Common questions about bumetanide

Bumetanide is a type of medicine called a loop diuretic.

A diuretic makes your body get rid of extra fluid through your kidneys. A loop diuretic works on a specific part of the kidney called the loop of Henle, to increase the salt and water you pee out.

This means you have less fluid in your tissue which helps get rid of swelling (oedema).

Bumetanide starts to work within 1 hour, but it may take a few weeks to fully take effect.

If bumetanide does not help your symptoms, your doctor may change your dose to see if it helps. If not, there may be other treatments suitable for you.

There are other diuretics that work in a similar way to bumetanide.

There are 3 different types of diuretic, and each type works on a different part of the kidney:

• loop diuretics including bumetanide, furosemide and torasemide can be used to treat heart failure. Torasemide and furosemide can also be used to treat high blood pressure
• thiazide diuretics such as bendroflumethiazide and indapamide are used in low doses to treat high blood pressure, and in higher doses to treat heart failure
• potassium-sparing diuretics such as spironolactone and eplerenone can be used to treat heart failure. These can also be used if you lose too much potassium with other diuretics

It's best to drink normally while you're taking bumetanide. A good rule is to drink enough fluid so that you're not thirsty for long periods. Steadily increase your fluid intake when exercising and during hot weather. Passing pale, clear pee is a good sign that you're drinking enough.

However, if you have heart failure or kidney problems you might need to limit how much fluid you drink. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how much you need to drink each day.

Yes, but it's important to tell your doctor that you're taking bumetanide if you're going to be put to sleep with a general anaesthetic, or you're going to have any kind of major operation, such as having a baby by caesarean section, without a general anaesthetic.

You might lose a bit of weight when taking bumetanide, but this is because you're losing fluids, not body fat.

Only take bumetanide if your doctor has prescribed it. Only take it for the reason your doctor prescribed it for you.

Bumetanide will not affect any type of contraception.

However, some types of hormonal contraception, like the combined pill and contraceptive patch, are not usually recommended if you're taking bumetanide. This is because some hormonal contraceptives can raise your blood pressure and stop the medicine working properly.

Talk to your doctor if you're taking or using hormonal contraceptives.

Bumetanide can make you feel confused and dizzy. If this happens to you, do not drive, cycle, or use machinery or tools until you feel back to normal.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking bumetanide. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

During the first few days of taking bumetanide, it is best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you. It may lower your blood pressure and make you feel dizzy.

If you're taking a diuretic such as bumetanide, it's important not to have too much salt in your food because this can stop it working as well as it should.

Do not eat foods that have a lot of salt in them, such as processed foods or ready-meals. Do not add extra salt when you're cooking or at the table.

Also, do not buy salt substitutes, such as Lo-Salt, instead of ordinary table salt, as they contain a lot of potassium, which can affect the way certain medicines work, or cause side effects.

Adults are advised to eat no more than 6g of salt a day. Your doctor will tell you if you need to eat even less than this.

You can boost your general health, plus the health of your heart, by making some key lifestyle changes. These will also help if you have heart failure:

• Quit smoking – smoking increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Quitting smoking brings down your blood pressure and relieves heart failure symptoms. Try to avoid secondhand smoke too.
• Drink alcohol sensibly – drinking too much alcohol raises blood pressure over time and also makes heart failure worse. Men and women should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
• Be more active – regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. It does not need to be too energetic, walking every day can help.
• Eat healthily – aim to eat a diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products and lean proteins. It's a good idea to follow these tips for a lower salt diet too, however, it's important not to go on a low-salt (or low-sodium) diet while taking this medicine, as that could make your sodium levels too low. People need salt in their diet but eating too much salt is the biggest cause of high blood pressure. The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure will be. Aim for no more than 6g of salt a day.
• Manage stress – when you're anxious or upset, your heart beats faster, you breathe more heavily and your blood pressure often goes up. This can make heart failure worse too. Find ways to reduce stress in your life. To give your heart a rest, try napping or putting your feet up when possible. Spend time with friends and family to be social and help avoid stress.
• Vaccinations – if you have heart failure, it's recommended that you have the flu vaccine every year and the pneumococcal vaccine as recommended by your GP. Ask your doctor about these vaccinations. You can have them free on the NHS if you have heart failure. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for most people. Make sure you've had all the doses that you are eligible for. Talk to your doctor if you think you might be in one of the at risk groups.