Spironolactone Tips from Pharmacists

• Do not substitute oral spironolactone tablets for the liquid suspension. Use the dosage form your doctor prescribes and follow the dosing instructions carefully.

• You can take spironolactone with or without food, but you should do this consistently. If you find that the medicine causes gastrointestinal side effects, taking it with food might help.

• Spironolactone can cause dizziness by lowering blood pressure. Stand up slowly from a sitting or lying position while on this medicine to lower your risk of falls, especially when you first start taking spironolactone and after dose adjustments.

• If spironolactone makes you urinate too much, try taking your dose in the morning or afternoon to avoid getting up in the middle of the night.

• Your doctor will order blood tests to check serum potassium during treatment with spironolactone. Keep all your laboratory appointments. This medicine is a potassium sparing diuretic and can cause severe hyperkalemia (high potassium levels), which can cause heart problems.