Description
What is Spironolactone 25mg/50mg/100mg Tablets
Aldactone pills are used to treat hypertension, chronic heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and primary aldosteronism. Aldactone is also a treatment for hirsutism. Aldactone contains the anti-mineralocorticoid spironolactone, whose primary indication is hypertension treatment. In addition to its aldosterone antagonism activity, spironolactone has antiadrenergic properties.
Aldactone 25mg/50mg/100mg contains spironolactone and is used to treat fluid retention (oedema/edema) in patients with heart failure, high blood pressure, liver and kidney disease, hypokalemia, and hyperaldosteronism. Aldactone can also be used to help stimulate the development of female sexual characteristics in transgender hormone therapy.
Aldactone tablets Spironolactone 100mg are used to reduce fluid retention and swelling (edema) which is caused by several conditions, including congestive heart failure, hypertension (high blood pressure), liver cirrhosis, and kidney disease.
Aldactone 100 is also used to increase blood potassium levels, in a condition called hypokalaemia (low blood potassium) and to treat hyperaldosteronism, which is caused by excess secretion by the adrenal gland of the hormone aldosterone (involved in regulating sodium and potassium levels), both of which can cause fluid retention.
Aldactone 100 mg has an anti-androgen activity that is used in the treatment of female hirsutism (androgen-related increase in facial and body hair) and can be used as an anti-androgen component of transgender hormone therapy, to help stimulate the development of female sexual characteristics for males to female transsexuals.
Other potential uses include treatment of hair loss and acne in women and male pattern baldness.
Aldactone in Hirsutism Treatment
Spironolactone helps women with hirsutism better manage their symptoms. Hirsutism is a condition where females grow dark and thick hair in male patterns such as the face, the abdomen, the thighs, and the lower back. Hirsutism is not a dangerous sign, but it translates into an underlying hormonal issue. Additionally, it generates psychological issues related to femininity concerns.
There are multiple medications used to treat hirsutism: oral contraceptive pills, antiandrogens, and lately spironolactone. All target the underlying hormonal issue.
This antiadrenergic activity was discovered when patients noted lesser male pattern hair growth as a side effect. Young females with hirsutism often suffer from adjacent obesity and hypertension. Long-term therapy with spironolactone for hypertension resulted in reduced hirsutism and weight loss in these patients. Additionally, male patients noticed gynecomastia and slower androgenic scalp hair loss.
Spironolactone’s antiandrogenic side effects turned it into a potential medication for hirsutism and hair loss. Spironolactone pulls double duty in aging patients with essential hypertension.
What does Aldactone contain?
Aldactone tablets 100mg contain the active ingredient spironolactone, a potassium-sparing diuretic that is used to reduce fluid retention and swelling (oedema) caused by several conditions. They also contain quinoline yellow, sunset yellow, erythrosine, polysorbate, peppermint oil, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, sodium starch glycollate, talc, magnesium stearate, and lactose.
Using an anti-androgen like spironolactone (usually in high doses of 200–400 mg per day) allows the amount of estrogen administered for feminizing hormone therapy to be reduced while optimizing the hormone regime needed to stimulate breast development, the feminization of skin, and female fat distribution.
What is the main ingredient – Spironolactone?
- 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.
- Spironolactone is used to treat heart failure, high blood pressure (hypertension), or hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood).
- Spironolactone also treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome.
- Spironolactone 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.
Spironolactone is a mineralocorticid antagonist. It negates the effects of aldosterone. It also binds to the androgens and progesterone receptors, antagonizing the functions of these hormones. Aldosterone is a component of the mineralocorticoid hormone system called the renin-angiotensin system. It acts on the kidneys to absorb more water and secrete more potassium. In addition, it makes arteries more stiff and resistant. In chronic heart failure, aldosterone enhances heart fibrosis and inflammation.
The main activity of aldosterone is raising the body s vascular pressure. Spironolactone blocks aldosterone binding to its receptors, suppressing all of its downstream functions.
Spironolactone also suppresses androgens activity which reduces sebaceous glands hypersecretion leading to androgenic acne resolution. Moreover, spironolactone prevents androgens from binding to hair follicles.
Androgens cause scalp hair follicles to shrink and become unable to sprout hair. Androgens also transform vellus hair into terminal black and thick hair. Hence, spironolactone promotes hair growth in the scalp and blocks hirsutism in women.
Indications of Spironolactone
Spironolactone is a medication used in both heart-related conditions and non-cardiovascular diseases. Its main indications are:
- Hypertension: used as a monotherapy or in association with other antihypertensives. Spironolactone reduces arteries walls narrowing and stiffness.
- Chronic heart failure: spironolactone is only successful in the treatment of selected cases of heart failure.
- Primary hyperaldosteronism: it is a condition where the suprarenal glands produce high levels of aldosterone. spironolactone is aldosterone antagonist.
- Edema secondary to cirrhosis or nephrotic syndrome: spironolactone reduces water retention by the kidneys and prevents the accumulation of fluids in body tissues or organs.
- Hirsutism: Excessive androgens cause the thin, light-colored hair that covers most body surfaces in women to transform into dark, thick terminal hair. Hair grows darker and coarser in male hair patterns, such as the chin, lips, abdomen, chest, and lower back. Once a hair follicle transforms into terminal hair, it becomes irreversible. Spironolactone halts hirsutism progression and improves symptoms, but it cannot reverse hair growth.
How to use Aldactone and Precautions
- You should take Aldactone tablets 100mg with a glass of water with or without food, once or twice daily.
- The dose you take depends on your condition and should be as recommended by your doctor.
- You should continue taking your tablets even if you are feeling well, which may be for a few days or several weeks and your doctor may increase your dose during treatment.
You should use spironolactone with caution if you have kidney problems, high levels of potassium in your blood, Addison’s disease, if you are unable to urinate, or if you are also taking eplerenone.
Spironolactone has caused tumors in animals but it is not known whether this could occur in people. Do not use this medicine for any condition that has not been checked by your doctor.
Before taking this medicine:
- You should not use spironolactone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- Addison’s disease (an adrenal gland disorder);
- high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia);
- if you are unable to urinate; or
- if you are also taking eplerenone.
To make sure spironolactone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of magnesium in your blood);
- kidney disease;
- liver disease; or
- heart disease.
It is not known whether spironolactone will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Spironolactone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
How long should you take Aldactone?
You should take Aldactone 100 mg for as long as is recommended by your doctor, which may be for a few days or several weeks and you should continue taking your tablets even if you are feeling well. Missed dose of Aldactone If you miss a dose of Aldactone 100mg tablets take it as soon as you remember unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.
