Aldactone 25mg (Spironolactone)

What is Aldactone 25 mg Tablet?

Aldactone 25Mg Tablet is used to treat conditions of high blood pressure, heart failure, edema and low potassium levels. This medicine is also used to cure a condition where too much aldosterone (hormone) is produced by the adrenal glands. This hormone is responsible for maintaining the salt and water balance in the body.

On using Aldactone 25Mg Tablet, you might experience the following side-effects; dryness of the mouth, dizziness, headache, erectile dysfunction, drowsiness, fatigue, an increase in hair growth and enlargement of the breast in men and breast soreness in women.

Severe side effects include blood in the urine, clouded thoughts, constipation, numbness, chest pain, chills or flu-like symptoms and difficulty in breathing.

Aldactone 25 mg Tablet Uses?

Aldactone Tablets (Spironolactone) is used in the treatment of hypertension, oedematous disorders, diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism, reducing or preventing potassium loss due to thiazide diuretics and other conditions.

Spironolactone Tablets can reduce male-pattern hair growth (hirsutism), hair loss, and acne in women who have PCOS. Spironolactone used alone can cause irregular bleeding and could cause problems if used during pregnancy.

For these reasons, it is usually taken along with birth control pills. It is used to control irregular menstrual bleeding and to reduce hirsutism.

How does Aldactone 25 mg Tablet work?

Aldactone 25mg Tablet is a potassium-sparing diuretic. It lowers blood pressure and swelling by removing the extra water and electrolytes from the body without loss of potassium.

How to take Aldactone 25 mg Tablet?

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Aldactone 25mg Tablet is to be taken with food.

Aldactone 25 mg Tablet Contraindications:

Spironolactone is contraindicated in adult and paediatric patients with the following:

• acute renal insufficiency, significant renal compromise, anuria
• Addison’s disease
• hyperkalaemia
• hypersensitivity to spironolactone or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1
• concomitant use of eplerenone or other potassium sparing diuretics.

Spironolactone is contraindicated in paediatric patients with moderate to severe renal impairment.

Aldactone should not be administered concurrently with other potassium conserving diuretics and potassium supplements should not be given routinely with Aldactone as hyperkalaemia may be induced.

Aldactone 25 mg Tablet Dosage:

The recommended dosage of Aldactone tablets for various indications is given below. Please contact your doctor for exact dosing instructions since dosage is individualised.

Edema in adults (congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, or nephrotic syndrome).

An initial daily dosage of 100 mg of Aldactone administered in either single or divided doses is recommended, but the dosage may range from 25 mg to 200 mg daily.

Essential hypertension.

For adults, a starting daily dosage of 50 to 100 mg of Aldactone tablets administered in either single or divided doses is recommended. Aldactone may also be given along with diuretics which act more proximally in the renal tubule or with other antihypertensive agents.

Treatment with Aldactone should be continued for at least two weeks, since the maximum response may not occur before this time.

Hypokalemia.

Aldactone tablets in a dosage ranging from 25 mg to 100 mg daily is useful in treating a diuretic-induced hypokalemia, when oral potassium supplements or other potassium-sparing regimens are not considered suitable to treat the indication.

Severe heart failure (NYHA class III – IV).

Treatment should be started with Aldactone 25 mg once daily if the patient’s serum potassium is =5.0 mEq/L and the patient’s serum creatinine is = 2.5 mg/dL.

Patients who tolerate 25 mg once daily may have their dosage increased to 50 mg once daily as clinically indicated. Patients who do not tolerate 25 mg once-daily dose may have their dosage reduced to 25 mg every other day.

What are the Side effects of Aldactone 25 mg Tablet?

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction including: hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Aldactone (spironolactone) and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• numbness or tingly feeling
• muscle pain or weakness
• slow, fast, or uneven heart rate
• feeling drowsy, restless, or light-headed
• urinating less than usual or not at all
• shallow breathing
• tremors, confusion
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

severe skin reaction — fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling

Aldactone 25 mg Tablet Contraindications:

Spironolactone is contraindicated in adult and paediatric patients with the following:

• acute renal insufficiency, significant renal compromise, anuria
• Addison’s disease
• hyperkalaemia
• hypersensitivity to spironolactone or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1
• concomitant use of eplerenone or other potassium sparing diuretics.

Spironolactone is contraindicated in paediatric patients with moderate to severe renal impairment.

Aldactone should not be administered concurrently with other potassium conserving diuretics and potassium supplements should not be given routinely with Aldactone as hyperkalaemia may be induced.

Aldactone 25 mg Tablet Dosage:

The recommended dosage of Aldactone tablets for various indications is given below. Please contact your doctor for exact dosing instructions since dosage is individualised.

Edema in adults (congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, or nephrotic syndrome).

An initial daily dosage of 100 mg of Aldactone administered in either single or divided doses is recommended, but the dosage may range from 25 mg to 200 mg daily.

Essential hypertension.

For adults, a starting daily dosage of 50 to 100 mg of Aldactone tablets administered in either single or divided doses is recommended. Aldactone may also be given along with diuretics which act more proximally in the renal tubule or with other antihypertensive agents.

Treatment with Aldactone should be continued for at least two weeks, since the maximum response may not occur before this time.

Hypokalemia.

Aldactone tablets in a dosage ranging from 25 mg to 100 mg daily is useful in treating a diuretic-induced hypokalemia, when oral potassium supplements or other potassium-sparing regimens are not considered suitable to treat the indication.

Severe heart failure (NYHA class III – IV).

Treatment should be started with Aldactone 25 mg once daily if the patient’s serum potassium is =5.0 mEq/L and the patient’s serum creatinine is = 2.5 mg/dL.

Patients who tolerate 25 mg once daily may have their dosage increased to 50 mg once daily as clinically indicated. Patients who do not tolerate 25 mg once-daily dose may have their dosage reduced to 25 mg every other day.

What are the Side effects of Aldactone 25 mg Tablet?

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction including: hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Aldactone (spironolactone) and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• numbness or tingly feeling
• muscle pain or weakness
• slow, fast, or uneven heart rate
• feeling drowsy, restless, or light-headed
• urinating less than usual or not at all
• shallow breathing
• tremors, confusion
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

severe skin reaction — fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling

Warnings:

Alcohol

Spironolactone and alcohol may have additive effects in lowering your blood pressure. You may experience headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and/or changes in pulse or heart rate.

Pregnancy

Aldactone 25mg Tablet may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown adverse effects on the foetus, however, there are limited human studies. The benefits from use in pregnant women may be acceptable despite the risk. Please consult your doctor.

Driving

Aldactone 25mg Tablet may make you feel dizzy, sleepy, tired, or decrease alertness. If this happens, do not drive.

Kidney

Aldactone 25mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Aldactone 25mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

Use of Aldactone 25mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.

Liver

There is limited information available on the use of Aldactone 25mg Tablet in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.

References:

[Internet]. 2017 [cited 5 June 2017]. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/27264

DailyMed – Spironolactone tablet, film coated [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 5 June 2017]. Available from: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=a7510768-8a52-4230-6aa0-b0d92d82588f

Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 5 June 2017]. Available from: https://www.tga.gov.au/prescribing-medicines-pregnancy-database#searchname

[Internet]. Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 5 June 2017]. Available from: https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/f?./temp/~h5gwH6:1

FAQ:

1. What is spironolactone?

Spironolactone is a diuretic and belongs to the class of potassium sparing diuretics (water tablets), which help to lose excess fluid from your body. They may be used for congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome (a kidney disorder), liver cirrhosis with fluid retention (oedema) and swelling of the abdomen (ascites), a cancerous disease with swelling of the abdomen (malignant ascites) and diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism (a condition where excess hormone is produced).

2. Is spironolactone an over the counter drug?

Spironolactone is not an over the counter medicine. It is a prescription drug and is available only with a valid prescription by a doctor.

3. Can spironolactone cause constipation?

Spironolactone has not been reported to cause constipation. Talk to your doctor if you have constipation while taking spironolactone as it could be due to some other underlying condition.

4. Can I take spironolactone with indomethacin?

Indomethacin may increase the diuretic effect of spironolactone and both can increase the potassium levels in the blood. Patients should follow doctors advice if these two medicines are to be used together.

5. Can I use spironolactone for weight control?

Spironolactone does not cause weight loss and is not used for weight control. Please consult a doctor for the right therapy for weight control.