> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hi-doctor.ai/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Spironolactone > Spironolactone treats blood pressure and heart failure. Its off-label use for female pattern hair loss carries no EU authorisation. Spironolactone is a water tablet authorised in EU countries, including Spain, to treat high blood pressure, some types of heart failure, and conditions where the body makes too much of the hormone aldosterone. It also has a weak anti-male-hormone effect, which is why some doctors prescribe it off-label for female pattern hair loss — but that use has no EU authorisation anywhere, and it is not something Hi-Doctor prescribes. Spironolactone has no EU marketing authorisation for female pattern hair loss. It is an approved medicine for something else (blood pressure, heart failure, excess aldosterone) — but not something a doctor here can prescribe for hair loss. ## What it is A tablet authorised in the EU for high blood pressure, some types of heart failure, and conditions of excess aldosterone. Its use for hair loss is off-label everywhere in Europe. ## How it works Spironolactone blocks the hormone aldosterone in the kidney, so the body passes more salt and water in urine. It also partly blocks the effect of male hormones on body tissue — the mechanism behind its off-label use for hair loss. ## What the studies reported Results are grouped by source and evidence grade so journal data and manufacturer announcements cannot be confused. The evidence for hair loss comes from five pooled studies (413 patients total), mostly observational, using doses from 25 to 200 mg and durations from six months to over a year. None compared spironolactone against a placebo, so these figures cannot be separated from natural variation or from other treatments taken at the same time. ## What has been reported | Effect | Reported rate (pooled, 413 patients) | | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------ | | Scalp itching or flaking | 18.9% | | Menstrual changes | 11.9% | | Facial hair growth | 6.9% | The Spanish product information additionally lists irregular menstruation, absent periods and post-menopausal bleeding as adverse reactions. ## Can I get it here? Not for this use. Spironolactone has no EU authorisation for hair loss, so it cannot be prescribed or dispensed here for that purpose. What can you take instead? Minoxidil is approved in the EU, has published peer-reviewed trial results, and can be prescribed today if a doctor decides it suits you. ## Available hair-growth alternatives A 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor taken daily. A doctor may prescribe it after reviewing your history and ruling out contraindications. Low-dose, used off-label by some dermatologists. Requires close medical supervision for potential cardiovascular effects. Solution or foam applied directly to the scalp. See the [Regaine (minoxidil) page](/library/medicines/regaine). A more potent 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. Reserved for specific cases, always under medical evaluation. See the [dutasteride page](/library/medicines/dutasteride). An individualised, personalised compounded formulation — combining finasteride, minoxidil, tretinoin, or other actives — is also something a pharmacy can prepare after a medical prescription. ## How Hi-Doctor handles it A licensed doctor decides case by case and never prescribes without evaluation. Hi-Doctor's doctors review your hair growth questionnaire and propose an EU-authorised alternative. See [how a consultation works](/essentials/how-it-works), the [treatment areas](/essentials/treatments) Hi-Doctor covers, and how eligibility is decided in [safety](/essentials/safety). ## Sources * AEMPS CIMA — ficha técnica Aldactone 100 mg (spironolactone, Spain) * *Cureus* 2023 — Oral spironolactone in female pattern hair loss: systematic review and meta-analysis ## Start a consultation Answer the hair-growth questionnaire and a registered doctor reviews it. They decide whether treatment is appropriate, which one, and at what dose — and declining is a normal outcome. See [what it costs](/essentials/pricing) and [how the review works](/essentials/how-it-works). This page is reference information, not medical advice and not a prescription. Whether a medicine is appropriate for you is decided by a registered doctor after reviewing your consultation.