Aldactone Alone, No BCP

bandanna · 07-06-2002, 10:06 PM

hi,

please let me know what your experiences are on being on aldactone only as i heard that it causes irregular menstruation.

thanks for all your inputs...!
bandanna

KC1 · 07-06-2002, 11:46 PM

Hi bandana, I am taking Aldactone without any type of b/c pill....... been on it for 8 months. I have not had any problems with menstruation. I did however have some soreness in my breasts the first few months that I was on it. KC

Eva34 · 07-07-2002, 11:33 AM

Hellol

I have Spiro (aldactone by another name), without bcp. My hair has got less since starting Spiro.

However, my Endo has said that you can't take Spiro if you are ttc, so you would have to have a different thing if you were ttc, or have another form of birth control, if you weren't.

Hope this makes sence.

Eva

quinci · 07-11-2002, 12:48 PM

I am new at this. What is ttc? I was diagnosed with pcos Oct. 2001, was on Yasmin four months, sick the whole time, with absolutely no positive results whatsoever. I had new tests done last week and my doctor said my fsh and lh were normal, but my total and free testosterone were too high. So, now I am on aldactone and using Vaniqa.

I have always had regular periods (am 35 now).

bandanna · 07-14-2002, 05:54 PM

hi all,

thanks for getting back to me!

how many mgs of spiro are you taking and how much hair growth and at which areas? - i am trying to see if i am taking sufficient dosage for the amount of hair that i have.....

do you have to take the med at the same time everyday?

also, i was given a prescription for aldactone but was given pills that said "novospironolactone" by the pharmacist - he said the terms are used interchangably - aldactone and spiro. pls confirm.

is this med really effective? i.e. no more "new" hair sprouting?

thank you again for your replies. i really appreciate it!

bandanna

jules7611 · 07-14-2002, 06:10 PM

HI-I am spiro. Yes, it is my understanding, it is interchangable with aldact. They recommend you take in the morning since it is a diaretic. I take 100 mg and have for about 3 months now. I have noticed hair growth in the wrong spots getting better and also my skin starting to get better. But, my dr did say to give it 6 months before you try and see if it is working or not-cause it takes that long to really start being fully effective. I am also on Met for about 2 months-but have stopped temp and really haven't taken full dosage of it either. It is true- you CANNOT be on sprion if TTC (trying to concieve for the one who asked what it stood for) or even a chance you could concieve. So, be careful on it if that is a possibility.

Julie

Eva34 · 07-16-2002, 08:36 AM

Hello

Sorry I didn't write back yesterday, but I wasn't on sc yesterday. I can see the look of horor on your face as I'm always here

Anyway, getting to the point

I take 100 Spiro in the morning. Spironolactone and Aldactone are the same - just different names for it.

I have found that my 'hair' is less. But still there. My Endo says that it takes 1 year to get to maximum results.

My hair is just about everywhere. Chin, neck, side burns, arms, legs, belly button etc. *sigh*

Hope this helps

Eva

bandanna · 07-16-2002, 11:55 PM

hi eva,

thanks for writing back.

by "less hair", do you mean that some of the hairs just didn't grow back anymore after being removed? i heard in others experience, the hair just never grew back completely. i know it's basically an individual basis - how each body responds to the medication. but i wish for optimum results!

did it clear some areas - i.e. hair on the chest, now no hair at all?

also, may i ask how much you have in the areas with hair? the reason being i have hair in all those areas as well even on my collarbone area, but you are taking a higher dosage than me. makes me wonder if i may not be taking enough.

thanks for your reply.
bandanna

jenn_6 · 07-17-2002, 03:10 PM

Hi,I was on 100 mg spiro/day for about 5-6 years.I have pretty bad chin hairs.They gradually got worse and worse over the years,I am 31.It's so embarassing.

My dh and I have been ttc for about 18 months now.My endo that treats my hypothyroidism kept telling me for months that I should STOP THE SPIRO since we are ttc.I told my ob/gyn time after time what he said but he didn't listen and just kept me on it.
I have been on glucophage xr for about a year,too.
Well,about 2-3 months ago I asked my endo to treat the pcos,too,he agreed.The 1st thing he did was take me off the spiro and up the gluc to 1500 mg/day.
All this time my testosterone has been the only thing out of whack.It's really high.Seems like the spiro just kept it at about 80,which is still too high.Well,I had some blood work done about 2 weeks ago and my testos. level had went down to 36!!!! That's the lowest I have ever seen it!I was amazed that it went down that much in such a short time!
I don't know if I wasn't taking enough spiro to do anything or what but it didn't stop my hairs from sprouting out there any at all!
I hope that it helps you

Jenn

ecaryn · 07-21-2002, 08:08 AM

I am wanting to start Aldactone for both acne and excessive hair growth. First, how effective do any of you find this med for these afflictions? Second, I am concerned about hyperkalemia (sp?) since alot of the foods I like and am accustomed to eating are high in potassium. Have any of you had a problem with this since its supposed to be a pretty common side effect? Also, is there anything you can do or take to remove the excess potassium build up, other than restricting your diet? Thank you. Oh, one final thing are there any other serious side effects that I should be concerned about?

bandanna · 08-05-2002, 05:23 PM

did being on aldactone only cause any irregular periods? what side effects, if any, did you notice (ie. deepening of voice etc?)

for those who have taken it for prolonged periods of time. has it stop new hairs from growing?

what is hypothyroidism - what are the symptoms?

thanks.

bandanna · 08-05-2002, 11:53 PM

hi again,

i got off the bcp and am currently taking just aldactone for about 1 month now. i am worried because my period is supposed to come around this week but it hasn't come yet. i heard that aldactone may cause irregular periods. should i worry - will it actually come in a few days time? what are your experiences?

thanks,
bandanna

miranda1977 · 08-10-2002, 06:23 AM

I've heard Aldactone is an anti-androgen kind of thing (that's why it helps the acne and the hair growth) but I'm wondering if any of you experienced lowered sex drive while on it??

That's the reason my endo is taking me off Diane, because of it's anti-androgen properties!! (believe it or not) we want to try and treat skin problems another way.

So I'm interested to see what you all have experienced.

Miranda

jlucy · 08-12-2002, 02:41 AM

I haven't had Spiro affect my sex drive. I wish it would. It is absolute torture having the sex drive I do and no man and not knowing when I'll even find one. I am going crazy. I have been on it about six months and think I notice some difference. I periods were awful, bleeding all the time, up until this cycle. Now I don't know if it will come but it did stop for more than a week so I'm happy.