodium equivalent to ethacrynic acid..................50.0 mg

Inactive ingredient:

Mannitol......................62.5 mg

What are the possible side effects of ethacrynic acid

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using ethacrynic acid and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting;
feeling weak, drowsy, restless, or light-headed;
fast or uneven heartbeat;
muscle pain or weakness;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
fever, chills, body aches, flu...

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Edecrin »

What are the precautions when taking ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)?

Before taking ethacrynic acid, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: severe watery diarrhea, very low blood pressure, severe kidney disease (making little or no urine), severe loss of water or minerals (e.g., dehydration, low potassium/sodium).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: blood clots (e.g., in the lungs, legs), diabetes, gout, kidney disease, liver disease...

Read All Potential Precautions of Edecrin »

Last reviewed on RxList: 7/3/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.