Let me begin by saying I joined this website solely to review this medicine and to offer my humble opinion on it... I really hope this helps someone out. After turning 22, I started getting persistent cystic acne primarily on my chin, jawline, and neck. I would get 2 new pimples about everyday, and I would dread getting up in the morning and seeing what surfaced over night. After reading reviews on this product, I decided to take action and ask for a prescription. About the 1st month in, I was still breaking out... I was on 50 mg a day. I asked to be bumped up to 100 mg, and about 2 weeks after doing so, I saw results. I have been on this pill since late Feb 2011 and now get only 1 or 2 pimples a MONTH, around "that time of the month". It does take a little over 2 months to see results, & I did get impatient and fed-up with the initial breakout that lastes about 4-5 weeks. The IB I had caused small bumps in areas of my face I never got before... I still got a few cysts but they were smaller and went away more quickly. But after 2 months and after increasing my dose to 100mg, the results were nothing short of amazing. Before Spiro, I would have to wash my hair at the VERY least once a day, and I would always carry concealer in my pocket to cover up the newest zit of the day. Now, I am almost oil free on my face and scalp and I have not had any breakouts or cysts on my face, especially not on my chin and jawline. If you are female, your skin is resistant to topicals and antibiotics, and you break out especially in "cycles", please give this a try. It takes at LEAST 2 months to see effects, so please be patient. I am a very, very impatient person, but if I stuck it out, I have confidence you can too :) I am taking it with Ortho-Tri Cyclen and I got on Bactrim to help with the IB. It's best to take w/ a BCP because it can cause irregular periods. Also, drink lots of water, have patience, & think good thoughts. This stuff works! Good luck to you all. Thanks for read.
Pros:
- Much less oil production on face
- Hair and scalp aren't greasy!
- After 2 months, no breakouts (BIG +!)
- No cysts, none at all
- Helps with water retention and bloating
- Did I say no breakouts? :)
- I ran out of space on the "Cons", but just FYI, if you drink alcohol while on this med, please drink LOTS of water... otherwise you'll get a killer hangover because of its diuretic effects and potential for dehydration!
Cons:
- I had an initial breakout... it lasted about 1 and a half months
- At first, liquids would go straight through me all of the time (this is a diuretic)
- Can get dizzy if stand up too quickly
- Made me fatigued first 2 months (but is probably from dehydration and not necessarily the Spiro... be sure to drink water!)
- Though you don't get full fledged "breakouts", you might get a tiny spot once or twice a month... no big deal... just FYI