Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffMild edema usually goes away on its own, particularly if you help things along by raising the affected limb higher than your heart. More severe edema may be treated with drugs that help your body expel excess fluid in the form of urine. One of the most common diuretics is furosemide (Lasix). Long-term management typically focuses on treating the underlying cause of the swelling.
References
- Clein LJ. Edema. In: Walsh D, et al. Palliative Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05674-8..50164-X&isbn=978-0-323-05674-8&sid=1193001782&uniqId=273791682-8#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05674-8..50164-X. Accessed Aug. 17, 2011.
- Rose BD. General principles of the treatment of edema in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 17, 2011.
- Braunwald E, et al. Edema. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed Aug. 17, 2011.
- Rose BD. Pathophysiology and etiology of edema in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 17, 2011.
- Rose BD. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of edema in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 17, 2011.
Find Mayo Clinic on