The dose-response characteristics of the acute non-diuretic peripheral vascular effects of frusemide in normal subjects.

The peripheral venous and arterial effects of frusemide, plasma renin activity and plasma frusemide concentrations were examined during the 15 min period following the i.v. administration of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg of frusemide in a group of nine salt depleted volunteers. The responses to 80 mg frusemide given orally during the 1 1 h period after administration were also examined. Increases in venous capacitance 5 min after administration of 5 and 10 mg frusemide were observed (P less than 0.05) but no significant increases were apparent after the higher doses. At 10 min, the increases in venous capacitance showed a flat dose response effect with significant increases throughout the dose range (5-80 mg). Decreases in forearm blood flow occurred at 5 and 10 min after frusemide administration at all the doses studied (P less than 0.05) while blood pressure responses at 10 min showed increasing effect with increasing dose. An oral dose of 80 mg frusemide produced a rise in venous capacitance 15 min after administration and a decrease in forearm blood flow during the period 15-60 min without any alteration in heart rate or blood pressure.