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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September 21, 2008

Pros:

not sure if there are any

Cons:

makes you need to pee more, tastes and smells strange

starting taking this for POS symptoms, hair loss & acne, my hair started to get thicker, and my skin as been clear ever since, but now my hair is starting to fall out again, and i have no sex drive at all which sucks and all the doctors i've seen don't know what to tell me.
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September 19, 2008

Pros:

It really seems to be helping

Cons:

still breaking out

It does work, but I have an appointment next week and I stil need some help.
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September 18, 2008

Pros:

so far so good, minimized black and white heads in just a couple days, my skin in not as oily

Cons:

a little tired sometimes, have to go to the bathroom a little more then usual

I have had severe acne for 18 years. I've tried everything. Started clearing up when I turned 20 but then got worst with each child I had. I have been on spiro for 1 week. I still have had some breakouts. However I've noticed that the black heads and white heads on my nose have dramatically diminished. My pores look smaller and my skin is not as oily. I started off last week @ 50mg per day. I move up to 50mg twice a day today and 50 mg three times a day next Thurs. If I see a dramatic improvement this week I might just leave the dosage at two times a day.
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September 18, 2008

Pros:

I love this drug, works even better than Accutane (for me anyway) due to the mini,al side effects. Cleared skin within a month of taking it, also my hair is thinker.

Cons:

Tiredness at first but that went away. My sex drive has plummeted though which is a big deal but I'm afraid to stop taking it. Any suggestions here?

I asked my gynocologist to prescribe it for my skin and he had no hesitation. My only concern is that I have not had a potassium level test in a year so I think I will do that soon. My hormone levels were normal but I suspected that I was sensitive to testosterone due to my history of oilyness, breakouts and thinning hair. There's a book called The Hormonally Vulnerable Woman that explains this in detail.
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September 17, 2008

Pros:

Very cheap! Small pill! Helps with cystic acne!

Cons:

Takes along time to work! Gets worse before it gets better. (at least for me it did)

I have been taking Spiro and Metformin for PCOS for the last 50 days.. so about 7 weeks and some odd days.I take 50mg in the morning and 50mg at night. I read alot about Spiro on the internet and all the positive responces that it got from acne suffers. I have had acne since I was 12yrs old. I have tried almost everything including tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, tazorac, diffren, clydimicine (spell), ortho tri cycline, acne free, proactive....just about everything except accutane. The derm said that my skin was not acne was not severe enough for all the side effects of accutane. For the last seven weeks my face has been HORRIABLE!!! It broke out so BAD!! Especially with cysts all on the lower part of my face. I was so devistated I wanted to die. I didnt leave the house for a month almost. Finally in the last week or so my face has calmed down and I have one cysts left but still some red marks. It is starting to get better. Just stick with it!
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September 15, 2008

Pros:

It really works!! I've had every type of acne since age 11 (now 38). My skin was near flawless with occasional monthly breakouts until about 2 weeks ago when I had to stop it due to severe dehydration. My skin currently looks worse than ever.

Cons:

Was taking too high a dose(200mg per day)which resulted in too many trips to the bathroom incl. never sleeping through the night. Often felt fatigued & sluggish, but never (until reading other reviewers) made the connection.

I intend to go back on it as soon as I can get back in with my dermatologist. Will try a lower dose & hope for the best.
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September 13, 2008

Pros:

I JUST STARTED TAKING IT SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2008. SO THIS IS N/A FOR NOW.

Cons:

LOTS OF TRIPS TO THE BATHROOM, DIZZY A LOT, MUSCULE ACHES, SORE THROAT. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE FLU AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE ALLERGIES. I'M TAKING CLARITIN D OVER THE COUNTER TO HELP.

I'VE HAD ACNE SINCE I WAS 13 and I STILL HAVE IT AND I'M NOW 33. I WILL PUT UP WITH THE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT TO CLEAR UP THIS ACNE. I HAVE BLACKHEAD AND WHITEHEAD ALL OVER MY FACE AND SO ARE LIKE CYSTS. IF I MESS WITH THEM THEY JUST SEEM TO FILL BACK UP WITH MORE COCKA. MY PORES ARE VERY SMALL.. I JUST WANT CONFINENCE AND SELF ESTEEM BACK.
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September 9, 2008

Pros:

Seems to be helping, but not totally clear yet, but I'm hopeful since others say it takes awhile.

Cons:

muscle aches, fatigue, frequent urination

Like one other reviewer said, I feel like I'm dying... My muscles are very achy and I feel sluggish. I have low blood pressure to start with, so I'm sure that has a lot to do with why it is affecting me so hard. BUT it seems to be clearing my skin up, so it's worth it. I'm 30 and have had hormonal acne around my mouth and chin just in the last year or so and I have a Mirena IUD like one other reviewer. I'm on 50 mg, twice a day right now. My skin isn't perfect yet, but I think it's working. When I wake up in the morning, I feel really stiff and it doesn't get better until a few hours into the day. I can tell a difference when I eat more. I seem to not feel quite as bad. At first I thought the drug was making me depressed, but really, it's just sluggishness and I'll have long stretches where I just don't feel motivated to move at all - which really isn't like me. But I've tried everything - pills and topical, except Accutane, so this is worth it, if it continues to help my skin.
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September 5, 2008

Pros:

My face and scalp seem to be a little less oily so far

Cons:

Maybe an extra trip to the bathroom here and there, for the first day I felt slightly dizzy about an hour after taking the pills

Havent really noticed any improvement in the breakouts so far, I am also going for Blu-U light treatments twice a week which kind of helps keep them at bay, I started on 25mg of Spiro for the past 5 weeks, recently upped the dose to 50mg daily. I am also on Alesse for the last 3 months but Im considering quitting that after this pack is done because it seems that my acne completely exploded since starting the birth control. Does anyone know how long before you start to notice a difference with the spiro or do you need to be on a high dose (eg. 100 mg daily) for a few consecutive months before you see anything?
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September 4, 2008

Pros:

decrease in cystic acne, hormonal acne
less oil

Cons:

dry skin, frequent unrination, heart palpitations at times, muscle weakness

At first this medication gave me an initial breakout, muscle weakness at 100 mg a day. After 3 months my cystic acne has improved but I need at least 150mg a day. I have tried everything since I was 13 yrs old and accutane was not an option since I can't tolerate BCP. It is worth it to help me feel better about myself since acne is emotionally difficult.
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Finding a Doctor

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.
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Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

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