Spironolactone - Will weight gain with aldactone usage go away once the body adjusts?

Question

I have been taking aldactone 50 mg a day for almost 3 months for acne. I have noticed some improvement, however, I thought I would have fewer breakouts. I have noticed that I've almost gained 10 pounds without changing anything in my daily diet and exercise routine? Will the extra pounds be lost once my body adjusts or will I continue to gain more weight the longer I take the drug? I want clear skin, but not at the cost of a nice figure I've worked hard on!

Answer

READ FOR PEACE OF MIND!!! Hi guys. So I&rsquo;ve been keeping up with this thread as well as many others for the last 4-5 months. I made an account just for this matter. I went on spiro January 2021 (for acne), got off of it January 2022. So I was on it for 1 year. From the months of May &lsquo;21 - July &lsquo;21, I put on about 15 pounds. Like all of you, my activity, food intake, stress, etc had not changed. I&rsquo;m 5&rsquo;3&rdquo; and weighed 118ish when I started these meds. I ended up at 132ish for the last 6 months I was on the meds. I wouldn&rsquo;t gain or lose. It was bizarre. And I have much experience with macro tracking, fat gain/loss, so it&rsquo;s no issue for me to have a goal and hit it with proper calorie intake. So to do this and not see anything change, I knew something was wrong!  I am also a Hashimotos/Hypothyroidism patient on Synthroid, so I assumed this was a thyroid issue for many months. After checking that several times, getting healthy results, I finally looked into spiro and weight gain.   I was in shock seeing what you all have gone/are going through and what I had just experienced all from a medication solely for ACNE. It&rsquo;s so incredibly aggravating and believe me I understand the frustration and emotional rollercoaster the weight gain and weight loss resistance from this medication causes.   Here&rsquo;s what I did: after constant research, it became apparent that spiro can cause estrogen dominance/low progesterone. I had my hormones checked and we found that my progesterone was basically nonexistent, but my estrogen was fine, resulting in estrogen dominance. So for 12 weeks/3 cycles, I took bio identical progesterone to help balance. We&rsquo;ve achieved that, and about a week ago, for the first time in over a YEAR, the scale has started to slowly trend downward. I don&rsquo;t wanna speak too soon, but I do feel confident that I&rsquo;ve reached full recovery from these meds.   Obviously the only way to lose fat is to be in a caloric deficit so I&rsquo;ve gone about this through diet and calorie restriction. Not weightlifting at the moment. Even a month ago, calorie restriction still didn&rsquo;t work for me. The scale wouldn&rsquo;t budge. So now that it is, I can say to just give it time and get treatment if needed to help speed up the balancing process. See a HORMONE SPECIALIST. It&rsquo;s obviously a matter of patience and letting your body figure itself out.   Don&rsquo;t worry and don&rsquo;t think you will never lose fat again. You will and it just takes time to adjust back to a healthy balance. Expect to get back to your old body and KNOW it will happen because that helps speed up the process too. Our minds are powerful and what we tell ourselves, we experience. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Sending love and positivity to you all!

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I was on it for 4 months and the 10 pounds came on immediately. I am an active person and count my calories and it didnt make sense why I would be gaining weight. I stopped taking it and my face is the same as it was while i was on it. I personally wouldn&rsquo;t recommend this drug.

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Hey everyone here is an update to my original post. I have now gained 50lbs since 2019 and my dermatologist swears it's not the spironolactone. I'm so extremely unhappy with my body that I'm actually having gastric bypass this week. My BMI is 30 which is on the low end so I'm paying out of pocket for it. I know this is extreme but I cannot take this extra weight anymore. I've been off spironolactone for at least 8 months consistently working out lifting weights in a 500 calorie deficit and not one dam pound has come off. As others stated I'm extremely bloated and look pregnant. I can't fit into any of my clothes and it's extremely depressing as I'm sure y'all know. I've been to so many endocrinologist and functional medicine doctors and all say my hormones are fine except my testosterone which is suppressed by the spironolactone. I wish I never tried this drug although my skin looked absolutely AMAZING while on it the weight gain isn't worth it. PLEASE think twice before getting on spironolactone at any dose!

Answer

I took spironolactone for several years. The first 1.5 years everything was fine, but then I suddenly started gaining a lot of weight (about 10-15 kg or 22-33 lbs).

My thighs got huge. They now rub together which they have never before as I have wide hips. I have cellulite very visible all over my thighs now when before it was more only sides or when I pinched my skin.

I also got cellulite on my arms. They're big and flabby now.
Even my underarms are swollen.

I also got a huge tummy pouch which I never ever had before, as well as in the area below. It wiggles so much that I have to wear high waist underwear. When I sit I look like the Michelin Man when I never had a single roll of fat on my stomach. My stomach/hip area looks wider in general.

I also have fat rolls on my back now. At some point they clashed and squeezed together when I was walking.

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Even a couple of months before the weight gain started, I've noticed that the top of my feet were slightly swollen. The swelling doesn't seem to dependent on sth. I've always had thin feet where you could see every bone and tendon.

It's also very, very soft and wiggly. When I tip slightly against one side of my stomach I can see and feel it travelling to the other side. When I tip against my knee it travels up my whole thigh. Like if you throw a stone into water creating waves. Same on my arms and back. My normal body fat is more thick. I suspect it's water.

Decreasing my calorie intake down to only 500 kcal/day for months didn't do much even though I can say that I lost a little bit of weight. But I still don't recognize myself.

I recently switched to drospirenone (progesterone which is related to spironolactone) as I suspect the weight gain was due to low testosterone and high estrogen. I think it's getting better, but it's too early to say for sure..

Answer

I am in the same boat. Doc put me on in October for testosterone dominance and acne. Since then, i have gained 10 pounds! I have never been more active in my whole life- 1 hr cardio a day with 45 min strength training. I continue to gain weight. I cant lose it. I eat a balanced modified diet as well. Soooooo frustrated!!! I am not going to be taking this drug anymore. Ridiculous.

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I have been on Spironolactone and birth control since March 2019.

It was prescribed to me for female pattern hair loss. Since then I have determined that a medication I was using for depression was causing the intense hair loss. Discontinued it, but decided to stay on the Spironolactone until the antidepressant was out of my system. Wanted to keep hair on my head until my my body fully recalibrated.

I’m on a carb free, sugar free, processed food free diet and exercise. And have been gaining weight like crazy. Same as everyone else... abdomen, legs, thighs and butt.

When I noticed the weight, I assumed it was the pill so I stopped taking it. But the pounds have continued to pile on.

I’m so glad I found your stories.

Thank-you. Definitely going to speak to my physician and dermatologist about this.

Answer

I&rsquo;m so sorry this has happened to each of you but also thankful to know that I&rsquo;m not the only one Z this has happen too since starting this prescription.  I started gaining weight shortly after my GP prescribed this medication to me for an ongoing cystic acne problem.  For months I have been trying to figure out why I all of a sudden started gaining so much weight, especially in my stomach, thighs, butt, arms, etc. I have been the exact same weight my entire adult life (tall and slim with no signs of cellulite) now I have grown out of all of my clothes, (have had to buy two size bigger clothes) and have cellulite on the back of my thighs and butt and the tops of my arms move when I wave them. I am completely mortified about this. My face is free from acne but I feel so bloated and I look a 3 months pregnant. Not to mention, if one more person says it&rsquo;s probably just due to the fact that I&rsquo;m not getting any younger, I think I am going to lose it. I do not over eat, in fact I don&rsquo;t eat anywhere near as much as I should for my height. There is no reason whatsoever for my recent weight gain.  Being overweight does not run in my family either. I recently tried stopping the  prescription Spironolactone, unfortunately my cystic acne returned immediately so I had to start taking it again. I would love to find a good alternative for this prescription.

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I signed up just to give you my story. I'm 37 and I've had PCOS for over 10 years. I've always been on birth control for it. About 8 years ago I started breaking out on my chest and back really bad. My face wasn't to bad but it was extremely oily. I had been to many dermatologist who prescribed me all kinds of creams that didn't work. I finally found a dermatologist who told me we need to fix the problem from the inside out and I was put up 75mg of spironolactone. Over the years we have upped it to 150mgs. My skin looks great and I hardly have any break outs but I've suffered other ways.

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I've always been skinny until August of 2018. I started gaining weight like crazy. August 2020 I'm now 30 lbs heavier and absolutely disgusted with myself. I went to 4 different endocrinologist who said all of my blood work was fine. I asked my dermatologist several times of spironolactone could make you gain weight and each time he assured me it wasn't the problem. Just like everyone else on this forum, my weight gain is in my stomach, butt, thighs and boobs. I recently went to a new gyno who put me on testosterone cream because mine was non existent because of the spironolactone. Some talk about sex drive, what is that lol. I felt better on the testosterone cream but still not happy and very over weight. Well I was recently hospitalized and didn't take spironolactone for 5 days. I noticed I wasn't as depressed and I actually had energy. My dad and husband noticed a difference in my attitude while in the hospital. I decided to take spironolactone once I was discharged and noticed my depression and lack of energy came back instantly. As of 2 days ago August 23rd, I quit it cold turkey and I feel so much better. I'm so scared I won't be able to loose this weight. I don't want to look like a model, I just want to fit back into my clothes and not hide from everyone because of my weight. I will continue with the testosterone cream and hopefully that will help me drop this excess of 30 lbs.

Votes: +1

Answer

Hi there, I wish I have seen this post before I took this medicine. I am 44 and I had adult acne. My dermatologist unfortunately prescribed this medication to me. spironolactone 100 gm per day. He told me this is diuretic and it may even cause weight loss ! I took it and after a month I found I gained 10 lbs:((((((
This is a nightmare. I stopped it and I am trying to loose this weight now for 2 weeks. I see people here say it does not go away easily:((((
I am frustrated he did not tell me while all the ladies here suffered before me.
Any way. I will keep trying to loose this weight and I will never take hormone pills again.

Thanks for sharing this

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Ok, I created an account just to answer this question and hopefully re assure some people. I was on spironolactone for just under a month and gained about 8 lbs. with my frame- it showed heavily. Mostly gaining in the thighs and stomach. My stomach was potruding and had never been that big before . I stopped a week ago and the weight is coming off and returning back to normal. It took some time but it&rsquo;s getting there and dropping off again . So it did come off for me .

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My gyno was skeptical of the  weight gain  too, I finally went to a doctor who practices functional medicine. She told me the spiro def affects your hormones. My progesterone levels were really low so she has me taking progesterone during my cycle. To make a long story short, once I started the progesterone, the weight came right off. I would rec getting your hormone levels checked. And spend the money to go to a doctor that looks at the whole picture.

Answer

Another spironolactone "victim" here.
When I started Spiro, I was 133 lbs. Slowly, I crept up to 136 lbs. I didn't think much of it, but I was reading these forums and I was somewhat aware that people believed there was a correlation. Still, I have PMDD and the Spiro was helping to balance my mood swings, so I shrugged off the 3 lb gain and continued on. Suddenly, from November 2019 - March 2020, I gained 9 more lbs, putting me at 145 lbs. I stopped immediately, although stopping caused horrible emotions/changes in mood.
I work out constantly, eat the way I used to eat, and no changes. I even had a few days where I was sick and didn't consume more than 500 calories in a day. The weight didn't fluctuate. My gynecologist seemed skeptical of Spiro as the cause of weight gain and suggested a thyroid test. It came back in perfect condition! I've only heard one person on here say they eventually lost the weight, and that scares me. The weight is all in my stomach and thighs. I'm done with Spiro!

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This thread is is very discouraging but also validates what I’m going through. I have always been tall and lean, with a natural “thigh gap” and toned physique without having to exercise very regularly. Yes, lucky me, but I also have had acne since I was 10 years old, so I started Spiro 5 months ago.
My body is a mess at the moment, I don’t even recognize it! Even when I’ve gained weight in the past due to lifestyle changes, I didn’t have dense, thick thighs and the bloated belly which I’m currently sporting. Done with this med permanently!!!
I’m wondering if there’s a supplement to undo the effects of spiro and help shed the pounds faster...

Answer

Hey everyone!

So I took Spironolactone 50 mg daily for hormonal acne for about 4 months. I did gain weight and talk to my Dr about It and she told me it was not a side effect. I started talking this med at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic so I was home eating a lot and not doing any activities so I blame it on that. The odd thing is that the more I read here the more i see the similarities. My legs, thighs and belly are the biggest it has even been. Just odd that most people here also saw weight gain on the same areas. I also experienced decrease libido. I Stop the med 2 weeks ago because I had exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis for the second time in a 2 year period, and my dr doesn’t want me on it anymore since it dehydrates me and I could have Rhabdo again.

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My question to all of you that stop taking it how did you feel emotionally once you stoped it?? When I was on it my face was much better and my mood was good, positive as I am normally but a bit more. Now that I stoped I feel kinda down, sad , not motivated , I want to be by myself kinda feeling . Has anyone experienced that once stopping the med ??

Also hoping a drop the extra pounds and bloating now that I’m not longer on it.

Answer

Hi there. I began taking spiro in March 2020 for cystic and hormonal acne. I echo everyone else’s sentiments who say they noticed sizable differences in their weight after taking spiro. I have a smaller frame. 5’3”, typically 110 lbs. I did not weigh myself while taking spiro, but within two months, my boobs grew one cup size and my arms, face, and back had gained weight and took on a swollen appearance. When it started weighing on my self-esteem, I stopped taking it and immediately threw it out. In the two weeks that it’s been since I stopped taking spiro, I’ve been doing 10 minute arm workouts and I’ve noticed a reduction in my weight. My body seems to respond really well to being off spiro and I am noticeably losing the fat that accumulated from the spiro (thank goodness).

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I also want to add that I believe I am estrogen dominant. Even before taking spiro, I had estrogen dominant features. I’m assuming that since spiro blocks the production of testosterone, it causes your body to rely more on estrogen, thereby increasing the production of estrogen.

Votes: +2

Spironolactone - Will weight gain with aldactone usage go away once the body adjusts?

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