Spironolactone Ear-Ringing Side Effect
Spironolactone is a medication that is used to treat a number of issues. However, there are a number of considerations to take into account when taking spironolactone, including side effects that may be caused by the drug. Tinnitus, or ringing of the ears, is one of these side effects.
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Spironolactone
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Spironolactone is used to treat people whose bodies produce too much aldosterone, a naturally produced hormone, as well as low potassium, fluid retention and liver, heart and kidney disease. It can cause tinnitus when it is combined with furosemide. Spironolactone is combined with furosemide to increase the amount of urine excreted, which reduces fluid levels in the body.
Side Effects
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All medicines can cause unwanted side effects. However, these should diminish over time as your body grows accustomed to the effects of the drug. As well as tinnitus, spironolactone and furosemide can cause you to experience gout, sexual dysfunction, irregular periods, breast growth, headaches, light-headedness, muscle cramps, dry mouth and rashes. Serious side effects that indicate a problem with how your body is dealing with the medication include diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions and tinnitus.
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Tinnitus
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Tinnitus is a term used to describe a ringing in the ears. Tinnitus can be a side effect of spironolactone when it is mixed with furosemide. If you experience tinnitus while taking spironolactone and furosemide you should contact your doctor immediately, as tinnitus is also caused by other serious conditions, such as brain tumors. Tinnitus can also lead to dizziness and confusion, which can cause serious accidental injury.
Treatment
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As tinnitus is usually a symptom of a different disorder or a side effect of medication, it can usually be treated by treating the cause. In the case of spironolactone and furosemide, the tinnitus should be treated by ceasing to take the medication.
Alternatives
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If spironolactone and furosemide has caused a serious side effect such as tinnitus but you still need to use a diuretic, there are a number of over-the-counter alternatives. There are four groups of diuretics: thiazide, loop, potassium-sparing and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Spironolactone belongs to the potassium-sparing group and furosemide belongs to the loop group. If these drugs have caused tinnitus, ask your pharmacist to recommend drugs from the thiazide group, such as chlorothiazide, methyclothiazide and polythiazide, or the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor group, such as acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide and methazolamide. Because these drugs belong to a different group of diuretics, they are less likely to cause the same serious side effect.
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References
- Photo Credit ear image by Connfetti from Fotolia.com
