Furosemide is classified under which type of diuretics?

Furosemide is classified as a loop diuretic because it works primarily by inhibiting the sodium-potassium-chloride (Na-K-2Cl) cotransporter in the ascending loop of Henle within the nephron of the kidney. This action leads to increased excretion of sodium, chloride, and water, resulting in profound diuresis. Loop diuretics are particularly potent and are often used to manage conditions such as heart failure, pulmonary edema, and hypertension.

The classification as a loop diuretic distinguishes it from other types, such as thiazide diuretics, which act mainly on the distal convoluted tubule, potassium-sparing diuretics, which help to retain potassium while promoting diuresis, and osmotic diuretics, which work by increasing the osmolarity of the renal tubules. Each of these categories has distinct mechanisms and clinical implications, but furosemide's specific action on the loop of Henle is what categorizes it as a loop diuretic.