Drug Interactions between budesonide and spironolactone

You should avoid the regular consumption of large amounts of grapefruits and grapefruit juice while taking budesonide. Grapefruit can raise the levels of budesonide in your body and lead to increased side effects. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Spironolactone and ethanol (alcohol) may have additive effects in lowering your blood pressure. You may experience headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and/or changes in pulse or heart rate. These side effects are most likely to be seen at the beginning of treatment, following a dose increase, or when treatment is restarted after an interruption. Let your doctor know if you develop these symptoms and they do not go away after a few days or they become troublesome. Avoid driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you, and use caution when getting up from a sitting or lying position. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Acidosis alters the ratio of extracellular to intracellular potassium and may commonly lead to rapid increases in serum potassium levels. Conversely, high serum potassium concentrations may potentiate acidosis. Because of their hyperkalemic effects, therapy with potassium-sparing diuretics should be avoided in patients with metabolic or respiratory acidosis. These agents should be used cautiously in patients in whom acidosis may occur, such as patients with cardiopulmonary disease, severe respiratory disease, or poorly controlled diabetes. Acid-base balance and serum potassium levels should be monitored at regular intervals.

Potassium-sparing diuretics can cause hyperkalemia, which may result in life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Patients with diabetes mellitus, with or without nephropathy, may be particularly susceptible to the hyperkalemic effect of these drugs due to a defect in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis. Therapy with potassium-sparing diuretics should be avoided, if possible, in patients with diabetes, especially uncontrolled or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. If these drugs are used, serum potassium levels and renal function should be monitored at regular intervals. Determination of serum electrolytes is especially important during initiation of therapy, after a dosage adjustment, and during illness that could alter renal function.

Acidosis alters the ratio of extracellular to intracellular potassium and may commonly lead to rapid increases in serum potassium levels. Conversely, high serum potassium concentrations may potentiate acidosis. Because of their hyperkalemic effects, therapy with potassium-sparing diuretics should be avoided in patients with metabolic or respiratory acidosis. These agents should be used cautiously in patients in whom acidosis may occur, such as patients with cardiopulmonary disease, severe respiratory disease, or poorly controlled diabetes. Acid-base balance and serum potassium levels should be monitored at regular intervals.

All diuretics may cause or aggravate fluid and electrolyte disturbances. Potassium-sparing diuretics may cause hyperkalemia and, infrequently, hyponatremia. The latter generally occurs when these agents are combined with other diuretics such as thiazides or used in markedly edematous patients with restricted sodium intake. Therapy with potassium-sparing diuretics should be administered cautiously in patients with or predisposed to electrolyte abnormalities. Electrolyte imbalances should be corrected prior to initiating therapy, and serum electrolyte concentrations should be monitored periodically and maintained at normal ranges during therapy. Determination of serum electrolytes is especially important during initiation of therapy, after a dosage adjustment, and during illness that could alter renal function.

The use of potassium-sparing diuretics is contraindicated in the presence of elevated serum potassium concentrations (> 5.5 mEq/L). Potassium-sparing diuretics can cause hyperkalemia, which may result in life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Careful monitoring of serum potassium levels is necessary in all patients treated with potassium-sparing diuretics, especially during initiation of therapy, after dosage adjustment, and during illness that could alter renal function. The diuretic should be withdrawn immediately if hyperkalemia develops, and measures should be initiated to lower serum potassium if it exceeds 6.5 mEq/L. The combined use of a potassium-sparing diuretic with a kaliuretic diuretic (e.g., thiazides) may decrease the risk of hyperkalemia.

All diuretics may cause or aggravate fluid and electrolyte disturbances. Potassium-sparing diuretics may cause hyperkalemia and, infrequently, hyponatremia. The latter generally occurs when these agents are combined with other diuretics such as thiazides or used in markedly edematous patients with restricted sodium intake. Therapy with potassium-sparing diuretics should be administered cautiously in patients with or predisposed to electrolyte abnormalities. Electrolyte imbalances should be corrected prior to initiating therapy, and serum electrolyte concentrations should be monitored periodically and maintained at normal ranges during therapy. Determination of serum electrolytes is especially important during initiation of therapy, after a dosage adjustment, and during illness that could alter renal function.

Acidosis alters the ratio of extracellular to intracellular potassium and may commonly lead to rapid increases in serum potassium levels. Conversely, high serum potassium concentrations may potentiate acidosis. Because of their hyperkalemic effects, therapy with potassium-sparing diuretics should be avoided in patients with metabolic or respiratory acidosis. These agents should be used cautiously in patients in whom acidosis may occur, such as patients with cardiopulmonary disease, severe respiratory disease, or poorly controlled diabetes. Acid-base balance and serum potassium levels should be monitored at regular intervals.

The use of potassium-sparing diuretics is contraindicated in patients with anuria, acute or progressive renal insufficiency, or diabetic nephropathy. Potassium-sparing diuretics can cause hyperkalemia, which may result in life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Patients with impaired renal function may be particularly susceptible to the hyperkalemic effect of these drugs. Therapy with potassium-sparing diuretics should be administered cautiously in patients with evidence of renal function impairment (BUN > 30 mg/dL or serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL). If these drugs are used, serum potassium levels and renal function should be monitored at regular intervals. Determination of serum electrolytes is especially important during initiation of therapy, after a dosage adjustment, and during illness that could alter renal function.

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may cause posterior subcapsular cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure, the latter of which may lead to glaucoma and/or damage to the optic nerves. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously nonetheless in patients with a history of cataracts, glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure. Although adverse effects of corticosteroids may be minimized by local rather than systemic administration, the risks are not entirely abolished. Inhaled and nasally applied drug may be absorbed into the circulation, especially when large doses are used. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may cause posterior subcapsular cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure, the latter of which may lead to glaucoma and/or damage to the optic nerves. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously nonetheless in patients with a history of cataracts, glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure. Although adverse effects of corticosteroids may be minimized by local rather than systemic administration, the risks are not entirely abolished. Inhaled and nasally applied drug may be absorbed into the circulation, especially when large doses are used. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

Potassium-sparing diuretics have been reported to elevate serum uric acid levels. Therapy with these agents should be administered cautiously in patients with a history of gout.

The use of corticosteroids may rarely precipitate or aggravate conditions of hyperadrenocorticism. Although adverse effects of corticosteroids may be minimized by local rather than systemic administration, the risks are not entirely abolished. Inhaled and nasally applied drug may be absorbed into the circulation, especially when large doses are used. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used. The development of symptoms such as menstrual irregularities, acneiform lesions, cataracts and cushingoid features during inhaled or nasal corticosteroid therapy may indicate excessive use.

The immunosuppressant and anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids, particularly in higher dosages, may decrease host resistance to infectious agents, decrease the ability to localize infections, and mask the symptoms of infection. Secondary infections may be more likely to develop. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with an infection, particularly active or quiescent tuberculosis or in hepatitis B carriers. Monitor patients for any new or worsening infection and use with caution in these patients. A serious or even fatal course of chickenpox and measles can occur in susceptible patients. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

Some inhaled corticosteroid formulations contain lactose and may cause adverse reactions including cough, wheezing and bronchospasm in patients with severe milk protein allergy or intolerance. Caution is advised.

Rapid alterations in fluid and electrolyte balance may precipitate hepatic coma in patients with liver disease. Hepatic encephalopathy has been associated with the use of diuretics, most frequently thiazides but also some potassium-sparing diuretics. Therapy with all diuretics should be administered cautiously in patients with impaired hepatic function. These patients should be monitored carefully for signs and symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy such as tremors, confusion, increased jaundice, and coma.

Corticosteroids are predominantly cleared by hepatic metabolism and impairment of the liver function may lead to their accumulation. Patients with hepatic disease should be closely monitored.

Pharmacologic dosages of corticosteroids may increase the risk of corneal perforation in patients with ocular herpes simplex. Therapy with inhaled and nasal corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in such patients.

Prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids may be associated with a reduction in bone density. This effect appears to be dose-related and has been reported primarily with high dosages (800 mcg/day or more of beclomethasone or equivalent for 1 year or greater). Reduced levels of total body calcium have also been demonstrated in patients receiving lower dosages. Long-term therapy with inhaled and nasal corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with osteoporosis. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

The immunosuppressant and anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids, particularly in higher dosages, may decrease host resistance to infectious agents, decrease the ability to localize infections, and mask the symptoms of infection. Secondary infections may be more likely to develop. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with an infection, particularly active or quiescent tuberculosis or in hepatitis B carriers. Monitor patients for any new or worsening infection and use with caution in these patients. A serious or even fatal course of chickenpox and measles can occur in susceptible patients. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.