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cidofovir vs furosemide

Side-by-side comparison of cidofovir and furosemide. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Drug Interactions Probenecid Probenecid is known to interact with the metabolism or renal tubular excretion of many drugs (e.g., acetaminophen, acyclovir, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, aminosalicylic acid, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, bumetanide, clofibrate, methotrexate, famotidine, furosemide, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, theophylline, and zidovudine).

Recommendation: Your doctor may need to adjust your dose of furosemide. Monitor your response to the medication closely.

Drug Class
cidofovir Antiviral (Nucleotide Analog)
furosemide Loop Diuretic
Type
cidofovir Prescription
furosemide Prescription
Summary
cidofovir

Cidofovir injection is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat CMV retinitis, an eye infection, in people with AIDS.

furosemide

Furosemide is a water pill (diuretic). It helps your body get rid of extra water and salt.

What It Treats
cidofovir

Cidofovir treats CMV retinitis in people who have AIDS. CMV retinitis is an infection in the eye that can cause vision problems. This medicine has not been proven to work for other CMV infections or in people without HIV.

furosemide

This medicine treats swelling (edema) from heart failure, liver problems, or kidney disease. It can also treat high blood pressure. Furosemide is helpful when you need a stronger diuretic.

How It Works
cidofovir

Cidofovir stops the CMV virus from making copies of itself. It does this by blocking a key enzyme the virus needs to reproduce its DNA. This helps to reduce the amount of virus in your body.

furosemide

Furosemide works in your kidneys. It helps your kidneys remove more salt and water from your blood. This lowers the amount of fluid in your body and lowers blood pressure.

Common Side Effects
cidofovir
  • Kidney problems
  • Lowered white blood cell count
  • Decreased eye pressure
  • Inflammation inside the eye
furosemide
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
FAERS Reports
cidofovir

No adverse event reports.

furosemide
  • Difficulty breathing 29,099
  • Tiredness 20,389
  • Diarrhea 19,940
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 18,682
  • Sudden kidney damage 18,530
Serious Warnings
cidofovir

Cidofovir can cause serious kidney damage, possibly leading to death. To reduce this risk, you must receive IV fluids and take probenecid pills with each dose. Your kidney function and white blood cell counts will be checked regularly. This drug can also cause birth defects and cancer, based on animal studies. It is only for treating CMV retinitis in AIDS patients.

furosemide

Furosemide can cause you to lose too much fluid and electrolytes. This can lead to dehydration, low blood pressure, and kidney problems. Your doctor should check your blood regularly while you are taking this medicine.

Pregnancy
cidofovir

Cidofovir may cause harm to an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if cidofovir passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

furosemide

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Furosemide may not be safe during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This cidofovir vs furosemide Comparison

cidofovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleotide Analog) drug class, while furosemide sits within the Loop Diuretic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, cidofovir has 0 submissions while furosemide has 106,640. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to probenecid is given with cidofovir and can slow down how the kidneys remove furosemide from the body. this can lead to higher levels of furosemide in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between cidofovir and furosemide - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.