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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August 16, 2009

Pros:

It works for me. Skin is smooth, acne free, and less oily.

Cons:

Stomach upset (taking it with a little toast helps me), dizziness and fatigue (lessened with time), more frequent stops at the restroom.

I had an unusual jump in testosterone that left my perfect skin a mess. At its worst, I had eighty-three large cysts on my face and jawline. After two months on the medication I have one. In combination, I use bactrim 50mg and Retin-A micro gel .01%. I take 50mg of spironolac. This is the exact regimine that my dermatologist has me on and it works great for me: Morning: wash face with Head and Shoulders regular shampoo, moisurize as needed with Canola oil (yes, the kind in the baking isle) Cosmetics are strictly Bare Minerals, no substitutes. I take 50mg spironolac on empty stomach. Evening:I wash with Head and Shoulders (also use for daily shampoo/conditioner so that hair oils don't get on my face), .5 gram of Retin-A micro, 50mg Bactrim. Moisture as needed. A note on Retin-A: This is the most costly part of my routine, but its an amazing product. I've used it since I was thirteen and have no wrinkles, freckles, visable pores, or other typical aging signs for som
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August 15, 2009

Pros:

Clearer & smoother skin, reduced facial oil

Cons:

Dizziness and upset stomach for the first week or so, but definitely worth my trouble

I LOVE this stuff! I've tried just about everything out there, including accutane twice, without any lasting results. I'm 30 and I've had troubled skin since I was 12. Actually, "troubled" isn't the right word. I've had horrible, red, irritated, embarassing, god-awful skin since I was 12, which is never good on the old self-esteem. Right now, after over a year on Spiro, my skin is "manageable". My make-up usually goes on smooth. I don't have to do 1,000 touch-ups per day because I'm too oily. I feel much more confident, even in bad lighting. I take 100 mgs per day, but I'm thinking of bumping my dosage up to 200 mgs. Is anyone out there taking a 200 mg daily dose? I'd like to know how it's going for you if so. Spiro is a wonderful invention & I highly recommend it!
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August 14, 2009

Pros:

weight loss, lower BP, happier

Cons:

abesoutly nothing

I have had horrible acne with cysts for 10 years now. As soon as I started taking this med. my face cleared up and had no oil. I for whatever reason feel happy now doc. does't know why, but I do. I just can't believe this... it's amazing.
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August 12, 2009

Pros:

Weight loss, Skin seems like it's getting better slowly but surely, Pepperminty tasting pills

Cons:

Frequent urination, Makes me tired

I started using this a little over a month ago and now am up to 100 mgs a day. The pills taste like mints. I'm stilll dealing with acne problems but I have faith that this will work for me. I take these at the same time every day as directed. *Note try to take these before 6pm so you're not up all night running to bathroom.
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August 10, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up my acne when NOTHING else worked. Skin is noticeable less oily.

Cons:

None. I have no side effects.

This has done wonders for my skin. I am 26 and have struggled with acne since I was 12. I have tried everything, including 3 courses of accutane.I thought I would never find a solution for my horrible skin. I had numerous painful cysts, mostly around my chin and jawline. It took a couple months to see full results, but it was well worth it. Im on 100mg daily.
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August 2, 2009

Pros:

My acne is gone and a have great skin. Most people guess me to be 29, while I'm 37. Very happy with the result.

Cons:

I think it lowered my blood pressure slightly. After 8 months, I have developed eustachian tube dysfunction (keep hearing myself). I stopped it for now and the issue with my ears went away in 2 days after stopping the medication.

Supposedly, after a long term usage (1 year on 100 mg), eustachian tube disfunction can be a long term side-effect. In the end, it was totally worth it! I'm not on it for now, if I'll start developing acne, I'll try lower dosage. While on it, you cannot get pregnant. To get pregnant, you need to be 6 months off this medication.
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rachel s
September 3, 2024
Hello, I realize this is an older comment but when I googled these symptoms this came up. Did your ETD ever go away and stay away? What were your symptoms? I’m trying to see if I can link my use of spiro (almost a year now) with my ear fullness/ clicking or if it’s something else. Did you ever see an ENT?
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August 1, 2009

Pros:

Spironolactone worked brilliantly! It not only prevented new acne from forming, but also helped with the fading of pigmentation. It works really well, overall. Just give it a couple weeks to start working.

Cons:

I don't know if it's just me, a coincidence, or whatnot, but I realized that I started getting severe migraines on the days that I was taking the pill towards the end of the treatment. It does go away though, so don't worry too much but it's not fun.

It works. It really does. My treatment was spironolactone WITH benzaclin (benzyl peroxide) and differin (adapalene). I don't know which of the three had the most impact, but together, they certainly worked extremely well. However, spironolactone did do its job so use it if you can. Besides, my insurance pretty much covered it so it was inexpensive as well. By the way, I was originally on 50 mg but then I got it pushed to 100 mg because it wasn't working like I wanted it to. It worked really well after I got it increased.
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August 1, 2009

Pros:

hello?! clear skin!

Cons:

not sure, but i feel like im urinating more and ive definitely been taking naps during the day...but that could also be because im on summer vacation and can finally do so!

100mg spiro at night. it just works. i also have scalp issues and, although it did get worse on my scalp before it got better, everything has cleared up. not having to wear makeup this summer was my goal, and it's been met! (my derm offered me a few rounds of laser free of charge since ive been a very good customer over the years). i still cant believe im not wearing makeup and im no longer scared of the rain! definitely try it. oh, and i would recommend taking it at night (although they recommend morning)--i havent had to get up in the middle of the night yet...and i actually seem to get a more restful sleep on this stuff! also on: duac (benz cream/clyndamycin) - morning + moisturizer trentintoin cream -night + moisturizer if needed GOOD LUCK everyone!!! me: acne since early 20s (31 now) - mostly chin, cheeks, jawline, forehead (um, that's everything, right? ;) accutane - 3 times (high doses for shorter periods and low doses for a longer period of time)
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August 1, 2009

Pros:

Better all round health, skin clearing

Cons:

None so far

I wrote a week ago about how great this makes me feel,just after a few days,well, I feel even better! The dark circles are disappearing from under my eyes, I'm capable of about twice as much activity as I was before, (despite catching a slight cold!). My bones have shifted and done a weird " snap crackle & pop" thing, and I'm now standing much straighter, I feel I must've been twisted like a corkscrew. My bad knee has gone from swollen and inflamed, with that nice crunchy sound while it bends, to almost normal. It now bears my weight. Yii-haaw !!! I've had no ill effects and this is pretty good seeing as I really didn't think that this would work for me. I have a history with most meds of having all the bad effects, and few of the good ones. Not this time! I'm amazed at how too much aldosterone has evidently had all these bad effects on my health, and how just this pill has made a huge difference. My allergies and intolerances have reduced by lots. I'll post again. in a week.
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July 31, 2009

Pros:

Less oily face and less breakouts

Cons:

Frequent urgent urination; rash

I started getting cystic acne in my late 20's and it kept getting worse. At 29 and 42 I went on two trials of Accutane and both worked but they had terrible side effects: even permanent damage of the hair texture and permanent hair folicle thinning (each strand is thinner). I tried Aldactone for the first time about 5 years ago and had great results but then I developed a rash after being on it for about a year so I went on birth control. I can't stand taking birth control and it's side effects so I decided to try a low dosage of Aldactone again. Usually I get breakouts around my mouth and nose and sometimes a small cyst (I used to get more cysts 8 years ago.) I am taking just 100 mg a day and noticed incredible urgency to urinate the first couple of days but this has gotten a bit better after 7 days. My face is so much less oily and my pms breakouts are so much more milder with no cysts at all. This is a wonderfully effective medication and I don't know why more doctors use it.
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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:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
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