Furosemide (Molecule of the Month for April 2003)
Furosemide is used in the treatment of high blood pressure, edema, pulmonary edema, congestive heart failure and hypertension. The drug can be administered orally (liquid), by injection or in tablet form.
Furosemide is a sulfonamide, its chemical name is 4-chloro-N-furfuryl-5-sulfamoylanthranilic acid and its molecular formula is C12H11ClN2O5S. Furosemide is an off-white to pale yellow crystal, it is insoluble in water, but freely soluble in dilute alkaline solution.
Furosemide is a very powerful loop diuretic often used when other drugs are ineffective (used instead of thiazides, because it causes less hypokalemias.). The drug works by inhibiting the absorption of sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium and to a lesser extent bicarbonates in the proximal and distal tubes, as well as the loop of Henle.
Formal Chemical Name (IUPAC)
4-chloro-N-furfuryl-5-sulfamoylanthranilic acid
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Furosemide structure
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C12 H11 Cl N2 O5 S
Update by Karl Harrison
(Molecule of the Month for
April 2003
)
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