Can I go out in the sun while taking spironolactone?

The FDA information for spironolactone does not include a warning for hypersensitivity to sun exposure.¹ There are no reports of increased photosensitivity as an adverse reaction in the Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study (RALES).² In the treatment group of 822 patients with New York Heart Association Class III-IV heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, 674 patients experienced one or more adverse events, none of which was photosensitivity.²

However, many other antihypertensive diuretics have been shown to induce photosensitivity.^3,4 Caution is recommended as spironolactone may be used in conjunction with these medications. For example, aldactazide contains equal amounts of spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide in a single tablet form.⁵ Hydrochlorothiazide can cause photosensitivity.⁵

^References

1. FDA. Aldactone. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2008/012151s062lbl.pdf. Accessed August 16, 2017.
2. Pitt B, Zannad F, Remme WJ, et al. The effect of spironolactone on morbidity and mortality in patients with severe heart failure. Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study Investigators. The New England journal of medicine. Sep 02 1999;341(10):709-717.
3. Levine JI. Medications That Increase Sensitivity To Light. 1990; https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/SurgicalandTherapeutic/UCM135813.pdf. Accessed September 25, 2017.
4. FDA. The Sun and Your Medicine. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/specialfeatures/ucm464195.htm. Accessed September 25, 2017.
5. FDA. Aldactazide. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/012616s074lbl.pdf. Accessed September 25, 2017.