Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. Adverse events should also be reported to Nova Laboratories Ltd, Martin House, Gloucester Crescent, Wigston, Leicester, LE18 4YL Email: qa@novalabs.co.uk
Indication
Qaialdo® (spironolactone) 10 mg/ml oral suspension is indicated for the use in the management of refractory oedema associated with congestive cardiac failure; hepatic cirrhosis with ascites and oedema, malignant ascites, and nephrotic syndrome; for the diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism; and for essential hypertension.(1)
Qaialdo®’s liquid form enables precise, weight-based dosing, overcoming the challenge of administering medications to children.
The benefits of Qaialdo®
Precise dosing
Qaialdo®’s graduated oral syringes enable accurate and reproducible dosing in 1 mg increments, ensuring precise medication delivery.(1)
Palatable
Strawberry flavoured to increase palatability.(1,2)
Long shelf life
Qaialdo® has a shelf life of 2 years when stored below 25°C.(1)
Qaialdo® is also alcohol and lactose free(1)
Why a liquid suspension?
For young children, liquid formulations are an appropriate and the preferred choice for patients and healthcare professionals alike.(3) They provide a convenient administration that is easy for children to swallow, (4,5,6) and Qaialdo®’s strawberry-flavoured oral suspension also improves palatability, encouraging adherence to treatment in children. (2)
Solid oral formulations, such as tablets, have rigid dose content, limiting dosing flexibility, as splitting or crushing unscored tablets leads to inaccurate dose measurements due to uneven distribution of the active ingredient. (2,7)
With Qaialdo®’s liquid formulation, dosing can be individualised based upon patient’s age and weight, with the graduated oral syringes enabling dosing in 1 mg increments. (1)
Efficacy
Qaialdo® is an effective treatment for paediatric heart failure, with evidence showing it improves heart failure symptoms, is recommended for us in paediatrics, and is suitable for long term use. (8,9,10,11)
Improves heart failure symptoms
Results from the RALES trial showing that co-administration of spironolactone with Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, loop diuretic, and optional digitalis in heart failure patients decreases systolic and diastolic arterial pressures, with potential improvement in atrial pressures. (12)
Recommended for use in paediatrics
Spironolactone is widely used in paediatrics for managing heart failure.(9) Its recommendation for children is derived from adult heart failure guidelines due to the lack of large-scale paediatric trials. (9,10)
Can be used long-term
The diuretic effect of spironolactone makes it a key component for the long-term management of paediatric heart failure.(11) When combined with a conventional diuretic, spironolactone enhances diuresis without causing excessive potassium loss, ensuring safer, sustained treatment. (1)
Mode of action
Spironolactone is a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that blocks aldosterone, a hormone responsible for sodium and water retention. (1) By competitively binding to the mineralocorticoid receptors in the distal renal tubules, it promotes the excretion of sodium and water while conserving potassium. (1,9) Spironolactone exhibits a gradual onset of action, with its effects prolonged by biologically active metabolites formed during metabolism. (1,13)
