It could be that if you were helped, you are no longer on these boards! I was diagnosed with AGA today by Dr Oro at Stanford and he prescribed 100mg spiro with all the usual warnings about potassium levels etc. Did it help anyone? I'm dreading a big shed but he says out of the drugs he prescribes, there is less shedding because it is the mildest. Oh, to medicate or not, my head is spinning!! I just wonder if I'm opening up a can of worms and starting a life long path of trying to fix something that ultimately may not be fixable.
My experience with sprio/aldactone has been that it can yield positive results, but is not a miracle drug. I’m 33 and have had PCOS since the onset of puberty. In order to treat hirsutism, (which, for me, is a fancy way of saying excessive facial hair) I started taking sprio. about 20 years ago. I have taken the medication almost continually since then. My dosage has usually been between 100 and 150 mg daily, which has yielded a mild to poor (but positive) impact. The negative side effects I have experienced are occasional dizziness and, recently, an elevated potassium level. In my early 20s (without consulting my endocrinologist) I took the liberty of upping the spiro. dose to 200 mg per day. At the time, hair loss was not an issue; yet, I experienced a definite increase in hair growth on my scalp. On the other hand, despite having taken spiro. for many years, in my late 20s, I started losing hair due to androgenic alopecia. I like to think that if I had not taken spiro. early on the hair loss would have begun sooner.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have my prescription and now that a major event is out of the way this past weekend, I do plan to start taking it tomorrow. It just makes it all seem so real to have a prescription in hand. I guess I was so hoping that the doctor would tell me everything looked normal (yes, I'm in denial!) but of course that's not how my appointment went. I'm so hoping not to experience a big shed as emotionally, I am a basket case at the moment. Maybe that doesn't translate in the US but you get the picture ...
bayareagirl how is the Spiro working for you? For me, it did wonders! I started losing my hair when I was 15 and incidentally also had horrible cystic acne/oily scalp and skin. About 3-6 months after taking it my hair slowed shedding, but since it was still more than normal my doctor upped the dose to 200mg, a few months later it was back to a normal rate of shedding (just a few strands after brushing, that was all), and the skin problems cleared even before that. I still experienced seasonal sheds twice a year, but nothing alarming and most of the hair I initially lost grew back! I really hope it works out for you, I know how frustrating it can be!
Hi Dagny, thanks for posting - so wonderful that spiro helped you like this. Was your hair loss androgenic alopecia or something else? Too soon to say yet whether it's helping me but I'm hoping! Doc says can't really evaluate until about 4 months or so.
Hey Bayareagirl I began taking spire 7 years ago when i was 22 years old. I had been experiencing hair loss since I was 16. The Spiro Definitely slowed things down although I did continue to experience gradual loss even while on Spiro. Having felt really down about how it was going I finally got my ferritin checked after 12 years of it going completely unchecked and it is a 34! way too low and obviously part of the reason I may have been experiencing loss even while on Sprio. I am now taking Iron Supplements and will definitely report back on if this helps. My shedding always occurred in spurts so I can say that I may have a combo of AGA and TE
Yes, it was from AGA. It definitely takes several months to slow down shedding and many more to regrow! Hang in there!
Spiro Thank you for posting these messages. It has been very useful information, as well as some positive reinforcement The doctor also gave me an rx of Spironolactone. I have been on it for about three weeks now. My hair isn't coming out in handfuls anymore, but is still shedding. My dosage is 100 mg. I am now in the (trying to be patient) waiting stage to see new growth. It looks like I will have to wait a little longer, huh? LOL! Anyway, thanks for the information and support
Lorilei, looks like we are in a similar boat, same dosage, same start date approx. I am 6 weeks in now. Thought I had a bit of an increase in shedding. Can't say I'm seeing an improvement yet ... fingers crossed!
Feedback Hey. Thanks for the feedback. Yeah. I'm about a month in. The doctor put me on finasteride along with the spiro. My hair loss has way slowed down, but no new growth yet. She told me I probably wouldn't see any results for about six months. I just cut my hair in one of those cute pixie styles, and I am really happy with the results it gave me. It has really helped to hide the thinness while waiting on new growth. Let me know how things go with you
I've been on spiro (plus birth control) since I was 17. I am now 29. It hasn't stopped my hair loss at all, and of course, I have no way of knowing if it's slowed it down. I'm starting to wonder if I should stop taking it. I'd been having problems with facial/body hair when I was diagnosed with PCOS at 17, and the spiro has helped with that, but my hair has continued to fall out and I have about 25% of the hair I once had. Should I even bother taking it anymore? My endo sees my increased thinning year after year but has never altered the spironolactone dosage.
I have been on spiro since 2004 and the problem I see is regrowth. My hair has stopped shedding but I have not had any regrowth. If you find anything that offers you hope and piece of mind, I suggest you try it.
Spironolactone has just been prescribed for me. The dosage is one 100MG tablet daily. I haven't started taking it yet because I was concerned about the side affects as I have low blood pressure. Has anyone had low blood pressure and taken this drug without issues?
Hello bayareagirl: It's been a year since you posted. If you are still signing in, I'd like to know how successful or not you were on your journey.
I was taking Spironolactone since 2006 but have since changed to Bicalutamide which I believe is stronger. It helped with my acne and I have hypothyroidism which causes low blood pressure but I have had no side effects.
Hello gingersnaps. Thank you, for responding to my question. I will see my family doctor this week to discuss my low blood pressure. One of the cautions on the Spironolactone medication indicates do "not" drink alcohol. I'm not a drinker but I am going on a vacation and I plan on having a few drinks. Did you ever have a drink of alcohol while taking Spironolactone? I currently don't take any medication so I'm always worried when I see the side affects that could happen from prescription medications. I probably worry too much about what could happen.
I drink often and I have not had any problems. Spironolactone is a diuretic, causing you to urinate more often than normal. Alcohol is empty calories so this may be a concern if you don't normally eat right. You don't worry too much. You are obviously very wise, because you are asking questions.
Hello gingersnaps: Thank you, again for responding to my question. You have taken so much stress off me! I will see my family doctor today to discuss my low blood pressure then I will begin taking the Spironolactone tomorrow which was prescribed by the dermatologist. All the best to you gingersnaps...
Do drug study with the medications you are taking: http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6288/spironolactone-oral/details
