Supplements Print Should I Take Spironolactone for Weight Loss? Diuretics flush the water, but not the weight Medically reviewed by facebook linkedin Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on December 13, 2018 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard N. Fogoros, MD Written by facebook twitter linkedin instagram Written by Darla Leal Darla Leal is a Master Fitness Trainer, freelance writer, and the creator of Stay Healthy Fitness, where she embraces a "fit-over-55" lifestyle. Learn about our editorial policy Darla Leal Updated on June 25, 2019 More in Weight Loss Supplements Basics Procedures Nutrition for Weight Loss Exercise for Weight Loss Diet Plans Medications In This Article Table of Contents Expand Overview Prescribed Uses Effectiveness Should I Take It? Safety View All Back To Top Obesity and being overweight affects close to 40 percent of United States adults according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This epidemic has caused many people to turn to fad diets, fat-burning supplements, and prescription drugs for quick weight loss. One drug prescribed for weight loss is spironolactone. However, there has not been any scientific study to evaluate this medication specifically for weight loss. Though it is often prescribed, it remains unclear if spironolactone is effective for losing weight. Illustration by Emily Roberts, Verywell. What Is Spironolactone? Spironolactone (Aldactone) is a prescribed diuretic which means that it causes fluid elimination from the body, according to Philadelphia weight loss physician Dr. Charlie Seltzer. Spironolactone was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat a variety of health issues. It is described as a potassium-sparing diuretic or water pill. As your body flushes water, spironolactone is supposed to prevent your body from absorbing too much sodium and keep your potassium levels from getting too low. The primary function of spironolactone is treating fluid retention in the body and this often leads to weight loss. However, the weight loss that occurs consists of only water weight. Diuretics effectively flush out water from the body, not fat. Spironolactone also blocks the body's androgen receptor and some of the production of androgens, says Seltzer. Androgens are a group of hormones responsible for male traits and reproductive activity. Androgens are made in the testes, ovaries, and adrenal glands. Testosterone is the main androgen in men and converts into the estrogen hormone in women. Prescribed Uses Spironolactone is prescribed to treat several health conditions, according to Dr. Seltzer, including the following: High blood pressureFluid buildup from liver diseaseLow potassium (it raises levels, giving its name “potassium-sparing”)Symptoms related to excess androgen production in females Women who produce too much testosterone are often prescribed spironolactone to decrease the symptoms caused by an overproduction of this hormone. The following conditions are related to excess androgen production in females: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)Excessive body or facial hair growthAcneFemale-pattern hair loss Does It Work for Weight Loss? No scientific studies have examined spironolactone specific to weight loss, so its effectiveness for this purpose remains unknown. Spironolactone will cause the elimination of water from the body causing weight loss, but it does not cause fat loss directly, according to Dr. Seltzer. Losing body water is not the same as losing body fat through healthy nutrition and exercise. You may become less bloated using a diuretic, but the weight will return once body fluid levels return to normal. In some cases, taking spironolactone might result in the loss of body fat. For instance, a woman who already has high testosterone levels that contribute to insulin resistance (making it difficult to lose body fat) may find that lowering these levels with spironolactone helps with fat loss. On the other hand, testosterone often raises metabolism and makes building muscle easier, suggests Seltzer. This makes lowering the levels with medication a double-edged sword. Although spironolactone may relieve symptoms caused by fluid retention and could be helpful for specific health conditions, there is no evidence that it promotes healthy long-term weight loss. Should I Take It? No one should ever take a water pill to lose weight, according to Dr. Seltzer. However, spironolactone can be used effectively for specific health conditions. For instance, a woman with PCOS (causing high testosterone levels) who experiences hair loss or excess body hair may be prescribed spironolactone to relieve these symptoms. Spironolactone should not be taken unless prescribed by a health care professional. If you are taking spironolactone, your blood levels should be monitored regularly. Side Effects and Health Concerns Taking any prescribed medication, including spironolactone, comes with side effects. Spironolactone can cause changes in blood levels of potassium, according to Dr. Seltzer. If changes are severe enough, this can result in death. Spironolactone can interact with other drugs and may be harmful if taken during pregnancy. It can cause breast tenderness, a stopping of periods for women, among many other symptoms. Some of the most common side effects of taking spironolactone include: Stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrheaDry mouthHeadacheDizzinessDrowsinessIrregular menstrual periodsPost-menopausal vaginal bleedingEnlarged breast tissue in men (gynecomastia)Breast tenderness in women Other more severe side effects include: Muscle pain or weaknessDecreased urination Flu-like symptomsArrhythmiaConfusionNumbness or tinglingDifficulty breathing or swallowingUnusual bleeding or bruisingSerious skin reactions Though it may help in specific cases, spironolactone is not a weight loss drug, says Seltzer. It needs to be used with caution and under the supervision of a qualified health care provider. A Word From Verywell Spironolactone is a prescribed diuretic (water pill) that eliminates water from the body to help treat conditions like high blood pressure. It acts differently than other potassium-sparing water pills and it does not allow your body to absorb much sodium. The medication blocks the body's androgen receptor and is said to reduce symptoms caused by an overproduction of androgen hormone (testosterone). This may be helpful for women with high testosterone and struggling with PCOS. Spironolactone is approved by the FDA to treat a variety of health conditions. Scientific studies have not been conducted using spironolactone for weight loss. The drug may be helpful to reduce water weight caused by fluid retention but not a solution for losing fat weight. Please consult your health care professional prior to taking any medications. Can Natural Weight Loss Supplements Help or Harm You? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get one simple hack every day to make your life healthier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Butler J, Anstrom KJ, Felker GM, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Spironolactone in Acute Heart Failure: The ATHENA-HF Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiology. 2017. DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2017.2198 Faconti L et al. Cardiac Effects of 6 Months' Dietary Nitrate and Spironolactone in Patients With Hypertension and With/At Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, in the Factorial Design, Double-Blind, Randomised-Controlled, VASERA TRIAL. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2018. DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13783 Layton AM et al. Oral Spironolactone for Acne Vulgaris in Adult Females: A Hybrid Systematic Review. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2017. DOI: 10.1007/s40257-016-0245-x Pitt B et al. Spironolactone for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction. New England Journal of Medicine. 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2018.03.002 Yu BC, Lee MS, Moon JJ, et al. Efficacy of Low-Dose Spironolactone on Top of Angiotensin Receptor Blockade in Patients With Glomerulonephritis. Kidney Res Clin Pract. 2018. DOI: 10.23876/j.krcp.2018.37.3.257 Continue Reading