Uses: Spironolactone , duiretic

25 mg Aldactone

Quantity: 10 tabs (1 strip)

What is Aldactone?

Aldactone (spironolactone) is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting too low. Aldactone is used to treat heart failure, high blood pressure (hypertension), or hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood). Aldactone also treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome. Aldactone is also used to diagnose or treat a condition in which you have too much aldosterone in your body. Aldosterone is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands to help regulate the salt and water balance in your body.

How should I take Aldactone?

Take Aldactone exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose of Aldactone for Edema:

25 to 200 mg orally per day in single or divided doses

Duration of therapy: When given as the sole diuretic, continue the initial dose for at least 5 days, after which the initial dose may be adjusted to an optimal maintenance dose.Comments:-A second diuretic that acts more proximally at the renal tubule may be added if adequate diuresis has not been achieved after 5 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 or intolerant of other therapeutic measures or who are taking digitalis when other therapies are considered inappropriate.-Treatment of edematous conditions in patients with liver cirrhosis accompanied by edema and/or ascites. -Treatment of edematous conditions in patients with nephrotic syndrome when treatment of the underlying disease, restriction of fluid and sodium intake, and the use of other diuretics do not provide an adequate response.

Usual Adult Dose of Aldactone for Hypertension:

Initial dose: 50 to 100 mg orally per day in single or divided doses

Duration of therapy: Treatment should be continued for at least 2 weeks to achieve a maximum response. Subsequently, the dose may be adjusted according to patient response.

Usual Adult Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:

Initial dose: 25 mg orally once a day assuming serum potassium is less than or equal to 5 mEq/L and serum creatinine is less than or equal to 2.5 mg/dL

Maintenance dose:-Patients tolerant of initial dose: May increase to 50 mg orally once a day as clinically indicated-Patients intolerant of initial dose: May decrease to 25 mg orally every other dayUse: To increase survival and reduce the need for hospitalization of severe heart failure patients (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III to IV) when used in addition to standard therapy.

Usual Adult Dose for Primary Hyperaldosteronism:

Diagnostic dose:

-Long test: 400 mg orally per day for 3 to 4 weeks-Short test: 400 mg orally per day for 4 daysMaintenance dose: 100 to 400 mg orally per day until 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 of primary hyperaldosteronism.-For the short test, increased serum potassium with this drug and a decrease upon discontinuation provide presumptive evidence of primary hyperaldosteronism.Uses:-Initial diagnostic measure to provide presumptive evidence of primary hyperaldosteronism while patients are on normal diets.-Short-term preoperative treatment of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism.-Long-term maintenance therapy for patients deemed unsuitable for surgery or those with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism.

Usual Adult Dose for Hypokalemia:

25 to 100 mg orally per day

Uses:-Treatment of patients with hypokalemia when other measures are considered inappropriate or inadequate.-Prophylaxis of hypokalemia in patients taking digitalis when other measures are considered inadequate or inappropriate

Aldactone side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Aldactone: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

• little or no urination;

• high potassium level - nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement; o

• signs of other electrolyte imbalances - increased thirst or urination, confusion, vomiting, muscle pain, slurred speech, severe weakness, numbness, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady.

Common Aldactone side effects may include:

• breast swelling or tenderness.

What to avoid

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects. Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes, unless your doctor has told you to. Avoid a diet high in salt. Too much salt will cause your body to retain water and can make this medication less effective. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.