Drug interactions
Bumetanide + Sotalol
Severity: Major
Bumetanide and Sotalol: major interaction.
Last updated Sources: US FDA label
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Bumetanide causes potassium and magnesium loss, and hypokalemia markedly raises the risk of QT prolongation and torsades de pointes in patients taking sotalol. The combination can therefore provoke life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
What this interaction means in plain words
Bumetanide and Sotalol can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Bumetanide belongs to Cardiovascular; Sotalol belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Loop diuretic-induced hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia add to the QT-prolonging class III effect of sotalol.
What to do
Check serum potassium and magnesium before and during therapy and correct deficits, keeping potassium in the normal range. Monitor the ECG QT interval, especially after dose changes or in renal impairment.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Bumetanide and Sotalol, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
References
Other interactions of Bumetanide
Other interactions of Sotalol
- Arsenic trioxide + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Artemether / lumefantrine + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Disopyramide + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Droperidol + Sotalol Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Bumetanide with Sotalol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Bumetanide and Sotalol can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Bumetanide causes potassium and magnesium loss, and hypokalemia markedly raises the risk of QT prolongation and torsades de pointes in patients taking sotalol. The combination can therefore provoke life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
How serious is the interaction between Bumetanide and Sotalol?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Check serum potassium and magnesium before and during therapy and correct deficits, keeping potassium in the normal range. Monitor the ECG QT interval, especially after dose changes or in renal impairment.
What other medicines interact with Bumetanide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Bumetanide with, for example, Amifostine, Amikacin, Captopril-hydrochlorothiazide. The full list is on the Bumetanide page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
