Eplerenone blocks the actions of the hormone aldosterone in the body. Aldosterone is important for the regulation of blood pressure.

Eplerenone is used to treat congestive heart failure after a heart attack. Eplerenone is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Eplerenone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You may not be able to take this medication if you have severe kidney disease, high potassium levels in your blood, or type 2 diabetes with protein in your urine.

You also may not be able to take eplerenone if you are also taking ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), nefazodone, clarithromycin (Biaxin), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), or troleandomycin (Tao).

Before taking eplerenone, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides.

Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking eplerenone, unless your doctor has told you to.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition and is not causing harmful effects, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. Your potassium levels will also need to be checked with frequent blood tests. Visit your doctor regularly.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

You may not be able to take this medication if you are allergic to eplerenone, or if you have:

• high potassium levels in your blood (hyperkalemia);

• severe kidney disease;

• type 2 diabetes with protein in your urine; or

• if you are also taking ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), nefazodone, clarithromycin (Biaxin), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), or troleandomycin (Tao).

To make sure you can safely take eplerenone, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease;

• liver disease; or

• high cholesterol or triglycerides;

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether eplerenone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.