Dosage titration with furosemide in congestive heart failure patients

Clinical status and diuretic requirements of a group of congestive heart failure patients were re-evaluated. A group of 115 congestive heart failure patients were hospitalized, given a comprehensive medical examination and treated with placebo for four weeks. Thirteen patients did not exhibit signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure during this phase. The remaining 102 patients were treated with 40 mg furosemide per day for a second 4-week period. Fifty-three required 80-120 mg furosemide per day and 49 were successfully controlled at 40 mg per day. Ten patients dropped out voluntarily and 39 were controlled for an additional four weeks at a dose of 20 mg bid furosemide. In the final phase, dosage was lowered to 20 mg per day and 24 of the 39 patients, (62%), were successfully controlled for four weeks, while 14, (36%), were controlled for eight weeks. Results of this study suggest that a number of congestive heart failure patients can be controlled with relatively low doses of furosemide and that there is a need for periodic re-evaluation of the clinical status and diuretic requirements of patients on maintenance therapy.