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Timing of Potassium Level Monitoring Among Females With Acne Treated With Spironolactone Is Not Optimal
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The use of spironolactone as a therapy for acne in females is increasing. In cardiology literature, it is recommended to check potassium levels between 1 and 4 weeks of spironolactone initiation. Dermatology literature suggests potassium level monitoring within 1 week of drug initiation. This study assessed the trends in potassium level monitoring among females with acne receiving spironolactone. The results showed that 73.0% of the patients had their potassium levels checked within 180 days of starting spironolactone, with only 5.5% undergoing monitoring within the suggested 1-week period. The majority of patients who underwent potassium level monitoring were aged 45 years or older.
- Although there is no consensus on potassium level monitoring, it is still standard of care to perform routine potassium monitoring for patients on spironolactone, especially those older than 45 years, with several comorbidities, or with a concern for drug–drug interactions.
abstract
This abstract is available on the publisher's site.
Access this abstract now Full Text Available for ClinicalKey SubscribersSpironolactone is increasingly prescribed for female patients with acne. While potassium monitoring may be of low value in young, healthy females, monitoring is still recommended for those with risk factors such as age, comorbidities, or concurrent medications. In addition, given limited trial data evaluating the safety of spironolactone for acne, some patients and clinicans may prefer monitoring as part of shared decision making. In routine clinical practice, potassium monitoring is considered for over a third of patients treated with spironolactone.
Additional Info
Timing of Potassium Monitoring in Females Treated for Acne with Spironolactone Is Not Optimal: a Retrospective Cohort Study
J Am Acad Dermatol 2024 Jul 19;[EPub Ahead of Print], J Lai, AL Zaenglein, JS BarbieriFrom MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.