III. Mechanism

  1. Selective Aldosterone Receptor Antagonist
  2. More selective for Aldosterone than Spironolactone
  3. These agents are also Potassium-Sparing Diuretics

IV. Pharmacokinetics

  1. Liver metabolism to active metabolite (canrenone)
  2. Half-Life: 4-6 hours

VI. Dosing

  1. Hypertension
    1. Start: 50 mg orally daily
      1. Decrease starting dose to 25 mg orally daily if using strong Cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitor
    2. May increase to 50 mg orally twice daily after 4 weeks
  2. Congestive Heart Failure
    1. Start: 25 mg orally daily for 4 weeks (then increase to target dose if tolerated)
    2. Target: 50 mg orally daily

VIII. Drug Interactions

  1. Increased Serum Potassium (Hyperkalemia risk)
    1. Potassium Supplementation
    2. NSAIDs
    3. ACE Inhibitor
    4. Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole
  2. Digoxin
    1. Increased Digoxin Toxicity risk via increased Digoxin half life
  3. Norepinephrine
    1. Decreases NorepinephrineVasopressor activity
  4. Cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (e.g. Ketoconazole)
    1. Significantly increases Eplerenone levels

IX. References

  1. Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster, Miami, p. 62-3
  2. Hamilton (2010) Tarason Pocket Pharmacopeia, p. 74
  3. (2003) Lexi-Comp Drug Database
  4. (2003) Med Lett Drugs Ther 45(1156):39-40 [PubMed]
  5. Stier (2003) Heart Dis 5(2):102-18 [PubMed]

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

Related Studies

Cost: Medications

eplerenone (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
EPLERENONE 25 MG TABLET Generic $0.65 each
EPLERENONE 50 MG TABLET Generic $0.77 each

Ontology: Aldosterone Antagonists (C0002007)

Definition (CSP) agent that counteracts or opposes the action of aldosterone.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121)
MSH D000451
SnomedCT 346312000, 372603003
English Antagonists, Aldosterone, aldosterone inhibitor, ALDOSTERONE ANTAG, Aldosterone Antagonists, aldosterone inhibitors, aldosterone antagonists, aldosterone antagonist, antagonist aldosterone, Aldosterone antagonists, Aldosterone antagonists (product), Aldosterone antagonists (substance), Aldosterone antagonist (substance), Aldosterone antagonist
Spanish antagonista de la aldosterona (sustancia), antagonista de la aldosterona, antagonistas de la aldosterona (sustancia), antagonistas de la aldosterona, Antagonistas de Aldosterona, antagonista de aldosterona (producto), antagonista de aldosterona, antagonistas de aldosterona (producto), antagonistas de aldosterona (sustancia), antagonistas de aldosterona
French Antagonistes de l'aldostérone, Anti-aldostérones, Antialdostérones
Swedish Aldosteronblockerare
Finnish Aldosteroniantagonistit
Czech antagonisté aldosteronu, aldosteron - antagonisté
German Aldosteronantagonisten, Aldosteron-Antagonisten
Italian Antagonisti dell'aldosterone
Croatian ALDOSTERONSKI ANTAGONISTI
Norwegian Aldosteronantagonister
Portuguese Antagonistas da Aldosterona

Ontology: eplerenone (C0961485)

Definition (NCI) A selective aldosterone receptor antagonist. Eplerenone binds to the mineralocorticoid receptor and blocks the binding of aldosterone, thereby decreasing sodium resorption and subsequently increasing water outflow. This leads to a decrease in blood pressure. Eplerenone is used in the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Steroid (T110)
MSH C414690
SnomedCT 398699008, 407010008
English 9,11alpha-Epoxy-17-hydroxy-3-oxo-17alpha-pregn-4-ene-7alpha,21-dicarboxylic acid, gamma-lactone, Methyl Ester, eplerenone (medication), eplerenon, EPLERENONE, eplerenone [Chemical/Ingredient], eplerenone, 9,11-epoxy-7-(methoxycarbonyl)-3-oxo-17-pregn-4-ene-21,17-carbolactone, Eplerenone (product), Eplerenone (substance), Eplerenone
Spanish eplerenona (producto), eplerenona (sustancia), eplerenona

Ontology: Inspra (C1144054)

Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Steroid (T110)
MSH C414690
English Inspra, Pfizer brand of eplerenone, inspra