The pharmacokinetics of torasemide, a new loop diuretic, as well as its active metabolites M1 and M3, and its inactive main metabolite, M5, were studied in 12 patients with end-stage renal failure during single i.v. (n = 6) or single oral (n = 6) dosing of 200 mg torasemide, and during chronic oral treatment for 9 days (n = 12). The elimination half-life (t1/2) of torasemide was unchanged in renal failure, whereas t1/2 of the torasemide metabolites M1, M3, and M5 were markedly prolonged. However t1/2 as well as the area under the plasma level time curve of torasemide and its metabolites were unchanged during chronic compared to acute administration. The results of this study suggest that despite the increased half-life of torasemide metabolites M1, M3 and M5 in end-stage renal failure patients, no accumulation of the parent drug torasemide and its metabolites during chronic dosing is demonstrable.