What does furosemide mean?
Furosemide is a powerful prescription drug belonging to the class of medicines known as loop diuretics, so named because they act on the loop of Henle, a structure deep within the kidney. By preventing the reabsorption of sodium, chloride, and water, furosemide prompts the body to pass more urine, thereby flushing out excess fluid. This makes it a mainstay treatment for oedema — the swelling caused by fluid build-up in conditions such as congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease — and it is also used alongside other drugs to lower blood pressure. First developed in the 1960s, it appears on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines and is sold under brand names including Lasix. The word itself derives from furan, part of its chemical structure, combined with sulfonamide. Though largely confined to medical settings, furosemide is among the most widely prescribed diuretics worldwide.
nounFurosemide is a potent loop diuretic drug used to treat fluid retention (oedema) associated with heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disorders, and to help manage high blood pressure. It works by blocking the reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the loop of Henle in the kidneys, increasing urine output.
- A loop diuretic medication used to treat oedema (fluid retention) in conditions such as congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and kidney disease.
- A medication used adjunctively in the management of hypertension.
"The cardiologist prescribed furosemide to reduce the swelling caused by her congestive heart failure."
"After his diagnosis of heart failure, he was started on furosemide twice daily to control the fluid accumulating in his legs."
"The emergency team administered intravenous furosemide to relieve the patient's acute pulmonary oedema."
Furosemide is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines — one of the few drugs deemed indispensable to any basic health system.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of furosemide
Furosemide takes its name from its chemical composition: 'furo' refers to the furan ring at the core of the molecule, while '-semide' reflects that it belongs to the sulfonamide class of compounds. The drug was synthesized in the early 1960s and quickly became one of the standard loop diuretics in clinical medicine. Related chemical terms include furan and sulfonamide, which share the same structural nomenclature.
How furosemide is actually used
Furosemide is primarily used in medical and pharmaceutical contexts; it is rarely encountered in casual conversation. In British and some international sources it may appear under the variant spelling 'frusemide'. It is known by the brand name Lasix in many countries. Because of its potency, it is typically a prescription-only medicine.
Easily confused with furosemide
Lasix is a well-known brand (trade) name for the same drug, furosemide, whereas furosemide is the generic name.
Frusemide is simply an alternative spelling of furosemide used chiefly in British and Commonwealth pharmacopoeias; both refer to the identical compound.