Spironolactone....

[Sarahlouiseis33]

Hi,

I’ve been prescribed Spironolactone for hormonal hairloss & oily skin. I’m 40 and these symptoms began a year or so ago. I have to take 50mg a day for two weeks & then go up to 100mg a day. Does anyone have an experience of Spironolactone? I’m hoping it clears up my oily skin/scalp & stops my hair shedding as much! Thank you ☺️ x

I used to take it but now take DIM supplement instead - bloody miraculous stuff without the side effects of a cardiac medicine

@Sarahlouiseis33 did your GP prescribe it or a Dermatologist? I've heard it's good for hormone related hair llss and acne. Waiting for bloos tests myself goimg through the same thing.

I take it. Absolute game changer. I had hair loss and cystic acne. Been on it for year. Have beautiful skin and my hair is back to full thickness.

My only regret is I didn’t go to a dermatologist sooner.

I started on 50 mg. I actually had to go up to 125 mg as while it did improve was still getting some nasty spots with lower doses.

I love spironolactone, it’s the only thing I’ve ever taken that has worked for acne (Which I still suffer from in my 50s ffs!) almost as well as roaccutane but without the side effects.

@JMAngel1 can you tell us more about dim supplement? I’ve never heard of it and a quick google isn’t very enlightening

@BlueStarRose - how long did it take before you noticed the hair loss stopping? Mines been shedding for a year & a half. I’ve lost loads of thickness and I’m desperate for it to stop. Also did it thicken your hair back up? Does it help oiliness too? Sorry for all the questions! x

@LightOfAThousandStars - No I had it prescribed by a dermatologist. Hairloss sucks. I’ve lost so much! Desperately hoping it helps! x

Thanks, yes it's terrible, good luck with the medicine x

@Sarahlouiseis33 so my hair was not oily. So I actually found my hair went incredibly dry. Within a month. I can literally leave my hair for 5 days before it starts to look greasy. I only need to wash my hair once a week now.

Shedding stopped in similar time, but I would say it’s taken a year for my hair to grow back to full thickness,

But my hair now is really thick again. I’m so pleased. I can not rate the medication enough.

I took it alongside the pill for acne but stopped both to TTC. My skin has deteriorated so I'm thinking of re starting the Spiro, what dose do others take for their skin?

@IDontMindMarmite I take 125 mg. I think that might be the highest dose you can have for acne.

@BlueStarRose - oh that’s great! I’m glad it helped you. Fingers crossed I get similar results! x

@Sarahlouiseis33 fingers crossed for you

I work in dermatology. I believe but am prepared to be contradicted that it takes about 3 months to notice a stop in shedding and another 3 months to notice improvement in hair thickness. This I think is a worst case scenario. It's very popular and people tend to get great results

@Drogonssmile - Yes I have a 3 month supply on prescription from the dermatologist then I go back to see her. I’m really hoping it helps me! It’s nice to hear positive things about it!

Hi all- appreciate this is an old thread. I'm a 30 yo female who's had quite bad hair loss recently not attributed to the obvious causes i.e. thryoid, iron levels, pcos. Would I go to a dermatologist to see if I can be prescribed spiro? Any recommendations in London?

Marking my place!

@Sarahlouiseis33 sorry to resurrect an oldish thread but was wondering how you were getting on with it.

Did your GP refer you to a dermatologist?
has anyones gp prescribed it?

I currently have terrible hair shedding. I’ve had hirsutism for years, previous bloods and scans years ago were inconclusive but I have lots of pcos symptoms. The gp at the time said I probably have it but until it caused problems with conceiving them wouldn’t actually do anything (great!). As the hair loss has ramped up I want to get something sorted asap!! Will obviously go to gp for new bloods etc but wanted to have an idea on what the gp themselves can do.

I take spironolactone for androgenic alopecia. It was recommended by an NHS dermatologist and my GP prescribes it.
I take 150mg. I think it has helped with my hairloss somewhat, although it's still thinning. I think I'm better off taking it than not. It also cleared up the mild acne I had completely. It initially made me lose weight but that was quite short-term.

Thanks @Astitichintimesaveswine how long have you been taking it? Disappointing that it hasn’t stopped the thinning, although good it has slowed! You hear about some
people who have regrowth with it.

@BowiesJumper I've been on it a couple of years, for a year at 100mg, then increased to 150mg.