Eplerenone is a drug antihypertensive. In addition to lowering blood pressure, this drug alsocan be used in handling heart failure after a heart attack. This drug is available in tablet form and should only be taken with a doctor's prescription.
Eplerenone lowers blood pressure by inhibiting the chemical aldosterone, which reduces the amount of sodium and water stored by the body. Lowering blood pressure in people with hypertension can prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney disorders.
To lower blood pressure, eplerenone can be used alone or in combination with other drugs. This medicine cannot cure high blood pressure.
Trademark eplerenone: Inspra
What is Eplerenone?
| group | Potassium sparing diuretic |
| Category | Prescription drugs |
| Benefit | Lowering high blood pressure (hypertension). |
| Consumed by | Mature |
| Eplerenone for pregnant and lactating women | Category B: Studies in animal experiments have not shown any risk to the fetus, but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women. Eplerenone is not known to be absorbed into breast milk or not. If you are breastfeeding, do not use this medicine without telling your doctor first. |
| Drug form | Tablet |
Precautions Before Taking Eplerenone:
- Do not take eplerenone if you have a history of allergy to this drug.
- Do not take eplerenone if you are taking amiloride, hydrochlorothiazide, ketoconazole, itraconazole, spironolactone, or potassium supplements.
- Do not use eplerenone if you have severe kidney problems.
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages, drive a vehicle, or operate machinery that requires caution when taking eplenenone.
- Tell your doctor if you have hyperkalemia, diabetes, gout, kidney or liver problems.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking certain medications, supplements, vitamins, or herbal products.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking other antihypertensive drugs, such as ACE inhibitors inhibitor and ARBs.
- If you have an allergic reaction or overdose after using eplerenone, contact your doctor immediately.
Dosage and Instructions for Use of Eplerenone
The dose of eplerenone for each patient can be different. The following are general doses of eplerenone based on the condition you want to treat:
Hypertension
- Initial dose: 50 mg per day.
- Maximum dose: 50 mg 2 times a day. It can take up to 1 month to see the effectiveness of the drug.
Heart failure after heart attack
- Initial dose: 25 mg per day.
- Follow-up dose: the dose may be increased to 50 mg per day in the first 1 month. The dose will be adjusted according to potassium levels.
How to Take Eplerenone Correctly
Follow the doctor's recommendations or the instructions for use on the packaging when consuming eplerenone. You can take eplerenone with the help of water, either before or after meals.
If the recommended dose of eplerenone is more than once a day, make sure there is enough time between one dose and the next. Try to always take eplerenone at the same time every day so that the benefits of this drug are maximized.
If you forget to take eplerenone, take this drug as soon as you remember, if the interval with the next dose is not too close. If it is close, ignore it and do not double the dose.
Store eplerenone at room temperature, away from heat, humidity and sunlight. Keep this medicine out of reach of children.
Eplerenone Interactions with Other Drugs
There are several drug interaction effects that can occur if eplerenone is used with other drugs, including:
- Increased levels of eplerenone in the body, when used with itraconazole, saquinavir, erythromycin, or clarithromycin
- Increased risk of hyperkalemia and renal impairment, when used with ARBs and ACE inhibitors
- Increased risk of drug side effects, when used with lithium
- Decreased effectiveness of eplerenone and increased potassium levels in the body, when used with NSAIDs and celecoxib.
- Increased levels of potassium in the body, if used with spironolactone, amiloride, or potassium supplements.
Side Effects and Dangers of Eplerenone
A number of side effects that can occur due to the use of eplerenone are:
- Headache
- Dizzy
- Fatigue or not feeling well
- Cough
- Throw up
- Diarrhea
Check with your doctor if the side effects mentioned above do not subside. Immediately see a doctor if you experience an allergic drug reaction or serious side effects, such as:
- Bleeding from the vagina outside of menstruation
- Enlarged or painful breasts in men
- Muscles feel weak
- Heart rate feels slow or irregular
