Furosemide
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| 4-chloro-N-furfuryl- 5-sulfamoylanthranilic acid | |
| CAS number 54-31-9 | ATC code C03CA01 |
| Chemical formula | C12H11ClN2O5S |
| Molecular weight | 330.747 |
| Bioavailability | 43-69% |
| Metabolism | hepatic |
| Elimination half-life | up to 100 minutes |
| Excretion | renal 66%, biliary 33% |
| Pregnancy category | C (Australia) |
| Legal status | Schedule 4 (Aust) POM (UK) |
| Routes of administration | oral, IV, IM |
Furosemide (INN) or frusemide (former BAN) is a loop diuretic used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and oedema. It is most commonly marketed by Aventis Pharma under the brand name Lasix. It has been used to prevent thoroughbred race horses from bleeding through the nose during races.
Along with some other diuretics, furosemide is also included on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned drug list due to its alleged use as a masking agent for other drugs.
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Clinical use in humans
Main article: loop diuretic.
Furosemide, as a loop diuretic, is principally used in the following indications (Aventis, 1998):
- oedema associated with heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, renal impairment, nephrotic syndrome
- hypertension
- adjunct in cerebral/pulmonary oedema where rapid diuresis is required (IV injection)
It is also sometimes used in the management of severe hypercalcaemia in combination with adequate rehydration (Rossi, 2004).
Use in horses
Apparently, sometime in the early 1970s, furosemide's ability to prevent or at least greatly reduce the incidence of bleeding by horses during races was discovered accidentally. Pursuant to the racing rules of most states, horses that bleed from the nostrils three times are permanently barred from racing (for their own protection). Clinical trials followed, and by decade's end, racing commissions in some states began legalizing its use on race horses. On September 1, 1995, New York became the last state in the United States to approve such use, after years of refusing to consider doing so. Some states allow its use for all racehorses; some allow it only for confirmed "bleeders." Its use for this purpose is still prohibited in many other countries, however.
Brand names
Some of the brand names under which furosemide is marketed include: Aisemide®; Beronald®; Desdemin®; Discoid®; Diural®; Diurapid®; Dryptal®; Durafurid®; Errolon®; Eutensin®; Frusetic®; Frusid®; Fulsix®; Fuluvamide®; Furesis®; Furo-Puren®; Furosedon®; Hydro-rapid®; Impugan®; Katlex®; Lasilix®; Lasix®; Lowpston®; Macasirool®; Mirfat®; Nicorol®; Odemase®; Oedemex®; Profemin®; Rosemide®; Rusyde®; Trofurit®; Urex®
References
- Aventis Pharma (1998). Lasix Approved Product Information. Lane Cove: Aventis Pharma Pty Ltd.
- Rossi S (Ed.) (2004). Australian Medicines Handbook 2004. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook. ISBN 0-9578521-4-2.
External links
- Lasix and horse bleeding (http://www.thinkythings.org/horseracing/lasixinfo.html)
- "Diuretics and other masking agents" (http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/document/list_2005.pdf) (PDF) – Part S5 of the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2005 Prohibited List. International Standard.fr:Furosémide