title: Pharmacokinetics of furosemide in patients with congestive heart failure.
abstract: Since patients vary in their response to furosemide, a pharmacokinetic study of this drug was undertaken in 7 patients with severe congestive heart failure. The extent of oral availability, determined by the ratio of areas under the oral to intravenous plasma concentration-time curve, averaged 61%, but varied widely from patient to patient, from 34 to 80%. Absorption of the drug was often delayed, with a lag time before appearance in the plasma averaging 28 +/- (SD) 15 min. The volume of distribution of furosemide (averaging 114 ml/kg) was not diminished in the presence of congestive failure; likewise, drug clearance and elimination half-lives are similar to values reported in normal subjects. Urinary flow rates 1--2 h following dosing were significantly less after oral than intravenous dosing, but flow rates over 4, 8 or 24 h after dosing were similar for both routes of administration.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001682:Biological Availability; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D005665:Furosemide