It's official!

I've been on spiro now for a year and a half. My skin still keeps looking better and better. I now look better with NO MAKEUP~!

Devastated

I have been on spiro successfully for about a year and a half now. My skin went from horrible to perfect in 4 months.

Last week I went to my gyn for my annual and I let her do my blood work since my last test was in December. I got a frantic call Tuesday morning that my results showed a big problem with my kidneys. I had her fax them to me and I had elevated creatinine levels as well as a GFR of 53.

Since I didnt really know what the numbers mean and I dont feel sick, I assumed they were false readings- maybe caused from dehydration. I called my derm (nurse practitioner) and told him about it and he sort of agreed with me, said to rehydrate myself this week well and come in Friday for another test. Then I sent him a copy of the results from my gyn. A few hours later I get an email from him telling me my high creatinine levels and lowered GFR were present in my earlier tests with him and to immeadiately stop taking the spiro and go my primary care.

So I had him fax old tests (he had 2 of them). The numbers didnt lie. I researched what the results mean and I likely HAVE STAGE 3 CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE! It says right there on the lab results that results GFR <60 for more than 3 months is KD regardless of kidney damage. My kidneys are functioning at 53% and one of my earlier tests(DEC) was 45. It is not unusal from what I have read to have NO symptoms.

Before you spiro users freak out, I don't think the spiro had caused this. I think I have had it all along. I am going to find as many test results as I can from previous doctors to try to find out when it started. If my derm overlooked it, it was probably overlooked by everyone else. I have an appointment with a new primary care next week so that I can be referred to a nephrologist.

I dont want to stop taking spiro. I am reducing the amount for now, but I just can't face acne again. I swear my skin is one of the few things in my life that is perfect right now. I will wait to hear from a nephrologist tell me spiro use will hasten my life before I stop. I am crossing my fingers that it will be ok.

sigh, Cherie

Spiro and dosage

Hi All,

I have been on Spiro now for almost a year and a half. I started at 50 mg and worked my way up to 200mg. It took about 3 months to see a big improvement, but when I went to 200mg, that is when I got very clear.

For a while I was without insurance. Many pharmacies now have $4 prescriptions for certain medications- spiro being one of them, but only in 25mg pills. So for about 3 months I was taking 8 25mg pills a day. During this time, I got bumpy skin and some tiny pimples- mostly on my chin. It was enough to be very annoying. After 3 weeks of taking my 50mg dosage pills (4 a day at night), my skin has cleared up. It looks fantastic again.

So, my theory is that the 25 mg pills dont work as well.

Most of the girls on this board who are not having success with spiro don't seem to be taking enough. I really think 200 is the magic dosage. Taken all at once- at night.

Just my 2 cents.

Cherie

Spiro not working? This might be the problem....

So I have been on Spiro for about a year now with fantastic results. I started on 50 and worked my way up to 200 by late winter. I love my skin.

Well, last month I altered my prescription slightly- because of a temporary loss of insurance I had my dr write the script to take 8 25mg tabs. It is much cheaper because of the discount drug program Target has, but only for 25 mg pills.

Well, the pharmacist warned me that it might lump in my stomach taking so many pills at once, so I took 4 at night and 4 during the day( if I remembered!) Well, my chin is breaking out.

So- my theory is you probably need a higher dose OR you need to take all of it one time a day (taking it at night reduces side effects for me but I need to get up to pee a few times).

My new insurance has kicked in and I am picking up the regular pills and going back to the full dose at night.

I am grateful my breakout is minor, but this is bringing back BAD memories!

Cherie

For those successful spiro

I am curious if anyone else has noticed more than just clear skin with spiro use.

I am not on a bcp, but I don't get PMS at all. I spot occasionally, but my periods are much lighter. I have ZERO cramps. I don't think I have had a cramp since I started spiro.

I used to half to wash my hair EVERY day. It looked oily fast. Now I can go 2 or 3 days without washing it and looks great!

My legs are smoother after I shave. I don't get ingrown bumps at all.

My feet used to swell a bit if I stood all day. Not anymore.

My skin has a different texture all over. Its not dry or oily, just nice and smooth.

My boobs are bigger. They seem firmer.

I am wondering if what I had before spiro was a potassium deficiency.

Just curious

Cherie