Shedding hair excessively (more than 50-100 strands a day) can be a symptom of androgenetic alopecia or another underlying health condition. This page focuses on androgenetic alopecia – a pattern of hair loss that affects both men and women and how Oral Spironolactone can help treat this type of hair loss in women.
Spironolactone is a type of medicine used to treat hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia, a common type of hair loss that affects men and women.
Spironolactone works by slowing down the production of the male sex hormones, otherwise known as androgen hormones and preventing hair loss progression. Spironolactone also promotes hair regrowth.
While androgenetic alopecia affects more men than women, this condition often has a greater impact on women as it is less socially acceptable for women to have hair loss. No new hair grows after this unless there is treatment intervention.
Female pattern hair loss can be identified by:
While minoxidil is currently a frontline treatment option for female pattern hair loss, spironolactone is a common alternative for those who do not respond to minoxidil.
One study found out that taking 200 mg of oral spironolactone per day was effective in either hair loss prevention or promoting hair regrowth in women. The same study mentions that Spironolactone has an overall success rate of 56.60% when combined with other therapies for hair loss.
Results are not immediate, so do be patient.. The improvements will gradually be noticeable over the course of a few months. You may see positive changes in your hair from 6-12 months of taking Spironolactone.
Generally speaking, spironolactone is safe. Side effects are uncommon at the low dose used for hair loss treatment.
As Spironolactone is also used to treat other health conditions such as heart failure and hypertension, it can interact with other medications as well as certain dietary items. It is also not suitable for pregnant women.
If you are considering Oral Spironolactone to treat your hair loss problem, let your doctor know about your current health status and medical background. Provide them also with a list of all the medicines that you are taking including supplements.
Taking Oral Spironolactone to deal with female pattern hair loss may cause the following side effects:
Rare but serious side effects include:
Hyperkalemia is a condition where there is too much potassium in the blood. Having excessive amounts of potassium in the blood can be dangerous, so seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing any of these symptoms while on Spironolactone:
Spironolactone is not usually given to men for treating hair loss. To treat male pattern hair loss, other types of medication like Finasteride or hair supplements like MIRIQA and Nourkrin are considered instead.
One study highlights that finasteride is not approved for women to take and is prohibited for use in pregnant women. We do not recommend finasteride as first line therapy for female pattern hair loss. Spironolactone is a much safer option to treat female pattern hair loss and it can be taken together with birth control pills. In addition, you need not worry about getting acne while on Spironolactone as this medication also combats acne.
No, a doctor’s prescription is needed for spironolactone.
For female pattern hair loss, the dosage will depend on the severity of your hair loss condition. The typical oral Spironolactone dosage that doctors prescribe is around 100-200 mg.
Spironolactone is not recommended for those who:
Yes, Oral Spironolactone can be combined with other hair loss treatments – specifically with in-clinic scalp treatments such as Hair Growth Laser or minoxidil. The combination of these medications work to gradually decrease hair fall and boost the growth of thicker hair. It may also be prescribed after a FUE hair transplant to support your hair growth.
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