Prescription Required
Description
What is Aldactone?
Aldactone is made up of spironolactone, which is considered a potassium-sparing diuretic. This medication is meant for oral administration and comes in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg peach, yellow or orange tablets. You can purchase this medicine as Aldactone or as its generic alternative, which is the ingredient found in Aldactone, Spironolactone.
What is Aldactone used for?
- Heart failure
- High blood sugar (hypertension)
- Low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalemia)
- Fluid Retention (edema)
How does Aldactone work?
The potassium-sparing diuretic (spironolactone) works by preventing the body from absorbing too much salt (too much salt will cause fluid retention) while also keeping your potassium levels from getting too low. Low potassium levels are linked to high blood pressure. When you have high blood pressure, your blood vessels are narrowed down and often times blocked; this increases your chance of heart failure.
Directions
The average dose range is about 25mg-400mg daily taken in either single or divided doses. Always follow directions given to you by your doctor as there are many factors that play into what dosage is right for you.
This medication may be taken with or without food and should be taken the same way and at the same time every day.
Edema: 100mg daily as single or divided dose. Dose may need to be increased or decreased after about 5 days.
Hypertension: 50mg-100mg daily as single or divided dose.
Hypokalemia: 25mg-100mg daily as single dose.
Cautions
Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medication.
This drug may make you drowsy; driving under the influence of this medication should be done under discretion.
Only use this medication if you absolutely need too while you are pregnant.
This medication does pass into breast milk but should not cause harm to the feeding infant.
Let your doctor know if you have any drug allergies as well as if you have had or currently have:
Addison's disease (an adrenal gland disorder); high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia); if you are unable to urinate; if you are also taking eplerenone; an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of magnesium in your blood); kidney disease; liver disease; or heart disease.
Side Effects
Common side effects of Aldactone include:
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Cramps
- Drowsiness
- Rash
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Impotence
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Irregular hair growth
Possible serious side effects of Aldactone include:
- Liver dysfunction
- Kidney failure
- Anaphylaxis
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Low platelets
- Low white blood cells
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis
- Vasculitis
- Risk of tumors in animal studies
FAQs
What is Spironolactone?
Spironolactone is a drug used in medicine for its therapeutic effects; it is the active ingredient found in Aldactone tablets. Spironolactone is very rapidly metabolized in the liver, creating sulfur-containing metabolites in the process, which are thought to be responsible for the majority of therapeutic effects; canrenone is one of the metabolites created during metabolism. The excretion of this drug is primarily through bile and urine, with a half-life of 1.4 hours.
What is Spironolactone used for?
Spironolactone, when in the form of Aldactone, is used for the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure. Heart failure is a condition where your heart is unable to supply a sufficient amount of blood to the rest of the body; high blood pressure increases your risk of heart failure because it narrows and blocks blood vessels. Additionally, this medication may be used to treat edema (swelling due to excess fluid in the body) and hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood).
How does Spironolactone work?
Spironolactone lowers blood pressure, controls heart failure, reduces edema, and corrects potassium deficiencies, and this is how: it is a potassium-sparing diuretic. Potassium-sparing means it allows the body to retain more potassium; this is a direct supply of potassium which helps to balance potassium deficiencies. The “diuretic” means it can cause you to urinate more often to help reduce the total amount of fluid in your body; this helps treat edema. For high blood pressure, potassium helps balance the negative effects of sodium which ultimately helps to lower blood pressure; by lowering blood pressure, you lower the risk of heart failure symptoms becoming worse.
How does Spironolactone work for acne?
Some doctors may prescribe spironolactone to help women with acne. It is effective for the treatment of acne because it can slow down the production of certain hormones in the body. These hormones, called androgens, can increase oil production in the hair follicles, which causes your pores to clog, resulting in acne.
How long does Spironolactone stay in your system?
Spironolactone does not stay in the body for very long; with a half-life of roughly 1.5 hours, it won’t stay in your system for much longer than 7.5 hours. However, since this drug creates multiple metabolites once administered, you may find the metabolites remain in your body for longer than the drug itself. Canrenone, one of the metabolites of spironolactone, has the longest half-life of all the metabolites, about 16.5 hours; canrenone will remain in the body for roughly 82.5 hours (3.4 days) following your last dose.
How long does it take for spironolactone to work?
Typically, it takes about 2-3 days before you feel the benefits of the medication. It may take up to 2-3 weeks before you notice the full effect. The exact amount of time it takes for the medication to become effective will vary for each individual as there are many factors that determine the answer.
What are the side effects of spironolactone?
Side effects of spironolactone may include headache, diarrhea, cramps, drowsiness, or rash. These side effects should not alarm you. If they persist or become worse over time; you may want to speak with your doctor about alternate treatment plans.
What does spironolactone look like?
The brand name tablets, Aldactone (spironolactone), are commonly yellow in color and either round or oval. However, this may vary; the generic tablets, and even sometimes the brand name tablets, can have a different appearance depending on where you buy your supply from.
How to take Spironolactone?
Spironolactone, in the form of Aldactone, should be taken orally by mouth and swallowed whole. You may take the dose with a meal or milk to prevent an upset stomach, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Be sure to consult your doctor before starting treatment if you are unsure how to properly take this medication.
What is the usual daily dose of spironolactone (Aldactone) for an adult patient?
It will depend on what condition the medication is treating. For hypertension, an adult would typically take an initial dose of 50-100mg per day, in a single or divided dose. Ultimately, your doctor is the only one who can determine what your specific dose will be.
What time of day to take spironolactone?
Spironolactone is a diuretic which means it will cause you to urinate more frequently; because of this, it is typically recommended you take your dose in the morning or afternoon, or at least before 6pm, to avoid waking up throughout the night. However, if your doctor has directed otherwise, it is important to follow your doctor’s directions on when to take Aldactone.
Where can I buy Aldactone?
You can buy Aldactone from the comfort of your own home when you order through My Drug Center. We carry the brand-name medication as well as the generic in 25, 50, and 100mg tablets at an affordable cost. How much does spironolactone cost at My Drug Center? We carry spironolactone for as low as $0.31 per tablet, available with a valid prescription.
What is the generic name for Aldactone?
The generic name for Aldactone is the same name as the active ingredient, spironolactone. We carry Aldactone generic tablets (spironolactone tablets) for as low as $35.00 when you buy a supply of 112 – 25mg.
Need Help?
Call Our CareTeam
Our CareTeam Member will guide you to complete your order