Observations placeholder
Spironolactone and Aldactone
Identifier
005057
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Spironolactone - marketed under the trade names Aldactone , Novo-Spiroton, Aldactazide, Spiractin, Spirotone, Verospiron or Berlactone) is a “renal competitive aldosterone antagonist”. It is used to treat “heart failure, ascites in patients with liver disease, low-renin hypertension, hypokalemia, secondary hyperaldosteronism (such as occurs with hepatic cirrhosis), and Conn's syndrome (primary hyperaldosteronism)”.
Overall, spironolactone has a rather slow onset of action, requiring several days before full therapeutic effect is achieved. It may take up to 6 weeks to see full anti-hypertensive effects.
Spironolactone also has ‘anti-androgen activity’. By binding to the androgen receptor it prevents it from interacting with dihydrotestosterone. Due to its antiandrogen effect, it is used to treat hirsutism, for treating hair loss and acne in women, and as a topical medication for treatment of male baldness. It is commonly used to treat symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) such as excess facial hair and acne [sic]. It has also been used as part of sex reassignment therapy. Spironolactone is also frequently employed [sic] off-label for the purpose of reducing androgen levels and activity in the body, such as in the treatment of hyperandrogenism in women and as a component of hormone replacement therapy for trans women.
On its own, spironolactone is only a weak diuretic because its effects target the distal nephron (collecting tubule), where urine volume can only be slightly modified; but it is combined with other diuretics to increase efficacy. About one person in one hundred with hypertension has elevated levels of aldosterone; in these persons, the antihypertensive effect of spironolactone may exceed that of complex combined regimens of other antihypertensives.
Spironolactone is associated with an increased risk of bleeding from the stomach and duodenum, but a causal relationship between the two has not been established. Because it also affects androgen receptors and other steroid receptors, it can cause gynecomastia, menstrual irregularities and testicular atrophy. Other side effects include ataxia, erectile dysfunction, drowsiness, and rashes. A carcinogenic effect has been demonstrated in rats.
On Mar, 29, 2015: 25,377 people reported to have side effects when taking Spironolactone. Among them, 132 people (0.52%) have Hallucination.
Time on Spironolactone when people have Hallucination :
| < 1 month | 1 - 6 months | 6 - 12 months | 1 - 2 years | 2 - 5 years | 5 - 10 years | 10+ years | |
| Hallucination | 45.45% | 54.55% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Age of people who have Hallucination when taking Spironolactone :
| 0-1 | 2-9 | 10-19 | 20-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50-59 | 60+ | |
| Hallucination | 0.00% | 1.74% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 2.61% | 7.83% | 8.70% | 79.13% |
On Aug, 11, 2015: 19,966 people reported to have side effects when taking Aldactone. Among them, 103 people (0.52%) have Hallucination.
Time on Aldactone when people have Hallucination :
| < 1 month | 1 - 6 months | 6 - 12 months | 1 - 2 years | 2 - 5 years | 5 - 10 years | 10+ years | |
| Hallucination | 0.00% | 50.00% | 50.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Age of people who have Hallucination when taking Aldactone :
| 0-1 | 2-9 | 10-19 | 20-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50-59 | 60+ | |
| Hallucination | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.33% | 0.00% | 16.67% | 6.67% | 73.33% |
Severity of Hallucination when taking Aldactone :
| least | moderate | severe | most severe | |
| Hallucination | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% | 0.00% |
On Mar, 7, 2015: 25,375 people reported to have side effects when taking Spironolactone. Among them, 753 people (2.97%) have Death.
Time on Spironolactone when people have Death :
| < 1 month | 1 - 6 months | 6 - 12 months | 1 - 2 years | 2 - 5 years | 5 - 10 years | 10+ years | |
| Death | 38.64% | 11.36% | 29.55% | 11.36% | 9.09% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
The combination of ACE inhibitor and spironalactone can also cause hypotension…..
An elderly man with known heart failure admitted with cardiogenic shock].[Article in Norwegian] - Hovland A, Fagerheim AK, Hardersen R, Nielsen EW; Avdeling Hjerte, Medisinsk klinikk, Nordlandssykehuset, Bodø, Norway.
A 75-year-old man with post-MI heart failure and an ejection fraction of 15 % was treated with an ACE-inhibitor, spironolactone and a beta-blocker. He had reduced his intake of food and water due to an intercurrent illness the days before admission. He was admitted to our coronary care unit due to bradycardia and hypotension.
On arrival his blood pressure was 60/40 mm Hg, and he was in a cardiogenic shock.
The electrocardiogram showed broad QRS-complexes and large T waves. Serum-potassium was 9.1 mmol/L and he had acute renal failure with oliguria, probably caused by reduced cardiac output due to hypovolemia combined with taking an ACE inhibitor and spironolactone.
Haemodialysis was started and during dialysis QRS complexes became more narrow and heart rate and blood pressure normalized. The patient was discharged 10 days later with normal potassium and creatinine levels.
Patients treated with ACE-inhibitors and spironolactone should be monitored closely. During intercurrent illness dehydration may occur and this can lead to renal failure and hyperkalemia which can be life-threatening. The condition should be recognized and addressed promptly, and if indicated haemodialysis should be performed
The source of the experience
eHealthmeConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Symbols
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
AcneAcne treatments
Ascites
Diuretics
HRT
Hypotension
Reproductive system disease
Skin diseases