Spironolactone Side Effects: What You Need to Know

Question
Greetings,
I'm a 23-year-old girl and it's almost one year that I take a pill of Spironoloctone 25mg everyday to cure my Hirsutism but I don't even know whether it's useful or not. One of the side effects of this pill is enlarging the breasts, but I don't know if this is a permanent effect or it's something temporary and appears just during the use of this pill.Also, I would be most grateful if you would let me know the rest side effects of Spironolactone too.
Besides, I'm wonder if it's prellious to stop taking this pill or I can stop using this drug without any problem.
Best regards,
Maryam

Answer
Dear Maryam,

Nice to talk with you again!  I think you and I had some conversations about this problem.  I am hoping that things are going better for you.  

I found a site that nicely talks about hirsutism and medications...a lot of good information:  

http://www.wdxcyber.com/ninfer07.htm

Anyway, never EVER stop a medication without first speaking with your physician.  Some medications may need to be tapered off, or they may be important in other respects.  

Some of the normal side effects of spironalactone are:  dizziness, blurry vision, dehydration, nausea and vomiting, decreased appetite and fatigue.  Most, if not all, of those symptoms disappear once your body gets used to the drug.

I always instruct patients to rise slowly from a lying to sitting position, and from sitting to standing when on this medication.  It gives the blood pressure a chance to stabilize.  If you get up quickly, sometime you get what is called "orthostatic hypotension"...meaning, your blood pools to the legs away from the brain, you get a drop in blood pressure, and you get dizzy, and may even pass out.  This holds true for all diuretics and blood pressure medications.

Some of the more serious side effects of spironolactone that must be reported promptly are:  deep voice, jaundice, weakness, irregular pulse, persistant cough, decreased urination.

If you are having breast enlargement, I would let your physician know on the next business day.  Just so he is informed.  He may or may not want to revamp the dosage.

I hope this answered your question, Maryam.  If there is anything else I can do for you, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely,

Andrea