Torsemide

Torsemide treats high blood pressure and helps with fluid retention. It increases urination, so take it earlier in the day to avoid having to get up in the night to urinate.

Torsemide Overview

Reviewed: August 6, 2013
Updated: 

Torsemide is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure and fluid retention caused by congestive heart failure and other conditions. Torsemide belongs to a group of drugs called diuretics ("water pills") which help the body get rid of excess fluid by increasing the amount of salt and water the kidneys remove from the blood.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken once daily, with or without food. Torsemide also comes in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare provider. This article will focus on the oral form.

Common side effects of torsemide include nausea, weakness, and runny nose. This medication can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.

How was your experience with Torasemide?

First, a little about yourself

Tell us about yourself in a few words?

What tips would you provide a friend before taking Torasemide?

What are you taking Torasemide for?

Choose one
  • Other
  • Ascites
  • Edema
  • Heart Failure
  • Hypertension
  • Kidney Failure, Acute
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic
  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Nephrotic Syndrome
  • Pulmonary Edema

How long have you been taking it?

Choose one
  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
  • Two years or more

How well did Torasemide work for you?

Did you experience many side effects while taking this drug?

How likely would you be to recommend Torasemide to a friend?

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Torsemide Cautionary Labels

precautionsprecautionsprecautionsprecautionsprecautions

Uses of Torsemide

Torsemide is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure and fluid retention caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Torsemide Brand Names

Torsemide may be found in some form under the following brand names:

Torsemide Drug Class

Torsemide is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Torsemide

Serious side effects can occur. See "Drug Precautions" section.

Common side effects include:

  • dizziness
  • runny nose
  • weakness
  • diarrhea
  • faintness
  • arrhythmia (irregular heart beat)
  • fatigue
  • muscle weakness or spasm
  • constipation
  • chest or joint pain
  • nausea
  • nervousness or restlessness

This is not a complete list of torsemide side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Torsemide Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • other medications for high blood pressure
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) and salicylates
  • corticosteroids such as prednisone, hydrocortisone (Cortef), and dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone, Hexadrol)
  • lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
  • medications for diabetes
  • probenecid (Benemid)
  • digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin)
  • aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin, kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Neo-Fradin), streptomycin, and tobramycin
  • cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran, Questran Light)
  • colestipol (Colestid)

This is not a complete list of torsemide drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Torsemide Precautions

Torsemide can cause serious side effects including:

  • electrolyte imbalance. This medication may affect electrolytes including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride. Your doctor will check these levels using a blood test. Warning signs of electrolyte imbalance include:
    • dry mouth
    • thirst
    • weakness
    • lack of energy
    • drowsiness
    • restlessness
    • muscle pains or cramps
    • muscle fatigue
    • low blood pressure
    • decreased urination
    • fast heart rate
    • nausea and vomiting
  • worsening of kidney disease
  • worsening of gout
  • hearing loss. Risk of hearing loss is higher when torsemide is combined with other medications known to cause hearing loss. Tell your doctor right away if you experience hearing loss or ringing in the ears.
  • high blood glucose "sugar" concentrations in people with diabetes

This medication may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.

Do not take torsemide if you:

  • are allergic to torsemide or any other ingredient of torsemide
  • are allergic to "sulfa" drugs
  • are unable to produce urine

Torsemide Food Interactions

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of torsemide, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

 

Inform MD

Before taking torsemide, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

  • have liver disease
  • have kidney disease
  • have diabetes
  • have gout
  • have electrolyte imbalances
  • are allergic to sulfa medications or any other medications
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Torsemide and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Torsemide falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with torsemide. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

 

Torsemide and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if torsemide crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using torsemide.

 

Torsemide Usage

  • Take torsemide exactly as prescribed.
  • This medication comes in tablet form and is usually taken once daily.
  • Torsemide can be taken with or without food.
  • Because torsemide increases urination, it is best taken in the morning to avoid having to get up in the night to urinate. 
  • If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Torsemide Dosage

Take torsemide exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The torsemide dose your doctor recommends will be based on:

  • the condition being treated
  • other medical conditions you have
  • other medications you are taking
  • how you respond to this medication

The recommended oral dose range for torsemide is 5 mg to 200 mg daily.

Torsemide Overdose

If you take too much torsemide call your doctor or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

 

Other Requirements

  • Store at room temperature between 15° and 30°C (59° to 86°F).
  • Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.