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
October 5, 2009
Cons:
Occassional dizziness.
Past menopause, mid-fifties, was still battling cysts, despite many rounds of accutane, dairy reduction. Really works for me.
October 4, 2009
Pros:
I didn't take it for every long...two weeks
Cons:
The medicine made me feel like I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I have no idea why. I cried all the time, over really stupid things. I called my mom, and she insisted that I stopped taking the medicine.
I thought there would be NO side effects...just be careful with any meds you take.
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.
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.
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
September 30, 2009
Pros:
cleared up my cystic acne, pores are smaller, skin feels great at age 40 - - first time since I was a teenager
Cons:
hair is so dry now - had to cut a lot of it off.
Started at 50 mg/day then increased to 100 mg/day to perfect it. Dropped back to 50 mg/day to see if hair isn't so dry. I really like the effects, except for the very dry hair. At first, was fatigued, but took it at night and it helps me fall asleep.
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.
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.
September 27, 2009
Pros:
Cleared up my painful cystic acne.
Cons:
It made me dizzy and light headed at first. The warning paper said, "This medicine has been shown to cause tumors in lab mice."
It really helped me out a lot and I'm grateful because I was feeling really down before this started helping me. I would say give it a try and see how it works for you.
September 22, 2009
Pros:
After 3 weeks, it is working already.
Cons:
Breakthrough bleeding even though on BC, stomach ache.
I have had mild acne since I was 12....nothing that couldn't be dealt with. In my late twenties and early thirties, I began to break out with cystic acne and developed oily, hairy skin. I went off all dairy products and that helped tremendously. This last year, however (I am 37), I began to become hairier and developed even oilier skin and was constantly breaking out on my neck, chest, nose, chin and forehead. Some were large cysts that required a dermatologist to get rid of them. Even though my testosterone and DHEA levels appeared 'normal', my gynocologist decided to put me on Ortho-Cyclen (monophasic BC) and 50mg Spiro. Apparently, I have what is known as 'testosterone or androgen sensitive skin'. While my skin is not 100% (I have only been on this product for 3 weeks), the oil has subsided, my chest, neck and forehead are clear and my chin and nose are substantially clearer. I must be a hormonally sensitive woman!
Pros:
Nothing like it! No cysts, little facial hair, and weight loss to boot.