I am a 24 year old interested in trying spiro. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 10 years ago after going to a gyno for irregular periods. I have been struggling with PCOS symptoms of acne , the majority around my jawline and excess hair on the face since then.Birth Control does help the acne but I am wondering about spiro.
I am nervous about the side effects after developing permanent dry eyes from accutane so I am also interested in natural remedies for hormone balancing as well.
I have PCOS too and spiro should really help you with that.
Everyone is different,but I have not really had any bad side effects from it.
Yup I have been on a higher dose (100mg a day) maybe about two months.I have to say it has been a lifesaver.My skin is dry,no oil at all, and no zits.I really wish I would have been on this years ago...
Also,no weight gain or bad side effects.
My breasts have gotten at least a cup size bigger and sometimes I feel a little light headed as well,but that's easily cured with drinking more water.The light headedness anyways,I don't mind the bigger boobs at all.
Facial hair is much finer,seems to grow slower.Haven't seen much of a change with the hair on my head yet though whether for better or worse.
hi!
when did u see good results from spiro?
i am 31 and have hormonal acne all around my chin and jawline it sucks!! had it forever! and those little tiny bumps on my chin that seem like they are under the skin and not red just bumpy..i hope it gets rid of those too!!
i am on 50mg of spiro started it today.
Hey there,don't freak, but it sometimes gets a little worse before better.
I noticed a small initial breakout with painful bumps when I started the spiro.
I left them alone and didn't pick at them or anything and they went away altogether in about
two weeks.
By three weeks,my skin was clear.I stayed pretty clear but still had some hormonal break outs during my period,so my doctor upped my dosage to 100mg a day.
Since being on 100mg,I have to say,my skin has NEVER been clearer.
My skin is very smooth now with no oil at all anymore either.
If you aren't finding results after about two-3 months,I would ask for a dosage increase.
Some people say it takes longer then that to see results hormonally,but for me it was nearly immediate.
thanks for the response!
I always get breakouts around my period too..just wondering if 50mg will be enough and if i should just up myself and take 100 mg each day..i am impatient lol and i dont go back and see my derm for 2 months
Hi ladies,
I am new on Spiro as of yesterday. I am almost 40 and there is no way I am considering pregnancy and I am getting my tubes tied in Jan. So, I am not worried about that part of side effects!
Anyway, as I have said, I am 40. I have had acne since I was 14/15. I have tried everything except Accutane. I think over the years I have probably spent thousands of dollars on my moderate/severe acne. (Birth control, antibiotics, Benzoyl Peroxide washes, Benzoyl Peroxide creams, tea tree face wash, witch hazel, Clean and Clear, tetracycline, and on and on and on. Nothing has ever worked for more than a few weeks.
I am frustrated beyond words. I have dealt with acne for over 25 years and have the scars to prove it. At 40, there is something so disheartening to be getting wrinkles and STILL getting acne.
So the doctor put me on Spiro yesterday. I am wondering why he took so long but at any rate I am very hopeful. Please, please, please let this work. I want to feel beautiful at least once in my life.
Yah_Yah
Question - I have heard that weight loss is a "side-effect" of this medication. Did anyone actually lose weight and if so how much?
Thanks!
Hi. Has anyone had problems with urinary infections or urinary pai/pressure while taking spiro? I have been taking spiro for a little over 3 weeks, and I seem to have a uti (that hasn't responded very well to 3 days of cipro). My doctor didn't think that the spiro could be to blame, but it IS a diuretic that makes you pee more. So far, my skin is not better (although the last few days have been ok---probably due to the cipro).
Thanks! And I am on 100mg of spiro a day.
Hi. Has anyone had problems with urinary infections or urinary pai/pressure while taking spiro? I have been taking spiro for a little over 3 weeks, and I seem to have a uti (that hasn't responded very well to 3 days of cipro). My doctor didn't think that the spiro could be to blame, but it IS a diuretic that makes you pee more. So far, my skin is not better (although the last few days have been ok---probably due to the cipro).
Thanks! And I am on 100mg of spiro a day.
I would have to agree with your doctor that it is not the Spiro. UTI's occur when there is bacteria in the urethra that is not being flushed out by the urine. It happens when you are not peeing enough. . I am a home care nurse and see UTI's often especially in women who drink very, very little during the day. Anyway, I hope the antibiotics are working. Drink lots of water. Cranberry juice is very good too.
yup_yup
( I dunno how long it would take. How long has it been for you guys
Ok so weird pattern that I have observed so far with Spiro. I started around 5 weeks ago exactly. As soon as I started spiro, I had couple of tiny bumps appear on my cheeks which went away quickly. My skin seemed to do fine until the 2nd week mark on 50 mg, and I had a weird breakout mainly on my cheeks with a few tiny bumps and a weird hard pimple. The breakout went away in a few days (it was also 3-4 days before my period). I got no chin acne except a small tiny under the skin cyst which disappeared in a couple of days. After 3 weeks on 50 mg, I started 100mg/day. As soon as I started that, again couple of rashy tiny bumps were spread around cheeks and then they subsided quickly. Now exactly after 2 weeks on 100 mg, a bad painful breakout on my cheek where I usually dont get big pimples. I feel like I have a real initial breakout on every dose around the completion of 2 weeks. I could be just imagining it, but I see a pattern. Have you guys observed anything like that, and has changing a dose given a breakout?
Wicky, you should read the reviews for oracea on acne.org. They are not so consistent or great. For some people it made their skins too dry. For others it helped only for a little while, and there were some for whom it just didn't work or even worse made their acne worse.
I've been on Aldactone (spiro) since July. I started at 50mgs. and now I'm up to 100mgs. I used to get 4-5 cysts on my chin and cheeks right before my period, and since I've been on the spiro, I think I have had 2 altogether. It's so much better now. My skin is sooo much clearer since being on the spiro. I had a choice of either going on Yasmin or spiro, and since I get really bad migraines, my derm and I decided to go with the spiro. It doesn't seem to make my migraines worse at all. Does anybody know how long you can be on spiro? Do you have to take it forever or can you stop after a while? I just can't go back to that hormonal acne. It was sooo bad. Right now I don't have one cyst...Hopefully this will continue!!
how long were u on the 50mg and then when did u go to 100mg and why?
i have been on spiro just about a month now on 50mg. and still getting some pimples and it hasnt cleared all the bumps under my skin on my chin..and i dont see my derm. til next month. so guess i have to wait and see if maybe she can bump me up then..
This is for anyone out there who has dealt with acne for years and caused them MAJOR depression and suicidal thoughts. There is a cure. In my experience, Spironolactone worked.
Had acne for 12 years and it has been the most devastating thing in my life. Only fellow acne sufferers will know the emotional havoc in can do to one's life and self-image. Tried everything: topical creams, accutane (4 times: good while Im on it but acne comes back after 3 months; suffered the WORST initial breakout on my last round of accutane- will never take it again), bc pills, etc.
Came across spiro, requested it from my derm and he put me on a low dose-25 mg then 75 mg. The cure happened when I was put on the 125 mg dose. After 4 months, my face is acne free. I sometimes get little one's before a period (nothing like a baby quasar blue light can't handle) but nothing major and for once in my life not consistent anymore.
Coupled with prayers, I hope that I finally found my acne miracle and I hope that for anyone reading this who is desperate like I was..I wish you the best and I hope that it works out for you too.
I am thinking that I should go on 125 too. My second month on spiro just ended. I had been on 100 mg for a month. It was going pretty good but then just 2 days ago I got a cyst like pimple on my chin. Its not all that bad but still it really scared me. My skin is not oily at all. as a matter of fact, its pretty dry. Anyone out there who might have experienced this. What should I do?
I am a 33 year old female with mild-moderate hormonal acne. Acne problem areas are small clusters on both jawlines by chin, as well as bout 2-4 cysts a month in the chin area. I also have small clusters on my laugh line area above my mouth and mild acne on my cheeks. No acne on my forehead, temples, or nose. My acne is very stubborn and does not completely go away and gets worse around my cycle. I've noticed after coming off birth control (in June 2010) that my acne has gotten progressively worse and I don't know how much worse it could possibly get, so I'm trying to catch it now. The acne on my jawline and chin appeared (about Dec 2010) after a failed attempt of 2 months on Clindamycin Phosphate Lotion 1%. After that prescription, my family doctor (who wouldn't approve me to see a dermatologist, go figure) prescribed my Doxycyline and I do not want to take it. I prefer the Spiro route, because I've found from past experience in high school, when my acne was at it's worst, that sometimes dermatology treats the symptoms and not the cause which lead up to me taking Accutane back then, nothing else would work. I am going to see a dermatologist soon and I want to request Spiro, and I would like to know the following from you kind ladies:
1) How hard was it for you to find a dermatologist that understood and knew about Spiro and/or did you have a hard time convincing him/her to prescribe it you?
2) Can you explain your regime? From reading this thread I've noticed the most effective dosage to start is 75-100 mg a day, but how do you take it, daily, only around your cycle? I would prefer to take it only around my cycle to minimize side effects, but I don't want to impact the overall results?
Thank you!
heyy guys
I'm a 23 year old female and have been battling acne for SO long now. It was quite moderate before, never ever stopped me from going out, but in December my hormones went NUTS and at my worst point i had about 30-40 pimples on my face. On December 23rd I started spiro and the month before I had started diane 35. My doc started me of on 25 mgs and said she didn't want to go higher than 50 bc it would be too dangerous (but these threads have shown me ppl are doing much higher, successfully)... my acne did get better from last month, but it is NO where near clear... I am still cancelling social events because of all the horrible large pimples on my face. My forehead has cleared up but my cheeks are where the pimples are located. ugh. I use cetaphil cleanser and lotion, and just started obagi step 2 in normal to dry (its like 5% benzolyn peroxide)... i had great results w that before, so i hope that will help while im waiting for the spiro to work it's magic. the only thing keeping me going are the reviews for spironolactone on acne.org, ppl seem to say you have to wait at least 3 months... sigh,... i can't wait... i want to have a life again... inshallah
also it was so disheartening... my skin improved MAJORLY then went back to it's old ways, then improved again then back to it's old ways, it's like 2 steps forward to steps back, it's SUCH an emotional rollercoster, it toys with your heart bc I get SO excited only to be devestated when i see new ones starting to form that are BIG.
Wicky, you should read the reviews for oracea on acne.org. They are not so consistent or great. For some people it made their skins too dry. For others it helped only for a little while, and there were some for whom it just didn't work or even worse made their acne worse.
My daughter just started on oracea because spiro has lost effectiveness after over 2 years on it. I couldn't find much at all on acne.org about it. Maybe one post and it was positive. She has already had positive results on oracea after only a month. She's still take spiro BTW.
wowww that's great she found something that works for her! i've never heard of oracea before! i can't wait for the 3 month mark where ppl say you start seeing results... i'm about a month and three weeks right now! it's definitely a lot better than when i first started, but still miles to go
for ACNEGIRL78
1) How hard was it for you to find a dermatologist that understood and knew about Spiro and/or did you have a hard time convincing him/her to prescribe it you?My doctor prescribed it to me in December after it got REALLY bad. the whole time while i was dealing w my acne and seeing her before she never prescribed it to me (probably about 5 years!) she just prescribed me diane35
2) Can you explain your regime? From reading this thread I've noticed the most effective dosage to start is 75-100 mg a day, but how do you take it, daily, only around your cycle? I would prefer to take it only around my cycle to minimize side effects, but I don't want to impact the overall results?I take 25mg in the morning and 25 and night... i recently just increased to 25 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night, i take it every day. i have not had side effects yet, only one day i felt dizzy, and i've had minor heart palpatations (after i ate cheese so that may be related), but other than that i've been fine!
When I first started to see a dermo was because I started developing bad acne at my 30's (I was like what the heck??) she put me on Doryx I took it off and on thru 4/5 years (worked good for several months didn't have to take it anymore) with no much side effect until a few months ago (Dec/Jan) when I ended up with heart burn every time I took it... 
She prescribed me on sprino a low dose of 50mg didn't see any improvement at all. I told her gave me 100mg I've been taking sprino for about a month now until now my skin is looking great (yes with a few lil break out no biggy will disappearance the next day)....BUT yes A BUT I got a white stain on my teeth unsure if this can be a side effect. Does anyone know?
Hello! Thought I'd do a check in. I'm now at 2 months and ten days on Spiro and I am very happy w the results so far! I just got my period today and i have about 2 on my cheek and they are very small (small red bumps) and i had 2 on my other cheek a few days ago but they went away quite quickly. I am still getting small ones, but they are SO much smaller than before and go away much faster. On December 23rd i had like 40 on my face so this is definitely progress.
Of course I still have gross scarring and the new ones still suck, but I'm hoping and praying by the time the nice weather kicks in I'll at least be able to go out w face powder feeling like a normal person. Then I can tackle the scarring and just wait it out once the pimples stop for sure. IA.
Good luck to everyone here let's hope and pray we all find our cure!!!! IA.
Spironolactone screwed up my hormones! I started Sprio in Jan. of 2010 and ended it in Sept. 2010 because I had a severe ulcerative colitis flare up. When I went off of it, my hair fell out DRASTICALLY! I never had hair problems before but now I do. I cry all the time because my hair is so thin it would even fit into an elastic band!!
Get this...my hair is still falling out in clumps EVERYDAY and it's now March. I went to go see a hair specialist because of it and his recommendation was rogaine for women! These medications screw up your whole system. When you go off it it will be horrible!!
Anyone else had this experience? Please tell me im not alone! LoL.
I'm 33 and have suffered with mild/moderate acne for about 20 years now. The whole time it's been on my face, neck, chest, and back! I have tried every medication including Accutane four different times. I finished my last round of Accutane and my skin was absolutely awesome until I switched birth control to depo provera. Not sure if that had any effect or if it just happened around the same time. Unfortunately I'm in school and not working so have no health insurance. I found out that Spiro is on the cheap drug list at Target and Walmart and went to my derm. Of course he immediately suggested all these creams and antibiotics (been there, dont that) but I said no, I wanted to try Spiro and he said sure. I've been on 75mg/day for about 2 months now and things have calmed down but I still have a long way to go. I'm going to ask him to up the dose. My face is doing great but my chest/neck has been stubborn. Luckily I've never had cystic acne, just very stubborn moderate acne. I definitely have hormonal issues so feel this is the best decision. Haven't seen any bad side effects. I highly recommend Spiro, if you can tolerate it. I've found that most derms don't even think of it as a solution so just do your research and tell the doctor that you'd like to try it. If I hadn't said anything I would have walked out of the office once again with some creams that would only be a temporary fix.
I normally don't post on boards but if I can help one person it will be worth it. I'm 42 years old and had my tubes tied two years ago. Since then I've been dealing with terrible breakouts of mild cystic acne with the worst area being the lower half of my face around the jaw line. I finally went to a dermatologist here in Georgia who suspected it was hormonal in nature. I was at the point I would have tried almost anything to get rid of it. Here's what I take and routine I go through everyday.
Morning:
(prescription) Wash face with Sumaxin Cleansing Pad (antibacterial & drying agent)
CeraVe Moisturizer
Your normal Makeup
(prescription) Monodox 100MG with breakfast
Night:
Wash face with generic Cetaphil Cleanser
(prescription) Retin-A Micro 0.04% apply very thin layer on face
I did the above routine for the first two months and saw about a 75% improvement in my acne. I was so elated I brought flowers to my dermatologist on the 2nd visit. She said she expected a 50 - 75% improvement. At the 2nd appointment she added Spironolactone 50MG once per day and she indicated I should be at 100% improved at my next appointment in 8 weeks. I am still doing everything above and have added the Spironolactone to it. I've been taking it since 3/17 and haven't had any negative affects. I think my hands may be a bit dryer, but that's it.
I am really pleased with my results and couldn't have hoped for anything better. Good luck!
Yes, I have used Spironolactone (Aldactone) for about five years now.
I had several courses of Accutane, which was the only drug that cleared up my SEVERE acne.
After that, I continued to be extremely oily, and my Dr. recommended Aldactone.
While my complexion was clear prior to Aldactone, this prescription made it even clearer. I have not had any side effects from taking Aldactone, except dryness which is what I wanted. And it is not severe dryness, I think it's how most "normal" people are.
I really like what Aldactone has done for me. I feel "cleaner" all day long. I would recommend it.
K
I have been reading some of the posts (I can't read all of them) and wanted to know if anyone could answer a question for me.
I have always had some sort of acne problem but in the last year or so I have been under a lot of stress. I tried using the topical treatments that have worked for me in the past, but nothing seemed to work for me this time. I went to my OB/GYN for my check up and she saw my acne problem and told me to take Spironolactone 50mg.
I started taking it about 3 months ago. I have read that some people did not see results right away. Within the first 4 to 6 weeks I saw a big improvement along my jawline where most of my acne was. The second month I thought that I had accidentally taken 2 pills in one day and the next day I started spotting. I looked at the side effects and decided to stop taking it until the spotting was gone. It was very light and lasted about 3 days. My acne came back for a few days but started to get better when I started taking it again. I got my period at the time that I was supposed to so I didn't think much of it. Now in the 3rd month I have been making sure that I only take one pill a day. Two weeks after my period I started spotting again. I decided to keep taking my pills because I didn't want the acne to come back. Now it seems that I got my period again. On this message board I have read that after the 3rd of 4th month that the spotting gets better, but I have also read that when someone went to 50mg every other day that it got better. I'm thinking because it worked more quickly for me that now I can take one every other day just to maintain it.
So my question is has anyone been taking it every other day and not had a problem with spotting or their periods?
I was on Yaz for two years and came off about six months ago (Nov 2010) only because I didn't have health insurance and didn't want to pay out of pocket for the pill. After a few months, I gained 15 or so pounds and my skin started going crazy with acne. Back, shoulders, neck, jawline, everywhere! I'm 24 so it was really weird, especially since I have a pretty healthy lifestyle, drink a lot of water, exercise, and wash my face. It was honestly the worst I've ever seen my skin, including my teenage years, so I figured it was hormonal acne.
Three months ago in February I got a job and health insurance so I went back on birth control pill, but Aviane, not Yaz. I didn't like the fact that coming off Yaz did so much damage to my skin and body, so didn't want to have to go through it all again the next time I stopped taking it. However, three months have passed using Aviane and not much has changed, although it doesn't seem like I'm gaining anymore weight and am just staying the same. But, I have acne scars and blackheads, and feel like my skin is constantly oily. I finally made an appointment with the dermatologist and explained everything to her... she really sold spironolactone to me. I start today at 50 mg and will keep everyone updated! Here's hoping...