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Patient handout

Primary aldosteronism (Conn syndrome)

PRODUCTION

1. Your condition

This handout is for primary aldosteronism (conn syndrome). Your care team identified this based on: resistant htn (≥3 antihypertensives incl diuretic) at goal not achieved (ada 2026).

Other reasons your team may use this plan: spontaneous hypokalemia or thiazide-induced disproportionate hypokalemia (ada 2026); htn onset <30 yr (ada 2026); adrenal incidentaloma with htn (ada 2026).

2. Your medications

Take these medications exactly as prescribed. Do not stop or change a dose without talking to your provider.

MedicationStarting doseHowWhenWhat it does
spironolactone12.5–25 mgPOdaily, titrate to 100–200 mgFirst-line MRA; gynecomastia common (ADA 2026)
eplerenone25 mg BIDPOBID, titrate to 100 mg/daySelective MRA; fewer endocrine SE; renal dose adjust (ADA 2026)
amiloride5–10 mgPOdailyDistal Na+ channel blocker; K-sparing (ADA 2026)
triamterene50–100 mgPOBIDAlternative K-sparing (ADA 2026)
chlorthalidone12.5–25 mgPOdailyCombination for BP control (ADA 2026)
amlodipine5–10 mgPOdaily2025 AHA HTN combination
lisinopril10 mgPOdaily2025 AHA HTN

Plan: Medical management of PA (ADA 2026)

3. When to call your provider

Contact your care team if any of the following happen:

  • Severe hypoK / malignant HTN → ED (ADA 2026)

4. When to seek emergency care

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away if you have:

  • K+ <2.5 with weakness / paresthesia / ECG changes (ADA 2026)(life-threatening)
  • BP ≥180/120 with end-organ damage in PA (ADA 2026)(life-threatening)
  • Lateralization on AVS (lateralization index >4 with cosyntropin) (ADA 2026)
  • Adrenal mass >4 cm on CT in patient with PA (ADA 2026)

5. Follow-up

Endo q3–6 mo; cardiology / nephrology as needed; PASO classification post-op (ADA 2026)

6. Sources

Guideline: Endocrine Society 2016 PA Guideline (Funder); SPARTACUS (Lancet 2016); PASO 2017

  1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26934393
  2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27325147
  3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28576687