title: Adverse reactions to frusemide in hospital inpatients.
abstract: Out of 2580 medical inpatients included in a drug-surveillance programme, 585 (22.7%) were treated with frusemide. Of these, 123 (21.0%) had a total of 177 adverse reactions. The most common were hypovolaemia (85 cases), hyperuricaemia (54), and hypokalaemia (21). Most reactions were mild, and only three patients had potentially life-threatening effects. The incidence of adverse reactions increased significantly with daily dose, occurring in 47 patients (13.5%) given up to 40 mg, 42 (26.3%) given up to 80 mg, and 34 (43.6%) given over 80 mg (P less than 0.001). There was no clear association between side effects and a raised blood urea concentration on admission, confirming that treatment with frusemide is not more hazardous in patients with renal failure. Frusemide is a safe and highly effective diuretic. Nevertheless, in view of the potential seriousness of volume depletion, dosage should probably begin at 20 rather than 40 mg daily.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012769:Shock / Q000139:chemically induced; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid; D005665:Furosemide; D014508:Urea