POSTED UNDER Spironolactone For Acne Reviews
Spironolactone for hair loss
UPDATED FROM fancyE
4 years post
Hair loss update: Spiro and SMP
fancyEOctober 18, 2022
WORTH IT$1,200
So, I stopped spiro in 2019, got pregnant again in 2020 and now my daughter is almost 2. I started taking spiro again at 50mg daily in early 2022 when I’m done breastfeeding. This time I want to try a low dosage and use hair fiber instead. Photo is how I look now. Shedding is not bad but hair just don’t grow and my scalp is visible :((
Hair fiber works for me but I realize that I probably breathed in a lot of the silica and harmful to lungs. Sigh…
I’m going to increase my spiro to 100mg. I’m also going to get a scalp micropigmentation to color my scalp. I really don’t want to take too much spiro if there’s a better alternative.
Anyone has any thoughts on oral minoxidil? Any side effects and can I take it with spiro?
Hair fiber works for me but I realize that I probably breathed in a lot of the silica and harmful to lungs. Sigh…
I’m going to increase my spiro to 100mg. I’m also going to get a scalp micropigmentation to color my scalp. I really don’t want to take too much spiro if there’s a better alternative.
Anyone has any thoughts on oral minoxidil? Any side effects and can I take it with spiro?
fancyE's provider
Replies (1)
UPDATED FROM fancyE
6 months post
6 mo update
fancyEJuly 18, 2018
It’s definitely slowing improving. Some days the shredding is worse like 30-40 hairs a day. It seems to happen around the time I have my period.
My period does come but only last for a day or so with very little flow...my GP said spiro has period disturbance effect and told me not to worry about it.
My period does come but only last for a day or so with very little flow...my GP said spiro has period disturbance effect and told me not to worry about it.
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM fancyE
5 months post
After my Endocrinologist visit
fancyEJune 6, 2018
There is still a spot at the back that’s very thin. I increased the dosage to 125mg for about a month. I also saw an endocrinologist and did a more comprehensive lab test on various hormone level to understand more the effect of spironolactone on my body.
What I learn from my endocrinologist is
1. My estrogen level is almost triple of the high end of the normal range for the mid-menstrual cycle. Very high.
2. High estrogen is also the effect of birth control pills. High estrogen may contribute to breast cancer and endometrial (uterus) cancer. So with family history of these cancer, she doesn’t think it’s worthwhile to use spiro for the sake of hair.
3. She usually treats her patients with real problem (not hair problem - spiro is only off label use for hair treatment) of 50mg. So my dosage is mid range.
4. She suggested me to think the pros and cons of using this drug. Consider other non-hormonal treatments. Pay attention to any irregularity of my menstrual cycle. My period is still regular but the volume is lower and the blood color is darker.
5. My blood pressure is on the low side. My sodium is also low. So need to drink more water and eat a little more salty food.
6. Other hormone levels (FSH, LH, testosterone, Cortisol, DHEAS) are within the normal range.
My thoughts:
1. Originally I thought I would slowly increase the spiro dosage to 150, 175, 200mg (max per my plastic surgeon/hair specialist). But now that I know my estrogen level is this high, I will just keep at 125mg for now. I will also talk to my GP if I need to reduce it to 100mg or lower.
2. Ask my GP to test my estrogen level if she can during annual well women exam.
What I learn from my endocrinologist is
1. My estrogen level is almost triple of the high end of the normal range for the mid-menstrual cycle. Very high.
2. High estrogen is also the effect of birth control pills. High estrogen may contribute to breast cancer and endometrial (uterus) cancer. So with family history of these cancer, she doesn’t think it’s worthwhile to use spiro for the sake of hair.
3. She usually treats her patients with real problem (not hair problem - spiro is only off label use for hair treatment) of 50mg. So my dosage is mid range.
4. She suggested me to think the pros and cons of using this drug. Consider other non-hormonal treatments. Pay attention to any irregularity of my menstrual cycle. My period is still regular but the volume is lower and the blood color is darker.
5. My blood pressure is on the low side. My sodium is also low. So need to drink more water and eat a little more salty food.
6. Other hormone levels (FSH, LH, testosterone, Cortisol, DHEAS) are within the normal range.
My thoughts:
1. Originally I thought I would slowly increase the spiro dosage to 150, 175, 200mg (max per my plastic surgeon/hair specialist). But now that I know my estrogen level is this high, I will just keep at 125mg for now. I will also talk to my GP if I need to reduce it to 100mg or lower.
2. Ask my GP to test my estrogen level if she can during annual well women exam.
Replies (1)
June 7, 2018
Any endocrinologist that doesn't think hair loss is a real problem is a fool. It is one of the worst traumatizing things and woman can go through and it is also related to many medical issues. Spironolactone works well at 200 mg a day and even better when combined with minoxidil. I lost hair 19 years ago and have a better head of hair now that when my hair loss started way back then. Luckily for me had and great endocrinologist and dermatologist that caught and treated it early on.
the women of my family. I take 25 per day of spiro and I am hesitating to take more spiro because my mom had breasr cancer.