I Forgot I Took Spironolactone and Took It Again

Piece of cake-to-read medicine information about spironolactone – what it is, how to take it safely and possible side effects. Spironolactone is commonly called Spiractin or Spirotone.

Type of medicine	Also called
Diuretic (causes you to pee more than) 'Water tablet' or 'water pill' Potassium-sparing diuretic	Spiractin® Spirotone®

What is spironolactone?

Spironolactone is used to treat a number of unlike conditions and related symptoms, including the post-obit.

• To reduce extra fluid in your torso (called oedema) acquired by weather such as heart failure, liver disease or bug with your kidneys. Information technology tin can reduce swelling in your ankles or feet, and shortness of breath.
• High blood pressure (hypertension).
• Primary hyperaldosteronism – in hyperaldosteronism, your adrenal glands produce too much of a hormone called aldosterone. Spironolactone works by stopping the effects of aldosterone.
• Facial hair growth and acne in women, as in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Dose

• In New Zealand spironolactone is bachelor as tablets (25 mg and 100 mg).
• The dose of spironolactone will be different for different people depending your medical condition and response to treatment.
• Always accept your spironolactone exactly equally your doctor has told you.
• The chemist's shop label on your medicine volition tell yous how much spironolactone to have, how oft to have it and whatsoever special instructions.

How to take spironolactone

• Timing: Spironolactone is usually taken once a twenty-four hour period, in the morning. Some people taking higher doses may need to take a second dose later in the day. Y'all tin can have spironolactone with or without food.
• Limit or avoid alcohol while taking spironolactone: Booze may increase your chance of side furnishings such as dizziness.
• Missed dose: If you forget to have your dose, accept it equally shortly as yous remember that day. If it is nigh time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your adjacent dose at the usual time. Do not take ii doses at the same time.

Precautions when taking spironolactone

Before starting spironolactone

• Are y'all meaning or breastfeeding?
• Do you have issues with your kidneys?
• Exercise you lot accept Addison'south disease?
• Are taking any other medicines? This includes whatever medicines you are taking that you can buy without a prescription, every bit well as herbal and complementary medicines and medicines you can buy for pain relief.

If so, information technology'due south important that you tell your medico or chemist before you kickoff spironolactone. Sometimes a medicine isn't suitable for a person with certain weather condition, or it can just be used with extra care.

While taking spironolactone

You may need blood tests while taking spironolactone to check the amount of potassium and sodium in your claret, and to see how well your kidneys are working.

What are the side effects of spironolactone?

Like all medicines, spironolactone tin can cause side furnishings, although not everyone gets them. Oft side effects better every bit your trunk gets used to the new medicine.

High potassium levels in your claret

Spironolactone can cause high potassium levels in your blood (also called hyperkalaemia). You are at increased run a risk of hyperkalaemia if you:

• have problems with your kidneys or liver
• are an older adult
• are dehydrated (not getting enough fluid)
• are taking other medicines that tin can increase potassium, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

You lot will need blood tests while you are taking spironolactone to check the corporeality of potassium in your blood, peculiarly when y'all first commencement spironolactone, during dose changes or if yous go unwell with any illness that affects your kidneys.

Try to avoid things with a high potassium content, such as common salt substitutes or depression-sodium common salt. This is and then the level of potassium in your torso does not become too loftier.

Contact your doctor immediately or phone Healthline 0800 611 116 if you lot develop signs of too much potassium in your blood, such as irregular center beat (center crush feels fluttery), tingling feelings, paralysis (difficulty moving) or difficulty breathing.

Other side effects

Side effects	What should I do?
Feeling sick (nausea) Breadbasket upset	These are quite common when you first start taking spironolactone and usually go abroad after the first few days. Endeavour taking your spironolactone dose with or after food. Tell your doctor if troublesome.
Dizziness Feeling lite headed Feeling faint when you stand up	Be careful when getting upwards from either lying downwardly or sitting to avoid falls. These effects puts you at hazard of falls and injuries, specially if y'all are elderly. Be careful when driving or using tools until you know how this medicine affects you.
Signs of too much potassium in your claret such every bit irregular heart beat (centre beat feels fluttery), tingling feelings, paralysis (difficulty moving) or difficulty animate	Spironolactone may crusade increased potassium in your blood. Tell your doctor immediately or phone Healthline 0800 611 116.
Signs of aridity (losing also much salt and h2o) such as muscle cramps, weakness, dry mouth, thirst or passing unusually reduced amounts of pee	Tell your doc immediately or phone Healthline 0800 611 116.
Signs of hormone changes such as breast evolution (in men), changes in menstrual wheel (periods) in women or sexual function issues	Tell your physician.
Did you know that yous can written report a side effect to a medicine to CARM (Heart for Adverse Reactions Monitoring)? Report a side upshot to a production

Interactions

Spironolactone may interact with a number of medicines and herbal supplements so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting spironolactone and earlier starting any new medicines.

As well check with your pharmacist before taking anti-inflammatories that tin can be bought over the counter, such every bit diclofenac (eg, Voltaren Rapid), ibuprofen (eg, Nurofen), naproxen (eg, Naprogesic).

Learn more

The following links provide further data on spironolactone:

Spiractin Medsafe Consumer Information Sheets, NZ
Spironolactone (Māori) NZ Formulary Patient Information

References

1. Spironolactone NZ Formulary
2. Reminder – hyperkalaemia caused past amiloride or spironolactone Medsafe Prescriber Update, NZ, 2021

Resources

Te reo resource

The Māori Pharmacists' Clan Ngā Kaitiaki o Te Puna Rongoāhas a free phone line to answer questions whānau have well-nigh their medicines. Call0800 664 688.

Note: This is a not-urgent service and they will get back to you within 24 hours.
For urgent health advice freephone Healthline 0800 611 116.

Brochures

Related topics

Heart failure | Manawa ngoikore

Hypertension (Mate pēhanga toto)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) | Huahua hua kūao

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Source: https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/medicines/s/spironolactone/

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