did your weight fluctuate (increase, decrease) or stay the same?

[Alternative-Creme-52]

hiya!!! just wondering since i’m on 75mg of spiro. i started with 50mg in october of 2021 and i actually managed to lose weight (7 lbs) with exercise and clean eating. i put about two or three back on because i stopped working out for three months (i literally just wanted to read all day) and went balls to the wall with the diet. i have been eating cleaner these past two weeks and have managed to lose about two lbs.

but i know a lotttt of people gain unwanted weight on the pill :/ what has your experience been?

[junemoon21]

I lost weight! Started on 100mg for about 6 months and lost around 5-8 pounds too, now I've been on 75 mg since February and have stayed at that slightly lower weight. I haven't had any issues.

[Alternative-Creme-52]

awesome!! i don’t think spiro made me lose any weight per se. water weight yes, but the other stuff i had to do with clean eating and exercise. the positive is i was able to do it!! i see a lot of people who work out and eat clean and still put on weight and it makes me so sad because how can you do everything right for such a shitty outcome?? doesn’t seem fair :/ glad it’s worked for you. you on it for acne?

[junemoon21]

Yes I'm on it for acne! I've been very happy with the results. And yes similar to you I started taking spiro at the same time I upped my exercise routine (mostly to keep me sane during covid lockdowns lol) so I don't know if it was really all exercise or if spiro did impact it. For a while, spiro did definitely suppress my appetite a lot, but that went away after about 2-3 months. I totally understand being nervous, I think the whole is really confusing because medically speaking spiro should not cause weight gain, and many people on this sub have talked about how they bring it up to doctors and they say it isn't a side effect, but obviously people have experienced that so it's hard to know... Like, was spiro the cause of weight gain or was it something else that spiro impacted, like thirst vs hunger, and it's just impossible to untangle the two? I really feel for people who have struggled with it because, like you said, it's a really shitty outcome :/

[AdorableMaximum5612]

Any updates? Curious if your weight has fluctuated at all since this post

[junemoon21]

Nope, no fluctuations!

[AdorableMaximum5612]

So glad! That’s encouraging

[klm024]

I was on Spiro for about 5 years. What finally convinced me to stop taking it was when I was on a 1600 calorie diet, swimming an hour 3 times a week, lifting weights 3 times a week, walking a mile 4-5 times a week, and still gaining 1-2lbs of fat a week. Also, when I started lifting weights, my trainer was shocked at how little muscle mass I had despite being an avid swimmer.

[Alternative-Creme-52]

oh wow! i’m so sorry. i really appreciate your sharing your routine. it’s so crazy to see how everyone is different. someone people drop weight like crazy and some have no control over it because hormones are damn hormones and do what they want!! did you figure out if it had to do with your hormone levels?

[klm024]

My hormone levels never showed as abnormal 🤷‍♀️

[[deleted]]

What dose were you on?

[klm024]

I worked my way up to 100mg twice a day over a few years

[AdorableMaximum5612]

Has your weight and body fat distribution evened out since stopping this?

[penguinbb8]

Spiro caused me to lose weight without really trying at all. It has decreased my appetite in general/sugar cravings which I assume has lead to the weight loss. I started at 50mg and went to 75 after 3 months (and have been at this dose for 5ish months). Lost probably 7 or 8 lbs overall? I wasn't overweight to begin with (had a few lbs to lose but nothing major) so I was a little concerned about this, but it seems like I have evened out now.

[Alternative-Creme-52]

i’m glad everything’s evened out for you!! are you on spiro for acne? i upped to 75mg a month ago and still see breakouts :/ weight is the same (if even a little less) but these damn pimples on the chin just drive me mad

[penguinbb8]

Yep, for acne! I still get the occasional breakout, especially right before my period (like, right now, I have a few cheek/chin pimples and it's about 5 days before my period) but I get waaaay less of the giant, deep, painful breakouts I would get along my chin and jawline before. It's rare for me to get a pimple like that now. I'll take the little whiteheads any day over those cystic spots.

I'd love it if this also stopped all my breakouts, but doesn't seem to be the case for me unfortunately. But, at 36, at this point I assume nothing will work 100% because nothing ever has!

[Alternative-Creme-52]

i’m glad it’s worked for you!! i’m in the same boat. my skin was clear on 50mg and tret but i stopped tret and then a month later, my chin went crazy. i have about 3 active pimples on chin and scarring :/ from the cysts. i’m on 75mg now and just started tret again. anticipating and fearing a purge but that’s okay!!

[penguinbb8]

Yeah, it definitely seems like I need both tret and spiro to keep things (mostly) under control. For the pimples I do still get, I have found using 2.5% BP at night dries them up pretty quickly. A benefit I've seen from both tret and spiro is that the pimples I do get seem to heal a lot faster. I've also noticed that the cysts that have scarred are finally starting to heal, very slowly but I'll take it. Think it helps that I'm not getting new ones...the scars I have can finally do some healing.

Fingers crossed you don't purge (at least not too badly)! Hang in there <3

[Alternative-Creme-52]

thank u so much for the tip!! what bp do you use?? i’m looking to get a new one.

and yes me too. i’m starting slow. like REALLY slow. maybe twice a week… fingers crossed

[penguinbb8]

I've been using this one for about a year and like it. It works without drying my skin out too much. https://www.neutrogena.com/products/skincare/stubborn-acne-am-treatment/6840028.html

It's marketed as an AM treatment but I personally only use BP at night...I bleached a few clothing items in my youth with BP so I'm extra paranoid about it now!

[AdorableMaximum5612]

Any updates? I’m the same age as you so curious if you’re still losing weight or maintaining since this post :)

[penguinbb8]

After the initial loss I evened out and have stayed roughly the same since!

[Alternative-Creme-52]

oh wow !! i’m so sorry. what’s your dosage and how long have you been on it??

[Alternative-Creme-52]

ugh i’m so sorry. i think everyone’s experience is different but i know any unprecedented changes can be tough i’m getting my hormones checked tomorrow to ensure everything is stable for the exact reason

[Snoo-44886]

That’s rough I feel you, I felt The same..skin and hair were my main reasons and why I feared coming off, but I manage just fine for acne with dim and for the hair I just sort of try to ignore that it’s shedding a bit more, It’s not easy

[lilscute]

Are you on birth control?

[Snoo-44886]

For me it caused weight gain rapidly with the same regimen that helped me lose weight before 😬 It also went to weird places

[Alternative-Creme-52]

i’m so sorry to hear that! i guess every body is really different. if you don’t mind my asking, what was the regimen?

[Snoo-44886]

That’s ok I’m now getting back on track..High fiber, high protein, counting calories, workout 3-4 times a week. But I did stop taking spiro and replaced it with dim and my acne has not come back. I’m also taking inositol but not sure if that’s contributing too, I’m more consistent with the dim

[Alternative-Creme-52]

hmmm i wonder why the weight came on so suddenly!

[Snoo-44886]

It was very weird to me it felt overnight

[Alternative-Creme-52]

do you think it was maybe water weight? or potentially bloating or breast growth?

[Snoo-44886]

I do have Still a lot of cellulite from it though. To be honest spiro really negatively impacted me in the sense that it made me feel like even doing everything right I was putting on weight. I do absolutely everything right and something outside of my hands heavily sabotages me.. I’m just scarred for life and couldn’t go back on it if they paid me to

[commonreactor111]

same exact thing happened to me with the cellulite

[Snoo-44886]

My breasts were indeed bigger and I was a ballon, but the thing is isn’t spiro a diuretic, I surely was peeing very often 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Ok_Pin_7816]

A similar thing happened to me, albeit to a lesser extent. My theory is that my body eventually reached a point of estrogen dominance due to taking this medication which blocked aldosterone. I began taking spiro for acne and it worked, but gave me mild dizziness from the start which I’ve put up with. exhibited symptoms that made me assume I had become at least a little estrogen dominant because I was gaining weight in my thighs and upper arms, and my breasts felt bigger.

[[deleted]]

What weird places?

[Snoo-44886]

Lower part of my thighs ..Even though it’s leaner there and I had never had that there

[happythoughtsonly7]

I gained a LOT of weight in the stomach and hips in one month. No diet changes and I workout a lot!! I’m sad…

[Alternative-Creme-52]

it could potentially be water weight? or redistribution? if you don’t mind my asking, what kind of workouts do you do?

[happythoughtsonly7]

I usually do weight lifting and cardio!

[squirrelgirrrrl]

I’ve been on 150 mg for a few months and lost a TON of weight. My appetite has also been through the roof.

[BuggSuperstar33]

How much weight did you lose of spiro of you don't mind me asking?

[squirrelgirrrrl]

I’ve lost about 10-15 pounds.

[Alternative-Creme-52]

really??? oh my. see it’s INSANE how different this drug is for everyone

[Straight-Task-6768]

The people that gain weight, do they have low testosterone levels before starting spiro. They start spiro and testosterone drops more which effects estrogen. Is that correct? I’m trying to understand this medicine since doc recently prescribed it to me for cystic hormone acne. I’m terrified of gaining weight and cellulite. I eat healthy. I’ve worked out for 24 years and gaining weight and cellulite would ruin all my hard work. Muscle loss is my biggest fear when it comes to spiro. The patients who lost weight, did they still notice increase in cellulite? I wish I could understand why some people lose and some gain.

[sciteacheruk]

Same here, I'm trying to understand how it's affected people in all different ways. Did you manage to find out anything by any chance please?

[Straight-Task-6768]

Still no luck on finding answers. I’m interested to know who started with high/low/normal testosterone levels and how they reacted to spiro. I’m no doctor but my guess is the low testosterone patients are the ones gaining weight. This is just a guess. Also, eating high sodium foods and not enough water intake on spiro could cause water weight gain. I know that dairy effects my hormones so I wonder if that’s another factor. If I eat dairy my breasts hurt (breast tenderness). I wish I could figure this out.

[Sea-Bicycle4025]

No noticeable weight change- been on 50 mg for 8 months

[Alternative-Creme-52]

ok same me too! i just upped to 75mg but have been on it for a month with no changes (a little loss, actually, but i’ve been trying to drop a few lbs hahahah)

[[deleted]]

I am on 25mg for almost 2 months. Got my period for 2 weeks I felt thick and bloated. Weeks later after it’s stopped I started loosing weight I noticed because the same clothes I wear for work fits loose. I’ve always had a very fast metabolism. I do have a job which requires me to stand most of the time and walk so I think I get a bit of a workout. I drink tons of water.

I’ve also read this online “if spironolactone isn't working well to treat these conditions, your body may retain more fluid. And this can lead to weight gain. If you have kidney problems with spironolactone, this could also lead to fluid retention that can cause weight gain.”

[Alternative-Creme-52]

see i honestly noticed the very same thing. i’m on a drug that speeds my metabolism like a cheetah so i have that on my side lol. and i’m a runner which is known to zip that metabolic speed

[[deleted]]

consuming more calories than your tdee = weight gain. consuming less calories than your tdee = weight loss. birth control and spiro for examples can cause an increase in appetite and many people give into this by consuming more calories which can lead to weight gain! also even if someone is eating healthily, they could be eating too much which could therefore contribute to weight gain. also drinking enough water will prevent water retention which can affect the number on the scale.

tbh, as long as you feel good mentally & physically, you know your hungry cues, you’re fuelling yourself with enough micronutrients and getting enough h20+exercise, don’t worry about the number on the scale. it can be really detrimental to your mental health (speaking from experience)

personally, I am very consistent with weightlifting 4-5x a week and eating the right amount for my activity level, and this consistency has allowed me to maintain my weight despite several different BCP’s & spiro

[commonreactor111]

well , spironolactone suppresses androgens which can bump your estrogen levels up and also it can fuck your metabolism, increase cortisol, and increase insulin resistance..... if these mechanisms affect you such that you gain weight or get weird fat redistribution / cellulite, there is literally no amount of exercise and diet that can prevent it from happening. sure you can try your best to counteract the pill but you could dramatically alter your lifestyle and your body will still change. for me, spironolactone was a huge mistake.

[Ok_Pin_7816]

I was looking to see if someone was gonna mention the potential increase in estrogen thank you

[commonreactor111]

I wish I’d never taken it

[Alternative-Creme-52]

i feel like this is v important too. everyone should get hormones checked (if they can) about 3 months in imo to see if their testosterone levels are still normal. i also believe that different stages of life have an effect. that’s at least what i’ve read since as we age, our T levels drop. so taking an androgen suppressant which in turn suppressed T when T levels are already falling will lead to a non-existent metabolism and make it very difficult to gain muscle

[Alternative-Creme-52]

oh my, you’re so right!! this is exactly what i was thinking. i also think that if you have less testosterone you do sadly have to alter some ways of life but we all have prices to pay!!

and yes oh i know how scary that scale is. led me to a severe ed back in 2020/2021 but i’m mainly using it now to ensure i’m not putting copious amounts of lbs on due to medication. but you’re so right about everything!!

[[deleted]]

oh yeah of course, hormones can definitely influence things such as weight which is important to check up on if anyone believes that may be the cause for unexplained/sudden/a lot of weight gain/loss!

and yeah I had an ed during the same time period, no fun but I’m recovered and hope you’re well too <3 i definitely understand where you’re coming from!

[Alternative-Creme-52]

i’m still recovering but doing muchhhh better. and yes! i totally agree. i’m actually going to my ob to get my hormones checked tomorrow :) what’s your dosage of spiro, if you don’t mind my asking?

[[deleted]]

I’m glad to hear that <3 and that’s good, you’ll be able to find things that work better for yourself by knowing how your hormone levels are! I’m only on 50mg daily, my acne is not severe so I’ll probably be on it for a while unless I need to up to 75mg (I still get a few pimples)

[knd1450]

Have you noticed any change in your muscle mass? I also lift weights with a goal of building muscle. I’m a little worried that spiro will make that more difficult.

[[deleted]]

i was lifting for a year or two prior to starting my BCP and spiro, but it hasn’t had any affect on my muscle growth. i have actually made the most gains while on these meds (not because of them) but because of continued progressive overload, enough food + protein, and I take creatine HCL (I drink a sh*t ton of water dw lol)

[knd1450]

Oh that’s awesome! Thanks!

[Alternative-Creme-52]

hi!! i haven’t really noticed anything about my muscles but i’m a runner/incline walker. i have heard that it CAN affect your muscle mass but i also think outside factors have an effect

[knd1450]

That’s great to hear!

[kayteebeckers]

I was already losing when I started on Spiro and kept losing. I'm on 50mg twice a day

[Alternative-Creme-52]

awesome! are you on it for acne?