Eplerenone: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What is the drug Eplerenone?

What is eplerenone for?

This medicine is generally used in conjunction with other medicines to treat high blood pressure. This drug works by blocking a chemical (aldosterone) in your body and reducing the amount of sodium and body water to stabilize it. By lowering high blood pressure, you can prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. In addition, this drug can also be used to treat congestive heart failure that occurs after a heart attack.

How is eplerenone used?

Take this medication once or twice a day before or after you eat, or as recommended by your doctor. Take this medicine regularly to get optimal benefits. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time each day.

The dosage is based on your medical condition (high blood pressure, congestive heart failure), laboratory test results, and your response to therapy. Normally, it can take up to 4 weeks for the results from using this medication to completely lower your blood pressure.
It is important to remember that you should continue to take this drug even if you feel better. Most people with high blood pressure don't feel sick.

How is eplerenone stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Eplerenone dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the eplerenone dosage for adults?

Adult Dose for Congestive Heart Failure

Post-myocardial infarction:

Initial dose: 25 mg orally once a day. The dose should be titrated to a target dose of 50 mg once daily preferably within 4 weeks.

What is the dose of eplerenone for children?

This medicine should be given with extreme caution in children under 4 years of age; the safety and effectiveness of this drug in children have not been confirmed.

In what dosage is eplerenone available?

Tablets, taken by mouth: 25 mg, 50 mg

Eplerenone side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to eplerenone?

Common side effects are headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, sweating a lot, drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth, gas, and stomach pain, cough or flu symptoms such as fever, chills, unusual fatigue.

Seek medical help if you experience signs of an allergic reaction such as hives. hard to breath; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor if you experience serious side effects such as the following:

• high potassium (slow heart rate, weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingling feeling), or
• low potassium (confusion, irregular heartbeat, extreme thirst, frequent urination, discomfort in the legs, muscle weakness or a feeling of weakness).

Less serious side effects such as:

• diarrhea, stomach pain
• cough
• dizzy
• tired feeling
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms develop
• bleeding in the vagina; swollen or painful breasts.

Not everyone experiences the following effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Eplerenone Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using eplerenone?

Before starting treatment, you should tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to eplerenone, any of these ingredients, or to any other medications.

Do not take this medication if you are taking amiloride (Midamor), amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide (Moduretic), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), potassium supplements, spironolactone (Aldactone), spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide (Aldactazide), triamterine, or triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Maxzide).

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you are taking along with any vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or want to take especially angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), and quinapril (Accupril); angiotensin II receptor antagonists such as eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), and valsartan (Diovan); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); cimetidine (Tagamet); clarithromycin (Biaxin); danazol (Danocrine); delavirdine (Rescriptor); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); fluconazole (Diflucan); fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem); fluvoxamine (Luvox); HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (ritonavir), and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase); isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); metronidazole (Flagyl); nefazodone (Serzone); troleandomycin (TAO); verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); and zafirlukast (Accolate).

Tell your doctor what herbal products you are using, especially St. John's Wort.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, are in the process of becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine. If you become pregnant while taking the medicine, contact your doctor.

Is eplerenone safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category B according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

There is not yet sufficient information about the safety of using this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.

Eplerenone Drug Interactions

What medicines might interact with eplerenone?

Although some drugs should not be taken at the same time, in other cases some drugs can also be used together even though interactions may occur. In such cases, the doctor may change the dose, or take other preventive measures as needed. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

Taking this drug with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may not prescribe this medicine to you or will replace some of the drugs you are already taking.

• Amiloride
• Clarithromycin
• Cobicistat
• Idelalisib
• Itraconazole
• Ketoconazole
• Nefazodone
• Nelfinavir
• Potassium
• Ritonavir
• Spironolactone
• Triamterene
• Troleandomycin

Using this medication with some of the medicines below is not usually recommended, but in some cases it may be necessary. If both drugs are prescribed for you, your doctor will usually change the dosage or determine how often you should take them.

• Alacepril
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Benazepril
• Captopril
• Carbamazepine
• Ceritinib
• Cilazapril
• Dabrafenib
• Delapril
• Enalaprilat
• Enalapril Maleate
• Erythromycin
• Eslicarbazepine Acetate
• Fluconazole
• Fosinopril
• Imidapril
• Lisinopril
• Mitotane
• Moexipril
• Nilotinib
• Pentopril
• Perindopril
• Piperaquine
• Primidone
• Quinapril
• Ramipril
• Saquinavir
• Siltuximab
• Spirapril
• Temocapril
• Trandolapril
• Trimethoprim
• Verapamil
• Zofenopril

Taking this medication with the drugs below may increase your risk of side effects, but in some cases, a combination of these two drugs may be the best treatment. If both drugs are prescribed for you, your doctor will usually change the dosage or determine how often you should take them.

• Licorice

Can food or alcohol interact with eplerenone?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with eplerenone?

Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• diabetes with microalbuminuria or
• hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in the blood) or
• Severe kidney disease should not be given to patients with this condition
• Kidney illness. Use this drug with caution. The effect can increase because the release of drug waste from the body is slow.

Eplerenone overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department. Symptoms of an overdose include:

• passed out
• dizzy
• blurred vision
• stomach ache
• tingling in the arms and legs
• loss of muscle
• feeling of weakness or heaviness in the legs
• confusion
• lack of energy
• skin cool and gray
• irregular or slow heart rate

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.