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 2, 2009
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!
January 23, 2009
Pros:
clear skin, less oil
Cons:
pee alot, some dryness in winter, can get dehydrated
I'm 26 and have been struggling with my acne since I was 13. I've tried it ALL - every kind of cream, washes, antibiotics, even 6 months on accutane - nothing helped. i sayed somewhat clear after the accutane course for about 8 months afterwhich my acne starting coming back. My derm put me on sprio and I've been on it 18 months - the results are amazing! Like nothing else i've tried - my skin looks so good I even get compliments now and then!! i'm on 50mg a day and stay about 90% clear during the month - i get maybe 2-4 small surface pimples a month, and they usually disapear within 3 days without a mark, they dont bother me enough to up my dose. it took about 4 months for FULL effect, so be patient! if you've tried everything, definetly give this a shot!
January 23, 2009
Pros:
no more cystic acne, less oil, glowing complexion
Cons:
terrible initial breakout
I posted about this medicine a few months ago, and I decided it's time to update. I started taking 100 mg in the morning in mid July, and I started taking Ortho-tri-Cyclen Lo at the same time. I noticed the effects of the birth control within the first month. My periods became so, so dependable and they weren't at all before. So that was great. The spiro didn't seem to make any difference until about a month and a half after I started. That's when the initial breakout began. This breakout lasted from late August through late November... so about 3 months of bad acne. It was alot of cysts that were mainly on my chin area, which is where hormonal breakouts usually are. Now it's been almost exactly 6 months and I'm clear! I went from having at least 5 pimples at all times to now having 1-2 per month. Every day is getting better, too! I'm THRILLED!! As far as side effects go, besides the initial breakout I had none at all. Period.
November 23, 2008
Pros:
The only drug that was ever able to cure my acne, it helped me lose a few pounds.
Cons:
The blood test every 6 months, but that's not even a big deal.
I used every acne drug and cream known to man from 2000 to 2005. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2003 and put on Yasmin (birth control) which helped my acne slightly for a short time. I took Metformin for a few months for my PCOS as well, but it lowered my blood sugar too much and I had to discontinue it. It did nothing to help my acne anyway. In 2005, I was put on Accutane for 6 months as the last resort... it didn't work. My dermatologist had to tell me I was one of the 10% it didn't help. He told me to see a reproductive endocrinologist and he had very little hope for me too, telling me he didn't know it Aldactone would really help my acne, but decided to give it a shoot. I started taking 200 mg of Aldactone a day in September of 2005 and in November of 2005, my acne was almost completely gone. I get compliments now on how great my skin looks. I absolutely love his drug and my only wish is that my doctors had put me on it earlier.
November 1, 2008
Pros:
Clear up my skin completely!!! Notice difference in a week as old lumps are drying up and healing while no new lumps are popping up. Easy to take the pill before bedtime. Lucky to have minor side effects stated below which isn't a problem at all.
Cons:
Wake up with a dry mouth and feeling thirsty.
I had moderately severe cystic acne since I was a teenager and have tried every oral antibiotics, every topical cream/gels, and even did two 12 weeks treatments of Accutane and nothing worked. The costs of trying every treatments and dermatogists were in the $10,000s. The red painful lumps were constanty there on my face. The old lumps didn't even heal yet before a few more pops up. Besides the pain, I felt extremely ugly and had a hard time facing people as I see them staring at my face full of acne. My definition of being beautiful is just having smooth & clear skin like everyone around me. It wasn't until I was 36 that a gynecologist prescribed 100mg of Spiro as I was breaking out despite being on birth control pills. It changed my life forever!! I have been on Spiro for over 10 yrs now. I was on 100mg for a yr and reduced down to 50mg as maintenance. I just increased my dosage back to 100mg as I'm constantly breaking out again. It has been 2 wks now and my face is clear. Try it!
October 2, 2008
Pros:
Remember everything you read is on an individual basis: for me, it took July, August, September, October to clear up most of the existing acne mostly on cheeks, jawline and neck below chin. Then the breakouts stop all together for the most part.
Cons:
You will definitely pee more. But to counter that drink water, you don't want to dehydrate either. Do not drink alcohol, do not do other drugs. Take it with food, take it many hours before you go to bed. Be patient and listen to your body.
Be patient, start taking one pill first week then two pills next week then work your way up to 3. Drink lots of water and watch the acne stop coming back so you can concentrate on clearing. I recommend not using any harsh cleansers, stick to Neutrogena Oil Free acne wash and Cetaphil cleanser. Use sunscreen - Oil of Olay. Be good to your body and take care of your health, sleep while you are taking the meds!
August 17, 2008
Pros:
Softened my skin texture (less oily, generally more sublte texture and brighter color), Less facial hair, my scalp is nearly never oily yet my skin does not get dry, and oddly enough, i have little to no ear wax!! Hehehe. Miracle Drug!!
Cons:
The first week, i felt tired and a little light headed but that disappeared despite increasing my dosage. I suppose my sex drive went down but...eh...who cares, i have clear skin daaahhling!
I started with 50mg and upped my dosage to 150 as well as a small dosage of anti-biotics.
I never really suffered from acne until i was in my mid-twenties. I got on all sorts of medications for four years, all my doctors insisted on putting my on Accutane but i felt it was a risk since i have very dry eyes. Finally, a found a doctor who took one look at me and told me my problem was hormonal and that Accutane will not solve my hormone imbalance. My chest, back and face (which were peppered with acne) slowly started to clear up and with in 3 months, i was completely clear. People now compliment my on my clear and glowy skin. Please give this a shot if you're considering Accutane, ESPECIALLY if you're a growm woman suffereing from acne (especially along the jaw line and lower half of the face). I did'nt expect to find a cure for myself, but i finally did.
July 31, 2008
Pros:
It helped with my oily skin , excess hair, and helped clear some acne.
Cons:
It did not completely clear my skin. I have been on 200mg a day for over 10 months. I am also on Yaz. I get tired easier than a use to and I pee a lot.
It helped but did not make my skin clear. I think my derm may put me on accutane, but I am afraid that it will make my skin worse and my self esteem will be gone. I know I have a hormonal problem but I don't know if it is from PCOS or something else. If you are women who is have problems with acne you should try this because It may be your miracle drug. I hope I can find mine.
July 22, 2008
Pros:
I had EXTREME facial oil with cystic acne x 15yrs. Tried accutane x 3, antibiotics, blue light therapy, lasers, retinA, trazadone, ETC. Within a week of spirinolactone it was manageable. I used to have to put on powder every HOUR or so. LOVE IT
Couldn't live without it...wish I would have had it 15yrs ago
July 20, 2008
Pros:
Amazing healing of severe, cystic acne (considered use of Accutane) - tried everything else. No real side effects - been using for about 1 1/2 years.
Cons:
Sometimes have to pee more - no big deal
This was the ONLY drug that worked. I am 31 and have had horrible, debilitating acne since a teenager. This stuff was my last hope before trying Accutane. Many doctors do not know about using Sprionolactone for acne, so make sure to let them know/find a doctor who does know. This drug truly changed my life.
Pros:
cleared up my skin. decreases oil. eliminates chest/back acne. helps with female hair loss.