What condition is furosemide primarily used to treat?

Furosemide is primarily utilized to treat hypertension and edema. This medication is a loop diuretic, meaning it works by acting on the kidneys to promote the excretion of water, sodium, and other electrolytes. As a result, furosemide effectively decreases blood volume, which leads to lowered blood pressure, making it an essential treatment for hypertension.

In addition to managing high blood pressure, furosemide is also used to alleviate edema, which is the swelling caused by fluid retention in conditions such as heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disorders. The diuretic effect helps reduce this swelling and improve overall fluid balance in patients, making it a vital medication in those clinical situations.

Other conditions listed, such as respiratory distress, fungal infections, or diabetes, are not treated with furosemide, as they require different therapeutic approaches and medications specifically tailored to those diseases. This is what clarifies the role of furosemide in pharmacotherapy and why it is classified mainly for hypertension and edema.