Spironolactone for Hirsutism User Reviews (Page 2)

• 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 laser, electrolysis, and 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 1000 mg 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 are awful. I hate to give up only after one month, but I don’t think it’s going to work for me."

• Mis...
• 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."

• Jee...
• 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."

• AJ1...
• 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 to shaving my face and neck daily after years of waxing, plucking, and 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 coarse 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 to 4 weeks), as well as with Vaniqa cream (daily), which is the only topical medication for hirsutism that I'm aware of... in Australia at least. The results have been amazing, and I feel so much more confident in myself already!!"

• Vic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2015

"I've been on this for barely a week for excessive hair growth on my neck and face. The only side effect present so far is the drowsiness. Barely within an hour and I'm ready to sleep. The only problem is it makes me sleep for a quantity of 5 to 12 hours. Definitely a nighttime medication."

• pen...
• 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."

• mb8...
• August 18, 2019

"Be very careful of spironolactone if you have any history of depression, anxiety, or just general stress. Before I started taking spironolactone 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 spironolactone 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 spironolactone's effects on cortisol levels because I would have never started taking it."

• its...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2025

"My doctor added it for my facial hair about a year ago, but it just puts me in a brain fog and makes me pee all night and hasn't done anything for the facial hair. I'm getting really sick of feeling so tired after taking it and getting up all night to pee and thinking of just quitting it."

• 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 100 mg.) 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 50 mg/day. After taking 200 mg/day for a few months, my aldosterone went up to 45.9."

• Can...
• 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 an absolute nightmare for the couple of weeks that I took it, and if you have any mental health diagnoses, I would urge you to think twice about spironolactone, or at least monitor yourself and your moods very 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."

• Awf...
• 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 have 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."

• Car...
• December 21, 2014

"I was prescribed Aldactone 100 mg for facial hair. At first, I had side effects of discomfort in my stomach, however, I persisted, and it stopped. This medication works, it slows down the hair growth, however, the side effects outweigh the results. Irregular periods, heavy bleeding, constipation, feet swelling, appetite loss, 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."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 16, 2018

"I have been taking spironolactone 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 coarse as they were. I’m kind of small, so my doctor will not up my dosage from 50 mg 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 started getting my face waxed, then noticed my hair growing back 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!"

• Mim...
• February 11, 2018

"57. Spiro for 2 months. PCOS. Bleached hair from 11-17. Shaved from 2017 until now. Black and white course on all body parts including toes, fingers, beard, breast, upper thigh, pubic area, arms, eyebrows, back, buttocks, abdomen. On Metformin for years for mild diabetes. 80 extra pounds, but not until the last 20 years, but still hairy. Post-menopausal. No high blood tests, probably due to menopause per Dr. 50 mg 2x a day. Side effects 1 mo: nausea, headaches, tiredness. Gained 7 lbs in 2 mos. Pores on nose smaller. Drier skin and hair. No reduction in acne or hair. Hair on face so coarse 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."

• TBr...
• 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 to 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 every day gets old, just don't want to get any bigger in the meantime. So far, peeing yes, fuller yes, heartburn yes, hair yes."

• Dan...
• 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 put me on it due to my acne and unwanted hair that grew all over due to my PCOS. At 25 mg, 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."

• Mon...
• January 8, 2021

"I had taken spironolactone (100 mg) for 6 months about 5 years ago for hirsutism. I got some positive results for hirsutism but didn’t get much of its side effects. For a few months, I have noticed that my facial hair growth has increased again, and I've also experienced irregular periods. So I took it again 15 days ago. But this time I am experiencing a huge amount of side effects. Like, trouble breathing, diarrhea, mood swings, feeling uneasy to walk, abdominal pain, headache, vibration in parts of the body! I knew that it was the only effective medication for hirsutism. But this time my body doesn’t adjust to 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 it's really an effective medication for PCOS with hirsutism."

• 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 noticed my hair not coming in as thick or fast. Hopefully, it’s not all in my head. We will see."

• Liv...
• 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 BCs, but my face began to react violently. I never had teenage acne, but this adult acne was the worst! Nothing worked, plus I had hair on my chin and upper lip, as well as a few strands in between my breasts. Needless to say, it was extremely embarrassing to meet people in that condition. I went to my derm, and she looked at my thinning scalp and my werewolfish chin and immediately prescribed 25 mg of spironolactone. She said that she couldn't promise anything, but together with 1% tretinoin cream, we could try, and a RX for 0.05% fluocinonide, we could try to regrow my lost hair."

• Nov...
• 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 25 mg 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."

• all...
• 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 100 mg, then upped to a 200 mg dose per day. The hair did eventually start to lessen in regrowth, but the acne was just the same. The side effects, however, were completely not worth continuing. A 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."

• Spi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2017

"I am a 25-year-old hirsutism sufferer, also have quite 'male' oily skin. My hair is a little on my jawline, chest, and abdomen. No hormonal imbalances - been thoroughly tested. I first tried Spironolactone a couple of years ago and my doctor put me on 50 mg first, then, as I was noticing change but couldn’t afford to get laser, we upped it to 100 mg - this was for about 3-4 months. I started noticing that I was getting quite prominent leg veins. Stopped altogether (gradually, of course). 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 25 mg dosage to boost the effect. I also got a deal for laser because of my hirsutism (just ask). Don’t get IPL - it burns skin - only go professional."

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

"My dose is 75 mg 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 past week. Very impressed, please be patient."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 3, 2018

"I'm on day 190ish of 100 mg. 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 lower blood pressure and less armpit hair. I still have to shave daily, or I have a 5 o'clock shadow. Going to the doctor soon to hopefully find something better."

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

"Was prescribed spironolactone at 50 mg 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 100 mg 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."