Spironolactone

Generic name: spironolactone [ spir-ON-oh-LAK-tone ]
Brand names: Aldactone, CaroSpir
Drug classes:Aldosterone receptor antagonists, Potassium-sparing diuretics

Medically reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD. Last updated on Apr 4, 2022.

What is 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.

Warnings

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);

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