1059 replies to this topic

[Lady Odd Duck]

I just realized today what an epic fail I've pulled. My prescription bottle says to take 2 pills twice a day. I've only been taking 1 twice a day. I assumed they had given me 50 mg pills instead of just more 25 mg. Soo...I've only been on 50 mg/day for about 3 months. Good news is it's working just great and I'm clearer than I've ever been!

[Shells82]

Then I guess you didn't fail!!! its nice to know you can take a low dose and be clear!! yayay!!!

[jen0489x]

Uhh, so... My period just came and I didn't see it coming... My skin is always terrible the week before and my skin is FLAWLESS.. I am so amazed right now. Just a little under two months ago my skin was terrible, on good skin days I have three or for cysts and a forehead full of whiteheads and clogged pores allllll over my face. I am thrilled! I had to lower my spiro dose and I feel as though that has just helped more? Wow, I am so happy I want to cry. It worked so well and so soon. I haven't gotten a new pimple in weeks I love spiro!!!!!

[L J 1973]

OK. Due to financial/health problems, I had to quit taking the spiro. But I thought I had found a way to get back on it. The 'net told me it's on Walmart's $4 prescription list. So I got a prescription from a nurse practitioner and went to buy it last night. When I went to pay for it, I was informed it's NOT on the list. No way I could afford the non-list price, so, heartbroken, I had to leave it behind. I looked today on the site again and, lo and behold, there it is, listed as part of the $4 plan! I'm going to call and try to get to the bottom of this. Is anyone else here getting theirs at Walmart for the $4 and $10 prescription plan prices?! What's going on?!

The spiro stopped working its magic after a couple of months or so, but I think that's because I was unable to keep it steadily in my system due to difficulties in obtaining it in a timely manner. I hope that's all it was.

One more question: The spiro definitely made me feel faint upon standing; it was pretty miserable. Has it done this to anyone else here and, if so, did it eventually stop or at least stop doing it as badly? I'm talking nearly fainting practically every time I stood up! I'm assuming it's due to the blood pressure-lowering effect. I have naturally low blood pressure as it is.

[Prettywords]

You should eat more salt. It helps with the faintness.

I heard the same about walmart but it's not true. I don't get the generic but I asked how much and it was like $60.

[L J 1973]

You should eat more salt. It helps with the faintness.

I heard the same about walmart but it's not true. I don't get the generic but I asked how much and it was like $60.

Salt, huh? I wouldn't mind trying that, I love salt! Thanks for the adivce. )

Yeah, that was about the price I was told, then my eyes nearly popped out of my head. Quite a shock when I was expecting $4! I think your dosage has to be 25 mg. daily in order to get the $4 or $10 price, if I'm understanding correctly. I can't imagine that dose would do most people who turn to this much good. Walmart's so lame!

[Prettywords]

I am taking 25 mgs right now, but I have 50mg pills bc my MD wants me to take 100 mgs a day... Long story.

Anyway, I am going to find out if that's the case, if so, I will have my MD write a rx for 25 mgs 4x a day.

However, I read that the brand name (aldactone) is far superior to the generic, so I am on aldactone right now. I'll see how it goes, and if I stay on it, maybe I'll switch to generic to see for myself.

Try the salt.

PS -- How long did it take for you to feel the faintness as a side effect and what dose were you on?

Edited by Anti - Em, 03 February 2010 - 10:14 PM.

[inkydink81]

I am taking 25 mgs right now, but I have 50mg pills bc my MD wants me to take 100 mgs a day... Long story.

Anyway, I am going to find out if that's the case, if so, I will have my MD write a rx for 25 mgs 4x a day.

However, I read that the brand name (aldactone) is far superior to the generic, so I am on aldactone right now. I'll see how it goes, and if I stay on it, maybe I'll switch to generic to see for myself.

Try the salt.

PS -- How long did it take for you to feel the faintness as a side effect and what dose were you on?

Hey, I am on 25mg/day and got my script filled at Walmart. I got 30day supply for 10bucks. I think it does depend on the mg.

[Prettywords]

That's good to know. Thanks.

If I switch to generic I will ask my MD to give me 25 mgs.

I doubt I will switch to generic though, if this works with no side effects, because I will be scared it will change things for me.

[L J 1973]

I am taking 25 mgs right now, but I have 50mg pills bc my MD wants me to take 100 mgs a day... Long story.

Anyway, I am going to find out if that's the case, if so, I will have my MD write a rx for 25 mgs 4x a day.

However, I read that the brand name (aldactone) is far superior to the generic, so I am on aldactone right now. I'll see how it goes, and if I stay on it, maybe I'll switch to generic to see for myself.

Try the salt.

PS -- How long did it take for you to feel the faintness as a side effect and what dose were you on?

When I was on spiro, I'm 99% sure it was generic (I got it at a free clinic) and it really did the trick, at least until I ended up letting it get out of my system and I had to keep starting all over. It was a real miracle until then!

I'm wondering if there's some way to get around the Walmart 25 mg. dosage restriction. I'm going to talk to my nurse practitioner about it; couldn't hurt. I was on 100 mg./day and that's what I want to go back to. (My acne is "severely moderate"--my term for moderate acne that leans more toward the severe end of the spectrum.) This was the only stuff that significantly helped me; I felt so much better about myself. Without it, I never have a totally clear day. There's always something going on on my face. If I'm super lucky, it's just 1 - 3 spots. But that's rare. It's so disheartening; I've been dealing with it for about a decade and a half!

The diziness happened immediately. I can't remember exactly, but probably within the first week or so. I get that now and then anyway, but it was constant and more intense while on the spiro. I'm talking having to quickly sit back down and/or grab something so that I wouldn't fall. Honestly, it wore me down after a while. I was just hoping it would stop doing that or at least improve a lot after being on it for a long time. But, if I ever am able to take it again, I will definitely up my salt intake, if I don't forget to! Again, I love salt, so shouldn't be hard for me to do.

Thanks bunches for answering my posts, by the way!

By the way, does anyone know if Neutrogena stopped making their Red Mark Fade Mask (or whatever it was called)? I used to get it at Walmart and it helped but it hasn't been there for months. Don't know if it's not being made or if Lamemart just stopped selling it. Same happened with their little over-night patches. That's another sucky thing about acne. You'll find a product that really helps, then they stop making/selling it! Grrr!

[Shells82]

Good luck to you LJ, I know how you feel!! I just found spiro and its amazing!! I wander if you could even have your doc prescribe it at 25mg for now, so you can at least start getting it into your system on a regular basis, while you are working on trying to figure out another solution. just a thought!! and that way you could gradually increase it rather than just starting on 100mg right of the bat which may be why you felt soooo dizzy? I had several symptoms in the beginning that subside within a month of using it. So that should be encouraging but yes uptake salt and perhaps you were getting too much potassium?

I have a weird thought about why walmart may not cover anything over 25mg of spiro without insurance. Many times at higher levels individuals are monitored monthly with blood tests and if you don't have insurance then the monitoring of the drugs side effects becomes far less likely.. that being said risks and side effects increase at larger doses, so this could be a cautionary rule?
But I am on 100mg and my doc hasn't asked for one blood test!! hahah but I'm fine so I really don't care.

Again good luck to you!

[L J 1973]

Good luck to you LJ, I know how you feel!! I just found spiro and its amazing!! I wander if you could even have your doc prescribe it at 25mg for now, so you can at least start getting it into your system on a regular basis, while you are working on trying to figure out another solution. just a thought!! and that way you could gradually increase it rather than just starting on 100mg right of the bat which may be why you felt soooo dizzy? I had several symptoms in the beginning that subside within a month of using it. So that should be encouraging but yes uptake salt and perhaps you were getting too much potassium?

I have a weird thought about why walmart may not cover anything over 25mg of spiro without insurance. Many times at higher levels individuals are monitored monthly with blood tests and if you don't have insurance then the monitoring of the drugs side effects becomes far less likely.. that being said risks and side effects increase at larger doses, so this could be a cautionary rule?
But I am on 100mg and my doc hasn't asked for one blood test!! hahah but I'm fine so I really don't care.

Again good luck to you!

Thank you! I'm so happy you've had success with it! I hope it lasts a long time. I hear that all meds stop working eventually. If that's true, though, wouldn't it work to go off of it for a while, maybe a year or so, then get back on it? No? It should work that way, darn it! I'd probably try it, anyway.

Ya know what, you may be right. Maybe the 25 mg. would at least help a little. Sheesh, why not go for all the help I can get, right? Thanks for the advice.

Also, your theory about Lamemart's dosage sounds very logical. I never had to take any tests, either, when I was on it. I wonder why some do and some don't? I know if you have certain med. issues, like kidney problems (I think?) you have to be monitored. Otherwise, it's, apparently, optional. Weird.

Just in case anyonen read my initial posts and it got their hopes up then read my later ones and it dropped their hopes, please understand that my dosing got interrupted. I think if I could've kept it in my system properly, I would've continued to do well.

[Prettywords]

I have a few questions for people who have been on it for a bit. I have been on it for 2 weeks. Short, I know, but I thought at least my scalp would be drier. I am on 50 mgs./day now and have been for 5 days. The other 9 days I was only on 25 mgs/day. I am starting to think it won't work for me.


1. How long until your scalp oil went away? I have been on it 2 weeks and it's the same.

2. Did you get more blackheads initially? (I am and I am wondering if it means it won't work for me. )

3. How long did you wait before you felt it was necessary to up your dose (if you weren't seeing results)?

Thanks.

Edited by Anti - Em, 15 February 2010 - 07:15 PM.

[Shells82]

Anti-em I think it took well over a month for me to notice a significant decrease in oil product. I didn't really notice it until my script was upped to 100mg from 50mg. which I asked to be upped between weeks 3 and 4. But I don't remember the blackheads since the rest of my face was such a mess sorry! But none of these things mean it won't work for you. give yourself at least 2 months before start seeing any real results, and I mean two months at 50mg a day

[Prettywords]

You're right. I will try to be more patient.


Thanks, Shells!

[greeneyesgirl]

Alright I need some advice guys!

I've been off of Yasmin since September. Been on Spiro since August. I am taking 150mgs and have been since December. My face is not badly, badly breaking out, but all of a sudden there are tiny some normal size pink/reddish ones on both sides of my cheeks going towards my ears around my jawline. 1 ALWAYS on my forehead which I never ever used to have problems with. I was in Arizona last week and took a Greyhound across the country, barely sleeping and what I ate wasn't much, but it wasn't that good. Muffins, Coffee, and only 1 time McDonalds. I never eat like this, but on the road you haven't got much of a choice. I didn't sleep hardly at all. I did take my spiro on time (eastern time for me) even when I was on mountain time. I am wondering if I'm breaking out because of this, or if it's just the Yasmin once again destroying me. I don't know what to do anymore, I love Spiro but I can't take these breakouts either, also not to be so gross, but my bottom will not stop breaking out, and it never, ever was like that before. So, if anyone has advice or suggestions, please let me know!

Thanks!

[LadyWillow]

Hello all, so I am starting to think that birth control is causing me awful health problems ( I have been on Yaz since June)
If I go on spironolactone and either switch BCP or wean off of it, will it help control my acne?
I am very confused and hopefully someone can give me any advice. my topic is here http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Yaz-causi...ms-t261068.html

[greeneyesgirl]

Hello all, so I am starting to think that birth control is causing me awful health problems ( I have been on Yaz since June)
If I go on spironolactone and either switch BCP or wean off of it, will it help control my acne?
I am very confused and hopefully someone can give me any advice. my topic is here http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Yaz-causi...ms-t261068.html

I can defiantly relate, although I didn't take Yaz, I was on Yasmin. It gave me a bunch of health problems too. Mostly gastric type flu everyday. You can defiantly take Spiro to help w/the acne part, although it doesn't completely clear it , but it will defiantly help, at least for me it has. There is no such thing as weaning of a bcp, but you could also take another. I have no idea which though. Hope I helped a bit.

[Carbonate]

I can defiantly relate, although I didn't take Yaz, I was on Yasmin. It gave me a bunch of health problems too. Mostly gastric type flu everyday. You can defiantly take Spiro to help w/the acne part, although it doesn't completely clear it , but it will defiantly help, at least for me it has. There is no such thing as weaning of a bcp, but you could also take another. I have no idea which though. Hope I helped a bit.

I'm on spiro without birth control because every BCP I tried made me a weepy emotional mess, and alone it's worked just fine for me. Birth control is usually prescribed in conjunction with spiro because it can make your periods irregular, and not necessarily to help your skin.

As embarrassed as I am with my "before" picture, here is a "before" and "after" picture of my skin after using only spiro for about 4 months. I am not wearing any makeup in either image, so you can see the skin as it really was. My skin broke out that badly in a matter of a couple of weeks due to PCOS...it was so bad that when I got a root canal and went back two weeks later for a follow-up my dentist asked what happened to my face, because when I had gone in for the root canal I looked like I do in the "after" image from September of last year. It was incredibly painful and swollen, I couldn't smile and could hardly open my mouth to eat, and every time I looked in the mirror I just wanted to cry. Spiro was an absolute miracle for me.

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Edited by Carbonate, 20 February 2010 - 11:58 AM.

[greeneyesgirl]

I can defiantly relate, although I didn't take Yaz, I was on Yasmin. It gave me a bunch of health problems too. Mostly gastric type flu everyday. You can defiantly take Spiro to help w/the acne part, although it doesn't completely clear it , but it will defiantly help, at least for me it has. There is no such thing as weaning of a bcp, but you could also take another. I have no idea which though. Hope I helped a bit.

I'm on spiro without birth control because every BCP I tried made me a weepy emotional mess, and alone it's worked just fine for me. Birth control is usually prescribed in conjunction with spiro because it can make your periods irregular, and not necessarily to help your skin.

As embarrassed as I am with my "before" picture, here is a "before" and "after" picture of my skin after using only spiro for about 4 months. I am not wearing any makeup in either image, so you can see the skin as it really was. My skin broke out that badly in a matter of a couple of weeks due to PCOS...it was so bad that when I got a root canal and went back two weeks later for a follow-up my dentist asked what happened to my face, because when I had gone in for the root canal I looked like I do in the "after" image from September of last year. It was incredibly painful and swollen, I couldn't smile and could hardly open my mouth to eat, and every time I looked in the mirror I just wanted to cry. Spiro was an absolute miracle for me.

WOW that is amazing and to me you were just as beautiful, but I know how you feel. Mine was almost just as bad, but it was more like a beard. I'm glad Spiro worked so good for you. I guess I shouldn't be complaining compared to what I looked like a year ago. Thanks for your post.