torsemide
Brand names: Demadex
Torsemide is a water pill (diuretic). It helps remove extra fluid from your body and lowers blood pressure.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.07/unit
Generic Available
Yes (5 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Torsemide treats swelling from heart, kidney, or liver problems.
Common side effects
Excessive urination
Key warnings
Torsemide can cause you to lose too much fluid.
How It Works
Torsemide works in your kidneys to help your body get rid of extra salt and water. This lowers the amount of fluid in your body. As a result, this can lower your blood pressure.
How to Take It
Take torsemide by mouth, once a day. Your doctor will tell you how much to take. The starting dose depends on your condition. Your doctor may change your dose to get the best effect.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if torsemide will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if torsemide passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking this medicine, as diuretics may reduce breast milk production.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store torsemide at room temperature (68°F to 77°F) in a closed container, away from light and moisture. Keep out of reach of children.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 19,030 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 31,122 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
31,122
Death-Related Reports
4,265
Hospitalization Reports
16,889
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DYSPNOEA | 3,305 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 2,066 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 1,927 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 1,916 |
| 5 | DIZZINESS | 1,823 |
| 6 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1,734 |
| 7 | DEATH | 1,639 |
| 8 | GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION | 1,581 |
| 9 | OEDEMA PERIPHERAL | 1,527 |
| 10 | FALL | 1,514 |
| 11 | ANAEMIA | 1,406 |
| 12 | HYPOTENSION | 1,405 |
| 13 | HEADACHE | 1,386 |
| 14 | CARDIAC FAILURE | 1,340 |
| 15 | PNEUMONIA | 1,286 |
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
Torsemide can cause you to lose too much fluid. This can lead to low blood pressure and kidney problems. Your doctor should check your fluid levels and kidney function. Torsemide can also cause problems with electrolytes (like potassium) and blood sugar. Your doctor should check these regularly.
Known Drug Interactions
( 7.4 ) Lithium: Risk of lithium toxicity ( 7.5 ) Renin-angiotensin inhibitors: Increased risk of hypotension and renal impairment. 7.5 Lithium Like other diuretics, torsemide reduces the renal clearance of lithium, inducing a high risk of lithium toxicity. Monitor lithium levels periodically when torsemide is coadministered.
Mechanism: This water pill makes it harder for your kidneys to remove lithium from your body. This can cause lithium to build up to toxic levels.
What to do: Your doctor should check your lithium blood levels regularly. They may need to lower your lithium dose while you take this medication.
Because of its inhibition of CYP2C9 metabolism, torsemide may affect the efficacy and safety of sensitive CYP2C9 substrates, such as celecoxib, or of substrates with a narrow therapeutic range, such as warfarin or phenytoin.
Mechanism: Torsemide slows down the liver's ability to process celecoxib, which can affect how safe or effective the drug is.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for any new side effects or changes in how well your medicine works.
Torsemide may affect the efficacy and safety of sensitive CYP2C9 substrates or of substrates with a narrow therapeutic range, such as warfarin or phenytoin. Because of its inhibition of CYP2C9 metabolism, torsemide may affect the efficacy and safety of sensitive CYP2C9 substrates, such as celecoxib, or of substrates with a narrow therapeutic range, such as warfarin or phenytoin.
Mechanism: Torsemide interferes with the way your liver breaks down warfarin, which can cause the drug to build up or work differently.
What to do: Because warfarin requires very precise dosing, your doctor should monitor your blood levels and safety very carefully.
Concomitant use of CYP2C9 inhibitors (e.g., amiodarone, fluconazole, miconazole, oxandrolone) can decrease torsemide clearance and increase torsemide plasma concentrations.
Mechanism: Fluconazole blocks the enzyme that breaks down torsemide. This causes the drug to build up in your body.
What to do: Your doctor may need to lower your dose or monitor you more closely for side effects.
Concomitant use of CYP2C9 inducers (e.g., rifampin) increase torsemide clearance and decrease plasma torsemide concentrations.
Mechanism: Rifampin speeds up the process of removing torsemide from your body. This can make the torsemide less effective.
What to do: Your doctor may need to increase your torsemide dose to ensure it still works.
Common Questions
What should I avoid while taking torsemide?
Can torsemide affect my potassium levels?
How long does it take for torsemide to start working?
Can I drink alcohol while taking torsemide?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can torsemide cause hearing problems?
What are the symptoms of low potassium?
Can I take torsemide with other blood pressure medications?
What if I have diabetes?
When should I call my doctor?
What are the common side effects of torsemide?
Does torsemide interact with other medications?
What drug class is torsemide?
Is torsemide safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Loop Diuretic
Other drugs grouped near torsemide — same-class peers and common alternatives.
adenosine
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amiodarone
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atropine
AtroPen
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bumetanide
Bumex
Bumetanide is a water pill (diuretic).
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carvedilol
Coreg
Carvedilol is a medicine that lowers blood pressure and helps your heart work better.
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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
Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for torsemide
The FDA label for torsemide (sold under brand names such as Demadex) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Loop Diuretic class. Torsemide treats swelling from heart, kidney, or liver problems. Official labeling lists 1 commonly reported side effect, including Excessive urination.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 19,030 voluntary reports. The database also lists 11 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.07.
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).
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: June 30, 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