I was diagnosed with pcos about two years ago. have been on spironolactone for about a year. just recently, in the last three months, i have lost massive amounts of hair on my head--whole pattern balding mess---does spironolactone stop working after a while? does one become immune to it?
I wanted to ask the same question-- I've been on Spiro (50 mg a day) since December. I noticed my hair loss stopped rather suddenly when I started it (started BCPs the same time too). Now I'm noticing hair falling out again. I'm thinking of going off the BCPs and Spiro and trying metmorfin instead.
i went to my doc today and asked about the spiro. turns out that sometimes spiro can act as an androgen instead of an antiandrogen after a while. it must be paired with the right amount of estrogen for it to have the proper anti-androgen effects. so either, you should ask your doc if you can up your dose or if perhaps you should be on a different bcp.
i can't be on bcps anymore so i need to think of something different--perhaps saw palmetto or some other alternative method.
good luck to you, i hate the hair loss thing. it's horrifying. i actually broke down today as i was looking at a bottle of rogaine.
That's very interesting about it turning androgen-like in some women. I've had very good results with the Spiro at a 200 mg dose--but it took almost a year to see the full effects. Which were:
No breakouts at all after the first few months--I mean NONE, not even during PMS week. My skin has never been so clear or oil-free in my life. (And I never had bad acne as a teen, it was PCOS that had brought about cronic, painful cystic acne, which the Spiro got rid of.)
The facial har I already had has not gone away (knew it wouldn't) but several of my dark, coarse chin hairs became softer, and whiter. And I do think it arrested further facial har for me The hair ony my legs is fine and I can go 48 hours without shaving/stubble. My hair on my head is thicker than it has been since I was a teen, and it sheds at a normal rate now.
A few weeks ago, I got a batch of Spiro from our miiltary pharmacy that was just NASTY--smelled like a skunk, instead of minty, and I tried choking it down and got awful stomach aches. It took a few weeks to get it straightend out/replaced by the pharmacy, and in that two weeks, I broke out terribly, my facial hair grew like someone had put fertilizer on it, and I swear I had more hair coming out in my brush. If I have to keep taking the full dose until Menopause, I'll do that, just because it's done so much for me, personally. (I sound like a Spiro-informercial, sorry!)
I am a good candidate for laser surgery (super pale and dark hair--Snow White would have been a good candidate, too, LOL). and plan on getting that done on the hair I had pre-Spiro when we're back in the States.
Funny this should be mentioned because I was wondering the same thing. I've been on 100 mg of spiro since November/December 2002 and for a while was even taking 200 mg a day. My hair shedding decreased shortly after although I also started on bcp's and all the vitamins in my sig line.
Just within the last couple weeks I've noticed the tingly/tickly feeling on my scalp is back and the shedding has increased again.
Since I haven't changed my routine at all, I wondered why. Maybe the spiro isn't working anymore. Actually, though, I didn't see signinficant results with it in the first place. There has been absolutely no change in the facial hair which was my main reason for wanting it.
On a postive note, maybe it hasn't gotten worse because of the spiro. For all I know, I could be bald with a full beard by now, so who knows?
apparently, spiro has androgen effects if your body doesn't have enough estrogen in it. my doc said that spiro works by attaching itself to estrogen and blocking the dht. i am not exactly sure how this is or if that is exact. but it made sense for me since i switched bcps and apparently the new one didn't have enuff estrogen. but now i am off bcps altogether and am on metformin. so not sure how that will effect it.
i am going to ask my doc about finasteride or some other one of those meds used for hair loss. i also started saw palmetto about a week ago. but no change
Dr. Redmond www.hormonehelpny.com says that the generic version Spiro is not as effective as the brand name Aldactone. Maybe you could try the brand name? He states the manufacturing of certain generics are not always up to the same standards, that could explain the previous posters problem with the "nasty" batch?
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Maureen 36, DH is 35
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Before pregnancy, went from 175 to 136 thanks to To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , exercise and low glycemic index foods. Polycystic appearing ovaries are gone; ovulated regularly; bloodwork normal.
Improvement in hirsuitism and androgenic alopecia is greatly improved. AN and cystic acne are gone!
Improvements in skin and hair due to To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , standardized, 160mg 2x day. (no longer on it due to PG and BFing). To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
does spiro stop working? 
