Spironolactone side effects could be minor like dizziness, thirst or loss of appetite. However, several more serious ones exist, too, and include a decrease in heart rate, an increase in levels of potassium and muscle weakness.

Spironolactone is a diuretic that stops the body from taking in too much salt, thus reducing overall water retention without losing any potassium. It also happens to prevent hypokalemia; this condition makes the blood’s potassium levels drop significantly. Those aside, spironolactone can treat hypertension, liver cirrhosis, hyperaldosteronism and edema. Although spironolactone has the potential to treat different medical conditions, however, there are some spironolactone side effects, as well as several precautions that need to be taken before using it.

Even though side effects from spironolactone are not frequent occurrences, several of them are mild and can be easily tolerated and treated by doctors, while others are more serious. Several common ones include dry  mouth, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weakness and nasal congestion.

Aside from the more common of these side effects, several people might get more extreme ones. If any of these symptoms occur, get medical attention right away: muscle weakness, hyperkalemia, breast enlargement, breast lumps, severe weakness, sore throat, yellow skin, persistent cough, irregular pulse and decreased sexual ability. In several cases, people might also get allergic reactions in the forms of skin rashes, itching, dizziness, swelling, hives, wheezing and difficulty swallowing or breathing. These spironolactone side effects could occur in both women and men, but there are also some side effects that only women will experience such as breast tenderness and menstrual cycle irregularity.

Merely knowing about these spironolactone side effects will not guarantee a total knowledge of complications or discomforts that could come about because of this drug, though. If a person wants to get this medicine prescribe, he must always let his doctor know if he suffers from kidney disease, heart disease, liver problems, urinary problems, diabetes, potassium and sodium imbalances or allergies first. Steroids would be another thing the doctor has to know before spironolactone can be prescribed.

In case a person needs surgery – even just dental surgery – he needs to let his doctor know if spironolactone is being taken since this medicine could increase the blood’s potassium level. If abdominal pain or breathing difficulties are experienced, a person needs to stop taking spironolactone and immediately get in touch with his doctor. If body lumps appear, the doctor needs to know right away, as well, since spironolactone could bring about body tumors.

Pregnant women should know that this drug could harm unborn children. In fact, it could also harm babies through the mother’s breast milk. Therefore, nursing and pregnant women have to avoid this drug or talk to their doctors before taking it. Spironolactone can be used for treatment of various ailments, but knowing the various side effects of spironolactone could be useful since doctors need to be notified immediately even if just a small side effect is experienced.