Oral torsemide in patients with chronic congestive heart failure: effects on body weight, edema, and electrolyte excretion. Torsemide Investigators Group.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of torsemide on the primary end point of change in body weight from baseline, and the following secondary end points: urinary sodium, potassium, and chloride excretion, and urine volume after the first dose of drug.


METHODS
Randomized, parallel, double-blind, multicenter study in patients treated with torsemide 5 mg (n = 19), 10 mg (n = 18), or 20 mg (n = 14), or placebo (n = 15) for 7 days.


METHODS
Sixty-six patients with New York Heart Association class II or III congestive heart failure and edema.


RESULTS
At the end of the study, patients treated with torsemide 10 and 20 mg demonstrated a significant reduction in body weight compared with those receiving placebo (-1.62 and -1.30 kg, respectively), and those treated with torsemide 5 mg did not (-0.60 kg). The severity of edema decreased with increasing torsemide dose. Torsemide caused no greater frequency of adverse effects with increasing dose.


CONCLUSIONS
Orally administered torsemide 5, 10, and 20 mg once/day for 7 days were well tolerated. Doses of 10 and 20 mg were effective in producing weight loss.
Patterson
J H
JH
School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7360.
Adams
K F
KF
Applefeld
M M
MM
Corder
C N
CN
Masse
B R
BR
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000652:urine; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000652:urine; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077786:Torsemide
D002712:Chlorides; D004232:Diuretics; D004573:Electrolytes; D013449:Sulfonamides; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D000077786:Torsemide