Spirolon Side Effects

Like all medicines this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Patients must be advised to inform the doctor immediately if they experience any of the following symptoms after taking this medicine. Although they are very rare, the symptoms can be severe: itchiness and blistering of the skin around the lips and the rest of the body, red or purple rash spreading and forming blisters (Stevens-Johnson syndrome); detachment of the top layer of skin from the lower layers of skin, all over the body (toxic epidermal necrolysis - TEN); skin rash, fever and swelling [which could be symptoms of something more serious, Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)]; yellow skin and eyes (jaundice); Spirolon can cause impairment of liver function; irregular heartbeat that can be fatal, tingling sensation, paralysis (loss of muscle function) or difficulty in breathing (which may be symptoms of raised potassium levels in the blood) (regular blood tests will be conducted to monitor potassium and other electrolyte levels and treatment may be stopped if necessary.).
List of other side effects of Spirolon by frequency: Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): Raised potassium in the blood.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): Confusion; Dizziness; Vomiting and feeling sick; Rash; Itching of the skin; Muscle or leg cramps; Kidney failure or abnormal function; Breast enlargement in men; Breast pain (in men); Feeling generally unwell.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): Changes in the breast such as breast lumps; Disturbances in body electrolytes such as high blood calcium; Abnormal functioning of the liver; Skin allergy with development of itchiness and hives, nettle-like rash; Breast pain (in women); Menstrual problems in women.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data): Lowered white blood cell count in blood; Reduced number of cells that fight infection - white blood cells which make infections more likely; Reduced number of cells that help with clotting which increases risk of bleeding or bruising; Change in sex drive for both men and women; Digestion problems, stomach upset; Skin condition presenting with fluid-filled blisters (pemphigoid); Excessive hair growth; Hair loss.