Two medicines, side by side
Bumetanide vs furosemide
Bumetanide and furosemide are both labeled for heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of bumetanide since 1983 and of furosemide since 1966. Pharmacies paid $0.108 per bumetanide 1 mg tablet and $0.490 per mL (Furosemide 20 mg/2 mL vial) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Only the bumetanide label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the bumetanide FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 8, 2025); the furosemide FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 30, 2025).
Highlights of the bumetanide record
Bumetanide (Bumex) · label of September 8, 2025
Bumex ® (bumetanide) is a potent diuretic which, if given in excessive amounts, can lead to a profound diuresis with water and electrolyte depletion. Therefore, careful medical supervision is required, and dose and dosage schedule have to be adjusted to the individual patient's needs (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ).
Used for
From the label: indicationsBumex tablets are indicated for the treatment of edema associated with congestive heart failure, hepatic and renal disease, including the nephrotic syndrome. Almost equal diuretic response occurs after oral and parenteral administration of bumetanide. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 28, 1983
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.108 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- Resolved
- Recalls
- 4
Highlights of the furosemide record
Furosemide (Lasix) · label of September 30, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsEdema LASIX is indicated in adults and pediatric patients for the treatment of edema associated with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and renal disease, including the nephrotic syndrome. LASIX is particularly useful when an agent with greater diuretic potential is desired. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 1, 1966
- Generic labelers
- 52 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.490 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 8
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Bumetanide label of September 8, 2025, Furosemide label of September 30, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do bumetanide and furosemide differ on the record?
Only the bumetanide label carries a boxed warning.
Both are in FDA's class loop diuretics.
Half-life, in each label's words: Bumetanide, “Small pharmacokinetic studies of intravenous bumetanide in preterm and full-term neonates with respiratory disorders …”; Furosemide, “The terminal half-life of furosemide is approximately 2 hours.”
Generics: bumetanide since 1994; furosemide since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Bumetanide | Furosemide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart failure | Heart failure, High blood pressure, Edema (fluid retention) |
| Pharmacologic class | Loop Diuretic | Loop Diuretic |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Small pharmacokinetic studies of intravenous bumetanide in preterm and full-term neonates with respiratory disorders have reported an apparent half-life of approximately 6 hours, with a range up to 15 hours and a serum … | The terminal half-life of furosemide is approximately 2 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 28, 1983 | July 1, 1966 |
| First generic approved | October 31, 1994 | September 26, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 52 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.108 per tablet (Bumetanide 1 mg tablet) | $0.490 per mL (Furosemide 20 mg/2 mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | -25% | +31% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | Resolved | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 26,259 | 398,354 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Bumetanide label, warningsIn these test animals bumetanide was 5 to 6 times more potent than furosemide and, since the diuretic potency of bumetanide is about 40 to 60 times furosemide, it is anticipated that blood levels necessary to produce ototoxicity will rarely be achieved.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to bumetanide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions