Spironolactone Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic (aldosterone receptor antagonist) that helps the kidneys remove extra salt and water while helping to keep potassium levels from dropping too low. It is used for heart failure, high blood pressure, fluid retention from heart, liver, or kidney conditions, primary hyperaldosteronism, and low potassium levels. It is available as an oral tablet and should be taken exactly as prescribed, with regular blood tests to monitor potassium and kidney function.

What is Spironolactone Tablet

Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, sometimes called a water pill. It helps your kidneys remove extra salt and water from your body through urine while helping to keep your potassium levels from getting too low.

Spironolactone Tablet uses

• Heart failure
• High blood pressure (hypertension), usually combined with other blood pressure medicines
• Fluid retention (edema) caused by congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, or nephrotic syndrome (a kidney condition)
• Diagnosing or treating primary hyperaldosteronism (too much aldosterone hormone in the body)
• Low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalemia)

Benefits of Spironolactone Tablet

• Helps reduce swelling and fluid buildup from heart, liver, or kidney conditions
• Helps lower blood pressure
• Can reduce the need for hospital stays and improve survival in people with severe heart failure
• Helps correct low potassium levels while removing excess fluid and salt

How Spironolactone Tablet works

Spironolactone blocks the hormone aldosterone from attaching to its receptors in the kidney. This causes the kidneys to release more water and salt into the urine while holding on to potassium, giving a diuretic and blood-pressure-lowering effect.

Spironolactone Tablet dosage

Take by mouth exactly as your doctor tells you, at the same time every day. It can be taken with or without food, but take it the same way every time. Do not share this medicine with anyone else, even if they have similar symptoms. If being treated for high blood pressure, keep taking the medicine even if you feel well, since high blood pressure often has no symptoms. Tablets may be split, cut in half, or crushed if your doctor approves, but they should not be chewed and should be swallowed. Tell any doctor, surgeon, or dentist treating you that you are taking this medicine, especially before surgery. You will need regular blood tests while taking this medicine.

Available forms and strengths

• Oral tablet

Side effects of Spironolactone Tablet

Common

• Breast swelling or tenderness
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Itching
• Menstrual problems, including irregular periods and bleeding after menopause
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Reduced sex drive and erectile dysfunction
• Abdominal cramps
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Upset stomach, indigestion
• Dry mouth, thirst
• Pins and needles sensation
• Fever
• Restlessness
• Muscle cramps, spasms, pain, or weakness
• Frequent urination

Serious

• Allergic reaction - hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Light-headed feeling like you might pass out, or fainting (low blood pressure)
• Little or no urination, or other signs of kidney injury such as swelling of hands, feet, or ankles
• High potassium level - nausea, weakness, tingling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement, or muscle weakness
• Other electrolyte imbalances - increased thirst or urination, confusion, vomiting, muscle pain, slurred speech, severe weakness, numbness, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady
• Gynecomastia (breast swelling or tenderness, lumps around the nipple) in men
• Serious skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis - skin blisters, rash, sores in the mouth
• Liver problems - yellowing of skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
• High blood sugar - increased thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, headache, blurred vision, fatigue
• Low blood counts - unusual bruising or bleeding, infections, fever, fatigue
• Vomiting blood, rapid excessive weight loss, or shortness of breath

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine should not be used during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor, who may suggest a different treatment or birth control options.
• It may not be safe to breastfeed while taking this medicine, since it passes into breast milk. Ask your doctor about the risks before breastfeeding.
• Use this medicine with caution if you have kidney disease. It is not recommended for people with severe kidney problems or those who cannot urinate.
• Use this medicine with caution if you have liver disease, since even small changes in body fluids and salts can trigger serious problems in people with liver disease.
• Drinking alcohol can increase side effects like dizziness and low blood pressure while taking this medicine.
• This medicine can cause dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when starting treatment. Avoid driving or using machinery until you know how it affects you.
• Avoid potassium supplements, salt substitutes, and foods high in potassium such as bananas, prunes, raisins, and orange juice unless your doctor tells you otherwise, since this medicine can cause potassium levels to rise too high.
• Do not use this medicine if you have Addison's disease, high potassium levels, cannot urinate, or are taking eplerenone.
• This medicine has caused tumors in animal studies, though it isn't known if this happens in people. Only use it for conditions your doctor has checked and approved.
• This medicine can cause breast development or tenderness in men, which usually goes away after stopping the medicine but may occasionally persist.
• Follow a low-salt or low-sodium diet and stick to a daily exercise program as directed by your doctor.
• Avoid getting up too quickly from sitting or lying down, since this can cause dizziness.

Storage

• Store at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture
• Store below 25 degrees C (77 degrees F)
• Keep out of the reach of children and pets
• Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date
• Take unused or expired medication to a medication take-back program; if this is not possible, follow package instructions or ask your care team whether it can be thrown in the trash (mixed with something like cat litter or coffee grounds in a sealed bag) or should be flushed

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you feel like you might pass out, have little or no urination, or have signs of a high potassium level such as nausea, weakness, tingling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, or loss of movement.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice signs of other electrolyte imbalances, such as increased thirst or urination, confusion, vomiting, muscle pain, slurred speech, severe weakness, numbness, loss of coordination, or feeling unsteady.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, contact a poison control center or go to the emergency room right away, even if you don't have symptoms.
• Seek medical help for signs of serious skin reactions such as severe skin peeling, blistering, rash, mouth sores, or swelling and redness of the eyes or face along with fever or flu-like symptoms.

Alternatives

• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Chlorthalidone
• Bumetanide
• Triamterene
• Amiloride