Comparison of Commonly Used Diuretics
full update May 2025
This chart reviews the indications, dosing, kinetics, cost, and place in therapy for commonly used diuretics.
NOTE: Information based on US prescribing information unless otherwise noted. Indication and dosing information from Canadian labeling is provided if significantly different from US labeling.
Diuretic/Availability |
USUAL Adult Dose Range |
Onset |
Duration |
Costa |
Comments |
THIAZIDE DIURETICS are among the drugs that significantly increase blood glucose. They can also increase triglycerides and cholesterol minimally.1 Other side effects include hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hyponatremia, and hypomagnesemia.1,2 Thiazides reduce urinary calcium excretion, an effect that may be beneficial to people at risk of osteoporosis or kidney stones.1 Contrary to popular belief, thiazides, particularly metolazone, can be effective if CrCl is <30 mL/min.6,7 |
|||||
Chlorothiazide (oral) (not available in Canada) Diuril 250 mg/5 mL, suspension |
Edema 0.5-1 g QD to BID HTN |
≤2 hrs |
6 to 12 hrs |
US: 500 mg: ~$2.50 (brand) |
|
Chlorothiazide (IV) (not available in Canada) 500 mg injection (IV) |
Edema 0.5-1 g QD to BID |
15 min |
N/A |
US: 500 mg injection: ~$30 |
|
Chlorthalidone HemiClor (US) 25, 50 mg tabs (US); |
Edema 50 to 200 mg QD or (Canada: 50 mg QD, max) HTN 12.5 to to 100 mg QD |
~2.6 hrs |
48 to 72 hrs |
US: 25 mg tab: ~$0.40 Canada: 50 mg tab: ~$0.15 |
|
Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5, 25 mg, 50 mg tabs; 12.5 mg cap (US) |
Edema 25 to 100 mg QD or divided (Canada: 25 to 100 mg QD or BID) HTN 12.5 QD to 50 mg QD or divided BID (Canada: |
≤2 hrs |
6 to 12 hrs |
US: 25 mg tab: ~$0.02 Canada: 25 mg tab: ~$0.02 |
|
Indapamide 1.25, 2.5 mg tabs |
Edema (US only) 2.5 to 5 mg QD HTN 1.25 to 2.5 mg QD |
1 to 2 hrs2 |
At least 24 hrs2 |
US: 1.25 mg tab: ~$0.20 Canada: |
|
Metolazone Zaroxolyn (Canada) US: 2.5, 5, 10 mg tabs Canada: 2.5 mg tabs |
Edema 5 to 20 mg QD HTN 2.5 to 5 mg QD |
≤1 hr |
≥24 hr (dose-dependent) |
US: 2.5 mg tab: ~$0.45 Canada (brand): 2.5 mg tab: ~$0.25 |
|
LOOP DIURETICS are more effective diuretics than thiazides, but lack outcomes data for hypertension.1,11 They are best reserved for edematous conditions (e.g., heart failure, renal failure).1 Loops are generally recommended over thiazides for patients with GFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2.7 A thiazide can be added to a loop to enhance diuresis.7 Like thiazides, loops can cause hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis.11 Loops are less likely to cause hyponatremia or hypomagnesemia.11,12 Loops increase excretion of calcium, instead of reducing it like thiazides.1 Loops can cause dose-dependent ototoxicity (furosemide >bumetanide).13 For edematous states, loops are usually dosed intermittently, as needed. |
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Bumetanide (oral) Bumex (US) Burinex (Canada) US:0.5, 1, 2 mg tabs Canada: 1, 5 mg tabs |
Edema: 0.5 to 2 mg QD. If needed, repeat every 4 to 5 hrs (max 10 mg/day). |
0.5 to 1 hr |
4 to 6 hrs (dose-dependent) |
U.S.: 1 mg tab: ~$0.40 Canada (brand): 1 mg tab: ~$0.90 |
|
Bumetanide (IV or IM) (not available in Canada) 0.25 mg/mL injection |
Edema 0.5 to 1 mg. If needed, repeat every 2 to 3 hrs (max 10 mg/day). |
IV: minutes IM: 40 min.14 |
3 to 6 hrs14 |
US: 1 mg injection: ~$0.65 |
|
Ethacrynic acid (oral) Edecrin 25 mg tab |
Edema 50 mg QD to 50 to 100 mg BID Take after a meal. |
30 min |
6 to 8 hr |
US: 25 mg tab: ~$2.15 Canada (brand): 25 mg tab: $1.30 |
|
Ethacrynate sodium (IV) Sodium Edecrin (US) 50 mg injection |
Edema 50 mg x 1 (or 0.5 to |
5 min |
2 hrs14 |
US: 50 mg: ~$1,900 Canada: 50 mg: $480 |
|
Furosemide (oral) Lasix 20, 40, 80 mg tabs; Lasix Special* (Canada) *see comments section |
Edema 20 to 80 mg (Canada: 40 to 80 mg). May repeat, or increase by 20 to 40 mg, in 6 to 8 hrs. (max 600 mg/day; Canada: 200 mg/day). When effective dose reached, give QD or divide BID (morning and early afternoon; Canada: may repeat one to three times daily) HTN 40 mg BID (Canada: 20 to 40 mg BID) |
<1 hr |
6 to 8 hr |
US: 40 mg tab: ~$0.05 Canada: 40 mg tab: ~$0.04 |
|
Furosemide (subcutaneous) (not available in Canada) Furoscix 8 mg/mL subcutaneous solution |
Edema The single-dose infuser delivers 30 mg over the first hour, then |
Rapid16 |
≥8 hrs after initiation of dosing |
US: ~$950 |
|
Furosemide (IV or IM) 10 mg/mL injection |
Edema 20 to 40 mg. May repeat, or increase by 20 mg, in 2 hrs. (Canada: max 100 mg/day). Once effective dose reached, give QD or divide BID. For pulmonary edema, dose is 40 mg, increased to 80 mg in 1 hr if needed (Canada: 40 mg, repeated in to 1.5 hrs if needed.) |
IV: ≤5 min |
IV: ~2 hr |
US: 20 mg/2 mL vial: ~$1 Canada: |
|
Torsemide (not available in Canada) Soaanz, Demadex (brand discontinued) 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, |
Edema HTN 5 to 10 mg QD |
≤1 hr |
6 to 8 hrs |
10 mg tab: ~$0.45 |
|
POTASSIUM-SPARING DIURETICS are usually weak antihypertensives, but they can be added to a thiazide to minimize hypokalemia risk.1 The risk of hyperkalemia is increased in kidney impairment and/or with use of an ACE inhibitor or ARB.14 |
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Amiloride Midamor 5 mg tab |
5 to 10 mg QD See comments for indications. |
2 hr |
~24 hrs |
US: 5 mg tab: ~$0.2 Canada (brand): 5 mg tab: ~$0.40 |
|
Eplerenone Inspra 25, 50 mg tabs |
HFrEF post-MI 25 to 50 mg (target dose) QD HTN Note: HFrEF indication requires dose reduction if potassium level ≥5.5 mEq/mL. Max dose 25 mg QD (HF) or BID (HTN) with moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors. |
Not available |
Not available |
U.S.: 50 mg tab: ~$1.10 Canada: 50 mg tab: ~$2.50 |
|
Spironolactone tablets Aldactone 25, 50 (US only), |
Edema 25 to 200 mg QD or divided (see comments regarding cirrhosis) HTN 25 to 100 mg QD or divided (Canada: 200 mg max). HF 25 to 50 mg QD. See comments. Hypokalemia (Canada) 25 to 100 mg/day Primary hyperaldosteronism See comments |
Not available |
2 to 3 days14 |
US: 50 mg tab: ~$0.25 Canada: 25 mg tab: ~$0.04 |
|
Spironlactone suspension Carospir
|
Edema due to cirrhosis 75 mg to 100 mg QD (initiate in hospital) HTN 20 to 75 mg QD or divided HF 20 to 37.5 mg QD |
Not available |
2 to 3 days14 |
US: 20 mg ~$15 |
|
Triamterene Dyrenium 50, 100 mg cap (Only combo products are available in Canada.) |
Edema 100 mg BID Take after meals. |
2 to 4 hr |
7 to 9 hr |
US (brand): 50 mg cap: ~$15 |
|
Product labeling used in above chart, unless otherwise noted: US: Diuril suspension (November 2021), chlorothiazide injection (September 2023), chlorthalidone (Rising, November 2024), HemiClor (March 2025), Thalitone (May 2021), hydrochlorothiazide tab (Leading, April 2024), hydrochlorothiazide cap (Rising, September 2024), indapamide (Rising, April 2023), metolazone (Alembic, May 2024), Bumex tablets (August 2018), bumetanide injection (Camber, March 2025), Edecrin (August 2020), Lasix (August 2018), furosemide oral solution (Hikma, October 2023), Furoscix (March 2025), furosemide injection (Hikma, March 2025), Soaanz (December 2021), torsemide (Chartwell, February 2024), amiloride (Endo, November 2024), Inspra (October 2021), Aldactone (September 2023), Carospir (August 2023), Dyrenium (December 2024); Canada: chlorthalidone (Apotex, March 2023), hydrochlorothiazide (Sanis Health, October 2024), indapamide (Mylan, October 2024), Zaroxolyn (January 2023), Burinex(July 2022), Edecrin (December 2020), ethacrynate sodium (SteriMax, February 2024), Lasix Special (October 2022), Lasixoral solution (September 2022), Pro-furosemide tablets (January 2022), furosemide injection (Marcan, November 2024), Midamor (August 2010), Inspra (July 2023), Aldactone (December 2022)
Abbreviations: ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARB = angiotensin receptor blocker; BID = twice daily; CrCl = creatinine clearance; GFR = glomerular filtration rate; HF = heart failure; HFrEF = heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; HTN = hypertension; IM = intramuscular; IV = intravenous; Na+/K+ = sodium/potassium; PO = oral; QD = once daily; RAS = renin-aldosterone system
a. Wholesale acquisition cost (US) per dose (unless otherwise specified), for generic if available, of dose specified. US medication pricing by Elsevier, accessed April 2025. Canadian cost is wholesale.
References
- Cheng JW. Essential hypertension. In: Zeind CS, Carvalho MG, Cheng JWM, et al., editors. Applied Therapeutics: the Clinical Use of Drugs. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health, 2024:140-68.
- e-CPS [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Pharmacists Association; c2021. Thiazide CPhA monograph [May 2019]. http://www.etherapeutics.ca. (Accessed April 16, 2025).
- Hripcsak G, Suchard MA, Shea S, et al. Comparison of Cardiovascular and Safety Outcomes of Chlorthalidone vs Hydrochlorothiazide to Treat Hypertension. JAMA Intern Med. 2020 Apr 1;180(4):542-551.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA CSP Study No. Diuretic Comparison Project https://www.research.va.gov/programs/csp/597/defa ult.cfm. (Accessed April 16, 2025).
- Ernst ME, Carter BL, Goerdt CJ, et al. Comparative antihypertensive effects of hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone on ambulatory and office blood pressure. Hypertension. 2006 Mar;47(3):352-8.
- Mullens W, Damman K, Harjola VP, et al. The use of diuretics in heart failure with congestion - a position statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology. Eur J Heart Fail. 2019 Feb;21(2):137-155.
- Singh H, Marrs JC. Heart failure. In: Zeind CS, Carvalho MG, Cheng JWM, et al., editors Applied Therapeutics: the Clinical Use of Drugs. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health, 2024: 274-324.
- Beckett NS, Peters R, Fletcher AE, et al. Treatment of hypertension in patients 80 years of age or older. N Engl J Med. 2008 May 1;358(18):1887-98.
- Roush GC, Ernst ME, Kostis JB, et al. Head-to-head comparisons of hydrochlorothiazide with indapamide and chlorthalidone: antihypertensive and metabolic effects. Hypertension. 2015 May;65(5):1041-6.
- Ernst ME, Moser M. Use of diuretics in patients with hypertension. N Engl J Med. 2009 Nov 26;361(22):2153-64. Erratum in: N Engl J Med. 2010 Nov 4;363(19):1877.
- Sica DA, Carter B, Cushman W, Hamm L. Thiazide and loop diuretics. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011 Sep;13(9):639-43.
- Rosner MH, Ha N, Palmer BF, Perazella MA. Acquired Disorders of Hypomagnesemia. Mayo Clin Proc. 2023 Apr;98(4):581-596.
- Felker GM, Ellison DH, Mullens W, et al. Diuretic Therapy for Patients With Heart Failure: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Mar 17;75(10):1178-1195.
- Clinical Pharmacology powered by Clinical Key. Tampa, FL: Elsevier; 2025. http://www.clinicalkey.com. (Accessed April 17, 2025).
- Mahajan, MD, Kedar (2013) "Overview of Diuretic Strategies in Edematous States," The Medicine Forum: Vol. 14, Article 7. Available at: https://jdc.jefferson.edu/tmf/vol14/iss1/7. (Accessed April 17, 2025).
- Sica DA, Muntendam P, Myers RL, et al. Subcutaneous Furosemide in Heart Failure: Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of a Newly Buffered Solution. JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2018 Feb 7;3(1):25-34.
- Sica DA. Eplerenone: a new aldosterone receptor antagonist - are the FDA’s restrictions appropriate? J Clin Hypertens 2002;4:441-5.
Cite this document as follows: Clinical Resource, Comparison of Commonly Used Diuretics. Pharmacist’s Letter/Pharmacy Technician’s Letter/Prescriber Insights. May 2025. [410563]