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Bumetanide

Burinex · ATC code C03CA02

Also known as: Bumetanid

Key facts
Active substance
Bumetanide
Drug class
Sulfonamide drug
ATC code
C03CA02
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-29

Boxed warning

Bumetanide is a potent diuretic which, if given in excessive amounts, can lead to a profound diuresis with water and electrolyte depletion. Therefore, careful medical supervision is required, and dose and dosage schedule have to be adjusted to the individual patient's needs ( see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ).

Key facts

Bumetanide is a potent loop diuretic. Per the US prescribing information, it is used to treat edema associated with congestive heart failure and hepatic and renal disease, including the nephrotic syndrome.

What it is used for

  • Edema associated with congestive heart failure
  • Edema associated with hepatic and renal disease, including the nephrotic syndrome
  • If gastrointestinal absorption is impaired or oral use is not practical: intramuscular or intravenous route

Dosing

  • Individualize dosage with careful monitoring of response
  • Oral: usual total daily dose 0.5 mg to 2 mg, in most patients as a single dose
  • If response is inadequate, a second or third dose may be given at 4- to 5-hour intervals up to a maximum of 10 mg daily
  • For continued control of edema an intermittent schedule is recommended: alternate days, or 3 to 4 days with rest periods of 1 to 2 days
  • Hepatic failure: keep the dosage to a minimum
  • Switch from parenteral to oral treatment as soon as possible

Contraindications

  • Anuria
  • Hepatic coma or severe electrolyte depletion until the condition is corrected
  • Hypersensitivity to bumetanide
  • A marked rise in blood urea nitrogen or creatinine, or oliguria, in progressive renal disease is an indication to stop treatment

Important warnings

  • Boxed warning: excessive amounts can cause profound diuresis with water and electrolyte depletion; careful medical supervision and individualized dosing are required
  • Volume depletion, dehydration and circulatory collapse with possible vascular thrombosis and embolism, particularly in elderly patients
  • Hypokalemia, particularly with digitalis therapy, hepatic cirrhosis with ascites or a history of ventricular arrhythmias
  • Hepatic cirrhosis with ascites: sudden electrolyte shifts may precipitate hepatic encephalopathy and coma; best started in hospital
  • Ototoxicity is possible, especially with high, frequently repeated intravenous doses and impaired renal function

Side effects

  • Most frequent: muscle cramps (1.1%), dizziness (1.1%), hypotension (0.8%), headache (0.6%), nausea (0.6%), encephalopathy in pre-existing liver disease (0.6%)
  • Less frequent: impaired hearing (0.5%), pruritus, ECG changes, weakness, hives, abdominal, arthritic and musculoskeletal pain, rash, vomiting
  • Serious skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) have been reported

Interactions

  • Aminoglycosides: avoid parenteral combination, especially with impaired renal function, except in life-threatening conditions
  • Nephrotoxic drugs: avoid simultaneous administration
  • Lithium: generally do not combine; high risk of lithium toxicity
  • Probenecid and indomethacin: blunt the effect; concurrent use not recommended
  • Antihypertensives: effect may be potentiated, possibly requiring dose reduction

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • No adequate studies in pregnant women; use only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus

Summary of the official product information, written with AI on 2026-10-29. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

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For patients

Patient information (US)

This product has no separate US patient information.

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Austria

  • BurinexKaro Pharma Ab · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-29

USA

  • BumexValidus Pharmaceuticals LLC · 1 register entry
  • EnbumystCorstasis USA LLC · 1 register entry

Source: U.S. FDA – Drug labels (openFDA/DailyMed), as of 2026-10-29

Brand names in 11 more European countries
Belgium
Burinex
Denmark
Burinex
France
Burinex
Greece
Burinex
Ireland
Burinex
Luxembourg
Burinex
Malta
Burinex
Netherlands
Bumetanide Cf, Bumetanide Sandoz, Bumetanide Unichem, Burinex
Norway
Burinex
Spain
Fordiuran
Sweden
Burinex

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bumetanide (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.) – Prescribing Information, 2026-03-23. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-29. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=5c753aae-77b7-4add-8453-385a8f62d7db
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-29. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. U.S. FDA – Drug labels (openFDA/DailyMed), 2026-10-29. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/
  4. Wikidata (CC0): ATC C03CA.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-29 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.