PCOS Messages for April, 2001: Re: spiro questions

Re: spiro questions

From: Beth (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 17 Apr 2001 22:22:41 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: amy: "spiro questions"

I am extremely tired, we're in the process of moving so I apologize ahead of time if this doesn't make sense : ).

Spiro is Spironolactone, the generic version of Aldactone. Used for high blood pressure and heart failure (or something of the sort) it happens to work as an androgen blocker. It works really well at blocking the effects of the testosterone.

There are a few of us that have found it opens the door to weight loss for us. I believe everyone that I've seen post about this is on the higher dose (200mg a day), I am too. Those on a lower dose of Spiro don't seem to have as much luck with it controlling their symptoms.

Spiro can assist in weight loss because it blocks the testosterone effects. As you probably know high testosterone causes weight gain, inability to lose weight, midsection weight and so on. When it blocks the testosterone effectively it controls the hair loss, acne and weight issues.

That being said... the weight isn't going to just melt away. Diet is the reason there is weight loss, Spiro has just opened the door and made losing possible. I should mention too that testosterone is the culprit of my weight issues, nothing else. I do reduced carb for my diet because I am also IR, so in addition to losing weight it helps me feel great. (I didn't lose on low carb before Spiro, not very much anyhow)

The other thing about Spiro is that it takes a while to see results. I noticed an improvement in my acne within the first month or two. My hair loss took several months to notice and I didn't have any regrowth until 6 or 7 months. I quit gaining weight a few months or so into it. Even before losing weight I noticed weight distribution changes, my midsection thinned out. (not completely, not even now)

If you stop taking Spiro your symptoms will reappear, assuming they haven't magically disappeared. (not likely) While it seems like there should be an easy way to lower testosterone levels, there isn't. Steroids, bcp's and such can help but there's no magic pill. (doesn't that suck???? )

Anyhow Spiro isn't going to benefit everyone and isn't a miracle weight loss drug. It all depends on what's behind your particular problems.

Hope that helps some!

At Tue, 17 Apr 2001, amy wrote: >
>So I read somewhere on this forum that Beth was losing a lot of weight
>due to spiro. What exactly does spiro do? What is the full name?
>
>After you stop taking it, woudl you gain a lot of weight or hair back?
>
>I've been on 1500mg glucophage for 1.5 yrs and have only lost 25 lbs in
>that time. This is with diet, low carbing (sugar's too hard to give up)
>and not so regular excersize. So I'm a little frustrated and still have
>50 lbs to lose to get to my ideal weight.
>
>Someone tell me all they know about spiro. My doc is pretty open-minded
>and I want to be able to have an intelligent conversation with him.
>
>Thanks.

--
Beth
Rockport, MA

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