Burinex (Bumetanide 1mg)

Burinex general information

What is Burinex used for?

Burinex tablets 1mg are used to treat oedema (water retention) caused by several conditions, particularly oedema associated with congestive heart failure, where higher doses of other diuretic medications like frusemide are contraindicated.  Congestive heart failure is when the heart does not pump blood efficiently around the body, usually due to coronary artery disease with symptoms including oedema, shortness of breath and tiredness.  Burinex tablets 1mg are also used to treat oedema caused by liver disease like cirrhosis of the liver, and renal disease, including nephrotic syndrome due to kidney damage; also acute pulmonary oedema (fluid on the lungs), which is a feature of congestive heart failure.  Burinex tablets 1mg help remove excess fluid from the body tissues, such as around the feet and ankles, which can become very swollen and puffy, and also from the blood and for this reason they are often called water tablets. 

How does Burinex work?

Burinex tablets 1mg contain bumetanide, a diuretic that is used to treat oedema caused by various conditions.  Bumetanide in Burinex tablets 1mg is a metanilamide derivative and structurally different to and more potent than frusemide, a sulphanilamide derivatives and thiazide diuretic.  Bumetanide in Burinex tablets acts directly on the kidneys at the ascending limb of the Loop of Henlé between the proximal and distal tubules, which is where salts (sodium, potassium and chloride) are reabsorbed back into the blood to prevent the blood from becoming deficient in salts.  This creates a concentration gradient, allowing more water back into the blood and the formation of concentrated urine.  Bumetanide in Burinex tablets 1mg inhibits the reabsorption of salts back into the blood, so that more salts are excreted into the urine and more water is removed from the blood, which in turn draws more water out of the tissues.  This increases the volume of urine that is produced and also reduces the volume of blood, which reduces the amount of water stored in the tissues preventing the build-up of fluid that causes oedema (water retention and swelling), due to congestive heart failure and other conditions and relieves symptoms of congestive heart failure.  Bumetanide in Burinex tablets 1mg is a loop diuretic with a rapid onset and short duration of action.

What does Burinex contain?

Burinex tablets 1mg contain the active ingredient bumetanide, a diuretic that is used to treat oedema caused by various conditions.  They also contain starch, lactose, coloidal silica, vinyl acetate copolymer, polysorbate 80 (E433), agar (E406), magnesium stearate (E572), purified talc (E553(b)).

Treating congestive heart failure with Burinex

Burinex tablets 1mg contain bumetanide, a diuretic medication (water tablets) used to treat oedema, which is water retention by the tissues causing puffiness and swelling, due to several conditions, including congestive heart failure.  As a result of weakened heart muscles, the heart of someone with congestive heart failure cannot pump blood round the circulation sufficiently and this leads to blood collecting in the smallest blood vessels, the capillaries so that they become leaky and water passes out of the blood into the tissues causing oedema.  Swelling usually occurs at the feet and ankles but can happen throughout the body, including the lungs.  Bumetanide in Burinex tablets 1mg acts directly on the kidneys and causes water and salts to be removed from the blood into the urine, drawing excess water out of the swollen tissues, which increases urine volume and reduces oedema.  

What are the side effects of Burinex?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Burinex tablets 1mg include headache, electrolyte imbalance (including hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia and hyperkalaemia), dizziness (including orthostatic hypotension and vertigo), fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, muscle cramps. micturition disorder (problems emptying the bladder, urgency to urinate and incontinence).

When should Burinex not be used?

You should not use Burinex tablets 1mg if you:

• are allergic to bumetanide or any ingredients in Burinex
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have liver or kidney disease
• are severely dehydrated
• have difficulty in passing urine or anuria (no urine production)
• have disease of the brain caused by liver disease including coma
• have low blood pressure (hypotension)
• have low sodium or potassium levels in your blood
• are taking medications that may interact with Burinex, including: some antibiotics like aminoglycosides and cephalosporins, lithium for mood disorders, digoxin for heart failure, probenecid for gout, class III antiarrhythmics like amiodarone, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), other potassium depleting medicines, non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking agents such as suxamethonium chloride

What medications interact with Burinex?

Several medications interact with Burinex tablets 1mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Burinex or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Burinex: some antibiotics like aminoglycosides and cephalosporins can be ototoxic (damage to the ear and auditory nerve), class III antiarrhythmics like amiodarone       , other potassium depleting medicines, non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking agents such as suxamethonium chloride
• Drugs that affect Burinex: probenecid for gout, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID),
• Drugs that are affected by Burinex: lithium for mood disorders, digoxin for heart failure

How should Burinex be taken?

You should take your Burinex tablets 1mg swallowed whole with a glass of water once daily either in the morning or early evening.  The dose you take depends on your condition and your doctor’s recommendations and may be increased.  You should continue to take your Burinex tablets 1mg tablets for as long as recommended by your doctor until your condition improves.

How long should you take Burinex?

You should continue to take your Burinex tablets 1mg tablets for as long as recommended by your doctor until your condition improves.

Missed dose of Burinex

If you miss a dose of Burinex tablets 1mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Burinex be stored?

You should store your Burinex tablets 1mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.