What is Furosemide?
A powerful water pill that markedly increases urine output. Prescribed for oedema due to heart, liver or kidney disease and for high blood pressure.
How well studied is Furosemide?
Approved since the 1960s and extensively established in clinical use.
What side effects and risks does Furosemide have?
Dehydration, low blood pressure, loss of potassium, magnesium and sodium (cramps, weakness, heart rhythm disturbances), worsening kidney function; high doses can cause irreversible hearing loss. Especially tricky on GLP-1 therapy: low food and fluid intake, vomiting or diarrhoea add to fluid and electrolyte losses. Interacts with NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, aminoglycosides, lithium.
Is Furosemide approved in Germany?
In short: yes. Approved in Germany/EU, prescription-only. WADA: diuretic (S5), prohibited at all times. Misuse for quick “weight loss” (water only) or to dry out before competitions is dangerous. Taking it without a prescription and medical monitoring – e.g. bought from “peptide shops” – is dangerous: unknown quality, no lab checks, no adjustment to blood pressure, kidney values or other medicines.
Sources
Note: We deliberately do not list any doses here. For approved medicines, your doctor sets the dose; for unapproved substances there is no reliable information.