Hi glb,

I'm also sorry that happened to you.

My face still looks pretty swollen, but for me it has to do with the fact that the weight gain really impacted my cheeks (in addition to my abdomen, thighs and butt).

I did get some bleeding after a month of stopping that lasted for about 5 days, but I had not had any ovulation for quite a while, so that bleeding was most certainly a breakthrough bleeding (unrelated to a proper cycle.)

That was 40 days ago, and I'm still waiting to see some signs of ovulation after that. No bleeding either.

So yeah, my cycle is still wonky after 2 months of stopping the Spiro. I had been quite regular for about 2 years already before starting.

That website you link to is the exact one that made me realize what was going on with me -- I couldn't believe so many girls were experiencing the exact same process! I am mad that, as one girl put it, it's like I was mesmerized by Spiro the whole time even though I knew the weight gain was extremely weird.

Wish you luck in getting your skin back!

Hi glb,

 

I'm also sorry that happened to you.

 

My face still looks pretty swollen, but for me it has to do with the fact that the weight gain really impacted my cheeks (in addition to my abdomen, thighs and butt).

 

I did get some bleeding after a month of stopping that lasted for about 5 days, but I had not had any ovulation for quite a while, so that bleeding was most certainly a breakthrough bleeding (unrelated to a proper cycle.)

 

That was 40 days ago, and I'm still waiting to see some signs of ovulation after that. No bleeding either.

 

So yeah, my cycle is still wonky after 2 months of stopping the Spiro. I had been quite regular for about 2 years already before starting.

 

That website you link to is the exact one that made me realize what was going on with me -- I couldn't believe so many girls were experiencing the exact same process! I am mad that, as one girl put it, it's like I was mesmerized by Spiro the whole time even though I knew the weight gain was extremely weird.

 

Wish you luck in getting your skin back!

please keep me updated with any changes you have! the active metabolite of spiro is canrenone has a long half life so is it possible that the drug is still in us? i have no idea, but waiting for my body to go back to normal is torture..... and i only took spiro for 3 weeks......

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to give a quick update - It's now been 4 months since I quit Spironolactone, and I'm still at the same weight despite eating the cleanest I've ever eaten and working out hard every day.

I had one full cycle where I could tell I had ovulated, and got my period 7 (instead of 14) days after. This month I have not yet ovulated, but I am seeing some signs of it maybe happening soon (sense of smell on overdrive, sexual desire and dreams).

If I do ovulate around this time, and get another period soon after, that will be the second full (albeit stilll wonky timewise) cycle after quitting Spiro. I think I will have to wait at least for 6 full cycles to start seeing some changes in my body... ?

Oh wow I am so sorry that happened to you. I was on spiro about a year ago. I actually lost weight when I was on it. And had no other side effects other than having to urinate more frequently. It definitely help improve my skin, but wasn't a cure, but was very content with my skin when I was on it for the first time since being on accutane. I would actually prefer to go back on it rather than be on accutane for a fourth time, but the derm I have now and most other than the one I had last year have told me I can't go on spiro or have hormonal acne unless I have PCOS. Sigh so frustrating all derms and doctors have such varying opinions. I move a lot thats why i have had many different derms through out the years. The derm that prescribed me spiro said my acne would never be "cured" by accutane because its hormonal yet thats what derms keep giving me. I would still take spiro had I not moved to a different state and had to change health insurance companies. For me spiro has a lot less side effects than accutane. So sorry so many women are having such bad experiences from spiro!

Oh my! You are on a really high amount. Most people I've heard on the drug were on 50-150 tops. I heard a few say they lost weight too so that's interesting because I don't want to lose weight. Was your IB bad? I'm VERY scared to go on because of that.

Oh wow I am so sorry that happened to you. I was on spiro about a year ago. I actually lost weight when I was on it. And had no other side effects other than having to urinate more frequently. It definitely help improve my skin, but wasn't a cure, but was very content with my skin when I was on it for the first time since being on accutane. I would actually prefer to go back on it rather than be on accutane for a fourth time, but the derm I have now and most other than the one I had last year have told me I can't go on spiro or have hormonal acne unless I have PCOS. Sigh so frustrating all derms and doctors have such varying opinions. I move a lot thats why i have had many different derms through out the years. The derm that prescribed me spiro said my acne would never be "cured" by accutane because its hormonal yet thats what derms keep giving me. I would still take spiro had I not moved to a different state and had to change health insurance companies. For me spiro has a lot less side effects than accutane. So sorry so many women are having such bad experiences from spiro!

Not to sound like a drug dealer, but they do sell Spironolactone online! My doctor wasn't giving it to me so I'm thinking of other ways...

How long till it started to clear you or at least stop the acne? Did you have an IB? If yes, what time and how long?

I had a very light initial breakout nothing major. I noticed maybe a month into it and it didn't last long either. I know everyones skin is different. I have the weirdest skin. I would say no cystic acne, but very congested skin and severely oily. My back does of some cystic acne and breaks out way worse than my face. On my face I have closed visible comedones every where so makes my skin texture look splotchy and uneven if that makes sense. Even on accutane I can say I never got a terrible initial outbreak. I got an IB the first round of accutane, but nothing horrible, and feel thats how my body responded to spiro. Spiro did not help with my oily skin like the derm said it would, but it did improve its texture. I noticed a change in my skin it was a lot clear. It also helped a lot with my back. My bacne went away as well and my back for some reason breaks out way worse than my face. Like I mentioned my face was not perfectly clear how it looks on accutane, but definitely was content with it other than still having oily skin. Thank you for the advice on getting meds. I am actually going to ask my gyn if I can go on spiro if accutane doesn't work this time around and see if I have better luck with her prescribing it since my derm is not and see how that goes first.

A light bulb just went off and I finally realized what has caused the weight gain and cellulite I've developed over the last few months ---- SPIRO! I was at 75mg a day and was sleeping at my desk after 3 coffees, passed out at 9PM on a Saturday night, have visible cellulite (like look down from above and can see FAT under my skin). I finally put it together that the only thing new in my life is Spiro. I cannot possibly eat less than I do right now and coupled with birth control (LoMedia 24) I think my body has the perfect environment for estrogen overload (the root of many evils). I started to wean off Spiro and have reduced my dose from 75mg to 25mg a day.

Has anyone else successfully stopped Spiro and returned to pre-spiro weight? I've read so many horror stories in the last few days of discovery of girls who have yet to lose their added pounds even months after stopping. Does anyone have any experiences to share? All I read is that the weight suddenly appeared, I'd love to hear more about about it suddenly vanished

Hi Lemon Lady,

I'm so sorry this happened to you too Do you have any idea how much weight you gained and over how long? For me it was 25lbs in 8 months, which is absolutely nuts.

I have been off it (went cold turkey) since the beginning of May, so it has been 4.5 months, and have had two full cycles in the last 2 months. Were your periods affected?

I haven't been able to lose the weight despite doing high intensity intera training / running 5 times a week.it is indeed a horror story. I feel so unattractive

I would love to talk more with you about your progress!

Aw man its always discouraging reading stuff like this, I just started spiro and Im on day 2. Really don't want weight gain. I use to be very overweight.

I have been off of Spironolactone since June 2014, but unfortunately have still not lost any of the weight or cellulite I gained during the year and a half I was on the drug. I also can't find any comments in any forum on this topic about someone who has lost the weight, so it's very depressing.

I started taking Spironolactone at age 26 and was 120 lbs. I am now 140 lbs which was the weight I was when I stopped taking it over a year ago. I also gained cellulite on my thighs and stomach, I had never had cellulite before. This is still there and as far as I can tell, there has been no reduction even though I exercise 4-5 days a week and eat healthier than I ever have before.

Still waiting to find any comments on weight loss after stopping Spironolactone.

Hi bacbey,

Welcome to the club

I have now been off Spiro for 5 full months, and my cycles seem to be coming back to normal (I have had two periods after pretty clear ovulation, and just ovulated for the third time -- hopefully getting a third period next week).

However, I have not lost a single ounce of fat, despite working out at high intensity, strength training, and eating the cleanest I have ever eaten. I have even been counting calories for the past month, and am keeping it below 1,500 calories with the help of 5-HTP for appetite suppression (it was the only way).

I have not gained any more weight since stopping Spiro, but neither have I lost any. For me, as I explain above, it was a total of 25lbs over 8 months. I started at 130, which was pretty ideal, and am now at 155 since May.

I think the next logical step for me is to go on birth control and see what happens. I am going to try Yaz for a few months, which has the least amount of estrogen out there, and try to see what happens if I let that take override my hormonal disaster created by Spiro.

I'm starting Yaz next week, and I'll let you know if I see any changes.

Sorry this happened to you too, and I hope we can solve this soon.

Just a quick update to let you know that I've started Yaz today. Keeping my fingers crossed that this will help take over the hormonal mess that Spiro created.
5-HTP has definitely helped with appetite suppression. I've been on 1000mg for 1 month and (aside from feeling great thanks to all the serotonin being made), I have finally been able to lose 2lbs with 5+ hrs of high intensity training per week and clean eating.

I've been on spiro for a little over a year. I've gained 15 pounds since then. And my body definitely feels different. If I ever put on weight, it would distribute evenly , now, for the first time in my life, it goes straight to my waist and thighs. I've scaled back the sprio from 125 mg to 50mg. I tried stopping cold turkey last month and right away got a nice huge pimple on my skin that is still there. I'm trying to stay at 25 mg and will see how that works. I am so torn here- the acne was really upsetting me and affecting my life, but now a 15-pound weight gain is also very difficult. I refuse to buy larger clothing, because I won't accept this weight gain as permanent.

Purple Link- has your acne come back since getting off spiro?

I started using Spiro over 7 years ago in my late 30's for my hormonal acne. I was on 50mg and it was amazing. Clearest skin I've ever had. As I approached my mid-40's, I noticed that my weight was creeping upward. A pound here or there, and no matter what I tried to do I couldn't lose it. For the last two years I have been doing the same things that you ladies outlined - intense exercise (weights and HIIT), diet, low carb, etc. My body would not budge. I went off Spiro for 6 months to see if that would help. I didn't lose any weight, so I went back on it. Well, 8 months later I have gained another 5lbs!!!

So in January I saw a doctor and we did a gigantic battery of hormone tests, blood work, cortisol, etc. In short, the Spiro has been a major culprit in jacking my cortisol levels (read all about that), and screwing with my thyroid. My doctor put me on a low dose of bio identical progesterone and guess what? I haven't had a SINGLE PIMPLE. I'm off Spiro. I'm not breaking out. I cannot fully express how angry I am that not one single derm I saw for the last 25 years for my hormonal acne ever thought to test my friggin' hormones!!!! So I'm done with spiro forever. It was a miracle drug for me, but the long term side effects are not worth it. I'm just now starting to see slow weight loss. I hope to ditch these 15lbs by the end of the year. I urge you to ask your Dr. to test your hormones no matter what your age is. See an integrative medicine specialist if your derm won't do it. All you might need is a small tweak and it could help tremendously.

Hi samanthabaker,

I'm so glad that you were able to get a good battery of tests.

What kind of bioidentical progesterone are you taking? Is it in pill or cream form?
What dose did your doctor prescribe you, and is it everyday or only during a certain window in your period?

I'm going to get a hormonal test panel done, hope to see some light soon 🙁

Hi Agnes123,

In response to your question, my skin has been relatively clear for the past 6 months because I decided to start birth control, more specifically Yaz for its low estrogen properties.

However, despite major exercise efforts as outlined above, as well as clean eating, I have not been able to lose the 20lbs I gained while on Spironolactone after 10 months off it.

I think I am going to switch birth control pills, as Yaz does contain the component drospirenone, which is similar to spironolactone, and each pill of Yaz is equivalent to taking 25mg of spironolactone. Nowhere near the dose I was taking which caused me to balloon up, but still there.

I'm also considering starting a progesterone cream regime.

It's officially been a year since I stopped Spironolactone, and I have not been able to lose the weight.

I am going to go on a no-carb diet for the following month and see how that goes.

I am still working out every day (heavy lifting / HIIT or power yoga) and eat clean. I suppose I will have to cut out all fruits and all grains.

I will keep you updated. If anyone has been successful in losing the weight after stopping spiro, please let us know here. I'm desperate.

Any updates PurpleLink? I just quit spiro 3 weeks ago after taking it for 3 months and blowing up like a balloon, despite no change in any of my eating/exercise habits. I actually keep gaining weight, even though i quit. So frustrated because i feel like there is nothing i can do.

On October 10, 2015 at 11:08 PM, PurpleLink said:

Just a quick update to let you know that I've started Yaz today. Keeping my fingers crossed that this will help take over the hormonal mess that Spiro created.
5-HTP has definitely helped with appetite suppression. I've been on 1000mg for 1 month and (aside from feeling great thanks to all the serotonin being made), I have finally been able to lose 2lbs with 5+ hrs of high intensity training per week and clean eating.

Yaz is basically the SAME thing as Sprionlactone. Get on something else. Go have your Free T3's and 4's tested. Spriolactone made me gain 10 Lds in less than 2 months. I can not loose weight gained after 4 months. Be careful what you put into your body

So sorry for the delayed reply, I never received notification that this thread was still active!  My latest update:
I am still taking 100mg orally of bio identical progesterone and my skin continues to remain clear.  I have been off Spiro since February.  My weight is slowing going down.  I have lost 15lbs and gained back 10lbs.  Totally frustrating.  From what my blood work shows and I now understand, the Spiro suppresses your Aldosterone which is of course, intimately linked to all your other hormones.  This is part of what caused the weight gain for me, in addition to peri-menopause.  I'll slowly keep working towards losing these last 10lbs for however long it takes.  

Again, I would urge ANYONE to have their hormones tested for Estrogen Dominance.  This is what caused my acne for 25+ years and if some doctor had ever given me just a dash of progesterone, I could have avoided years of Spiro, agony and suffering.   

Sorry it happened to you. When I was on spiro I actually lost weight. What caused me to gain weight was birth control. Hormones are so tricky to deal with.

I just stopped this drug 5 days ago after being on it for 3 years. 50mg per day. Could not figure out why I was gaining and am having so much trouble losing. I have never had a weight problem. I. Thought it was menopause, and am going to talk to my doctor about the effects on my hormones. I am being monitored and am on Biodentical hormones. I have 8 lbs to lose and hate how I feel in my clothes. I exercise and eat healthy. Has anyone finally lost after being off this drug? I am feeling desperate too.

I started spironolactone earlier this year for my severe cystic acne. My acne is so bad that it disfigures my face. I was on the med for about 6 months. I noticed some weight gain a few months later but didn't really think much of it, plus I had clear skin for the first time in 15 yrs!! But then the weight started to become more rapid. It came to a point where I was gaining 10 lbs every 2 weeks. My eating habits and physical activity never changed. So I decided to stop taking it. Its been about a month already since I stopped. I have gained 40 lbs within the 6 months of taking it. I am overweight now and am very depressed from this. I have lost 5 lbs so far. Has anyone ever experience weight loss after stopping this med?? If so how long does it take to get back to pre-med weight? I have always been obsessed with my weight and having clear skin but I guess I prefer being skinny with acne than the other way around. The weight gain is too much.

On 2/12/2016 at 9:32 AM, Agnes123 said:

I've been on spiro for a little over a year. I've gained 15 pounds since then. And my body definitely feels different. If I ever put on weight, it would distribute evenly , now, for the first time in my life, it goes straight to my waist and thighs. I've scaled back the sprio from 125 mg to 50mg. I tried stopping cold turkey last month and right away got a nice huge pimple on my skin that is still there. I'm trying to stay at 25 mg and will see how that works. I am so torn here- the acne was really upsetting me and affecting my life, but now a 15-pound weight gain is also very difficult. I refuse to buy larger clothing, because I won't accept this weight gain as permanent.

Purple Link- has your acne come back since getting off spiro?

Hi there--just wanted to check and see if you still experienced weight gain at 25 mg? I really love what spiro has done for my skin, but I recently cut back from 100 to 50. I am small (105 5'2) so I think I can cut back further to 25 mg.