Eplerenone: Its uses, side effects, and FAQs

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Eplerenone: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What is Eplerenone?

Elperenone is a potassium sparing diuretic. It removes excess water by urination; however, the potassium levels are not affected. It is also an aldosterone antagonist, which means it blocks the action of aldosterone at the site of its receptors. Aldosterone is a hormone, which increases blood pressure by regulating water and sodium levels in the body. Eplerenone reduces blood pressure by blocking these aldosterone receptors. It is available in oral tablet form.

What are the uses of Eplerenone?

Eplerenone is prescribed mainly for the following reasons.

Controls hypertension – lowers blood pressure by blocking aldosterone, reducing stiffness in arteries, dysfunction of blood vessel walls.
Treat resistant hypertension – uncontrollable high blood pressure can sometimes happen due to excess aldosterone in the body.
Treat chronic heart failure – it reduces the risk of death in heart failure patients who recently had a heart attack
Reduces risk of stroke
Used in conditions that cause hyperaldosteronism, where the aldosterone is produced in excess amount

What are the side effects of Eplerenone?

Following are a few side effects of eplerenone.

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Headache

Dizziness

Low blood pressure

An increase in potassium in the body, known as hyperkalemia – causes cramps, irregular heartbeat.

Stomach pain

Swelling of face, lips, eyes, and limbs

Weakness

Tingling sensation

Allergic reactions to this medication are very rare. So if you are experiencing itching, redness, difficulty in breathing, and other symptoms, stop the drug immediately and consult the doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions about Eplerenone

Yes, eplerenone is a diuretic. Diuretics are a class of drugs that lowers the excess water and salt in the body by causing excess urination. It is a potassium-sparing type of diuretic and aldosterone receptor blocker.

There is no clear evidence that eplerenone can cause hair loss as a side effect. On the other hand, a study concluded that aldosterone receptor blockers like eplerenone have shown encouraging results as a hair follicle stimulant.

There is no scientific data that clearly states that eplerenone increases cholesterol. Eplerenone treats conditions like high blood pressure and heart failure, where high cholesterol can be the cause. Inform your doctor if you previously had high cholesterol before taking this drug.

No, eplerenone does not directly cause any harm to the kidneys. It is even recommended to patients who have previous conditions like kidney failure, kidney transplant, etc. However, follow your doctor's advice if you have been using eplerenone for a long time and educate yourself about its side effects.

Spironolactone, another aldosterone blocker similar to eplerenone, causes gynecomastia (enlarged sore breasts in males). It happens because testosterone is blocked, which is a male sex hormone. It leads to estrogen acting on the breast tissue in males. But, eplerenone does not block testosterone, therefore does not cause gynecomastia.

There are five types of diuretics. One of those five is a potassium-sparing diuretic. It has two categories: aldosterone blockers and sodium channel blockers. Eplerenone is an aldosterone blocker.

Suddenly stopping eplerenone can cause an abrupt rise in blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart failure, stroke, etc. If you want to stop using eplerenone, consult your doctor first before discontinuing the drug.

Eplerenone does not affect heart rate. It is protective of the heart. It reduces blood pressure and makes it easy for the heart to pump blood. It also reduces the risk of death in heart failure patients.

No, there is no scientific evidence that connects eplerenone to kidney problems. But if you are already suffering from any kidney condition, inform your doctor before taking this medication. If the kidney function is affected, a doctor might change the dose or prescribe a new medication.

Eplerenone is a diuretic. Its purpose is to remove excess water and salt. It does that by increasing the amount of urine.

There is a very low chance of eplerenone causing erectile dysfunction. It does not inhibit male sex hormones like testosterone.

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