Anyone takin Spiro (aldactone)?

[Sky77]

Ello...

I'm going to see my endo next friday and I'm going to ask him if I can take Spiro; he asked if I was interested in Spiro on my last visit and I chickened out.

Anyone on Spiro at the moment? I did a search for spiro and found out that a lot of people 'LOVE' this stuff.. anyone hate this stuff?

Couple of questions:
1. do you get an initial breakout??? Was it bad? how long did it last?
2. any side effects?
3. Can you take this drug long-term?
4. how long did it take you to see improvements and what dosage are you on?

thanks...

Sophie

[chyna_dawl]

Hello Sky77,

I was interested in taking Spiro too.
I have a dermatologist appointment October 29.
I hope other people post information about Spiro, because it seems like the best option for me right now.
I don't have severe acne, but I do have moderate acne.
I am using Clindoxyl, but it's a bit harsh on my skin. It makes it red and irritated. I also use Differin every second night - it doesn't seem to help things at all.
I have already used Accutane - it cleared my skin for only a year.
What's your current condition? Do you have moderate acne as well?

[BorderGirl]

Get it!!! Yes I got an initial breakout but I've got Cushings Disease. I'm not the best person to ask. Going on the pill in month 2 helped even things out, or maybe it would have gone away on its own. At any rate I have crazy hormones altogether, not just testosterone...
Side effects: peeing a LOT the first two weeks; lost 12 pounds the first month and gained back about 4 or 5 with time; periods come closer together on 100mg/day but not 50mg/day.
Yep you can take it long term. My dermo wants me on it through my 30s as long as i'm not trying to get pregnant. I saw results I think within a week, besides the occasional zit for the initial breakout which is very unusual for me. Then again my skin was irritated from a new topical I was on...

[Sky77]

BorderGirl,

You're the best person for me to ask!! I have elevated dheas (androgens) which my endo says is probably from my adrenal glands and from my understanding, Cushing's is an adrenal gland disorder right??? What other meds are you on?

I just started Metformin for insulin resistance a few days ago and I'm breaking out a little from that. I'm already on Diane 35 which has kinda helped, I don't really know. My main concern now is my skin and I just started having facial hair problems a few months ago. So I guess you only broke out for a few days and it wasn't too bad right?
How is your skin doing these days?

thanks...
S.

Chyna Dawl: I don't have bad acne; mild I guess, a few pimples all the time, some days better some days worse. I've been on Diane35 for 6 weeks and I like it better than Ortho but I'm still getting pimples and it hasn't helped much with oil reduction. I have a problem with facial hair (don't have to shave yet but it's starting to get noticable) and my t-zone is SUPER oily...I can't use topicals because I have really sensitive skin; even cleanser make my skin red after I wash with them!!!

[BorderGirl]

Cushings is a pituitary disorder that causes an adrenal problem, but they think I also have congenital adrenal hyperplasia. So basically my pit tumor is secreting acth but cortisol is staying normal because of the CAH. But every other adrenal hormone and "adrenal metabolites" is elevated. So according to my endo, spiro will help me by lowering testosterone, but since the adrenal metabolites are still high it won't be perfect. Staying on topicals has helped make up for that.
The initial breakout wasn't bad at all, and like I said my skin was improving at the same time. It stopped after the first month (the same time I got on the pill and switched topicals).
Have you tried Vaniqa for the hair problem? I'm just starting it.
Do you have PCOS? I read spiro can help regulate your periods so they want doctors to prescribe it more instead of relying on metformin alone...