Prescription medication · Loop Diuretic
bumetanide
Also sold as Bumex. This medicine treats swelling (edema) caused by heart failure, liver problems, or kidney problems.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 25,027
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
bumetanide (Bumex) is a prescription Loop Diuretic, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (25,027 FDA reports), with 2 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
bumetanide (Bumex) is a prescription Loop Diuretic. This medicine treats swelling (edema) caused by heart failure, liver problems, or kidney problems.
Bumetanide is a water pill (diuretic). It helps your body get rid of extra water and salt.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
bumetanide is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC. Status: Available.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.13/unit
Generic Available
Yes (19 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats swelling (edema) caused by heart failure, liver problems, or kidney problems.
Common side effects
Muscle cramps, Dizziness, Low blood pressure
Key warnings
Bumetanide is a strong diuretic.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from bumetanide's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Bumetanide works in your kidneys to increase the amount of salt and water that you pass in your urine. This helps to lower the amount of fluid in your body. It starts working quickly and does not last very long.
How to Take It
Take bumetanide exactly as your doctor tells you. The usual dose is 0.5 mg to 2 mg per day, taken as one dose. If needed, your doctor may have you take a second or third dose, 4 to 5 hours apart, up to a maximum of 10 mg per day. Your doctor may have you take it every other day, or for 3 to 4 days with 1 to 2 days off.
This is a plain-language summary of bumetanide's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if bumetanide will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking bumetanide during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of bumetanide's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
This is a plain-language summary of bumetanide's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature (68° to 77°F) in a tightly closed, light-resistant container.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 25,027 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for bumetanide, by number of reports
- Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath
2,494 reports
- Sudden kidney damage
Sudden kidney damage
1,657 reports
- Death
Death
1,642 reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
1,638 reports
- Diarrhea
Diarrhea
1,474 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
1,454 reports
- Feeling lightheaded
Feeling lightheaded
1,210 reports
- Headache
Headache
1,144 reports
- Kidney failure
Kidney failure
1,133 reports
- Pneumonia
Pneumonia
1,089 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for bumetanide each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where bumetanide sits
bumetanide has more FDA adverse-event reports than 60% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is bumetanide; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 25,027 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
25,027
Reports Mentioning Death
3,999
16.0% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
12,100
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DYSPNOEA | 2,495 |
| 2 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1,657 |
| 3 | DEATH | 1,642 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 1,639 |
| 5 | DIARRHOEA | 1,474 |
| 6 | NAUSEA | 1,454 |
| 7 | DIZZINESS | 1,210 |
| 8 | HEADACHE | 1,144 |
| 9 | RENAL FAILURE | 1,133 |
| 10 | PNEUMONIA | 1,087 |
| 11 | ASTHENIA | 1,041 |
| 12 | PAIN | 1,008 |
| 13 | HYPOTENSION | 998 |
| 14 | CARDIAC FAILURE CONGESTIVE | 951 |
| 15 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 894 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Bumetanide is a strong diuretic. If you take too much, it can cause you to lose too much water and electrolytes. You need to be carefully watched by your doctor, and your dose needs to be adjusted to fit your needs.
Known Drug Interactions
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).
Mechanism: Probenecid, which is given with cidofovir, interferes with how the kidneys remove bumetanide from the body. This can cause the levels of bumetanide to rise in your system.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your response to these medications or adjust your dosage.
No dosing adjustments required for the following: Oral Antidiabetic Agents Metformin (1000 mg) 20 mg ↔ ↔ Pioglitazone (45 mg) 50 mg ↔ ↔ Sitagliptin (100 mg) 20 mg ↔ ↔ Glimepiride (4 mg) 20 mg ↔ ↔ Voglibose (0.2 mg three times daily) 10 mg ↔ ↔ Other Medications Hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg) 50 mg ↔ ↔ Bumetanide (1 mg) 10 mg once daily for 7 days ↔ ↔ Valsartan (320 mg) 20 mg ↓12% [↓3%, ↓20%] ↔ Simvastatin (40 mg) 20 mg ↔ ↔ Anti-infective Agent Rifampin (600 mg once daily for 6 days) 10 mg ↓7% [↓22%, ↑11%] ↓22% [↓27%, ↓17%] Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Agent Mefenamic Acid (loading dose of...
Mechanism: These medications do not significantly change how the other is processed by your body.
What to do: You can take these medicines together without needing to adjust your dosages.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What should I avoid while taking bumetanide?
Can bumetanide cause dehydration?
Will bumetanide cure my condition?
Can I drive while taking bumetanide?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can bumetanide affect my blood sugar?
How long does it take for bumetanide to work?
Can I take bumetanide with other medications?
What are the symptoms of low potassium?
When should I call my doctor?
What are the common side effects of bumetanide?
Does bumetanide interact with other medications?
What drug class is bumetanide?
Is bumetanide safe during pregnancy?
Is bumetanide currently in shortage?
Related Medications in Loop Diuretic
Other drugs grouped near bumetanide - same-class peers and common alternatives.
adenosine
Adenocard
Adenosine (Adenocard) is a medicine used to treat certain types of irregular heartbeats.
Compare with bumetanide →
amiodarone
Cordarone, Pacerone
Amiodarone (Pacerone) is a medicine used to treat life-threatening, irregular heartbeats.
Compare with bumetanide →
atropine
AtroPen
Atropine is a medicine that can temporarily block severe effects on your body.
Compare with bumetanide →
carvedilol
Coreg
Carvedilol is a medicine that lowers blood pressure and helps your heart work better.
Compare with bumetanide →
digoxin
Lanoxin
Digoxin (Lanoxin) is a medicine that helps your heart pump better.
Compare with bumetanide →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on bumetanide
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for bumetanide
The FDA label for bumetanide (sold under brand names such as Bumex) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Loop Diuretic class. This medicine treats swelling (edema) caused by heart failure, liver problems, or kidney problems. Official labeling lists 14 commonly reported side effects, including Muscle cramps, Dizziness, Low blood pressure.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 25,027 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.13.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 8, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages