Spiro....Does it work for hair loss?

Selina G. Reyes · 04-26-2006, 11:36 PM

I know that Spiro is used for facial hair. I was wondering if anyone has had any success in using spiro for hair loss. My derm prescribed it for my oily oily face and he said it would help my hair loss. Any success stories??

JennP3 · 04-27-2006, 04:02 PM

Selina, I know you have found my Success Story regarding Spiro, Nizoral and Met on the "Success Stroies" thread, but for anyone who wants to read it for themselves, here's the link.

http://www.soulcysters.net/showpost....8&postcount=93

Your question was "Does Spiro work for hairloss" and my answer is "YES, YES, YES, as long as you adddress underlying IR issues, if any, and use a topical DHT inhibitor such as Nizoral in conjunction therewith".

You all can read up from the point of my "Success Story" post as I've replied with further explanations to various questions.

Stay strong Sistas.

Love Jenn

indianchick · 04-28-2006, 12:25 AM

Spiro definitely decreased the shedding for me, but didn't really help the hair to grow in thicker. (It has also made a world of difference for body hair and my acne).

Only after I added Saw Palmetto, did I see my hair growing in thicker (almost as it was before PCOS!).

Selina G. Reyes · 04-28-2006, 05:03 PM

Saw Palmetto?? I know thats a vitamin. I hate to take pills, I always miss my metformin dose, and my spiro dose. I just hate to take pills. I would lke to know what saw palmetto is good for.

JennP3 · 04-28-2006, 06:01 PM

Hi Selina

I just wanted to jump in here to add my 2 cents worth.

In fighting our PCOS, the most important thing is to establish a blanace in our bodies - it is the hormonal imbalances which are at the root of the physical manifestations of our PCSO, so stablaizing those hormones is paramount in our road to recovery. We all hate pills, let's face it, they SUCK and it is horrible to think that we're going to be on our meds for the rest of our lives, blah, blah, blah - yeah, I've mulled this all around in my brain as well, BUT on the other hand, if you could take a few little pills every day, and look at FEEL better, then it sort if makes it worth the while.

I too was very bad at remembering whether I had taken my meds or not - especially because I had Metformin 3x per day and then Spiro 2x per day - it was just too much for my little brain to process, so I ended up getting one of those big old-lady style pill dispensers. It looks goofy as Hell, but MAN, it saved my life for organizing my meds so I never forget them,a nd it only cost me $10.00. My dispenser has a week's worth of pills, and slots for up to 4 doses per day (i.e. "Breakfast", "Lunch", "Dinner" and "Before Bed") Here's a link to somethign similar:

http://www.english.certec.lth.se/cog...framsidan.html

Because everything is labelled, it is really easy to see when you need to take the next dose, and if you've forgotten to take the pervious dose. I carry mine everyhwere in my purse, or if I'm at home, I set it out on the counter where I can see it plainly. Sure it's ugly, and it makes me feel 100 years old, but perhaps I could bedazzle it like Paris Hilton's Blackberry, or something

HAHHAHAHA!!!!

Because stablainzing our hormones is our number one goal, we want to take our Spiro at evenly spaced intervals (i.e. 12 hours apart) to keep a constant steady stream of the medication in our system. I sort of compare it to the "8-hour Cold Tablets" - You know when you get a cold and you take one those tablets that says it works for 8 hours? You take it, you start to feel a little better, but then by the end of the 8-hour time period, you're bck to sneezing or runny nose - that's because the medication only works for so long in your system before it breaks down and doesn't work anymore, and oyu have to take another tablet. Our Spiro is the same type of idea (well, any drug really only lasts for so long in your system), except that unlike the cold tablet, you don't get a "sign" that the Spiro has worn off (i.e. after 21 hours you won't develop a zit immediately, or lose a clump of hair immediatley). Because there is not that instant indicator to tell us when we need to take another tablet, it makes it very hard to tell when the tabley is out of our system. Some research I've done says it stays in the system for about 16 hours, so evenly spacing the doses 12 hours apart ensures that you are never running on the end of the tablet. It is so important to be really vigilant at taking the meds on time. We want to avoid any dips or surges in the hormones, so taking the meds at evenly spaced intervals helps to control the dips and surges to our system and keep things at an even keel.

Saw Palmetto is a natural antiandrogen. In my opinion (don't bite my head off ladies) Spiro is the better way to go as you can be monitored by your Endo while on it - however, if you wanted to supplement with Saw P, as well as take the Spiro, that is an alternative as well.

For optimum "hair growth" with Spiro, make sure other issues are addressed as well such as IR, if any, and I SWEAR by my Nizoral shampoo as a topical DHT inhibitor, but Nioxin can be used as well, and there are a few other topical DHT inhibitors on the market if you don't want to use the shampoo route.

Selina, I just want to let you know that I completley understand your concern over the hair loss. 2 years ago, 4 doctors told me that there was nothing I could do, blah, blah, blah... it was not until I found my current Endo and he started me on the drug thereapy (Sprio & Met) that my hair started to come back, and now I have 90-95% of it back. AND, I look and FEEL like a completely different woman!!!! No acne, no greasy face, lost weight, and regrew hair. I would have NEVER believed it to be possible.

One thing my Endo told me was that I REALLY had to take this seriously and commit to putting my health first, including watching my carb intake, getting enough sleep, de-stressing, and taking the meds properly. I can't argue with any of that as it has worked TEN FOLD. I am so happy with my results.

Hope this helps.

Love Jenn

Selina G. Reyes · 04-28-2006, 06:27 PM

Wow,
Thanks for all that information. You have been so helpful

guineapig · 04-29-2006, 08:49 PM

Spiro didn't regrow any lost hair, but did keep the hair I still had. It also made my existing hair grow FAST. I bled constantly while on it though (no bcp, IUD) and came off it to ttc eventually. Also, metformin caused my spiro to quit working and all that existing hair & pretty skin went bye-bye. Even after I quit met, spiro still never worked right again.

snfr02chic · 04-29-2006, 09:01 PM

Have any of you ladies ever used Nioxin? It's what my hair cutter lady told me to buy for it....is the still you guys are talking about RXs? I'm losing soo much hair, even with the Nioxin, it's making me cry almost everytime I'm in the shower. If it is a prescription, who would I go to to ask for it?

guineapig · 04-29-2006, 09:14 PM

Nioxin is NOT prescription. But it can be expensive. I've used the shampoo & conditioner in the past. The regular formula is very drying; I wouldn't recommend for permed or dyed hair. The textured formula I've used too--IMO it doesn't clean that great though. Neither caused me to regrow any new hair, although the regular shampoo does do pretty good for dandruff.

People have had varying success with Nizoral shampoo, which comes in 1% or 2% (that one's prescription). Nizoral (ketoconazole) is an anti-androgen. You can buy 1% at WalMart. It looks like but is NOT the same as old Selsum Blue.

snfr02chic · 04-29-2006, 09:46 PM

yea I know Nioxin isn't prescription...I just haven't noticed a difference yet, I'm still losing just as much hair as before and I've been on it for over 30 days. But if I wanted to try that other, who would I talk to about it?