Bumetanide, Oral/Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: loop diuretic

Generic and brand names: bumetanide, injection; bumetanide, oral; Bumex

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a diuretic used to remove excess water from the body. You may take this medicine by mouth or be given an injection. It may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

It can also help control high blood pressure.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• diabetes
• gout
• high cholesterol
• irregular heartbeat
• kidney or liver disease
• lupus
• problems with calcium, potassium, or magnesium levels in your blood
• sensitivity to sunlight
• trouble urinating

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Injections of this medicine are given by a healthcare provider, usually when you are in a hospital.

If you have the pills, take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Taking too much may make you urinate too much and cause dehydration.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

Take any other medicine your healthcare provider may prescribe along with this medicine.

This medicine increases how much and how often you urinate. Take it early in the day to avoid interrupting your sleep at night.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: weakness, dizziness, confusion, increased urination, dry mouth.

What should I watch out for?

If you have any severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after you start taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should take potassium or change your diet while taking this medicine.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

If you are taking medicine for high cholesterol, talk to your healthcare provider because your dosage may need to be changed.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

Your healthcare provider may want you to weigh yourself every day. Unexplained swelling may be a sign that fluids are collecting. Call your healthcare provider if you gain weight suddenly.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun and may cause you to sunburn more easily. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. While you are in the sun, wear protective clothing and sunscreen lotion until you know how you will react to the sun. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Diabetics: If you are taking insulin or another medicine for diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider because your dosage may need to be changed.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical treatment or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Ringing in your ears, loss of hearing, sore throat, fever, severe nausea or diarrhea, stomach pain, unusual bruising or bleeding, rapid heart rate, joint pain, yellowish eyes or skin.

Other: Dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, headache, muscle weakness or cramps, thirst, low urine output, dry mouth.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), fosinopril (Monopril), captopril (Capoten), benazepril (Lotensin), and lisinopril (Zestoretic)
• aminoglycoside antibiotics such as kanamycin (Kantrex), amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin, tobramycin, neomycin (Neo-Tabs, Mycifradin), and paromomycin (Humatin)
• aspirin and other salicylates
• medicine that reduces the chance of blood clots forming such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• beta blockers such as propranolol (Inderal) and sotalol (Betapace)
• medicines to lower cholesterol such as cholestyramine (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid)
• chloral hydrate
• cisplatin (Platinol)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone, hydrocortisone (Hydrocortone, Cortef, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol, A-Methapred, Depo-Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten), and triamcinolone (Aristocort)
• diabetes medicines such as insulin, acetohexamide (Dymelor), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), tolazamide (Tolinase), acarbose (Precose), miglitol (Glyset), metformin (Glucophage), repaglinide (Prandin), nateglinide (Starlix), rosiglitazone (Avandia), pioglitazone (Actos), and tolbutamide
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• dofetilide (Tikosyn)
• heart medicines such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), and valsartan (Diovan)
• lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith)
• natural remedies such as yohimbe, ginseng, dong quai, and garlic
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), ketoprofen, indomethacin (Indocin), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• other diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), torsemide (Demadex), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide (Moduretic), spironolactone/hydrochlorothiazide (Aldactazide), and triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Maxzide)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• probenecid (Benemid)
• theophylline

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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