I'm taking Avandia but the androgen level is still too high so my dr. said I could take bc pills or spiro. I am afraid of messing things up with the Avandia since it is working so well but am looking forward to it helping my skin, hair and the water retention I have on the Avandia. I have heard you should start the spiro. low so I thought I'd ask what low is, Any ideas or thoughts on this drug. I really don't want to go back on bc pills but refuse to allow the hair to rule again! I also don't like the puffy face hands and feet on the Avandia. Any advice out there?
Chris
__________________ 40 DH 39 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I started out with 50mg/day. After 2 weeks I went to 100mg/day. That is the dosage I am on now. I have other issues with androgens so the spiro itself didn't do much for me as far as lessening hair. But it works great for fluid retention. It doesn't seem to affect my b/p any either.
Patty
__________________ visit To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. to find more info on PCOS
diagnosed with endometriosis 1998, pcos 2000
married to wonderful man
1 daughter born 1994
hysterectomy Oct. 28,2002
LOCAH Nov. 2003
Glucophage XR 2250mg
Esclim estrogen patch 0.1mg/day
spironolactone 100mg
dexamethasone 0.5mg/day
I started 50mg/day of spiro in Aug '03. I have never increased my dosage b/c it seemed to be working on acne and facial hair growth.
As of 15 mins ago (just got back from a drs appt) I will be discontinuing sprio in favor of a more natural path with vitamins, minerals, and herbs b/c I am extremely fatigued all the time and we are going to start TTC.
One thing you should note is if you are planning on taking spiro you should also use some form of birth control if sexually active b/c of birth defects it can cause in male fetuses (sp?).
Just wanted to add..... Spiro did not fatique me or raise my bp.
Oral contraceptives had many more side effects for me than spiro. I would try it for sure.
Many often start at 100 mg a day taken in two 50 mg doses. I found that spiro made me very fatigued, so depending on how you respond to it, you may have to start with smaller doses.
*Edited to add*
I got as high as 200 mg daily for a while and finally discontinued spiro two months ago because after a whole year of taking it, I had no improvement with the facial hair or hair loss. (The little hairs that had begun growing on my chest went away, though.) I suppose it's worth mentioning that my hair loss/facial hair didn't get any worse either.
I had terrible clotting (large clots) during my periods the whole time i was on spiro. Since going off it, the clots have gone away.
I have also read that aldactone (spiro is the generic of aldactone) has shown to be more effective in trials. Unfortunately, with my insurance, I have to take a generic if it is available. Otherwise I have to pay out of pocket.
Spiro made me have a light period every 10 days and when I went off of it, I ovulated immediately and got pg! So all this to say that it really interfered with what it was trying to accomplish.
beckee
__________________ Beckee (33)
Joshua (33)
Emma Rayne (7)
Grace Natalie (3)
Julianna Joy (1)
Surprise #4 due April 25th, 2010!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Spironolactone is known to cause irregular bleeding, particularly polymenorrhea (frequent bleeds). This is one of the reasons it is often prescribed with OCs, which may alleviate and control this to some degree. Spiro. may also induce ovulation - Beckee, perhaps it *helped* you rather than hindered you?! - which means it's even more important to be using some form of contraceptive; you must not conceive whilst taking Spiro.
Medical practioners usually start you off on 50mg day, increasing this to 100mg after four weeks. Dose can be increased further if necessary.
Katie
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
28, Melbourne
Meds: Diane-35, Spironolactone
Lifestyle/Diet: Low-GI, handfuls of vitamins/minerals!
Symptoms: acne, hair loss, mild hirsutism, depression, fatigue, irregular/absent cycles, one skin tag (does this count?!)
sprio advice please 
