furosemide
Brand names: Lasix
Furosemide is a water pill (diuretic). It helps your body get rid of extra water and salt.
Drug Shortage Alert
furosemide is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Gland Pharma Limited. Status: Available.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$0.75/unit
Generic Price
$0.10/unit
Generic Savings
87%
Generic Available
Yes (20 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats swelling (edema) from heart failure, liver problems, or kidney disease.
Common side effects
Dizziness, Headache, Blurred vision
Key warnings
Furosemide can cause you to lose too much fluid and electrolytes.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take furosemide as your doctor tells you. Your doctor will adjust your dose to find what works best. You can take it with or without food. Try to take it at the same times each day.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
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 continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store at room temperature (68° to 77°F) away from light in a tightly closed container.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 187,121 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 387,984 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1997–2025.
Total Reports
387,984
Death-Related Reports
60,624
Hospitalization Reports
190,901
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DYSPNOEA | 29,104 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 20,393 |
| 3 | DIARRHOEA | 19,937 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 18,692 |
| 5 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 18,530 |
| 6 | DEATH | 18,316 |
| 7 | FALL | 16,158 |
| 8 | PNEUMONIA | 16,077 |
| 9 | ASTHENIA | 15,177 |
| 10 | HYPOTENSION | 14,755 |
| 11 | DIZZINESS | 14,719 |
| 12 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 14,410 |
| 13 | OFF LABEL USE | 14,126 |
| 14 | PAIN | 13,548 |
| 15 | HEADACHE | 12,959 |
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
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.
Known Drug Interactions
7.5 Furosemide Tamsulosin Tamsulosin had no effect on the pharmacodynamics (excretion of electrolytes) of furosemide. While furosemide produced an 11% to 12% reduction in tamsulosin hydrochloride C max and AUC, these changes are expected to be clinically insignificant and do not require adjustment of the dose of tamsulosin [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ] .
Mechanism: Furosemide slightly lowers the amount of the other drug in your blood, but the effect is too small to matter.
What to do: You do not need to change your dose when taking these medications together.
7.5 Furosemide Tamsulosin Tamsulosin had no effect on the pharmacodynamics (excretion of electrolytes) of furosemide. While furosemide produced an 11% to 12% reduction in tamsulosin hydrochloride C max and AUC, these changes are expected to be clinically insignificant and do not require adjustment of the dose of tamsulosin [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ] .
Mechanism: Furosemide can slightly decrease the levels of tamsulosin in your body, but it does not change how well the water pill works.
What to do: No dose adjustments are necessary because the interaction is not considered clinically important.
7.7 Furosemide Tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules had no effect on the pharmacodynamics (excretion of electrolytes) of furosemide. While furosemide produced an 11% to 12% reduction in tamsulosin hydrochloride C max and AUC, these changes are expected to be clinically insignificant and do not require adjustment of the tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules dosage [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Mechanism: Furosemide slightly lowers the level of tamsulosin in your system, but the effect is too small to change how the medicine works.
What to do: You can take these medicines together safely without changing your dose.
Concomitant use of cyclosporine and furosemide is associated with increased risk of gouty arthritis secondary to furosemide-induced hyperurecemia and cyclosporine impairment of renal urate excretion.
Mechanism: Furosemide raises uric acid levels in the blood, while cyclosporine makes it harder for the kidneys to remove it. This combination can cause uric acid to build up and lead to painful gouty arthritis.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your uric acid levels and watch for signs of joint pain. Dosage adjustments may be necessary if gout symptoms develop.
Lithium generally should not be given with diuretics because they reduce lithium's renal clearance and add a high risk of lithium toxicity.
Mechanism: Furosemide prevents the kidneys from clearing lithium out of the body properly. This causes lithium to build up to dangerous levels, which can lead to toxicity.
What to do: Avoid taking these two medications together. If they must be used, your doctor will need to monitor your lithium blood levels very closely.
Common Questions
What should I avoid while taking furosemide?
Can furosemide affect my blood sugar?
Will furosemide interact with other medications I'm taking?
How long does it take for furosemide to work?
Can furosemide cause hearing loss?
What are the symptoms of low potassium caused by furosemide?
Can I drink alcohol while taking furosemide?
Does furosemide cause weight loss?
Can furosemide affect my kidneys?
When should I call my doctor?
What are the common side effects of furosemide?
Does furosemide interact with other medications?
What drug class is furosemide?
Is there a generic version of furosemide?
Is furosemide safe during pregnancy?
Is furosemide currently in shortage?
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atropine
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bumetanide
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carvedilol
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Medication Guides
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What the FDA Data Shows for furosemide
The FDA label for furosemide (sold under brand names such as Lasix) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Loop Diuretic class. This medicine treats swelling (edema) from heart failure, liver problems, or kidney disease. Official labeling lists 10 commonly reported side effects, including Dizziness, Headache, Blurred vision.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 187,121 voluntary reports. The database also lists 36 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.10 versus $0.75 for the brand — a 87% generic savings.
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: March 1, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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