Spironolactone

Spironolactone is a diuretic medication, sold under the brand name Aldactone among others. It is used to treat fluid build-up from liver or kidney disease and to reduce the risk of progression, hospitalization and death in some types of heart failure. Other uses include acne and excessive hair growth in women, low blood potassium that does not respond to supplements, hard-to-treat high blood pressure, early puberty in boys, and blocking testosterone as part of feminizing hormone therapy, a use with a long history in the trans community. It is a steroid that blocks aldosterone and, to a lesser degree, testosterone, and belongs to the potassium-sparing diuretics. Tablets taken by mouth are usual, though topical forms exist. Common side effects include electrolyte abnormalities, particularly high blood potassium, nausea, headache and rashes. It was discovered in 1957, introduced in 1959, is on the World Health Organization List of Essential Medicines and is sold as a generic. This is a record of what is held about the drug, not medical advice.