Spironolactone 2016

Alert Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic and concomitant intake of potassium or ACE

inhibitors may lead to hyperkalemia.
Indication Diuretic primarily prescribed for its potassium-sparing effect.
For heart failure, in conjunction with furosemide.
For chronic lung disease, in conjunction with a thiazide diuretic.
Bartter syndrome and Gitelman Syndrome.
Action Spironolactone is a synthetic steroid that acts as a competitive aldosterone receptor
antagonist, so inhibits sodium reabsorption and spares potassium. It is a weak diuretic.
It also inhibits the interaction between dihydrotestosterone and the intracellular androgen
receptor resulting in moderate antiandrogenic activity..
Drug Type Non-selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist.
Trade Name Aldactone; Spiractin
Presentation Oral suspension prepared in pharmacy. 2.5 mg/mL; 5 mg/mL.
Dosage / Interval 1–3 mg/kg/dose 24 hourly.
Dose can be divided into different intervals.
Maximum daily dose 3 mg/kg/day
Route Oral
Preparation/Dilution Oral suspension.
Administration Administer undiluted with feeds.
Monitoring Serum potassium at regular intervals.
Contraindications Hyperkalaemia.
Significant renal impairment.
Anuria.
Adrenal insufficiency.
Precautions Use with caution in infants with renal or hepatic impairment.
Monitor more frequently if infant is also given potassium.
Drug Interactions Spironolactone increases the effects of ACE inhibitors (leading to hyperkalemia), digoxin and
sotalol.
Adverse Reactions Hyperkalaemia and metabolic acidosis.
Antiandrogenic effects include reduced hirsutism and gynecomastia.
There is one case report of an ovarian cyst in a neonate on spironolactone.
Spironolactone interferes with 17-hydroxyprogesterone measurement, which is used to
screen neonates for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Reduces clearance of digoxin.
Compatibility N/A
Incompatibility N/A
1
Stability Biochemical stability when stored in solution for 1 month.
o
Storage Store below 25 C.
Special Comments Pharmacokinetics not studied in infants. Absorption increased by food. Metabolised to active
metabolites 7α-methylspironolactone and canrenone which are extensively bound to plasma
protein at therapeutic concentrations and have extended half-lives.
Evidence summary Efficacy:
In preterm infants > 3 weeks of age with CLD: Acute and chronic administration of thiazide
2
diuretic and spironolactone improved pulmonary mechanics. A single study showed thiazide
and spironolactone decreased the risk of death in infants who did not have access to
3
corticosteroids, bronchodilators or aminophylline. (LOE I, GOR C) Trials used spironolactone
doses from 3 to 4 mg/kg/day.
Heart failure: Spironolactone resulted in short-term improvement in heart failure secondary
to congenital heart disease compared to potassium supplementation in infants treated with
4
digoxin and a thiazide diuretic. (LOE II GOR C) In adults with heart failure, the addition of
aldosterone antagonists reduced mortality, hospitalisation rate, and hypokalaemia but
5,6
increased creatinine and occurrence of hyperkalaemia. (LOE 1/adults GOR C)
Bartter syndrome and Gitelman syndrome: Spironolactone has been used to maintain
7
serum potassium in patients with Bartter syndrome and Gitelman syndrome.
Neonatal Medicines Formulary Consensus Group Spironolactone Page 1 of 2
This is a printed copy refer to the electronic system for most up to date version
 Spironolactone 2016
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics:
Spironolactone is a non-selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist with moderate
affinity for both progesterone and androgen receptors. Pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics have not been evaluated in newborn infants. In adults, absorption is
estimated to be 80–90%. The onset of action for spironolactone is typically very slow, with a
peak response sometimes occurring 48 hours or more after the first dose. Spironolactone is
rapidly metabolised hepatically into a number of metabolites. The predominant metabolite,
+
7α-methylspironolactone, accounts for around 80% of the K -sparing effect of
spironolactone. Spironolactone (88%) and its canrenone metabolite (99%) are extensively
bound to plasma protein at therapeutic concentrations. In normal volunteers, the mean t ½ of
spironolactone, canrenone, 7α-TMS and 6ß-hydroxy-7α-TMS were 1.4, 16.5, 13.8 and 15
hours, respectively. In cirrhotic patients, the t½ of spironolactone and its metabolites are
increased. The pharmacokinetics of spironolactone and its metabolites have not been
8,9
specifically studied in the setting of renal insufficiency or end-stage renal disease.
Safety:
Preterm infants receiving hydrochlorothiazide in combination with spironolactone may have
3
an increased need for sodium and potassium supplementation. (LOE II GOR B) The addition
of spironolactone to a thiazide diuretic did not reduce the requirement for supplemental
10
electrolytes over 2 weeks in a small trial. (LOE II GOR C) Use of spironolactone in adults
5
increases creatinine and the incidence of hyperkalaemia. (LOE I GOR C) Spironolactone
11
reduced digoxin clearance in infants. (LOE IV GOR C)
References 1. Mathur LK, Wickman A. Stability of extemporaneously compounded spironolactone
suspensions. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1989;46:2040-2.
2. Stewart A, Brion LP, Ambrosio-Perez I. Diuretics acting on the distal renal tubule for
preterm infants with (or developing) chronic lung disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2011:CD001817.
3. Albersheim SG, Solimano AJ, Sharma AK, Smyth JA, Rotschild A, Wood BJ, Sheps SB.
Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of long-term diuretic therapy for
bronchopulmonary dysplasia. J Pediatr. 1989;115:615-20.
4. Hobbins SM, Fowler RS, Rowe RD, Korey AG. Spironolactone therapy in infants with
congestive heart failure secondary to congenital heart disease. Arch Dis Child. 1981;56:934-
8.
5. Hu LJ, Chen YQ, Deng SB, Du JL, She Q. Additional use of an aldosterone antagonist in
patients with mild to moderate chronic heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013;75:1202-12.
6. Anonymous. Effectiveness of spironolactone added to an angiotensin-converting enzyme
inhibitor and a loop diuretic for severe chronic congestive heart failure (the Randomized
Aldactone Evaluation Study [RALES]). Am J Cardiol. 1996;78:902-7.
7. Fremont OT, Chan JC. Understanding Bartter syndrome and Gitelman syndrome. World J
Pediatr. 2012;8:25-30.
8. Sica DA. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of mineralocorticoid blocking agents
and their effects on potassium homeostasis. Heart Fail Rev. 2005;10:23-9.
9. Karim A. Spironolactone: disposition, metabolism, pharmacodynamics, and bioavailability.
Drug Metab Rev. 1978;8:151-88.
10. Hoffman DJ, Gerdes JS, Abbasi S. Pulmonary function and electrolyte balance following
spironolactone treatment in preterm infants with chronic lung disease: a double-blind,
placebo-controlled, randomized trial. J Perinatol. 2000;20:41-5.
11. Suematsu F, Minemoto M, Yukawa E, Higuchi S. Population analysis for the optimization
of digoxin treatment in Japanese paediatric patients. J Clin Pharm Ther. 1999;24:203-8.

Original version Date: 18/07/2016 Author: NMF Consensus Group

Current Version number: 1 Current Version Date: 18/07/2016
Risk Rating: Medium Due for Review: 18/07/2019
Approval by: As per Local policy Approval Date:

Neonatal Medicines Formulary Consensus Group Spironolactone Page 2 of 2

This is a printed copy refer to the electronic system for most up to date version