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Key takeaways
Lasix is a prescription medication used to treat water retention and high blood pressure.
Furosemide, a generic version of Lasix, contains the same active ingredient and is more widely available and affordable than Lasix.
While the two drugs are clinically equivalent, occasionally a patient may encounter an allergy to the inactive ingredients of generic furosemide and need to take the brand-name alternative.
Under the supervision of their healthcare provider, patients can generally transition from Lasix to its generic counterpart with no issues.
Known as a loop diuretic, or a type of water pill, Lasix is a prescription medication used to treat edema. Edema, or water retention, is a medical condition common in people with liver disease, kidney problems, or congestive heart failure. If you currently face any of these medical conditions, your healthcare provider might prescribe Lasix to reduce edema, or they might recommend that you consider a generic alternative. Lasix is also used to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure.
There are several reasons why someone might opt for the generic version of a drug over the brand-name version, including differences in pricing and accessibility, as well as preferences for a drug’s inactive ingredients. Here’s a look at the generic availability of Lasix and how you can determine the best medication for your needs.
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Is there a generic for Lasix?
The Lasix generic name, furosemide, has been available in the United States since the 1960s. There are many different companies selling this generic medication nationwide. On the other hand, brand-name Lasix is currently made by one manufacturer, Validus Pharmaceuticals.
Generic furosemide is far easier and more convenient to access than Lasix. “In practice, I almost always see patients on the generic version, furosemide,” says Paria Sanaty Zadeh, Pharm.D., licensed clinical pharmacist working in pharmacy leadership and innovation at Drugwatch, based in Wisconsin. “It’s widely available, more affordable, and covered by most insurance plans.” Healthcare providers and patients alike prefer the lower cost and accessibility of furosemide. Dr. Sanaty Zadeh notes that pharmacies are also more likely to keep generic furosemide on hand due to its high demand and low purchasing cost, thereby avoiding delays in fulfilling prescriptions.
What are the differences between brand-name and generic Lasix?
Generic medications have the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts, providing the same therapeutic effect for patients. However, generic drugs are more affordable than name-brand drugs, making them a popular choice for healthcare providers and patients.
Both brand-name and generic Lasix share the same active ingredient: furosemide. Brand-name Lasix comes in small white tablets with the name “Lasix” printed across the face of the pill. Generic furosemide is also available in small white tablets that are similar in appearance to Lasix, but have different markings, for example, numbers that identify the drug specific to the manufacturer. As the two drugs contain the same active ingredient, Dr. Sanaty Zadeh says a patient’s dosage would be the same whether they were taking Lasix or a generic alternative.
While both versions are clinically equivalent, Dr. Sanaty Zadeh notes that there may be differences in the inactive ingredients used, such as binders and dyes. These ingredients affect the medication’s appearance and impact how some patients tolerate it, despite the active ingredient being identical in brand-name Lasix and generic furosemide.
William Pridgen, MD, a general surgeon and CEO of PridCor Therapeutics in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, states that he has prescribed both brand-name Lasix and generic furosemide on numerous occasions.
“Generics are required to fall within 80% to 125% of the active dose found in brand-name medications,” Dr. Pridgen explains. This means the absorption (not the dose) of the generic drug in the body must be almost identical to that of the brand. “While this range is safe and effective for the vast majority of patients, I’ve seen a few cases where the brand name worked better, especially in sensitive individuals or those with allergies to certain fillers.”
While there are occasional differences in the production quality of generic pills compared to the name-brand oral tablet, Lasix and furosemide are not generally studied alongside each other as they are clinically considered the same drug.
Here’s some important information to keep in mind regarding the uses and side effects of Lasix:
Lasix drug info |
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| Lasix (furosemide) | |
| Uses |
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| Standard dosage forms |
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How much is generic Lasix?
Without insurance, brand-name Lasix costs almost double the price of the generic drug.
| Brand vs. generic Lasix prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brand-name Lasix | Lasix generic (furosemide) | |
| Average cost without insurance | $43 per 30, 20 mg tablets | $26 per 30, 20 mg tablets |
| SingleCare’s lowest price | $25 per 30, 20 mg tablets of brand-name Lasix | $3 per 30, 20 mg tablets of generic furosemide |
| Free coupons | Lasix coupons | Furosemide coupons |
What are the off-label uses for Lasix?
Lasix has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat edema associated with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and renal disease, including nephrotic syndrome. It also may be used to treat hypertension—sometimes in combination with other hypertensive agents. However, healthcare providers may also prescribe Lasix for off-label (a non-FDA-approved) use.
Dr. Sanaty Zadeh says she has seen Lasix used to manage hypercalcemia (high blood calcium levels) or fluid overload in people with liver or kidney dysfunction. “In these cases, it’s usually part of a broader treatment plan, but it can be a helpful tool for symptom relief,” she says. It may also be prescribed to prevent or treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants.
How to switch from Lasix to furosemide
Patients taking Lasix who want to save on their medication may switch to generic furosemide without much hassle.
In most cases, switching to the generic form of Lasix is a straightforward and seamless process, as the two drugs contain the same active ingredient, and it isn’t necessary to taper between the two prescriptions. Dr. Sanaty Zadeh says the most important part is making sure the dosage matches exactly as you transition between the two medications. “I recommend keeping a close eye on blood pressure and fluid levels during the first few days of the medication switch, as well as monitoring for any adverse effects, just in case there’s a slight variation in someone’s individual response to the switch.”
Occasionally, your healthcare provider may prefer you stick with brand-name Lasix if you’re sensitive to formulation changes, even if the active drug is the same. If you experience undesirable effects from taking generic furosemide, such as fluid that isn’t coming off as expected or adverse effects, your healthcare provider may put you back on brand-name Lasix.
Unless your prescription has been specified to “dispense as written,” your pharmacist can fill your prescription with generic furosemide.
Unlike an antidepressant or opioid medication, Dr. Pridgen says that there is no true withdrawal with Lasix. Symptoms such as fluid retention or lower extremity swelling may occur with a missed dose, but this is not due to a withdrawal—it’s simply related to a patient’s medical condition.
“I’ve had patients experience swelling, shortness of breath, or rising blood pressure after not being adherent to their furosemide regimen, which are all signs that their underlying condition is not properly controlled and is flaring up,” Dr. Sanaty Zadeh says.
Ultimately, it’s best to seek the medical advice of a healthcare provider to determine whether brand-name Lasix or generic furosemide is right for you.
- Comparison between branded and generic furosemide 40 mg tablets using thermal gravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences (2020)
- Edema, Mayo Clinic (2023)
- Diuretics use in the management of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants: A systematic review, Acta Paediatrica (2024)
- Furosemide, DailyMed (2022)
- Lasix, PDR
- Furosemide, MedlinePlus (2025)
- Furosemide tablets, Cleveland Clinic