High potassium levels. Expert advice is needed in these challenging cases. I hate this drug, and I'm on your dose. Spironolactone pills help many women, especially whose hair loss starts before menopause but takes many months. It takes patience. Feb 24, 2019. Common interactions include fall among females and cardiac failure congestive among males. For the record I have probably the most regular menstrual cycle there is. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Spironolactone - Will weight gain with aldactone usage go away once the body adjusts? i rarely brush it, I know sounds bad : ( lol, but my hair is frizzy and should be naturally curly so if I brush it, let's just say it looks bad, lol. I finally panicked and made a hair app specifically for the hair loss with my dermatologist. Don't use the typical drugstore "strengthening" shampoos--in my experience (and admittedly I have weird hair--coarse, thick, oily at roots, dry at ends), it just weighed hair down and didn't really help because the "strengthening" ingredients were at the bottom of the list. I've never had issues or irregularities with my period, it is always on time, every month. These medicines are sometimes called "water tablets" because they make you pee more. Detailed Spironolactone dosage information. The general advice for most patients with androgenetic alopecia who start minoxidil or an antiandrogen or laser therapy and experience increased shedding in the first 1-2 months is to keep going with therapy. It's comforting to know that other folks understand my dilemma. Long-term maintenance therapy for patients deemed unsuitable for surgery or those with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. Subsequently, the dose may be adjusted according to patient response. Is there any way you can go off the OTC? Maintenance dose: Patients tolerant of initial dose: May increase to 50 mg orally once a day as clinically indicated. Website Disclaimer, Our Upcoming Webinars for Patients, Trainees and Physicians. Did you have your hormone levels checked before you started taking spiro? Did your hair stop shedding?! This time I made an appt with the dermatologist (not her PA) because the hair loss was so drastic at this point and I wanted a second opinion. The former reduces the amount of DHT on our scalp while the latter blocks the remaning DHT at the receptor sites.]. I was on spironolactone for acne as well for two years, and like you, lost about 50% of my hair. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Spiro is often prescribed to treat hair loss. I looked at the ingredients for Fall Fight, and it's just another Laureth Sulfate based shampoo. I would highly suggest getting off the medication. So long story short, I've been off it for 2 full weeks after tapering down for a few months, and my hair is coming out in clumps. Keflex has active ingredients of cephalexin. Then I ran out and wasnt able to get on for an apt for a few weeks. Some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as celecoxib (Celebrex) The migraine medication sumatriptan (Imitrex) Certain "water pills" (diuretics), such as furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide . I am heart broken because its given me beautiful skin, so I feel torn between trying to save my hair or having clear skin. Here are my personal brand recommendations: -Burt's Bees (the real Burt's Bees, not the "GUD" spinoff brand). - BEGIN YOUR TELEMEDICINE CONSULT NOW, PLANNING YOUR FIRST VISIT WITH DR. DONOVAN, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FIRST VISIT, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS, INFORMATION ON FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT FREQUENCY, SEND US DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOS (SECURE UPLOAD LINK), Referral Information & Form for Physicians, Dr. Donovan's Hair Loss Articles (2011-2023), SIGN UP TO RECEIVE DR. DONOVAN'S ARTICLES. Sulfonamide medications that may be OK. Certain diabetes medications glyburide (Glynase, Diabeta) and glimepiride (Amaryl), for example. But I would rather have acne than lose my hair. If a patient does not get some little bit of increased shedding its probably a concern. I've seen a lot of posts on this site from other women describing a similar phenomenon, and I was hoping for an update on their shedding. When I showered it was the worst, I could no longer brush my hair and after about a month I could see my scalp :( it was horrible, Ive never experienced anxiety like this before. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. 367 people who take Keflex and Spironolactone together, and have interactions are studied. 3) Acne is something most women deal with every now and again.Needless to say, I was frustrated. To be quite honest I don't pay attention to ingredients when it comes to shampoos. Like most people on it, I've had docs continually telling me it can't cause hair loss, along with a few docs who have said it can. Maintenance dose: Contraindicated in patients with anuria, acute renal insufficiency, or significant impairment of renal excretory function. 27. JavaScript is disabled. I figured it would be no big deal I might just have to fight off a few zits but little did I know I had many more issues to come. I'm so happy I stuck it out and didn't stop taking spiro. It continued with highs and lows. My skin is FINALLY starting to clear, and I really don't want to stop taking spiro just as it's beginning to work. It is created by eHealthMe based on reports of 367 people who take Keflex and Spironolactone from the FDA, and is updated regularly. There are hair supplements out there; most have biotin, which break me out like crazy, but I'm trying one from Swanson with Insitol, PABA, and horsetail to help. Posted by 3 days ago. Lowering blood pressure can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. } Like most ppl, it worked great at treating my cystic acne, unfortunately I was not aware of the side effects. First, I got my period 2 times this month. For those who experienced hair loss/shedding on spironolactone / Aldactone, did you push through the shedding phase and find that it eventually stopped? If you use this eHealthMe study on publication, please acknowledge it with a citation: study title, URL, accessed date. Duration of therapy: Treatment should be continued for at least 2 weeks to achieve a maximum response. Of course, each of these situations should be reviewed with the hair specialist on a case by case basis. Spironolactone can cause high blood potassium. She said to keep an eye on my weight (don't lose any more since I'm petite and increase my protein). I will never ever touch that pill ever again. Ikarus said: I didn't ask for a judgement or an opinion, I asked about the dread shed and the regrowth after the shed. I think thats worth repeating: Any treatment for androgenetic alopecia that works has the potential to cause a dread shed. Have you tried Biotin or Iron, which they say also helps? One thing I have noticed is that if I accidentally miss a dose or take an extra pill by accident, that seems to trigger a noticeable hair loss phase. I recommend buying a biotin-based thickening/strenghthening shampoo from Whole Foods or online at a site like iherb.com. I'd rather not brush and keep some curls. 30min . Oil production on my face and scalp also diminished. This tool may not cover all possible drug interactions. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Minoxidil lotion and Minoxidil foam are FDA approved for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in men and women. Prophylaxis of hypokalemia in patients taking digitalis when other measures are considered inadequate or inappropriate. It worked wonders I absolutely LOVED it, cleared my acne, reduced my body hair, I no longer had oily skin. I dont over style or wash, dont color too often, use silk hair tires and pillow cases etc. Keep oils away from your scalp. http://www.iherb.com/Search?kw=biotin+shampoo&x=0&y=0. It feels so thin and you can see my scalp through the hairs. . If you are female, sixty percent respond to five percent. I hope that helps. A lot of dermatology is educated guessing. UPDATE: My Custom Topper from Shanna Moll Studios . I had 50 percent more hair then I do now, and I know it is from this pill. And so what the patient then experiences is an increased amount of hairs coming out on a daily basis once they start minoxidil. Not something I currently do, but a few years ago I was trying to grow my hair out. 2023 eHealthMe.com. You must log in or register to reply here. Particularly, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.*. Is it physically possible to become pregnant while taking Spironolactone? 100mg was too high for me. Unless you're under 125lbs, I wouldn't say your dose is too high. I slowly weaned off it over the last 6 months and I too am suffering with major major major hair loss. Also, I had stuff that pointed to issues with it like my pony tail was significantly smaller, my . I weigh between 120-125 lbs, so I guess I could potentially see results from a decreased dosage of 25mg -- especially because, like you said, I'm already on OTC which regulates hormones. Spironolactone is a type of medicine called a diuretic. And as far as the acne, I have remained on topical tretinoin and yes my skin is not perfect now but its not near as bad as it was before. IF YOU DONT WANT TO RISK LOSING YOUR HAIR DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. I've been reading for a long time but this is my first post. Its something that we expect to occur rather than something are concerned with. You can discuss the study with your doctor, to ensure that all drug risks and benefits are fully discussed and understood. I shed a lot anyway so for me to actually notice hair loss means a LOT is coming out. I started at 100 and was upped to 200 roughly 6 months later (March 2020). For about a week, I've been shedding a lot of hair on my head. Privacy Policy. I've been on this drug for about two weeks (I'm on 50mg) now going onto week three. Minoxidil and spironolactone carry with them a greater risk than low level laser therapy. However, the term equally applies to other therapies. Please help!!! Just be wary of the ingredients in any shampoo, I was lucky enough that the CVS had no sunflower oil or anything, but a lot of these stupid organic shampoos do, even for stuff that's meant to add body. I have (had) very thick coarse hair that grows quickly, and the thinning areas were only noticeable to me if I pulled my hair back. It was prescribed for my persistent cystic hormal acne -- something I've dealt with since my teens but mostly in my adult life. It's constantly running in the background of my mind throughout my day. The increased shedding that accompanies starting minoxidil needs to occur for most people. under my jaw, but he dismissed those. report. I feel your pain because the two years I suffered hair loss was so traumatic. Hope it stops soon for you x, Hi, Im going through major hair loss after 6 years of Spironolactone. Applies to the following strengths: 25 mg; 100 mg; 50 mg; 25 mg/5 mL. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Copyright 2022 by RxList Inc. RxList does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Ive been to so many doctors and they have not been helpful so far. Since it doesn't seem to be working on the other issues any longer this may be the time to taper my dose and get off this stuff for good. I now have a much wider part that now goes down the entire back of my head. (One must never stop treatment if they have androgenetic alopecia or else new hair growth will be shed and all benefits will be lost). display: none; Im scared Im going through the same thing. My guess is that the hair that fell out during the Spiro dread shed came back. go to Amazon and put it "thinning hair", it'll have the same ingredients--biotin, horse chestnut, etc.). I do have to say unknown that it is typical to wait 2-3 weeks as doctors always say to give the drug time to work. I started the medication 50 mg once daily. r/FemaleHairLoss. The thinning is mainly on my crown and temples. } Spironolactone is used to treat build-up of fluid in your body ( oedema) caused by . It is certainly possible that I'm over-analyzing this shedding because, as you said, I've been on high-alert since starting spiro for any weird side effects. At my annual physical with my PC doctor I mentioned the hair loss and she tested my thyroid function and all was normal. I initially thought that is was because of stress due to the pandemic. I've exhausted everything else at this point. You are absolutely not the only person to deal with this. I did notice biotin at a high potency (5000mg, I believe) made my hair grow faster, but it also made me irritable and anxious, so I stopped. I know it has only been 2 weeks since fully stopping, but I really need to hear from some women with success stopping and having their hair return to normal. Not clumps, but lots of diffuse strands all over my head when I shower or brush my hair. Patients tolerant of initial dose: May increase to 50 mg orally once a day as clinically indicated, Patients intolerant of initial dose: May decrease to 25 mg orally every other day, Long test: 400 mg orally per day for 3 to 4 weeks, Short test: 400 mg orally per day for 4 days. Just wanted to share my experience! This area was the first area that came back after I had postpartum shedding in 2011, so thats why Im leaning towards the fact that this is likely not new growth, but rather regrowth. It does, to me, but I also could be imagining it because I'm so freaked out by the volume of hairs coming out of my head. Expert advice is needed in these challenging cases. Your body needs time to adjust to a dose. If you are male, forty five percent respond to Minoxidil (five percent, it's. thirty percent for 2% Minoxidil). It only works for hair loss IF you have hormonal related hair loss, and because it affects your hormone receptors it does and can cause hair loss. Gynecomastia only occurs for 11% of people who take Spironolactone, and even then it has the potential to go away. WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. All rights reserved. I do have other signs of . I haven't had any cystic acne since the initial breakout I had during my first week of starting spiro. I second the other poster's recommendation for biotin. Also, my hair has now become two different textures with the back soft and the crown and temples brittle, frizzy, and dry. The recommended initial daily dose is 25 to 100 mg of Spironolactone tablets administered in either single or divided doses is recommended. Its really only individuals with more marked shedding that will be able to tell they are having a dread shed. You can use the study as a second opinion to make health care decisions. I didn't ask for a judgement or an opinion, I asked about the dread shed and the regrowth after the shed. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 1,914. (Scalp health is vital as well for anyone reading who had scalp issues prior to Rx) After stopping it, my scalp longer feels tender & the shedding is less. Thank you all so much for your posts its given me hope, and I will post updates. Ozone to the scalp has worked for some people. That's what it means to be human. Now that I look back my hair was slowly thinning but I realized too late. About 8 years ago, for 2 years straight I tried every different type of extension there is out there. I literally put no heat on my hair and have styled it with mouse and a diffuser on cool for years. These drug companies need to put warning labels on this prescription to protect us from these hidden side effects (before we take them.). My dermatologist said that it was not the medication and that the medication was actually used for hair lost. So anyone experiencing this, get prescribed iron supplements!! That makes sense to me because my testosterone levels were never elevated before starting spiro. You can also reach the Admin of the site on the Forums at username Admin fairly quickly. I think the Spiro must deplete iron levels and thats how it causes hair loss. I tried the CVS brand only because I got it on clearance and am finishing it off, but makeupalley should have reviews on stuff like the Avalon shampoo. Im now 2 months post Spiro and my shedding is finally reducing!! What is being shed is hairs that were destined to come out anyways: Instead of coming out tomorrow, a hair comes out today, Instead of coming out in 2 weeks, a hair comes out in tomorrow, Instead of coming out in 4 weeks, a hair comes out in 1 week, Instead of coming out in 6 weeks, a hair comes out in 2 weeks. I upped my dosage to 75 mg's from 50's mg's. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Reading this and finding this has been a small token of hope! After about 3-4 weeks it cleared it up my skin completely and I was completely clear for 4 months, then my skin started to break out again but not as bad as before. Suspension: Oral: Initial: 20 to 75 mg/day in 1 or 2 divided doses; may titrate at 2-week intervals as needed based on response and tolerability. The study uses data from the FDA. spironolactone-hydrochlorothiazide oral brand names and other generic formulations include: Aldactazide Oral, Aldarex Plus Oral, Altexide Oral, Decozide Oral, Hydrotone Oral, Spirochlor Oral, Spironazide Oral, Spirozide Oral. Keep checking back and share your story. Another update: my hair is back to normal -- the shedding stopped! It is crazy making. Treatment of patients with hypokalemia when other measures are considered inappropriate or inadequate. I was on it for 9 months. Anyway so I came across this thread because I was frantically searching the internet to see if Spiro had done this to anyone else and as soon as I found this I stopped it straight away! All generic drug interactions for spironolactone-hydrochlorothiazide oral (lists will include brand and generic names): 17 serious drug interactions 280 significant drug interactions 315 minor drug interactions Patients and Caregivers Clinician Explanation Minor Interaction is unlikely, minor, or nonsignificant The Classic Storage Shed is modeled after our standard Workshop storage building. Below is my experience with spironolactone. When you choose custom backyard sheds from Texas Backyard Structure, you will be getting a custom-designed shed that matches your property and meets your storage needs without sacrificing style. Personalize this study to your gender and age, "Cephalexin Induced Cholestatic Jaundice", Gastroesophageal reflux disease (a condition in which stomach contents leak backward from the stomach into the oesophagus), Hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure), Metronidazole and Levofloxacin drug interaction, Metformin and Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (Itp), Varenicline Tartrate and Sinus Congestion. I am sensitive to hormonal changes and it always causes hair loss whether it be child birth or birth control. Thank you for letting me vent and to everyone for sharing your story and tips. Drug class: aldosterone receptor antagonists. With the higher dose, I also noticed body hair decreased and was needing to shave less often. However, many variations are possible. My acne is mild to moderate, but evidently, very persistent. After 3 months and no change, the PA increased me to 50mg/2 a day and said "this drug is safe, you can't take too much." display: none !important; My period also went back to its normal cycle around this time (was getting 2 periods per months when I started spiro). I hope this story helps anyone who may still be on the fence about if hair loss is related to this medication. Dread shed. I am 32 and I am on no other medications other than topical retinol (tretinoin please forgive any spelling errors). Lets take a look first at shedding from minoxidil. I noticed that my hair goes in shedding cycles throughout the year, before I was on spiro. The best way to reach us is by using our contact form. Exercise and get the blood pumping to your face and scalp daily, this is crucial.. Take magnesium and vitamin c,d, a multi but Try not to over do it with supplements. I started Spironolactone two years ago due to my acne, and noticed in october that I had lost a lot of hair. The most notable functions of Spironolactone as a hair loss treatment is that it works as an antiandrogen by decreasing the production of testosterone by the adrenal glands and by preventing DHT from binding to its androgenic receptor. share. Treatment of diuretic-induced hypokalemia in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) when other . Uses: Management of edema and sodium retention when the patient is only partially responsive to, or is intolerant of, other therapeutic measures. This is what the 'dread shed' or 'immediate telogen release is all about. Spironolactone can cause this phenomenon sometimes and so can minoxidil. Scalp pain has diminished at least 90%. I'm not taking this with birth control. If you've noticed this too, do you have any suggestions for me? Black says it's a first-generation cephalosporin that inhibits cell wall synthesis in certain bacteria. I'm really concerned and have considered not taking it anymore, but perhaps I'll try a lower dosage or wait it out a few more months before making any changes. HELP/QUESTIONS . I have never suffered with any type of hair loss and Im not taking any other medication that could be causing this. I'm confident in my self enough to not care about the feminisation side effects, unlike many other men who want to grasp onto masculinity like its actually benefiting them. In fact, men with more feminine features are known to be the most beautiful individuals - which probably explains why the younger generation find Korean men highly desirable. As we reviewed together in the section above, a dread shed is expected. Cookie Notice I don't know if it has to do with The medication because I was shedding before. This continued for month. } Do you see the little hairs (about 3/4 of an inch) on my temple? No one can answer this question as its different for everyone with a new treatment. Ive been off it for two months now and my hair is still falling. I went to a hair specialist and they diagnosed me with telogen effluvium and Androgenic alopecia and gave me minoxidil. I am going to provide my full experience with spiro in detail.I was put on it in September of 2019 for hormonal acne. It is often used in infection. Good luck to you &/or whomever this may help:). Stay as calm as possible. Filter by condition Spironolactone rating summary 6.9/10 average rating 59 ratings from 63 user reviews. I now have less than 50% of the hair that I had before starting on Spironolactone. A common concern among individuals who are deciding whether or not to use minoxidil is the potential for them to develop an increased amount of daily hair shedding in the first 1-3 months of starting minoxidil. who could relate. Here is the caveat: you are also on OTC which is already supposed to change your hormone levels in the direction that would clear your acne. Im early in taking them (about 8 days) but I think they are helping. I haven't had any cystic acne in weeks, which is atypical and awesome. I found that eating a pickle or sucking on a ketchup packet would instantly make me feel better. About spironolactone. My scalp had been very dry also which I know was a factor so am now doing nourishing scalp masks. Anyone who has suffered from anemia will understand. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. I vaguely remembered taking it in the past a few months before my wedding to make sure I was free from blemishes by the big day. For others, the therapy accelerated the shedding process which further pushed the hair thinning along its course - ahead of where it would otherwise have been. I stopped today and feel fearful as I have never seen so much hair fall out of my head. May 13-June 2. The shedding didnt get better until I started the iron supplements. She confined that yes, spironolactone can cause hair loss. If you stop now the hair that you shed, which was resting hair and doomed to fall out within 3 months anyway, is still gone and the new hair that was activated will never have a chance to come in. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Some treatments not only cause a dread shed but cause hairs that were not in the telogen phase to also be booted out of the scalp. Spironolactone is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. Minoxidil in liquid form is very safe, but not always effective. However, I adjusted some. Spiro can cause this even in low dosages like 25mg. We are more than our hair :). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. The doctor told me that could be related to perhaps not enough sodium in my diet. Ive been on spironolactone for six months. Socatastic 1 yr. ago. All rights reserved. But I feel like now its shedding at a rate that I can deal with so it wont be forever! The mandatory 2-3 month waiting period has been temporarily waived. 4. It WILL get better. I showed him the almost-white, fine hairs that were now actually getting long enough to tug on (ew!) The downside: I thought it was just me, but it does seem as though my hair is thinning right around my forehead. Loved it! I wish I found this article 5 months ago before I started. Hi everyone, Im posting because this thread was the only thing that made me feel sane when I was losing my hair, and I was DESPERATE for someone to update so heres my story - I hope it helps someone! I was on 150mg. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. 2) The few darks hairs down the side of my face as well as at my jaw line didnt warrant anything more than a tweeze-job. All information is observation-only. I only ever get it in one part of my face (chin and sides of chin) and they usually require cortisone injections, so this was to be preventative. Hydrochlorothiazide 25 to 200 mg-Spironolactone 25 to 200 mg orally daily in 1 to 2 divided doses. It is based on cephalexin and spironolactone (the active ingredients of Keflex and Spironolactone, respectively), and Keflex and Spironolactone (the brand names). I literally got it a week after it ended. I will update in a few months, good luck to you all and Im so sorry this happened to us all! 50mg has been great. She looked at my previous blood work and said it was fine, but increasing my iron may help. 25 to 100 mg orally per day. I have been on Spironolactone and the oral contraceptive Yaz for two and a half months. Also, has the amount of shedding changed at all as time went on, or has it been consistent?