Inspra

The active ingredient in Inspra is eplerenone which is a mineralocorticoid (aldosterone) receptor antagonist. The body naturally produces the hormone aldosterone, which causes your blood pressure to rise by raising the levels of water and salt in your blood. Therefore, blocking aldosterone helps your body eliminate excess water and salt which reduces blood pressure.

The precise mechanism of action by which Inspra treats heart failure is unknown. However, it is believed that the drug protects the heart. People experiencing heart failure will have a lower chance of dying as a result of a post-myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and read all documents provided, including the full Prescribing Information, FDA-Approved Product Labeling, Instructions for Use, and Medication Guide before using Inspra. However, the following is a synopsis of the general guidelines for the use of Inspra:

• Inspra is typically taken once or twice daily, with or without food.
• Your blood pressure must be checked frequently, and you could require blood tests.
• Even if you feel good, continue taking Inspra if you have high blood pressure. Symptoms of high blood pressure are frequently absent. For the rest of your life, you might need to take blood pressure medication.

The most common side effects of eplerenone seen in clinical trials include:

• Nervous system problems.
• Digestive tract issues.
• Shortness of breath.
• Urinary tract problems.
• Skin problems.
• Cough.
• Mental health problems.
• Headaches.
• Dizziness.
• Enlargement of male breasts (gynecomastia).
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding.
• Chest pain.

Some individuals may experience serious side effects while using Inspra. These side effects may require immediate medical attention. If you experience any of the following, contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency medical help:

• Increased risk of hyperkalemia (high potassium levels): irregular heartbeat, nausea, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and tingling.
• Allergic reaction to Inspra: skin rash, hives, or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat.

These are not all of the possible side effects of Inspra. You should always seek medical advice from your healthcare provider for any questions or concerns about your medical condition or treatment. Read all patient information, medication guides, or drug information sheets that come with this medication. You can also report adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before starting Inspra, it is crucial to discuss any existing health conditions with your healthcare provider. You should be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all your medical conditions, including the following:

• If you have hyperkalemia (high potassium levels in the blood), severe kidney illness, type 2 diabetes, or elevated albumin (a protein) in your urine, you may not be able to take this medication.
• If you use any other cardiovascular (heart) or blood pressure drugs, or if you have ever had renal illness, diabetes, liver disease, high cholesterol, or triglycerides, let your doctor know.
• Men's fertility, or their capacity to conceive, may be impacted by this medication.
• When using Inspra, it's a good idea to stick to a low-sodium diet to decrease blood pressure. Selecting potassium-free salt replacements will help reduce the likelihood of experiencing elevated potassium levels when taking Inspra. Additionally, since taking potassium supplements while taking this drug might also result in elevated potassium levels, avoid doing so.
• You will require routine blood testing to monitor your potassium levels while taking Inspra. You must also have your serum creatinine or creatinine clearance evaluated within a week after beginning to take certain drugs (such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ARBS), or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Grapefruit may increase the amount of eplerenone in your body and increase the risk of side effects.
• Avoid salt substitutes unless you are told otherwise by your care team.

You should inform your healthcare professional if you suffer from any of the following conditions, as using Inspra will not be safe for you.

For everyone:

• Extremely elevated potassium levels.
• Severe renal issues.
• Using specific drugs such as clarithromycin, ritonavir (Norvir), or ketoconazole.

For those who suffer from hypertension:

• Microalbuminuria, or excessively high urine protein, is a symptom of type 2 diabetes.
• Kidney issues that range from moderate to severe
• Use in conjunction with potassium supplements or potassium-sparing diuretics, such as triamterene (Dyrenium), amiloride (Midamor), or spironolactone (Aldactone).

Inspra doesn't start working right away. Your blood pressure may start to decrease in as little as two weeks. However, it takes roughly four weeks for this medicine to achieve its full benefits. Therefore, even if you don't see any changes, it's crucial to continue taking this drug. You might want to monitor your blood pressure at home while using this medication.

When Inspra is taken with other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements, it may change how they work or increase the frequency or severity of side effects. Make sure that you tell your healthcare professional about anything that you are taking to avoid any negative drug interactions, including:

• Amiodarone, benazepril, diltiazem, dronedarone, enalapril, lidocaine, lisinopril, olmesartan, valsartan, verapamil, and other medications antihypertensive or heart medications.
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) include celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin, among others.
• Certain medications for fungal infections like itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole.
• Nefazodone.
• Nelfinavir.
• St. John’s Wort.
• Saquinavir.
• Erythromycin.
• Lithium.

Following a heart attack (post-MI), the usual starting dose for heart failure is one 25 mg tablet taken by mouth once daily. The maximum dose of eplerenone is 50 mg once daily.

High blood pressure: 50 mg taken orally once a day is the usual starting dosage. 50 mg taken orally twice daily is the maximum dosage.

Your potassium levels and whether you're taking additional medications like verapamil, amiodarone (Pacerone), fluconazole (Diflucan), or diltiazem (Cardizem) may require a dose adjustment.

Store in a dry, room temperature place and keep out of reach of children.

Pfizer Inc. is the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Inspra.

There are several lower-cost generic versions available of Inspra.

Talk to your doctor if you wish to discontinue taking Inspra. Giving up could worsen your condition. Your doctor might be able to recommend an alternative medication if you wish to stop due to adverse effects.

Whether Inspra is harmful to an unborn child is unknown. However, complications like diabetes or eclampsia can be brought on by high blood pressure during pregnancy. Premature birth is one consequence of heart failure, which can worsen during pregnancy. Treating heart failure or hypertension may be more beneficial than any hazards to the unborn child. Talk to your doctor if you are already pregnant or if you have any plans to become pregnant. They will know or recommend what is best for you.

It is not known if Inspra is found in breast milk or the effect it can have on milk production or your breastfed infant. Talk to your doctor if you are already breastfeeding or if you have any plans to breastfeed. They will know or recommend what is best for you.