Influence of food intake on antihypertensive drugs: spironolactone.

: A series of studies has been initiated to examine the influence of concomitant food intake on the effects of antihypertensive drugs during long-term therapy. In the present study, the therapeutic effect of spironolactone and the steady-state concentrations of its major, active metabolite canrenone were compared in 10 hypertensive patients after two 60-day periods of spironolactone treatment, 100 mg once daily, prescribed to be ingested before and together with breakfast, respectively. There was no significant difference in the blood pressure and heart rate values during the two treatment periods, and the canrenone levels were similar. As spironolactone can cause gastric irritation, the present findings support the recommendation that spironolactone always be prescribed for once-daily intake together with breakfast.