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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5
52.1%
4
28.5%
3
9.8%
2
4.6%
1
5.1%

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October 16, 2009

Pros:

Clears skin without the concomitant drynessand irritation of other acne remedies.

Cons:

My skin got worse before improvement was noted. Patience is needed since in my case I took the drug for nearly one month before improvement was observed.

I am taking the other aldosterone antagonist, epelerenone. My endocrinologist prescribed epelerenone since he believes it is better tolerated than spiranolactone. I am 56 and recently broke out with acne. In prior years Yasmin was all that was required to control my acne. HRT was administered (only .0375 estrodial patch 1x/wkly). I was not prepared for skin eruptions at this age. The estrogen producing machinery falls flat at menopause. Correspondingly, androgen levels remain high. This apparently is why some post menopausal women may experience acne in later years. I recommend epelerenone or spiranolactone for this skin disorder since as previously noted no other treatment may be effective.
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October 12, 2009

Pros:

It has cleared my acne. I've been on it for years now at a low dose. I have tried to go off it but break out when I try so I don't try anymore.

Cons:

I don't have any

People have no idea I have an acne issue. I have had to hide from mirrors/pictures for years and now I only worry about my hair. This drug has given me a normal life. I would highly suggest you try it.
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October 11, 2009

Pros:

This stuff works! Cleared up my cystic acne in a couple of weeks. Appetite suppressant: after taking it for a couple of months I really lost my appetite and lost several pounds (could also be a con depending on your perspective).

Cons:

Frequent urination, anxiety about using a chronic oral medication for acne that really isn't indicated to treat acne, worry about blood pressure/potassium levels.

I developed adult cystic acne in my mid-thirties. I developed cystic zits that would be huge, red, and would last for weeks, and would scar when they finally resolved. My dermatologist put me on spironolactone and topical Differin and Yaz and I noticed a huge difference after about one month. After taking the medication for two months, I had zero breakouts. I stopped taking the medication for a couple of months because I was afraid of taking a chronic medication for acne, but within 2 months my face was back to bad breakouts. So, I started taking it again last week hoping that my face will clear up again. Having clear skin is more of a priority to me right now than worrying about the side effects of long-term usage.
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October 11, 2009

Pros:

It took about 2-3 months, but my face looks better than it has in a very long time.

Cons:

none

I am 39 years old and have suffered from adult acne since I quit taking birth control pills 2 years ago. I truly recommend this product. I was really oily and have cyst acne, now I am no longer oily and my acne has nearly cleared up. This is really affordable, at about $8 a month. Which is great compared to the topical treatment I was using at $200. I do not have any side effects from this medicine. Highly recommended!
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October 9, 2009

Pros:

works good on cystic acne, reduces oil and skin seems dryer

Cons:

dizziness, frequent urination, a bit of anxiety (didn't notice for awhile), sometime nausea when potassium levels get too high. fear about potassium levels getting too high is annoying.

seems to have worked, yet it took quite awhile (5 months) as i started at a very low dose due to the side effects. was prescribed 100 mg/day, but had to reduce it to just 50 (my primary doc would have preferred 25). i take 50 one day and 100 the next.
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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 7, 2009

Pros:

Completely cahnged my life! The best...

Cons:

not much that I contribute to the medication, and nothing that I could imagine stopping the medication for.

I have posted a couple times of this product. I did a lot of research on the medication and read many of these posts before I begged my derm to prescribe this to me. I had about two to three large cystic acne at any given time but I only broke out around my mouth on my chin. I was in pain and I was depressed, literally I would not go to class, parties, even work sometimes becasue of my acne. This medication helped me get my life back. I started at 100mg buth got increased to 200mg quite fast. I have been on the 200mg for about two years. My advice is to really push your derm to prescribe this to you. I knew I wanted to take this and I had done alot of research and was pretty sure that it would work for me. She said that we sould try it and since then we have never looked back! Good Luck
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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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