Hypokalemia is the medical term for low potassium levels in the blood. It can be caused by various conditions (such as hyperaldosteronism) or medications (including other diuretics). Signs of low potassium levels include:

 

The easiest way to correct low potassium levels is by taking potassium. If you cannot take potassium (due to side effects or other problems) or if potassium is not working for you, Aldosterone can be used to increase potassium levels. Aldosterone is also approved to help prevent hypokalemia in people taking digoxin (Digitek^®, Lanoxin^®), since hypokalemia can be especially dangerous in these people.

 

How Does Aldactone Work?

Aldactone is a diuretic, which is commonly referred to as a "water pill." It is known as an "aldosterone antagonist," which means it blocks aldosterone receptors. Aldosterone is a hormone in the body that causes the body to retain water. By blocking aldosterone, Aldactone increases the amount of salt and water that the kidneys remove from the blood. This extra salt and water is passed out through urine. By increasing the amount of water removed from the blood, Aldactone causes a decrease in blood volume. Because of this effect, Aldactone can lower blood pressure and also help with water retention.

 

Aldactone is a "potassium-sparing" diuretic, which means that it does not cause low potassium levels in the blood (like many other diuretics). In fact, Aldactone usually increases potassium levels, an effect which can be used to treat low potassium levels (hypokalemia).