Dosing & Uses
Dosage Forms & Strengths
tablet
- 25mg
- 50mg
- 100mg
Oral suspension (CaroSpir)
- 5mg/mL
Primary Hyperaldosteronism
Tablet only
Short-term preoperative treatment of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism
Long-term maintenance therapy for patients with discrete aldosterone-producing adrenal adenomas who are not candidates for surgery or for patients with bilateral micro or macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (idiopathic hyperaldosteronism)
100-400 mg PO qDay in preparation for surgery initially
May be used as long-term maintenance therapy at the lowest effective for patients who are considered unsuitable for surgery
Edematous Conditions
Management of edema in patients with cirrhosis of the liver when edema are unresponsive to fluid and sodium restriction or nephrotic syndrome when treatment of the underlying disease, fluid restriction and sodium intake, and the use of other diuretics produce an inadequate response
Tablet
- 100 mg qDay or divided q12hr for 5 days initially; then adjust does based on patient response; range: 25-200 mg PO qDay or divided q12hr
PO suspension
- 75 mg PO qDay or divided doses initially; if sole therapy, administer for ≥5 days before increasing dose to obtain effect
Essential Hypertension
Adjunctive therapy for hypertension, to lower blood pressure
Tablets
- 25-100mg PO qDay or divided q12hr initially; may adjust dosage to patient response q2weeks
PO suspension
- 20-75 mg PO qDay or divided doses initially; may adjust dosage to patient response q2weeks
- See Dosing Considerations
Congestive Heart Failure
Indicated for treatment of NYHA Class III-IV heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (EF) to increase survival, manage edema, and reduce the need for hospitalization for heart failure
ACC/AHA guidelines recommend aldosterone antagonist to be added to an ACE inhibitor or ARB, plus a beta-blocker; patient conditions may also require additional medications (eg, loop diuretics, hydralazine, nitrates, digoxin)
Tablet
- 25mg/day PO initially if serum potassium ≤5 mEq/L and eGFR >50 mL/min/1.73 m²; if tolerated, may increase to 50 mg/day as clinically indicated; if 25 mg/day not tolerated, reduce frequency to qoD
PO suspension
- 20 mg PO qDay; if initial 20 mg dose is tolerated, dosage can be increased to 37.5 mg as clinically indicated
Hypokalemia
Range: 25-100 mg PO qDay
Hirsutism (Off-label)
Women with hirsutism
50-200 mg PO qDay or divided q12hr
Acne (Off-label)
Females with hormonal acne
50-200 mg PO qDay or divided q12hr
Dosing Modifications
Renal impairment
- Patients with renal impairment are at increased risk of hyperkalemia; monitor potassium closely
- PO suspension for treatment of patients who develop hyperkalemia on 20 mg PO qDay may reduce dose to 20 mg PO qOD
- Patients who develop hyperkalemia on 25 mg PO qDay may reduce to 25 mg PO qOD
- CrCl >50 mL/min/1.73 m²: 20 mg qDay (oral suspension); 25 mg qDay (tablets)
- CrCl 30-50 mL/min/1.73 m²: Consider initiating at 10 mg qDay (oral suspension) and 25 mg qOD (tablets)
Overdose Management
May use normal saline for volume replacement
May use dopamine or norepinephrine to treat hypotension
Treat hyperkalemia with IV glucose (dextrose 25% in water), concurrently with rapid-acting insulin and IV sodium bicarbonate; oral/rectal solutions of Kayexalate in sorbitol can be used if needed
If dysrhythmia due to decreased K+ or Mg+ suspected, replace aggressively
Discontinue treatment if no symptoms after 6 hr
Dosing Considerations
Oral formulation
- PO suspension formulation is not therapeutically equivalent to tablet
- If PO suspension requires a dose titration >100 mg, use tablet
- For hypertension: Doses >75 mg/day may not provide additional reductions in blood pressure
Dosage Forms & Strengths
tablet
- 25mg
- 50mg
- 100mg
Edema (Off-label)
CHF, cirrhosis, ascites, and nephrotic syndrome
1-3.3 mg/kg/day PO or divided q12hr; not to exceed 3.3 mg/kg/day or up to 100 mg/day
Hypertension (Off-label)
Among therapeutic options recommended by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents
1-3.3 mg/kg/day PO or divided q12hr; not to exceed 3.3 mg/kg/day or 100 mg/day
Hyperaldosteronism (Orphan)
Orphan designation for primary hyperaldosteronism
Sponsor
- CMP Pharma, Inc; PO Box 147, 8026 US Highway 264A; Farmville, NC 27828
Substantially excreted by the kidney, and risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function; monitor renal function
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results
Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor
Adverse Effects
Frequency Not Defined
Gastric bleeding
Ulceration
Gastritis
Decreased libido
Inability to achieve or maintain erection
Postmenopausal bleeding
Breast and nipple pain
Thrombocytopenia
Fever
Urticaria
Maculopapular or erythematous cutaneous eruptions
Anaphylactic reactions
Vasculitis
Hyperkalemia
Electrolyte disturbances
Hyponatremia
Hypovolemia
Lethargy
Mental confusion
Ataxia
Dizziness
Headache
Drowsiness
Renal dysfunction (including renal failure)
Chloasma
Drowsiness
Lethargy
Headache
Mental confusion
Rash
Urticaria
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Toxic epidermal necrolysis
Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
Gynecomastia
Impotence
Menstrual disorders
Abdominal cramping
Diarrhea
Gastritis
Nausea
Vomiting
Breast pain
Leukopenia
Electrolyte disturbances
Leg cramps
Dizziness
Alopecia
Pruritus
Warnings
Black Box Warnings
Spironolactone has been shown to be a tumorigen in chronic toxicity studies in rats; use only for specified indications
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity
Addison disease or other conditions associated with hyperkalemia
Coadministration with eplerenone
Cautions
Gynecomastia reported and usually reversible
Hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, hypochloremic alkalosis, and hyperglycemia may occur
Asymptomatic hyperuricemia can occur and rarely gout may occur; monitor serum electrolytes, uric acid, and blood glucose periodically In cirrhosis, avoid electrolyte and acid/base imbalances that might lead to hepatic encephalopathy
Hyperkalemia may occur; monitor serum potassium within 1 week of initiation or titration of spironolactone and regularly thereafter; if hyperkalemia occurs, reduce dose or discontinue treatment and treat hyperkalemia
Excessive diuresis may cause symptomatic dehydration, hypotension and worsening renal function, particularly in salt-depleted patients or those taking angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
Drug interactions overview
- Coadministration of PO suspension and lithium reduces the renal clearance of lithium, inducing a high risk of lithium toxicity
- Reported that of coadministration of PO suspension and an NSAID can reduce the diuretic, natriuretic, and antihypertensive effect of loop, potassium-sparing, and thiazide diuretics
- NSAID administration can reduce diuretic, natriuretic, and antihypertensive effect of diuretics; when spironolactone and NSAIDs are used concomitantly, monitor closely to determine if the desired effect of the diuretic is obtained
- Acetylsalicylic acid may reduce the efficacy of spironolactone; coadministration with acetylsalicylic acid may need to be titrated to higher maintenance dose and monitor closely to determine if the desired effect is obtained
- Coadministration of spironolactone with potassium supplementation, salt substitutes containing potassium, a diet rich in potassium, or drugs that can increase potassium (eg, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, NSAIDs, heparin and low molecular weight heparin) may lead to severe hyperkalemia
- Risk of worsening of renal function can also occur with concomitant use of nephrotoxic drugs (eg, aminoglycosides, cisplatin, NSAIDs); monitor volume status and renal function periodically
- Spironolactone and its metabolites interfere with radioimmunoassays for digoxin and increase the apparent exposure to digoxin; use an assay that does not interact with spironolactone
- Hyperkalemic metabolic acidosis reported in patients given spironolactone concurrently with cholestyramine
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy
Based on mechanism of action and findings in animal studies, spironolactone may affect sex differentiation of the male during embryogenesis; rat embryofetal studies report feminization of male fetuses and endocrine dysfunction in females exposed to spironolactone in utero
Limited available data did not demonstrate an association of major malformations or other adverse pregnancy outcomes with spironolactone; risks may occur to the mother and fetus associated with heart failure, cirrhosis, and poorly controlled hypertension during pregnancy
Potential risk to the male fetus due to antiandrogenic properties of spironolactone; avoid spironolactone in pregnant women or advise a pregnant woman of the potential risk to a male fetus
Disease-associated maternal and embryo/fetal risks
- Pregnant women with CHF are at increased risk for preterm birth; stroke volume and heart rate increase during pregnancy, increasing cardiac output, especially during the first trimester; closely monitor pregnant patients with CHF
- Pregnant women with symptomatic cirrhosis generally have poor outcomes (eg, hepatic failure, variceal hemorrhage, preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, and maternal death); pregnant women with cirrhosis of the liver should be monitored and managed accordingly
- Hypertension in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, premature delivery, and delivery complications (eg, need for cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage); hypertension increases the fetal risk for intrauterine growth restriction and death
Lactation
Not present in breastmilk; however, limited data from a lactating woman at 17 days postpartum reports the presence of the active metabolite, canrenone, in human breast milk in low amounts that are expected to be clinically inconsequential; in this case, there were no adverse effects reported for the breastfed infant after short term exposure to spironolactone; however, long term effects on a breastfed infant are unknown; there are no data on spironolactone effects on milk production
Consider the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding along with the mother’s clinical need for the drug, and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition
Pregnancy Categories
A:Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B:May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C:Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D:Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X:Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA:Information not available.
Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Aldosterone antagonist with diuretic and antihypertensive effects; competitive binding of receptors at aldosterone-dependent Na-K exchange site in distal tubules results in increased excretion of Na+, Cl-, and water and retention of K+ and H+
Increases testosterone clearance and estradiol production; blocks conversion of potent androgens to weaker ones in peripheral tissues
Absorption
Bioavailability: 73% (tablet)
Onset: 2-4 hr (tablet)
Duration: 2-3 days (tablet)
Peak serum time: 2.6-4.3 hr (tablet); 0.5-1.5 hr (PO suspension); 2.5-5 hr (PO suspension, active metabolite)
A high fat and high calorie meal (57% of the ~1000 kcal of the meal were from fat) increased the bioavailability of spironolactone (as measured by AUC) by ~90%
Distribution
Protein bound: 90%
Metabolism
Metabolized by the liver and kidneys
Metabolites: Canrenone, 7-alpha-thiomethylspirolactone, 6-beta-hydroxy-7-alpha-thiomethylspirolactone (active)
Elimination
Half-life (tablet): 1.3-1.4 hr (parent drug); 16.5 hr (canrenone); 13.8 hr (7-α-[thiomethyl] spirolactone [TMS]); 15 hr (6-ß-hydroxy-7-α-[thiomethyl] spirolactone [HTMS])
Half-life (PO suspension): 1-2 hr (parent drug); 10-35 hr (canrenone, 7-α-[thiomethyl] spirolactone [TMS], 6-ß-hydroxy-7-α-[thiomethyl] spirolactone [HTMS])
Excretion (tablet): Urine (47-57%); feces (35-41%)
Excretion (PO suspension): Urine
Administration
Oral Administration
Take with or without food; take consistently with respect to food
Storage
Tablet: Store below 77°F (25°C)
PO suspension: Store at 68-77°F (20-25°C); excursions permitted to 59-86°F (15-30°C); shake well before use, dispense in a tight container as defined in the USP
Images
Patient Handout
Formulary
Adding plans allows you to compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
To view formulary information first create a list of plans. Your list will be saved and can be edited at any time.
Adding plans allows you to:
- View the formulary and any restrictions for each plan.
- Manage and view all your plans together – even plans in different states.
- Compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
- Access your plan list on any device – mobile or desktop.
