Spironolactone works through the following mechanism:
Antihormonal
Spironolactone helps to regulate hormones that cause acne.
Although this is how it works for acne, spironolactone is primarily a diuretic (water pill), which means that it makes the kidneys excrete water and sodium from the body into the urine. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic which means that when it is used, potassium is retained in the body. For these reasons, spironolactone is most commonly used in the treatment of the following conditions:
- Heart failure
- Fluid retention (edema)
- High blood pressure
- Hyperaldosteronism (a condition in which the body produces too much aldosterone)
- Low potassium levels