What is Eplerenone?
Eplerenone is a prescription medication. The medication is available as an oral tablet under the brand name Inspra. It is an aldosterone receptor antagonist which has been shown to cause persistent increases in plasma renin and serum aldosterone, suggesting that the negative regulatory input of aldosterone on renin secretion is inhibited.
Eplerenone uses
This drug is used to treat high blood pressure alone or in conjunction with other medications. It functions by blocking a chemical in your body called aldosterone, which causes your body to absorb less sodium and water. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and kidney disease. It's also used after a heart attack to treat congestive heart failure.
Eplerenone Side Effects
Some of the common side effects of Eplerenone are:
Most serious side effects of Eplerenone are:
- Chest pain
- Tingling in arms and legs
- Loss of muscle tone
- Lack of energy
- Cold and gray skin
- Irregular heartbeat
Eplerenone can cause some serious side effects and can lead to some serious health problems. Talk with your doctor if you are having any serious problems.
Precautions
Before taking Eplerenone talk with your doctor if you are having any allergic to it or any other medications related to it. The medication may contain some inactive ingredients which will cause serious allergic reactions or some other serious problems. Before taking the drug talk with your doctor if you have any medical history such as High potassium blood levels, kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes. Talk to your doctor if you are taking any prescription and non-prescription medication, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products.
How to use Eplerenone?
Eplerenone comes in the form of tablets which should be taken orally. Mainly, the drug is taken once or twice a day with or without food. The dose is determined by your medical condition (high blood pressure, heart failure), treatment response, and any other drugs you are taking. This drug can take up to 4 weeks to completely affect your blood pressure.
Drug forms and strengths
Generic: Eplerenone
- Form: oral tablet
- Strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg
Brand: Inspra
- Form: oral tablet
- Strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg
Dosage for high blood pressure
Adult dosage (ages 18 to 64 years): 50 mg should be taken once per day
Dosage for heart failure after a heart attack
Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years): 25 mg should be taken once per day
Missed Dose
If you forget to take your dose, try to take it as soon as possible. If you have just a few hours before your next dose, wait and take just one dose at that time. Never try to make up for missed doses by taking two at once. This could have potentially fatal consequences.
Overdose
Overdose of a drug can be accidental. If you have taken more than the prescribed tablets there is a chance of getting a harmful effect on your body’s functions. Overdose of a medicine can lead to some medical emergency.
Warnings for Some Serious Health Conditions
For people with Kidney Disease
You may be at a higher risk of having elevated potassium levels in your blood. To ensure that you will continue taking eplerenone, your doctor can check your kidneys and potassium levels.
For people with Diabetes
If you have diabetes and have protein in your urine, you should avoid using eplerenone. If you do so you'll be more likely to develop hyperkalemia (high potassium levels). Hyperkalemia can cause the following symptoms: tingling, nausea, muscle, fatigue and exhaustion.
For people with High blood pressure
You cannot take this drug if you have high blood pressure or if you have any other conditions. If you have kidney issues, diabetes, or protein in your urine, or if you're taking potassium supplements, talk to your doctor.
Pregnancy
When the mother takes the drug, there is no risk to the foetus, according to animal research. Animal experiments, on the other hand, do not always predict how humans will respond. Furthermore, there haven't been enough clinical trials to determine if the medication poses a danger to human foetus. This medication can only be used during pregnancy if it is absolutely necessary. If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, speak to your doctor.
Breastfeeding
It's unclear if eplerenone moves through breast milk. If it does, it could have significant implications for a breastfed infant. It's up to you and your doctor to determine whether you'll take eplerenone or breastfeed.
Storage
Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. Exposure to medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach. Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).
Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).
Eplerenone vs Spironolactone
Eplerenone |
Spironolactone |
|---|---|
| Eplerenone is a prescription medication. The medication is available as an oral tablet under the brand name Inspra. | Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that helps in preventing the body from absorbing too much salt and also keeps the potassium levels from getting very low. |
| This drug is used to treat high blood pressure alone or in conjunction with other medications. It functions by blocking a chemical in your body called aldosterone. | Spironolactone is used for treating high blood pressure and heart failure. |
Some of the common side effects of Eplerenone are:
|
Common side effects of Spironolactone are:
|
