Spironolactone and fluid loss?

beabria

Hi, I've recently started taking spironolactone for acne, and have lost ~10lbs in a month or so. Normally, I can't lose any more than ~.5 lb/week even with strict calorie monitoring and exercise. I know that weight loss from spironolactone is fluid loss, so I'm having some difficulty in determining how much of this is "real" weight loss. 10lbs seems like a lot of fluid to lose - I'm not getting dehydrated. Does anyone know or have experience with how much fluid loss is generally seen when taking spironolactone? Or how long before it's weight effects level out? I'm super excited to see the numbers going down whatever the cause, but I'd also like to know what's real - what I can take "credit" for. Any thoughts or experience would be greatly appreciated!

Bug207

Well spironolactone acts pretty much like a diuretic. If you really wanted to see how much weight you were losing as a result of the medication, you would record strict intakes and outputs (you would need to measure the mLs of liquids you put into your body and well as the mLs of urine each day). Ideally our body likes to put out around as much as we put in... if you have a lot more urine than you do mLs going into your body, that's when you know you're losing "water weight." That number can easily be converted then into pounds.

Bug207

Oh and I forgot to mention, the amount of fluid lost is going to be different for every person based on kidney and liver function as well as the amount of excess fluid already in your system.

wiltl

I'm also taking it for multiple things, including acne. Part of why is that the acne I had seems related to PCOS, and irregularity with adenosterone levels. So, yes there is a lot of fluid loss, especially at first because this is also a high blood pressure medication with diruetic. And because its a diuretic, you'll continue to see those effects to some degree. But, leveling out of the male hormones in our systems will help with increasing the amount of "true" weight lost. I had similar experience in my weight loss, going from about 6lbs a month to 9lbs a month. I've been on it for 3 months, and still have to go visit the ladies room quite often. But, my acne has cleared up almost completely, my weight loss has picked up and most of the side effects have subsided.

I still counted that water weight as real loss, because no matter what it was extra that I was carrying around when I shouldn't have been. As long as you're not dehydrated and not experiencing any sort of digestive issues, take credit for all of it!

beabria

Great, thanks! Yes, I guess measuring fluid in/out would help me figure this out, but.... I don't think I really want to do that! Plus, that wouldn't really cover fluids lost sweating either. I can certainly see how it would vary from person to person (everything else does!). I'm just trying to see what kind of ranges people have experiences.
And, thanks for sharing your experience. I also have PCOS and borderline hypothyroidism, so the hormone-issue could also be an issue I guess. I'm surprised to hear that the fluid loss continues for a while, though. I figured that I'd kind of reach a fluid-equilibrium.

Ronngie

My Dr put me on Spiro, and I had an episode of Gout as a result. It was HORRIBLE! It's one of the lesser side effects I was just one of the lucky ones to get that one!

ercarper

I've been on 75 mg/day of spironolactone for about three years (also for acne) and didn't notice any significant weight loss when I started. I'd say my morning cup of coffee has a more noticeable diuretic effect than the medication. :-)

beabria

Yikes! Gout?!? Well, I suppose taking any med is a balance between the perks and the risks, but I'll most definitely be on the look out for those signs! I'm sorry to hear that you had that experience. And, no more diuretic effect than coffee, huh? I'm not going pee all the time like I see some people describe, but I've definitely seen more weight loss than could be explained by diet and exercise, so I'm sure I'm seeing a diuretic effect.

leska1216

I have been on spiro for over a yerar (2?). Not for acne, which I still get in the form of rosacea, but rather for facial hair growth. The dosage has been increased twice, and I don't really see much of a reduction in the hairgrowth. I had my thyroid removed last year due to cancer. Now on synthroid. Other meds too due to other medical conditions. Don't find spiro to be a dueretic any more than the coffee I drink. Don't see any result in increased weight loss either. Foods that irritate IBS cause a bloating affect and that is the worst I can side effect from any meds I take. Yes, we are all different and meds affect us differently.