The following side effects are expected to occur with the use of spironolactone. Contact your doctor if these symptoms are severe and/or do not go away:
How Common (based on clinical studies)
| Irregular menstrual periods and other menstrual disturbances | Up to 80% of all users |
| Breast pain or tenderness | Up to 38.95% of all users |
| Dry skin | Up to 38.9% of all users |
| Increased urination | Up to 29% of all users |
| Breast enlargement | Up to 24.1% of all users |
| Nausea and/or vomiting | Up to 20.4% of all users |
| Tiredness or drowsiness | Up to 15% of all users |
| Changes in sex drive | Up to 15% of all users |
| Increase in blood potassium levels | Up to 13.7% of all users |
| Headache | Up to 13% of all users |
| Skin pigmentation | Up to 3.7% of users |
| Swelling in lower legs and feet due to fluid collection | Up to 2.2% of all users |
| Abdominal pain, discomfort, or cramps | Unknown |
| Postmenopausal vaginal bleeding | Unknown |
| Difficulty with sexual performance in men | Unknown |
| Voice changes (usually deepening) | Unknown |
| Increased unwanted hair growth | Unknown |
| Feelings of restlessness | Unknown |
| Diarrhea or watery stools | Unknown |
Spironolactone may cause some side effects that are serious. If you experience any of the following, get in touch with your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
- Cold or flu-like symptoms
- A sudden appearance of swelling and rash (known as hives)
- Severe itching
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Fainting episodes
- Vomiting blood
- Extreme tiredness or low energy levels
- Pain, cramps, or weakness in muscles
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Loss of appetite
- Blood in stools
- Rash on any part of the body
- Sudden inability to move the arms and legs
- Severe nausea
- Abnormal bruising or bleeding
- Confusion
- Yellow discoloration of eyes or skin
- Numbness, pain, tingling, or burning sensations in the hands or feet
- Signs of dehydration: persistent headache, dizziness, feeling unsteady, dry mouth, and increased thirst
- Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen
- Decrease in urination
Spironolactone may also cause other side effects that are not mentioned here. Contact your doctor if you experience any other troublesome symptoms when using spironolactone.
References
- Uptodate; spironolactone. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/spironolactone-drug-information?source=search_result&search=spironolactone&selectedTitle=1~150. Last cited 9 December, 2016
- Goodfellow, A., et al. Oral spironolactone improves acne vulgaris and reduces sebum excretion. Br. J. Dermatol. 111, 209-214 (1984).
- Muhlemann, M.F., Carter, G.D., Cream, J.J., & Wise, P. Oral spironolactone: an effective treatment for acne vulgaris in women. Br. J. Dermatol. 115, 227-232 (1986).
- Hughes B.R. and Cunliffe W.J. Tolerance of spironolactone. Br. J. Dermatol. 118, 687-691 (1988).
- Lubbos, H.G., Hasinski, S., Rose, LI, and Pollock, J. Adverse effects of spironolactone therapy in women with acne. Arch Dermatol. 134(9), 1162-1163 (1998).
- Shaw, J.C. Low-dose adjunctive spironolactone in the treatment of acne in women: a retrospective analysis of 85 consecutively treated patients. J. Am. Acad.Dermatol. 43, 498-502 (2000).
- Shaw, J.C., and White, L.E. Long-term safety of spironolactone in acne: results of an 8-year follow-up study. J. Cutan. Med. Surg. 6(6), 541-545 (2002).
- Yemisci, A., Gorgulu, A., & Piskin, S. Effects and side-effects of spironolactone therapy in women with acne. J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol. 19, 163-166 (2005).
- Sato, K., et al. Anti-androgenic therapy using oral spironolactone for acne vulgaris in Asians. Aest. Plast. Surg. 30, 689-694 (2006).