Lowering of furosemide dosage after clinical stabilization in patients with congestive heart failure.

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the safety of reducing the long-term doses of furosemide administered to patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) stabilized on a standard medical treatment.

Methods And Results: Twenty-nine patients with advanced CHF were treated with enalapril, digoxin, nitrates, and furosemide, as needed to alleviate their symptoms, and remained clinically stable for at least 3 months on those doses. Subsequently, the daily dose of furosemide was reduced to 1/3 of the previous dose, while the concomitant therapy was unchanged.