Drug Name

Aldactone (Spironolactone)

Drug Uses

This medicine is a potassium-sparing diuretic used to treat congestive heart failure or high blood pressure. It may as well as be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How Taken

Follow the directions for using this medicine, provided by your doctor. This medicine may be used with food incase it upsets your stomach. This medicine may cause an increase in urine or in frequency of urination. To halt this from affecting sleep: try not to take any dose later than 6 p.m.

Drug Class as well as Mechanism

One of the main functions of the kidneys is to retain salt (sodium chloride) as well as water. In patients with heart failure as well as cirrhosis, increased levels of a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, called aldosterone, causes salt as well as fluid retention by the kidneys. Spironolactone inhibits the action of aldosterone causing the kidneys to excrete salt as well as fluid while retaining potassium. Therefore, spironolactone is classified as a potassium-sparing medication that promotes the output of urine (diuretic).

Missed Dose

Incase you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as likely. Incase it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose as well as go back to your normal dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Storage

Store this medicine at room temperature in a tightly-closed container, away from heat as well as light.

Warnings/Precautions

This medicine can raise your body's potassium levels. This is more likely to occur in people with kidney problems, diabetes, in elderly patients, or incase the patient is severely sick. Potassium levels must be closely monitored in people with any of these problems or illnesses. Incase not treated, high potassium levels can be fatal. Incase you develop any of the following symptoms, notify your doctor immediately: muscle weakness, unhurried or irregular heartbeat. Some medicines or health examination conditions may work with this medicine. Inform your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription as well as over-the-counter medicine that you are using. Do not take this medicine incase you are as well as using potassium. Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed incase you are using NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs similar ibuprofen or indomethacin) or medicine for heart conditions (ACE inhibitors). Inform your doctor of any other health examination conditions, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Contact your doctor or pharmacist ifyou possess any questions or concerns about using this medicine. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to this medicine. Using this medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.

Likely Side Effects

Side effects, that may go away during treatment, include abdominal cramping, nausea, diarrhea, headache, or change in sexual ability. Incase they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. Check with your doctor as soon as likely incase you experience moistureless mouth, excessive thirst, unusual tiredness, unusual muscle weakness, skin rash, deepening of voice, irregular or no menstrual periods, slowed heart rate, or enlarged breasts in men or breast tenderness in women. Incase you notice any unusual effects, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

More Information

Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not take this medicine for other health conditions. Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. Incase using this medicine for an extended period of time, obtain refills before your supply runs out.