Spironolactone

• Spironolactone helps your body get rid of extra fluid and salt while helping you keep potassium, a mineral your body needs.
• It is used to treat fluid buildup from heart failure, liver disease, or kidney conditions, as well as high blood pressure and low potassium levels.

• Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare professional tells you. The amount and how often you take it will be on your prescription label.
• Take this medicine with food. Food helps your body absorb it better and can help prevent an upset stomach.
• Try to take it at the same time or times each day.

If you miss a dose

• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal schedule.
• Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

• Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, since it can harm a developing baby.
• Do not take this medicine while breastfeeding.
• Talk to your doctor about birth control if there is a chance you could become pregnant.

• Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, since this medicine is not safe if your kidneys are not working well.
• Tell your doctor if you have Addison's disease, cannot pass urine, or already have high potassium levels.
• Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, especially other water pills, blood pressure medicines, or potassium supplements.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Important warnings

• This medicine can raise your blood potassium to unsafe levels. Get medical help if you have muscle weakness, tingling, or an irregular heartbeat.
• This medicine has caused tumours in animal studies, and breast cancer and other tumours have been reported in people taking it. Tell your doctor about any new lumps or changes you notice.
• Serious skin reactions have been reported. Get medical help right away for a severe rash, blistering, or peeling skin.
• Rare but serious liver problems have been reported. Tell your doctor about yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, or severe tiredness.

• Feeling sick to your stomach
• Stomach cramps or loose stools
• Headache
• Feeling drowsy or tired
• Feeling dizzy or unsteady
• Confusion
• Changes in sex drive
• Leg cramps or muscle spasms
• In men, breast tenderness or enlargement

When to get emergency help

• Muscle weakness with an irregular or very slow heartbeat, which can be signs of high potassium
• Severe skin rash, blistering, or peeling
• Yellowing of your skin or eyes, or very dark urine
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing
• Unusual bruising or bleeding

When to contact a healthcare professional

• You notice breast swelling or tenderness that bothers you
• You feel unusually confused, drowsy, or unsteady
• You have ongoing stomach upset
• You are due for a blood test to check your potassium and kidney function

• Take this medicine with food to help your body absorb it and to ease stomach upset.
• Avoid salt substitutes and potassium supplements unless your doctor says it is okay, since this medicine already helps your body hold onto potassium.
• Avoid eating large amounts of high-potassium foods, such as bananas, oranges, orange juice, prunes, and raisins.
• Avoid or limit alcohol, since it can add to dizziness or a drop in blood pressure, especially when you first start this medicine.
• Tell the Care365 care team about all other medicines you take, including other water pills, blood pressure medicines, and pain relievers, since combinations can raise your potassium to unsafe levels.

• Store this medicine at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.
• Keep it out of the reach of children.
• Ask the Care365 care team how to safely dispose of any unused medicine.