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
November 16, 2007
Cons:
A little bit more tired.... Use the restroom a bit more.... but WORTH IT!
Hi... My name is Allison..I'm a 28 year old teacher who like everyone else has tried everything... all sorts of antibotics,topicals, over the past few years. My acne was never bad or out of control until I hit 27. It got so horrible that my doctor finally put me on accutane(Oct,2006). I was on a low dose for 5 months and cleared beautifully. It got so bad though the first few months I didnt want to go anywhere..not even to work. My doctor gave me spiro to take during the last month. I continued but not consistantly and stopped taking it all togther in July.October of this year 2007 my face got so oily and was getting really nasty again little bumps everywhere. I upped my dose of spiro 100 a day and have taken it everynight for the past 2 1/2 weeks.... my face is so clear..no oil... and my face looks awesome! I will never go off of this again. I am petite 5'6 and 110 pounds... 100 mg works for me! Plese stick to it even if it gets worse .. it is so worth......!!!!!
November 14, 2007
Pros:
I've been on this since July. I don't have much acne, just very oily skin and blackheads esp.on my nose. The oiliness has definitely decreased and my pores are smaller, I like how it makes my skin look. I also used Retin A pads a couple times a wk.
Cons:
It makes me a little dizzy sometimes. I do feel tired sometimes. My nose is still a little oily. When I needed a refil the nurse called to say they are required to do bloodwork every 6 mo.
I want to continue using it, I like the results. I am concerned about the blood testing and not sure what the purpose of that is. Is it just for potassium levels or is there more to it?
Does anyone know if the longer you are on it does it become less effective. I read a post that said they were bumped up from 50mg to 150mg. I think I could use a higher dose but want to be more certain of safety.
November 4, 2007
Pros:
!!!WORKS!!!!
Cons:
might not be for everyone
was tired a few monthes
minty taste
ive taken this for the passed 1 1/2 and its been a miracle! i started of 50mg and i notice a change within the first month but eventualli i was moved up to 150mg. it took me about 3monthes to see a full change. no oil no acne!
im not as grumpy and my periods are less painful. a blessing!! no more wasting money on products that didnt work!!!!!!
o and i personally hate flavored pills...... just try this for a few monthes...its cheap and may work.
September 1, 2007
Pros:
Easy to take, virtually no side effects, except a lot of going to the toilet - it's a diuretic, after all! And, most importantly, it WORKS!
Cons:
A lot of toilet trips and slightly irregular periods
I have tried several different antibiotics, laser and topical treatments to help control my acne. This is the best and most affordable treatment I have used and the few side effects are not serious or mood related. It takes 1-3 months to start working. Also, don't be disheartened if your skin initially is worse - this happened to me, but it soon improved dramatically. I advise taking a heavier dose in the lead up to your period. (perhaps 200 mg a day). So pleased with the results!!!! Renewed my self-confidence.
August 31, 2007
Pros:
Very cheap and easy to take
i've been using now for about 2 wks. I feel as if I have gotten worse. I have lots of little whiteheads that I didn't used to have before. I keep hoping it must get worse before it gets better. Will keep trying.
July 6, 2007
Pros:
Inexpensive with my insurance. Less oil production.
Cons:
I'm breaking out more than I was prior to taking Spiro. Almost constant feeling of needing to go to the bathroom.
I started breaking out around 16 and was put on minocycline. Worked wonderfully, but stopped working in my early 20s. Tried all kinds of other things, but had no success until trying Accutane. Accutane gave me absolutely gorgeous skin--even strangers gave me compliments--but my skin eventually started breaking out again a few years later. Tried it again, but really felt uncomfortable with the side effects and what it might be doing to my liver. Had given up hope until my doctor suggested Spiro again (which I previously decided not to take). I am encouraged by other posts that the drug may take some time to take effect. Each morning I seem to be waking up to a new cystic zit and have lots of "bumps" on my face. The oil has definitely diminished though. At 39, I am totally fed up with having to deal with a "teen-age" problem. This has to work!
July 1, 2007
Pros:
This is the only thing that has cleared my acne.
Cons:
My dermatologist never mentioned anything about potassium issues so I am a little concerned - but the effects are so incredible that I will do just about anything to keep taking these. Also, you need to keep taking it -once you go off it,acne returns
I have tried the following:
*Almost everything/anything topical
*Photodynamic therapy w/ Levulan (cost $1300)
*Antibiotics
*Doing everything "right" - washing w/ Ovace, all products noncomedagenic, etc Spironolactone is the only thing that works. Proves that acne in caused internally. I was warey of it at first but was ready to try anything to clear up my skin for my wedding - it made a remarkable difference. After the wedding I stopped taking it... skin went back to it's normal ways. A month ago my skin was so horrible that I decided to resume it -- and here I am again at almost 2 weeks into the treatment and pores are smaller, skin is clearer...no plans of getting off of it anytime soon.
October 8, 2006
Pros:
affordable
Cons:
N/A
This product is a miracle!!I highly recommeded it. I have been suffering from severe acne for over 15 years and nothing worked. I have been to several different dermatologists,until finally one day I met one who perscribed me sprionolactone. This answered my prayers. 50mg of Sprionlolactone in conjuction with a Birth Control pill is highly effective. It takes at least 6weeks to see a significant improvement. But it is definitely worth the wait. Ever since i started taking it i have not had a pimple in two months. Ance is an internal problem not external. The topical meds make help acne but it will not cure it. Spironolactone will cure your acne. Trust me!!! and it's safe to take!!! and affordable!!! you don't have anything to lose. I wanted to share this helpful advice with anyone who is suffering from chronic acne!!
October 4, 2006
Pros:
I'm 49 yrs old, been on Spiro 50 mg 2xday for about 6 yrs. A godsend! I couldn't tolerate BC pills so that was out. No other treatment or RX worked. Spiro is magic for me. I occasionally stop to see if I've finally 'outgrown' it but not yet.
Spiro is a lifesaver and I'm THRILLED. People often comment on my lovely complexion--those words were NEVER heard in my life before using Spiro!!!
December 9, 2017
amazing drug to try after trying everything else
I had very mild acne through high school and college (which I regret not appreciating at the time haha), but soon after graduating from university I decided to stop other meds (ADHD, depresssion), and the combination of that with finally getting some breathing room after 8 years of very intense schooling, probably released a bunch of toxins and caused my hormones to go into haywire. I tried antibiotics, Accutane, all the creams, facials. Nothing worked as well as spironolactone. I started on 100mg/day, but was really dehydrated, then went down to 75mg. After a year and a half of that dose, I went down to 50mg and am comfortable with this dosage. I and still get an occasional pimple but it will clear up in a day or so, whereas when I wasn't on spirono, I couldn't know when it would go away. However, I feel like I'm dependent on the medicine. I hope to, in the next year or so, go to 37.5 then 25, and eventually go off of it altogether, but I am anxious about the difficulty of that. Also, if you are hoping to get pregnant, you have to be off of this for at least a month before you can safely conceive. So if that is an immediate desire, I would stay away from this drug. If you don't want kids, I totally recommend it. It has redeemed my self esteem, but I'm unsure what the long term effects are. I do have occasional cramps and my periods are sometimes irregular, and I drink a ton of water, but my skin looks amazing. (I also use Rodan & Fields unblemish line, which helped me reduce to 50mg, with Oil of Olay Regenerist, as well as a prescription retinoid). I also think it might aggravate depression in some people, particularly with alcohol. So I would recommend reducing or remove alcohol altogether. In conclusion, I would say try everything else-with regards to foods, sugar intake, etc. before starting this, especially if you are hoping to become pregnant. But if that isn't a desire for you, I would try this incredible medicine. And if you do, be patient. It will work. But continue to listen to your body. *~~*~~*
Pros:
***** This Works Wonders********