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
September 10, 2012
Cons:
Periods every 3 weeks
Have to go to the bathroom once more everyday than usual
Easier to get dehydrated - sometimes have a dry mouth
After years of trying to clear up my acne, this medication has been incredible! I'm 20 and had acne all thoughout my teens, though it got much worse about a year ago - awful cystic pimples on my cheeks that left big, yucky marks. I've tried a load of creams, antiobiotics and the Pill, but nothing made much of a difference. My GP recommended I try Spiro before going on anything more drastic like Roaccutane, and I am so so glad I did. Within 2 weeks of starting, my acne completely cleared, and since then (its been about 3 months) I haven't had ANY cystic pimples - only a few small ones around my periods. I am now on 50mg, which seems to be working really well for me. The side-effects have been very mild and easy to get used to. I would highly recommend trying this before anything with more serious side-effects. It might be your saviour, like it has been mine.
July 8, 2011
Pros:
Less hormonal acne
Less oily skin and hair
Cons:
Takes a LONG time to work
Dizziness
Caffeine Sensitivity
Joint/muscle aches
Longer periods
Frequent Urination
Frequent Thirst/dehydration
I was on this drug for about 6 months before I started to see a noticeable difference. I am also prescribed doxycycline and Finicea gel. At about six months I saw a huge difference in my skin. I thought things were fine and I went off this medicine around month nine due to all of the side effects I was having and as a result, I had the worst breakout of my life with in two week of not taking this. Two months later I am back on Spiro and my face is finally starting to clear up some. While it does take a long time for some to start seeing the results it does do a nice job overall decreasing the amount of oil production.
December 9, 2009
Pros:
I just went on this yesterday, so I havent noticed any changes yet. I was on the generic birth control for Yasmin called Ocella. I had HORRIBLE side effects with it. Moodswings, depression, hair loss, horrible acne etc.
Cons:
Havent noticed any yet, will write when I have been on it for a while
Im terrifyed to go off of it if it does work because according to all these reviews, the acne flares up again. I've been on acutane twice and wanted to try this route first before I go back to acutane. Also, one reviewer made a comment about sprio can cause horrible birth defects if you want to have kids later. Im 23 and plan on doing so. Has anyone else heard of the birth defect part?
October 31, 2009
Pros:
Clearing up my cystic acne. Decreasing oil production. Controlling pre-menstrual flare. Affordable.
Cons:
None
I've been on this for two and a half months... Seems like it's just starting to kick in... I'm also on a birth control pill Estelle-35... My dermatologist told me this would boost the effects of the BC pill. I definitely think it has done just that. In fact the BC pill didn't really do much at all on it's own to clear up my acne and I had been on it for 6 months prior to starting spironolactone. Side effects are minimal...Dizziness, frequent urination, some nausea... I started on 25mg, quickly increased my dose to 50mg, currently on 100mg a day. Really liking this!
October 16, 2009
Pros:
Cleared up my skin.
Cons:
Dry hair and hair loss.
Gee, too bad it's having an effect on my hair. I've been taking it for 6 or 7 months now and noticed the effect it was having on my hair in just the last several weeks. At first it was just dryness, but now it's literally shedding quite a bit. It's done really well for my skin, but my hair is just as important. Looks like I'm going to have to pull myself off it.
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 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 20, 2009
Pros:
major improvements in my skin- waayyy less oily, if I do get a pimple it clears up right away, slight weight loss, can go make-up free if I feel like it :)
Cons:
none- but you do have to have your blood levels tested periodically
LOVE this stuff. Over the years, I have tried everything. I never had acne so badly that I took a prescription for it but I always had a bump. Within the last couple of years, the pimples turned into major bumps that would eventually get really big and erupt with pus - it was not fun. Over the years, I became convinced that the over the counter stuff wasn't ever going to work and anti-biotics were giving me yeast infections- I couldn't deal with that. I searched and searched and happened upon this board. I went to my doctor and he agreed to let me try. I take 100 mg/ once a day. He also wanted me to take Yaz with it. I resisted the Yaz and tried Spirono by itself. It did fine at first, but I still had a few minor breakouts. So, I went ahead and added Yaz about 5 months ago, and it has pretty much cleared my face up completely. If I do get something, it will generally clear up by the next day. LOVE IT!!
July 31, 2009
Pros:
Alternative to Accuane when nothing else is working
Cons:
You will need to urinate constantly. Been on it for 3 weeks and I think it is making me tired also.
If it works, it is better than dealing with all the requirements and pregnancy testing of accutane. Was on accutane 3 times and the acne is back again so now I am trying this. So far, I like it better and it seems to work.
Pros:
Almost totally cleared my acne!
Skin less greasy
Very few side effects