95 replies to this topic

[CherrySoda08]

Hello all,

Last June, I began this thread (http://www.acne.org/...15#entry3257915) here on Acne.org, and have gotten some wonderful words of advice and encouragement in my journey of reducing the appearance of my acne scarring. Well, now it seems as if I have to take a small step backwards and undergo treatment of spironolactone in order to finally rid myself completely of cystic acne. I still get cystic lesions once a month, and went to my cosmetic dermatologist today for a cortizone shot for a cyst in my cheek. It was the first cyst I've had in either of my cheeks in 1 year and 5 months. I'd still been getting them in my chin area throughout that time period.

I decided that enough is enough. I need to do everything in my power to rid my face of cysts for good. I've done nearly all that I possibly can to help my body's endocrine and integumentary systems without the aid of a medication (quitting smoking---I was a two cigarette a day smoker, anyway, so it wasn't too difficult---, taking water kefir daily, adopting a Paleo-ish diet in which I still sometimes eat rice, a daily vitamin regimen) and yet I still get these gorgeous honkin' cysts. My sleep schedule and exercise routine most certainly need work, and I am slowly taking steps to improve  them. However, I believe that with the craziness of this semester (I'm a medical assisting student), it's probably just the best thing for me to also take the spiro to win the battle against cystic acne.

So, here goes;

Day One- I began taking my prescription of spironolactone today after dinner. My cosmetic derm warned me of the potential side effects that can take place during pregnancy, so I already am aware of them. I'm on a 25 mg dosage, and I have to take some forms given to me in the dermatologist's office for bloodwork at my general practitioner's in two week's time.

I'll try to update this thread maybe once a week, and I'd absolutely love it if those with experience and advice would offer some input. Until a few weeks ago, I knew barely anything about spironolactone, and I am very eager to learn.

Thanks in advance to those who take the time to read my post. I really appreciate it, and can't wait to read some pointers from those with more knowledge of this medication than I have.

Edited by CherrySoda08, 24 October 2012 - 04:00 PM.

[michi31]

Hey there. I've seen you over on the scar treatment boards. I am also seeking to treat scars but need to eradicate the random breakouts I still get. I also started Spiro yesterday! 50m 2x a day. I have to say, I definitely felt weak and fatigued...kind of weird and my stomach hurt...slightly nauseaous. I am going to go down to 50mg 1x a day and hopefully that will still help without the s/e. So you are on 25 a day? Did they talk about bumping you up soon? From what I've read, it's best to be on the lowest possible effective dose so i do think it's a good idea to start low. I'm totally terrified of the IB that everyone talks about by the way...my derm said no one has complained to him about that, and they put people on spiro all the time..

I should add I'm a small person with low blood pressure to begin with so maybe this is why I'm having these s/e.

Edited by michi31, 24 October 2012 - 11:41 AM.

[CherrySoda08]

Hey there. I've seen you over on the scar treatment boards. I am also seeking to treat scars but need to eradicate the random breakouts I still get. I also started Spiro yesterday! 50m 2x a day. I have to say, I definitely felt weak and fatigued...kind of weird and my stomach hurt...slightly nauseaous. I am going to go down to 50mg 1x a day and hopefully that will still help without the s/e. So you are on 25 a day? Did they talk about bumping you up soon? From what I've read, it's best to be on the lowest possible effective dose so i do think it's a good idea to start low. I'm totally terrified of the IB that everyone talks about by the way...my derm said no one has complained to him about that, and they put people on spiro all the time..

I should add I'm a small person with low blood pressure to begin with so maybe this is why I'm having these s/e.

Hey there,

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave me a message,

My cosmetic derm has talked about bumping up the mgs. if we don't see results. However, because my breakouts are limited to only about 2 lesions at a time, she decided to keep the dosage at 25 mg for now.

Sorry to sound silly, but what does "IB" stand for? The side effects that I have read about have been only about those that deal with the kidneys, and pregnancy. I'm also on quite a lot of vitamins and supplements, so perhaps that's why I'm experiencing no fatigue. And maybe because my dosage is lower than yours, as well. Everyone is different.

Glad you decided to participate in this thread. Maybe we can sort of talk each other through this for awhile. I'm determined to stick with it for at least three months, as suggested by my derm.

[michi31]

Mine are only about 2 lesions at a time also, so maybe a lower dose would be effective for me too! I really hope so, because it felt kind of scary last night while trying to sleep - with my earplugs in I could hear my heartbeat and felt kind of tingly...not good.

IB stands for initial breakout. Seems tons of people get really broken out for awhile on sprio, but then clear up. It makes no sense to me because I don't know why an androgen blocker would do this. I'm not sure why lowering your bodies sensitivity to the hormone that makes you break out would make you break out...

[CherrySoda08]

Mine are only about 2 lesions at a time also, so maybe a lower dose would be effective for me too! I really hope so, because it felt kind of scary last night while trying to sleep - with my earplugs in I could hear my heartbeat and felt kind of tingly...not good.

IB stands for initial breakout. Seems tons of people get really broken out for awhile on sprio, but then clear up. It makes no sense to me because I don't know why an androgen blocker would do this. I'm not sure why lowering your bodies sensitivity to the hormone that makes you break out would make you break out...

I have no idea why an androgen blocker would do such a thing, either. My derm didn't tell me about the possibility of an IB, though. I didn't really see anything about spiro causing them in the little bit of research I've done.

Do you happen to have a link that you could paste on here that discusses spiro causing breakouts?

[michi31]

There's nothing in any research I've seen that confirms this, but only peoples' experiences. There are tons on this site if you do a search...here are just a couple. Honestly if this happens to me I may quit because I can't handle additional scarring.

http://www.acne.org/...itial-breakout/

http://www.acne.org/...out-with-spiro/

[CherrySoda08]

There's nothing in any research I've seen that confirms this, but only peoples' experiences. There are tons on this site if you do a search...here are just a couple. Honestly if this happens to me I may quit because I can't handle additional scarring.

http://www.acne.org/...itial-breakout/

http://www.acne.org/...out-with-spiro/

Thanks so much for pasting the links on here. I'll have to take a look at them when I get a chance. I have noticed a few pimples beginning to form around my nose, mouth and chin today, but they are not the type that typically scar. Perhaps this is my initial breakout.

[KSG1996]

Hi

I'm curious, can men take Spiro? If not, what hormonal treatment is there for men? I'm just wondering. Future dermatologist
Thanks, hope everything gets better for you. Have tons of faith

[CherrySoda08]

Hi

I'm curious, can men take Spiro? If not, what hormonal treatment is there for men? I'm just wondering. Future dermatologist
Thanks, hope everything gets better for you. Have tons of faith

Pretty sure men can't take it. I have never heard of a male taking spiro before, but anything's possible I guess!

Thanks for your well-wishes. They are much-appreciated.

[CherrySoda08]

Week One- At week one, and one day of taking spiro. I seem to have an initial breakout around the chin, mouth and one lesion underneath the "head" of my right eyebrow that's really uncomfortable. Not much else to report other than the breakout, which I wouldn't have been able to anticipate if not for having heard about it from michi31 first.

Can't wait for these guys to go away.

[michi31]

Sorry you're dealing with this, hopefully it will pass soon and you'll have good results. I quit taking Spiro after a week. I started it to deal with lingering pimples and developed a huge under the skin cyst that I'm nursing with ice and IB profin. I've actually never really had one like this before and am praying it doesn't scar. I posted separately about it, but it seems Spiro can have the opposite effect on androgen receptors in some instances. I'm afraid that may be the case for me and I can't risk the additional scarring, so I quit. Major bummer. Hope it works great for you as it does for so many people!

[CherrySoda08]

Sorry you're dealing with this, hopefully it will pass soon and you'll have good results. I quit taking Spiro after a week. I started it to deal with lingering pimples and developed a huge under the skin cyst that I'm nursing with ice and IB profin. I've actually never really had one like this before and am praying it doesn't scar. I posted separately about it, but it seems Spiro can have the opposite effect on androgen receptors in some instances. I'm afraid that may be the case for me and I can't risk the additional scarring, so I quit. Major bummer. Hope it works great for you as it does for so many people!

So sorry to hear that. It sounds like perhaps you did do the right thing, especially because you say that you have never had a cyst like this before and spiro created it. Not good. Best of luck in finding the right treatment. Sometimes it just takes lots of time to find the right one.

[CherrySoda08]

Week Two- Although Monday, November 5th was the date in which I was supposed to have a full metabolic panel done for my blood work, the health clinic I visited told me that my derm's office didn't have my doctor's orders filled out correctly when I came on that date (lovely). Long story short, I ended up returning on Friday, November 9th to have my blood work done then.

The blood was taken via syringe, and enough was collected to fill a small vial. Not sure exactly how much, but my guess would be slightly more than .2 oz. Apparently, the blood work will be completed in a few business days, and by then I'll know if I will be able to continue taking the spironolactone. Since some patients' kidneys are negatively affected by the medicine, they end up having to be taken off of it. Hope that isn't the case with me.

Has this ever happened to anyone who's taken spiro before?

Also, my initial breakout is all but gone. Still have a few lesions healing on my scalp. I find it so strange that my head broke out, and had not experienced anything like it in years. Anyone familiar with a scalp breakout caused by spiro?

Thanks so much for reading my thread. Any feedback would be very appreciated.

Edited by CherrySoda08, 11 November 2012 - 03:24 AM.

[TishGirl]

HI there....

I just started taking Spiro... today is my 3rd day. I had some anxiety last night around 4 a.m. after my bathroom visit. (much more urination now).
I am also worried about the "kidney" issues this medicine can cause. I go back in 2 weeks for tests, hoping for good things.
I do have 2 more bad breakouts on the left side of my face...it is possible that they were on they're way to come out when i started taking Spiro- not sure.
I am with the rest...I'm willing to try most things at this stage of the game, looking for any kind of help!
I have a lot of scarring from past cysts so I'm hoping for clearer skin so I can do scar therapy.

[CherrySoda08]

HI there....

I just started taking Spiro... today is my 3rd day. I had some anxiety last night around 4 a.m. after my bathroom visit. (much more urination now).
I am also worried about the "kidney" issues this medicine can cause. I go back in 2 weeks for tests, hoping for good things.
I do have 2 more bad breakouts on the left side of my face...it is possible that they were on they're way to come out when i started taking Spiro- not sure.
I am with the rest...I'm willing to try most things at this stage of the game, looking for any kind of help!
I have a lot of scarring from past cysts so I'm hoping for clearer skin so I can do scar therapy.

How long has your breakout lasted? And if you don't mind my asking, where exactly on the left side of your face is the breakout?

Best of luck to you with your using spiro. Perhaps this thread can serve as a way for you to keep track of your experiences with the medication, and also as a format for you to compare notes with me.

Edited by CherrySoda08, 12 November 2012 - 09:16 PM.

[TishGirl]

Hi there....

This specific breakout has lasted since the first week in august....they are on the right side, 3 on upper cheekbone, 2 in the middle of my cheek.
On the left side of my face there is another cyst in middle but closer to my nose. Also one near the corner of my lips.

I really cannot get over how long these have been there....It's like they just keep multiplying!! I was thinking maybe a crazy thought but..... we had over 300 people at my wedding in July and a lot of people were wishing us luck saying goodbye and kissing me on the right side of my face. Could that have anything to do with it???

Just searching for some answers.



I have

Edited by TishGirl, 12 November 2012 - 10:47 PM.

[CherrySoda08]

Hi there....

This specific breakout has lasted since the first week in august....they are on the right side, 3 on upper cheekbone, 2 in the middle of my cheek.
On the left side of my face there is another cyst in middle but closer to my nose. Also one near the corner of my lips.

I really cannot get over how long these have been there....It's like they just keep multiplying!! I was thinking maybe a crazy thought but..... we had over 300 people at my wedding in July and a lot of people were wishing us luck saying goodbye and kissing me on the right side of my face. Could that have anything to do with it???

Just searching for some answers.



I have

I would be really surprised if your face is still broken out from people kissing you all the way back in July. Of course anything's possible, but I seriously doubt it. It sounds like your breakout is hormonal. The fact that the lesions are in your cheeks is what prompts me to believe this is the case.

If it's only your 1st week to be on spiro, I strongly encourage you to remain on it, unless of course in approximately two weeks' time there is no effect on your acne. It took two weeks for my initial breakout to mostly die down, and I still have some blemishes inside my hairline that are healing.

Best of luck to you! Please continue to update your progress.

Edited by CherrySoda08, 13 November 2012 - 12:40 AM.

[CherrySoda08]

Week Three- Though I gave my week two update nearly a full week late, I thought I'd go ahead and reveal that my dermatologist gave me the results of my bloodwork yesterday, and everything is looking great so far. Potassium levels are normal, and it seems that my kidneys will not be affected by spiro. Woo-hoo!

Strangely enough, my calcium levels were a little high. My derm advised me to back off on the calcium supplements, since my diet probably already has enough calcium in it. What can I say? This girl loves her almond milk.

Looks like I'll be able to proceed with taking the spironolactone. I'll try to give an update in about a week or so, which will be about the time of the month in which I usually experience a cystic lesion in my chin or cheeks (like last time).

Edited by CherrySoda08, 14 November 2012 - 04:04 PM.

[TishGirl]

Hi CherrySoda,

I'm glad so to hear that you are good to go with Spiro!!!

Im hoping for the same results in about a week and a half. As for now I am still breaking out with more cysts and pimples. I really hope this medicine works for me as I am getting very depressed over this. I don't want to be at work with my skin looking the way it does....in meetings....it seems like the makeup is just not doing the trick anymore.
My husband doesn't know what to say anymore...so he's just not talking about it, I know he is at a loss for words and doesn't want me to feel bad.

In the spring my skin was doing good, not many breakouts at all....very minor. So I decided to do some scar treatments before my wedding in July.....
I did the eMatrix ( 3 treatments and that was it and 1 microdermabrasion )....very costly where I live.
The Yag treatment was next, a little more abrasive, I scarred from that for a day or so (my skin heals very quickly)...it looked good for maybe a week or two then returned back to the scarring I had when I went for the initial treatments. It was more costly than the eMatrix so I gave up.

Away for my wedding and honeymoon my skin was good (my skin is usually looks awesome in the summer months) no breakouts, just the scarring.
It was right after our 2 week vacation that my skin freaked out..... it has never been this bad- EVER. So since the end of July 1st week in August my skin has gone bad. I decided that there was something else I have to try besides antibiotics, after so many years of taking different types....has left me with stomach trouble. So it took my doctor a while to get it together with my specialists to make sure this medicine would be ok for me to take.

I was thrilled when I was told we can try this new medicine....so here I am today patiently waiting for some kind of improvement.

[CherrySoda08]

Hi CherrySoda,

I'm glad so to hear that you are good to go with Spiro!!!

Im hoping for the same results in about a week and a half. As for now I am still breaking out with more cysts and pimples. I really hope this medicine works for me as I am getting very depressed over this. I don't want to be at work with my skin looking the way it does....in meetings....it seems like the makeup is just not doing the trick anymore.
My husband doesn't know what to say anymore...so he's just not talking about it, I know he is at a loss for words and doesn't want me to feel bad.

In the spring my skin was doing good, not many breakouts at all....very minor. So I decided to do some scar treatments before my wedding in July.....
I did the eMatrix ( 3 treatments and that was it and 1 microdermabrasion )....very costly where I live.
The Yag treatment was next, a little more abrasive, I scarred from that for a day or so (my skin heals very quickly)...it looked good for maybe a week or two then returned back to the scarring I had when I went for the initial treatments. It was more costly than the eMatrix so I gave up.

Away for my wedding and honeymoon my skin was good (my skin is usually looks awesome in the summer months) no breakouts, just the scarring.
It was right after our 2 week vacation that my skin freaked out..... it has never been this bad- EVER. So since the end of July 1st week in August my skin has gone bad. I decided that there was something else I have to try besides antibiotics, after so many years of taking different types....has left me with stomach trouble. So it took my doctor a while to get it together with my specialists to make sure this medicine would be ok for me to take.

I was thrilled when I was told we can try this new medicine....so here I am today patiently waiting for some kind of improvement.

Oh wow, that's quite a journey. I'm with you, and agree that the best thing is to get your skin as clear as you possibly can before putting your heart and soul (and wallet!) into treatment for acne scarring.

Have you asked your derm why your skin has been breaking out so much since this summer? And if so, has he/she given you any answers?

Wishing you nothing but the best for your treatment with spiro. Please continue to keep in touch with me on this thread.