4 replies to this topic

[strwberry2178]

I just started Spiro two days ago but I have 2 questions.

How long can you be on Spiro?

and

Does your acne come back much worse when you stop taking it?

I get the hormonal nodules on my chin and some on my cheeks the week before my period. Birth control did nothing to help..if anything..it made me get them all month long. So my new derm. recommended 2 50mg pills a day to start off with. I am curious though to as how long you can stay on Spiro and if my acne is going to come back WAY worse when I stop taking it. I have fairly oily skin...which I can deal with when I stop taking it, as I have for 24 years...but I don't want my skin to get worse in the future...or when I stop to get pregnant. Thanks! Any input would be much appreciated!!!

[biggs881]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12219252

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15752283

Edited by biggs881, 20 May 2011 - 05:14 AM.

[strwberry2178]

Hmm..thanks for the articles...but I'm not sure if either really answered my question!!

[melissa6980]

You can definitely be on spiro long term, even many years. I'm not sure what happens when you stop taking it, but I think if you ever do stop taking it to ttc that it might be better to wean off of it slowly and use something topically to help, like topical bp and erythromycin can be used when pregnant/trying to conceive. If that doesn't control acne during pregnancy, sometimes docs will prescribe oral erythromycin. Of course, if needed, you could just resume taking it again after the pregnancy/breastfeeding is done. I would definitely suggest having a contingency plan anytime you stop or wean off one acne treatment. I tried stopping birth control cold turkey and it wasn't THAT bad but after a few months of breaking out, I realized I better do something to treat my acne and started using benzoyl peroxide which helps somewhat. I also am doing a no dairy/low glycemic diet.

[shazamwow]

I have been wondering the same thing... I asked my derm and she said "no, it will never come back WORSE but it might come back" She also said that 30% of women who take spiro don't get acne again, even when they come off the medicine. HOWEVER she also said that people usually don't get worse acne after coming off of antibiotics. But based on my research here I know that's not true. So I really don't know what to believe.

How is the spiro going? Do you recommend it?

I would like to get pregnant in 1 or 2 years. I don't know what to do for my acne so that it doesn't come back worse when I need to stop treatment to conceive. Right now I am on a pregnancy-friendly regime: pretty much just finacea. However, I still get some angry pimples and I really HATE those. I really would love to find something to help without worrying what will happen when I want to conceive.