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Spironolactone for Hirsutism User Reviews (Page 2)

Brand names: Aldactone, CaroSpir

Spironolactone has an average rating of 6.3 out of 10 from a total of 57 reviews for the treatment of Hirsutism. 47% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 30% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Spironolactone

  • Candy...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 3, 2020

"Awful. Just awful for me. I have a mental illness called borderline personality disorder which causes me to have extremely poor mood regulation and intense bouts of anger to the point of boiling rage. The spironolactone exacerbated this tenfold until I was blowing up at people every single day over the dumbest little things. It got to the point where I almost had to go back inpatient for my mental problems. It was absolute nightmare for the couple weeks that I took it, and if you have any mental health diagnoses, I would urge you to think twice about spirolactone, or at least monitor yourself and your moods verrrry carefully. Depression also got a little worse. Oh, and I guess only two weeks of taking it isn’t long enough to tell if it worked for hirsutism and my hormonal acne, but so far, it didn’t do much."

1 / 10
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  • Lizzi...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • January 6, 2017

"18 y/o female. I was prescribed this medicine for high testosterone from PCOS. Effects were gradual over the first 6 months or so and have maintained through now, a year later. My body acne cleared up to being nearly non-existent. My body has softened up and become a little more feminine, breasts and butt rounded out and got a little softer (same weight as before I began.) Not much noticeable effect on facial and body hair, seems to grow a little slower and a bit thinner but nothing drastic. No side effects except possibly contributing to a dead sex drive. Definitely love this medicine and would (and do) suggest it to other women with these testosterone problems."

8 / 10
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40 Report
  • MissL...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • April 4, 2019

"I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovaries at age 19 in 2003. My doctor started me on spironolactone for the hirsutism on my sideburns, chin, lip, and belly area. I took the medication for several months and never noticed a decrease in the hair growth or the hair growth becoming lighter. Apparently, it doesn't work for all patients with PCOS."

1 / 10
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30 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Sjc
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 8, 2020

"I have had PCOS since I was 16 and I’m now 54. I’ve spent most of my adult life battling extreme hirsutism. I have spent thousands on Lazer, electrolysis, medicines and it’s worse now more than ever. Just started on Spironolactone (1 month) and it’s worse instead of better. I was on 1000mg of metformin but I thought this drug would be better. I have other autoimmune illnesses that I take meds for. I was so hoping this would help! I’m so disappointed. The mood swings and more hair growth is awful. I hate to give up only after one month but I don’t think it’s going to work for me."

1 / 10
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26 Report
  • mb8658
  • August 18, 2019

"Be very careful of spirolactone if you have any history of depression, anxiety, or just general stress. Before I started taking spirolacton for PCOS-related hirsutism I had a tendency towards stress and mild anxiety but never a disorder - soon after I started on it my anxiety increased to a level I had never experienced before, and I had my first panic attack while just walking down the street and began having panic attacks almost daily. I had a feeling that this new anxiety was linked to starting this medication and a few months ago I found a study online in a medical journal that found that a single dose of spiro increases the release of cortisol (the stress hormone that floods your brain to cause panic attacks) by 100% within an hour of taking it. I immediately stopped taking the medication and since then I feel much better but still I am left with lasting daily anxiety. I wish I had been warned about spiro's effects on cortisol levels because I would have never started taking it."

2 / 10
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27 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • JeeZee
  • September 20, 2017

"I began taking this medication by the recommendation of my OB/GYN. I have suffered from hirsutism for around 11 years with each year bringing more and more excess hair growth. MD informed me I need to be on a birth control if taking this medication due to possible severe injury to a fetus. After one month of being on this medication, I have noticed a significant decrease in the massive amount of dark, coarse hair I had growing on my chin, lip and sideburn area. I used to shave twice a day and have a panic attack if I forgot a shaving session, but now I only have to shave in the AM and by PM, there is very minimal growth noted. Definitely continuing this medication."

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  • AJ1994
  • September 18, 2017

"I'm a 23 year old girl who has struggled with acute hirsutism for years. It got so bad that I just resorted shaving my face and neck daily after years of waxing, plucking, threading to no avail. The hair was so bad on my neck that I sometimes had to shave it twice a day, as it was in small clusters of course black hair. Needless to say, this all caused me a lot of grief. I can honestly say that spiro has worked so well for me, as I have been using it in conjunction with laser hair removal on my face (once every 3/4 weeks), as well as with Vaniqua cream (daily), which is the only topical medication for hiritusim that I'm aware of ..in Australia at least. The results have been amazing and I feel so much more confident in myself already!!"

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32 Report
  • penguin
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • March 12, 2018

"I have PCOS and take this medicine for face/body acne and hirsutism. I have hair on my face, chest, and stomach. I have been on 50 mg/day of spiro for almost three years and it has helped a lot. My acne is reduced and so is my face and body hair, and I don't have any side effects. It also makes me less prone to bloating. I did recently go up to 100 mg/day because although there has been a big improvement, I do still have a bit of body and facial hair and I do still get a bit of acne. I'm trying to see how much an increase in dose would help. I definitely suggest this medicine, I love it. Just make sure your doctor checks your electrolyte levels periodically while you are on it."

10 / 10
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29 Report
  • Caris...
  • December 21, 2014

"I was prescribed Aldactone 100mg for facial hair. At first I had side effects of discomfort in my stomach however I persisted and it stopped. This medication works, it's slows down the hair growth however the side effects out way the results. Irregular periods, heavy bleeding, constipation, feet swelling, appetite and stomach pain, the list goes on. Even though I have reduced the dose from 100, to 75 and further to 50 I will be getting off this."

7 / 10
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40 Report
  • Ann
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 24, 2018

"I have been taking spironolactone for 3 years to treat severe hirsutism. (dosage has been adjusted a few times, currently 100mg). My only side effect was occasional low sodium, which is easily remedied with diet or salt tablets. I shave my face daily, and even with a smooth shave my hair is so dark and coarse it is visible under the skin. Not only has spironolactone not helped, my hirsutism has continued to get worse. Also, my aldosterone (LCMS, serum) was 9.3 before starting spironolactone. It increased but stayed within normal range while taking 50mg/day. After taking 200mg/day for a few months, my aldosterone went up to 45.9."

1 / 10
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  • Jesan...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • September 16, 2018

"I have been taking spirinolactone for going on two years in March (2019). I can say that my chin hairs, though still dark, are not nearly as many and they are definitely not as course as they were. I’m kinda small so my doctor will not up my dosage from 50mg a day because I get dizzy really easily and I actually thank her for having the foresight to know that. At 37 years old I have had this condition a really long time so it would be foolish for me to think that it should go away in a short amount of time. I would say to those still waiting, give it time. Also, I was seeing a substantial amount of results until I starting getting my face waxed, then noticed my hair growing back and quickly. Then I was told this week by a waxer at European wax center that some of these wax shops (including them) use a growth serum after waxing (so that their customers will come back), she was sure that my previous waxers probably were using the serum on me (for a whole year!). Time to start doing my own waxing!"

9 / 10
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  • Mimim...
  • February 11, 2018

"57. Spiro for 2 months. PCOS. Bleached hair from 11-17. Shaved from 2017 until now. Black & white course on all body parts including toes, fingers, beard, breast, upper thigh, pubic extreme, arms, eyebrows, back, buttocks, abdomen. On Metformin for years for mild diabetes. 80 extra pounds but not until last 20 years but still hairy. Post menopausal. No high blood tests probably due to menopause per Dr. 50 mg 2x day. Side effects 1 mo, nausea, headaches, tired. Gained 7 lbs in 2 mos. Pores on nose smaller. Drier skin and hair. No reduction in acne or hair. Hair on face so course it is painful to rub it. Feel like a man. Has stopped me from ever dating again due to not wanting to shave everything anymore. Depressed (was before). Asking to up dosage."

5 / 10
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25 Report
  • Monika
  • January 8, 2021

"I had taken spironolactone(100mg) for 6 months before 5 years ago for hirsutism. I got some positive result for hirsutism but didn’t get much of it's side effects. For a few months I have noticed that my facial hair growth again increased and I'm also experienced irregular period. So I again took it 15 days ago. But this time I am experiencing huge amount of side effects. Like, trouble in breathing, diarrhoea, bad mood swing, feeling uneasy to walk, abdominal pain, headache, vibration on the parts of the body! I knew that it was the only effective medication for hirsutism. But this time my body doesn’t adjust with it. So, I'm feeling so worried about it. Because this situation with excess facial hair is finishing me!! After all I'm agreeing that its really an effective medication for PCOS with hirsutism."

7 / 10
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15 Report
  • ally...
  • August 15, 2016

"I was prescribed this for both hair and acne on my face and chin, and it helped only very minimally. I was on it for several months at a 100mg, then upped to 200 mg dose per day. The hair did eventually start to lessen in re-growth, but the acne was just the same. The side effects, however, were completely not worth continuing. I little heartburn, and excess peeing, I can deal with, but I was getting my period every 12-14 days! Not just spotting, but the full deal!. Not thank you!! and that wasn't mentioned anywhere as a possible side effect, so... not thrilled."

3 / 10
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26 Report
  • TBred
  • July 27, 2016

"Been on Spironolactone for a month 50 mg x 2 daily, for excess facial (chin) hair, with bonus acne clearing up I'm told. My results so far no improvement on hair. I'm trying not to give up but I have gained weight. My legs, mostly upper thighs, are getting bigger too quickly to be me just gaining a few pounds. I can deal with fuller breasts just not the rest of me. My dermatologist said she never heard of this and try and stick it out 3 months at least, but I see online others experienced weight gain too, shocked she dismissed so quickly. I'll do a couple more months to see if hair improvement. Plucking and shaving everyday gets old, just don't want to get any bigger in the meantime. So far, peeing yes, fuller yes, heartburn yes, hair yes."

1 / 10
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  • Dano
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 13, 2021

"I’ve been on spironolactone for over two weeks now and I absolutely love it! My endocrinologist had put me on it due to my acne and unwanted hair that grew all over due to my PCOS. At 25mg two pills a day, It has been a total and 100% life saver! I actually have the greatest confidence level now and it also helps with high blood pressure! It runs in both of my parents sides and knowing this helps, it’s just an added bonus! I could not be happier with this selection! I know everyone is different and reacts differently to medicines, but this has been a total game changer for me. Especially being 30 years old! I don’t feel much dizziness or drowsiness, however diarrhea does come and go. But nonetheless, I’d recommend this to anyone who is experiencing horrible acne."

10 / 10
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  • Livvy
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • January 19, 2017

"I had a stroke after. Being on low-dose, birth-control for five years, Apri, at the age of 41, my docs, immediately, took me off all estrogen, and my b-c's, but, my face began to react violently, I never had teen-age, acne, but, this adult acne was the worst! Nothing worked, plus I had hair on my chin, and, upperlip, as well as a few strands in between my breast, needless to say it was extremely, embarrassing to meet people in that condition, I went to myderm, and,she looked at my thinning scalp, and, my warewolfish chin, and, immediately, prescribed 25 mg of spirio lactone, she said, that she couldn't promise anything, but together with 1% tretinoin, cream we could try, and a rx for .05% fluocinonide, we could try to regrow my lost hair."

10 / 10
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21 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 16, 2020

"So I have been taking spironolactone for a little over two weeks and I am actually surprised at how fast it works for my facial hair. I have already notice my hair not coming in as thick or fast. Hopefully it’s not all in my head. We will see."

9 / 10
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11 Report
  • Novas...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 9, 2017

"Been on this drug only for a week and I have noticed a decrease in facial hair. Started in conjunction with Ortho Cyclen though. Have had the following side effects —very very tired, heartburn, nausea, lack of appetite, vivid dreams, and peeing A LOT I only take 25mg once per day Even with these side effects, I look forward to seeing how it goes since I am seeing an improvement in only a week"

5 / 10
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17 Report
  • Spiro...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • December 17, 2017

"Hey so I am 25 hirsuitism sufferer, also have quite ‘male’ oily skin.My hair is a little on my jawline, chest, abdomen. No hormonal imbalances- been thoroughly tested. I first tried spiro a couple years ago and my doc put me on 50mg first then, as I was noticing change but couldn’t afford to get laser we upped to 100mg- this was for about 3-4 months. I started noticing that I was getting quite prominent leg veins. Stopped altogether (gradually ofc). Then.. found dianette- this works for me much more than Yasmin. Plus great boob growth. Figured after a while I would go back on Spironolactone with a 25mg dosage to boost effect. I also got a deal for laser because of my hirsuitism (just ask). Don’t get IPL- it burns skin- only go professional x"

10 / 10
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  • Wow
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 14, 2022

"My dose is 75mg spironolactone for hirsutism and I have been taking it daily for the past 3 weeks. I have NEVER reviewed a product before but need to share my experience. I was plucking the chin daily, I have pulled ONE little tiny hair this passed week, very impressed, please be patient"

10 / 10
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5 Report
  • Ayesha
  • October 20, 2019

"I am facing excessive hair growth on my Face. After Lazer treatment my dermatologist advise me tablet Spironolactone 100mg tablet for a month, after one week use I am suffering headache and am depressed. I am disappointed"

1 / 10
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10 Report
  • Maryo...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • August 3, 2018

"I'm on day 190ish of 100mg. I have been on it for more than a year but my doctor just reupped my dosage. I am on it for excessive facial hair (shave daily) blood pressure and acne. I have only had the lower blood pressure and less arm pit hair. I still have to shave daily or I have a 5 o'clock shadow. Going to doctor soon to hopefully find something better."

4 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 16, 2022

"Was prescribed spirolactone at 50mg a day for my excessive hair growth. Doctor explained to me that the drug would lower my testosterone and slow my male pattern hair growth. It has been 4 months I am at 100mg a day and I have developed cystic acne. I have never suffered from acne so this is upsetting. Furthermore I have noticed no change in my hair growth. I have created a new problem. My sister says I'm purging and my doctor is telling me to wait it out but I am seriously considering ditching it. Acne hurts"

1 / 10
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  • Awful
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 11, 2022

"Prescribed this for excess hair growth. I couldn’t even take this for a week because it was that bad. The headaches, the dizziness, the shakes. Scared of eating potassium based products because I was not informed that it basically stops potassium leaving your body. My depression and paranoia has gotten 10 times worse and I was arguing and causing conflict with family members. After reading other reviews it’s clear I’m not the only one who’s experienced this. Taking them straight back to the pharmacy to be destroyed. Not worth it for me and I suggest if you have mental health problems, please discuss this with your GP because it’s caused my mental health to deteriorate"

1 / 10
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4 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.

Learn more about Hirsutism

Symptoms and treatments