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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October 7, 2009

Pros:

It actually clears hormonal acne! Also reduces oil dramatically, and helps get rid of blackheads, not to mention it is very cheap!

Cons:

There really aren't any for me, maybe increased urination, but that's about it.

In mid July 2009 I began to flare up after discontinuing my birth control. My face was a mess! I immediately resumed my bc, but it wasn't the magical cure right off the bat. I read about spiro and decided that it might just be the med for me since my acne was obviously hormonal and I have always been super duper greasy. I started out with 100 mg spiro (also taking the Yaz, which is about 25 mg of spiro) but increased to 125 mg's plus the Yaz at around month two. I completely dried up for a while, but now I can actually say that my skin is very balanced, not oily and not dry. Before I began taking the med, I had read all of the reviews on here, most of which all said that it took a few months before it really started working, and while everyone is different, this was exactly the case for me. I just began month 3 of spiro, and my acne is almost completely gone, it has done a 180! I am positive that time will only make it better too! Yay for this med! Ladies try it out!
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October 5, 2009

Pros:

Less facial hair, less oily skin, cleared my acne right up.

Cons:

Almost past out from Dizziness when I first took it. Dehydrated a lot.

It cleared up my acne. I had horrible blackheads and terribly oily skin that would cause the most random of embarassing breakouts and small cysts. After about a month I could see and feel the difference in my skin. After 4 months my acne was gone. My skin was so smooth. Stopped taking it for 2 months because I had a surgery and my skin in HORRIBLE again. I'm back on it again. Caused me major dizzines and dehydration when I first started taking it but my body grew use to it. If you have acne, specifically hormonal acne, try this out! But be patient and keep consistent, it does take time!
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October 5, 2009

Pros:

Reduction in inflammatory cysts, much clearer skin, not as oily,less inflammation, and it helped to reduce bloating also!

Cons:

Fatigue-went away after several weeks. I drank plenty of water, which seemed to help. Increased trips to the bathroom, when I first starting taking. Effects on Potassium.

I tried this after my derm recommended. He wanted to prescribe Accutane, but I was against it, b/c of side effects. He then recommended Spiro as a last resort before Accutane. Within several weeks, I noticed a huge difference. Less inflamed cysts, clearer skin, not as oily, even less bloating. I did have some side effects, (fatigue, increased urination) which went away after several weeks. I am also taking Yasmin, and Aczone, a topical, which also works very well.
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October 5, 2009

Pros:

Nothing like it! No cysts, little facial hair, and weight loss to boot.

Cons:

Occassional dizziness.

Past menopause, mid-fifties, was still battling cysts, despite many rounds of accutane, dairy reduction. Really works for me.
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October 4, 2009

Pros:

Cleared me up completely. I love love love this stuff. Lost 10lbs.

Cons:

Headaches that usually go away after you drink lots of water. Frequent urination.

This stuff works so well!!! I begged my derm to put me on this and she finally did. I had about 30 acne cyst on my face when I started. By the end of the 1st month it decreased to 10. By the end of the 2nd month I was completely clear. I was so depressed before I started this med, I stayed in the house all summer and cried all the time. I was 25 y/o with teenage acne. I started on 50mg and got bumped up to 100mg. I tried all the antibiotics and topical creams available, nothing worked. I also started Yaz the same time I started spiro. Try it, it works. Be patient, it takes time.
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October 3, 2009

Pros:

Works very well.

Cons:

Blood tests every 6 months to monitor potassium level. Had to see an endocrinologist for the script.

Hi everyone. This is my 2 year update. I don't use any topicals anymore. I never break out either. My skin is now super dry. In fact, I'm thinking of reducing the dosage to balance out the dryness. I never guessed it would have worked so well. I had extremely oily skin, so don't think it's just for mild cases of acne. I have 2 previous posts on here, so if you want to see my spiro progression, just scroll back. Best of luck. By the way, I'm on 200 mg. daily, but about to drop to 150 mg. or possibly 100 mg. It's very effective over time.
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October 1, 2009

Pros:

Great for oil reduction and keeping breakouts from occuring.

Cons:

Nothing

If you suffer from oily skin and hormonal acne, Get this! It will work
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September 30, 2009

Pros:

Really helps with my cystic acne

Cons:

Increased urination, always take before 4 pm so you're not up all night

I have been using this for hormonal acne since 2001, I started at 200 mg for the first couple years, it started to work for me right away. I'm now on 100 mg daily and when I don't take it I start to break out. I had visited tons of dermatologists and everything prescribed didn't help, actuallymade it worse. I have ashermans syndrome and haven't had a period since I was 19, so my hormones are pretty much all over the place, this and the proactiv I use are the only things that stop the breakouts.
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September 30, 2009

Pros:

Gets rid of acne. Slows down oil production.

Cons:

Irregular periods. It impacted the duration and flow of my period. I had two periods in one month and none the following month. Initial breakout.

I've tried a lot of products and was tired because nothing seemed to work. I am 38 years old. It took about 2 months before it started to work, but my acne went away completely and I get no more breakouts. The issue with my period is the only real negative. I'd like to encourage the people who get the bad initial breakout to hang in there. It will work.
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September 20, 2009

Pros:

major improvements in my skin- waayyy less oily, if I do get a pimple it clears up right away, slight weight loss, can go make-up free if I feel like it :)

Cons:

none- but you do have to have your blood levels tested periodically

LOVE this stuff. Over the years, I have tried everything. I never had acne so badly that I took a prescription for it but I always had a bump. Within the last couple of years, the pimples turned into major bumps that would eventually get really big and erupt with pus - it was not fun. Over the years, I became convinced that the over the counter stuff wasn't ever going to work and anti-biotics were giving me yeast infections- I couldn't deal with that. I searched and searched and happened upon this board. I went to my doctor and he agreed to let me try. I take 100 mg/ once a day. He also wanted me to take Yaz with it. I resisted the Yaz and tried Spirono by itself. It did fine at first, but I still had a few minor breakouts. So, I went ahead and added Yaz about 5 months ago, and it has pretty much cleared my face up completely. If I do get something, it will generally clear up by the next day. LOVE IT!!
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