Spironolactone

[rld]

Hi Dr. Redmond,

I have read your book "It's Your Hormones" and find it very helpful in this hair dilemma. I do have two questions, though. I have used spironolactone two different times to help with my hair loss. I know my hair loss is hormonal, because it began a few months after stopping birth control pills and just never got better. I am now back on Desogen for about 5 months and I have started spiro once again now for two weeks. Last time I used it for about 2 months. Is it normal to see increased shedding when taking spiro? This begins to happen to me after the second or third day of taking it. It happened before also and it just won't stop. And, can it cause oily scalp and hair as well? My hair was not oily before I began the spiro, but now I have to wash it every day or it looks terrible. I know spiro is supposed to dry everything up, but could it possibly do the opposite to some? I have not changed anything else about my routine either. Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.

[Geoffrey Redmond, MD, FACE]

Hi Dr. Redmond,

I have read your book "It's Your Hormones" and find it very helpful in this hair dilemma. I do have two questions, though. I have used spironolactone two different times to help with my hair loss. I know my hair loss is hormonal, because it began a few months after stopping birth control pills and just never got better. I am now back on Desogen for about 5 months and I have started spiro once again now for two weeks. Last time I used it for about 2 months. Is it normal to see increased shedding when taking spiro? This begins to happen to me after the second or third day of taking it. It happened before also and it just won't stop. And, can it cause oily scalp and hair as well? My hair was not oily before I began the spiro, but now I have to wash it every day or it looks terrible. I know spiro is supposed to dry everything up, but could it possibly do the opposite to some? I have not changed anything else about my routine either. Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.

I do not think that spiro causes hair loss. However spiro does not start to help shedding until someone has been on it for at least 2 to 4 mos. It also needs to be taken in an adequate does, usually 100 to 200 mg per day but less in certain circumstances. I think the increased hair loss is because people usually start to take spiro because their hair is getting worse and it often, unfortunately, continues to worsen while waiting for the spiro to work.

Spiro does not work for all alopecia but the most common reason it does not work is that someone was on too low a dose and/or did not take in long enough to see a response.

Be careful of internet posts about this. Often people post to get some relief when things are not going well, but then stop as they get better. This is understandable bur has the effect of needlessly discouraging people.