Spiro users past & present - please help!! - same as on "Hair in Wrong Places..."

GingerJ · 03-18-2003, 01:28 PM

I wanted to post this specifically for Uk cysters as well. Same healthcare system blah blah...

For all those who are taking or have taken spiro could you please help. The hair that I really thought couldn't get any worse suddenly appears to be doing just that and I've had enough (again!!). Neither my endo or GP have been willing to give me spiro and I need a little ammunition. My endo even denied it was used to treat hirsutism. Say no more...!!

I would be most grateful if you could please state the doseage you took and any improvements you noticed. And anything else you think might be relevant!!

Many thanks in advance
Jen

pleasantlyblew · 03-18-2003, 03:15 PM

Hi,

I think you need to find a new doctor or kick your present ones up their ignorant butts!

I had to beg and plead for Spiro and I was finally given it (reluctantly by my Doc) over 3 years ago. I had amazing success on it but unfortunately had to come off it 2 months ago due to a rare side effect (nothing life threatening.)

My hirsutism dramatically improved. The type of hair problems PCOSers experience are akin to what happens to men, which is why we tend to increase our body and facial hair and lose our scalp hair. This is due to elevated levels of testosterone in our bodies. Spiro is an anti-androgen and therefore lowers the level of testosterone. I know this definitely happened when I took it because I had my blood tested just before I came off the Spiro and my testosterone level was within normal ranges. Before starting it, it was elevated. Since stopping the Spiro my hirsutism is already beginning to return, along with my acne. New blood tests soon will show elevated levels again I'm sure.

Pre-Spiro I had to wax my face every week or so, and had excess hair growth on my hands, feet, legs, arms, etc and bad acne.

On Spiro I stopped waxing my face completely within a year. The difference was very noticeable way before this but I still had to do some waxing and plucking. My acne disappeared too.

2 months after Spiro I have to pluck facial hairs every day and when I shave my legs, bikini line and armpits the stubble is already there as soon as I have shaved and the hair is getting thicker, coarser and darker. I have even noticed that I seem to have 3 hairs growing out of many follicles on my legs. My acne returned within 2 or 3 weeks of stopping Spiro.

I have recently begun taking Saw Palmetto which is a herb thought to have a very similar effect to Spiro, so if your docs refuse you Spiro you could always try this instead. It's early days yet with the Saw Palmetto but I have had a noticeable reduction in my acne already but the hair has yet to subside.

Hope this helps.

Nikki x

Star_light · 03-18-2003, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GingerJ
I would be most grateful if you could please state the doseage you took and any improvements you noticed. And anything else you think might be relevant!!

Many thanks in advance
Jen

Well, I asked my doctor if I could start taking this (to help improve my skin and excess hair) on the 3rd of March, and he agreed. No questions asked. Obviously, I would have to come off it if it doesn't agree with me but 2 weeks and 2 days on, my skin is starting to feel A LOT smoother and I mean smooth. I am taking one 50mg tablet daily, in the morning, but I'm thinking of having it increased to 100mg after my 8 weeks is up.
My Gyno said the exact same thing about the Spironolactone not being prescribed as an anti-androgenic, so being the persistant little bugger that I am, I went to my doctor and he saw no problems

I haven't noticed any improvement in excess hair yet and my skin could still get a lot better but like I said, I've only been on it for just over 2 weeks.
If you do manage to get Spiro prescribed (which I really hope you do), you'll probably notice a change in skin texture before anything else. Anyone else agree?

Good luck and let us know how you get on

Star_light
xxx