Compare and contrast the pharmacology of frusemide and acetazolamide
Pharmacology questions largely have a standardised structure to follow; pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. However compare and contrast questions require answering in a way that highlights important similarities and differences between the drugs chosen and the impact of these differences when administered. Whilst these are both diuretics they have very different renal and non-renal effects and thus very different metabolic and electrolyte disturbances. It was expected that these points be highlighted as well as the provision of other pharmacological information in order to pass this question
This has appeared so many times before that one must regard the pass rate of 31% with some surprise
| Name | Furosemide | Acetazolamide |
| Class | Loop diuretic | Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor |
| Chemistry | Anthranilic acid derivative | Sulfonamide derivative |
| Routes of administration | IV, IM, oral, sublingual, and as a neb | IV, oral |
| Absorption | Variable oral bioavailability, between 10 and 100% (interindividual variability). Mainly absorbed in the stomach |
Oral bioavailability of about 60% |
| Solubility | Acidic drug; pKa 3.6. Highly ionised (therefore poorly lipid soluble) in the relatively alkaline small intestine, as well as in the blood | pKa 7.2; slightly soluble in water |
| Distribution | VOD = 0.1-0.2L/kg, i.e. mainly confined to the circulating volume. 95% protein bound. Decreased albumin levels increase the volume of distribution and decrease the delivery of the drug to its useful site of action (tubular lumen) | VOD = 0.3L/kg, 90-90% protein bound |
| Target receptor | Binds competitively to the chloride binding site of the NKCC2 sodium-potassium-0chloride transport protein in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle | Acetazolamide binds to and blocks the activity of carbonic anhydrase in the proximal tubule, thereby preventing thr reabsorption of filtered bicarbonate |
| Metabolism | 50% of the dose is metabolised in the kidney into an active glucouronide (which has only 25% of the parent drug agctivity) | No metabolism occurs |
| Elimination | Cleared renally - 50% of the administered dose is eliminated in this way, mainly by active secretion via the OAT organic anion transport proteins in the proximal convoluted tubule. Half life is about 30-120 minutes | All of the administered dose is cleared renally; half-life is about 6-10 hours |
| Time course of action | Effect lasts for six hours | Duration of effect is ~ 8-12 hrs |
| Mechanism of action | Blockade of the NKCC2 transporter decreases the reabsorption of sodium potassium and chloride in the thick ascending limb This increases the delivery of sodium potassium and chloride to the distal nephron. The increased solutes in the collecting duct lumen decrease the osmotic gradient between the duct and inner medulla, preventing water reabsorption in the collecting duct, resulting in diuresis. Because of the main site of sodium reabsorption being the proximal tubule, theoretically only up to 20% of filtered sodium can be excreted by the blockade of all NKCC2 channels, which means loop diuretic therapy has a ceiling effect. |
Produces diuresis by increasing the concentration of osmotically active bicarbonate in the proximal tubule. Also decreases the secretion of aqueous humour and results in a drop in intraocular pressure. By preventing the reabsorption of bicarbonate, alkalinises the urine and acidifies the body fluids (by decreasing the amount of available buffer) |
| Clinical effects | Hypovolemia (diuretic effect) - Hypotension (esp.orthostatic) - Hypokalemia - Metabolic alkalosis (hypochloraemia) - Hypernatremia (as sodium is retained by ENaC) - Hypomagnesemia - Hypophosphatemia - Acidification of the urine - Ototoxicity |
Hypotension (extension of the diuretic effect) - Metabolic acidosis - Hypokalemia - Hyponatremia - Hyperchloremia - May inhibit folate metabolism Drug interactions: - Inhibits the clearance of amphetamines, salicylates, phenytoin, quinidine |
| Single best reference for further information | FDA PI data sheet | INCHEM article |
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Ponto, Laura L. Boles, and Ronald D. Schoenwald. "Furosemide (frusemide) a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic review (part II)." Clinical pharmacokinetics 18.6 (1990): 460-71
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