When to stop taking Spiro?

[mary14]

I have just started my last pack of BCP pills..my docs tell me to stop taking spiro about 2 weeks before I go off.
Is that enough time? what are you guys hearing?
Thanks!

[sweet_sarah]

Hi mary-
I thought that you weren't supposed to take BCP while on spiro?! That's what I was told. Or was I told wrong? I thought that spiro would decrease the effect of the pill. Are you taking it to regulate your period or for contraceptive reasons? I just went on the pill about a month ago for both reasons. As much as I'd like to be having a child right now...I'm still way too young..only 21! Sorry that I didn't answer your question but I'm a bit confused what you meant. :)

Sarah

[mary14]

hi sarah,
i've seen several doctors and none said that i shouldn't take spiro while on BCPs; in fact, they all just said to NOT be taking it while TTC. they encourage contraception such as BCPs while on spiro b/c it can potentially harm a male fetus. so keep that in mind whenever you do begin TTC :-0
what i'm unsure of is when i should stop taking it exactly so as to make sure it gets out of my system

[mary14]

oh and by the way i started taking the pill to regulate my period but have been taking it for contraceptive reasons!

[sweet_sarah]

hmm well that's interesting to hear. it's a shame that so many doctors tell us so many different situations and what not. i hope some of the other ladies can answer your question. but i was just curious why are you going off of spiro?! i took spiro for 1 or 2 months and quickly went off of it. it made my periods disappear when they were fairly regular..although it did help with the facial hair but i'd rather deal with that then where my periods went! do you know how long you have to be on the pill before you can use it for contraceptive reasons?! okay thanks!

Sarah

[mary14]

hi sarah,
i'm only going off spiro because we plan to start trying to conceive after this last pack of pills so i want to get it out of my system. i haven't really noticed any weird side effects; in fact, my skin cleared up a lot and all the hair grew slower while i've been taking it!

[Gen224]

howdy ladies--

I'm not sure why you need to stop spiro b/c you're taking bcps--unless you're taking Yasmin, which duplicates (to some extent) the benefits of spiro. So maybe some more explanation would be helpful here. ;)

As far as how long it takes to vacate your system: if you take something daily, it's b/c it vacates (is metabolised) your system daily. In other words, if you take something more than once per day, it's b/c it is metabolised and gone from your system by the time the next dose is required. Ditto for something that is taken daily. It is gone inside of 24 hours. My RE explained this to me and although completely logical, I hadn't thought of it this way before that point. This applies to everything--more than just the typical Rxs for PCOS. There are medications (although not for PCOS) that are dosed every 8 weeks or 3 months or timelines like that--and it's b/c it's effective in your system until the next dose.

HTH

[mary14]

wow..thanks so much for shedding light on the matter! i'll bet you're right..you are indeed not supposed to take Yasmin while on Spiro!!
And it makes sense about the "daily" factor. i just started getting all paranoid and thought how awful it would be if something was wrong b/c of my own vanity.

[OrangeDaisy]

If you are sexually active, most doctors won't let you take Spiro without BCP because if you become pregnant while on Spiro there is a huge chance of birth defects.

I think there are lots of women who take both Spiro and Yasmin. Both lower androgens (such as testosterone) in the blood.

The doctor seems to be thinking right - telling you to stop Spiro before you stop BCP in case you ovulate as soon as you stop the BCPs.