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Spironolactone

Also known as: Qaialdo · Aldactone

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In short

In the European Union, spironolactone is indicated for the management of refractory oedema associated with congestive cardiac failure, hepatic cirrhosis with ascites and oedema, malignant ascites, nephrotic syndrome, and for the diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism and essential hypertension. In the United States, spironolactone is indicated to treat NYHA Class III-IV heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, to manage edema in cirrhotic adults unresponsive to fluid and sodium restrictions, to manage edema in nephrotic syndrome when other treatments are inadequate, and to treat primary hyperaldosteronism. It is also indicated in the United States as an add-on therapy to lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

From: Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), Qaialdo — EPAR, 14/07/2026. © European Medicines Agency. · Data provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.

Codes

RxNorm
9997 spironolactone
EMA
EMEA/H/C/005535

Official indications

Quoted unchanged from official product information, in English. Listed alphabetically by product, not ranked.

EMA (EU) Qaialdo

In the management of refractory oedema associated with congestive cardiac failure; hepatic cirrhosis with ascites and oedema, malignant ascites, nephrotic syndrome, diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism, essential hypertension. Neonates, children and adolescents should only be treated under guidance of a paediatric specialist (see sections 5.1 and 5.2).

Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), Qaialdo — EPAR, 14/07/2026. © European Medicines Agency.

Document date: 14/07/2026 · Official document →

FDA (USA) SPIRONOLACTONE

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Spironolactone tablets are an aldosterone antagonist indicated for: The treatment of NYHA Class III-IV heart failure and reduced ejection fraction to increase survival, manage edema, and to reduce the need for hospitalization for heart failure ( 1.1 ). Use as an add-on therapy for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions ( 1.2 ). The management of edema in adult patients who are cirrhotic when edema is not responsive to fluid and sodium restrictions and in the setting of nephrotic syndrome when treatment of the underlying disease, restriction of fluid and sodium intake, and the use of other diuretics produce an inadequate response ( 1.3 ). Treatment of primary hyperaldosternism for: ( 1.4 ) • Short-term preoperative treatment • Long-term maintenance for patients with discrete aldosterone-producing adrenal adenomas who are not candidates for surgery and patients with bilateral micro or macronodular adrenal hyperplasia 1.1 Heart Failure Spironolactone tablets are indicated for treatment of NYHA Class III-IV heart failure and reduced ejection fraction to increase survival, manage edema, and reduce the need for hospitalization for heart failure. Spironolactone tablets are usually administered in conjunction with other heart failure therapies. 1.2 Hypertension Spironolactone tablets are indicated as add-on therapy for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure in patients who are not adequately controlled on other agents. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes. Control of high blood pressure should be part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk management, including, as appropriate, lipid control, diabetes management, antithrombotic therapy, smoking cessation, exercise, and limited sodium intake. Many patients will require more than one drug to achieve blood pressure goals. For specific advice on goals and management, see published guidelines, such as those of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program’s Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC). Numerous antihypertensive drugs, from a variety of pharmacologic classes and with different mechanisms of action, have been shown in randomized controlled trials to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and it can be concluded that it is blood pressure reduction, and not some other pharmacologic property of the drugs, that is largely responsible for those benefits. The largest and most consistent cardiovascular outcome benefit has been a reduction in the risk of stroke, but reductions in myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality also have been seen regularly. Elevated systolic or diastolic pressure causes increased cardiovascular risk, and the absolute risk increase per mmHg is greater at higher blood pressures, so that even modest reductions of severe hypertension can provide substantial benefit. Relative risk reduction from blood pressure reduction is similar across populations with varying absolute risk, so the absolute benefit is greater in patients who are at higher risk independent of their hypertension (for example, patients with diabetes or hyperlipidemia), and such patients would be expected to benefit from more aggressive treatment to a lower blood pressure goal. Some antihypertensive drugs have smaller blood pressure effects (as monotherapy) in black patients, and many antihypertensive drugs have additional approved indications and effects (e.g., on angina, heart failure, or diabetic kidney disease). These considerations may guide selection of therapy. 1.3 Edema Associated with Hepatic Cirrhosis or Nephrotic Syndrome Spironolactone tablets are indicated for the management of edema in the following settings: Cirrhosis of the liver when edema is not responsive to fluid and sodium restriction. Nephrotic syndrome when treatment of the underlying disease, restriction of fluid and sodium intake, and the use of other diuretics produce an inadequate response. Because it increases serum potassium, spironolactone tablets may be useful for treating edema when administration of other diuretics has caused hypokalemia. 1.4 Primary Hyperaldosteronism Spironolactone tablets are indicated in the following settings: Short-term preoperative treatment of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism. Long-term maintenance therapy for patients with discrete aldosterone-producing adrenal adenomas who are not candidates for surgery. Long-term maintenance therapy for patients with bilateral micro or macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (idiopathic hyperaldosteronism).

Data provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Document date: 20260909 · Official document →

Related terms in the cited sources

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Questions

What is Spironolactone approved for in the European Union?

In the management of refractory oedema associated with congestive cardiac failure; hepatic cirrhosis with ascites and oedema, malignant ascites, nephrotic syndrome, diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism, essential hypertension. Neonates, children and adolescents should only be treated under guidance of a paediatric specialist (see sections 5.1 and 5.2). (Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), Qaialdo — EPAR, 14/07/2026. © European Medicines Agency.)

Sources and attribution

  • Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA) — EPAR. © European Medicines Agency.
  • Data provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  • Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
  • This product uses publicly available data from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services; NLM is not responsible for the product and does not endorse or recommend this or any other product.
  • Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), Qaialdo — EPAR, 14/07/2026. © European Medicines Agency.

Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →