Q: I was on Ovral L and Aldactone 100 mg as prescribed by my endocrinologist from the past 4/5 years. I have stopped this medication from the past 5 months since I got to know the side effects of Aldactone. But I will be resuming Ovral L from this month. I also have allergic rhinitis for which my ENT doctor has prescribed Budesonide Nasal Spray which I learnt is also one form of steroid. I am aware of the fact that Ovral L is also a form of steroid medication. What I would like to know is that how safe it is to administer both medications simultaneously? Would it worsen the side effects of either one of them or both?

A:Aldactone is the brand name; the name of the medicine is spironolactone. Even though it is diuretic, It used to be given for hirsutism associated with Polycystic Ovarian Disease. However there is no strong evidence about its efficacy. Ovral-L is the low dose female hormone contraceptive while budesonide nasal spray is a corticosteroid. There is no problem in using the two together.