Consumer medicine information

Spiractin

Spironolactone

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Spiractin

Active ingredient

Spironolactone

Schedule

S4

 

Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using Spiractin.

SUMMARY CMI

SPIRACTIN

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary

The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

1. Why am I using SPIRACTIN?

SPIRACTIN contains the active ingredient spironolactone. SPIRACTIN is used to treat essential hypertension, oedematous disorders, primary aldosteronism, malignant hypertension, low potassium and hirsutism.

For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using SPIRACTIN? in the full CMI.

2. What should I know before I use SPIRACTIN?

Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to SPIRACTIN or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.

Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.

For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I use SPIRACTIN? in the full CMI.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Some medicines may interfere with SPIRACTIN and affect how it works.

A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.

4. How do I use SPIRACTIN?

Daily doses of SPIRACTIN in adults can range from 25 mg to 400 mg. Depending on the dose and your condition, SPIRACTIN may be taken once a day or divided into separate doses.

In the treatment of hirsutism (excess body hair) in females, your doctor may tell you to take SPIRACTIN every day or in repeating cycles with a break in between.

Doses of SPIRACTIN in children are measured according to body weight and will be calculated by your doctor.

More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I use SPIRACTIN? in the full CMI.

5. What should I know while using SPIRACTIN?

Things you should do
  • Remind any doctor or dentist you visit that you are using SPIRACTIN.
  • If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking SPIRACTIN.
  • Tell your doctor if you are taking other types of medicines to treat high blood pressure or to prevent blood clots.
  • Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while you are taking SPIRACTIN.
Things you should not do
  • Do not stop using this medicine suddenly.
  • Do not take with potassium sparing diuretics.
  • Do not take potassium supplements or use salt substitutes that contain potassium.
  • Do not consume a diet rich in potassium.
Driving or using machines
  • Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how SPIRACTIN affects you.
Looking after your medicine
  • Keep SPIRACTIN in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.

For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while using SPIRACTIN? in the full CMI.

6. Are there any side effects?

Some common side effects include cramping, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, lethargy, generally feeling unwell, skin rash, itchiness, peeling skin, skin redness, fever, sore throat, unusual hair loss or thinning or excessive hair growth.

For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.



FULL CMI

SPIRACTIN

Active ingredient: spironolactone


Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using SPIRACTIN. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using SPIRACTIN.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I using SPIRACTIN?
2. What should I know before I use SPIRACTIN?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use SPIRACTIN?
5. What should I know while using SPIRACTIN?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I using SPIRACTIN?

SPIRACTIN contains the active ingredient spironolactone. SPIRACTIN acts by working against a hormone called aldosterone. Too much aldosterone causes increased amounts of sodium (a mineral) and water to be retained by the kidneys, while too much potassium is removed from the body. SPIRACTIN works against the effects of aldosterone and helps to maintain normal levels of potassium in the blood by retaining potassium in the body.

SPIRACTIN is a fluid tablet or diuretic. It helps reduce the amount of excess fluid in the body by increasing the amount of urine produced. This also helps to lower blood pressure. It may be given alone or with other diuretics (fluid-removing medicines). It improves the effectiveness of other medicines used to lower blood pressure.

SPIRACTIN is used:

  • to treat essential hypertension (high blood pressure with an unknown cause)
  • to treat oedematous disorders (swelling with fluid), including congestive cardiac failure
  • for the diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism (a hormone disorder causing fluid retention)
  • as add-on therapy in malignant hypertension (a very serious form of high blood pressure)
  • where there is a low amount of potassium (a mineral) in the blood caused by another diuretic (fluid removing medicine)
    SPIRACTIN improves the blood pressure lowering action of thiazide diuretics while at the same time reducing or preventing potassium loss due to these medicines
  • for the prevention of low amounts of potassium in the blood in patients taking digitalis (a type of heart drug)
  • for the treatment of hirsutism (excess facial or body hair in women).

All women produce small amounts of the male sex hormone, testosterone. Women with excess facial or body hair tend to be especially sensitive to the action of testosterone on hair growth. SPIRACTIN has a moderate ability to act against testosterone (anti-androgenic effect). Because of this, SPIRACTIN is effective in the treatment of female hirsutism (excess body hair). It reduces hair growth, thickness and hair colour. Increased urine flow is unlikely to be a problem when SPIRACTIN is used to treat hirsutism. This is because aldosterone levels are not normally high in patients with hirsutism.

There is no evidence that SPIRACTIN is addictive.

2. What should I know before I use SPIRACTIN?

Warnings

Do not use SPIRACTIN if:

  • you are allergic to spironolactone, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
    Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
    Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
    - shortness of breath
    - wheezing or difficulty breathing
    - swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
    - rash, itching or hives on the skin.
  • you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant
    SPIRACTIN should not be used during pregnancy due to possible effects on the developing baby (foetus).
  • you are breast feeding.
    The drug may appear in the breast milk and be passed to the infant.
  • you have severe kidney disease or are not passing urine.
  • you have hyperkalaemia (high levels of potassium in the blood).
  • you have Addison's disease (a condition where the adrenal glands do not work properly).
  • you are taking eplerenone, a potassium sparing diuretic used to treat heart failure or high blood pressure.
  • the expiry date printed on the pack has passed or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

Check with your doctor if you:

  • are allergic to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
  • have of have had any of the following medical conditions.
    - liver problems
    - kidney problems
    - severe heart failure.
  • take any medicines for any other conditions, including:
    - potassium supplements
    - potassium containing salt substitutes
    - potassium sparing diuretics
    - other medicines for high blood pressure.
  • Tell your doctor if you plan to have surgery.

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

Women of child-bearing age

The safety of SPIRACTIN for the treatment of hirsutism in women of child-bearing age has not been established by specific studies.

Your doctor may recommend combined use with oral contraceptives to provide both regular menstrual cycles and adequate contraception.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with SPIRACTIN and affect how it works, including:

  • other medicines used to treat high blood pressure including ACE inhibitors
  • diuretics, which are fluid removing medicines also known as water tablets
  • digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart conditions
  • medicines to prevent blood clots including aspirin
  • potassium supplements or potassium sparing diuretics
  • dietary salt substitutes as many of these contain potassium
  • cholestyramine, a medicine used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood
  • ammonium chloride, which is contained in some cough and cold medicines
  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDS) or other medicines which are used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis (e.g. aspirin, indometacin or mefenamic acid)
  • carbenoxolone, a medicine used to treat mouth ulcers
  • regional or general anaesthetics
  • abiraterone treatment in prostate cancer patients.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect SPIRACTIN.

4. How do I use SPIRACTIN?

How much to take

  • daily doses of SPIRACTIN in adults can range from 25 mg to 400 mg
  • doses of SPIRACTIN in children are measured according to body weight and will be calculated by your doctor
  • follow the instructions provided and use SPIRACTIN until your doctor tells you to stop.

When to take SPIRACTIN

  • depending on the dose and your condition, SPIRACTIN may be taken once a day or divided into separate doses
  • take SPIRACTIN with or immediately after food
  • in the treatment of hirsutism (excess body hair) in females, your doctor may tell you to take SPIRACTIN every day or in repeating cycles with a break in between.

If you forget to use SPIRACTIN

SPIRACTIN should be used regularly at the same time each day.

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If you use too much SPIRACTIN

If you think that you have used too much SPIRACTIN, you may need urgent medical attention.

You should immediately:

  • phone the Poisons Information Centre
    (Australia telephone 13 11 26);
    New Zealand telephone 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766 for advice, or
  • contact your doctor, or
  • go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

Overdose may cause nausea and vomiting. Sometimes, drowsiness, mental confusion, rash, diarrhoea or dehydration may occur.

5. What should I know while using SPIRACTIN?

Things you should do

  • Take SPIRACTIN exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
  • If you are about to have any blood tests tell your doctor that you are taking SPIRACTIN.
    SPIRACTIN may interfere with the results of some tests.
  • Tell your doctor if you are taking other types of medicines to treat high blood pressure.
  • Tell your doctor if you are taking medicines to prevent blood clots.
  • Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while you are taking SPIRACTIN.
    If it is possible for you to become pregnant, you should use adequate contraception while you are taking SPIRACTIN.
    Examples of adequate contraception are oral contraceptives ("the Pill") or intra-uterine devices (IUDs).
  • Stop taking SPIRACTIN if you become pregnant or you think you may be pregnant.
  • Go to your doctor regularly for a check-up.
    Your doctor may do blood tests to check your sodium and potassium levels and see how your kidneys are working.
    Your doctor may do the blood test weekly at the start of your treatment, monthly for the first 3 months of treatment then quarterly for a year, and then every 6 months when increasing your dose.
    You may need to stop taking SPIRACTIN if your blood is high in potassium or if your kidneys are not working properly.

Call your doctor straight away if you:

  • become pregnant while you are taking SPIRACTIN.

Remind any doctor or dentist you visit that you are using SPIRACTIN. This is especially important if you are going to receive an anaesthetic agent while being treated with SPIRACTIN.

Things you should not do

  • Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dose without checking with your doctor.
  • Do not take potassium supplements or use salt substitutes that contain potassium.
  • Do not consume a diet rich in potassium
    Dried fruit, bananas and oranges are some foods that contain high amounts of potassium. Consuming some of these foods is usually safe but do not consume excessive amounts.
    If you are taking SPIRACTIN, too much potassium can cause serious problems, such as disturbances to the heart rhythm.

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how SPIRACTIN affects you.

SPIRACTIN may cause drowsiness or dizziness in some people and may affect alertness.

Lifestyle measures that help reduce heart disease risk

By following these simple measures, you can further reduce the risk from heart disease.

  • Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke.
  • Limit alcohol intake.
  • Enjoy healthy eating by:
    - eating plenty of vegetables and fruit;
    - reducing your saturated fat intake (eat less fatty meats, full fat dairy products, butter, coconut and palm oils, most take-away foods, commercially-baked products).
  • Be active. Progress, over time, to at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on 5 or more days each week. Can be accumulated in shorter bouts of 10 minutes duration. If you have been prescribed anti-angina medicine, carry it with you when being physically active.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Discuss your lifestyle and lifestyle plans with your doctor.
  • For more information and tools to improve your heart health, call Heartline, the Heart Foundation's national telephone information service, on 1300 36 27 87 (local call cost).

Know warning signs of heart attack and what to do:

  • Tightness, fullness, pressure, squeezing, heaviness or pain in your chest, neck, jaw, throat, shoulders, arms or back.
  • You may also have difficulty breathing, or have a cold sweat or feel dizzy or light headed or feel like vomiting (or actually vomit).
  • If you have heart attack warning signs that are severe, get worse or last for 10 minutes even if they are mild, call triple zero (000). Every minute counts.

Looking after your medicine

  • Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them.
  • Keep SPIRACTIN in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.

Follow the instructions in the label on how to take care of your medicine properly.

Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:

  • in the bathroom or near a sink, or
  • in the car or on window sills.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Common side effects

Common side effectsWhat to do
  • Stomach cramps or diarrhoea
  • nausea or vomiting
  • headache
  • drowsiness, lethargy or generally feeling unwell
  • skin rash, itchiness, hives
  • unsteadiness when walking
  • leg cramps
  • peeling skin or skin redness
  • fever or sore throat
  • unusual hair loss or thinning
  • excessive hair growth
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any of these common side effects and they worry you.

Serious side effects

Serious side effectsWhat to do
  • frequent infection such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
    A few cases of agranulocytosis (lack of white blood cells) have been reported in patients taking SPIRACTIN.
  • breast enlargement
    Breast enlargement may occur in men taking SPIRACTIN.
    This normally goes away when SPIRACTIN is stopped. In rare instances some breast enlargement may persist.
  • breast lumps
    Breast lumps and breast cancer have been reported in patients taking SPIRACTIN although SPIRACTIN has not been shown to cause breast cancer.
  • breast pain
  • irregular periods or no periods
  • post-menopausal bleeding
  • change in sex drive
  • impotence (inability to achieve or maintain an erection)
  • bleeding or bruising more easily than normal.
  • unsteadiness when walking
  • leg cramps
  • headache
  • mental confusion or dizziness
  • shortness of breath and swelling of the legs from fluid build May be due to hyperkalaemia (high levels of potassium in the blood) that is very serious
The serious side effects may require medical attention.

Very serious side effects

Very serious side effectsWhat to do
  • yellow skin and eyes (jaundice). SPIRACTIN can cause impairment of liver function
  • stomach bleeding, ulcers or gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
  • vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, bleeding from the back passage, black sticky bowel motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea
  • irregular heartbeat, tingling sensation, paralysis or difficulty in breathing, which may be symptoms of raised potassium levels in your blood
Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems or New Zealand at https://nzphvc.otago.ac.nz/reporting. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.

What SPIRACTIN contains

Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
SPIRACTIN 25 tablets contain 25 mg spironolactone
SPIRACTIN 100 tablets contain 100 mg spironolactone
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
lactose monohydrate
microcrystalline cellulose
maize starch
sodium starch glycollate
purified talc
magnesium stearate
polysorbate 80
povidone
quinoline yellow aluminium lake
erythrosine aluminium lake
sunset yellow FCF aluminium lake
peppermint oil
Potential allergenstrace quantities of sulfites
trace quantities of galactose
sugars as lactose

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What SPIRACTIN looks like

SPIRACTIN 25 is 7mm pale orange, normal convex, peppermint flavoured tablet marked "SP" breakline "1" on one side, " alpha" symbol on the reverse. (AUST R 46689).

SPIRACTIN 100 is 11mm pale orange, normal convex, peppermint flavoured tablet marked "SP" breakline "2" on one side, "alpha" symbol on the reverse (AUST R 46691).

Who distributes SPIRACTIN

Alphapharm Pty Ltd trading as Viatris
Level 1, 30 The Bond
30-34 Hickson Road
Millers Point NSW 2000
www.viatris.com.au
Phone: 1800 274 276

This leaflet was prepared in April 2023.

SPIRACTIN is a Viatris company trade mark

SPIRACTIN_cmi\Apr23/00

Published by MIMS June 2023

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Spiractin

Active ingredient

Spironolactone

Schedule

S4

 

1 Name of Medicine

Spironolactone.

2 Qualitative and Quantitative Composition

Each 25 mg tablet contains 25 mg of spironolactone as the active ingredient.
Each 100 mg tablet contains 100 mg of spironolactone as the active ingredient.

Excipients with known effect.

Sugars as lactose and trace quantities of galactose and sulfites.
For the full list of excipients, see Section 6.1 List of Excipients.

3 Pharmaceutical Form

25 mg tablet: 7 mm pale orange, normal convex, peppermint flavoured, marked "SP" breakline "1" on one side, "α" symbol on the reverse.
100 mg tablet: 11 mm pale orange, normal convex, peppermint flavoured, marked "SP" breakline "2" on one side, "α" symbol on the reverse.

4 Clinical Particulars

4.1 Therapeutic Indications

Essential hypertension.

Spironolactone, when used alone, is effective in lowering both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Spironolactone improves the hypotensive action of thiazide diuretics, while at the same time reducing or preventing potassium loss due to the thiazide. Spironolactone enhances the effectiveness of other antihypertensive agents such as β-blockers, vasodilators, etc.
As adjunctive therapy in malignant hypertension.
In diuretic induced hypokalaemia when other measures are considered inappropriate or inadequate.
Prophylaxis of hypokalaemia in patients taking digitalis when other measures are considered inadequate or inappropriate.

Congestive cardiac failure.

When used alone, spironolactone is effective in the management of oedema and sodium retention associated with congestive cardiac failure. Spironolactone may be used in combination with a thiazide or other conventional diuretics for achieving diuresis in patients whose oedema is resistant to a thiazide or other conventional diuretics. Unlike conventional diuretics, spironolactone does not produce hypokalaemia. When administered with a thiazide or other conventional diuretics, spironolactone offsets hypokalaemia induced by these diuretics. The prevention of potassium loss is particularly important in the treatment of digitalised patients, since digitalis intoxication may be precipitated if hypokalaemia is induced by conventional diuretic therapy.

Hepatic cirrhosis with ascites and oedema.

When used alone, spironolactone is frequently adequate for the relief of ascites and oedema associated with hepatic cirrhosis. It provides a mild and even diuresis and prevents excessive potassium excretion caused by thiazide diuretics, thus avoiding possible precipitation of hepatic coma.

Nephrotic syndrome.

Although glucocorticoids, whose anti-inflammatory activity appears to benefit the primary pathological process in the renal glomerulus, should probably be employed first, spironolactone either alone or in combination with a conventional diuretic is useful for inducing diuresis.

Diagnosis and treatment of primary hyperaldosteronism.

Spironolactone may be used to establish the diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism by therapeutic trial. Spironolactone may also be used for the short-term preoperative treatment of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism, long-term maintenance therapy for patients with discrete aldosterone producing adrenal adenomas who are judged to be poor operative risks (or who decline surgery), and long-term maintenance therapy for patients with bilateral micro- or macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (idiopathic hyperaldosteronism).

Hirsutism in females.

Spironolactone is effective in the treatment of females with hirsutism, an androgen related increase in facial and body hair. A reduction in hair growth, hair shaft diameter and hair pigmentation is seen.
Use of Spiractin should be considered only after all other alternatives of nondrug therapy have been explored. For women of childbearing age, see Section 4.3 Contraindications; Section 4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation, Use in pregnancy.

4.2 Dose and Method of Administration

Adults.

Essential hypertension. 50 to 100 mg/day which may be given either in divided doses or as a single daily dose.
Dosage should be adjusted according to response, but it should be noted that maximum effect of spironolactone therapy may not occur for up to two weeks after starting treatment.
Spironolactone may potentiate the action of diuretics or other antihypertensive drugs, and their dosage should first be reduced by at least 50% when Spiractin is added to the regimen, and then adjusted as necessary.
Oedematous disorders. The daily dose may be given either in divided doses or as a single daily dose.

Congestive cardiac failure.

The initial dose is 100 mg/day. In difficult or severe cases the dosage may be gradually increased up to 200 mg/day. When oedema is controlled, the usual maintenance level is 25 to 200 mg/day.

Cirrhosis.

If the urinary sodium:potassium ratio is greater than one, the recommended dose is 100 mg/day. If the ratio is less than one, the recommended dose is 200 to 400 mg/day. Maintenance dosage should be individually determined.

Nephrotic syndrome.

Usually 100 to 200 mg/day. Spironolactone is not anti-inflammatory, has not been shown to affect the basic pathological process and its use is only advised when treatment of the underlying disease, restriction of fluid intake and sodium intake, and the use of other diuretics do not provide an adequate response.
Diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism. Spironolactone may be employed as an initial diagnostic measure to provide presumptive evidence of primary hyperaldosteronism while patients are on normal diets.

Long test.

Spironolactone is administered at a daily dosage of 400 mg for three to four weeks. Correction of hypokalaemia and of hypertension provides presumptive evidence for the diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism.

Short test.

Spironolactone is administered at a daily dosage of 400 mg for four days. If serum potassium increases during administration but drops when spironolactone is discontinued, a presumptive diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism should be considered.
After the diagnosis of hyperaldosteronism has been established by more definitive testing procedures, Spiractin may be administered in doses of 100 to 400 mg daily in preparation for surgery. For patients who are considered unsuitable for surgery, spironolactone may be employed for long-term maintenance therapy at the lowest effective dosage determined for the individual patient.
Malignant hypertension. Spironolactone should be used as adjunctive therapy only, where there is an excessive secretion of aldosterone, hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis. The initial dosage is 100 mg/day, increased as necessary in two weekly intervals to 400 mg/day. Initial therapy should include a combination of other antihypertensive drugs and spironolactone. Do not automatically reduce the dose of other treatments as is recommended for essential hypertension.
Hypokalaemia. Spironolactone may be useful in treating diuretic induced hypokalaemia when oral potassium supplements are considered inappropriate. In treating hypokalaemia, the lowest dose should be used and titrated upwards. A daily dose exceeding 100 mg is not recommended.
Female hirsutism. 100 to 200 mg/day in divided doses is usual, however 50 mg daily has also been shown to be effective.
Clinical improvement is usually shown within 3 to 6 months and an initial course of treatment should continue for 12 months.
Spironolactone may be administered continuously or as a cyclical dosage for approximately three weeks out of every four weeks. Dosing from day 5 to 21 of the menstrual cycle, with a drug free interval during menstruation, has been effective. Cyclical dosing may reduce menstrual irregularities in women with previously regular cycles.
Combined use with estrogen/ progestogen oral contraceptives may also be considered to provide both regular menstrual cycles and adequate contraception (see Section 4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation, Use in pregnancy).

Children and adolescents.

Oedematous disorders.

The initial daily dosage should provide approximately 3.3 mg spironolactone/kg bodyweight. For small children, spironolactone tablets may be pulverised and administered as a suspension in cherry syrup. When refrigerated, such a suspension is stable for one month.

4.3 Contraindications

Acute renal insufficiency, significant impairment of renal function, anuria, Addison's disease or other conditions associated with hyperkalaemia (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use), hyperkalaemia, pregnancy (see Section 4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation, Use in pregnancy), hypersensitivity to spironolactone, concomitant use of eplerenone.

4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use

Concomitant use of spironolactone with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, angiotensin II antagonists, aldosterone blockers, heparin, low molecular weight heparin, other drugs or conditions known to cause hyperkalaemia or potassium supplements, a diet rich in potassium, including salt substitutes containing potassium, or other potassium sparing agents is not recommended as it may lead to severe hyperkalaemia.
Hyperkalaemia may be fatal in patients with severe heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III-IV). Potassium and creatinine levels should be closely monitored one week after initiation or monthly for the first 3 months, then quarterly for a year, and then every 6 months when increasing the dose of spironolactone. See Use in renal impairment.

Use in hepatic impairment.

Reversible hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis, usually in association with hyperkalaemia, has been reported to occur in some patients with decompensated hepatic cirrhosis, even in the presence of normal renal function.

Use in renal impairment.

Concomitant use of spironolactone and other potassium-sparing diuretics in patients with severe heart failure should be avoided. If serum potassium > 3.5 mEq/L, oral potassium supplements should be avoided. Treatment with spironolactone should be discontinued or interrupted in patients with serum potassium > 5 mEq/L or with serum creatinine > 4 mg/dL.

Use in the elderly.

Periodic estimation of serum electrolytes is desirable due to the possibility of hyperkalaemia, hyponatraemia and possible transient blood urea nitrogen (BUN) elevation, especially in the elderly and/or in patients with pre-existing impaired renal or hepatic function, in whom the risk/benefit ratio should always be weighed.

Paediatric use.

No data available.

Effects on laboratory tests.

Spironolactone can interfere with assays for plasma digoxin concentrations.

4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions

Concomitant use of drugs known to cause hyperkalaemia with spironolactone may result in severe hyperkalaemia (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use).
Hyperkalaemia has been associated with the use of either indometacin or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in combination with potassium sparing diuretics.
Spironolactone reduces the vascular responsiveness to norepinephrine. Therefore, caution should be exercised in the management of patients subjected to regional or general anaesthesia while they are being treated with spironolactone.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, indometacin, and mefenamic acid may attenuate the natriuretic efficacy of diuretics due to inhibition of intrarenal synthesis of prostaglandins and have been shown to attenuate the diuretic effect of spironolactone.
As carbenoxolone may cause sodium retention and thus decrease the effectiveness of spironolactone, concurrent use of the two agents should be avoided.
Spironolactone has been shown to increase the half-life of digoxin. This may result in increased serum digoxin levels and subsequent digitalis toxicity. It may be necessary to reduce the digoxin dose when spironolactone is administered, and the patient should be carefully monitored to avoid over- or underdigitalisation.
Spironolactone may have an additive effect when given concomitantly with other diuretics and antihypertensive agents. The dose of such drugs may need to be reduced when spironolactone is added to the treatment regimen.
Spironolactone enhances the metabolism of antipyrine.
Hyperkalaemic metabolic acidosis has been reported in patients given spironolactone concurrently with ammonium chloride or colestyramine.
Spironolactone binds to the androgen receptor and may increase prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in abiraterone-treated prostate cancer patients.

4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation

Effects on fertility.

The safety of spironolactone for the treatment of hirsutism in women of childbearing age has not been established by specific long-term clinical trials. Epidemiological studies are also inadequate to establish the safety of long-term use in this population.
See Section 5.3 Preclinical Safety Data.
(Category B3)
Experimentally, passive transfer of potassium sparing diuretics across the human placenta has been demonstrated. Maternal treatment during pregnancy may result in electrolyte disturbances in the foetus.
Spironolactone should not be used in pregnancy (see Section 4.3 Contraindications). Women of childbearing potential should employ adequate contraception (i.e. oral contraceptives or IUDs) during administration of spironolactone, and the drug should be stopped if pregnancy occurs or is suspected.
Canrenone, an active metabolite of spironolactone, appears in breast milk. An alternative method of infant feeding should be instituted if the use of the drug is deemed essential.

4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

Somnolence and dizziness have been reported to occur in some patients. Caution is advised when driving or operating machinery until the response to initial treatment has been determined.

4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)

Gynaecomastia may develop in association with the use of spironolactone, and physicians should be alert to its possible onset. The development of gynaecomastia appears to be related to both dosage level and duration of therapy and is normally reversible when spironolactone is discontinued. In rare instances some breast enlargement may persist.
Other adverse reactions that have been reported in association with spironolactone are gastrointestinal symptoms, including cramping, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, gastric bleeding, ulceration and gastritis; drowsiness, lethargy, headache, maculopapular or erythematous cutaneous eruptions, urticaria, mental confusion, drug fever, ataxia, inability to achieve or maintain erection, irregular menses or amenorrhoea, postmenopausal bleeding, malaise, benign breast neoplasm, breast pain, leucopenia (including agranulocytosis), thrombocytopenia, abnormal hepatic function, electrolyte disturbances, hyperkalaemia, leg cramps, dizziness, changes in libido, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), alopecia, hypertrichosis, pruritus, rash and acute renal failure.
Carcinoma of the breast has been reported in patients taking spironolactone, but a cause and effect relationship has not been established.

Reporting suspected adverse effects.

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after registration of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit-risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems.

4.9 Overdose

Symptoms.

Overdosage may be manifested by nausea and vomiting, dizziness and (more rarely) by drowsiness, mental confusion, maculopapular or erythematous rash or diarrhoea. Electrolyte imbalances and dehydration may occur. Hyperkalaemia may be produced; symptoms include paraesthesia, weakness, flaccid paralysis and tetany. The earliest signs are characteristic electrocardiographic abnormalities including tall 'tent shaped' T waves, decreased amplitude of the P waves and widening of the QRS complex. Delayed onset of hyperkalaemia has been reported after acute ingestion of spironolactone (peak levels at 24 and 32 hours).

Treatment.

Symptomatic and supportive measures should be employed. There is no specific antidote. Support respiratory and cardiac functions. Treat fluid depletion, electrolyte imbalances and hypotension by established procedures.
Severity of intoxication should be based on clinical findings and serial determination of serum potassium levels. Monitoring plasma levels of spironolactone is not clinically useful.
Hyperkalaemia can be treated promptly by the rapid intravenous administration of glucose (20 to 50%) and regular insulin, using 0.25 to 0.5 units of insulin per gram of glucose). Potassium excreting diuretics and ion exchange resins may also be administered, and repeated as required.
Spiractin should be discontinued and potassium intake (including dietary potassium) restricted.
For information on the management of overdose, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (Australia).

5 Pharmacological Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties

Mechanism of action.

Spironolactone is a specific pharmacological antagonist of aldosterone, acting primarily through competitive binding of receptors at the aldosterone dependent sodium potassium exchange site in the distal convoluted renal tubule. Spironolactone causes increased amounts of sodium and water to be excreted, while potassium is retained. It has both diuretic and antihypertensive activity. It may be given alone or in combination with other diuretic agents which act more proximally in the renal tubule.
Increased levels of the mineralocorticoid, aldosterone, are present in primary and secondary hyperaldosteronism. Oedematous states in which secondary aldosteronism is usually involved include congestive cardiac failure, hepatic cirrhosis, and the nephrotic syndrome. Spironolactone provides effective therapy for the oedema and ascites in those conditions by competing with aldosterone for receptor sites.
Spironolactone is effective in lowering the systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism. It is also effective in most cases of essential hypertension despite the fact that aldosterone secretion may be within normal limits in benign essential hypertension.
Spironolactone inhibits the exchange of sodium for potassium in the distal renal tubule and helps to prevent potassium loss by antagonising the effect of aldosterone. It has not been demonstrated to elevate serum uric acid, to precipitate gout or to alter carbohydrate metabolism.
Spironolactone has moderate antiandrogenic activity in humans by inhibition of the interaction between dihydrotestosterone and the intracellular androgen receptor. It also inhibits several steps in ovarian steroidogenesis, resulting in lowered plasma levels of testosterone and some other weak androgenic steroids. Through this activity, spironolactone is effective in the treatment of female hirsutism.

Clinical trials.

No data available.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

Absorption.

In humans, the bioavailability of spironolactone from orally administered tablets is greater than 90% when compared with an optimally absorbed solution (spironolactone in polyethylene glycol 400).
Food may increase the bioavailability of spironolactone; the clinical relevance of this effect is uncertain.

Distribution.

Both spironolactone and canrenone are more than 90% bound to plasma proteins.

Metabolism.

Approximately 25 to 30% of the dose administered is converted to canrenone. Sulfur containing products are the predominant metabolites and together with spironolactone are thought to be primarily responsible for the therapeutic effects of the drug. Canrenone attains peak serum levels at 2 to 4 hours following single oral administration. Canrenone plasma concentrations decline in two distinct phases, being rapid in the first 12 hours and slower from 12 to 96 hours. The log linear phase half-life of canrenone, following multiple doses of spironolactone, is between 13 and 24 hours.

Excretion.

The metabolites of spironolactone are excreted primarily in urine, but also in bile.

5.3 Preclinical Safety Data

In animal studies, spironolactone was devoid of teratogenic effects in mice and rabbits at oral doses up to 20 mg/kg/day, and in rats at dietary doses up to 50 mg/kg/day. However, increased resorption rate was seen at 20 mg/kg/day in rabbits, and the incidence of stillbirths was increased in rats dosed at 50 mg/kg/day. Subcutaneous administration of spironolactone (approximately 50 to 100 mg/kg/day) to rats during late pregnancy caused endocrine dysfunction in both sexes of offspring 70 to 80 days after birth (hypoprolactinaemia and decreased ventral prostate and seminal vesical weights in males; increased luteinising hormone secretion and ovarian and uterine weights in females). Feminisation of the external genitalia of male foetuses was reported in another study in rats at oral doses of approximately 200 mg/kg/day. Subcutaneous administration of spironolactone to neonatal female mice caused histological changes in the cervicovaginal epithelium that were similar to those caused by diethylstilboestrol (a drug which causes vaginal neoplasia in adulthood following in utero exposure).
The risk of demasculinisation of the male foetus will only occur from about 6 weeks post conception onwards, hence if inadvertent spironolactone administration is stopped at an early stage, the risk to the male foetus is small.

Genotoxicity.

Spironolactone has been shown to be tumorigenic in chronic toxicity studies performed in rats. It should be used only for approved indications. Unnecessary use of this drug should be avoided.
In chronic toxicity studies of spironolactone in rats, changes were observed in the endocrine organs and the liver. In one study using dietary doses of 50, 150 and 500 mg/kg/day there was a statistically significant dose-related increase in benign adenomas of thyroid follicular cells and testicular interstitial cells. In female rats there was a statistically significant increase in malignant mammary tumours at the middle dose only. In male rats, there was a dose-related increase in proliferative changes in the liver which included hyperplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas at the middle and high doses.

Carcinogenicity.

In a two year oral carcinogenicity study in which rats were administered spironolactone 10, 30, 100 and 150 mg/kg/day, the range of proliferative effects observed was consistent with earlier studies. There were statistically significant increases at higher doses in hepatocellular adenomas and testicular interstitial cell tumours in males, and in thyroid follicular cell adenomas and carcinomas in both sexes. There was also a statistically significant increase in benign uterine endometrial polyps in females. There was an increase in hepatocellular carcinomas in males at 150 mg/kg, but this was not statistically significant. There was no significant increase in the incidence of mammary tumours.
The significance of these findings with respect to clinical use is not known.
Spironolactone was not mutagenic in the Ames test using five strains of Salmonella typhimurium with or without metabolic activation.
A dose-related (above 20 mg/kg/day) incidence of myelocytic leukaemia was observed in rats fed daily doses of potassium canrenoate for a period of one year. Canrenone and canrenoic acid are the major metabolites of potassium canrenoate. Spironolactone is also metabolised to canrenone. In long term (2 year) oral carcinogenicity studies of potassium canrenoate in the rat, myelocytic leukaemia, and hepatic, thyroid, testicular and mammary tumours were observed. Potassium canrenoate did not produce a mutagenic effect in tests using bacteria or yeast. It did produce a positive mutagenic effect in several in vitro tests in mammalian cells following metabolism activation. In an in vivo mammalian system, potassium canrenoate was not mutagenic. An increased incidence of leukaemia was not observed in chronic rat toxicity or carcinogenicity studies conducted with spironolactone at doses up to 500 mg/kg/day. The recommended human dose of spironolactone is 1.4 to 5.7 mg/kg/day.

6 Pharmaceutical Particulars

6.1 List of Excipients

25 mg and 100 mg tablets contain lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, polysorbate 80, povidone, sodium starch glycollate, purified talc, magnesium stearate, peppermint oil, quinoline yellow aluminium lake, erythrosine aluminium lake and sunset yellow FCF aluminium lake.

6.2 Incompatibilities

See Section 4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions.
Incompatibilities were either not assessed or not identified as part of the registration of this medicine.

6.3 Shelf Life

In Australia, information on the shelf life can be found on the public summary of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The expiry date can be found on the packaging.

6.4 Special Precautions for Storage

Store below 30°C. This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

6.5 Nature and Contents of Container

Container type: HDPE bottles with PP cap - Child Resistant Closure.
Pack size: 100 tablets.

Australian register of therapeutic goods (ARTG).

AUST R 46689 - Spiractin 25 spironolactone 25 mg tablet bottle.
AUST R 46691 - Spiractin 100 spironolactone 100 mg tablet bottle.

6.6 Special Precautions for Disposal

In Australia, any unused medicine or waste material should be disposed of by taking it to your local pharmacy.

6.7 Physicochemical Properties

Chemical structure.

Chemical name: 7α-acetylthio-3-oxo-17α-pregn-4-ene-21,17β-carbolactone.
Structural formula:
Molecular formula: C24H32O4S. Molecular weight: 416.6.

CAS number.

52-01-7.

7 Medicine Schedule (Poisons Standard)

S4 (Prescription Only Medicine).

Summary Table of Changes