Formulary

2.2.2 Loop diuretics

First Line
Second Line
Specialist
Hospital Only
Furosemide
  • Tablets 20mg, 40mg, 500mg (£0.67 = 40mg daily)
  • Oral solution sugar free 20mg/5ml, 40mg/5ml, 50mg/5ml (£15.57 = 20mg/5ml x 150ml)
  • Injection 10mg/1ml

Indications

  • Oedema

Dose

  • Oral, initially 40mg in the morning; maintenance 20–40mg daily; resistant oedema, 80–120mg daily
Bumetanide
  • Tablets 1mg, 5mg (£4.20 = 1mg daily)
  • Oral solution sugar free 1mg/5ml (£270.90 = 150ml)

Indications

  • Oedema

Dose

  • Oral: 1mg in the morning, repeated after 6–8 hours if necessary; severe cases, 5mg daily increased by 5mg every 12–24 hours according to response; Elderly, 500micrograms daily may be sufficient

Notes

  1. Bumetanide may be better absorbed than furosemide in patients with severe Chronic Heart Failure. Consider changing back to furosemide when symptoms are under control.