Prescription medication · Loop Diuretic

furosemide

Also sold as Lasix. This medicine treats swelling (edema) from heart failure, liver problems, or kidney disease.

Data updated 2026-05-15

387,984
FDA reportsHeavily reported
36
InteractionsSeveral interactions
87% less
Generic vs brandHuge savings
In shortage
FDA status

What the data shows

furosemide (Lasix) is a prescription Loop Diuretic, in the top 5% of tracked drugs by FAERS report volume (387,984 FDA reports), whose generic runs roughly half the brand price or less (87% less).

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.

furosemide (Lasix) is a prescription Loop Diuretic. This medicine treats swelling (edema) from heart failure, liver problems, or kidney disease.

Furosemide 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

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 →

View Alternatives → Compare with Another Drug → Full Side Effects Report →

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.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from furosemide's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

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.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 387,984 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for furosemide, by number of reports

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.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) As of 2025

Reports over time

Adverse-event reports filed for furosemide each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

010,00020,00030,00040,000 19972002200620102014201820222025 19,601

Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.

Where furosemide sits

furosemide has more FDA adverse-event reports than 98% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.

fewest reports most reports

Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is furosemide; the line is the median (50th percentile).

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

Reports Mentioning Death

60,624

15.6% of reports — not proof of cause

Hospitalization Reports

190,901

Top Indication

Product Used For Unknown Indication

Gender Distribution

Female 200,797 (55%)
Male 161,113 (44%)

Age Distribution

0–17 6,409
18–44 16,679
45–64 74,829
65–74 73,892
75+ 108,196

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
14 PAIN 13,548
15 HEADACHE 12,959
16 RENAL FAILURE 12,862
17 VOMITING 12,388

Reactions in Death Reports

DEATH 18,272
PNEUMONIA 4,327
DYSPNOEA 4,288
RENAL FAILURE 3,777
CARDIAC FAILURE 3,095
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 3,073
CARDIAC FAILURE CONGESTIVE 2,910
RESPIRATORY FAILURE 2,904
SEPSIS 2,777
CARDIAC ARREST 2,742

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

DYSPNOEA 17,955
PNEUMONIA 13,043
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 12,281
FALL 11,740
HYPOTENSION 10,161
DIARRHOEA 10,073
CARDIAC FAILURE CONGESTIVE 9,776
ASTHENIA 9,370
NAUSEA 9,348
ANAEMIA 9,264

Source: 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

major dutasteride

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.

major dutasteride/tamsulosin

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.

major tamsulosin

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.

moderate cyclosporine

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.

moderate lithium

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.

Check all your medications →

This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

What should I avoid while taking furosemide?
Avoid getting dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather or if you are exercising.
Can furosemide affect my blood sugar?
Yes, furosemide can raise your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar more often.
Will furosemide interact with other medications I'm taking?
Yes, furosemide can interact with many other medications. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
How long does it take for furosemide to work?
Furosemide usually starts working within an hour after you take it.
Can furosemide cause hearing loss?
Yes, furosemide can sometimes cause hearing loss, especially if you are taking high doses or other medicines that can also affect hearing.
What are the symptoms of low potassium caused by furosemide?
Symptoms of low potassium can include muscle weakness, cramps, fatigue, and irregular heartbeat.
Can I drink alcohol while taking furosemide?
Drinking alcohol while taking furosemide can lower your blood pressure too much and make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
Does furosemide cause weight loss?
Furosemide can cause you to lose weight because it removes extra fluid from your body. This is not the same as losing body fat.
Can furosemide affect my kidneys?
Yes, furosemide can affect your kidneys, especially if you already have kidney problems. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function while you are taking this medicine.
When should I call my doctor?
Call your doctor if you have any serious side effects, such as severe dizziness, muscle cramps, or signs of dehydration.
What are the common side effects of furosemide?
The registry lists Dizziness, Headache, Blurred vision, Nausea, Vomiting among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for furosemide. The compiled record contains 387,984 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does furosemide interact with other medications?
The registry has 36 documented interaction rows for furosemide. Notable source-record pairings include dutasteride, dutasteride/tamsulosin, tamsulosin. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is furosemide?
furosemide belongs to the Loop Diuretic drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). This medicine treats swelling (edema) from heart failure, liver problems, or kidney disease.
Is there a generic version of furosemide?
Yes, generic furosemide is available from 20 manufacturers. The generic costs $0.10 per unit compared to $0.75 for the brand version, saving approximately 87%. Pricing is based on NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) data from CMS.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for furosemide?
The FDA label for furosemide contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.
Has furosemide been recalled?
There are 2 recalls associated with furosemide products. CGMP Deviations; presence of N-nitroso-Furosemide (NNF) above the recommended intake limit. Check the recalls section below for full details and affected products.
Is furosemide currently in shortage?
Yes, furosemide is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Gland Pharma Limited. Status: Available. Visit the FDA Drug Shortages database for the latest updates.

Active Recalls

Class II March 20, 2026

CGMP Deviations; presence of N-nitroso-Furosemide (NNF) above the recommended intake limit.

Leading Pharma, LLC

Class II January 10, 2026

Presence of Foreign Substance

Graviti Pharmaceuticals Private Limited

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Compare beyond drug class

Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share

Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for furosemide: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.

Similar FAERS report volume

Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 387,984.

4 peers

Similar death-report share

Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 15.63%.

4 peers

Medication Guides

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FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters

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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 387,984 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 (currently 2 recall records on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: March 1, 2023

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

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 from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page