spiro updates?

[NoraBe]

any updates on spiro? I'm on 150mg a day been on it for a month & I'm still shedding. PRaying to the good Lord my shedding will stop soon!

[Dharma2]

It took me at least six months to slow the shedding on spiro then when I added BCP it slowed almost to a stop. Since you are taking both you hopefully will start to improve in 3 or 4 months. My shedding doubled at about 3 or 4 weeks of taking spiro but I just stuck it out. It was hard but worth it now. I know the waiting for it too get better is a really difficult time.

[Lyric]

I have been on my new dosage of 200 mgs since Dec.10th. Before that I was taking 150 mgs. I've noticed in the last 2 weeks that my shedding seems to have slowed a little. Three weeks ago it was shedding quite a lot and I thought "Great. I go on a higher dosage and my shedding seems to have picked up a bit ? WTF ? ".

When I washed my hair today (hadn't washed it since Friday), what with brushing it before the shower (and I didn't brush it yesterday, just tossed it up in a bun), washing it and air drying it afterward, I'd say I lost about 160 hairs. Before when I showered, just the washing alone seemed to mean losing about 180 . I don't know what this means but I'll take the lower numbers for now.

Dharma, I have read your posts about the success you have seen on BCP and spiro. I'm just a bit freaked to get on BCP because I feel like a bit of a banshee when I'm on the pill. I can't remember if you mentioned re-growth. I'm glad things are looking up for you. Did you ever try rogaine or consider trying it ? I did a 3 month stint when I first started noticing hair loss but decided that I wanted to see what was working and what wasn't so thought I would just try one thing at a time.

[Dharma2]

Hi Lyric, I have noticed regrowth with the BCP especially since starting Diane 35. My moods changed a bit though...kind of low at times but that seems to be tapering off. It could be SAD too as I live in northern Alberta and it gets pretty dreary here this time of year. I find exercise and positive thinking helps alot. I have never tried Rogaine as I didn't want to have to apply it twice a day and I've heard mixed reviews about it. Even the derm I went to, who specializes in hair loss, didn't recommend it. As a very last resort I certainly would try it though but fortunately I'm not there right now. You mentioned washing your hair on Friday as if it had been a couple days? One thing that I found and read about is that washing your hair daily with either Nizoral 2% or Neurogena T-Gel is really important. I know it seems like you are loosing more hair but the truth is you are keeping the DHT off of your folicles and the hairs you loose in the shower would have come out anyway. When I was just on Spiro and washed daily it was always a sad time because of the hair loss but since starting BCP it's not an issue. I still wash my hair every day. Before hair loss I use to wash my hair twice a week at the most. Hope some of this informtion is helpful.

[Lyric]

Hi Dharma,

I have Nizoral but use it only once in a while. I researched it's efficacy a couple of years ago and wasn't entirely convinced that the study it was based on was totally sound. That being said, if it seems to be helping you, great! I find it strips my colour and really dries out my hair. I did use it for years (before my hair loss) once or twice a week because it helped with an overactive oily scalp.

I am so pleased to hear that you have had re-growth. I was on Diane35 nine years ago for about a year and a half but freaked out when I read about some warning put out by some sort of canadian official- sounding entity. How's that for fact-based decision making ? lol. I realize pretty much everything out there has it's share of good and bad stories but the Diane35 was making my body produce a lot of yeast (had some strange rash on my forehead) and it wasn't very sexy.

I have Dr.Redmond's book and have read it fairly thoroughly. I usually wash my hair every other day .

Anyway, thanks for your reply and I wish you continued success with your hair.

[Like]

Hi Girls,

I read that Diane 35 is not available in the U.S. Where/how can you buy it?

[Dharma2]

Hi Like,

I've read some post where women order it online from Canada. I'm not sure which online pharmacy they use though. Hopefully someone will chime in and point you in the right direction. I live in Canada so I get mine from my GP. They will only prescribe Diane 35 here for androgen issues not for birth control alone. It's unfortunate they aren't readily available in America as I think they my be very helpful with FPB. I've noticed quite an improvement since starting them only 6 weeks ago. I feel very hopeful. I wish you luck in finding a way to order them.

[Like]

Thank you, Dharma2! I'm actually originally from Brazil and had had another hair loss episode when I was 22 (I'm 36 now). I remember my doctor prescribed Diane 35 then, and I think it helped. If I can't get it here, I'll ask my parents to get me some when they go there later this year. I'll also ask my doctor to see if she has any suggestions. I'm a little worried about ordering drugs online, but if anyone else has ideas, please chime in. Thank you!