95 replies to this topic

[jaydeec]

I don't get it...you're making a derm appointment...because spiro hasn't cleared you by day 9????

 

I waited for 4 months to see any results....

 

It doesn't matter that you got lucky the first time around...for MOST people it takes months

so SO true. I've been on it for almost 6 months and I cleared maybe the 4th month ( 1st time using Spiro) but i still got random little zits. I am now breaking out again, not sure if it's related to that time of the month or what. I'm on 100 now . I started at 25 and bumped myself up to 100. I'll take 150 some days before my period. So yes u were very lucky to have cleared up after a week. 

[Someclearday]

Yeah I miss those days:/ the fact that I remember it working so well the first time keeps me going with the treatment. I have a derm appt Monday to get a refill on my prescription. I'm wondering where I should take it to make sure I get a good brand of it? I feel like when I was on the 25 or 50 mg pills they worked soo much better than these 100mg ones. Even when I was on I a few years ago and it was working so well I could tell a difference between say, a Walgreens and a CVS brand.

[Someclearday]

About a month on it already. Skin is looking awful:/ I've had spots that have lingered for weeks.

My derm appointment is tomorrow. I'm excited and nervous...

[Green Gables]

You can ask for the name brand (Aldactone) at any pharmacy.

 

As far as generics, it just seems to vary from person to person. I use Qualitest (Rite-Aid) and have no problems. I have been filling Qualitest at the same Rite-Aid since I started Spiro. However, others have complained about Qualitest. Some like Amneal. Others like Sandoz.

Edited by Green Gables, 12 February 2013 - 02:06 AM.

[Someclearday]

I took it to Publix this time (FL) and its a different manufacturer. However they do smell and look the same as the other ones I had so that's promising. I also got Kefelx antibiotics to maybe help calm everything down.

She said if this doesn't progress and I'm just not happy with the treatment then she's willing to give me accutane. I was surprised she even suggested it. Before I knew I was filling out ipledge and getting prescriptions for bloodwork. Idk what to make of all that:/

[Green Gables]

I took it to Publix this time (FL) and its a different manufacturer. However they do smell and look the same as the other ones I had so that's promising. I also got Kefelx antibiotics to maybe help calm everything down.

She said if this doesn't progress and I'm just not happy with the treatment then she's willing to give me accutane. I was surprised she even suggested it. Before I knew I was filling out ipledge and getting prescriptions for bloodwork. Idk what to make of all that:/

 

*shrug*

 

I mean, you should have expected that reaction...you know very well most of us think you're crazily panicked over this.   She probably just wants you to quit freaking out about your acne. Since people treat Accutane like it's some magic solution, she's hoping this will get you to leave her alone...

[Someclearday]

Wow..okay then

That was pretty rude. I'm here for support and to be able to vent openly and honestly about my skin, since I'm seemingly surrounded by clear skin people who don't really understand. I won't be continuing this log,

[tmueller]

Wow..okay then

That was pretty rude. I'm here for support and to be able to vent openly and honestly about my skin, since I'm seemingly surrounded by clear skin people who don't really understand. I won't be continuing this log,

 

Don't discontinue your log. Some people are just rude. Everyone who has gone through what you're going through completely understands moments of panic... especially with your upcoming wedding. The only advice I have for you is to try and stay as calm as you can because the stress will only cause you to flare more. Your dermatologist should have your best interest in mind and if she feels accutane will be a long term solution she may be right. I will say though as someone who has gone through accutane twice, it is not to be taken lightly and if you are willing/able to I would stick with the Spiro just a little bit longer.

[Someclearday]

Thank you for posting that.

It's the worst feeling when something that once worked so well stops, and I feel like I'm back where I started:/ it's 14 years now of this, 6 years with my current derm. I'm scared to take the Accutane, but I know that she offered it because she knows how frustrated I am.
I do have time to think about the Accutane. It still seems so surreal

[tracy521]

Thank you for posting that.

It's the worst feeling when something that once worked so well stops, and I feel like I'm back where I started:/ it's 14 years now of this, 6 years with my current derm. I'm scared to take the Accutane, but I know that she offered it because she knows how frustrated I am.
I do have time to think about the Accutane. It still seems so surreal

 

hey i am in the same boat as you with the spiro except that i am almost 9 weeks in. after going back for my 22nd cortisone shot in the last 2 1/2 months the derm finally offered me accutane. i am all ready to start on march 8th. they are going to keep me on spiro too and i will continue the spiro after the accutane to avoid a relapse. i spent my entire life trying to avoid accutane and then last year i asked for it and they wouldnt give it to me so now its time for me to do it. i had the script years ago and decided not to take it but now i wish i would have. i might not be in the situation i am right now. ugh. keep me updated on what you decide to do.

[Someclearday]

I will! Yeah it was so crazy because I didn't even think it was an option, although I've been wanting to ask for it for a long time. Before I knew it I was peeing in a cup and signing forms. I can't say I wasn't happy lol I hope this is finally it.
I have to do all my ipledge stuff and my insurance actually just got approved so that was good timing.

[tracy521]

I will! Yeah it was so crazy because I didn't even think it was an option, although I've been wanting to ask for it for a long time. Before I knew it I was peeing in a cup and signing forms. I can't say I wasn't happy lol I hope this is finally it.
I have to do all my ipledge stuff and my insurance actually just got approved so that was good timing.

 

i know what you mean i didnt think so either. i am happy to finally be able to have it offered to me again but sad that my acne has progressed to that point. i hear ya there i had to watch a video, sign the paperwork, listen to all the side effects, pee in the cup and then get my bloodwork done so now its just the waiting game. i go back march 8th to take another pregnancy test and then i should be good to go. i am so nervous about and i keep praying that the spiro kicks in before now and then. when do you start?

Edited by tracy521, 14 February 2013 - 10:38 AM.

[Someclearday]

The funny thing is I really hope the Spiro and antibiotics kick in to make me look halfway decent on my wedding but not TOO much to deter me from Acuutane lol because I know all this will come back as it always does.

Sounds like we're in the same boat, actually. March 14th is the last day of my "30 day" waiting period. I just got my Ipledge password and stuff in the mail so I suppose I'll do that. I'll probably start mid-end of March. How old are you and what type of acne do you have? Mine isn't awful but it's very persistent and I'm 26 now and have tried everything :/

I'm scared to start it:/ we'll have to keep in touch throughout the process!

[tracy521]

i hope you look good on your wedding day too! are you going tanning right now? when is your wedding again? i am 35 and pretty much only get cystic acne on my chin and jawline area and sometimes on the outer parts of my face. i am on keflex right now and its working really well. took about a week to kick in so i have asked the pa i see to give me more of it. if this works well enough i might try to take it for another 2-4 weeks and then re-evaluate with accutane because maybe by then the spiro will have kicked in. you know i am scared as well but i have known 6 people that have taken it (one of them took 2 courses) and they are all fine today. my hubby even took it when he was about 17 and has great skin to this day so i think we will be ok if we go that route. i am keeping my fingers crossed for you that everything works out ok and that your skin looks good for your wedding. keep me updated!

[Someclearday]

Ahh I'm on Keflex too! Do we have the same PA? Lol She gave me 14 days with refills so i may take it up until my wedding day. I haven't had time to go tanning actually, and I'm not sure if I will because I don't want to aggravate anything.
My wedding is March 3rd, so weekend after this. Some of these active spots have started to dry up so hopefully by the time this weekend (bachelorette party) rolls around it'll look okay. Some of these spots have been around for almost a month! I'm trying not to pick anything or look in the mirror.
I've gotten mixed reactions on the Accutane. Some people are like omg noo but the people that HAVE taken it say they had no big deals with it. I'm still going to do it because I don't want to be on Spiro forever and I've kind of always wanted to try it, especially now since I have insurance.

[tracy521]

wow that's crazy we are both on keflex! i would keep taking the keflex at least until after your wedding to be safe. wow that is coming up quick! march 3rd will be here before you know it. i have a had spots for a long time too and the only thing that works for me is getting cortisone shots. i hate getting them though! yeah i go back and fourth on the accutane. i dont want to be on spiro forever either but my pa and the derm agrees that with hormonal acne that accutane wont cure it so that unless i stay on some sort of hormonal treatment as well it will come back. so if i do the accutane i will be on spiro the entire time while on it and then stay on it after i am done to avoid a relapse. it all makes sense to me now though. i have my fingers crossed your skin will be nice for your bachelorette party and your wedding!

Edited by tracy521, 19 February 2013 - 12:18 PM.

[tmueller]

wow that's crazy we are both on keflex! i would keep taking the keflex at least until after your wedding to be safe. wow that is coming up quick! march 3rd will be here before you know it. i have a had spots for a long time too and the only thing that works for me is getting cortisone shots. i hate getting them though! yeah i go back and fourth on the accutane. i dont want to be on spiro forever either but my pa and the derm agrees that with hormonal acne that accutane wont cure it so that unless i stay on some sort of hormonal treatment as well it will come back. so if i do the accutane i will be on spiro the entire time while on it and then stay on it after i am done to avoid a relapse. it all makes sense to me now though. i have my fingers crossed your skin will be nice for your bachelorette party and your wedding!

 

To both of you, if your derms say your acne is hormonal and that accutane won't cure it I wouldn't put yourself through it. Take it from me, I unfortunately had a derm that was older and not up to date on spiro as an option and I went on accutane twice! The first time it cleared me for maybe 3 months max and the second time I had pimples the entire 9 months I was on it (that's right 9 months of hell)! I was moody, dry and my cysts were awful. Now this new derm has said spiro should do the trick and that I should never have done accutane. I'm only 6 weeks into spiro, but I know that accutane is not the answer... if you feel it is, then go with your gut, but I just wanted you to know that I wasted time, money, and lots of tears for nothing.

[Someclearday]

You know I was thinking that too. If its hormonal then really what's to stop it from re-occurring. I do have a vast array of different types of spots though and my derm said the "nature of my lesions" should respond really well to Accutane. Can you stay on Spiro during?? I would def consider taking it after...hrmmm...

Also I've managed to wake up with a cold sore today, which is a pretty good sign I need to de-stress.

[tracy521]

yeah i have been on the fence about accutane for a while now but my derm offered it to me because i was getting so many cysts and i was getting scarring too. she said something about me having resistant recalcitrant acne and that the accutane will work really well for me. she said it would be best to stay on spiro the entire time and afterwards to address the hormonal part and to avoid a relapse. for people who aren't on spiro but take birth control pills during accutane they are essentially doing the same thing.i can totally see acne coming back if you arent on spiro or the pill or something like that. 

for now i am staying on the keflex for 2 more weeks and then will re-assess the situation then. if i can stay clear in that time then i will probably hold off on the accutane but if i start getting cysts again then i will start the accutane. i have 3 weeks or so to figure this out. 

Edited by tracy521, 19 February 2013 - 01:24 PM.

[Someclearday]

So crazy how similar our situations are! Are you on a bcp also?