Why Does Spironolactone Smell Like Weed?

If you’ve noticed a smell resembling weed coming from your spironolactone, you’re not alone. So, why does spironolactone smell like weed? Here’s what we know.

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What is Spironolactone?

Maybe you’ve never used spironolactone personally but know someone who does. Or perhaps you use spironolactone for a specific condition but are curious about its other uses. 

According to WebMD, Spironolactone, also known as the ‘water pill,’ is used to treat:

• High blood pressure (hypertension) 
• Heart failure
• Swelling (edema)
• Primary hyperaldosteronism (conditions in which the body is making too much aldosterone)

In addition to those conditions, Cosmopolitan reports that it can also treat acne.

Why Does My Spironolactone Smell Like Weed?

You might be puzzled if you’ve just opened a bottle of spironolactone pills and noticed a smell resembling weed. First, let’s describe what cannabis actually smells like and what makes it smell that way. 

The scent of weed is easily recognizable and is often described as a combination of earthy, pungent, and skunky notes. This distinctive aroma comes from compounds called terpenes, which are aromatic molecules naturally found in the cannabis plant. The exact mix of terpenes can vary depending on the strain, contributing to a wide range of smells including citrus, pine and musk.

Some people report that their spironolactone pills have that similar, unmistakable odor. While it may seem strange, this could be linked to the presence of certain ingredients or compounds in the medication itself. Spironolactone contains various chemicals that might produce a scent similar to cannabis due to their own unique properties or during the manufacturing process.

Mercaptan Produces a Pungent Smell

The culprit may just be the spironolactone itself. According to PubChem, the compound has a “mild mercaptan-like odor .” Chem Service describes mercaptan odor as rotten cabbage, garlicky, dirty socks, or smelly feet. Perhaps the alpha-acetylsulfanyl group is responsible for the smell. 

Canrenone Produces an Earthy Smell 

When the body metabolizes spironolactone, it forms metabolites, including canrenone.

While canrenone and THC do not share a similar molecular structure, they may have certain chemical characteristics that contribute to a similar perception of odor.

Both compounds are metabolized in the body, producing volatile metabolites that can contribute to distinctive smells. For instance, THC is metabolized to a variety of compounds that can have a musky or earthy odor, while canrenone’s metabolites can also have a sulfurous or earthy smell, which may contribute to the “weed-like” odor some people notice with spironolactone.

321MBT Produces a Skunky Smell

Ames Tribune states, “3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol, or 321MBT, is believed to cause the skunky smell associated with cannabis.” Spironolactone has a much different chemical formula, but the various compounds can also result in similar smells. 

Peppermint Flavoring Produces a Minty Smell

Spironolactone is often described as having a minty smell. One Reddit user described the smell as “weed mixed with Vicks,” while another referred to it as “minty skunk.”

The minty scent likely comes from the peppermint flavoring listed in the ingredients, which is probably added to mask the more pungent sulfur-like odor of the medication.

Interestingly, certain cannabis strains, such as Jack Herer and Trainwreck, also have a distinctly minty aroma. According to True Labs Cannabis, this minty smell is due to terpenes like phellandrene, menthol, and eucalyptol—compounds known for their fresh, minty scent. 

Although these terpenes are present in small concentrations, they can produce a noticeable minty scent.

Does Spironolactone Have Weed in It?

No, it doesn’t.

 According to USA Today, there are three prescription medications with cannabis in them:

• Sativex (used to treat spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis)
• Marinol (used to treat nausea in cancer patients or loss of appetite in HIV patients)
• Casemet (also used to treat nausea in cancer patients)

Marinol and Casemet use synthetic THC. Generally, synthetic cannabis doesn’t smell like the real deal. Sativex, on the other hand, may have a weed smell. According to NPS Medicine Wise, Sativex uses THC and CBD botanical substances (BDS). NPS Medicine Wise says, “The physical descriptions of both THC BDS and CBD BDS are brown, viscous, semi-solid (soft) extracts with a characteristic odour of cannabis….”

Can You Take Weed With Spironolactone?

If you’re a cannabis enthusiast that has been prescribed spironolactone, you may wonder if you should smoke or not. 

Well, we recommend asking your doctor whether or not it’s safe to mix. There is not a ton of information on interactions between spironolactone and weed. 

One Reddit user who utilizes both said, “I smoke and have edibles pretty often; I’ve been on Spiro for 6 months and have noticed no side effects.” Another user on a different thread also noticed no side effects. They said, “I use a vape daily for chronic disease, and as far as I know, there’s no interaction.”

However, not everyone has been lucky. One Reddit user said, “I tried smoking weed on spiro and had the worst panic attack of my life, honestly.” Another said, “I used to smoke daily but had to stop when I started spiro. It causes my blood pressure to drop down to 90/65, I even fainted once after smoking.”

WebMD says that mixing both could increase specific side effects of spironolactone. They said, “Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy.” Diarrhea is also a side effect of this medication. If weed also gives you diarrhea, there is a chance that the side effect may be amplified. 

In addition, if you’re taking spironolactone because of heart issues, you may want to avoid weed. Weed can worsen heart conditions. 

How Does Spironolactone Work?

Understanding the potential side effects of combining the two may spark your curiosity about how spironolactone works in the first place.

According to Medline Plus, spironolactone is an aldosterone receptor antagonist. Since it’s commonly used by people who make too much alderstone, it binds to the respective receptor and blocks it instead of activating it. Producing too much aldosterone, called hyperaldosteronism, can cause lower potassium levels. This can lead to muscle spasms and weakness.

According to Medline Plus, Spironolactone causes the kidney to expel excess water and sodium from the body. However, it reduces the loss of potassium in the body. 

As mentioned before, this medication can also help people with acne. As Cosmopolitan explains, spironolactone blocks androgen, which is a male hormone. Therefore women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can use it for their hormonal acne. 

Dr. Justine Kluk told Cosmopolitan, “The reason that Spironolactone works in acne is twofold. Testosterone causes the sebaceous glands in our skin to produce more oil. It also makes our skin thicker. The combined effect of these is increased pore-clogging. By blocking the actions of testosterone on our skin, the risk of clogged pores and subsequent acne is reduced.”

The Strong, Skunky Smell of Spironolactone 

Why does spironolactone smell like weed? The odor is likely due to the spironolactone compound itself, which is known to have a mercaptan-like scent—a sulfurous odor often associated with strong, pungent smells. 

It may also be influenced by canrenone, which has an earthy smell, and 321MBT, which has a skunky odor. If spironolactone has a minty scent, it’s probably from the added peppermint flavoring. Since some cannabis strains also have a minty aroma, the smell of spironolactone could remind some people of those particular strains.