Spironolactone

About spironolactone

Spironolactone is used to treat fluid retention (oedema) caused by liver disease, kidney problems or heart failure. Oedema occurs when fluid leaks out of your blood vessels, causing swelling in the tissues of your lungs, feet or ankles. This makes you feel breathless or your legs feel puffy. Spironolactone prevents a build-up of fluid in your body by increasing the amount of urine your kidneys produce. It is also used to treat some other conditions which cause fluid retention, such as a disorder called primary hyperaldosteronism.

Spironolactone is known as a potassium-sparing diuretic. Unlike some other diuretics, it does not cause your body to lose potassium. Diuretics are sometimes referred to as 'water tablets'.

Spironolactone is often used alongside other diuretics. When it is used like this, it may be prescribed as a combination product, such as in Lasilactone® (spironolactone with furosemide) and Aldactide® (spironolactone with hydroflumethiazide). Combinations like these help to reduce the number of tablets you need to take each day.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking spironolactone it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Om du är gravid, försöker bli gravid eller ammar.

• If you have kidney problems.

• If you are being treated for prostate cancer.

• If you have a problem with your adrenal glands, called Addisons sjukdom.

• If you have a rare inherited blood disorder, called porphyria.

• Om du tar några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

• Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot en medicin.

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The leaflet will give you more information about spironolactone and a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take spironolactone exactly as your doctor has told you. The usual dose varies from 25 mg to 200 mg. Depending upon which dose is right for you, you may be asked to take several tablets a day but these are generally taken at the same time.

• Take the tablets with or just after a meal.

• Spironolactone is commonly prescribed just once daily and you can generally take the dose at a time to suit you. However, diuretics are best taken no later than mid-afternoon. This is because you will find you may need to go to the toilet a couple of times after taking them and this could disturb your sleep if you take it late in the day.

• If you have been prescribed more than one tablet of spironolactone a day and told to take them at different times, make sure you take your last tablet no later than 6 pm.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is after 6 pm in the evening, skip the missed dose and continue as usual the next day. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress. The salt balance in your bloodstream may be upset by diuretics and your doctor will want you to have a blood test from time to time to check for this.

• Diuretics help you to lose water, so you can breathe or move more easily. If, however, you lose too much fluid, you may become dehydrated. This will make you feel thirsty and make your skin look and feel dry. Let your doctor know if this happens, as your dose may need to be adjusted.

• Another sign of dehydration with spironolactone is rapid weight loss after starting the tablets. Speak with your doctor if you notice this happening.

• Because spironolactone is a potassium-conserving diuretic, you should try to avoid things with a high potassium content, such as 'salt substitutes' or low-sodium salt. This is so the level of potassium in your body does not become too high.

• Treatment with diuretics is usually long-term, so continue to take these tablets unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

• Om du köper några läkemedel, kontrollera med en apotekare att de är lämpliga att ta tillsammans med dina andra läkemedel.

• Om du ska genomgå en operation eller tandbehandling, informera den som utför behandlingen om vilka mediciner du tar.

Förutom sina nyttiga effekter kan de flesta läkemedel orsaka oönskade biverkningar, även om inte alla upplever dem. Dessa förbättras vanligtvis när din kropp anpassar sig till det nya läkemedlet, men tala med din läkare eller apotekare om någon av följande biverkningar fortsätter eller blir besvärliga.

Om du upplever några andra symtom som du tror kan bero på denna medicin, tala med din läkare eller apotekare.

• Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

• Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.