I've been on Spiro since the beginning of this past March...and I think overall my skin has been a little better, but there hasn't been as much of an improvement as I had hoped there would be. I am on 100 mg. I also have been having a breakdown (a lot of crying, avoiding going outside, general hopelessness).. It is the week before my period, and my skin is going crazy..the Spiro hasn't stopped the awful PMS breakouts. I am supposed to have a job interview soon, but am thinking of canceling that because it's customer service at a fancy shop.

I can't take antibiotics because I took them for 10 years (part of the problem), and also don't do well with birth control pills. ...

Please don't let your skin keep you from the job. I have seen girls with really bad skin working at fancy dress stores. It's all about attitude. Can you explain the part about the antibiotics being part of the problem? Has your doctor taken you off of them now? Did they help you?

Thanks.. about the antibiotics...I'm not on them anymore and currently am not seeing a dermatologist (b/c the last one would be an hour late, meet with me for 10 minutes, and multiple times made prescriptions that would have interacted with other meds i was on, etc)

On the antibiotics being part of the problem... My doctor hasn't said that, but I haven't discussed it with her, and since I had different dr.'s when younger (I'm 23 and started minocycline at 13-ish?)..I'm not sure if it has occured to them. Mainly, from things I've read and discussions with other people (including an esthetician), it seems like being on anti-b's for so long has messed up my immune system...

Thanks for the encouragement on the job. The thing that freaked me out is that my friend works there and was the one who recommended me and scheduled the interview w/ the boss, but when I saw her the other day, she brought up the breakout...

nightmind--don't worry about the job and your face! I've been on Spiro since March also...100 mg. My face is still breaking out here and there but for the most part is about 60% better. I work in a nice retail shop/boutique and I used to ALWAYS be insecure about my face. I think I've just gotten used to it and have started accepting that this is the way my skin just is. One day my boss asked me what was wrong and I explained to her I was depressed about how my face was looking...she looked @ me and said, "you know, I've never even noticed that you've had acne before...to me, it's not what counts on the outside, it's what counts on the inside" I cried right there on the spot! lol! The point I'm trhying to make is, you're acne may not be as noticeable as you think. As long as you have a beautiful personality, you're beautiful on the outside! Don't get discouraged and you better go to the interview! Don't let acne stop you! One day I was reading a blog on here and someone said, "don't give up on opportunities because when you look back you don't remember how your acne looked anyway"

Hi everyone-

I thought I'd send out an update. I have been on Spiro since March 28th....that's about 4months and one week. It has been a bumpy (no pun intended) ride, but I feel like I may have finally turned the corner(i hate saying things like this....because then i am so let-down when i break out again....but, fingers crossed, my skin really looks and feels different)! My skin has been consistently good for about 2.5 weeks now...almost all clear. The feel of it is smooth and it is still much less oily than ever (and it's the summer...a good sign for winter!). Granted, I have added things to the spiro...but I really believe that the Spiro is the base of the improvement as topicals and antibiotics never worked before.

In the mornings I am taking 100mgs. spiro, 1 orthocyclen, 1 oracea pill(time release doxycycline).

As for topicals: every morning i apply finacea cream (i LOVE this...no one had ever reccommended it to me before but it decreases any swelling of potential pimples and evens out skintone without leaving any grease). and every night i apply benzaclin.

Things are going really well. I am glad that I stuck with it. For those of you in the first couple months and even month THREE, stick with it...I think my skin may actually have been at its worst during the third month, a time when i was thinking of quitting because I was sure Spiro wasn't working. But this pill takes TIME. Please hang in there....

I will keep updating, hopefully on progress and not a relapse.

I am slightly worried about a camping trip I have coming up. I will be gone for one-week and won't be able to keep my usual hygiene schedule. I guess this will be a good test to see if it's the Spiro or the topicals that are helping to keep me clear. . .I think I am just going to bring Clearasil wipes to try and stay clean....

Hello everyone. i got on Spiro in late April and was given 100 mg and now I take 150mg. The first two months were hard because of the outbreaks but come June my face was not bumpy. i still get the occasional bump/pimple but (only like one every so often) and it goes away right away. I no longer get pimples, bumps and red spots above my lip, chin and cheeks.

I still use the Benzaclin in the am (for bumps, if I have them)

and Tazarac at night.

Don't forget your SPF during the day.

Keep with it anyone who is in their first or second month. It should work for you and then it will be a relief to not worry like you once did.

Just to let you know, drink a lot of water when you're on spiro. The reason it lowers blood pressure is because it dehydrates you... hence lower pressure. My derm said you will avoid all side effects of this medicine as long as you stay hydrated. You won't be a sluggish and stuff, plus your skin will be less dry!

 

good luck with it... it's working for me so far

Just to let you know, drink a lot of water when you're on spiro. The reason it lowers blood pressure is because it dehydrates you... hence lower pressure. My derm said you will avoid all side effects of this medicine as long as you stay hydrated. You won't be a sluggish and stuff, plus your skin will be less dry!

 

good luck with it... it's working for me so far

could anyone suggest a dermatologist/doctor open to prescribing spiro for hormonal acne in the new england area, I live in Boston, but will travel. I 've been an acne sufferer for over 20 years, need help please.

thanks

Hi all,

I wanted to add my personal experience with spironolactone. I'm 32, 2 kids, and have had acne since my teens. My dermatologist prescribed spiro after my 2nd child was born. I had cystic acne on my chin and jawline, and really oily skin. I started out on 50mg, got bumped to 100 after a few months, and my skin was wonderful. Maybe 1 or 2 pimples around my period, but not cystic. They were pop-able within a few days. No more oil slick!

This summer I started to get oily again, and then came more pimples. My derm said I could increase to 150 as needed, but when fall comes and the weather is drier, I should go back down to 100. So what I do now is take 2 50mg pills at my regular time, and later in the evening if I notice that I'm really oily, I take one more 50mg pill. This seems to do it for me.

I hope this helps!

I'm a new member with cystic acne history (jawline and neck). I have an acne comment and a question about Spironolactone.

Here's my position: Acne sufferers wear their medical condition in full view of the world. If ALL medical conditions resulted in facial scars and cysts, I think there would be more empathy for the EMOTIONAL TOLL acne takes on self-esteem, personal relationships, career, and happiness.

Does the general population still think we just need to wash our faces more and avoid chocolate?!!!!

Meanwhile, I'm trying to keep my chin up and surround myself with people who love what they see beneath my epidermis.

I'm wondering what changes anyone has had in their menstrual cycles when using SPIRONOLACTONE and how they've regulated themselves. Would like to avoid birth control pills, if possible.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories.

Cystomatic1

Hi all,

I wanted to add my personal experience with spironolactone. I'm 32, 2 kids, and have had acne since my teens. My dermatologist prescribed spiro after my 2nd child was born. I had cystic acne on my chin and jawline, and really oily skin. I started out on 50mg, got bumped to 100 after a few months, and my skin was wonderful. Maybe 1 or 2 pimples around my period, but not cystic. They were pop-able within a few days. No more oil slick!

 

This summer I started to get oily again, and then came more pimples. My derm said I could increase to 150 as needed, but when fall comes and the weather is drier, I should go back down to 100. So what I do now is take 2 50mg pills at my regular time, and later in the evening if I notice that I'm really oily, I take one more 50mg pill. This seems to do it for me.

 

I hope this helps!

hello... just registered myself to this forum and found it really informative.. i'll be really glad if someone would advise me... i was prescribed to take adactone (50mg daily) to treat hirsutism along with diane 35 to treat my irregular mensturation. ..

the thing that fears me is i was told by doctor to take these 2 pills together....but upon reading about adactone, i found out it stops regular periods... please anyone explain me, if i take diane35 and adactoner together, to treat my 2 different problems, will that help me...???

(

hello... just registered myself to this forum and found it really informative.. i'll be really glad if someone would advise me... i was prescribed to take adactone (50mg daily) to treat hirsutism along with diane 35 to treat my irregular mensturation. ..

the thing that fears me is i was told by doctor to take these 2 pills together....but upon reading about adactone, i found out it stops regular periods... please anyone explain me, if i take diane35 and adactoner together, to treat my 2 different problems, will that help me...???

 

(

You should take both. Diane will help regulate your hormones, and will ensure that you will have a normal period every 28 days. Spiro (Aldactone) works as an anti-androgen. I highly doubt 50 mg will come anywhere near improving hirsutism. It seems that 100 mg is usually needed for acne treatment, and 200 mg for hirsutism. Plan on your acne getting worse before it gets better as you adjust to the new meds. You may need to wait 4-6 months to see improvement. I would definitely recommend trying to get an antiboitic to get you through the waiting period, and asking for a dosage increase in the Aldactone. You may also want to consider prescription topical Vaniqa cream, as I've had pretty good luck with it for hirsutism. Good luck!

hello... just registered myself to this forum and found it really informative.. i'll be really glad if someone would advise me... i was prescribed to take adactone (50mg daily) to treat hirsutism along with diane 35 to treat my irregular mensturation. ..

the thing that fears me is i was told by doctor to take these 2 pills together....but upon reading about adactone, i found out it stops regular periods... please anyone explain me, if i take diane35 and adactoner together, to treat my 2 different problems, will that help me...???

 

(

You should take both. Diane will help regulate your hormones, and will ensure that you will have a normal period every 28 days. Spiro (Aldactone) works as an anti-androgen. I highly doubt 50 mg will come anywhere near improving hirsutism. It seems that 100 mg is usually needed for acne treatment, and 200 mg for hirsutism. Plan on your acne getting worse before it gets better as you adjust to the new meds. You may need to wait 4-6 months to see improvement. I would definitely recommend trying to get an antiboitic to get you through the waiting period, and asking for a dosage increase in the Aldactone. You may also want to consider prescription topical Vaniqa cream, as I've had pretty good luck with it for hirsutism. Good luck!

 

hey thanks a lot one last question....when i finish taking 21 Diane tablets, so during the 1 week interval, shall i still use spiro.... or shall i use it after i get my periods... because i heard from some of my friends that 1 week interval should be drug free ie. after completing diane 35 pack??

thanks a lot and take care!

Take Spiro every day. Do not skip any doses.

Hormone therapy for acne save my life ! Before I had moderate acne and very oily skin, now I just wash my face morning and night and I stay 99.9% clear. I'm a huge fan of hormone therapy and only wish I started sooner. I found sprio made me have headaches and a little nauseated the first two weeks but after that I was fine. I need to take no less then 100mg a day or my skin gets oily and will start to breakout.

Good luck

i am 100%n clear with spiro @ 150 spiro and yasmin +clindoxyl gel... i dont really even need a topical, but im a perfectionist. it took me 5 months+ but its been great and i have noticed a slight decrease in body hair also...

i regret notstarting this two years ago. i think it would have changed my life just as it is starting to do.

i dont need a makeup mask anymore. im ecstatic for that

i've been on spiro for 5 months now.. 100 mg the first 2 weeks of that, and then 200 mg from then on. around month 3 i thought it was working, but the last month or 2 have been pretty bad.

i'm thinking i should have seen results by now. if anything, i'm getting MORE acne in the hormonal area (chin) than i ever did before taking it. do you think i should give up on it.. or maybe add in a BCP?

i always wondered whether the BCP made the spiro more effective, or if it was only just to help regulate your period.

any suggestions would be appreciated.

Me too!! Well, I'm in a similar situation. I'm just about through my third month, and although the rest of my face looks good, (I had mild/moderate but STUBBORN acne) I am still breaking out in terrible cysts all around my chin. I never really had this problem before. It definitely coincides with my period, which I am now getting every 3 weeks! ( I was going to start a new topic about it, so that some of the Spiro veterans might be able to advise.

Hello Everyone...I have some questions.

I have been reading this post for awhile and finally had to skip over some of because it is so very long. So if I am repeating questions or something someone has already said, I'm sorry.

For starters, a little bit of history, I am 42 and have had acne since I was 10.

My skin is very sensitive, overreactive, very oily, scarred (sorry I know that gross) and discolored.

A lot of the acne I get these days (about the past 8 years) is cystic. I also had cystic acne when I was much younger. I also have blackheads, whiteheads and large pores.

I was wondering if I would be a good candidate for Spiro.

Here are my questions:

I already have low blood pressure, will this lower it even more?

My facial skin might be very oily, but my hair is not. In fact, my hair is one of the things I actually take pride in myself, because it is the only thing on me that is beautiful. I do not have any dandruff and have beautiful curly/wavy shiny well managed hair. Will Spiro change that?

Will it also help with blackheads/whiteheads?

Can I just go to my regular MD? Would he prescribe me Spiro? I really prefer not to see a derm.

I wanted to mention a few other things. My cystic acne does run along my jawline, but I also get it along the sides of my face too and inwards. I hardly ever get any on my forehead. Do you believe it to be hormonal? I cannot take BC pills.

My periods are already messed up (in fact, they are not really periods most of the time). I do have a small cyst on one of my ovaries. I also have Endrometriosis Stage IV and chose not to have a historectomy (sp.). I have had endrometrical ablation surgery. I have not reached menapause yet and do not have any signs of pre-menapause.

Sorry for talking so long.

Thanks for helping

Hi,

I think my experience will be helpful. We have similar backgrounds. I am 45, had acne since 12, very oily skin, low blood pressure, and cystic ovaries. However, I rarely had cystic acne. Mine was constant whiteheads, closed comodomes, and blackheads especially around my nose. Acne centered in the middle of my face with occasional forehead and cheek lesions. I would have maybe one cyst per month but I ALWAYS had 15-20 lesions present.

My treatment history included antibiotics, topical retinoids, 4 rounds of accutane. The ONLY thing that gave me completely clear skin was accutane. After each round of accutane, the oil and acne returned within 3 years.

I have been on spironolactone for about a year now. My skin is wonderful. The oil decreased almost immediately (like Accutane) but progress was two steps forward and one back until about 6 months and upping my dosage from 75mg to 150mg. I have 99% clear skin with the spiro and tazorac. In addition, my periods are not painful for the first time in my life. I have low blood pressure and haven't noticed any side effects there. The main thing is keeping hydrated. I'm a runner and have to REALLY drink water now.

Unfortunately, I doubt your regular MD will prescribe spiro. The use for acne is currently "off label" which puts the MD at legal risk. However, any derm who reads current literature should be up on the remarkable stats with hormone therapy in "older" women. I think it's something like 85% show significant improvement or complete clearing. You DO NOT have to show a clinical hormone imbalance to benefit (PCOS) The current thinking is that many women have extra-sensitive receptors.

Anyway, I would encourage you to pursue this VIGOROUSLY! It is life-changing to not worry about your skin or having the acne return. Spiro is a SLOW process, but is fantastic.

Good luck!!!!

Thank you very much tcjetsetter!!!!

I will go to my regular MD and ask if he will prescribe, if not I will get a referral to a derm. I know there are not too many here in IL. Doctors are leaving IL because of the high insurance along with the lawsuits against them.

You take tazorac. I just do not think my skin could handle it. I am having trouble just washing my face now (burning, stinging, itching still) because of a terrible reaction with hydroquione 2% and I only used it one time. That was over a month ago.

I have problems with BP, Glycolic Acid, Copper Peptides, and now Hydroquione. My skin is sensitive.

I took Antibiotics for about 3 years when I was young with acne (Tetracycline) and it never helped at all.

I don't know if I have PCOS, I just thought that I would mention because this one cyst has been on my ovary for several years, it is small and I have never had it burst.

One more question, will this drug be covered by insurance? I only have Medicaid right now and I know they are picky. If the drug is inexpensive, then it is no big issue.

Thanks again

Hi,

I think my experience will be helpful. We have similar backgrounds. I am 45, had acne since 12, very oily skin, low blood pressure, and cystic ovaries. However, I rarely had cystic acne. Mine was constant whiteheads, closed comodomes, and blackheads especially around my nose. Acne centered in the middle of my face with occasional forehead and cheek lesions. I would have maybe one cyst per month but I ALWAYS had 15-20 lesions present.

 

My treatment history included antibiotics, topical retinoids, 4 rounds of accutane. The ONLY thing that gave me completely clear skin was accutane. After each round of accutane, the oil and acne returned within 3 years.

 

I have been on spironolactone for about a year now. My skin is wonderful. The oil decreased almost immediately (like Accutane) but progress was two steps forward and one back until about 6 months and upping my dosage from 75mg to 150mg. I have 99% clear skin with the spiro and tazorac. In addition, my periods are not painful for the first time in my life. I have low blood pressure and haven't noticed any side effects there. The main thing is keeping hydrated. I'm a runner and have to REALLY drink water now.

 

Unfortunately, I doubt your regular MD will prescribe spiro. The use for acne is currently "off label" which puts the MD at legal risk. However, any derm who reads current literature should be up on the remarkable stats with hormone therapy in "older" women. I think it's something like 85% show significant improvement or complete clearing. You DO NOT have to show a clinical hormone imbalance to benefit (PCOS) The current thinking is that many women have extra-sensitive receptors.

 

Anyway, I would encourage you to pursue this VIGOROUSLY! It is life-changing to not worry about your skin or having the acne return. Spiro is a SLOW process, but is fantastic.

 

Good luck!!!!

Great! Yes, Spiro is a fairly cheap drug. It is on most pharmacy "inexpensive" lists. MD's may start you out as low as 25-75 mg/day to demonstrate a tolerance to the drug. The idea is to gradually increase the dosage until efficacy is reached. Most of us on this board need 100-200mg/day for optimum benefit.

There are initial side effects, including feeling tired, headache, dehydration.and menstrual changes. These will pass but you MUST drink water. As others have pointed out, some people benefit from an antibiotic at this stage to control the initial outbreak.

I use Tazorac every other day with EXTREME care. If I don't consistently exfoliate, I can break out even now. Some people don't seem to need this step. For me, it is still a small price to pay.

Hi again tcjetsetter:

I am not worried about the menstrual changes. I have had endrometrical ablation surgery done so that part is already somewhat messed up for good.

I will be sure to drink lots of water, but I hate feeling tired. I am already on medication that makes me tired.

I will probably take an antibiotic because I imagine my IB will be extremely bad!! Which is the best??

I am also worried about further scarring, since I scar so easily.

Thanks again.

Great! Yes, Spiro is a fairly cheap drug. It is on most pharmacy "inexpensive" lists. MD's may start you out as low as 25-75 mg/day to demonstrate a tolerance to the drug. The idea is to gradually increase the dosage until efficacy is reached. Most of us on this board need 100-200mg/day for optimum benefit.

 

There are initial side effects, including feeling tired, headache, dehydration.and menstrual changes. These will pass but you MUST drink water. As others have pointed out, some people benefit from an antibiotic at this stage to control the initial outbreak.

 

I use Tazorac every other day with EXTREME care. If I don't consistently exfoliate, I can break out even now. Some people don't seem to need this step. For me, it is still a small price to pay.

Hi Everyone,

Well, I went to my MD this morning. By the way, he is a very good MD, who usually listens and cares. He was way behind and in a hurry.

I brought up my acne and the very first thing he said was Accutane. I immediately said no way would I ever take it. He say's you only have to do it one time and then acne is cured. Now.....we all know better than this. Many people retake Accutane because their acne returns.

I mentioned Spiro and he replied (shaking his head and looking down the whole time) that Spiro was for women with PCOS.

So what did he do, he wrote me a script for 5 months of Doxy and left the room.

Ugggg..............

I think I upset him when I told him I did not want Accutane, plus he was in a big hurry.

On another note, a couple of years ago I took my daughter into see him just for a school physical and he brought up her Acne and immediately prescribed her topical Clyndamician and Torazac. I didn't even get that offer.

So, I guess it is no Spiro for me. Back to Square #1.

Hey you guys,

I have been having problems with cystic acne since age 11. I am now 32 with 2 children. I recently had a terrible bout with cyctic acne again after being in a much more controlled state 1-4 pimples per month for the past couple years to about 100 small pimples!!! I know how terrible. Well my dermatologist recommended a blood test and which revealed high testosterone levels 120 to be exact which is extremely high. So I was referred to an endocronologist. The endocronologist put me on 100 mg 2x a day of spironolactone, which I was grateful for. I am currently taking Sodolyn 90 mg a day with some improvement in acne... Probably about 30 pimples (some small). Anyway, I read that Spirolactone causes tumors in rats... I am a little worried about that. I also have excessive hair growth on my chin which I pluck and alot of hair loss. The endocronologist said this may all go away... or greatly improve. I am happy but scared because of the tumor dilemma....

You people seem like you are having such an easy time getting a prescription for Spiro. Unfortunatly I haven't been that lucky. I've been to the family doctor and a derm so far and I have NO insurance so it's pretty costly to walk out with nothing. Oh yeah and I HATE that they only spend like a minute with you, don't listen to you, and write out like 3 prescriptions for topicals that WON'T WORK. (Not to mention how hard it is to put on your back!) I'm so sick of it. I mainly suffer from body acne but I do get acne on my t tone. Especially my chin. But I can get that pretty much under control with Dan's regimen.

 

I had an appt. with an Endo but when I showed up the doctor wasn't even there. The lady said that the doctor I was going to see isn't even there that day. I was pretty sure I didn't get the day wrong either! I DO want to get tested but the money is just such a big issue. I want the tests because I also have mild hirsutism and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Which means high insulin.

 

Anyways, this Endo appt. is going to be sooo expensive. I don't even know if I will get what I need out of this. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do?

 

I'm sooo frustrated I feel like screaming! 😮

I used to let them tell me what they wanted to give me - now I speek up - I want this drug - Can I get it from you. Of course it's something like spiro and not drugs of the other sort.

I find they usually listen if your a little assertive.

annabanna