Soaanz

Introduction

Written by Lee Holland, PharmD, MPH
Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Updated on August 9, 2023

Torsemide (TORE se mide) is a generic medication prescribed for swelling in certain adults. It’s also prescribed for high blood pressure. Torsemide belongs to a group of drugs called diuretics.

Side effects of torsemide

Torsemide may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of torsemide and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about torsemide’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for torsemide listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with torsemide are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about torsemide’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for torsemide listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Torsemide oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• urinating more often than usual
• dehydration (low fluid level)
• abnormal results of certain blood tests
• ringing in the ears or hearing loss, which are usually temporary
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for torsemide” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of torsemide are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about torsemide’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for torsemide listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, torsemide’s serious side effects include:

• electrolyte problems, including low blood levels of potassium, calcium, magnesium, or sodium
• gout
• low blood pressure when standing up, which may lead to fainting
• sudden kidney failure
• serious skin reactions called Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, which may be life threatening
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for torsemide” section.

Common questions about torsemide

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about torsemide.

Is torsemide similar to furosemide?

Yes, they are similar. Torsemide and furosemide both belong to a group of medications called diuretics. They’re each prescribed to treat swelling and high blood pressure.

Several studies have compared how well torsemide and furosemide work for these conditions. Some studies show that torsemide helps improve how the heart works more than furosemide does. But more research needs to be done to know this for sure.

If you’d like to know more about these medications, talk with your doctor. They can recommend which option is better for you.

What brand names are available for torsemide?

Torsemide is a generic medication. It’s available as the brand-name drug Soaanz.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less compared to brand-name drugs.

You can talk with your doctor if you’d like to learn more about torsemide and its brand-name versions.

Does torsemide cause long-term side effects?

No, long-term side effects aren’t expected with torsemide. In studies, specific side effects weren’t seen in people who had taken the drug for a long time. Also, long lasting side effects after treatment ended weren’t seen.

Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about possible long-term side effects of medication.

How does torsemide work? And how long does it take to start working?

Torsemide works by helping your kidneys make more urine. This removes water from your body, which can reduce swelling and lower high blood pressure.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Interactions and warnings for torsemide

Below, you’ll find information about torsemide’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of torsemide

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take torsemide, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for torsemide” section below.

Warnings for torsemide

Torsemide should be taken cautiously by certain people.

Torsemide could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether torsemide is a safe option for you. These warnings may differ based on the form of torsemide you take.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for torsemide, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Torsemide can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to torsemide or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe torsemide. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to torsemide, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of torsemide

You should not take more torsemide than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much torsemide, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and torsemide

Information about torsemide and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Torsemide and pregnancy

It’s not known whether torsemide should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Your doctor can discuss treatment options for high blood pressure or swelling. (Keep in mind, torsemide is used for these conditions.) Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether or not you should take torsemide during pregnancy.

Torsemide and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether torsemide should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Your doctor can discuss treatment options for high blood pressure or swelling. Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether or not you should take torsemide during this time. Your doctor may recommend other healthy ways to feed your child.

Uses of torsemide

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as torsemide for certain conditions. Approved uses for torsemide are described below.

Use for swelling

Doctors may prescribe torsemide oral tablet for treating swelling. It’s used for this purpose in adults with heart failure or kidney or liver problems. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

Swelling can affect your legs and other parts of your body.

Use for lowering blood pressure

Doctors may prescribe torsemide oral tablet for treating high blood pressure. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With high blood pressure, your blood is pushing too hard against blood vessel walls. This high pressure can damage your organs, especially your kidneys, eyes, and heart. And it can cause these organs to stop working properly.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about torsemide or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• What over-the-counter drugs should I avoid while taking torsemide?
• What should I watch for in case I have low blood pressure with torsemide?
• How can I tell if I have dehydration (low fluid level) with torsemide?

Resources

• Abraham B, et al. (2020). Meta-analysis comparing torsemide versus furosemide in patients with heart failure. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002914919311087
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Torsemide – torsemide tablet. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/55e88727-864e-4313-860c-31a6ca45168f/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.