I just started spironolactine a week ago and i was wondering if anyone else is taking this and how long they have been on it. Do you see a difference and if so how long did it take to see the results?

I've been taking Spiro now for several months and it's been a tremendous help. I've already written about this a couple of times in several hair loss and Rogaine threads on this sub-forum. You might want to search under "Spiro" or "Spironolactone" to read through some of that material for more detail. Good Luck.

Did you get dizzy when you started taking it? Today I have been terribly dizzy and weak feeling to the point of almost passing out. Just curious if you experienced this.

No, I didn't. But my doctors gave me a big lecture about drinking lots and lots of water as well as going easy on the exercise until my body got used to the new fluid balance. As I understand it, Spiro was originally developed as a mild diuretic for babies who had a fluid retention problem (who knew babies could have that too?).

Anyway, I drink at least 2 or even 3 liter bottles of water every day, in addition to coffee, milk, etc. Spiro is also a "potassium-sparing" diuretic, so you need to check with your doctor before you use any salt substitute. Your doctor really should have explained these things to you-- it's important.

During my first days on Spiro, I had a strange feeling-- like microscopic robots were re-writing my DNA-- like something out of Star Trek. I can't explain it any other way. It totally changed my hormone balance for the better. Within a couple of days I was MUCH calmer and not wanting to physically fight with anyone-- that's how much testosterone I had in my system. But my PCOS had never been properly treated, IMO, and I wasn't on any other medication when I started, so my reaction was extreme, in a good way.

When Noodles gets back form recuperating, maybe we should ask her to put all the Spiro material in one sticky thread for convenience. Hope that helps!

Yes, Julie. I've had the dizziness and "out of it" feeling... in fact, both my doctors recommended changing the time I take the spirolactone to bedtime. That way, I'm not bothered by the dizziness... because I'll sleep through most of it. If I take it too late (like, say, after 7 pm), then I'm still a little out of it in the morning, but I'm usually okay by the time my students arrive at 7:30 a.m.

I can deal with the dizziness, actually... Its the occasional serious nausea, and the complete diet changes: no more chicken. I can't eat it anymore, becuase it makes me sick. That actually started with another medication I took several years ago, went away for awhile, came back with a vengenance when I was on glucophage for 4.5 months, tamed when I went off that... and is now back to stay with the spirolactone.

I am not, however, willing to give up taking it despite those side effects: I can learn to live without chicken, and without eating except at night... but when I started taking it was the first time I ever lost weight. The glucophage made me gain weight.

I have been on spiro for almost a month now....50mg. My doc said she was putting me on it to get some excess fluid off of me. I noticed changes the first week or two...now nothing...no real negative side effects either which is good. For those of you who have lost weight....how soon did you see it? What dose are you on? Take care.

The spiro didnt help me lose the weight, lifestyle changes did. The spiro is for the hair issues for me. I take 200 mg a day. I stopped getting those dizzy spells except during my period. I have been on spiro about a month.

My doctor gave me spiro for the hair issues, as well. I also take metformin. I did not experience any side effects from the spiro. Yes, it helps with water retention -- I went on a weekend trip and forgot to bring it with me, and over the course of 3 days my weight jumped due to the water! But, other than that, it does not seem to have affected weight loss.

I still have hair issues, but they are not as bad. How long was it before I saw results? Well, it's hard to say. I've been on it over a year, and I'd say that I started noticing that things were looking a little better after 6 months or so. I still have a problem with hair loss on my head, though ... *sigh*

I take 100 mgs daily. When I first started taking it... it was constant trips to the potty. I think I was losing my 55 % body weight every day. Now I am used to it. It was prescribed to keep the hair growth in check. I have facial and under the chin hair. It took about 6 months for me to notice any difference. Now I still get hair but it takes a lot longer for it to grow back. I also noticed before I was shaving my legs almost every day. I've just now noticed I've gone 6 days and I can hardly notice the hair!!!

WOW! I am so glad that I found this website today. I am on Spiro and Metformin and have been for several months. My son is proof that I can't remember to take pills so I have not been taking them as prescribed although I am getting better.

I also have serious hair issues. I am now using Rogaine and think that I am beginning to see some change.

You know, I have been getting dizzy lately and did not even begin to connect it with the medication until I read the previous posts. That is very interesting. I have an appointment with my Dr. on Friday so I will be sure to ask about this.

I have lost about 10 pounds since I started the meds although I know that I could have done better with exercise. I have changed my eating habits. I am starting to read my Dr. Phil Ultimate Weight Loss Challenge book that I have had for months. I even bought the CD's but they have been collecting dust. Last week I pulled out both of them and have started reading and listening at the same time.

Something else that one of you said.....I forgot to take my meds on vacation and came home with a 7 pound gain. I am now guessing it was because of the meds. (I did lose it all in one week. Now I have an extra reason to remember them. Thanks...

Once again, I am very glad that I found y'all (sorry, that is my Texas Accent coming out). I can't "weight" to read the rest of the threads.

WELCOME, HOMEGIRL!!

Glad to see you here!! Feel free to join us in our monthly blab area on the PCOS forum!! Here's a link for ya...

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41472

Hope to see you soon!!

I still get dizzy sometimes, and I've been on it for awhile. It's something that I've learned to live with--fainting is more ladylike than a beard XD

Hi Everyone,

I've been lurking for a while, and never really posted. I used to be on bcp plus 100 spiro about 4 yrs ago. It was great for the hairloss, but I started developing salivary stones (YUCK!) and I thought it had something to do with the spiro, so I went off it. Passing those suckers was not fun. I've been on Diane 35, which was great, but it's not available in the USA, and it's a pain to get. When Yasmin came on the market, I switched to that, but my hair is NOT happy. I'm getting married in October, and my hair is the thinnest it's ever been. I'm considering going back on the sprio...and I'll find out at my next endo appointment if that's an option. Ugh. I'm seeing him on Aug. 18th, and it tooks months to get that appointment. Can I just interject that I HATE drs that don't take insurance, and I hate my HMO?

Hi, OctoberBride!!

Feel free to join us in our monthly chat area. Just click on the link below to get there. We'd love to have you!!

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44341