Spironolactone, a drug used to treat high blood pressure, has serious side effects including changes in menstrual cycle, high potassium levels, breast cancer, kidney failure, liver inflammation, stomach bleeding, and allergic reactions. Patients should review their medication and seek medical help if necessary.
The prescription drug spironolactone is commonly used in the treatment of high blood pressure. While it has been found to be very effective, it has numerous side effects which can be quite serious. Some of the more common spironolactone side effects include changes in your menstrual cycle. Additionally, high potassium in the bloodstream has also been linked to spironolactone use. In severe cases, some can develop breast cancer through the use of spironolactone. Other serious side effects of this drug include kidney failure, liver inflammation, and stomach bleeding. In some cases, an allergic reaction may occur.
Some of the more common spironolactone side effects include changes in menstrual cycles and severe cramping. In some cases, these cramps can be so severe that they require short-term hospitalization. Changes in the menstrual cycle that can occur as a result of the use of spironolactone can include complete lack of a period or the renewal of periods in women who have already gone through menopause. Typically, once spironolactone is stopped, these menstrual abnormalities disappear. Those who require the use of spironolactone for an extended period of time and develop these symptoms are, in some cases, switched to a different drug that does not provide the same effects.
Spironolactone side effects can also include developing high levels of potassium in the bloodstream. This mostly occurs in those who are also taking an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, although it can occur in combination with other medications. When high blood potassium goes untreated, it can lead to the development of a serious condition known as hyperkalemia. This condition can be very harmful to both the heart and other parts of the cardiovascular system and can lead to heart failure in some cases. Patients prescribed spironolactone should carefully review their other medications to make sure they have not already been prescribed an ACE inhibitor.
Some studies have suggested that spironolactone side effects may include the development of breast cancer in both men and women. Other serious and chronic conditions that have been linked to spironolactone use include kidney failure, liver inflammation, and gastric bleeding. Some patients who have been prescribed spironolactone may experience severe allergic reactions such as shortness of breath and severe skin rashes. Those who believe they may be suffering an allergic reaction from spironolactone use should seek medical help as soon as possible.
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