ALDACTONE – PRECAUTIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS

Aldactone belongs to the category of drugs called potassium-sparing diuretics. This drug acts as a potassium supplement and to reduce high absorption of salt in body. It is basically a aldosterone-antagonist and recommended by doctor in conditions when the there is High levels of aldosterone in body, to treat edema, to treat or hypokalemia or for hormonal replacement during male-to-female sex reassignment therapy.

Aldaxtone

PRECAUTIONS FOR DOCTORS AND PATIENTS

--> Aldactone must be taken under medical supervision only. The doctors have to be careful not to prescribe the medicine if patient is allergic to spironolactone, or if patient has kidney disease, liver disorder, hyperkalemia, or patient is under anti-depression treatment

Other precautions to be advised to patients when on Aldactone medication are, not to use any potassium supplements, not to use any other type of diuretic while taking this medicine, avoid alcohol, control salt intake, control water intake such that neither to get dehydrated during exercise of hot weather and at the same time not to take too much water or it will render the medicine ineffective.

For mothers, tell your doctor if you are pregnant before taking Aldactone. If is found that this medicine can pass through breast milk to baby thus harming him. Hence you must tell your doctor if breastfeeding a baby. Also use of Aldactone during pregnancy can increase the chance of feminization of the fetus.

If you are already on medication, then before taking Aldactone interaction between medicines are also to be considered. There may be interaction of this medicine with ACTH, alcohol, angiotensin , antipyrine, barbiturates ,cholestyramine , steroids etc. It the patient is already taking these medicines then there may be need to stop taking one of te medicine or change one medicine to some other more compatible salt,

.SIDE EFFECTS

Sometime medicines do cause side effects. Side effects of a medicine are the unwanted response when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects may be mild, severe, temporary or permanent. Normally the doctors do take required precautions before recommending a medicine to a patient but patients also have to be careful and report immediately if any such problem occurs after taking the medicine.

Some of the side effects of Aldactone are:-

• Increase on urinary frequency.
• Dry skin or rashes due to lower level of water in body
• Drowsiness
• Feminization in males as the medicine reduces the tertestrone levels and promotes estrogen production.
• Sexual dysfunction like loss of erection in men.
• Irregular cycle in females and breast enlargement.
• High levels of potassium in blood leading of serious condition called hyperkalemia.
• abdominal pain, dizziness, diarrhea, drowsiness, fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting
• confusion
• irregular heartbeat
• disturbed menstrual period
• muscular weakness or cramps
• weight loss
• breathlessness
• bruising or bleeding
• breast enlargement in men
• yellowing of the eyes or skin

Also this medication is to be avoided during pregnancy. Also if you become pregnant when on medication wit Aldactone, contact your doctor immediately.

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