Spironolactone, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: potassium-sparing diuretic

Generic and brand names: spironolactone, oral; Aldactone

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a diuretic taken by mouth to remove excess water from your body without removing potassium. It is given to lower high blood pressure or to treat heart failure or other conditions. Your healthcare provider will explain why you are taking this medicine.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• diabetes
• gout
• high levels of potassium in the blood
• kidney disease or kidney stones
• liver disease
• trouble urinating or an enlarged prostate.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking potassium supplements or using other diuretics.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Take the medicine at the same time each day to help you remember to take it.

This medicine may increase how much and how often you urinate. Take the last dose of the day before 6 PM to avoid interrupting your sleep at night.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach. If the medicine still upsets your stomach, tell your healthcare provider.

Do not miss doses. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

Usually you will not take a potassium supplement while you are taking this medicine. Discuss this with your healthcare provider so that you do not get too much potassium.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may cause impotence (trouble having and keeping an erection) or decrease your sex drive. These effects are usually temporary.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; severe rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Rash, itching, burning or tingling sensation, tongue irritation, sore throat, fever, cough, muscle weakness or cramps, tiredness, breast enlargement in men, stomach pain, severe vomiting or diarrhea, back pain, slow or irregular heartbeat, trouble urinating, very dry mouth, yellowish skin or eyes.

Other: Dizziness, diarrhea, constipation, dry mouth, thirst, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, menstrual abnormalities, headache.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), fosinopril (Monopril), captopril (Capoten), and benazepril (Lotensin)
• aspirin and other salicylates
• barbiturates such as pentobarbital (Nembutal) and phenobarbital
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone, hydrocortisone (Hydrocortone, Cortef, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol, A-Methapred, Depo-Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten, Orasone), and triamcinolone (Aristocort)
• diabetes medicines such as insulin, glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), glipizide (Glucotrol), repaglinide (Prandin), metformin (Glucophage), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and pioglitazone (Actos)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• heart medicines such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), and valsartan (Diovan)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf) and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith)
• narcotics such as codeine, morphine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), and oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox)
• NSAIDS (painkillers) such as aspirin, indomethacin (Indocin), diclofenac (Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• other diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix), torsemide (Demadex), bumetanide (Bumex), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL), amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide (Moduretic), spironolactone/hydrochlorothiazide (Aldactazide) and triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Maxzide)
• potassium supplements, salt substitutes, or foods that are high in potassium
• quinidine
• warfarin.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine. Alcohol can worsen high blood pressure or fluid gain.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.