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Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 2 - Cardiovascular system 
Notes:

Any drug not listed on the Formulary should be considered Non-Formulary - Not recommended for prescribing

02.02.02 Loop diuretics

Furosemide 20mg, 40mg & 500mg
(Tablets)

First Choice



Bumetanide

Second Choice

1mg & 5mg Tablets

 

Reviewed July 2025:

Shortage of 1mg tablets expected until end of August 2025 due  to the NPSA-2025-003. New patients to be initiated on Furosemide where possible

 

Furosemide
(Injection)

RED
Formulary

20mg in 2mL

50mg in 5mL

250mg in 25mL

Furosemide
(Oral solution)

Formulary

20mg in 5mL

40mg in 5mL

50mg in 5mL

Torasemide tablet

Formulary

TEMPORARY APPROVAL DURING PERIOD OF BUMETANIDE 1mg AND 5mg SHORTAGE

Torasemide 5mg and 10mg tablets 

To be used only under the following circumstances:

  • Where furosemide is inappropriate 
  • AND where bumetanide cannot be obtained in any form or strength

Entry reviewed: November 2023

 

Classifications
May be initiated in any care setting
Specialist to advise therapy and provide first 28 days supply, continuation in Primary Care
Specialist to initiate and stabilise medicine prior to continuation in Primary Care
To be prescribed as per Shared Care Guidance. If no SCG in place status reverts to red.
Red medicines are designated as specialist only medicines which should only be prescribed by a specialist, usually within secondary care (either due to the requirement for specialist knowledge, long-term monitoring requirements, or restrictions that mean medicine supplies are only available to hospitals).
A decision has been made either locally and/or nationally not to routinely commission this preparation. Do not prescribe.
To be purchased over the counter. May be prescribed for chronic, long term conditions or on admission to hospital if essential.