Two medicines, side by side
Bumetanide vs metolazone
Bumetanide and metolazone are both labeled for heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of bumetanide since 1983 and of metolazone since 1973. Pharmacies paid $0.108 per bumetanide 1 mg tablet and $0.233 per metolazone 2.5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, bumetanide is a loop diuretic and metolazone a thiazide-like diuretic.
Check it at the source: the bumetanide FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 8, 2025); the metolazone FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 11, 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 metolazone record
Metolazone (Zaroxolyn) · label of December 11, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsMetolazone tablets, USP, are indicated for the treatment of salt and water retention including: edema accompanying congestive heart failure; edema accompanying renal diseases, including the nephrotic syndrome and states of diminished renal function. Metolazone tablets, USP, are also indicated for the treatment of hypertension, alone or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs of a different class. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 27, 1973
- Generic labelers
- 19 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.233 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Bumetanide label of September 8, 2025, Metolazone label of December 11, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do bumetanide and metolazone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, bumetanide is a loop diuretic and metolazone a thiazide-like diuretic.
Only the bumetanide label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: bumetanide since 1994; metolazone since 2003 (Drugs@FDA).
| Bumetanide | Metolazone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart failure | High blood pressure, Edema (fluid retention), Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Loop Diuretic | Thiazide-like 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 … | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 28, 1983 | November 27, 1973 |
| First generic approved | October 31, 1994 | December 19, 2003 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | 19 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.108 per tablet (Bumetanide 1 mg tablet) | $0.233 per tablet (Metolazone 2.5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -25% | +8% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | Resolved | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 26,259 | 11,175 |
| 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)
What next?
- Alternatives to bumetanide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions