Aldactone MedFacts

Aldactone

Aldactone is used for:

Treating swelling and fluid retention inpatients with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, or kidney problems (nephrotic syndrome). It is also used for treatment of high blood pressure. It may also be used to treat or prevent low blood potassium. It may also be used to treat excess secretion of the hormone aldosterone by the adrenal gland.

Aldactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic. It works by blocking the hormone aldosterone, causing the kidney to eliminate excess water, save potassium, and lower blood pressure.

Do NOT use Aldactone if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Aldactone
• you are unable to urinate, have severe kidney problems, or have high blood potassium levels
• you are taking a potassium supplement, another potassium-sparing diuretic (eg, amiloride, triamterene), or another aldosterone-blocker (eg, eplerenone)

Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if any of the above applies to you.

Consider before using Aldactone

Medical Conditions

There are medical conditions that can influence usage of Aldactone . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the medical conditions below applies to you:

• if you are either pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• if you are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any medicine (either prescription or nonprescription), herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you are allergic to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have high acidity in your body fluids; low sodium levels in your blood; liver, heart, or lung disease; diabetes; or high urea or nitrogen in your blood
• if you have menstrual disease

Drugs Interaction

There are medicines that may interact with Aldactone . Inform your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, in particular any from the list below:

• Corticosteroids (eg, prednisone) or ACTH because low blood electrolyte levels may occur
• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital) or narcotics (eg, morphine) because dizziness upon standing may occur
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril), angiotensin II receptor antagonists (eg, valsartan), cyclosporine, macrolide immunosuppressives (eg, tacrolimus), other potassium sparing diuretics (eg, amiloride, triamterene), other aldosterone-blockers (eg, eplerenone), or potassium supplements because high blood potassium levels may occur (eg, listlessness, confusion, abnormal skin sensations of the arms and legs, heaviness of limbs, slowed heart rate, irregular heart rhythm, potentially life-threatening slow or irregular heartbeat)
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, indomethacin) because they may decrease Aldactone 's effectiveness and increase the risk of kidney problems and high blood potassium
• Digoxin, digitoxin, lithium, nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, tubocurarine), or quinidine because the risk of their side effects and toxicity may be increased by Aldactone
• Pressor amines (eg, norepinephrine) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Aldactone

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Clarify with your health care provider whether Aldactone may interact with other medicines you take. Also, consult your health care provider in advance if you are going to start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Aldactone Usage Guidelines

You should use Aldactone as recommended by your doctor. Read the medicine's label for precise dosing instructions.

• Take Aldactone by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• Aldactone may increase the amount of urine or cause you to urinate more often when you first start taking it. To keep this from disturbing your sleep, try to take your dose before 6 pm.
• If you miss a dose of Aldactone , take it as soon as you get it remembered. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, ignore the missed one and get back to your normal dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at the same time. If more than one dose is missed, restart the medication and advise your doctor or pharmacist at your next appointment.

Clarify with your health care provider any issues you may have about usage of Aldactone .

Important safety information on aldactone

• Aldactone may cause dizziness and drowsiness. There effects may be worsened when this medicine is taken with aclohol or other medicines. Use Aldactone with caution. Refrain from driving or performing other possibly dangerous activities until you know how you react to it.
• Aldactone can raise your body's potassium levels. This is more likely to occur in people with kidney problems, diabetes, in the elderly, or if the patient is severely ill. Potassium levels must be closely monitored in people with any of these problems or illnesses. If not treated, high potassium levels can be fatal.
• Check with your doctor before you use a salt substitute or a product that has potassium in it.
• Lab tests, including kidney function, blood pressure, blood potassium, and chemistries, may be performed while you use Aldactone . These tests can be used to monitor your medical condition or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Aldactone while you are pregnant. Aldactone is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Aldactone .

Side effects may be caused by Aldactone

Any medicine may cause side effects, but the majority of people have either slight side effects, or dont have it at all. Consult your doctor if any of the most COMMON side effects from the list below persist or start bothering you:

Abdominal cramping; change in sexual ability; clumsiness; confusion; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; headache; frequent urination; nausea; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); breast tenderness; deepening of voice; dry mouth; enlarged breasts in men; excessive thirst; irregular or lack of menstrual periods; skin rash; slow, irregular, or fast heartbeat; ulcers; unusual muscle weakness; unusual tiredness.

It sholud be noted, that this is not a full list of possible side effects. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include: lightheadedness; nausea; vomiting; weakness.

Aldactone storage instructions:

Store Aldactone at room temperature, between 59 and 77 degrees F (15 and 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container, away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Aldactone out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions on Aldactone , please consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
• Aldactone is supposed to be used only by the patient it is prescribed to. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or even become worse, inform your doctor.

This information is summary only. It does not contain all information about Aldactone . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider.