What is Aldactone?
Aldactone is a diuretic that is potassium-sparing (water pill) that stops your body from taking excessive amounts of salt. It also helps keep you from going too low.
Aldactone can be used for treating heart failure as well as hypertension (hypertension) as well as the condition known as hypokalemia (low concentrations of potassium in blood).
Aldactone is also used to treat cirrhosis of the liver, Nephrotic Syndrome, and liquid retention (edema) in patients with congestive heart failure.
Aldactone can also be used to treat or diagnose an illness in which there are excessive levels of aldosterone within your system. Aldosterone is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands in order to aid in regulating the balance of water and salt within your body.
Warnings
WarningsUse Aldactone cautiously when you suffer from kidney problems and the presence of high amounts of potassium levels in your blood Addison's Disease or if you are not able to urinate or if you're being treated with eplerenone.
Aldactone has been linked to cancer in animals, however it isn't known if it is possible to cause this in humans. Do not take this medication for any health condition which has not been evaluated by your physician.
Before You Take This Drug
You shouldn't make use of Aldactone if sensitive to spironolactone or in the event that you suffer from:
- Addison's Disease (an the adrenal gland disorders);
- The high concentrations of potassium present in blood ( hyperkalemia);
- If you're unable to urinate;
- If you're also using eplerenone.
To be sure Aldactone is not harmful to you, talk to your doctor whether you suffer from:
- An electrolyte imbalance (such in low amounts of magnesium, calcium and sodium levels in blood);
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease; or
- Heart disease.
Inform your physician whether you are expecting or planning to be expecting. Having congestive heart failure, cirrhosis or uncontrolled blood pressure in pregnancy can cause medical issues for either the mother or the child. Your doctor will decide if you should use Aldactone when you are expecting.
It might not be safe to breastfeed when taking this medication. Ask your physician about any risks.
How to Take Aldactone?
You should take Aldactone exactly according to the prescription of your doctor. Follow all instructions on your prescription label, and be sure to read the entire medication guide or instruction documents. Your doctor might change the dose occasionally.Don't share the medication with anyone else even if they suffer from similar symptoms as you do.
You can take Aldactone in combination with or without food, but you must take it in the same manner each time.You'll need to take regular health tests.
This medication can alter the results of certain tests. Tell any medical professional who sees patients that you're using Aldactone. If you are in need of surgery, inform your surgeon that you are currently taking this medication. You may require stopping for a brief period of time.
If you're treating hypertension, you should continue taking this medication even if you are feeling good. High blood pressure is often not accompanied by signs. You may require blood pressure medications throughout your existence.
Keep at room temperature, away light, heat, as well as moisture.
Details On Dosage
Usual Adult Dose of Aldactone for Edema:
between 25-200 mg daily in divided or single doses
The duration of treatment: When it is used in the absence of any other diuretic, maintain the dose initially for a minimum of five days. After that, the initial dose can be adjusted to a suitable dose for maintenance dose.Comments:-A second diuretic which acts more proximal to the renal tubule could be added if sufficient diuresis has not been achieved in five days. The dose of this drug should remain unchanged if a second diuretic is added.Uses:-Treatment of edematous conditions in patients with congestive heart failure who are only partially responsive to treatment of edematous situations in patients with liver cirrhosis accompanied by edema and/or ascites.Treatment of edematous conditions in patients who are intolerant to other therapeutic approaches or taking digitalis when other therapies are deemed inappropriate.Treatment of edematous disorders in patients suffering from nephrotic disorder in cases where treatment for the disease is not possible, such as a restriction on sodium and fluid intake or the application of diuretics fail to provide the required response.
Usual Adult Dose of Aldactone for Hypertension:
Initial dose: 50-100 mg per day orally, in divided or single doses
The duration of therapy must be continued for a minimum of 2 weeks to reach a maximum response. In the future, the dosage can be adjusted based on patient response.
Usual Adult Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:
Initial dosage: 25 mg orally every day, assuming serum potassium is lower that or equivalent to 5mEq/L and serum creatinine is lower that or equivalent to 2.5 mg/dL
Maintenance dose:-Patients who tolerate the initial dose: may be increased to up 50 mg taken orally twice per day if clinically recommended. Patients who are not tolerant of the dose initially can be reduced to 25 mg orally each other day. The goal is to increase the chance of survival and lessen the need for hospitalization in severely cardiac failure sufferers (New York Heart Association, NYHA classes III-IV) when added to conventional therapy.
Usual Adult Dose for Primary Hyperaldosteronism:
Diagnostic dose:
Short test: 400 mg orally once daily for 4 days; long test: 400 mg orally once daily for 3 to 4 weeks.100 to 400 mg taken orally every day as a maintenance dose till surgery; may be used long-term at the lowest effective dose in patients deemed unsuitable for surgery.Comments:-For the long test, correction of hypokalemia and hypertension provides presumptive evidence while patients are following a normal diet, they develop primary hyperaldosteronism.Treatment of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism before surgery on a short-term basis.-Long-term maintenance therapy for individuals with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism or those who are ruled unsuitable for surgery.
Usual Adult Dose for Hypokalemia:
between 25-100 mg per day
Uses:-Treatment of hypokalemic patients when other treatments are deemed ineffective or inappropriate.-Prevention of hypokalemia in digitalis-using patients when other treatments are deemed ineffective or unsuitable.
Use the medicine whenever you are able and skip any missed doses if you are close to the time of the subsequent dosage. Do not have two doses at one time.
What Happens if I Miss a Dose?
Do not take the medicine for as long as you can. However, avoid any missed doses if it's nearing the time to take the next dose. Don't take two doses at a time.
What Happens If I Overdose?
Get medical attention immediately or contact toll-free the Poison Helpline at 1-800-222-1222.
What Should be Avoided?
Alcohol consumption can cause certain adverse effects.
Do not take the potassium supplement or substitute for salt except if your doctor has advised your doctor to.
Do not eat a diet rich in salt. Too much salt causes your body to store water and make this medication less efficient.Beware of driving and any other hazardous activity until you understand the effects of this medication on your. Your reactions may be impaired. Avoid getting up too quickly from lying or seated in a position. You may experience dizziness.
Side Effects Of Aldactone
Get medical assistance immediately If you are experiencing symptoms that you are experiencing an allergic reaction with Aldactone. itching or breathing difficulties and swelling of your lips, face and tongue.
Consult a doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
- An uneasy feeling as if you're about to pass out.
- Minimal or no urination;
- Higher potassium levels (high potassium) vomiting and weakening, tingly sensation chest pain, irregular heartbeats loss of motion;
- Indications of imbalances in electrolytes such as more thirst or urination, confusion vomiting muscle pain, weak speech, severe weakness in the legs, numbness, loss coordination, feeling unstable.
Common Aldactone side effects can include:
- Breast tenderness or swelling.
This isn't the complete list of possible adverse reactions and there are many more that could be present. Call your doctor for medical advice regarding adverse consequences. You may submit a report of the side effects to the FDA via 1-800-FDA-1088.
Interaction with Other Drugs
Interaction with Other DrugsUtilizing Aldactone in conjunction with other drugs that cause dizziness can increase the severity of this effect. Talk to your doctor prior to taking opioids or a sleeping pill and muscle relaxer, or medications for depression, anxiety or seizures.
Talk to your physician about any of of your other medications, including:
- Colchicine;
- Digoxin;
- Lithium;
- Loperamide;
- Trimethoprim;
- Blood pressure or heart medication (especially diuretics);
- Medicine to stop a blood clot, or
- NSDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) and celecoxib. diclofenac (also known as indomethacin), diclofenac and more.
This list isn't complete. Other drugs can interfere with spironolactone, such as medications that are prescribed and available over the counter as well as vitamins and herbal products. The list is not exhaustive. Not all possible interactions with drugs are included in this list.
