Methods and compositions for treating edema refractory to oral diuretics

1. A method of treating edema in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising sublingually or intranasally administering to the subject an effective amount of a solution comprising between about 4 mg/mL and about 20 mg/mL potassium bumetanide salt.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solution is intranasally administered to the subject.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the administering comprises delivering a dose of from 25 μl to 250 μl of the solution intranasally to the subject.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the dose is delivered not more than from 1 to 4 times over a six hour period.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subject has congestive heart failure or renal insufficiency.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subject is suffering from edema in the lung.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the potassium bumetanide salt is administered intranasally to the subject in an outpatient setting or the potassium bumetanide salt is self-administered.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subject has failed to achieve diuresis with oral diuretic therapy prior to the administering.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subject is experiencing swelling of the legs, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or chest pain unresolved with oral diuretic therapy prior to the administering.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the subject is experiencing reduced intestinal motility prior to the administering.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solution is sublingually administered to the subject.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the administering comprises delivering a dose of from 25 μl to 250 μl of the pharmaceutical composition sublingually to the subject.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the dose is delivered not more than from 1 to 4 times over a six hour period.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject has congestive heart failure or renal insufficiency.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject is suffering from edema in the lung.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the potassium bumetanide salt is administered sublingually to the subject in an outpatient setting or the potassium bumetanide salt is self-administered.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject has failed to achieve diuresis with oral diuretic therapy prior to the administering.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject is experiencing swelling of the legs, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or chest pain unresolved with oral diuretic therapy prior to the administering.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject is experiencing reduced intestinal motility prior to the administering.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein from 0.5 mg to 10 mg of potassium bumetanide salt is delivered to the subject in not more than from 1 to 4 doses over a six hour period.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the patient does not receive more than a total of about 10 mg of the potassium bumetanide salt over a 12 hour period.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the subject has congestive heart failure or renal insufficiency.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the subject is suffering from edema in the lung.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the subject has failed to achieve diuresis with oral diuretic therapy prior to the administering.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the subject is experiencing swelling of the legs, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or chest pain unresolved with oral diuretic therapy prior to the administering.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the subject is experiencing reduced intestinal motility prior to the administering.

27. The method of claim 20 , wherein the subject has been treated with at least one dosage of an oral diuretic within the last 24 hours prior to administering.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein at least one oral diuretic is selected from loop diuretics, such as bumetanide, furosemide or torsemide, or potassium-sparing diuretics.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the subject's risk of hospitalization due to complications associated with edema is reduced.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has edema refractory to oral diuretics.