When Is the Best Time to Take Spironolactone?

If you’re using (or considering trying) spironolactone for hair loss, you might be wondering, When’s the best time to take spironolactone? The short answer here is that the time you take spironolactone won’t impact its effectiveness.

However, because spironolactone can produce certain side effects, you might prefer to take it in the morning or at night, depending on which symptoms you experience. Or you may need to take it at a certain time to prevent interactions with other medications or supplements.

Before you start using spironolactone, it’s a good idea to understand its side effects and interactions, and to consider them as you decide when to take it. Keep reading below as we discuss how to figure out the best time to take spironolactone.

You can take spironolactone in the morning or at night — the time doesn’t impact its effectiveness. But taking spironolactone at certain times may be more convenient for you. 

Regardless of what the best time to take spironolactone is for you, it’s important to be consistent. This means that if you generally take your medication in the morning, you should continue to take it around the same time every day.

Let’s get into more details on spironolactone timing below. 

Avoiding Side Effects

You might choose to take spironolactone at certain times to avoid certain side effects. 

For example, dizziness is a pretty common side effect of taking spironolactone for hair loss. If you find that spironolactone makes you feel a bit dizzy, you might take it at night to prevent dizziness from putting a damper on your day-to-day activities.

But if spironolactone tends to make you urinate a lot — which can totally happen, as it's a diuretic — you might prefer to take it in the morning to avoid late-night trips to the bathroom. 

If you’re just getting started with spironolactone, consider experimenting with taking it at different times. Try it in the morning, and if the side effects bother you during the day, try it at night. 

Remembering to Take Spironolactone 

The best time to take spironolactone — or any medication, for that matter — is when it’s easiest to remember to take it. 

Spironolactone works better for hair loss when you take it consistently. You’ll want to make it as easy as possible to remember to take it so that you don’t accidentally skip doses. 

If it’s easier to take spironolactone first thing in the morning, then go for it. There’s actually some evidence that medication adherence is better in the morning than in the evening,

However, if it’s easier to remember to take your meds at night, try it then.

Tend to be forgetful? Try setting an alarm or calendar event on your phone so that you remember to take it.

Preventing Drug Interactions

Spironolactone can interact with certain drugs. This means that using it with particular medications can either lower its effectiveness or cause bothersome side effects. 

Before a healthcare provider prescribes spironolactone, they’ll ask you about the medications you’re currently taking. It’s important to disclose any over-the-counter products, supplements, herbs, and prescription meds that are part of your routine.

Your provider may suggest that you avoid using spironolactone at the same time as other medications. For example, certain cholesterol medications — like cholestyramine — should not be taken at the same time as spironolactone. 

For your own safety, it’s essential that you get a healthcare provider’s guidance on using spironolactone with other meds, supplements, and herbs — and stick to their advice.

Spironolactone belongs to a class of drugs called aldosterone receptor antagonists. Spironolactone tablets are sold under the brand name Aldactone^®, while an oral suspension with the brand name Carospir^® is also available.

It’s approved by the FDA to treat various medical conditions, including:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Heart failure

• Edema (excessive swelling) that happens with cirrhosis or with nephrotic syndrome

• Hyperaldosteronism (high levels of the hormone aldosterone)

• Hypokalemia (low potassium levels)

Off-label, spironolactone is an effective treatment for hair loss in women. It may also be used off-label to treat acne and hirsutism, a type of excess hair growth on the face or body that’s caused by high androgen levels.

The medication is so effective for hair loss, in fact, that a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that a majority of women saw hair growth after six months with an average 100-milligram dose of spironolactone.

Spironolactone treats female pattern hair loss by blocking androgens that affect your hair follicles. The main androgen responsible for female hair loss is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is produced as a byproduct of testosterone.

As an anti-androgen medication, spironolactone reduces testosterone levels and prevents DHT from attaching to receptors in your scalp and harming your hair follicles.

But it doesn’t just block DHT. It also regulates your blood pressure by managing the salt and water content of your blood. 

Spironolactone acts as a diuretic (or “water pill”), causing your body to get rid of excess salt and water to reduce fluid retention. To carry out this process, it’ll cause you to urinate a higher-than-normal amount of urine.

Spironolactone is also considered a potassium-sparing diuretic, as it makes the body retain potassium even while excreting sodium and water. 

Before using any medication, it’s important to be aware of the possible side effects. Although these side effects don’t affect everyone, it’s worth keeping these in mind as you decide when to take spironolactone.

Common side effects include:

• Drowsiness

• Frequent urination

• Headaches

• Nausea

• Lightheadedness and dizziness

• Skin rash

• High levels of potassium 

If you experience persistent or serious side effects, your healthcare provider may suggest taking a split dose of spironolactone. This means you take half of your dose at night and half in the morning.

In any case, it’s crucial to closely follow your healthcare provider’s instructions and use spironolactone only as prescribed.

It’s especially important to get help if you think you’re experiencing any serious side effects of spironolactone, like: 

• Dehydration

• Allergic reactions 

• Fast or irregular heartbeat (caused by high potassium levels)

• Gastrointestinal issues

• Low sodium levels, causing muscle weakness

• Changes in sex drive

• Trouble breathing

• Kidney problems

A healthcare professional might order blood tests to determine whether spironolactone is causing any adverse effects, such as high levels of potassium or kidney disease.

Although you can technically take spironolactone at any time, it’s important to consider the following points to ensure you’re taking it safely.

When using spironolactone: 

• Take spironolactone with or without food consistently. Food can affect the speed at which your body absorbs spironolactone, so take your medication either with or without food each time — whichever is your preference. There are also certain foods to avoid with spironolactone, as they may cause high potassium levels. Make sure to be aware of these foods.

• Follow your dosage instructions. Your healthcare provider may give you a low dose of spironolactone to start, then adjust your daily dose over time. Always follow their instructions and adjust your dosage only as prescribed.

• If you use other medications or supplements, inform your provider. Certain medications, especially potassium supplements and potassium-containing salt substitutes, can significantly increase your risk of developing hyperkalemia while using spironolactone.

• Drink plenty of water while taking spironolactone. As a potassium-sparing diuretic, spironolactone can make you pee more frequently than usual. Try to drink lots of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.

• Limit or avoid alcohol. You may also want to limit or cut out your alcohol intake. Combining alcohol and spironolactone can lead to dangerously low blood pressure and other serious side effects.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember — unless it’s almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and just take your next scheduled dose.

Spironolactone generally appears safe to take while breastfeeding. However, you should seek medical advice from your healthcare provider if you’re currently breastfeeding before starting treatment with spironolactone. 

Bear in mind there can be serious drug interactions between spironolactone and other medications, including:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen

• ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors that relax blood vessels to lower blood pressure

• Lithium medications used for mood disorders

• Digoxin (heart failure medication)

If you’re taking prescription medication for heart disease, Addison’s disease, liver disease, or any other medical conditions, be sure to let your provider know. 

When dealing with hair loss, you have multiple options, including spironolactone, a common hair loss and acne treatment for women.

Here’s what to keep in mind:  

• There’s no one best time of day to take spironolactone. The most important thing is to take it consistently at a time that is convenient for you.

• You might want to take it at a certain time to avoid side effects. If it makes you urinate constantly, it could be best to take it during the day. If it makes you drowsy, it might be better to take it at night. 

• Pick a time when you’ll remember to take it. If side effects aren’t an issue, it may be best to pick a time that you’re most likely to remember to take your dose of spironolactone. This may be in the morning for some and in the evening for others.

• It’s important to stick to your healthcare provider’s instructions. They might suggest taking it at a certain time to avoid drug interactions. 

If spironolactone isn’t working for you, the good news is that there are other promising hair loss treatments. 

For example, you could try minoxidil solution or minoxidil foam. For postmenopausal hair loss, topical finasteride and minoxidil spray could be a great choice.  

Concerned about hair loss? Not sure which treatment to look into? Start an online consultation with a licensed healthcare professional to discuss current hair loss treatments.