What is "canrenone"

n. An aldosterone antagonist with additional antiandrogen properties, used as a diuretic.

Canrenone ( INN, USAN) (brand names Contaren, Luvion, Phanurane, Spiroletan), also known as aldadiene, is a steroidal antimineralocorticoid and weak antiandrogen and progestogen of the spirolactone group related to spironolactone which is or has been used as a diuretic in Europe, including in Italy and Belgium.

Carenone is a major active metabolite of spironolactone, canrenoic acid, and potassium canrenoate, and is believed to be partially or largely responsible for their effects.

Canrenone is more potent as an antimineralocorticoid relative to spironolactone, but is considerably less potent and effective as an antiandrogen. Similarly to spironolactone, canrenone inhibits steroidogenic enzymes such as 11β-hydroxylase, cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, 17α-hydroxylase, and 21-hydroxylase, but once again, is comparatively less potent in doing so.

Canrenone has been found to be effective in the treatment of hirsutism in women.