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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February 9, 2009

Cons:

take it before bed so you are not tired during the day. Once you are clear you have to remain on this med or it will come back.

A God Sent Miracle! I've struggled with serve acne my entire life & have been on everything under the sun even accuatane. I'm currently 40. My recent pimples were hard & remained under the skin along my jaw line down my neck & around my chin. My acne absorbed me and my daily life trying to find a solution while sufferings with each day looking like a walking connect the dots game. I left for a trip with at least 8 pimples and needed to have injections they were so bad. My doctor prescribed spironolactone but it didn't work I went thru a 90 day supply of 50mg. I went back months later for a follow up visit depressed and disappointed. This time I met with the PA where she raised my dose to 100mg per day. Within 6 weeks I was clear and now take 50 mg a day for maintenance. My skin looks beautiful maybe a pimple will come to the surface before my period. PA instructed me to take 100mg. 1 week before I get my period. It has been just a little over a year with skin that I always want
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February 7, 2009

Pros:

clears up acne fast. works for back/chest also. minty taste.

Cons:

made my skin kind of dry

i saw results the first week. haven't had any major breakouts since. the pill regulates your hormones/stress (like yaz levels to help get rid of the acne. this is why some people have been experiencing weird mood swings or no sex drive. i take yaz so it hasn't effected me much in that area. no real complaints about this drug.
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February 5, 2009

Pros:

Cleared skin problems on face, neck, and back... Also eliminated oily skin problems

Cons:

Skin continued to break out during the first 6 weeks of taking medicine, but begin to improve afterwards. Within 3 months, my skin completely stopped breaking out. The drug also has a mint flavor, which is a little strange...

I cannot say enough positive things about this drug... I had hormonal acne that came on in my early 20's and have tried Retin A, antiobiotics, Proactiv, etc... Nothing worked. I have been on spiro (50 mg) about a year now, and I rarely EVER get a pimple. In fact, I think the last time I had one was probably 6 months ago, and when I do, they are small and nothing like the breakouts I had before. I also no longer suffer from oily skin, and had previously had problems with this my whole life. I am now only taking this once every 3 days (every other day during the week of my period). The results have been GREAT. I've had 2 friends that have recently started using spiro as well and are very pleased thus far. In addition, my gynocologist told me during my last visit that this drug also helps with bloating. I get so many compliments on my complexion now... I absolutely LOVE this drug.
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February 2, 2009

Pros:

cleared up my skin. decreases oil. eliminates chest/back acne. helps with female hair loss.

Cons:

um...NO SEX DRIVE. none. whatsoever. indifferent to things. possible concentration/memory difficulty...

okay. so, i've tried EVERYTHING. course of accutane, which worked but the acne returned after 4 years. antibiotics don't work for me. i was on the pill for 9 years but had to quit due to a crazy amount of hair loss. when i went off the pill my skin exploded with zits. i went on spironolactone (aldactone) and right away it started helping with the zits and hair loss. i have been on it for about 9 months at a 125 mg dose. in the last few months i have noticed that i no longer have a sex drive. normally i would want to have sex every day if i could. think about sex a lot. feel very attracted to who i am with. but now it is like i don't even recognize myself. i have no real attraction, and when i do have sex it is almost impossible to have an orgasm (something i NEVER had a problem with). i am at the end of my rope here... i love the effects of this drug on my skin, but not on my sex life. if anyone has experienced this could you please email me at saavy77@[link removed]. i don't know what to do!
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January 29, 2009

Pros:

Two days and my forehead, back and chest are already oil free. Usually it's greasy half way through the day.

Cons:

I'm vegetarian, mostly raw food, and eat a lot of potassium rich foods. Scared of high potassium and the predicted initial breakout. Have to pee a bit more, but it's ok.

I feel really good about this product so far. I think I might get lucky and not get the initial break out for two reasons; firstly, I am using proactive and had things pretty well under control that way, I'm taking spiro for my back and chest acne. Secondly, my Doc is really great and actually LISTENS (something that not many Docs do) and prescribed spiro b/c it works a lot like the cyproterone in Diane 35, which worked amazingly well on my skin until I got tired of the inconvenience of a daily pill and went to an IUD and had to stop taking it. I never had an IB with Diane. I'm just worried about the potassium thing, and for some reason the glands in my neck hurt, although that may be unrelated. I also heard that spiro can help with weight loss, which would be an incredible side effect.
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January 29, 2009

Pros:

greatly reduced acne, enlarged breasts

Cons:

extreme thirst and dehydration (more at first then slightly less after getting used to spiro), fatigue for the first few weeks, requires blood test, having to take a pill each day

I started spiro at 50mg/day and slowly increased to 100 at about 5 months into taking it. My acne completely went away at 100, but i felt really "off" all the time so the doc told me to gradually decrease to 50mg. Now, I take Yaz BC with just 25mg of spiro and a year later my face is still almost completely clear. After having tried every topical acne product and being on and off antibiotics for 5 years, Spiro has been the only semi-long term cure for my acne. At first it wasn't a fun experience. I didn't drink enough water which caused extreme dehydration - heart pounding out of my chest and EXTREME fatigue. After forcing myself to drink tons of water the symptoms went away. To me, it's totally worth it.
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January 27, 2009

Pros:

So far all is well after 3 weeks of use

Cons:

A little dizziness and dehydration for the first week but now the dizziness is gone and I rarely feel dehydrated anymore as long as I sip water throughout the day.

I am 32 and still suffer from hormonal acne. I hate to jinx things, but so far so good. No initial breakout and skin seems to be doing much better. I am coming up on my first period since being on this and have only gotten one pimple when I normally get 4 or 5. I think I have only gotten about 5 pimples total since being on it, if that.I am just keeping my fingers crossed that it will continue working. I am only on 50mg right now and will possibly go up to 75 or 100 if needed after I have used it for a little longer.
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January 26, 2009

Pros:

Glowing skin. Maybe one to two zits in the month

Cons:

Need to be next to a bathroom

I have nothing but praise for this life saver! The first 4-5 months I was on 25 mg then 50 mg per day and I did not see any improvements. It got worst in the amount of breakouts but the cysts were not has uge as before. Although I was warned about the possibility of the acne getting worst before it got better, after five months, I almost gave up and changed dermatologist. The new doc recommended 100 mg per day - and was willing to up the dose if no effects were noticed. At the next follow-up visit, the breakouts stopped. And right now after 8 months on this new dosage, I don't feel I have to put all the topicals (Tazarac, Hydroquinone) to removed the old scars, and spots. I am very grateful for this medicine that took me from 12-15 outbreaks to 1-2 a month...For those who are not yet seeing results, consult you MD for a higher dose. Not sure what I would do w/o spiro when I attempt to be pregnant. I was told I would to stop the meds bef attempting to get pregnant.
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January 26, 2009

Pros:

Clearer skin in 1 month, NO MORE cysts, glowing skin, 100 mg generic pill per day. Dr. Reisz saved my life!!

Cons:

None

It is an amazing drug causing adrenal suppression, to decrease Androgens that produce the oil. I have been taking it for over 8 years now, and I am very happy that it works so well. I took 50 mg up until last year, had to increase to 100mg this year. Works like a charm for the cystic acne.
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January 25, 2009

Pros:

After 6 weeks my face looks better than it has in years. I have no oily skin.

Cons:

At first I was so tired and dizzy but with in a month those symptoms went away. I am still dizzy at times but not much at all.

Spiro along with prayer has made my life GREAT! I have people asking me what I am doing, my skin looks so good. My face is more clear than it has been since I was in midle school. I am 20 years old and fought acne since I was 11! This is a miracle! It took time to work and yes it got much worse before it got better but I am so glad I hung on. I plan to continue this medication. I am only on 50 mg a day and it seems to be doing the trick. All of a sudden one morning I woke up and my face was clear and I see it improve almost hourly!
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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:

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