Spironolactone
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Spironolactone is a type of oral medication called an anti-androgen that is sometimes prescribed to females. Androgens are male hormones that are present...

Spironolactone is a type of oral medication called an anti-androgen that is sometimes prescribed to females. Androgens are male hormones that are present in both males and females that lead to more acne, and spironolactone helps reduce androgens.

It is usually taken once or twice a day, around the same time(s), preferably with a meal.

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January 13, 2008

Pros:

Changed my life! Oil production and breakouts ceased within first 3-4 doses. I have only had one cystic zit in 4 months of use.

Cons:

Felt sextremely tired for the first 2 weeks. No other bad side effects.

I am 35 and have been battling my skin ever since I can remember. I suffered from cystic acne mainly on the chin as well as extreme oil production all over the face. There was never a day I didn't have a breakout or didn't have to use numerous oil blotting papers to degrease my faec. Every morning and night, I looked in the mirror to see what new had popped up and also see if the any of the old spots were getting better. No more obsessing over my skin since taking this medication! I can't explain how happy I am. I take 100 mgs per day and also use Differin gel .3%. My skin is drier all over my body, which is not a bad thing for me at all. The palms of my hands and feet, as well as my nails, are drier which is totally fine, too.
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January 13, 2008

Pros:

Clear skin, lost 10 lbs, lowered my high blood pressure!!

Cons:

dizzy sometimes, Took about 3 months to see results. I want to have a baby- but dont want an alternative to my miracle drug! HELP!!!

I have been on everything under the sun. Accutane (straight for 3 years, no breaks- made me super aggressive and angry), every antibiotic made (Augmentin worked the best, but bad diarrhea- & got sick/flu all the time), I've tried every over-the-counter & TV gimmic. Have been batteling acne since i was 9. I am now 24 and acne free for the first time "consistently"! I wash my face twice a day w/Cetaphil Antibacterial soap, moisturize w/thier lotion, take a low testosterone Birth control-'Ortho Cyclen' (been on every BC too, Yaz made me crazy) and take 200mgs of Spiro once a day. Still have breakouts (couple zits here and there) but nothing like i had before.*Unorthodox but i swear this works too-'Aquafresh Extreme Clean toothpaste'- for the bad unexpected zits-leave it on overnight, wash your face in the morning and it is all dried up! Do that for a couple days and the zit is gone. b4 i would have had that same bad zit for 2-3wks. Q: anyone know the TRUE risks of pregnancy & Spiro? y/n?
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January 11, 2008

Pros:

My face has became less oily and complexion looks clearer, and fresh. VERY AFFORDABLE!!(haven't had ins for the past 5 yrs):)

Cons:

Initial breakout only after 2 days of using spiro, however has subsided greatly.I haven't really encountered any other as yet.

Ok, so my Derm' rx for me 100mg of spiro, taken 1 x day and 150mg of clindamycin to be taken 3 x daily. I have been on this for only 1 week and already I've noticed a huge difference. Less oil, breakouts are not cystic, and less puss. I have used every antibiotic you can think of along with all the topicals, and yes even accutance, twice. I've had acne since age 16, I am now 29. I hope spiro will work wonders for me. All I want or I should say all i need is great skin. I think I deserve it after such a long battle with acne not to mention the scars. I will check in again after 1 month. Good luck to all!! Great Skin for the new year.
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January 7, 2008

Pros:

It seems like my skin is producing less oil. The pimples I get are more towards the surface of the skin, and not as deep and cystic as they were before.

Cons:

Amount of pimples hasn't really changed, just the size. Also a few pimples developed on my forehead...where I never break out.

I've had acne since 12, mild hirsuitism since 16, and I'm now 25. I was on spironolactone about five years ago, and it worked until I went off of it. Since about six weeks ago, I started out with 25 mg/day and didn't see any significant improvement, maybe a slight decrease in irritation/redness. I also got my period on time, which is rare. Then,a few weeks later I got the dosage bummped up to 50mg/day. Again nothing amazing. So about a week ago my doctor put me on 50mg/twice a day. I still haven't seen any major improvement yet, but I have hope since this drug worked before. Question for anyone who has taken this drug long-term and at a higher(>50)dosage. How long did it take to start showing a significant improvement in acne and/or hirsuitism?
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January 7, 2008

Pros:

decreased oil production,controlled acne, lost 5 lbs!

Cons:

felt dehydrated

This is the ONLY thing that has ever helped my skin. Significantly regulated my oil production and lessened my body hair. Nearly eliminated the cystic acne I had suffered from for 15 years. Would get small whiteheads (which I never had before), but these would clear quickly. Since this is a diuretic, as an added bonus I usually lose 5lbs each time I restart this prescription (have been on it 2x). The formula that worked for me was 100mg spiro, solodyn, retin-a micro & washing with Glytone essentials. Did cause me to be extremely thirsty.
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January 7, 2008

Pros:

clears skin and minimizes hair growth (esp. on chin, etc.)

Cons:

tired, peeing a lot, taking a pill everyday

If nothing else has worked for you (especially topical) and if you've developed acne post-adolescence (like me), it's definitely worth a try! I am back on it after about 6 months off (due to moving, changing doctors, insurance, etc.) but it works for me, and I can't imagine going back. It makes me sad to read about other peoples' experience, looking in the mirror and wanting to cry, avoiding social situations...but there's hope!
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January 6, 2008

Pros:

breast size increased, thinner body hair, less oil, diminished almost ALL of my acne

Cons:

took a very long time to see results. must take on a regular basis - if i'd skip a day or two, i would break out. Since it also affects blood pressure, I initially noticed dizziness and trouble exercising (this eventually went away).

I was prescribed spironolactone with differin gel about seven months ago at 50 mg/day. I broke out severely at first. After two months, I saw such little improvement that I went back to the doctor and raised my dose to 100 mg/day. Even then, I still broke out just less severely. It was only recently (about 4 months after raising my dosage) that I saw the improvement I'd heard about. I'm so happy I kept up with the product. I was told I would see full results in three months, but it was really after six. I would strongly encourage anyone battling hormonal acne to try spironolactone for a long period of time! Almost simultaneously, my breasts grew, my face became less oily, and my breakouts had VASTLY improved.
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January 4, 2008

Pros:

Cleared up all cystic acne.

Cons:

Caused horrible IB (not cysts, pretty small stuff), although not sure if this was due to retin-A.

I am also using retin-A at night and tetracycline twice daily (my spiro dose is 100 mg). This is the beginning of my fourth month on this regimen, and I finally have clear skin. I am still dealing with red marks from the bad IB (which was all over my face, on parts that I had never broken out before), but I know these will fade in time. I can honestly say that the day I started using this product was the day that my cysts stopped.
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January 4, 2008
anyone on a combo of spirono (50mg twice daily), rozac wash and Metrogel? Started 3 weeks ago with a little improvement, but now am having trouble. I also take Yasmin for PCOS.
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January 1, 2008

Pros:

Flat stomach

Cons:

Make me feel thirsty all the time. Have to drink tons of water to not feel dehydrated, Taking a pill every day.

I have been taking spiro for about three weeks. I definitely saw my belly get super flat but I havent notice much improvement in my acne. I was taking 100mg every day but I upped my dose to 200mg. I will probably slow downt to 150mg baceuse 200mg might be too much and I think a higher dose will not accelerate the process. I will defenitely keep taking it since it seemes like it starts working after month 3. Im also having the Smooth Beam laser done every month. I had my first treatment last month so I'll wait to see how things work all together. I was thinking about getting a prescription for Yaz since I will need the birth control.
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The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
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