Torsemide

The Basics

What is Torsemide?

A loop diuretic that is used to treat fluid retention in people with heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease. Also used to treat high blood pressure.

Brand names for Torsemide

Demadex

How Torsemide is classified

Antihypertensive Agents, Loop Diuretics

Torsemide During Pregnancy

Torsemide pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Torsemide while pregnant

There are no available data on use of DEMADEX in pregnant women and the risk of major birth defects or miscarriage. In pregnant rats and rabbits dosed, on a mg/m² basis, with 10 and 1.7 times a human dose of 20 mg/day, respectively, there was no fetotoxicity or teratogenicity. However, in pregnant rats and rabbits administered 50 and 6.8 times the human dose, respectively, decreases in body weight, decreased fetal resorption and delayed fetal ossification was observed. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major malformations and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4%, and 15-20%, respectively. Data There was no fetotoxicity or teratogenicity in rats treated with up to 5 mg/kg/day of torsemide (on a mg/kg basis, this is 15 times a human dose of 20 mg/day; on a mg/m² basis, the animal dose is 10 times the human dose), or in rabbits, treated with 1.6 mg/kg/day (on a mg/kg basis, 5 times the human dose of 20 mg/kg/day; on a mg/m² basis, 1.7 times this dose). Fetal and maternal toxicity (decrease in average body weight, increase in fetal resorption and delayed fetal ossification) occurred in rabbits and rats given doses 4 (rabbits) and 5 (rats) times larger.

Taking Torsemide While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Torsemide?

Because no information is available on the use of torsemide during breastfeeding and because intense diuresis might decrease lactation, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Because no information is available on the use of torsemide during breastfeeding and because intense diuresis might decrease lactation, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Possible effects of Torsemide on milk supply

Relevant published information on torsemide was not found as of the revision date. Intense diuresis, fluid restriction and breast binding have been used to suppress lactation immediately postpartum.[1][2][3] The added contribution of the diuretic to the other measures, which are effective in suppressing lactation, has not been studied. No data exist on the effects of loop diuretics on established, ongoing lactation.

Possible alternatives to Torsemide

Chlorothiazide, Hydrochlorothiazide.