From all the research I've done on Spiro, I've never come across anything that suggests we're able to build a resistance to it. I would say the acne is from another factor. Has anything in your regimen/life/diet/hormones changed recently?

I've taken Spiro for more than 2 years, it has made a HUGE difference in my skin for the better, but I can still breakout and have bad skin days....just not nearly as often. There's just so many variables out there that can lead to acne, at least for me it seems.

Did you recently get a prescription refill? I took spiro years ago, and it was completely effective in stopping my adult acne. I found, however, that some of the generic brands just didn't seem to work on me. I always requested a specific brand (generic) when I renewed, although the pharmacy had to special order. Medicine batches vary, also. Maybe you received a bad batch of your usual brand.

Thanks for the suggestions. No changes in diet, I pretty much avoid anything that could potentially worsen acne - coffee, dairy, meat, etc. And no major changes in any other areas of my life that I can think of. I started breaking out at the beginning of January and have continued to since then so I have had a refill in that time. I'm about to pick up a new prescription today though, so if it is the medicine batch, hopefully that will help.

Thanks for the suggestions. No changes in diet, I pretty much avoid anything that could potentially worsen acne - coffee, dairy, meat, etc. And no major changes in any other areas of my life that I can think of. I started breaking out at the beginning of January and have continued to since then so I have had a refill in that time. I'm about to pick up a new prescription today though, so if it is the medicine batch, hopefully that will help.

 

what is your dose im curious?

does anyone know how long people have reported being on spiro for?

I was taking 100 mg/day for the first year but I was getting headaches frequently, had very low energy, some depression, etc. I decreased to 50mg after that, and I've been on that dose for the last two years with no problems. I'm pretty small (110, 5'8) and that seemed to enough even though it is a relatively low dose. I've been on 75mg for the last three days. I tried to go off my antibiotics (Bactrim) but immediately started breaking out again so I'm back on them for now.

Not sure how long people use this medication. I have read reviews from people who have been on it for up to 10 years. There is also a study that monitored women taking spironolactone for an 8 year period and concluded that it was safe for long-term use ( http://www.docguide.com/long-term-safety-spironolactone-acne-results-8-year-followup-study ).

I have been on spiro for 2 1/2 years (50 mg/day) and I had the same problem... It seemed to stop working all of the sudden. My derm bumped my dose to 100 mg/day about 3 weeks ago. After a pretty bad IB, I'm almost all clear. Unfortunately I have some dark spots from when I started breaking out again.

Spiro is the only thing that has worked long term for me so I'm really hoping 100 mg does the trick.

I have been on spiro for 2 1/2 years (50 mg/day) and I had the same problem... It seemed to stop working all of the sudden. My derm bumped my dose to 100 mg/day about 3 weeks ago. After a pretty bad IB, I'm almost all clear. Unfortunately I have some dark spots from when I started breaking out again.

Spiro is the only thing that has worked long term for me so I'm really hoping 100 mg does the trick.

 

i wonder if those woman who stayed on it for 8 years had it working that long. im really curious why it seems to be a 3 year mark it stops working. has 100mg helped? thats so annoying mainly because one finally finds something that works and then it just stops. i wonder if that means all antiandrogens stop working? hm

I have been on spiro for 2 1/2 years (50 mg/day) and I had the same problem... It seemed to stop working all of the sudden. My derm bumped my dose to 100 mg/day about 3 weeks ago. After a pretty bad IB, I'm almost all clear. Unfortunately I have some dark spots from when I started breaking out again.

Spiro is the only thing that has worked long term for me so I'm really hoping 100 mg does the trick.

 

That's encouraging, glad it is working for you again at the higher dosage.

I was taking 100 mg/day for the first year but I was getting headaches frequently, had very low energy, some depression, etc. I decreased to 50mg after that, and I've been on that dose for the last two years with no problems. I'm pretty small (110, 5'8) and that seemed to enough even though it is a relatively low dose. I've been on 75mg for the last three days. I tried to go off my antibiotics (Bactrim) but immediately started breaking out again so I'm back on them for now.

Not sure how long people use this medication. I have read reviews from people who have been on it for up to 10 years. There is also a study that monitored women taking spironolactone for an 8 year period and concluded that it was safe for long-term use ( http://www.docguide....-followup-study ).

 

I've been taking Spiro for 7 months and I'm satisfied with the results so far. And yes, sometimes your skin might freak out when your take the generic form of the particular medication .It happenned to me too. However you should be careful with hormonal drugs ( even if they it's safe for long term use) and pay more attention to your diet and lifestyle. Also don't forget about stress levels. You said u avoid dairy and meat, but you never know what causes your skin to break out ( it might be some specific food allergy or gluten intolerance). U'll never know untill u get allergy test done. Makeup also can clog your pores.

I feel for you. I'm having the same problem myself, but I've had cystic acne for 11 years now and would like to avoid going back on Accutane.

I've been on aldactone for a year to a year and a half with moderate results, at best. I still got whiteheads, and around that time of the month, I get cysts. I wax my upperlip area and brows, but I use BP at night and make a point to wash up after exposing my face to it.

It's INCREDIBLY frustrating.

Are you male or female? Go back to your derm. I'm planning on trying birth control with the pills, but I realize if you're male that might not work for you.

I'm definitely not as happy with this as I was on Accutane, I'll say that.

I feel for you. I'm having the same problem myself, but I've had cystic acne for 11 years now and would like to avoid going back on Accutane.

I've been on aldactone for a year to a year and a half with moderate results, at best. I still got whiteheads, and around that time of the month, I get cysts. I wax my upperlip area and brows, but I use BP at night and make a point to wash up after exposing my face to it.

It's INCREDIBLY frustrating.

Are you male or female? Go back to your derm. I'm planning on trying birth control with the pills, but I realize if you're male that might not work for you.

I'm definitely not as happy with this as I was on Accutane, I'll say that.

 

Sorry to hear that I guess you've probably tried increasing your dose, right? I was on birth control for 7 years but I hated the way it made me feel so I wouldn't go back on it again, regardless of how great it made my skin look. I increased my dosage to 75 mg and I am on antibiotics, and STILL having breakouts, but I'm trying not to get discouraged - maybe the new dosage will just take some time to kick in. It is extremely frustrated though, to find something that finally works and then have to go through this again. Hope the birth control works for you.

Just to update - I've been clear the last 5 days, I think the increased dosage is working - but I'm still on antibiotics as well so it could be that, too. I'll probably go off the antibiotics next week and see how my skin does.

My endocrinologist said it can stop working. They don't know why.

I have been taking Spiro since 2006. 200mg daily. I lowered my dose a couple of times to 150 & got oily again after a few weeks. Once I went back to 200mg skin cleared again. I am currently lowering my dose again due to quitting bc & getting side effects from the Spiro I have never had before while on bc.

I was taking 100 mg/day for the first year but I was getting headaches frequently, had very low energy, some depression, etc. I decreased to 50mg after that, and I've been on that dose for the last two years with no problems. I'm pretty small (110, 5'8) and that seemed to enough even though it is a relatively low dose. I've been on 75mg for the last three days. I tried to go off my antibiotics (Bactrim) but immediately started breaking out again so I'm back on them for now.

 

THE SAME THING HPND TO ME! I was on 100mg for 5 years. From DAY ONE it cleared my oil COMPLETELY which cleared my acne almost 100%. But it was causing side effects... fatigue, anxiety, depression. So I dropped to 50mg for like 3 months. Felt MUCH btr emotionally but oil and acne came back w a vengence. I went back to 100mg and it did nothing. Then went to 150mg...nothing. Then 200mg... nothing. Now I'm wondering if I have a bad batch or something. It's been over 3 months now and my skin is still like an oil slick with breakouts & cysts and I'm on 200mg. I finally broke down and started an antibiotic and now it's clearing some but still super oily.

I used to get my script from Wallgreens and it was Mylan generic. Now I get it from CVS and it's from Qualitest. I can't believe I didn't think of this before. I am going to request them to order me Mylan. What Generic do you take???