Abstract

Early this year the DHSS directed manufacturers to stop recommending spironolactone for the treatment of hypertension and idiopathic oedema. Spiroprop (spironolactone + propranolol, Searle) intended for treating hypertension was therefore withdrawn. This decision was taken because the Licensing Authority had issued new toxicity data on canrenoate. Two separate unpublished studies from a Japanese pharmaceutical company suggested that high doses of the drug caused monomyelocytic leukaemia in rats.