Can I take furosemide while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about furosemide.
In short
Pregnancy: Let your doctor know if you're pregnant or trying for a baby. Furosemide is not usually used in pregnancy.
Breastfeeding: Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding. Furosemide is not usually used in breastfeeding mothers, and your doctor may offer you a different treatment.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- Let your doctor know if you're pregnant or trying for a baby.
- Furosemide is not usually used in pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
- Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding.
- Furosemide is not usually used in breastfeeding mothers, and your doctor may offer you a different treatment.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Furosemide in pregnancy
The NHS says
Let your doctor know if you're pregnant or trying for a baby. Furosemide is not usually used in pregnancy.
In our words, from the NHS page Furosemide (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
The US drug label says
Pregnancy Furosemide has been shown to cause unexplained maternal deaths and abortions in rabbits at 2, 4 and 8 times the maximal recommended human dose. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Furosemide tablets should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Treatment during pregnancy requires monitoring of fetal growth because of the potential for higher birth weights. The effects of furosemide on embryonic and fetal development and on pregnant dams were studied in mice, rats and rabbits. Furosemide caused unexplained maternal deaths and abortions in the rabbit at the lowest dose of 25 mg/kg (2 times the maximal recommended human dose of 600 mg/day). In another study, a dose of 50 mg/kg (4 times the maximal recommended human dose of 600 mg/day) also caused maternal deaths and abortions when administered to rabbits between Days 12 and 17 of gestation. In a third study, none of the pregnant rabbits survived a dose of 100 mg/kg. Data from the above studies indicate fetal lethality that can precede maternal deaths.
Prescribing label, section “Pregnancy” (opening excerpt): Furosemide (oral), REMEDYREPACK INC. Read the full section on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
More on furosemide in pregnancy: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet (external site).
Furosemide while breastfeeding
The NHS says
Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding. Furosemide is not usually used in breastfeeding mothers, and your doctor may offer you a different treatment.
In our words, from the NHS page Furosemide (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
LactMed says
Because little information is available on the use of furosemide during breastfeeding and because intense diuresis from high doses might decrease lactation, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Low doses of furosemide (20 mg daily) do not suppress lactation.
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Furosemide” (LM123), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Furosemide while breastfeeding.
The US prescribing label says
Nursing Mothers Because it appears in breast milk, caution should be exercised when Furosemide is administered to a nursing mother. Furosemide may inhibit lactation.
Prescribing label, section “Nursing Mothers”: Furosemide (oral), REMEDYREPACK INC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
Other names
Indian brands (per NPPA): Lasix.
Sources
- NHS, Furosemide (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 7 July 2026. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US drug label: Furosemide (oral), REMEDYREPACK INC., human prescription drug, label effective 24 July 2026, set ID 7cdcd001-ab4b-4210-a455-2e17a7bc4972. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Furosemide” (LM123), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy), UK Teratology Information Service: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet. Linked, not reproduced.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.