Acne.org Products
Antiandrogen
Acne.org’s Real World Take
“Spiro” has been shown to work in a real and noticeable way most of the time. However, messing with hormones is messing with hormones and it’s best to proceed with caution.
Antiandrogen
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Spironolactone? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
February 12, 2012
Cons:
-still get a few breakouts when I'm on my period but they are MUCH smaller and MUCH fewer. (about two or three)
-they don't really last too long when you're taking two a day
I have been getting acne since 6th grade. Nothing has worked. Finally this year I went to the dermatologist and found out that my acne was strictly hormonal and that nothing was working because I was using topical medications. When I got this, after about a month, my face had no zits on it for the first time in my life. I had the confidence of a million supermodels (though i am most definitely not one) and I LOVE this pill. I do. Try it if you've tried everything! get to that dermatologist!
July 13, 2011
Pros:
Perfect, clear skin! No more cysts!
Cheap!
Cons:
Took 5-6 months to work
Works best at 150 mg dose (for me) and in conjunction with monophasic BC.
Must drink plenty of water.
I am SO thankful for this medication!
May 27, 2011
Pros:
Cleared up my acne
Lost some weight
Cons:
Aching knees
joint pain
muscle weakness
At 51 I have had cystic acne on and off since I was 13. I have been on accutane 4 times. My doctors refuse to put me back on it. I was told of Spironolactone and took a blood test to see if I could handle it. Came back fine. Initially started with .25 for a month than up .50. I have never had knee pain before, started with a week of taking the .25, when I got up to .50 by knees started to buckle, no warning I would just feel like I was going to fall. Stopped taking the medicine and within 4 days no more knee pain. I have researched these symptoms and I can't find anything that talks about joint pain and sprionolactone. No longer taking anything and starting to breakout again, but at least I have no more pain.
February 17, 2011
Pros:
Works fast
Easy to swallow
Cheap
Cons:
Heard it causes tumors in lab rats
The "Possible" side effects
Doctors visit
I am using this medication with Retin A .025 gel. My doctor gave me a low dosage of 20 mg vs 50 to 100mg. He told me since I was a petite woman that I didn't need more than that. At first I was concerned that the dosage was too low, but it actually worked for me. I don't know if it's the combination of the two products or if it's actually this product alone that cleared me up. I have NO SIDE EFFECTS! :) I saw results in 3 days!!!
January 14, 2011
Pros:
no side effects
minty taste
cheap!
Cons:
no cons
i've had some form of acne since i was 15 (i am now 36.) i often had cystic acne, and was on accutane 3 times. about 5 years ago, i started seeing a new derm who prescribed 50 mg of spiro along with my Yaz (which also contains 59 mg of spiro, so 100 mg total/day.) Since then, my skin has never had another break out and cystic acne is a thing of the past. A couple of years ago I tried to go off of it. It takes ab 3 months to get out of your system. sure enough, 3 mos later i began to get cystic acne under my chin! so gross. and sad. so i went back on it. now married and considering getting pregnant this year. so i'm going to have to go off of it, and honestly, i am really scared! i suppose it's a bit of a crutch now, it's so dependable. I've had friends try it and not like it, but i agree with some of the comments here-- for me it has been a miracle drug. and only $10 a month!
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!
April 17, 2010
Pros:
clear skin. facial hair is starting to thin out (doctor said it will be completely gone within 1 year)
Cons:
big pill, twice a day. you have to get in the habit of remembering to take it.
it's been 4 weeks. i began noticing improvement within 2. my face and body is almost completely clear except for a few pimples. i haven't even doubled my dosage yet, that's next week. i can't wait to see how quickly i'll finish clearing up! Now to work on fading away the blemishes.
March 26, 2010
Pros:
Clear skin!!!! scalp oil greatly reduced (only need to wash my hair every other day compared to everyday) facial oil somewhat reduced (still kind of oily but not as much as before...) confidence!!
Cons:
For the first month I was tired very often, my heart beat was rapid and out of control, VERY thirsty which resulted in terrible headaches if I did not consume enough, irregular menstruation
I've been on Spironolactone for nearly four months now, and the results have been phenomenal. For the first few months, I was on 200mg/day, and I saw my skin clearing after about a month. For the rest of the time due to a heart condition, I've been on 100mg/day. My skin is perfectly clear!!! I'm also using Clindamycin Phosphate Lotion in conjunction with benzoyl peroxide every morning and night. Wow, I have no pimples on my face right now, and it is that time of the month where I was usually full of those little monsters. Let me tell you how great it is to wake up every morning with a clear face. It's so strange, because when I do awake, I am full of anxiety. I run to the mirror and expect a few pimples to have emerged while I was in dreamland, but there isn't anything... I am thrilled, and I encourage everyone to try Spironolactone who hasn't already. It has made such a big amazing difference in my life.
September 2, 2009
Geoffrey Redmond wrote a book (The hormonally vulnerable woman) about this treatment after years of experience. It basicly says that in order for the spiro to be effective, you'll need a dose of 100-200mg/day (75mg if you have to many side effects). You'll also need a nonandrogenic (=no testerone-like effect) BC; yasmin was his first choice, though pills like ortho-cyclen ortho, try-cyclen, desogen, diane and mincette are also fine. It's very important to drink at least 1,5 l a day to prevent headaches, fatigue and legcramps. The pill will help you to keep the right amount and lengt of your periods and will also help (up to 50% of) your acne. It schould take 3-6 months to work, if you don't see any progress after about 4th month you up your dose. PS it's funny how no-one here who has used spiro for up to a year has a bad review, so I guess the doc might be right, it is always effective as long as you stick with it long enough. Acne, he says, is ALWAYS due to testosterone.
June 20, 2009
Pros:
softer skin, somewhat clearer
Cons:
Dizzy first weak only, an unusual foot cramp, a little soreness to breast. Fatiqued more.
I'm about six weeks into taking this drug. I can cope with the side effects if I will get the results others talk about. I am a 40 year old African American with lots of scars from years of acne. The cyst get fewer the older i get but yet embarassing when they arrive. I have only had one in six weeks. Hope thats a good sign. I simethimes forget to take them on the weekends but I'm getting better. I'm using Retin-A every other night. They say it will help with the dark marks. I can't say i'm overjoyed but i can't say i'm dissapointed yet either. I will check back at 12 weeks.
Pros:
-small pill
-no drying out
-clears up my skin completely
-makes me happy!