If you have bad acne, the kind that needs an oral medicine, I would definitely reccommend this. I only take 50mg/day. It took longer to really work (about 2 months), but now that it has fully kicked in, it works wonderfully.

Bottom line is that this really does work. I was concerned about the possibility of having a bad breakout after beginning it (as I have read in previous ratings) but I had no problems! I have been on Spiro for 6 months now, and I have clear skin ! Several years ago my Derm. put me on Doxycycline and I used Benzaclin (topical). After a about a year and a half I started having the cystic acne breakouts again. I would have 3 to 4 at a time and they would last for 2 months or more before healing. As soon as one would heal, another one or two would show up, so my face was constantly broken out. So he added Spiro, 100 mg daily. That combination is perfect for me now !!! I am 42 years old, and I have other issues to worry about, and acne should NOT be one of them ! Dont be afraid to try it, it really is worth it, and I am soooooo thankful for it !!!!!

I have had severe acne almost all my life. I have taken accutane, and practicaly every antibiotic on the market, nothing helped. I have cystic acne wich is incredibly painfully not to mention embarassing. I have been taking Spironolacton for almost 2 months now and I could not be happier. Don't get me wrong I still get one or two every once in a while but overall the improvement is incredible. I would definitly recommend this. The cost is also a bonus after spending thousands of dollers on products that did not work or worked for a few months.

I've had from about 15-23 until I started taking Spiro. I've taken antibiotics and practically every treatment except Accutane. I read about Spiro on this website and decided to try it out. It took about 3-4 months before my acne completely cleared. All I have left are the scars that are starting to fade now. My period has been very irreuglar. That started about the 3rd month. I would say the side effects don't bother me at all though because my skin looks great. Stay dehydrated.

I'm 19. I've broken out since middle school but nothing serious. It wasn't until I turned 19 that my acne became moderate -severe. I started getting cysts, and as soon as they would heal, more would flare up. Not to mention they would leave marks. I went to my dermatologist and he took one look at me and knew it was hormonal. I started Spironolactone at 25mg twice daily a month ago. I noticed a change in my hormones but it seemed like I was breaking out just as bad as when I started. I went back to the dermatologist today (6 weeks later) and he has now increased my dose to 75mg twice daily. I'm hoping I just need to give it more time! I'll keep updating. Additional note- My dermatologists strongly suggested I get off ALL dairy and any foods containing 'whey' and 'casein' He said there is a STRONG link between hormonal acne and dairy products that many people don't know about. He also said there is a STRONG link between dairy and cancers such as Breast & Prostate.

Months 1-2: Terrible breakouts, they were cycstic and as everyone knows, these were painful. Began to clear up after second month, and saw a great reduction of oil on my face. Month 3: So this is my third month going into my fourth and I only have about 3 cycstic ones. My Md said that I will begin to see the real difference once I get into my fourth month. I currently use 100mg daily along with Yasmin. I will absolutely keep using Spiro, b/c so far I lost only my acne. That's something worth using..

This is the only medication I have taken that has worked. I am 53 years old with acne. (naturally very depressed about it). Dermatologists may not tell you about this treatment option. I changed dermatologists and did my own research for treatment options, and I am so happy that I did. For the first time in the last 10 years I see improvement in my skin. I have tried diet changes, holistic approaches, etc... nothing worked but this!!!!

This drug takes a while to have an impact. I kid you not, I read literally every review left on this site for spiro while waiting for what others referred to as heaven sent results. And I am so glad I stuck it out. My skin was really clear until around 17 and then it slowly got bad. It was deep, cystic, inflamed, and I had the terrible habit of picking combined with anxiety. I hated my face and I have many deep scars from picking at acne. Nothing really worked for the deep stuff but I did eventually find a routine that worked well for surface acne. Then I got pregnant at 30 and my skin completely cleared. I glowed, it was unbelievable how much of an impact clear skin had on my self worth. I joked I would have had kids a decade earlier if I knew it would give me clear skin! I nursed for almost two years and by the end of it was starting to have more breakouts when I got pregnant again. My skin went back to amazing and again there was a slow reemergence of acne but this time I went to the dermatologist as I was insured for the first time in my life. I then was using Aczone twice a day because I was nursing and told when I stopped we could try oral medications. The medication helped with the surface acne but the deep stuff was slowly returning and when I weaned I started taking Spiro. I started at 25mg twice a day for 2.5 months. I lost a few pounds of water weight, looked a bit leaner, and had to pee quite often as well as drink more fluids. I had a few moments of light headed ness, and had heavy breakouts around the second to fourth week and consistently broke out. My husband said 'why bother' quite often when it wasn't working after a month which was super discouraging. I kept reading all the reviews on this site every night and took my pills regularly. Eventually the acne got worse as the surface kind returned. After 2.5 months I went back desperate for a higher dose. The dermatologist switched me to a topical clindamyacin (sp?) and increased the dose to 50mg twice a day. I had a heavier breakout after increasing disease but after about a month the surface acne had cleared and the deeper stuff was coming less often. After two months my skin was back to its glowing pregnancy state! Now I may get a blemish here or there before my period but it is small and quickly healed and gone. I'm so grateful my doctor recommended it to me, as I had never heard of it prior. Spiro has changed my life dramatically. No more hiding because I can't face the public, and I hardly ever use my makeup any more. I wish I found this before I ruined my skin with scars. It is cheap and heaven sent! My best advice is to start with a low dose, slowly increase and STICK IT OUT!

I've had mild/severe acne ever since I hit puberty. I've tried EVERYTHING other than accutane and really didn't want to go down that road. The pill Brenda helped clear me somewhat but I had to stop taking it because it was aggravating my depression. As soon as I stopped taking it my depression went away and my acne came back in full force. I came across Spironolactone and really wanted to try it. Within a month of taking it my skin was already starting to clear. I've been taking it for over 4 months now and my skin has never looked so good. My skin is also visibly less oily. The best thing about this pill is that I haven't had ANY side effects... i'm taking 50mg. I do need to go to the toilet a little bit more than usual but for clear skin it's a small price to pay!

Let me preface by noting that I have had cystic acne all of my adult life. I am middle aged and have tried everything from Accutane (ugh) to topical prescriptions. Because I am also hypersensitive to most oral and topical medications, typically I have unusual and/or severe reactions. With that being said, I feel like I am the poster child for what symptoms an individual could possibly experience on the "negative side effects" end of the spectrum. It should also be noted that about two months prior to beginning treatment with Spironolactone, I began using a topical solution of vitamin B3 (niacinamide 5%) by Gia Naturals in place of my very expensive Dr. Dennis Gross moisturizer. The results were noticeably positive but not spectacular. Additionally, I use Bare Minerals liquid foundation, GloMinerals compressed powder, and Lancôme blush to avoid makeup based flare ups. Regardless, I was still having trouble with slow healing and (mostly) hormone related cysts. At my wit's end, I went back to my dermatologist. He prescribed an initial dose of 50mg of Spironolactone to start my treatment. I took the first pill around 7pm and within hours developed a severe dehydration-type headache that lasted all night and part of the next day. I called my dermatologist and after explaining my symptoms, he instructed me to cut the 50mg pill in half and try the lower dose before deciding to give up on the Spironolactone. I did and, thankfully, had no more headaches. I continued to take the reduced 25mg dosage for a couple of weeks (along with the above-mentioned products) and was seeing signs of improvement! About five days ago, with my menstrual cycle looming, I got brave and began taking the entire 50mg Spironolactone pill. I am happy to report that the headaches did not reappear and I made it through the worst of my period with no new cysts. The only side effect I have experienced over the past five days on the increased dosage is a notable tiredness. Bear in mind though, I am a 7th grade English teacher and my tiredness could be symptomatic of dealing with 85 twelve to thirteen year olds with spring fever while I am on my period!! Overall, I am cautiously optimistic about Spironolactone. My side effects have been manageable, the results thus far have been notable, and most importantly, the long term use of Spironolactone poses no significant physiological or psychological threat to users according to long term research findings. If you are considering Spironolactone, it is probably a safe bet to at least give it a try. As the poster child for side effects, however, I suggest starting with a low dosage and working up to higher dosages as your body becomes accustomed to the drug. WISHING YOU THE BEST! Sharron Z-W Post Script: I failed to mention that during this time I also began taking 500mg of vitamin B3 (niacinamide) orally every day along with my Spironolactone. My dermatologist said there are no contraindications and the vitamin is better absorbed when taken orally. (Please see research on vitamin B3 use for problem and/or aging skin)