Aldactone (Spironolactone) Drug Overview of Drug Interactions and Missed Dose for Patients and Caregivers at RxList

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May 23, 2012

Aldactone

Diuretics »

What are diuretics and how do they work?

The amount of fluid (water) retained by the body is controlled primarily by the kidneys. This occurs due to the kidney's ability to control the retention and elimination of sodium and chloride, because the amounts of sodium, chloride, and water in the body are carefully balanced. Thus, if sodium and chloride are eliminated from the body, water also is eliminated. Conversely, if sodium and chloride are retained by the body, so is water.

The elimination of sodium, chloride, and water from the body is somewhat complex. In the kidneys, sodium, chloride, and other small molecules are filtered out of the blood and into the tubules of the kidney where urine is formed. Most of the sodium, chloride, and water are reabsorbed into the blood before the filtered fluid leaves the kidney in the form of urine. To make matters even more complex, there are different mechanisms that are active in different parts of the tu...

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Aldactone Consumer (continued)

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: eplerenone.

If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting spironolactone.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), certain hormones (ACTH), digoxin, lithium, mitotane, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, indomethacin), other diuretics that increase potassium (e.g., amiloride, triamterene).

Other medications besides this medication which may increase your potassium levels include cyclosporine, tacrolimus, potassium supplements, ACE inhibitors (e.g., captopril, lisinopril) or ARBs (e.g., losartan, candesartan). Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and continue medications for your condition as directed. Limit foods high in potassium such as bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, low-salt milk, and salt substitutes. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, including diet recommendations. It is important to keep all medical and laboratory appointments so your doctor can monitor your potassium levels regularly.

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, NSAIDs for pain/fever reduction) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure or worsen swelling (edema). Some nonprescription medicines that contains aspirin may decrease the effects of spironolactone. Low-dose aspirin, as prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually these dosages are 81-325 milligrams per day) should be continued. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

This medication can affect the results of certain lab tests (e.g., digoxin or cortisol levels). Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use this drug.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

NOTES: Do not share this medication with others.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood mineral levels, kidney or liver function tests) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If you are taking this medication for high blood pressure, lifestyle changes such as stress reduction programs, exercise, and dietary changes may increase the effectiveness of this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you.

Have your blood pressure checked regularly while taking this medication. Discuss with your doctor and learn how to monitor your own blood pressure. Inform your doctor of your blood pressure readings.

MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE: Store the US product at room temperature below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854- 1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).