Aldactone

What you should know before using

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Geriatric

Signs and symptoms of too much potassium are more likely to occur in the elderly, who are more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of this medicine.

Studies have not been done in pregnant women. However, this medicine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animals.

In general, diuretics are not useful for normal swelling of feet and hands that occurs during pregnancy. Diuretics should not be taken during pregnancy unless recommended by your doctor.

Breast Feeding

Although amiloride, spironolactone, and triamterene may pass into breast milk, these medicines have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Drug Interactions

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Amiloride
• Clarithromycin
• Eplerenone
• Itraconazole
• Ketoconazole
• Nefazodone
• Nelfinavir
• Ritonavir
• Spironolactone
• Triamterene
• Troleandomycin

Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alacepril
• Arginine
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Benazepril
• Captopril
• Cilazapril
• Delapril
• Digoxin
• Dofetilide
• Droperidol
• Enalaprilat
• Enalapril Maleate
• Erythromycin
• Fluconazole
• Fosinopril
• Imidapril
• Levomethadyl
• Lisinopril
• Lithium
• Methotrexate
• Moexipril
• Pentopril
• Perindopril
• Potassium
• Quinapril
• Ramipril
• Saquinavir
• Sotalol
• Spirapril
• Tacrolimus
• Temocapril
• Trandolapril
• Verapamil
• Zofenopril

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Higher blood levels of potassium may occur, which may increase the chance of side effects.

• Gout or
• Kidney stones (history of)—Triamterene may make these conditions worse.

• Menstrual problems or breast enlargement—Spironolactone may make these conditions worse.