Propecia Vs spironolactone Not Sure What To Do Now

SaturdayNightFright

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Hey everybody,

I'm new to the group, unfortunately, lol.

So I recently spoke with my dr about Propecia for hair thinning and they wanted to put me on Spironolactone instead.

They said it'll have similar effects as Propecia and would be covered by insurance. They said they could add Propecia to the prescription later on to be covered as well but they have to start with spironolactone first.

From doing research spironolactone could lead to some bad side effects like osteoporosis.

I know spironolactone is part of HRT for Transgender patients but they have Estrogen to go along with the spironolactone.

I would simply just be on spironolactone...something about that feels like it's not right.

I don't mind if I have to pay out of pocket for Propecia. I may go to a different dr.

Am I understanding correctly that spironolactone by itself is not the best route to go for hair loss? I know Propecia has risks as well but from what I gathered taking spironolactone by itself is bad juju. Especially because it'd be long term.

Or is spironolactone and Propecia a fairly safe thing to do? I'm concerned because spironolactone would be blocking the sex hormone altogether so I'm not sure what my body would do...it'd have neither T or E so...I feel like that's asking for trouble...

Any input would be appreciated.
 

Yakitori

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Is it normal for doctors to put their male pattern baldness patients on spironolactone?
 
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SaturdayNightFright

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Is it normal for doctors to put their mbp patients on spironolactone?

I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out as well?
I know she was trying to help with insurance but in the long run I don't think it's safe...

It doesn't make sense to take something that can cause more harm just to get Propecia later on for free under insurance...

Like I said I may just go to another dr and get another opinion...
 

rclark

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Sure it's safe.

Who needs doctor's these days? Technology and Facebook
substitute just as well.
 

g.i joey

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I’d rather be safe and gauge results with finasteride. If you can maintain with that it seems like the more viable option. The only time you should consider spironolactone (which in my opinion as a straight male you shouldn’t ever consider it) is if fda approved treatments can’t do what they do
 

kawnshawn

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Hey everybody,

I'm new to the group, unfortunately, lol.

So I recently spoke with my dr about Propecia for hair thinning and they wanted to put me on Spironolactone instead.

They said it'll have similar effects as Propecia and would be covered by insurance. They said they could add Propecia to the prescription later on to be covered as well but they have to start with spironolactone first.

From doing research spironolactone could lead to some bad side effects like osteoporosis.

I know spironolactone is part of HRT for Transgender patients but they have Estrogen to go along with the spironolactone.

I would simply just be on spironolactone...something about that feels like it's not right.

I don't mind if I have to pay out of pocket for Propecia. I may go to a different dr.

Am I understanding correctly that spironolactone by itself is not the best route to go for hair loss? I know Propecia has risks as well but from what I gathered taking spironolactone by itself is bad juju. Especially because it'd be long term.

Or is spironolactone and Propecia a fairly safe thing to do? I'm concerned because spironolactone would be blocking the sex hormone altogether so I'm not sure what my body would do...it'd have neither T or E so...I feel like that's asking for trouble...

Any input would be appreciated.
spironolactone is absolutely not the best route to go for hair loss simply because of the side effects. While it is very good at stopping hair loss as a guy you will absolutely get sides unless you take low doses which at that point won't do much for your hair.
I took it orally a few months ago and a few weeks in I had very bad ball ache, low libido, and sore breast. After taking it for a month and half I stopped but at that point it had shrunk my testicles a good amount because of atrophy. Virtually every guys testimonial on spironolactone online who took more than 50mg everyday for hair loss ends up getting bad side effects, it's not something you can take for long periods.
Honestly start off with Propecia, less chance of side effects. If that doesn't work and you're desperate enough then try spironolactone.
 

Yakitori

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I guess Finasteride - Dutasteride - Spironolactone is the order if you are not getting results but before going for spironolactone you should probably try other topical solutions and a better diet (if you have a bad one).

A better diet will certainly not regrow any hair but feeling physically healthy can sometimes help with the mental aspect as well. The mental aspect of hair loss along with being tired all the time, having a sore body etc. is not a very good combo.

If you are losing way less hair on Finasteride, going for spironolactone would just be greedy for regrowth.

Also, I have a question, how bald are you now? Suggesting spironolactone is either complete incompetence or incompetence with realism that if you have a norwood 7, having a chance at getting anything back at that point, you have to use things like spironolactone and sacrifice bodily functions/health.
 

AnxiousAndy

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From my experience its best to start with propecia. ( or a cheaper generic )
I've been on moderately high doses of spironolactone combined with propecia myself for about 6 months and couldn't say it helped, at all. I actually lost more hair while on it :confused: I personally don't think spironolactone is that useful for hair loss, the sides aren't really worth it if you like to eat potassium rich foods which spironolactone stores and could become toxic, fatal or both. Some people do find it beneficial though, unfortunately I didn't fall into that category. Your best bet is to get yourself some generic propecia and if that doesn't work out maybe try dutasteride. Always do your research first though.
 

AnxiousAndy

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Spironolactone is a good antiandrogen if taken in high doses. On 200mg it stopped shedding and I started getting vellus hairs. A lot of people have had success on it so I dont think its fair to say its not good for hairloss, it may have been not good for you but a lot of people have had success on it. I still use it as the main AA in my regime and I personally feel it reduces my T levels lower than cypro plus it has Estrogenic effects that cypro doesn't have.

Also you would have to literally eat a sh*t tonne of potassium rich foods for it to be toxic, most trans girls I know are on spironolactone aren't anywhere never near Hyperkalimic levels.
I didn't say people haven't had success with it because I know that it has helped tremendously for some users. Maybe I'm just bitter that nothing has worked for me so far.
 
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