Spironolactone

Prices from as little as 86p a tablet

(Including Private Prescription)

Spironolactone is a diuretic medicine that is used in the treatment and management of a wide range of health conditions at varying doses according to which condition it is prescribed to treat. It is sometimes prescribed ‘off-label’ for conditions outside of those listed in the manufacturer’s Patient Information Leaflet, but we would always recommend discussing this with your own GP or Dermatologist first, as you would require a blood test prior to therapy (see further down for more information).

Due to GPhC requirements, you cannot add the medication to your basket here. The drop downs below just show you prices.

You now have to click ‘Start my Consultation’, complete the consultation questions, and after this you can add the medication to your basket.

Prices are for reference only. Decisions about treatment are for both the prescriber and the patient to jointly consider during the consultation. However, the final decision will always be the prescriber's.

Simple once daily tablet
Prescribed for off-label use
Blood test results required before and during use
Genuine UK medication

What do I need to obtain if requesting this medication for off-label use?

Please note: NEW patients MUST have a blood test prior to therapy dated within the last 2 months, and supply the results to our Prescribers.

You MUST request to any laboratory/testing company you use, that BOTH Sodium and Potassium levels are checked. Failure to have one or both of these checked will cause a delay processing your consultation.

Also, your results MUST be obtained from a UK-based laboratory/testing company. Although Sodium and Potassium are considered primarily, all other markers on test results will be checked by our Prescribers and if any levels are deemed unsatisfactory, our Prescribers withhold the right to not supply based on this.

Please send a copy of you results by email to [email protected]. Unfortunately, we are unable to recommend where to obtain results from privately and your own doctor may be able to recommend a suitable location, or carry out the test privately for you. Each page of the results must clearly show your name and date of birth. In addition, you must supply new and up to date photos of your visible symptoms to the best of your ability within the consultation where requested

Please note: Patients MUST supply their GP and Surgery address on their consultation so that we can send a copy of your online consultation and blood test results to them.

Some people may be prescribed this by a Dermatologist, or advised by them to obtain the medication privately for treating unlicensed conditions (acne, hair loss, and hirsutism). As we use this as an unlicensed medication, you would need to speak to your own GP first regarding taking the medication in this way, as we would need to inform your GP with every request whilst on therapy.

What is Spironolactone for?

Spironolactone tablets belong to a group of medicines called potassium-sparing diuretics (water tablets), which help the body lose excess fluid. The medication is only prescribed for females, is non hormonal, and does not act as a contraceptive.

Spironolactone is only licenced by the manufacturer for the treatment of the following conditions:

Heart failure – 25mg once a day as a starting dose. Depending on how well it works for you, the dose can be from 25mg every other day to 50mg once a day.
Build-up of fluid caused by liver disease (ascites) – between 100mg and 400mg a day.
Oedema caused by heart failure – 100mg a day as a starting dose. Depending on well it works for you, the dose can be between 25mg and 200mg a day.
Nephrotic syndrome (a condition caused by kidney disease) – between 100mg and 200mg a day.
High aldosterone levels – 400mg a day as a starting dose, for a few days to a few weeks, to check if high aldosterone levels are the cause of your symptoms. Once confirmed, the long-term dose can be between 100mg and 400mg a day.
High blood pressure (hypertension) – 25mg a day.

How does Spironactone work

Besides being a potassium-sparing diuretic, Spironolactone acts as an anti-androgen that works in two ways. First of all it slows down the production of androgens in the adrenal glands and ovaries. Secondly it blocks the action of androgens in part by preventing dihydrotestosterone from binding to its androgenetic receptor.

More information about Spironolactone

There will likely be many women who have tried numerous oral and topical medicines for their condition and seen little to no improvement in their symptoms, which could be acne, hair loss, hirsutism, etc.

In such situations, your GP or Dermatologist may prescribe you alternative or ‘off-label’/licenced medication to try and treat your symptoms. It is important to remember that this means the medication isn’t officially licenced by the manufacturer for those purposes nor listed for them in the Patient Information Leaflet.

Therefore, if your GP or Dermatologist has exhausted all avenues of licenced oral and topical treatments previously, they could have already prescribed alterative medication for your symptoms. If obtaining these privately however, you will need blood tests for certain readings.

What are the possible side effects of Spironolactone?

Side effects are rare, and most people don’t get any. Possible side effects may vary from one person to the next, as with any medication. You should always read the manufacturer’s Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) before taking this or any other medication.

This will give you important instructions on how and when to take the medication, as well as any possible side effects of the drug.

As this medication is supplied off-label (unlicensed), together with the medication, we will provide a Medical Specialists® leaflet with guidance for its off-label use.

How we package your order

Your medication is placed inside a plain delivery box* for protection, then sealed inside a special tamper-proof Royal Mail envelope before being dispatched from our in-house pharmacy.

Discreet plain packaging / No mention of medication
Our minimum sized delivery box* to protect the medication in transit is: W - 18cm, H - 6.5cm, D - 8.5cm
Royal Mail Tracked 24 or 48 hr (UK addresses)
Royal Mail Special Delivery Before 1pm (UK addresses)
Royal Mail Local Collect (UK addresses)
Royal Mail International Signed For (Overseas addresses)
Some delivery types will require you to sign for the parcel
Some delivery types will require you to show Photo ID for the parcel
Find out more information about delivery types here

References

1. Shaw JC. et al (2002) "Long-term safety of spironolactone in acne: results of an 8-year followup study." J Cutan Med Surg. 6(6):541-5. PMID 12219252

2. Rathnayake D, Sinclair R. (2010) "Use of spironolactone in dermatology." Skinmed. 8(6):328-32. PMID 21413648

3. Rathnayake D, Sinclair R. (2010) "Innovative use of spironolactone as an antiandrogen in the treatment of female pattern hair loss." Dermatol Clin. 28(3):611-8. PMID 20510769

4. Hoedemaker C. et al (2007) "Treatment of female pattern hair loss with a combination of spironolactone and minoxidil." Australas J Dermatol. 48(1):43-5. PMID 17222303