Spiro side effects

[elsie]

I just started on 50 mg spiro with the encouragement of my endo -- my dermatologist had already rx'd it but I wanted my endo's ok. She said to go for it, since I've given the met a year and a half and it hasn't cleared up my back and shoulder acne or chin hair.

Now I am having metformin-like side effects that I have never had on metformin! I developed a terrible stomachache after two days on it -- plus nausea. The scary thing about the stomach pain is that it doesn't feel like a gas/digestive thing -- it just hurts. So I stopped taking the spiro (and the met for a couple of days, just to cleanse my system a bit) -- then a couple of weeks later, tried it again. This time, the pain came on almost immediately, although it wasn't as severe as last time.

Has anyone else had these side effects, and do they go away within time? I have been taking it with food, btw. Should I try taking it apart from the met? I had really been looking forward to less acne-ridden skin by the end of the summer, but not if this continues. Please respond!

[turtle*in*sun]

This is one of those side effects they list on the info sheets that come with your med's. My sheet for spiro says..."Side effects that may go away during treatments, include abdominal cramping, nausea, diarrhea, headache, or change in sexual ability."

I had the nausea and even diziness. They eventually passed for me. I take both of my doses with my met, with a glass of milk.

You want to be sure to drink a lot of water, while you are on this, as it is a diuretic.

[elsie]

Thanks for your response, Sherri. I should have checked here before I posted a new thread about this in Gen. Discussion. I think I'm going to give it another try. I also had the dizziness you mentioned, but am glad to hear that it abated with time.

Are you happy with the results of spiro for yourself? Have you had significant changes in your acne/excess hair, etc (I'm not sure what your symptoms are)? If you have had changes, how long did they take to occur?

[elsie]

Well, I gave spiro a try but threw the rest of the rx in the trash today. What happened is that I was scared by the warnings on the package. I had so much anxiety over the safety of this med. that I couldn't tell whether the dizziness/lightheadedness/generally weird feeling I had on it was a panic attack or signs of potassium poisoning (in which you're advised to go to the er asap). I also decided that it is probably a bad time to be experimenting in the month that we are without health insurance (my husband just started a new job).

Maybe I am too spoiled by my experience with met i.e. no side effects. On the other hand, I know that I need met to sensitize my body to insulin, so it's a separate issue from spiro, which was basically for cosmetic complaints.

So now I'm trying to get my head around the fact that my back and shoulder acne is probably going to be no better until menopause -- which SUCKS. Also, I sweat excessively because of this excess testosterone and dhea, so I have the double whammy during hot weather of not being able to wear a sleeveless top without feeling incredibly self-conscious, and having to swelter in a t-shirt that has sweat rings halfway down my sides, which also make me incredibly self-conscious. I am hating pcos today!!!!

I can't take bcp's because of my breast cancer risk -- my mother had it pre-menopause, which means that pcos gives me an unexpected protection against the estrogen factor, which bcp's would offset. So that option is out.

I don't mean to make this out to be a full-fledged pity party but some days are harder than others, as I'm sure everyone out there knows. Thanks for letting me vent.

[Gen224]

Elsie--
why not get your rx out of the trash and do some more research? Most of us have been on spiro for YEARS and have no ill s/e from it. It truly DOES affect acne and hair growth & loss, although it tends to take about 3-6 months to see a big change.

Quite honestly, I think that met and some of the other medications that are used to treat PCOS have much worse s/e and potential problems for your health than spiro--spiro is a very old medication that is used regularly for people with hbp. It's not new and it has been studied for eons.

HTH

[elsie]

I guess you're right but quite honestly I am just freaked out by having dizziness/lightheadedness/feeling like I'm moving in slow motion on spiro. I have children who need to be picked up here and there and I didn't feel safe driving in that condition.

I never had anything more than slight stomach cramping on met when I first ramped up dosage. All my liver function tests have been fine, and most important, my insulin sensitivity came into normal range immediately on met -- energy level, carb cravings, etc. improved accordingly.

I need to trust my gut on this one -- literally. The first time I tried spiro I had a severe stomacheache that had me doubled over in pain, which is another one of the dangerous side effects listed on the sheet I got from the pharmacy! Maybe it's the combo of wellbutrin/met/spiro that produces the weird side effects. The research I have done, though, gives many more dire warnings about spiro than what I've read about met.

Did I mention that my breasts became so enlarged during one week on spiro that I was busting out of my bra? And not in a good way -- they were rock-hard and very tender -- more so than in the 5+ years I was pregnant or nursing babies.

I do feel like I have somewhat of a princess and the pea reaction to certain meds, despite my desire for it to be otherwise. I tried non-rx progesterone cream several years ago per my md's advice (before being dx'd with pcos) to address mid-cycle spotting (the first sign something was amiss). I immediately developed an itching condition with no visible rash that made my entire body itch, down to my toenails. My md said she hadn't heard that complaint in 15 years of rxing the cream. Luckily in that case I was able to donate the unused cream in sealed packets, since it's quite $$ and otc.

Thanks for the advice but I think if I find this bacne unbearable in the next few weeks I'll splurge for laser treatment or a back facial. Now I know how people who can't tolerate met feel.

[turtle*in*sun]

Elsie,

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. I love the effects of the spiro. I am taking to reduce excessive hair. This is going to sound funny, I have always had hair everywhere, arms, chest, neck, facial, stomach I was like a monkey, and I mean dark coarse hair. I've been on spiro for

[turtle*in*sun]

Ok so the crap too bar at the top of my window, I'll be nice and not say whose, killed my post, it tried to translate it...AAARRRGGGHHHH.


Anyway...I've been on spiro for 8-10 months. These are the changees I've seen so far:

Arms-the hair is now fine, blondish/transulcent colored, and falls out all on its own.

Face - the awful mustache almost doesn't grow in anymore. Teh side burn nonsense is much finer, and that same trasparent color.

Neck - I'm down to a few dark ones, the rest has lightened up and thinned out.

Chest - many fewer thick coarse hairs, much thinner and lighter colored.

Abdomen - let's just say that hairline is slowly moving back to where it belongs. This is one of the areas that seems to be taking longer than anywhere else.

Legs - area of the upper leg, just don't grow hair anymore, in addition to the thin translucent hair. The hair on my legs used to look like a man's after a few days. Now it grows so much slower and finer.

I think that that covers it. If you can get past the intital dizzy nauseous stage, this drug is entirely worth it.

[elsie]

Thank you both for your good responses. My mind is definitely not permanently closed on this decision. I have found myself giving people similar advice when they ask about my experience with met.

I think I will call my endo to discuss the situation and maybe ask her for clearer advice on s/e after my new insurance takes effect. I really would love to be able to wear weather-appropriate clothing.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply :)

[CecillyNeville]

Hey elsie - I know this thread's been dormant for a little while, but I just wanted to add that even though 50 mg doesn't sound like a lot, it is most likely too much.

I just started on Spiro a couple of months ago, and I'm starting to notice a difference in the rate of hair growth, which is thrilling! My dr was a bit hesitant to get me started on it because my blood pressure was almost "perfect," if not a little low. I only take 25 mg a day, and it will probably be several months before I'm allowed to take any more, if ever, because my blood pressure has dropped lower still. I'm not "in danger" yet, but if I took any more right now I would probably be on the verge of passing out several times a day : )

If you have blood pressure within the normal range, and start out immediately at 50 mg a day, it would not surprise me at all that you are feeling dizzy and lightheaded. I was feeling that way a lot during the 2nd-4th weeks of taking it, especially if I stood up too fast or was lying down.

Unfortunately the stomach pain is distressing. I'm sorry you're having that - has the endo given you any explanation for this?

I do wish you luck and hope you find something that works. In the meantime, though, try not to mention that you're throwing whole Rx's away. That's a dagger through the heart for someone with no prescription coverage and a minimal salary. ; )[/list]