Just wanted to post--I had posted a number of weeks ago a comment regarding the differences in batches of Spiro from inhousedrugstore.com. After experimenting around awhile, that's not the case. I've discovered that the 25mg pills work better. I switched back and forth to be sure, and no doubt about it, taking 8 of the 25mg pills worked quite a bit better than taking 2 of the 100mg pills.

The thing I noticed was the difference in my skin and hair, and also cramps. While things were still okay with the 100mgs, it was so much better with the 25mgs. There must be a difference in fillers. Both taste equally yuk, I know that.

I tried that mini-experiment because when I first started taking Spiro, I had only purchased the 25mg bottles. Then later on, I switched to the 100mg bottles. After awhile I got to thinking that either my body was getting too used to the stuff, or else the batches were different because it wasn't controlling the oily hair or cramps quite as well as it once was (still was better than nothing, let me assure you). Then it occurred to me to try what I was originally doing to see if things were the same or different.

Sure enough. I'm going back to the 25mg pills.

In the US and Canada, prescription medications are allowed to have a plus or minus margin of error. It's probably the same in other countries. In the US, it's +15% to -15%. In Canada, it's +5% to -5%. (Thank you Canada for requiring your drugs to be more accurate.) The 100's you took may have been at lowest minus percentage, while the 25's you took were more accurate.

And CoffeeGal, I owe you a thank you. I don't have prescription insurance and take an expensive asthma medication. I've been buying it from Canada for years at 1/2 the US price. After your post, I ordered some from inhousedrugstore. It was 1/3 of the US price! I received it quickly and it's working great.

Glad to help! And I'm glad to know about that margin of error. I had no idea. But that explains it.

I noticed on the 25mg that it makes me feel lazier. Not lethargic or fatigued by any stretch of the imagination (I feel great) but lackadaisical about things I ought to be doing. I wonder if testosterone is some sort of magical motivator, and mine's being removed.

My whirling dervish activity has lightened up a *lot*!



(could be all in my head--it's a great excuse, anyway)

Some meds do cause that. I took Paxil many years ago when I was going through a divorce, and the things that I was once so organized and anal about became so unimportant to me. I didn't stay on the Paxil for long, but I've yet to get back that great ability to organize.

I was an organization freak myself, but now... I just throw everything out so I don't have to organize it.

Well, blame it on the medicine!

I happened to think, Choice--if you have a prescription, you won't need prescript insurance if you get Spiro at Wal-Mart. It's only $4.00 there. I think it's a 25mg, 100-count bottle. You wouldn't have to wait for the mail.

I don't take spiro. I take Advair for my asthma, a medication made by GlaxoSmithKline that is not available in generic form in the US. What I've bought online from Canada, India, and now from inhousedrugstore.com is the generic Advair made in the UK by GlaxoSmithKline. The difference, the generic package isn't as pretty as the brand name package. And I'm probably getting higher quality.

In my area, Rite Aid will match Wal-Mart's prices, which is great for me, it's 4 short blocks from my office.

Hi, I wanted to ask if taking Spiro (even if you don't have hirsutism or whatever) is okay,and if so by how much does it thin or reduce the hair?

You shouldn't be taking it without a prescription. Why are you considering it? Are you male or female? What hair are you trying to reduce? This is a serious drug with side effects and shouldn't be taken unnecessarily.

Sorry for freaking anyone out:( ...
And I'm a female.I was just wondering if it was safe to take it because I heard some people even without hirsutism and without perscriptions could take it,that's all. I figured if it was safe then I might consider it but I guess it probably isn't...I do have BAD hair problems so that's why I was asking and I can't afford payng for laser treatments.

Can you please describe your hair issues? We can help figure out the best alternatives. Taking this powerful drug is not an alternative to hair removal.

Sure,why not? I have a lot of coarse hair on my arms and legs reaching up to my lower back(embarrassed) , finer but dark hair on my tummy,and I have huge sideburns, with soft but dark hair on my face too,not that noticable but there still. I have gotten blood tests but they all came back "normal" I guess, because my doc never called me back about them. I can't even be sure if it is a medical problem or if it's just bad genes. I read a statistic that said every 1 in 30 people have idiopathic hirsutism/full on hirsutism. That's what gave me the gutz to see my doc but now i feel like nothing has changed,it really sucks.I don't know what to do so that's why I posted stuff here, I've been reading these forums for awhile,now,so I decided maybe I could get help too.

I wouldn't depend on your doctor calling you back. Some people slip through the cracks, so, do the follow up for yourself. Make another appointment and ask for copies of your lab work. You need to make a plan and drive toward your hair removal goals. Many people are depressed about too much hair, so talking about being goal-oriented may not resonate loudly enough. For many, just knowing that they are devising a strategy to get rid of the hair, based on good information,of course, is enough to lift them out of the depression. So post away and we will try to be your new best friends to get you going somewhere meaningful.

Dee

Thabk you SOO much!
I'll definitely ask my doctor for copies of the lab work, and ask for a refferal to a specialist but that might take some time. I'll let you know what happens:)
Thanks again. I feel better already, the last few days i've been pretty depressed about it but thanks to your post it as lifted

and sorry for the spelling errors I get lazy and don't double check what i'm writing often enough.

If I were you, I would find an endocrinologist doctor whose main expertise is with PCOS and hormonal issues. Unfortunately, most doctors are not educated enough about all the nuances to be able to diagnose you properly. We've had many people on this forum only find out about an issue after they've checked with a second or third specialist they saw. If you want to be sure, get tested by someone who is an expert in this particular field.

Thank you lagirl:)
Should I just request my doctor to refer me to a specialist in that field, would that be enough,or should I look for one myself?

It depends on your insurance. If you have HMO, you'll need to be referred by your doctor (though you can search for a specialist that accepts your insurance on your own anyway first). If you have PPO, you can go to anyone. I would recommend to do some research on best endocrinologists in your area that specialize in these issues.

I'm assuming you're in the US btw. You should add location to your profile.

Sorry, forgot that I had a profile...I live in Canada,in B.C.
"The best place on earth" apparently...makes me wonder why we're having a health crisis right now...

an alternative to spiro is cyproterone acetate which is up to 10 times stronger. I use that in combo with ethinyl estradiol
angel