Baby Safety / Compounds / Furosemide

Is Furosemide safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of Furosemide poses heightened risk.

What is furosemide?

The IUPAC name is 4-chloro-2-(furan-2-ylmethylamino)-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid.

Also known as: 4-chloro-2-(furan-2-ylmethylamino)-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid, Frusemide, Lasix, Furanthril.

IUPAC name
4-chloro-2-(furan-2-ylmethylamino)-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid
CAS number
54-31-9
Molecular formula
C12H11ClN2O5S
Molecular weight
330.74 g/mol
SMILES
C1=COC(=C1)CNC2=CC(=C(C=C2C(=O)O)S(=O)(=O)N)Cl
PubChem CID
3440

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of Furosemide poses heightened risk.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Elevated risk

Furosemide poses pregnancy risk through potential teratogenicity, altered pharmacokinetics (increased blood volume, changed CYP activity), and placental transfer. FDA pregnancy category should be evaluated.

Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Furosemide. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 3 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 3 negative reports)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter furosemide

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Furosemide:

  • Therapeutic alternatives (consult prescriber)
    Trade-offs: Drug-specific. Cannot substitute without medical guidance.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is furosemide safe for kids?

Infants have immature drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYP450 ontogeny), reduced renal clearance, and different volume of distribution. Accidental exposure or breast milk transfer of Furosemide poses heightened risk.

What products contain furosemide?

Furosemide appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to furosemide?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Why do regulators disagree about furosemide?

Furosemide has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See Furosemide in the baby app

Look up products containing furosemide, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. FDA Prescribing Information: Furosemide (Lasix) — loop diuretic; NKCC2 inhibition; hypokalemia; ototoxicity; neonatal nephrocalcinosis; bioavailability variability in HF; diuretic resistance; sulfonamide moiety; veterinary CHF first-line (2023) (2023) — regulatory
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Cardiac Drug Toxicosis in Pets — statin myopathy in cats; beta-blocker bradycardia dogs; CCB toxicity (amlodipine/diltiazem); ACE inhibitor renal effects; warfarin anticoagulant; furosemide; toxic dose thresholds (2023) (2023) — veterinary

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →