Home
Spironolactone Reviews
Total results: 883 Viewing page: 14 of 89
KK from Hollywood
February 17, 2011
| Pros | Works fast Easy to swallow Cheap |
|---|---|
| Cons | Heard it causes tumors in lab rats The "Possible" side effects Doctors visit |
| Bottom line | I am using this medication with Retin A .025 gel. My doctor gave me a low dosage of 20 mg vs 50 to 100mg. He told me since I was a petite woman that I didn't need more than that. At first I was concerned that the dosage was too low, but it actually worked for me. I don't know if it's the combination of the two products or if it's actually this product alone that cleared me up. I have NO SIDE EFFECTS! :) I saw results in 3 days!!! |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $7.00 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
leelooschicken from Monroe, LA
February 17, 2011
| Pros | Cheap, Effective, Awesome! |
|---|---|
| Cons | It is a diuretic, so you will need to drink more water. This also means you may get headaches, and there are other side effects. May be hard to get a doctor to prescribe it to you. |
| Bottom line | This should only be prescribed by a doctor. You have to take it every day and wait a few weeks for results but they do come. For me, it was spironolactone with Loestrin birth control that did the trick, since my acne is primarily horomone-related (I break out about once a month for a week or so... hmmmm). This pill is prescribed for blood pressure and hirsutism (overly-hairyness in women!) so you may get some odd looks from doctors and pharms who don't know that it also treats acne. The doctor who prescribed it to me several years ago said this: it somehow counteracts the spike in testosterone which causes women to break out along their cheek and jawline before their menstrual cycle, that it effects potassium levels so you really don't need to take extra postassium when you're on it, that it is ESSENTIAL to drink more water when you take it and finally it does not need to be taken forever - after a few months you wont' need to take it anymore, at least for a while (I took it for a few months and was clear and didn't get it prescribed again for 2 years). You shouldn't drink on it and it may worsen acne very briefly when you first take it. That's pretty much everything you need to know! |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $10.00 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
Belinda from Denver, CO
February 12, 2011
| Pros | Completely clears acne Reduces oil CHEAP |
|---|---|
| Cons | Hardly any...dehydrates me quite a bit |
| Bottom line | DO IT. I am now 4 months in and my skin is 100% clear. I recommend to anyone, especially for women over the age of 20, when acne is caused solely by hormones. This stuff is cheap and it is pretty much a miracle cure. I love it! Don't put it off and ask for it from your doc and stop wasting tons of $ on soaps and creams that don't work (like I did) |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $10.00 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
Jane from Texas
February 9, 2011
| Pros | Too early to tell |
|---|---|
| Cons | I was having stomach pain when I was taking two at a time each day (50 mg) however I started taking one pill in the morning and one at night and I havent had the stomach pain since. |
| Bottom line | My doctor suggested this medication because I have very oily skin and cystic acne. I have been on it for about 3 weeks but I havent noticed any changes yet. My skin is still oily and I still have some cysts. Does anyone recall how long it took for this medication to work? |
| Acne severity | moderate |
nneal2 from Baton Rouge, LA
January 28, 2011
| Pros | Clears hormonal acne BEAUTIFUL SKIN Makes body hair finer Easy to take Works well with birth control You begin to drink a lot of water |
|---|---|
| Cons | Side effects: excessive peeing, lightheaded/dizzyness, HEADACHES, tiredness/low energy Worry about the black box warning Worry about potassium levels increasing You need to drink a lot of water |
| Bottom line | I have had acne since hitting puberty and last year (at age 22) I realized it was only getting worse. I don't get many pimples at one time, but the ones I got were ALWAYS deep and sore, but not to the point of being cysts. I take extremely good care of my skin but no matter what I would have 3-5 or more breakouts per week, especially if my stress levels were high. The pimples would stay "active" for about a week at which point the only way to make them go away or stop hurting was to release the plugged nastiness. After, they would dry out and scab over but the scabs and marks would last for weeks or even months no matter what treatment I used. Even when I was having a "clear" day my skin looked broke out because of the marks. When I began dating my current boyfriend I became even more conscious of my acne and decided I had to try something. I experimented with several different birth controls but none made a difference. Finally I went to a new dermatologist with pretty low hopes (I hadn't had good experiences in the past). I researched different medications on the net and went to her with a list of things I wanted to try. She listened carefully and agreed with the medications I asked for, one being Spiro (started at 50mg/day) and the other a mild retin-a topical (Ziana). The first few weeks the side effects were AWFUL (listed above) but my body adjusted and they completely subsided after a couple months. I'd say at about 3 months my skin was 90% clear. The Ziana was fading what marks I had left and my skin was looking amazing for the first time in my life! I went in for a checkup and the doc said since I'd adjusted so well she would bump me up to 100mg/day. That was about 7 months ago. My skin has been 100% CLEAR since I got bumped up...it's AMAZING!!!! I feel so confident and pretty now :) This drug will not be a miracle for everyone and it does have its downsides, but if you can keep faith and find the right doctor, you may have the miraculous results th |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $7.00 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
Elaia from Seattle, WA
January 26, 2011
| Pros | Effective |
|---|---|
| Cons | Could raise potassium levels |
| Bottom line | My skin is clearing up! Nothing else worked. I have not really noticed any side effects because I get thirsty a lot and pee a lot anyway. I have not gone in for blood tests to see if it has affected my potassium levels. Hopefully everything will be normal so I can keep taking this amazing medicine! My skin feels smoother than it has in years! Not only did it begin to heal but a lot of the inflammation went down pretty quickly. Yay! |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $15.00 |
| Acne severity | moderately severe |
OOS from Canada
January 26, 2011
| Pros | Inexpensive |
|---|---|
| Cons | Taste of mint Takes time to see results Flared up in the first week after using it |
| Bottom line | I have been on this for 4 months now, this drug works really well with birth control. I was on this by itself and still got an occassional zit. I went on birth control a month ago, and this drug is most effective with it. Its like a double sided coin. If I had known this I would have been on birth control from the very start. I dont get any zits at all. Im on 100mg a day. Right now am receiving consultation on laser therapy to soften my acne scars. I must tell you to try this with birth control and give it at least 3 months to see results. I didnt see results right away like other people, but it does take time |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $5.40 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
Andi B from Houston
January 20, 2011
| Pros | Skin/hair less oily Clear skin (after prolonged use) Inexpensive |
|---|---|
| Cons | Food Intolerance Dry skin Weight loss Thirst/FREQUENT urination Initial breakout HORRIBLE! Took over a year to see results |
| Bottom line | I've waited 18 months to write my review because I know this medication takes time to work. The initial breakout was the worst I'd ever experienced (see gallery pics). Though after about six months, the cysts subsided and my skin remains cyst free. I do struggle with hives on my face due to the food intolerances caused by Spiro - though I'm keeping a food journal to better target/avoid my triggers (wheat, soy, tomatoes seem to be biggest triggers). Skin is oil free, though becoming drier and drier - nothing a good moisturizer can't remedy. Overall, yes, women, try this medication, but go into it for the long haul. The benefits come after a good 9 months. |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $4.00 |
| Acne severity | moderately severe |
Anonymous from Ohio
January 18, 2011
| Pros | Unable to use it long enough to get any benefits! |
|---|---|
| Cons | Heart palpitations within the first several days of use. Had to immediately discontinue. I also had severely high blood pressure which I've never had. |
| Bottom line | There are side effects but not as common. Really bummed because my doctor said it would take away all my bumps! Now I'm stuck with acne for who knows how long. 30's suck! |
| Recommended | No |
| Acne severity | moderate |
desigirl from Chicago
January 16, 2011
| Pros | My face is *MUCH* less oily Hair on arms and legs grows slower and finer after shaving (not being prickly is SO cool) Induced a period after the 2 day (I hadn't had a proper period in almost 2 months) Boobs feel soft and mushy (they usually do while I have my period) |
|---|---|
| Cons | Dehydration - In my case, I didn't feel as thirsty as I felt moody and had mild headaches. Drink about 6 cups of water a day. Good idea to keep a glass of water on your nightstand. You wake up super thirsty |
| Bottom line | Am on day 9 of Spiro, and it definitely reduces oil production and shine. I've noticed a reduction in the number and size of cysts. However, I have one really persistent cyst on my left cheek. Although the number of cysts seem to have gone down, they're taking far longer to subside. They don't seem like the horrific pus-filled cysts that would rupture and bleed everytime I'd wash my face. Try not to drink while on spiro, ladies. Alcohol worsens the dehydration caused by the pill. So, abstain from it or don't go beyond a glass, or you'll wake up in the morning feeling like crap. Fingers crossed. It's been under two weeks, and I'm going to be patient with this drug. I'm hoping it works. I'm getting married soon, and don't want these awful bumps ruining my big day. |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $10.00 |
| Acne severity | moderately severe |
Total results: 883 Viewing page: 14 of 89
