I finally got officially dx for PCOS last month. I already I knew that I wanted to try Spiro and be put on birth control. My DR gave me a prescription for 1/2 a pill of 25mgs a day. Which I was kind of disappointed, because from what I read most people took a lot more then that a day. He made me come in after a week of taking it to check my blood pressure and pottasium. Which I understand that needs to be checked, but he said he didn't want to increase my dosage to 25mgs. He said that was the normal dosage. Which was really surprising to me because everything I've read here and another website for acne(before I found this one) people were taking up to 200mgs of Spiro.
So, that is my first question. For people who are currently taking it what is your dosage now and what did you start off with and how long. What if any kind of problems have you had? Has it made any difference with your symptoms? If so, which symptoms and how long did it take to show results.
My Dr seems to be very concerned with my blood pressure and kept asking if I felt dizzy or anything and I haven't. I've read that some people stopped taking it because of AF and because of the dizziness. That brings me to my question. For people who stopped taking it what was the reason and how long did you take it?
Has anybodys blood pressure gotten so low or their pottasium so high that their dr made you stop taking it? How often did your drs make you test for those things?
For PCOS problems, 100-200mg/day is generally what is prescribed. The lower dose (25mg) might be for blood pressure issues? But I am not sure. The pills come in 100mg tablets so SOMEONE must be using them at that dose for on-label use!
It kind of sounds to me like your doctor is not familiar with using spiro for PCOS and is just looking ar the dose for on label use.
Where in CA are you? I live near San Jose and I just started seeing a great endocrinologist, if you need a name.
FWIW I took spiro at 200mg/day... took it for about a month... made me bleed non-stop. I wasn't willing to give it any longer to see if the bleeding stopped or hair problems decreased... that was enough for me!
I live and die by the stuff. I am testosterone dominant so it has been a life saver for me in terms of hair and weight. Not to mention the large zits on my body. (Save my face, my whole body would break out...weird.) Anywho, my blood pressure went down on it to a normal level. Which means if you have normal blood pressure it may be issue. As for potassium overload, the major symptom of that is leg cramps. If you experiance and leg cramps see the doc immeditly!
To your question...
"So, that is my first question. For people who are currently taking it what is your dosage now and what did you start off with and how long. What if any kind of problems have you had? Has it made any difference with your symptoms? If so, which symptoms and how long did it take to show results. "
I started on 50mgs a day and moved up to a hundred. I saw results with in 2 weeks. It was cool. I haven't any problems with it and I love the stuff..heh. Although I have been bleeding for a few weeks but I am not sure that has to do with my BCP or the spiro. This is the first month I have experianced this in the 6 that I have been taking it. I hope this helps!
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another spiro user, and lover here. I've been taking spiro for about 4 years now. and I love it.
I started out at 200mg a day, and am still on that dose 4 years later.
1/2 a 25 mg pill?? 12.5mg? that sounds WAY low, even if the doc is worried about potassium and BP.
I didn't really have any side effects when starting the meds... the only thing I remember is having to pee a bit more often in the begining, because it's a diuretic.
The spiro has done WONDERS for my skin, and has helped my hair quite a bit as well. It has totally gotten rid of my acne, except for that ever so rare zit.
I don't remember though, how long before i noticed a difference, since I started so long ago.
the doc that started me on the spiro (not the doc i'm seeing now) said that the potassium sparing effects were so low that I wouldn't have to worry about it at all, like not watching diet or anything. and I don't think I've had my potassium checked since.
I guess you may worry about your blood pressure if it was low to begin with, but from what my one doc told me it doesn't tend to lower that a whole heck of a lot either.
I hope this helped.. feel free to e-mail me if you have any more questions! and good luck with the spiro!
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I have been taking 200mg/day for over two years now and would never want to quit. Sometimes I get a little dizzy if I stand up too quickly but it's not a big deal. I have a personal trainer who has told me the reason I get dizzy is not the actual meds but the fact that I'm dehydrated. It is a diuretic so that is very possible. I know I don't always get enough water like I should. I'm curious how much experience the doctor who prescribed it to you has with PCOS? Mine is a fertility specialist and she has never mentioned anything about lowering my dose or it being unsafe. I can't see that 1/2 of a 25mg pill would do much at all.
__________________ not TTC
I was meant to be a mommy to dogs.
I've been on Spiro for about 6 months now and have noticed a big difference in hair growth. My dr started me on 50 mg and has not upped it. I guess it is different for everyone.
Good Luck
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I noticed that lucky13 said she's on spiro but with the fertility friend chart I assume you're ttc... When I looked into spiro it was pretty strong in the literature that it is not good to take if ttc because if you get pregnant with a boy it interferes with his hormones in those important formative times. Just something to look into in case you hadn't heard.
i started taking spiro along with losing weight and had a period in 3 weeks.....it was gone in about 5 days...roughly a month later another period came...lasted 5 days....about anoother month later, well u get the idea......i think losing weight is a BIG BIG issue first and foremost, trhe spiro just gave me a lil boost. plus check the MARCH 21st issue of FIRST for women on the go...u can find it in ur grocery line. there was a nice article about PCOS. could have been longer than what it was but i'm glad to see this somewhat rampant disorder finally getting some publicity.
I've been on spiro for 3 years, started at 100mg/day and now up to 150 mg/day. It's worked well for me, slowed down and thinned out my extra hair. Not a miracle product, but definitely helpful. You don't say what BCP you're on, if you're on yasmin that could be why you're on such a low dose of spiro. Yasmin also ups your potassium so you're not supposed to be on both of those. Sure sounds like you need a new dr, regardless.
Thanks for everyones replys. My Derm gave me a new rx for 25mg twice a day, so I started taking that. It still seems kind of low, but at least it's better then 12.5mg a day. We'll see if that helps.
Txcowgirl, I wasn't taking any birth control when he prescribed the 12.5. My gyno tried to give me Yasmin but my insurance wouldn't cover it for some reason. So, I just started Ovcon-35. The problem with changing drs is he is the only endo in my area. He seemed like he knew what he was talking about except this issue. I'll just get my spiro from my derm. instead of him.
Again, thank you to everyone with all the information.
Question for anyone taking or who took Spiro? 
