Torsemide: Price, Dosage & Where to Buy

Torsemide is a loop diuretic, a medicine that helps the kidneys remove excess salt and water from the body. It is most commonly prescribed for oedema linked with heart failure, renal disease or hepatic disease, and can also be used to lower blood pressure in hypertension. Torsemide requires a prescription in the United Kingdom and has been available as a generic medicine since 2003-05-30.

Torsemide is used to treat oedema, meaning swelling caused by excess fluid. The label lists oedema associated with heart failure, renal disease or hepatic disease as indications. It is also used to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure, by lowering blood pressure.

Blood pressure reduction helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. Torsemide may be used alone or alongside other antihypertensive medicines.

Treatment of hepatic cirrhosis-related oedema is described with an aldosterone antagonist or potassium-sparing diuretic. The medicine is intended for conditions where fluid removal or blood pressure reduction forms part of medical management.

The label lists 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 100 mg tablets, together with 40 mg film-coated tablets. The usual starting dose is 10 mg or 20 mg once daily for oedema associated with heart failure. The usual starting dose is 20 mg once daily for oedema associated with chronic renal failure.

The usual starting dose is 5 mg or 10 mg once daily for oedema associated with hepatic cirrhosis, with an aldosterone antagonist or potassium-sparing diuretic. The usual starting dose is 5 mg once daily for hypertension. The label lists increasing to 10 mg once daily after 4 to 6 weeks if needed for hypertension.

For oedema, the label lists upward adjustment by approximately doubling when the diuretic response is inadequate. The label lists doses above 200 mg as not adequately studied for heart failure or chronic renal failure, and doses above 40 mg as not adequately studied in hepatic cirrhosis.

Torsemide belongs to the loop diuretic class. Loop diuretics act on a part of the kidney called the loop of Henle, where they reduce reabsorption of sodium and chloride into the bloodstream. Water follows these salts, so more water and salt pass into the urine.

This increases urine production and can reduce fluid build-up in tissues, such as swelling associated with heart failure, renal disease or hepatic disease. By lowering the amount of fluid circulating in the bloodstream, torsemide can also lower blood pressure. The same fluid and electrolyte changes mean that monitoring may be needed, particularly for kidney function, blood pressure and blood levels of salts such as potassium and sodium.

There are no available data on torsemide use in pregnant women or on the risk of major birth defects or miscarriage. Animal studies found no foetotoxicity or teratogenicity at some tested exposures, while higher exposures were associated with reduced body weight, increased fetal resorption and delayed ossification. There are no data on the presence of torsemide in human milk or its effects on a breastfed child.

Diuretics can suppress lactation. Pregnancy or breastfeeding should be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.

A missed dose can reduce the intended diuretic or blood-pressure-lowering effect. General pharmacy guidance is to follow the prescriber’s or pharmacist’s advice, and not to double the next dose to make up for a missed dose.

If several doses are missed, or if swelling, breathlessness, dizziness or other concerning symptoms develop, contact a pharmacist or doctor for advice. The prescribed schedule should be maintained unless a healthcare professional advises otherwise.

Store at 20°C to 25°C. Keep the tablets in a tight, light-resistant container with a child-resistant closure, and keep them out of reach of children. Storage at room temperature and protection from light help to maintain quality.