A Literature Review of the Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Possible Uses of Spironolactone

Spironolactone (SL) is an antimineralocorticoid derived from progesterone, and was therefore developed as a diuretic for hypertension edema treatment (Kolkhof & Barfacker, 2017). As prodrug, its effects are largely mediated by metabolites, 7α-thiomethylspironolactone canrenone (Janowski et al., 1996), which ultimately eliminated through the urine (Abshagen 1977). Later on, it discovered that SL also exhibits moderate antiandrogenic activity due to structural similarity progesterone (Menard, 2004), allowing be used off-label hyperandrogenism associated symptoms, such hirsutism acne (Voegli 2009). researchers continue elucidate role of mineralocorticoid receptors in cognition behaviour, new possibilities anxiolytic may emerge future (Otte 2007). With all being said, SL’s sexual side-effects, especially males, limit various applications this multi-use drug.