Bumetanide (trade names Bumex or Burinex) is a loop diuretic of the sulfamyl category, most

often used to treat heart failure. It is often used in people in whom high doses of furosemide or
other diuretics are ineffective. It is marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche. The main difference
between bumetanide and furosemide is in their bioavailability and potency. About 60% of
furosemide is absorbed in the intestine, and there are substantial inter- and intraindividual
differences in bioavailability (range 10-90%). About 80% of bumetanide is absorbed, and its
absorption does not change when it is taken with food. It is said to be a more predictable diuretic,
meaning that the predictable absorption is reflected in a more predictable effect.[1]
Bumetanide is 40 times more potent than furosemide for patients with normal renal function.[1]
In the brain, bumetanide blocks the NKCC1 cation-chloride co-transporter, and thus decreases
internal chloride concentration in neurons. In turn, this concentration change makes the action
of GABA more hyperpolarizing, which may be useful for treatment of neonatal seizures, which
quite often are not responsive to traditional GABA-targeted treatment, such as barbiturates.
Bumetanide is therefore currently[when?] under evaluation as a prospective antiepileptic drug.[2]