Aldosterone in Blood

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Eating large amounts of natural black licorice.
• Pregnancy. Aldosterone levels may be high in the third trimester of pregnancy.
• Taking medicines, such as female hormones (progesterone and estrogen), corticosteroids, heparin, opiates, laxatives, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or diuretics. Most medicines used to treat high blood pressure, especially spironolactone (Aldactone), eplerenone (Inspra), and beta-blockers, increase blood levels of aldosterone and renin.
• Exercising hard or being under emotional stress.
• Your age. Aldosterone levels normally decrease with age.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: July 28, 2008
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Alan C. Dalkin, MD - Endocrinology
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