I picked up my prescription tonight and I'm scared to take it.... silly I know. I remember going to my GP YEARS ago asking about it and he said absolutely not as it would screw up my electrolytes etc. Considering that Metformin is not for me as my insulin levels are testing low I feel this is my last chance of something helping.
I just have a hard time taking medication when I'm taking it for other reasons than what it's intended. ACK!!! I read somewhere that it caused tumours in rats and now I can't get that out of the back of my mind. I don't know if the risk is worth the benefit. I HATE PCOS!!!
As long as you are not TTC I would go ahead and take the spiro. It absolutely cannot be taken by women who are pregnant or may become pregnant.
I have been taking spiro since January and I haven't had any problems with it. I take it to help with excess hair. Keep in mind it may take 6 months before you will see full results. It has helped tremendously with my excess hair.
Make sure you drink enough water to prevent certain side effects such as leg cramps and dizziness. It is a potassium sparing diaretic so don't take a potassium supplement.
I understand about not wanting to take drugs other than for their intended purpose. I take Paxil, but not for depression. I take Spiro, but not to reduce blood pressure. I take Yasmin, but not so I don't get pregnant. I didn't want to start any of these drugs, but I am glad I did. They have all helped tremendously, and I can't imagine life without them.
As far as the cancer, there are a couple of other threads on here regarding that issue. I haven't done enough research on the subject to make comments about it, but I would definately check out those threads.
Remember, your doctor prescribed this medication, because she/he believes the benefits out weigh the risks.
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Thanks everyone. This site helps tremendously with knowing I'm not alone. I'm not trying for anymore children (took 2 rounds of IVF to get my twins).
Wondering if it has any effect on anybody's libido? I read that this drug is given to male deviant sex offenders. Just curious if it does anything to a womans libido?
Also, everyone says it has helped tremendously with the hair, just wondering what your difference was before/after. Did you go from shaving everyday to every couple of days kind of thing? I do plan on trying laser again but I'd like to see if the spiro can get it a little under control. Is this a long term medication? What happens when you stop taking it?
Spiro is a long term medication. If you stop taking it, I heard all of your hair that you lost will grow back. Make sure you consult your doctor before stopping. You should not stop taking it all at once.
Before I started taking it I had to shave every other day and I used Nair on my face once a week. Now I can go almost a week without shaving and I only have to use Nair about once a month.
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I am worried about starting this med also. One of the reasons I sought out fellow PCOS'rs. My gyn office called the other day and said my testosterone level is up and they were thinking about spiro, but I already take med for my BP so she was concerned about mixing them. Recommended Vaniqua (sp?) cream (YUCK-ihate those type of things!!!!!!!!) but was worried about the cost. I have an appt with my MD already because I want to discuss WLS and other WL options so the gyn nurse told me to discuss the whole spiro thing with him. I know what stress you are going thru! Did you take it yet?
Vaniqa is a topical cream that you apply to areas where you have excess hair such as your face. I tried it, but it didn't do much for me, and it really dried out my skin. It doesn't remove hair, but stunts the growth. It is also not covered by most insurances since it is considered cosmetic. It is about $100 a tube and a tube should last about a month. I wouldn't recommend it. Maybe you could talk to your doctor about switching from whatever BP med you are on to Spiro since Spiro is also a BP med.
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I haven't taken it yet. We've had a little bit of a stomache bug going around so I'm going to wait until that settles as I know I'll be freaking out thinking I'm having side effects. I'm also headed camping for 10 days on Friday, thinking I might wait til I get back. Procrastinating I know!!! I WILL take it just a matter "when"... I'd really like to hear from people about the improvement it's made for them.
I agree with many of the above posts, especially regarding the one about taking BCPs NOT to avoid pregnancy and the one about not wanting to take medications in general and hating PCOS.
Agree! Agree! Agree!
Furthermore, I agree that Spiro is not often used to treat BP anymore. If it is, it's usually combined with other anti-hypertensive medications. Depending on what other BP medication you are on, Spiro or another diuretic may be added to your daily pill regimen. Spiro is, however, also a very good anti-androgen and is prescribed for that purpose as well. Some medications can be used to treat multiple problems.
I agree that it can sometimes be difficult to take medications for uses they may not fully be intended for, BUT there is no miracle PCOS cure or pill used to treat it. My argument would be that Met was originally intended for diabetes, Spiro for BP, and BCPs to prevent pregnancy, yet these can all be effective PCOS treatments depending on your symptoms.
Treatments are not "one size fits all" and different patients have different needs and symptoms that play a role in their treatment plan. The big question to ask yourself is "Do the benefits outweigh the risks?" This is something you should thoroughly think through and discuss with your doctor before starting any meds. The truth is that EVERY medication has negative side effects, but we need to remember that not all side effects occur in everyone taking that medication. Sometimes it's trial and error as well.
I was previously on BCPs but wasn't thrilled with the idea and was highly concerned about insulin resistance. Furthermore, I felt there was more I could be doing about my alopecia and hirsutism. My doc and I decided I should start Met and Spiro and am thrilled with the changes I've seen with my blood sugar levels and hair issues. My skin has also been pretty consistantly clear, especially on my back and arms. I have, unfortunately, been sporadically spotting/bleeding for the past month and was started on hormone supplements (not BCPs, but a pack of combination pills that mimic a "normal" cycle). Bleeding can be a side effect of Spiro and while I like it's anti-adrogenic effects, it may not be for me, especially if I'm forced to take hormonal supplements (which I was trying to avoid in the first place).
The truth is that Yasmin seemed to work well for me (at least in terms of not having negative side effects and controlling my symptoms fairly well), so maybe I should be on that or a combo of that and Met. Or perhaps 200mg of Spiro is simply too much for my body, at least right now.
The point of this is to let you know that many of us share the same fears and frustrations associated with PCOS, but we need to find the treatment that works best for us.
__________________ **~Future Doc Cyster~**
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Thanks for your reply future doc cyster. I really appreciate everyone's opinions. I've had PCOS for almost 20years but the frustrating thing is all my levels are normal??? So met won't work for me and I have my doubts on Spiro as well as my androgens and testosterone are seemingly "normal". I know I should be happy and be thankful for my blessings it just gets frustrating at times. I know I feel like a science experiment at times especially after going through two rounds of IVF and 7 years of other gruelling fertility treatments.
I really hope Spiro works for me, it will be some time before I know the full benefit of it. I'm only on 100mg. is that a low dose??
Spiro 
