Comprehensive medication guide to Bumetanide including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$15 copay on most commercial plans and Medicare Part D; generic bumetanide is typically placed on Tier 1 or Tier 2 formulary. Medicare Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy) may reduce copays to $1–$4.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$54–$80 retail for generic bumetanide tablets (30-day supply, 1mg); as low as $10.20–$16.19 with a free GoodRx coupon or $11.41 with SingleCare at participating pharmacies.
Medfinder Findability Score
62/100
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Bumetanide (brand name Bumex) is a potent loop diuretic — commonly called a "water pill" — used to treat fluid retention (edema) in patients with heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease including nephrotic syndrome. It is FDA-approved for these conditions and is available as an inexpensive generic manufactured by multiple pharmaceutical companies.
Bumetanide is approximately 40 to 60 times more potent than furosemide (Lasix) on a milligram-per-milligram basis, with more consistent oral bioavailability (80–95%). This makes it especially useful for patients whose edema does not respond adequately to furosemide, or who have variable absorption due to gut edema or chronic kidney disease. Diuresis begins within 30–60 minutes of an oral dose and lasts approximately 4–6 hours.
Bumetanide carries an FDA black box warning noting that it is a potent diuretic that, if given in excessive amounts, can lead to profound diuresis with water and electrolyte depletion — requiring careful medical supervision and regular laboratory monitoring.
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Bumetanide works by blocking the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2) in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle in the kidney. This prevents sodium, potassium, and chloride from being reabsorbed from the kidney tubule back into the bloodstream. These electrolytes — and the water that follows them via osmosis — are instead passed into the urine, producing a rapid and significant increase in urine output.
Unlike furosemide, bumetanide's oral bioavailability is consistently high (80–95%), making its effects more predictable across patient populations. This consistency is especially valuable in patients with gut edema or CKD, where furosemide's absorption is highly variable (10–100%).
In the brain, bumetanide also blocks the NKCC1 cotransporter in neurons, which is under investigation for potential therapeutic effects in neonatal seizures and autism spectrum disorder — though these are not FDA-approved indications. The kidney-based NKCC2 blockade is responsible for its primary diuretic effects.
0.5 mg — tablet
1 mg — tablet
Most commonly prescribed strength
2 mg — tablet
0.25 mg/mL — injectable solution
For IV or IM use in hospital settings
Bumetanide oral tablets are generally available at most pharmacies in 2026, though availability can be inconsistent depending on location, strength, and pharmacy. The drug faced confirmed supply disruptions in mid-2025, particularly for 1 mg tablets and injectable formulations. By late 2025, supply for most oral tablet strengths had largely improved, though some regional and pharmacy-level variability persists.
Independent pharmacies often carry stock when chain pharmacies are out. Mail-order pharmacies affiliated with insurance plans can provide consistent 90-day supplies for stable patients. If your local pharmacy is out of stock, calling multiple pharmacies manually can take significant time.
The fastest way to find bumetanide in stock near you is to use medfinder — a service that calls pharmacies in your area to check which ones have your medication and texts you the results. This eliminates hours of frustrating hold time and searching.
Bumetanide is not a controlled substance, so any licensed prescriber can write a prescription for it without special DEA registration. It does not require prior authorization in most cases since it is a low-cost generic on most formulary tiers.
Cardiologists (for heart failure and fluid management)
Nephrologists (for chronic kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome)
Hepatologists / Gastroenterologists (for liver disease and ascites)
Internal medicine physicians
Primary care physicians (family medicine, general practitioners)
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in most US states
Telehealth providers can prescribe bumetanide in most US states for established patients. New patients with complex underlying conditions may require in-person evaluation before starting bumetanide. Stable patients on long-term therapy can typically receive refills via telehealth.
No. Bumetanide is not a controlled substance and is not classified under any DEA schedule. It is a standard prescription medication that can be prescribed by any licensed prescriber — including primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, cardiologists, nephrologists, and other specialists — without any special DEA registration for controlled substances.
Because it is not a controlled substance, bumetanide can be prescribed via telehealth in most US states, called in to pharmacies by phone, and prescribed for 90-day supplies without the limitations that apply to scheduled medications. There are no special refill restrictions beyond what your insurance plan may impose.
Increased urination (the intended effect — especially in first 4 hours)
Low potassium (hypokalemia) — muscle weakness, cramps, irregular heartbeat
Dizziness and lightheadedness (especially when standing up quickly)
Headache
Muscle cramps (often related to low magnesium or potassium)
Nausea
Hyperuricemia (elevated uric acid — may trigger gout in susceptible patients)
Ototoxicity (hearing loss or tinnitus) — especially at high doses or IV use with kidney impairment
Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) — unusual bleeding or bruising
Severe dehydration — extreme thirst, confusion, decreased urination, rapid weight loss
Severe electrolyte abnormalities — confusion, irregular heartbeat, extreme weakness
Severe allergic reaction — hives, difficulty breathing, facial swelling (call 911)
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Furosemide (Lasix)
Most widely prescribed loop diuretic; 40 mg furosemide ≈ 1 mg bumetanide; variable oral bioavailability; generic widely available and inexpensive
Torsemide (Soaanz)
Once-daily loop diuretic with consistent oral bioavailability (~80%); longer-acting; 10–20 mg torsemide ≈ 1 mg bumetanide; preferred alternative in CKD
Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
Only loop diuretic without sulfonamide structure; reserved for patients with confirmed sulfa allergy; higher ototoxicity risk
Spironolactone (Aldactone)
Potassium-sparing diuretic; used for heart failure and hepatic ascites; often combined with loop diuretics rather than used as a sole substitute
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Aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, tobramycin, neomycin)
majorIncreased risk of ototoxicity (hearing damage) when combined with bumetanide. Concurrent parenteral administration should be avoided, especially with kidney impairment.
Lithium
majorBumetanide reduces renal lithium clearance, increasing lithium blood levels and risk of toxicity. Generally should not be used together without very close monitoring.
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin)
moderateReduce bumetanide's diuretic effect and increase risk of kidney injury. Avoid regular NSAID use; use acetaminophen for pain relief instead.
ACE inhibitors / ARBs (lisinopril, losartan, valsartan)
moderateBumetanide enhances hypotensive effects; may cause excessive hypotension. Commonly co-prescribed in heart failure but requires dose calibration.
Digoxin
moderateBumetanide-induced hypokalemia increases cellular sensitivity to digoxin, raising the risk of digoxin toxicity and dangerous cardiac arrhythmias.
Probenecid
moderateCompetes with bumetanide for renal tubular secretion, reducing natriuresis (sodium excretion) and blunting diuretic response.
Corticosteroids / Amphotericin B
moderateBoth independently cause potassium loss; severe hypokalemia may result when combined with bumetanide.
Neuromuscular blocking agents
moderateBumetanide may prolong neuromuscular blockade due to potassium depletion. Inform anesthesiologist before any surgical procedure.
Bumetanide is an essential medication for millions of Americans managing heart failure, kidney disease, and liver disease. Its high potency and consistent bioavailability make it a critical therapeutic option — and one that patients absolutely cannot afford to miss doses of. Supply disruptions in 2025 created real challenges, but by 2026, oral tablet availability has largely improved.
If you're taking bumetanide, stay proactive: refill early, know your alternatives, monitor your weight daily, keep your lab appointments, and have a conversation with your doctor about a backup plan in case your pharmacy runs out. Generic bumetanide is available for as little as $10–$16 per month with a discount card — make sure you're not overpaying.
And when you need to find bumetanide in stock near you, medfinder calls pharmacies in your area and texts you the results — so you can spend less time searching and more time focused on your health.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
Real-time availability
Medfinder is actively checking pharmacy inventory for Bumetanide. We don't publish a number until we have enough verified pharmacy checks to be accurate — start a search and our team confirms current availability near you, usually within 24 hours.
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