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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April 13, 2011

Pros:

cyst-free skin
less oily skin and hair
less facial hair

Cons:

headaches
irregular periods
nausea
thirst
weird dreams

I have been on spiro for about 3 years. I started on 50 mg and then was increased to 200mg/day. At 200mg I had beautiful skin, but I was constantly feeling depressed and nauseous. The dr. reduced the dose to 150mg/day. I tried to reduce it again to 100mg/day but my dhea levels started to climb again (monitored by endocrinologist). I now stay on 150 mg. Ever since I started taking spiro, the cysts subsided. It was getting to the point where I was depressed about my skin (at 45 year old). I always had acne but never cysts that were so painful. Spiro is a great drug, but there are a lot of side effects. I now get my period every 12-15 days...dr. worries about iron deficiency and it's a nuisance. I sometimes feel more moody than I used to be, but, all in all, I would highly recommend it. I'm hoping I can stop taking it when I hit menopause.
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April 7, 2011

Pros:

Cleared up large cystic acne

Cons:

nausea, dizziness, indigestion, headaches, frequent urination, irregular periods

I'm 35 and going through a lot of stress in my life. For over a year I had terrible cystic acne, especially on my back and neck. So, I started out on 100mg a day and had an increase in breakouts before starting to see it clear up. However I had terrible side effects. So I cut back to 50 mg and still had terrible side effects. I am now down to 25mg a day starting today but I'm afraid it won't work as well. But I can't live with the headaches and nausea anymore. Its almost worse than being pregnant, but my skin hasn't looked this good since I was 25.
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April 6, 2011

Pros:

Reduces acne and body hair by a great deal.

Cons:

Mild side effecs in the first moths.
Long term side effect: my period stopped completely.

I have been taking this for about two years and it has helped my acne by about 80/90% and reduces my body hair also graitly. Now I'm afraid to stop it, but am also very worried about the fact that I don't get any periods any more (at least, not without the Yasmin bc). This seems all very onlogical to me. Maybe it's because my hormones were normal before and now my body doesn't produce enough testorone too make enough estrogen. I don't know.. IF ANYONE HAS AN IDEA, PLEASE REPORT THIS! I will be reading it gladly! Good luck!
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March 17, 2011

Pros:

-25 mg seemed to be working really well
-reduces oil, but my skin wasnt really that oily, so if anything its a little more dry now
-hair comes in finer
-really cheap

Cons:

I think im having an initial breakout

I was on 25 mg for the first month, and my skin was completely clear, then i got bumped up to 50 about 11 days ago, and i cant remember the last time my skin looked this bad...probably not since before accutane. Im hoping its just my body getting used to the upped dosage, or maybe 50 is more than I need. I'm not sure. Gratned it is right before my period, and I do usually get a few small ones around this time, but never anything like this...I'm gonna stick it out, but wanted to share my experience at about the 6 week mark
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March 3, 2011

Pros:

cheap
easy to take
minimal side effects
worked somewhat

Cons:

minty taste

It helped get rid of some of my acne and prevented new flare ups, but wasn't a cure-all. Absolutely worth a try though, very cheap and no side effects for me.
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January 26, 2011

Pros:

Inexpensive

Cons:

Taste of mint
Takes time to see results
Flared up in the first week after using it

I have been on this for 4 months now, this drug works really well with birth control. I was on this by itself and still got an occassional zit. I went on birth control a month ago, and this drug is most effective with it. Its like a double sided coin. If I had known this I would have been on birth control from the very start. I dont get any zits at all. Im on 100mg a day. Right now am receiving consultation on laser therapy to soften my acne scars. I must tell you to try this with birth control and give it at least 3 months to see results. I didnt see results right away like other people, but it does take time
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November 10, 2010

Pros:

Reduces sebum production
Evens skin tone
Reduces redness and blotchiness
Reduction in severity of breakouts
Complete elimination of nodular jawline breakouts
Loss of weight

Cons:

Fatigue initial 3 weeks
Dehydration
Light-headed
Large pill to consume

This is a product with the potential to eliminate cystic hormonal acne breakouts (which I have, I am 26 and have had adult-onset acne since I was 22) The pill is large, be sure to take it with lots of water, and consume water throughout the day/night. I am not completely clear, however, I also have just recently gone back on the pill about 5 weeks ago. Originally I had been on it two years, and it cleared all my jawline acne and cysts, i still have minor breakouts. I am currently still having breakouts, however not as many cysts, mainly around my mouth and chin. I RECOMMEND this product for anyone with hormonal acne. It is truly a very effective product for many, including myself. I wish you luck.
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October 18, 2010

Pros:

Clears Acne

Cons:

Acne will come back much worse once you stop taking it

My dermatologist put me on yaz and spiro (50mg) for acne about a year ago. It cleared my acne about 95%. I stopped taking the yaz and spiro 6 months ago and my acne has come back with a vengeance. I just started back on spiro (75mg) and ocella to get clear again. I hope I get the same results as before. Eventually I hope to try accutane because although spiro may clear your acne while your on it, it's not a cure.
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September 20, 2010

Pros:

Has reduced my acne quite a bit. However I am still getting some minor stuff.

Cons:

Frequent trips to the bathroom!

I have had acne for eight years and have tried everything minus accutane. My derm gave me this and said if it did not get rid of the problem then accutane would be my next step. I started three mounths ago my dosage was 100mg 2x with birth control. Now I was bumped up to 150mg which is the max with birth control so that is 175mg all together. I love how less oily I am infact I am never oily which is so cool! I still have some minor breakouts but I have only been on it for three mounths and my derm was immpressed. I go back in decmeber that is seven mouths total and hopefully I will be acne free! This is a great product to try before resorting to accutane. If this does not work accutane will. Beacuse my problem is oil. Give this a try you might be susprised.
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August 18, 2010

Pros:

My acne is almost gone, weight loss, hair less oily.

Cons:

need to drink more water
sore back at first but this has gone now
period irregular

My dermatologist prescribed Roaccutane but after reading about iall the side effects. I wanted to try spiro first. I have taken Yasmin in the past but have been unable to continue due to bad migraines. Spiro has made a big difference already to my hormonal acne. I started on 50mg daily and have been on 100mg daily now for about a month. I still have a few pimples but am hoping I will be completely clear soon. I am 39 years of age and wish I had known about this years ago!
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