Aldactone

• Your doctor will start you on a low starting dose and gradually increase the dosage as needed to obtain the desired effect.

Could it interact with other tablets?

Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without prescription, Your doctor may wish to alter your dose of Aldactone if you are taking any of the following:

• ACE inhibitors, digoxin or other anti-arrhythmic medicines
• lithium, antipyrine, colestyramine, ammonium chloride or carbenoxolone
• medicines for high blood pressure
• other diuretics
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin or ibuprofen
• potassium supplements

If you are going to have an operation where you will be given an anaesthetic, tell the doctor in charge that you are taking Aldactone.

Herbal products should also only be taken after talking with your doctor.

What are the possible risks or side-effects?

Like all medicines, Aldactone can cause side-effects although not everybody gets them.
Tell your Doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after taking this medicine.

Although they are very rare, the symptoms can be severe:

• Itchiness and blistering of the skin around the lips and the rest of the body (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
• Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), Aldactone can cause impairment of liver function.
• Irregular heartbeat, tingling sensation, paralysis or difficulty in breathing; which may be symptoms of raised potassium levels in your blood. Your doctor will conduct regular blood tests to monitor potassium and other electrolyte levels. He or she may stop your treatment if necessary.

Other side effects of Aldactone

• Nausea, stomach upset, fever
• Confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, feeling generally unwell
• Menstrual problems in women, temporary impotence in men
• Change in sex drive for both men and women (libido)
• Disturbances in body electrolytes (high blood calcium)
• Reduced number of cells that fight infection - white cells (leukopenia); reduced number of cells carrying oxygen (anaemia) or that help with clotting (thrombocytopenia). This may cause you to bruise more easily or cause purple spots on the skin (purpura)
• Breast enlargement in men (gynaecomastia), this goes away when treatment is stopped; breast lumps; breast pain
• Skin rash; generalised itchiness,
• Skin allergy with development of itchiness and weals (urticaria); excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis)
• Hair loss
• General weakness or lethargy, headaches, muscle or leg cramps and problems coordinating muscle movements (ataxia).
• Kidney failure.

If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed here, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Can I drink alcohol while taking it?

• There are no known interactions between alcohol and Aldactone
• Always ask you doctor or pharmacist however as other medications you are taking may have a bearing on this.

What if I’m pregnant/breastfeeding?

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to become pregnant as your doctor will need to judge whether you should be prescribed Aldactone.
• Aldactone should not be used if you are breast-feeding.

If you have any more questions please ask your Pharmacist.

Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children
Please Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spironolactone

http://www.drugs.com/aldactone.html

http://www.rxlist.com/aldactone-drug.htm

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/9136

http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/aldactone