Generic Name: Spironolactone for High Blood Pressure (spironolactone)
Spironolactone for High Blood Pressure Reviews
Aldactone (spironolactone) "This medicine treated high blood pressure, water retention, acne, female/male pattern hair loss, excessive unwanted facial hair, and is a potassium-sparing medicine. It is ideal for sufferers of insulin resistance or PCOS. Although it hasn't completely stopped the unwanted hair growth, it has been the only thing that has made a significant difference by slowing it down drastically. It has also slowed the hair loss down significantly, in which I am very pleased with."
Aldactone (spironolactone) "I took this medication for four years, all the while becoming less and less interested in sex and unable to achieve an erection. Having gone through 4 cardiologists, not a one of them ever informed me that Aldactone is an anti-androgen, which blocks muscle and bodily binding of testosterone, necessary for it to take effect, and also lowers production of testosterone itself. I had to happen upon it on my own. The day I found out is the day I stopped taking it. Giving a male a medicine, which renders his testosterone ineffectual, may be good for those undergoing a sex change but not for those who are not. There is another potassium-sparing drug like Aldactone, without the sexual side effects, but it is more expensive."
Aldactone (spironolactone) "I’ve had high blood pressure since my early forties. When I turned 50, my blood pressure became harder to control. I was on the max dosage of lisinopril, and I tried various others but the best my blood pressure would get is 140/88. I went to a cardiologist, and he prescribed Aldactone, along with 40mg of lisinopril. My blood pressure has been perfect at 120/70 since then. It’s been three years since I started it."
"My wife took this medicine for two days only, just 9 days ago, and we're not sure she's going to live another week. She stopped it after the 2nd dose because she got severe stomach pain and low back ache. The last 4 days she has barely had enough strength to get out of bed to use the bathroom. She has a difficult time breathing, is coughing way too much, has diarrhea, no appetite, headache, dry mouth. Her symptoms now look like congestive heart failure. No one should have to go through this with a drug that's supposed to help, not kill you."
"I'm a 46-year-old female and have been on spironolactone for 2 years for high blood pressure. After a year and a half, my doctor took me off for a couple of months as I had great blood pressure, and he thought with my avid exercising and diet changes, I'd be able to regulate it myself. My blood pressure immediately shot up to dangerous levels, and I had to be back on spironolactone immediately, which also immediately took my blood pressure back down to safe levels. Unless something else comes along, I guess I'm on it for life. I count my blessings, it does its job, and with only two noticeable side effects for me, both negative and positive: slight drowsiness and keeps any water retention at bay (which I had a problem with previously)."
"Took medication for 2 days, woke up with severe diarrhea, stomach pains & severe vomiting. My body became VERY dehydrated and legs, ankles, and feet began to have muscle spasms. After finally keeping some sea salt down, I was able to go back to work after 48 hours of cramping! Continued taking this medication for another 3 weeks, but my stomach was so messed up I still haven't gone back to eating meats. Cramps have come back, and today my primary, who didn't prescribe this medication, said this medication was the culprit and took me off of it. He stated the medication has thrown all my electrolytes out of balance. Other symptoms are extreme muscle weakness and uncontrollable drowsiness, sharp pains throughout my body, bad headaches, tightness in head, dizziness & unexplained confusion, very scary side effects. It appears this medication may hold on to potassium but it definitely sucked the other electrolytes out of me. I wouldn't recommend this medication to anyone."
"This drug has been a miracle for me. I had severe hypertension for 20 years and was taking the maximum dosage or more of all of the classes of medications. When Spironolactone was added, my blood pressure came down almost immediately. Since then, nearly all of my other medications have been stopped, I am feeling great and my blood pressure is well controlled."
Aldactone (spironolactone) "This medicine did lower my blood pressure, but after being on it for about 2 months, I began to have trouble urinating. At first, I thought I was getting a bladder infection, but the symptoms would come and go, mainly occurring right after I took the pill. I decided to stop taking it for a while to see if the symptoms went away, and they did. I also had swelling of my hands, and I gained 5 pounds."
"I tried spiro 6 months ago, lowered my BP too much, had to come off. 100 gram. Dr. wouldn't listen to my side effects. Dry mouth, severe cramps, and numbness in the left side of my face, left arm, and foot. Sore mouth and tongue, super thirsty, and itchy scalp, and lots of hair falling out. Was put back on a lower dose 1/2 of 25 gram. Same night, numbness started, and fingers started to cramp. Washed my hair a few days later, and loads fell out. Stopped taking it after 12 days. Dr. is not going to be pleased. This is a dangerous drug. Don't know how far the numbness goes if ignored."
"I have had high blood pressure for 4 years (now age 69). My doctor prescribed spironolactone as part of my treatment. I take one 25 mg tablet every day in the morning to reduce body salt and retain potassium. I was not advised of the side effects, such as lack of sexual drive. I have to urinate about 6 times per day (twice overnight), which is a minor problem. I find it difficult getting to sleep and avoid taking sleeping pills. I get light-headed and experience dizzy spells at times and have to take my time when rising from a sitting position. I do not have any of the other side effects as described in the literature. With other medicines, my blood pressure is under control."
"I am a 63-year-old male with severe hypertension. In my attempt to eliminate the number of prescriptions I was taking to bring the levels down to 'normal', my doctor decided to prescribe spironolactone. The result was dramatic, and it brought my BP down to normal. After a few months, I began experiencing pain in my breasts, and after a few more months, I noticed the pain and sensitivity increasing. My breasts were also increasing in size. I stopped this particular drug because I was concerned about the ever-increasing pain, the increasing size of my breasts, and no indication that either side effect would diminish. I am now on a quest to find an alternative to spironolactone without the disturbing side effects."
"For a few months, Spiractin worked well in controlling my blood pressure, however, there was a marked deterioration in my renal functions. If taking this drug, keep a very close eye on your creatinine and eGFR blood readings."
"I have suffered secondary hypertension ever since I was in first grade. I am now 73 and have been on 2 to 4 blood pressure meds ever since I was 21 years old. In the last two years, I have been in the ER 10 times with blood pressure way in the danger zone. One episode left me with an aneurysm on my heart. After my nephrologist took over my case, he changed my meds and added spironolactone, which immediately dropped my pressure to normal. Thank goodness someone knew of this medication, as my heart doctor and my primary doctor for years had no idea what to do."
"I was on this medication for a short time for blood pressure and had noticeable breast growth on one side and increased tenderness on both sides and had to stop taking it because of this. It works very well for helping control my blood pressure, but I could not deal with the side effects."
"Since I’ve started this drug... I hardly need to pee very small amounts. I’ve tried drinking more, over 2.5 liters. Doesn’t seem to make any difference. I feel very unsteady. I’m gonna stop taking it, hopefully, the doctor has something else."
"I was taking Indapamide for 25 years to control my blood pressure until last year when I developed Afib and my blood pressure rocketed. After struggling with various beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and an ARB, I decided life was not worth living due to the side effects and went back to Indapamide only, whereby after an initial large increase of my blood pressure, this came down to a reasonable level (138/95), but really that is not the best. My GP has recommended half a 25 mg tablet each day together with my Indapamide and my blood pressure is now 125/74, so success. At present, I have no undue side effects, but only time will tell, so I am happy at this. Going back for a blood test in two weeks."
"This medication brought my dangerous blood pressure levels down to normal or normal borderline, but definitely not the triple digits from before. The side effect I am experiencing that bothers me is dizziness. I am going to try to drink more water to see if this helps. I also have noticed a lack of appetite."
"I was prescribed spironolactone 25 mg to take with my hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ 25 mg) for high blood pressure and low potassium levels. Just after I took spironolactone with my HCTZ, my BP was 136/77. Hours later, I started having severe uncontrollable whole-body tremors and bad headaches. I checked my BP, and it was 167/84. I checked BP 15 minutes later, and it was 180/93! Spironolactone was stopped. I wonder if this raises cortisol levels."
"For those of you who have used spironolactone for years and now received a different brand, and it's not working, you are in the same boat with all spironolactone users regardless of diagnosis. Apparently, the manufacturers of Par and Actavis decided to stop making this drug, and no one can figure out why. The manufacturer Cadista has stepped in and is producing a brownish round pill that seems to do nothing for people who really need spironolactone for their health. Call the FDA, call your physician, call your pharmacist, and request that the spironolactone manufactured by Par or Actavis, which is an oval, white pill, be reproduced so we can get back to being healthy again! Not to scare you, but Canada is also having some of the same shortages."
"Be careful with spironolactone! Aside from other side effects this drug can cause fever and chills - aka “drug fever” After taking it for a few days I woke up one morning with shaking chills and fever-which could easily be mistaken for an infection. Felt god-awful and could barely get out of bed. I had the same reaction years ago to aldomet-I had no idea the two drugs were related until I asked the pharmacist."
"Been taking spironolactone for 10 years or more, kept my BP levels around 122/77 for years. Side effects were dry mouth, if I didn't drink enough water, urination often at night, swelling of the chest was mild, soreness, mild. Did lower testosterone, only noticed that on paper, as I didn't feel any different. Now the effectiveness is wearing down. May have to get a higher dose. 148/94, don't like that."
"I have been taking 50 mg of spironolactone (together with 2x50 mg Loxen) for 12 days. Effects will certainly still evolve, but in my case, it lowers BP, makes me lose water, raises my low potassium, might help against my hirsutism (too early to tell), lowers my appetite, and eliminates PMS. I have tried 8 other common BP meds before, with side effects like cough, tinnitus, heart palpitations, fatigue, and raised BP, and I started out with low potassium, fluid retention, and hirsutism. Seems like a very good fit if you are in a similar situation."
"I am a female taking spironolactone. This medicine is awesome for women. MEN SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION as it lowers their testosterone levels. I take it to regulate the androgen side effects of my testosterone shots. It is awesome for women and just as awful for men. Do your research, men."
"This drug, while perhaps effective at reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure, creates serious adverse effects for its users. In my case (50-ish female; long-term borderline hypertension, gradually increasing), (1) I developed MALE pattern hair loss. My part was very visible and looked bright white, as there were no longer enough follicles to fill in the part. The small hairs at my hairline were gone. The number of hairs is important, all over the scalp, to create fullness. (2) Over time (6-9 months), I noticed a complete lack of sexual interest and a blunted response. Less you want to attribute this to my AGE (who tells that to a man?), I will report that both interest and response returned within 2 weeks of discontinuing."
"Took half of a 25mg tablet with food within 6 hours experienced bloating loss of appetite and tummy pains and nausea. I started reaching heavily uncontrollable then diarrhoea (like a tap had been turned on) this was, for three days and nights my feet felt numb and I had terrible leg and foot cramp. I was extremely tired and thirsty. I am now on day seven diarrhoea finished but left with back pain and headache give it time and rest. All this was with half of a 25mg tablet unbelievable so dangerous."
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