Does Spironolactone Change Body Shape? Here’s What You Should Know

You may be given Spironolactone – probably for hypertension, some heart condition or hormone-driven acne. And pretty soon you may notice a few changes on your appearance and therefore ask yourself: does spironolactone change body shape? A lower dose may not induce such changes.

See, Spironolactone is a diuretic (like Lasix, Bumex et cetera). Naturally, there is fluid retention in excessive conditions. Patients taking this particular medicine often start asking the question: does spironolactone change body shape? It is worth noting that no such drastic change in your weight will occur.

How Spironolactone Works

Spironolactone spares potassium and removes extra sodium and ‘water’ from your system. What happens is that the first time you begin to take this medicine, you will begin peeing a lot and this makes you less uncomfortable because the bloated feeling will not be so evident.

Although evidence for this is weak, it appears that some patients are quite prone to asking for help, and they binged on spironolactone.

That is when the drug’s main purpose becomes all but forgotten, treating medically several quite nasty cases of acne.

But this does not go without consequences in that it exerts its ancillary effects on hormonal activities, such as androgen receptor antagonism.

We all know that testosterone is involved in the processes of blackheads and hair growth.

Because of this hormonal effect of spironolactone, some progressive dermatologists tend to suggest this drug to patients with hormonal acne.

Is it true that spironolactone reshapes your body?

This is when it starts to get interesting. Spironolactone has no impact on the way fat is shifted or the amount of muscles developed. Hence, it will not alter your body shape in those aspects.

However, because of Spironolactone’s properties of reducing water retention, you may notice having a thinner appearance especially around the waist or thighs where one would usually carry extra water weight.

Some women may develop some breast increase as an effect of spironolactone since it affects hormones. After all, this particular medication is likely to suppress testosterone which will trigger some hormonal changes, although slight enlargement of breast tissues is not ruled out. Such changes may be minimal, but they might affect your perception of their bodily shapes.

Spironolactone’s Effect on Fat and Weight

Nevertheless, Spironolactone is not meant for the purposes of weight reduction. While this may make someone look as if there is a decrease in bloatedness or that they feel lighter, this is merely losing water as opposed to any real fat loss. The proportion of fat in one’s body remains the same.

Some patients have reported a change in the distribution of fat in their bodies including more fat around the hip or thighs but this is usually not that marked. This is because fat distribution is regulated by hormones, so any change made would be minor.

In most cases, if the question on whether spironolactone should be used for body-shaping in the bid to lose weight or fat reduction arises, it does not tend to have such an outcome. Their main target is balancing hormones, not the concentrations of fat on the body.

Lifestyle Changes That Go Hand In Hand With Taking Spironolactone

Adverse reactions caused by spironolactone can be reduced to a significant extent by making certain lifestyle changes:

1. Lower consumption of high potassium foods.
2. Use of whole grains in the cooking.
3. Decrease salt in food and sodas.
4. Make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
5. Do not use NSAIDs like ibuprofen
6. Restrict alcohol (limit yourself to one drink per day)

Main Point: Can Spironolactone Bring Change in Your Body?

No significant shift occurs in the size of one’s body due to using Spironolactone.

Less water retention may cause the superficial loss of shape and some females will complain of excess adipose tissue in the breast. These impacts are most moderate and also very transient. This particular medicine does work insofar as it controls the hormones but it does not dramatically change your face.

Last but not the least, if you believe that Spironolactone affects your physique and you want to stop taking it, then you should call your physician and request another medication. After all, medicine is what helps us to restore health and you understand that the medicine which is prescribed to you does more harm than improvement – it is high time to resolve this issue with your doctor.

FAQs

How long does it take for spironolactone to affect body proportions?

The best indication of the effectiveness of spironolactone is that it resolves water retention within a couple of days but the changes in the hormone balance with regards to effects such as the breast enlargement may take weeks before noticeable changes can be observed.

Is there a change in the body shape due to usage of Spironolactone among males?

Men on prescribed spironolactone may notice change in their body form, particularly in their chest region. That is due to the decreasing levels of testosterone levels caused by taking the medication.

Although this therapy is used by a number of individuals it does not lead to great changes in fat redistribution changes or the gains of muscle tissues in male subjects.

Can spironolactone have an impact on muscle mass?

No, spironolactone does not directly affect muscle mass. Its main purpose is to decrease the water retention and block certain hormones, however, skeletal muscle development or strength is not influenced.

Does spironolactone cause permanent breast enlargement?

The increase in breast size that certain women may experience when taking spironolactone is usually temporary. When the medication is stopped, hormone levels will return to a set norm, and all changes in size of breast tissue are likely to return to pre-treatment conditions.

Is it possible for spironolactone to cause change in appetite?

The appetite modulating property of spironolactone is not clinically relevant. Change in appetite is not the reason since it is unlikely that a weight change is caused by a diet.

Do different brands of spironolactone have varying effects on body shape?

The ingredients of active tablets of all brands of spironolactone are one. But inactive ingredients can be different in different brands and formulations and that may have some effect on how an individual responds.