What is it used for?
- Excess fluid accumulation of any origin where potassium supplementation is necessary
How does it work?
Bumetanide belongs to a group of medicines called the loop diuretics. Loop diuretics act in the kidney to remove excess water from the blood, by causing an increase in the removal of salts such as potassium and sodium. This removal of salts causes water to be drawn out of the blood and into the kidneys, where it is then excreted in the urine. Removing water from the blood causes a decrease in the volume of fluid circulating through the blood vessels. This drop in fluid volume decreases the effort required by the heart to pump blood around the body.
There are many conditions which may lead to an accumulation of fluid in the body (oedema). Bumetanide is commonly used in conditions such as heart failure, where the pumping mechanism of the heart is less effective. It is used to relieve the symptoms of heart failure, such as the shortness of breath seen with fluid on the lungs.
At higher doses the amount of water drawn from the blood into the urine is much greater, therefore bumetanide is also used when there is reduced production of urine in patients with kidney failure.
Bumetanide is also used to remove excess fluid associated with liver failure, hypertension, and poor circulation in the periphery (ie. arms and legs).
Bumetanide increases the loss of potassium into the urine, which can cause low amounts of potassium in the body (hypokalaemia). Low potassium levels may increase the risk of the occurance of irregular heart rhythms. This medicine contains a potassium supplement to prevent hypokalaemia and the associated problems in those susceptible individuals.
- It is recommended that blood tests are performed regularly to monitor the level of potassium in the blood. If this level is too low, potassium supplements may be required.
- If you experience any of the following symptoms while taking this medicine you should inform your doctor promptly, so that the amount of fluids and salts in your body can be checked: thirst, lethargy, confusion, weakness, drowsiness, muscle cramps, scanty production of urine, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, nausea and vomiting.
- As diuretics cause your kidneys to produce more urine, you may prefer to take this medicine in the morning rather than before going to bed, as this will reduce the likelihood of you needing to get up in the night to visit the toilet. Seek further advice from your doctor or pharmacist.
Use with caution in
- Enlarged prostate gland (prostatic hypertrophy)
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Obstruction of the urinary tract (urethra)
- People with symptoms of a blockage in the bowel
Not to be used in
- Allergy to any of the active ingredients
- Blockage of the bowel (bowel obstruction)
- Children under 12 years of age
- Crohn's disease
- Failure of the kidneys to produce urine (anuria)
- High levels of potassium in the blood (hyperkalaemia)
- Inadequate production of natural steroid hormones by the adrenal glands (Addison's disease)
- Kidney failure
- Liver disease that is causing the patient to become unconscious (precomatose state)
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- Pregnant women should consult their doctor before using this medication. The suitability of this medication depends on the stage of pregnancy.
- This medicine should be used with caution by breastfeeding mothers, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- This medication is to be swallowed whole, not chewed.
- This medication is to be taken with plenty of water.
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Abdominal pain
- Skin rashes
- High blood uric acid level (hyperuricaemia) which can cause kidney problems and gout
- Decreased production of blood cells by the bone marrow (bone marrow suppression)
- Abnormal enlargement of breasts in men (gynaecomastia)
- Hearing distubances
- Pain in the muscles (myalgia)
- Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia)
- Disturbances in the levels of chemical components (electrolytes) in the blood
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
When bumetanide is taken together with medicines that decrease blood pressure there is an increased risk of a large drop in blood pressure and fainting, especially when given with the first dose of ACE inhibitors (eg captopril).
The blood pressure lowering and diuretic effects of bumetanide may be reduced or abolished when used together with indomethacin and possibly other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) medicines .
Bumetanide may reduce the ability of the body to remove lithium, giving rise to adverse effects.
ACE inhibitors should not be used in combination with this medicine as potassium levels may be increased. This may lead to adverse effects.
Other medicines containing the same active ingredients
There are no other medicines available in the UK that contain bumetanide and potassium.