Spironolactone

Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting too low. Spironolactone is used to treat heart failure, high blood pressure (hypertension), or hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood).

Introduction #

Generic name: Spironolactone

Brand names: Aldactone, CaroSpir

Drug classes: Aldosterone receptor antagonists, Potassium-sparing diuretics

Uses #

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Edema

• Low potassium

• Heart failure

Benefits #

In Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Aldactone Tablet lowers blood pressure by removing excess salt and water from your body. Lowering of blood pressure makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body and puts you at a lesser risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.

In general, this medicine is used along with other blood pressure-lowering medicines. You do not usually feel any direct benefit from taking this medicine, but it works in the long term to keep you well. You should take it regularly as prescribed for this medicine to be most effective, even if you feel better.

In Edema

Edema is caused by your body retaining too much water. Aldactone Tablet helps get rid of the extra water and electrolytes from your body by increasing the amount of urine produced.

This enables your body to get rid of extra water thereby relieving symptoms such as shortness of breath and swelling in your arms, legs, or abdomen. Therefore, you can carry out your daily activities more comfortably. Take it regularly and make appropriate lifestyle changes to get maximum benefits.

In Low potassium

Aldactone Tablet prevents your body from absorbing too much salt, removes excess water and keeps your potassium levels from getting too low.

In Heart failure

Heart failure means your heart is weak and cannot pump enough blood to your lungs and the rest of your body. The most common symptoms are breathlessness, tiredness, and swelling in your legs, ankles, abdomen, and other parts of your body.

This medicine will help relieve your symptoms, making you feel better and more energetic. You should make appropriate lifestyle changes (such as eating healthily and keeping active) to help this medicine be effective. Take it regularly and keep taking it even if you feel better.

Side effects #

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• A light-headed feeling, like you might pass out

• Little or no urination

• High potassium level - nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement

• Signs of other electrolyte imbalances - increased thirst or urination, confusion, vomiting, muscle pain, slurred speech, severe weakness, numbness, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.

Common spironolactone side effects may include:

• Breast swelling or tenderness.

Warnings #

You should use spironolactone with caution if you have kidney problems, high levels of potassium in your blood, Addison’s disease, if you are unable to urinate, or if you are also taking eplerenone.

Spironolactone has caused tumors in animals but it is not known whether this could occur in people. Do not use this medicine for any condition that has not been checked by your doctor.