Lasix (furosemide)

LASIX (FUROSEMIDE)

Reported Characteristics

• Active-Life: About 6-8 hours (Diuretic effects)
• Drug Class: Loop Diuretic (Oral)
• Average Reported Dosage: 40-100mg total in a 12 hour period
• Acne: None
• Water Retention: You must be joking!
• High Blood Pressure: None
• Liver Toxic: Unknown
• Aromatization: Does not apply

Lasix is probably one of the most dangerous drugs some pre-contest bodybuildersused. Even the IFBB tests for diuretics, and that is saying somethingLasix was used to excrete excess water during the last day or two before a show.This was said to be especially effective with subcutaneous water (under the skin) so a"ripped to the bone, dry, and hard" look was achieved. Lasix was also used by some tolose weight for weight class oriented sports.
Loop diuretics work by increasing the excretion of electrolytes (sodium, chloride,potassium) which the body normally uses to maintain intra cellular and extracellularwater. Monitoring of the re-absorption of potassium, sodium, and chloride ions duringuse should have been a must, but few did so. Lasix can and has caused death.As to dosages, it depended upon the effect achieved. Normally 20-40-mg wastaken and (over a periods of 2-4 hours) the bodybuilder evaluates the results. This wasfollowed once or twice more at 4 hour intervals if more water loss was necessary. Toomuch water loss makes the body appear flat with no vascularity and makes it impossibleto pump-up before walking out onto the stage. The effects of Lasix begin within about anhour of administration and continue for 6-8 hours. Once "the look" was achieved, it wasunnecessary to ingest more to maintain "the look".
Lasix is very strong and was reported to cause diarrhea, dehydration, dizziness,muscle cramps, circulatory disorders, vomiting, circulatory collapse, fainting, and cardiacarrest. It was considered far more safe to start with 20-mg and repeat every 4 hours thanto use higher dosages for a shorter period of tome. Over 40-mg per dosage increased sideeffects dramatically!