Pharmacokinetic study of torasemide in humans: an overview of its diuretic effect.

A new diuretic drug, torasemide, after oral or i. v. administration of 20 mg to six normal volunteers showed good bioavailability (greater than 91%). Its biologic half-life is about 2.5 h with a distribution volume of 180 ml/kg and a body clearance of 0.8 ml/min kg. The renal excretion represents only 25% of the total drug elimination. The excretion of water, sodium, potassium, and chloride parallels the renal excretion of torasemide. The diuretic action has a duration of 6 h, reaching its maxima during the 1st h after i. v. administration an during the 2nd h after oral administration.