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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June 15, 2009

Pros:

Very effective in clearing my moderate, cystic, adult acne.

Cons:

Breast tenderness, fatigue, nausia,constipation,gas,depression

I have taken 50mg daily for almost a year.This medication has completely cleared up my painfull cystic acne (8-10 cysts per month), which has been really wonderfull, but I am so sick of the side effects that I am going to stop taking it. My breasts are so sore all the time. Taking off my bra has brought me to tears at times. I'm tired all the time and feel sad. Possiby because the meds are depleating B vitamins. I have gained 10lbs in the last year, likely because of the depression.It's just not worth it for me.
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June 2, 2009

Pros:

Some weight loss, fewer breakouts, less oily skin.

Cons:

More restroom breaks the first week, and fatigue. However, it only lasted about a week.

I'm 5 yrs old and started getting acne at age 16. After I had my son, I went on Ortho-tricylin and it did improve. (about half of what I was getting) However I started to get some cystic ones,but mostly med. sized ones. Of course I'm a picker so that only made it WAY bigger and spread...it was horrible. I am currently taking 50 mg. daily, seems ok. I would say on average you would see 3-6 pimples (one of which was usually a cystic on a day that would just NEVER go away!) I've tried the usual ortho-tricyclin, Proactiv, Yaz, doxy, Murad...everything OTC. NOTHING helped. I got by with TONS of benzoyl peroxide, good covering makeup and tanning. ( I know...a no no. But it helped dry it up! And I still do it!) After 3 weeks..it has almost cleared the acne on my neck, back and chest. I'm going to the beach right after my period..so I am thinking about taking 75 mg the week before my period so i can actually swim when I'm there and not worry about not having make up on! Good luck to all!
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May 31, 2009

Pros:

I started taking spiro in Jan, but unfortunately stopped in Mar because I wasn't sure if it was working. Ironically, looking at pictures now I realized my break-out were mainly on the surface and all the under the skin stuff was really clearing up!

Cons:

I've noticed some muscle aches due to dehydration, so I've started drinking more water. I also know it's going to get worse before it gets better.

I've had acne since I was 12 but it's gotten far worse since college, nothing over-the-counter was working, and I realized it wasn't just going to go away. According to blood work, my doctor discovered that my DHEA (hormone) levels were twice that of an average female. Basically my hormone levels were all out of balance and that's what was causing my acne... and probably also my excess hair growth (thankfully I'm blonde), my muscular build, and small chest size. I'm hoping I can stick with it this time, because I know I will see results eventually. I'm also trying to decide if I should combine this medication with the pill, has anyone seen a more positive outcome by combining the two?
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May 29, 2009

Pros:

It started working fast - I had one more breakout but everything is clearing up great! Back and face!

Cons:

A LOT of fatigue. I am an avid runner - and there is an extremely visible decline in my stamina and endurance. Overall though, lacks the cons of other treatments. I've had no mood swings or weight gain and haven't even noticed breast tenderness.

This is definitely worth a try if you're at your wits end trying to get your acne to stop appearing.
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May 27, 2009

Pros:

cuts down on oiliness, gives skin a clear appearance, cuts down on breakouts

Cons:

feel tired and dizzy if I don't drink enough water. Dries out skin and hair.

I'm a 49 year old who used to have cystic acne long ago which was cleared up with Accutane. I'm taking spiro to try and get rid of excess facial/body hair since it is an anti-androgen. Was hoping it would also enlarge my breasts as I have heard others report. No sign of that yet. I have been taking 50 mg a day for about a month. I was on Yaz for about 2 and a half months and it cleared up my skin, got rid of body hair, and enlarged my breasts, but I couldn't take the side effects - tingling in arms, migraines - scary. So far, spiro has helped the appearance of the skin on my face, but it has dried out the skin elsewhere. I don't yet see any improvement in facial/body hair; in fact, it may have increased it slightly, while the hair on my head seems to be falling out rapidly. I'm trying to hang in there because my doc tells me it takes a few months. I will report back again.
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May 27, 2009

Pros:

It worked for me along with solodyn.

Cons:

I did feel dizzy alot with headaches. But I would take that over cystic acne.

It worked for me. My face is clearing up and no new breakouts. Now if I could only get rid of these deep scars I would be happy with my skin. Oh and it bugs me when people write a review after 2 days. I waited a few months before I wrote a review. You can't tell how it is in 2 days.
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May 16, 2009

Pros:

This cleared up my severe cystic acne in a very short time! I have run out before - and if I skip more than a week I start to breeak out exactly like I did before.

Cons:

I really don't have many side effects. I always drink a lot of water so I really didn't notice a change in drinking or urinating.

LOVE this stuff. I have been on this medication for well over three years. I go and have my blood work done every 6 months to monitor for pottasium levels, I take 100 mg/ day and it is the only thing that has cleared up my face. I had adult cystic acne for about 15 years before I found this wonder pill. Although, they do taste minty - I don't know what's up with that!
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May 5, 2009

Pros:

Since taking Spiro, I've noticed that my overall oil production has decreased and that my skin feels and looks smoother and brighter. My boobs have gotten a bit bigger and my hair isn't as oily as it was in the past.

Cons:

I felt tired and a bit achy the first few weeks on the medication. I see a lot of people complain about the headaches, which I also got, but realized that the headaches were a trigger for me drink more water - then my headaches went away.

My skin isn't 100% yet, but I have faith that it will get to where I can be happy with it. My older scars are a bit more noticable now that my skin is smoother and brighter, so I'm going to need to get some peels and dermobrasion done soon to minimize their appearance. I still breakout, but I get one or two instead of 15 or 20 each day now. I'll continue to take Spiro until my dermo finds something else that she'd like to try on me. I'm currently on 100mg a day and I've been taking the drug for 2 1/2 months. If you have hormonal acne or if you've tried everything else (Accutane, RetinA, Solodyn, Duac, Epiduo, Rosac, Minocycline, etc.), try this, it may be the drug that finally helps clear up your skin. I still have high hopes.
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May 3, 2009

Pros:

Took a good 6 months to really work but now I have great skin

Cons:

Bad initial breakout - sleepy and had to go to the bathroom lots during the first 2 weeks

Sprio has worked great for me but you have to have patience!! I broke out badly a couple of summers ago even though I was using BCP and RetinA for a few years. Intially Sprio made my acne so much worse, I wanted to cry. After a month I went back to my Dermo and she put me on Bactrim to help with the IB. I saw improvement in about a month and after about 10 weeks I was clear (was and still am using BCP and RetinA), I started at 100mg and have stayed in this dosage. After about 6 months I dosed down on the Bactrim and stopped it completely a few months later. Now I never break out, My skin is the best it has ever been. The key is patience and working with your derm to be at a high enough doseage for Spiro to be effective. If you aren't seeing any improvment after 3 months, ask to bump it up. I'm so glad that I pushed through the first 3 months and stuck with thisl.
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May 3, 2009

Pros:

Cheap as chips, minimal side effects (once used to it) minty flavour!

Cons:

makes you a bit dizzy at first or when you up your dose.
Seemed to make things a little worse in the beginning.

Well i still need more time on this, but after 3 months on 25mg, 50mg, then 75mg, (1 month each) things have been better with regards to oil production. I can wash my hair every two days instead of every day and my face is not slick with oil like it used to be. my skin goes through cycles. Sometimes it is flawless then i get another breakout which can take a while to heal. I am taking 100mg a day now and hope this may just fine tune it. I have had great results on diane35 but can no longer take it due to migraines so this was my 'other option'. we'll see how it goes from now on!
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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.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
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