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%.
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.