How torasemide works
Torasemide has a diuretic effect, lowers blood pressure and flushes out edema (anti-edematous).
In the human body, blood salts (electrolytes such as sodium and potassium) are subject to a delicate balance that is strictly controlled. Through the kidneys, electrolytes can be released into or recovered from the urine to be excreted, as needed. Many different transporters are involved in this release and recovery of electrolytes.
This increased amount of salts in the urine also removes water from the body. If a patient has water retention (edema) in the body (e.g., due to reduced pumping capacity of the heart), loop diuretics such as torasemide can remove water from the body tissues – the tissue swelling is reduced.
Unlike other diuretics (e.g., thiazides), loop diuretics excrete not only sodium, potassium and chloride ions, but also magnesium and calcium ions.
Torasemide is rapidly and almost completely absorbed into the blood in the intestine after ingestion by mouth. As a result, the torasemide effect occurs relatively quickly (after about one hour). The active substance is broken down in the liver. The resulting breakdown products are excreted mainly by the kidneys.
When is torasemide used?
The indications for use (indications) of torasemide include:
- Edema due to decreased cardiac output (cardiac edema).
- Pulmonary edema
- arterial high blood pressure (hypertension)
- increase of urinary excretion in poisoning
- Maintenance of residual diuresis in severe renal insufficiency
How torasemide is used
Torasemide is usually used in the form of tablets. Due to its long duration of action, once-daily intake (in the morning with some water) is sufficient.
Higher daily doses such as 50 mg or 100 mg up to the maximum dose of 200 mg may be necessary in patients with severe renal impairment (common, for example, in dialysis patients with some residual excretion remaining).
What are the side effects of torasemide?
What should I be aware of when taking torasemide?
Do not take torasemide in the following situations:
- Kidney failure
- hepatic coma
- severely low blood pressure
- low blood volume
- deficiency of certain electrolytes (sodium, potassium)
- significant problems with urination
Drug interactions
Drug interactions are possible when the diuretic is taken at the same time as other medications.
In contrast, the effect of diabetes drugs and blood-vessel-constricting agents (adrenaline, noradrenaline) is reduced by simultaneous use with torasemide.
The side effects of torasemide are increased by laxatives and corticoids (“cortisone”).
The gout medicine probenecid and anti-inflammatory painkillers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid and indomethacin), on the other hand, weaken the effect of torasemide.
Taking torasemide may impair the ability to react. Therefore, experts advise against taking an active part in road traffic or operating heavy machinery during treatment. This is especially true in combination with alcohol.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Medicines containing torasemide are used during pregnancy only after a strict medical risk-benefit assessment and at the lowest possible dose.
Age Restrictions
Children and adolescents should not receive preparations containing torasemide, as insufficient experience is available for use in this age group.
Overdose
In the event of an overdose of the diuretic, there may be a very large excretion of fluid. As a result, symptoms such as drowsiness (somnolence), confusion, low blood pressure, circulatory collapse, and gastrointestinal distress occur.
How to get medication with torasemide
Interesting facts about torasemide
The active ingredient torasemide made negative headlines in competitive sports as a doping agent. In bodybuilding and in sports where competitions are held in weight classes, it is abused for rapid water elimination and weight loss.