Side Effects of Spironolact

Primary aldosteronism is a medical condition that occurs when your body produces too much of the aldosterone hormone, which is secreted by the adrenal glands and regulates sodium and potassium retention. The overload causes elevated blood pressure levels and a deficiency of potassium in your bloodstream, increasing your risk for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. Doctors utilize a number of medications to lower aldosterone levels in your body. One such drug is Spironolact, which is available under the name spironolactone or Aldactone. Despite its effectiveness, Spironolact is not for everyone because it presents several risks for side effects and complications in some patients.

Minor Side Effects

• Many of the side effects caused by Spironolact are not serious in nature and subside as your body acclimates to the drug. Gastrointestinal effects include nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting. Some patients experience neurological or psychological side effects, such as confusion, lack of coordination, headache and drowsiness. It is also possible to develop a fever from Spironolact usage. Additionally, minor skin rashes or red welts occur in some patients.

Gender-Specific Side Effects

• Spironolact has the potential to produce a number of side effects that are gender-specific. For instance, some men experience gynecomastia, or the appearance of female breasts, while taking the drug. Other men report being unable to achieve or maintain an erection. In women, Spironolact causes breast tenderness, and doctors link the drug to the formation of cancerous tumors within breast tissue in rare instances. Additionally, some women experience a complete absence of menstruation or irregular periods, while postmenopausal women are likely to resume menstruation while taking Spironolact.

Hyperkalemia

• Because Spironolact elevates potassium levels in your bloodstream, it causes excessive levels of the mineral when taken at an incorrect dosage. Over time, this excess potassium causes the onset of a medical condition known as hyperkalemia. Left untreated, hyperkalemia poses a number of health risks, including heart attack, changes in muscle control and kidney damage. While taking Spironolact, it is important to recognize the side effects caused by receiving too much of the drug in order to avoid complications. These side effects include irregular heartbeat, seizures, swelling of your legs, difficulty breathing and numbness in your hands, feet or lips.

Drug Interactions

• There are some medications that produce unwanted side effects when used in conjunction with Spironolact. For example, cardiovascular drugs known as ACE inhibitors increase your risk of developing hyperkalemia when used with spironolactone. Combining Spironolact with either the psychiatric drug lithium or the cardiovascular drug digoxin often causes a toxic buildup of medication in your system, causing serious side effects. When taken with muscle relaxants like tubocurarine, it is common to experience numbness or heaviness in your limbs. Narcotics and barbiturates have the potential to cause dangerous drops in blood pressure when taken with Spironolact.

Other Risks

• In addition to other side effects and the risk of interactions, Spironolact has the potential to cause serious medical complications. Serious gastrointestinal problems occur in some patients taking Spironolact, such as inflammation of the lining in your digestive tract, esophageal bleeding or the formation of ulcers. Some patients develop serious anaphylactic allergic reactions to Spironolact, causing breathing difficulties and even shock. Inflammation or damage to your liver is also possible while taking Spironolact.