INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS
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This leaflet answers some common questions about SPIROTONE. It does not
contain all the information available on this medicine. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and
benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of using SPIROTONE against the
benefits expected it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using
this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again.
Your SPIROTONE tablets contain the active ingredient spironolactone. It belongs to a group of medicines known as diuretics.
SPIROTONE is used to lower high blood pressure, also called hypertension. It treats fluid build-up in the body which can occur in some heart, liver or kidney conditions. It helps bring potassium levels in the blood back to normal when the levels become too low. It also treats a condition called hyperaldosteronism and excess facial or body hair in women.
Your doctor may, however, prescribe SPIROTONE for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why SPIROTONE has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that SPIROTONE is addictive.
SPIROTONE is available on prescription from your doctor.
Do not take SPIROTONE if:
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Tell your doctor:
If you are taking any other medicines, including any you get without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Medicines that may interfere with SPIROTONE include:
These medicines may be affected by SPIROTONE or may affect how well SPIROTONE works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking SPIROTONE.
Your doctor will tell you how much SPIROTONE you need to take. It is important that you take SPIROTONE as directed by your doctor. Do not take more than the recommended dose.
The usual dose for adults with high blood pressure is 50mg to 100mg per day which may be gradually increased at two weekly intervals up to 200 mg per day. The daily dose may be given either in divided doses or as a single daily dose. Treatment should be continued for at least two weeks since an adequate response may not occur before this time.
For other conditions, your doctor will tell you how many tablets you need to take each day and when to take them. This depends on your condition and whether or not you are taking other medicines.
Continue taking SPIROTONE for as long as your doctor tells you to.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day may help you to remember to take it regularly. If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking SPIROTONE.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking SPIROTONE before you start any new medicine.
Tell your doctor if you develop a skin rash or hives, or you become pregnant while taking SPIROTONE.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking SPIROTONE.
If you are going to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking SPIROTONE.
Do not take SPIROTONE to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not stop taking SPIROTONE or lower the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
SPIROTONE may cause drowsiness or confusion in some people. Be careful when driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that need you to be alert, until you are certain that SPIROTONE does not affect your performance.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking SPIROTONE.
All medicines can have some unwanted effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
These are the more common side effects of spironolactone.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
The list of side effects mentioned above is not complete. If you should suffer from any of these side effects or any other undesired effect please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
You should only take the number of tablets that you have been told.
Immediately contact your doctor or the National Poisons Information Centre (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or go to the Emergency department at your nearest hospital, if you think that you may have taken too much, or if anyone else has taken any SPIROTONE by mistake. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Take the container of SPIROTONE with you if you can.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date shown on the label or if the packaging shows signs of tampering.
Keep your SPIROTONE tablets in the container until it is time to take them.
Store below 30°C and out of reach of children. Avoid exposure to heat, light and moisture.
Do not store SPIROTONE, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink.
If your doctor tells you to stop taking SPIROTONE or if the tablets have passed the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with the remaining medicine.
| SPIROTONE 25mg tablets are pale orange round tablets, marked with α on one side and | SP | on the other. |
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| SPIROTONE 100mg tablets are pale orange round tablets, marked with α on one side and | SP | on the other. |
| 2 |
Each SPIROTONE tablet contains the active ingredient, spironolactone.
Each SPIROTONE tablet also contains quinoline yellow, sunset yellow, erythrosine, polysorbate, peppermint oil, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, sodium starch glycollate, talc, magnesium stearate and lactose.
Should you have any questions regarding this product, please contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Distributed in New Zealand by:
Mylan New Zealand Ltd,
P O Box 11183,
Ellerslie,
Auckland.
Freephone: 0800 168 169
2 February 2009 (Based on datasheet 2 February 2009)