So the implication is that you have to be on some other kind of bcp AS WELL as spiro? Or can you just use Spiro by itself?

Is that aldactone ingredient a hormone or what?

Anyone know how it compares to Dianette in terms of acne prevention?

Anyone know if it's available in the UK?

Thanks.

its avaliable everywhere but by perscription only. And usually only by dermatologists because its a fairly new and innovative treatment most family doctors won't perscribe it as they usually are trained only to pick up on the main meds and general info. anything more specialized and well..then you have to see a specialist which a derm is. Also, when you get it the product information doesn't even mention acne as an affliction is made to treat as its actually primarily a blood pressure medication.

I got a perscription but i have yet to use it. Right now things are resasonably controlled and i don't like the idea of a potassium sparing drug in my body at the moment. I don't like that my doctor told me it would constantly cause me to go to the washroom..which is what it does, flushes your system constantly. ew. not right now for me.

its avaliable everywhere but by perscription only. And usually only by dermatologists because its a fairly new and innovative treatment most family doctors won't perscribe it as they usually are trained only to pick up on the main meds and general info. anything more specialized and well..then you have to see a specialist which a derm is. Also, when you get it the product information doesn't even mention acne as an affliction is made to treat as its actually primarily a blood pressure medication.

 

I got a perscription but i have yet to use it. Right now things are resasonably controlled and i don't like the idea of a potassium sparing drug in my body at the moment. I don't like that my doctor told me it would constantly cause me to go to the washroom..which is what it does, flushes your system constantly. ew. not right now for me.

 

My derm never suggested it..ever. I read about it on here, only then did I get an rx ( Oct 04).... from my family doctor. I filled it but it sat there for a few months and I discarded them. In May, went to the derm got a handful of topical rx's and spiro again.. which I filled , and again it sat there. I finally broke down and started using it 2 weeks ago today. I reread the spiro thread thats on here for the second time prior to starting. I had tried dietary modifications which actually seemed to work for the first few weeks as far as cutting down sugar and junk. The redness subsided but the oil was still the number 1 problem...

The K+ sparing side effect was what worried me most. Bathroom breaks aren't really much increased. Your doctor is a bit heavy on that side effect. I had a nasty head cold during this time and drank lots of water anyway. I've been on the pill for 20 years now and my skin has been a puddle of oil for the last 3-4 years. I've been doing the BP routine for almost as long and decided a month ago to stop. Skin was still breaking out but red and dry and oily and I was getting so PO'd. Well.... the breakout that followed one week after stopping, was so bad, that's when I thought what do I have to lose? I have spiro sitting in the cupboard. My face was an utter mess. I stopped freaking myself out and decided it would either 1) get worse 2) get better 3) stay the same. Not including spiro side effects

Googled up a bunch of high K+ foods (links below) to see what I should avoid.... there is far more K+ in a baked potato than a banana.

So, 2 weeks today now, I haven't died, haven't broken out. My skin is DRY!!!! Woohooo! My hair is dry, thats a good thing. My makeup is staying on what a thrill. I have had no side effects at this point. I'm on 25mg am, and 25mg pm. With or without food it doesn't matter. Have not added anything new to my skin care so as not to confuse the issue. Wash with water am, pm and apply BP where most needed, before bedtime. Wait 10-15 minutes, apply Rosacure moisturizer (for Rosacea skin). Works for me as my skin is highly sensitive. I cannot even find a mild cleanser, I may try Cetaphil again, will see. I drink a lot of water as a rule anyhow,bathroom breaks are going to happen. I've taken the pm dose as late as 9pm, I've slept thru the night no problem.

I think one of the things I learned reading the spiro thread was to be on some form of BCP a long time prior to starting. Some BCP's will break you out badly. I'm on Synphasic, for several years so I was lucky to not have to start 2 new drugs at the same time. Also, start at the lower dose of spiro.. it might just work, I guess it would depend on your type of acne. I noticed some high dose starters had more problems. And, to not change your skin care routine with new products. One poster had done that as well, same day started a new cleanser and within a couple of weeks, was so broken out blamed the spiro and stopped. Many cleansers break me out, I've learned that much over the years.

Anyway, I am thrilled and I hope this keeps up. My type of acne is mainly clogged pores.. hundreds.. all over the face, and jawline, even going down the neck area. At a glance my skin would look normal, but in certain light, turn a certain way, looks like hives.. ech. Now the skin is cleared up wonderfully from that nasty break out and will see over the next few weeks what's going to happen.

Here are some links to K+ foods, you can look at the low-high range. I really haven't made any dietary modifications at this point. I don't eat a lot of the high ones, I'll watch the medium ones.

Give it a shot when you are ready. Good luck! Just think of it this way, if it works for you and you have to go to the bathroom more, you'll get to admire your clear skin!

http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=103

http://nursing.ucsfmedicalcenter.org/medsu...ePrinciples.pdf

http://www.drugs.com/CG/HIGH_POTASSIUM_FOODS_LIST.html

http://www.nwkidney.org/images/website/doc...lowpotasium.htm

http://www.nwkidney.org/images/website/doc...medpotasium.htm

http://www.healthtouch.com/bin/EContent_HT...IST+&cid=HTHLTH

http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/tv7855

that was an awesome post shugar! thanks!!!

i may start on the sprio afterall my doctor will be thrilled LOL he wants me to taper off the mino and do spriolactone instead.

Hi everyone,

I have been using this medication for 6 months and my acne is gone. I can go outside, in public, to work, anywhere and feel confident again because my face doesn't look unhealthy. Confidence booster!

My question for the crowd is hyper pigmentation. In the past few month I have noticed dark blotches around my face from the sun, and I still have scarring from acne. These dark spots are really noticeable. My dermatologist says that they will not stop and are caused from spirna/sun.....

Im 26 and am so thankful for my health and now no acne.... Bit does anyone else have this issue?

Thanks everyone and stay strong!