Potassium canrenoate ( INN, JAN) or canrenoate potassium ( USAN) (brand names Venactone, Soldactone), also known as aldadiene kalium, the

potassium Potassium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol K (from Neo-Latin ) and atomic number19. It is a silvery white metal that is soft enough to easily cut with a knife. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmospheric oxygen to ...

salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

of canrenoic acid, is an aldosterone antagonist of the

spirolactone Spirolactones are a class of functional group in organic chemistry featuring a cyclic ester attached spiro to another ring system. The name is also used to refer to a class of synthetic steroids, called steroid-17α-spirolactones, 17α-spirol ...

group. Like

spironolactone Spironolactone, sold under the brand name Aldactone among others, is classed as a diuretic medication. It can be used to treat edema, fluid build-up due to hepatic cirrhosis, liver disease or kidney disease. It is also used to reduce risk o ...

, it is a

prodrug A prodrug is a pharmacologically inactive medication or compound that, after intake, is metabolized (i.e., converted within the body) into a pharmacologically active drug. Instead of administering a drug directly, a corresponding prodrug can be ...

, and is

metabolized Metabolism (, from ''metabolē'', "change") is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main functions of metabolism are: the conversion of the energy in food to energy available to run cellular processes; the co ...

to active

canrenone Canrenone, sold under the brand names Contaren, Luvion, Phanurane, and Spiroletan, is a steroidal antimineralocorticoid of the spirolactone group related to spironolactone which is used as a diuretic in Europe, including in Italy and Belgium. It ...

in the body. Potassium canrenoate is notable in that it is the only clinically used antimineralocorticoid which is available for

parenteral In pharmacology and toxicology, a route of administration is the way by which a drug, fluid, poison, or other substance is taken into the body. Routes of administration are generally classified by the location at which the substance is applied. ...

administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal: the process of dealing with or controlling things or people. ** Administrative assistant, traditionally known as a se ...

(specifically

intravenous Intravenous therapy (abbreviated as IV therapy) is a medical technique that administers fluids, medications and nutrients directly into a person's vein. The intravenous route of administration is commonly used for rehydration or to provide nutr ...

) as opposed to

oral administration Oral administration is a route of administration whereby a substance is taken through the Human mouth, mouth, swallowed, and then processed via the digestive system. This is a common route of administration for many medications. Oral administ ...

. In the UK, it is unlicensed and only used for short term diuresis in oedema or heart failure in neonates or children under specialist initiation and monitoring.

References

11β-Hydroxylase inhibitors Antimineralocorticoids CYP17A1 inhibitors Pregnanes Potassium compounds Prodrugs Progestogens Spirolactones Steroidal antiandrogens {{cardiovascular-drug-stub

See also

References