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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July 31, 2009

Pros:

Less oily face and less breakouts

Cons:

Frequent urgent urination; rash

I started getting cystic acne in my late 20's and it kept getting worse. At 29 and 42 I went on two trials of Accutane and both worked but they had terrible side effects: even permanent damage of the hair texture and permanent hair folicle thinning (each strand is thinner). I tried Aldactone for the first time about 5 years ago and had great results but then I developed a rash after being on it for about a year so I went on birth control. I can't stand taking birth control and it's side effects so I decided to try a low dosage of Aldactone again. Usually I get breakouts around my mouth and nose and sometimes a small cyst (I used to get more cysts 8 years ago.) I am taking just 100 mg a day and noticed incredible urgency to urinate the first couple of days but this has gotten a bit better after 7 days. My face is so much less oily and my pms breakouts are so much more milder with no cysts at all. This is a wonderfully effective medication and I don't know why more doctors use it.
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July 31, 2009

Pros:

Alternative to Accuane when nothing else is working

Cons:

You will need to urinate constantly. Been on it for 3 weeks and I think it is making me tired also.

If it works, it is better than dealing with all the requirements and pregnancy testing of accutane. Was on accutane 3 times and the acne is back again so now I am trying this. So far, I like it better and it seems to work.
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July 27, 2009

Pros:

Cleared my skin up within a few months. A year and a half later, I haven't had a breakout in months :)

Cons:

Side effects when I first started... frequent urination, headache.

This stuff is amazing! Once my body got used to the medicine, it started working amazingly. My skin started to get almost dry so now i only take it once a day and its still working great. My skin feels smooth and my hair is less oily. Finally don't have to shower every day or twice a day.
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July 23, 2009

Pros:

This stuff works great for me. I've been taking it for a month and a half now and my skin is the clearest it's been in years. It's fantastic. One positive side effect: less appetite.

Cons:

I had initial side effects such as drowsiness, fatigue, and thirst to the point where I almost quit, but persevered anyway. The side effects went away after about 3-4 weeks as my body adjusted to the medication.

I'd recommend this drug to anyone, as it's the only thing that's really worked for me. It works way better for me than antibiotics or topicals like Clinicin or Retin-A. I still use a toner and benzoyl peroxide 10 twice a day, but my skin has dried out to the point where I wonder if that's too harsh (LOL, never thought I'd be saying that!) I'm a little concerned about long-term effects and/or what will happen when I go off of it--I feel like Cinderella whose face will turn back into the pumpkin if I quit taking it.:>) I plan on discussing these concerns with my doctor. This medication is supposedly safe for long-term use. I could do without the minty flavor, I'm not sure why they manufactured it like that. Otherwise, it's easy to take.
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July 17, 2009

Pros:

None so far, but it is early to tell.

Cons:

breast tenderness, dizziness, increased trips to the bathroom.

I started this medicine 1 month ago and my acne has gotten worse but it is hopeful to read that it takes some time for it to be effective. I have tried everything but accutane which will be my last option due to the serious side effects. My acne is hormonal, I am very hopeful this will be the final solution for my acne issues!
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June 27, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up Cystic Acne that I had battled for 12 years

Cons:

Was very tired the first three months(sometimes just had to take afternoon naps) . I seem to have adjusted and energy level is returning. Breasts are definitely bigger. Cannot take on an empty stomach.

Did not have bad acne as a teen, I started around age 40 and got progressively worst. It was so painful. I can't tell you how much I like this product. Dosage was raised to 125mg a day. This means you have to take tat least wo pills since it doesn't come in this dosage.
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June 26, 2009

Pros:

I've taken spirolactone for about two weeks so I haven't seen any results yet.

Cons:

I feel very tired and sleepy everyday.

I've have suffering of reallyl bad acne since I was 17 years old. Through out the years it's was taking all over my face. As a teenager I had acne in my cheeks, then in my twenties went on my chin, then after being pregnant I had the works acne of my life taking all of my face. I am almost 31 years old and I have been in so many treatments. My body doesn't tolerate accutane so I only took that for 2 weeks. I have hope in this new medication, spirolactone. I have to say though, I constantly feel tired, sleepy. I'll recommen it, even though, I've only using it for two weeks. I have faith that this will be the cure for my acne
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June 25, 2009

Pros:

Cleared my skin for awhile, but after about a year my acne has come back!

Cons:

Frequent urination, lowers blood pressure, increased fatigue, lowers energy level, need to drink plenty of fluids when on this drug!

I have been on this drug for quite awhile, and at first I was very pleased with the results. The acne has come back full force again, though, in all the same areas. I'm hoping that increasing my dosage will help. I'm on 50mg twice a day.
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June 21, 2009

Pros:

seems to be helping to minimize the outbreak of cystic acne

Cons:

restlessness at night (waking up a lot), anxiety, minor tightness in chest, dizziness, feelings of confusion and paranoia

I've been taking this for a few weeks and the first thing I noticed was that I would wake up a lot at night. Very restless with racing/repetitive thoughts. I am small (4'11, 85-95 lbs) and i'm taking 50 mg 2x a day. I'm going to cut back to 50 mg once a day or stop taking it all together. I also feel anxious during the day and generally feel like something isn't right. I cry very easily and feel very depressed sometimes. I don't know if the spiro is causing the anxiety and depression (i'm not taking anything else), but it's definitely causing restless sleep. I can fall asleep OK, and i now go to bed very early and get tired very easily at night, but I jsut cant stay asleep. It's very unpleasant. Overall I feel like it has a stimulant like effect, and I don't like that at all. I can't even tolerate caffeine. I may stop this even if it is helping my acne. Other people don't seem to experience these kinds of reactions though, so maybe it would worker better for other people.
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June 19, 2009

Pros:

It smelled great (like peppermint) but I didn't notice any miracle effects like I read on here.

Cons:

It gave me headaches, I had to get blood drawn every few months (don't like needles!!), and it made me dizzy a lot.

I read so many wonderful reviews on here about how it clears up acne and facial hair, but it did nothing noticeable for me at all.
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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.
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