Background: Spironolactone does many things to
our bodies. First, it is a "potassium sparing" diuretic (water pill)
commonly used to remove surplus fluid from the body's bloodstream or
tissues. It also acts as an aldosterone inhibitor (prevents salt
retention) and can be used to treat high blood pressure, hypertension
and in some cases advanced heart failure. As for its indications in
hair, Spironolactone is known to be a well tolerated and effective
antiandrogen. It is sometimes used to treat female pattern baldness and
excessive facial hair (hirsutism) in women and occasionally
men use it as an antiandrogen under close supervision by their doctors.
Hirsutism is most often caused by increased production of male sex
hormones also known as androgens. It is also affected by increased
sensitivity to androgens in the hair follicles, and the secretory glands
around the hair follicles, called sebaceous glands.
Recently there are studies (Berardesca E, Gabba P, Ucci G, Borroni G,
Rabbiosi G.) which suggest that topical
spironolactone can act
as an antiandrogen in human sebaceous glands, competing with DHT
receptors and producing a decrease of labeled DHT. This means that
topical spironolactone may slow down or stop hairloss by working as a
DHT receptors blocker. Despite the fact that most doctors caution male
patients against using Spironolactone orally for hairloss for fear of
adverse reactions such as loss in sex drive, impotence, breast
development., some have been experimenting with low dose Spironolactone
with some success. However, we do not have hard core data or studies to
substantiate that.
Brand Name: Aldactone. Comes in 25mg, 50 mg, 100 mg. Generic is
now available on the market.
Side effects: Some of the possible side effects associated with
spironolactone are:
Nausea
Headache
Low blood pressure
Constipation / diarrhea
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Rashes
Vomiting
Does dependent effects in females
Breast pain or tenderness, gynecomastia (in men)
Do not use salt substitutes or low-sodium milk products that contain
potassium while taking spironolactone. These products could cause high
levels of potassium in your blood.
Topical Spironolactone: A study conducted by Berardesca E. et al
concluded that 5% topical spironolactone cream acts as an antiandrogen
in human sebaceous glands, competing with DHT receptors and producing a
decrease of labelled DHT. The inhibition of DHT receptors by
spironolactone was found to be related to the decrease of tritiated DHT
granules in the sebaceous glands of the treated site....
more info
Spironolactone is insoluble in water but easily soluble in alcohol.
Since topical minoxidil is an alcohol based product, some forum members
have simply added crushed Spironolactone tablets directly into topical
minoxidil to make their own Spironolactone protocol. However, we cannot
vouch if this is the proper way to make topical spironolactone. Click
below for more discussions about how to make your own topical
spironolactone lotion.
Oral Spironolactone: Doctors frequently prescribe Spironolactone
to treat acne, pattern baldness and hirsutism in women. In a study by
Lumachi F, Rondinone R. on the use of cyproterone acetate, finasteride,
and spironolactone to treat idiopathic hirsutism in women, it was
concluded that the short-term results of treatment with cyproterone
acetate, finasteride, and spironolactone are similar, but spironolactone
is effective for a longer time...more info. Men who
wish to use Spironolactone orally should do so ONLY under close
supervision of their doctors. Depending on the individual, the daily
dose can vary from 25 mg to 200 mg. It is recommended that
Spironolactone be taken together with food. The effect of food on
spironolactone absorption (two 100-mg Aldactone tablets) was assessed in
a single dose study of 9 healthy, drug-free volunteers. Food increased
the bioavailability of unmetabolized spironolactone by almost 100%.
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/spiron_cp.htm
Levels and Metabolism: Rapidly metabolized to canrenone, an active
metabolite with a half-life of 10-35 hours. Highly protein bound.
Half-life with chronic use is 13-24 hours.
