Two medicines, side by side
Furosemide vs torsemide
Furosemide and torsemide are both labeled for high blood pressure and heart failure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of furosemide since 1966 and of torsemide since 1993. Pharmacies paid $0.490 per mL (Furosemide 20 mg/2 mL vial) and $0.0636 per torsemide 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the furosemide FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 30, 2025); the torsemide FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 8, 2024).
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
Highlights of the torsemide record
Torsemide (Demadex) · label of May 8, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsTorsemide is a loop diuretic indicated for: the treatment of edema associated with heart failure, renal disease or hepatic disease. ( 1.1 ) the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 23, 1993
- Generic labelers
- 20 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0636 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Furosemide label of September 30, 2025, Torsemide label of May 8, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do furosemide and torsemide differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class loop diuretics.
Half-life, in each label's words: Furosemide, “The terminal half-life of furosemide is approximately 2 hours.”; Torsemide, “Elimination In normal subjects the elimination half-life of torsemide is approximately 3.5 hours.”
Generics: furosemide since 1985; torsemide since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
| Furosemide | Torsemide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Heart failure, High blood pressure, Edema (fluid retention) | High blood pressure, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Loop Diuretic | Loop Diuretic |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Micropuncture studies in animals have shown that torsemide acts from within the lumen of the thick ascending portion of the loop of Henle, where it inhibits the Na + /K + /2Cl – -carrier system. |
| Half-life (label) | The terminal half-life of furosemide is approximately 2 hours. | Elimination In normal subjects the elimination half-life of torsemide is approximately 3.5 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 1, 1966 | August 23, 1993 |
| First generic approved | September 26, 1985 | May 14, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 52 labelers | 20 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.490 per mL (Furosemide 20 mg/2 mL vial) | $0.0636 per tablet (Torsemide 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +31% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 8 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 398,354 | 32,925 |
| 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 furosemide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions