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
July 11, 2008
Cons:
I haven't experience anything i'd say is a con, considering this is the only medication I have seen results with, i'll take the good with the bad, although i have been going to the bathroom just a lil more, no biggie!
Just give it time, do not be discouraged by the initial breakout if it does occur to you, you will see results short after that. I'm still in awe of how good my skin looks after only ONE month!
July 9, 2008
Pros:
made skin less oily
Cleared skin for a few weeks every now and then
Cons:
Not clear even after long-term use
Duretic (lots of toilet trips)
Stopped my periods (convenient but worrying!)
I have mild to moderate acne, only ever on my chin.
I was on this drug for 18 months. From 50mg to 175mg. I can say for sure that it made my skin less oily, and there were periods of abuot 3 weeks where i'd have clear skin. But my monthly cyst never ceased, and I've just recently broken out in about 4 cysts in a row, plus lots of other junk all around my chin, non-stop for almost a month now. I feel at 18months i've given this drug a fair run, and am just so dissapointed at the long-term results. i really thought this was going to be the wonder drug I was waiting for (have tried dianette + many many creams) :-(
Also, my periods stopped altogether, which (although convenient) obviously isn't good in the long-run.
I'm now quitting this and trying anti-biotics. Fingers crossed!
July 6, 2008
Pros:
Cheap with insurance. Only $7. Probably cheap without insurance as it is generic. IT WORKS! It doesn't cause all the irritation of topical ointments I have tried such as: differen, erythromycin, proactive, retin a, ziana, duac...
Cons:
Has screwed up my menstrual cycle and has caused some intense spotting. Also takes about a month to work. Only works for women. Can cause some trouble with potassium.
IT WORKS! It doesn't cause irritation. It is cheap! I'm pretty upset no one prescribed this for me in the past 10+ years I have had acne
July 4, 2008
Pros:
inexpensive, helped my acne, less oily
Cons:
took a long time to be effective, should be paired with birth control
My acne was always moderate and my sophomore year of college, it calmed down. During my junior year it suddenly flared up and I started on 50mg 2x a day and I'm not sure if it was the medication or just my body, but my face was totally covered in tiny pimples for several months. Now about 6 months later and after starting Femcon birth control, my skin is very smooth but still get a few pimples here and there. The only stress factor is that those little pimples have heavily scarred my skin so even though it's smooth, I have tons of dark spots which I'm now getting treated with PDT. I never experienced any of the side effects (ie: peeing frequently, getting lightheaded) so I would recommend this to friends.
June 5, 2008
Pros:
It works!
Cons:
dry skin, some spotting.
I am alergic to BP and my derm prescribed a bunch of things over the years. Nothing worked until Spiro. I am 39 and have been taking it for 18 months. I take 200mg per day which I see is a high dose compared to many reviewers. I do have to moisturize my face more often (I use Clinique oil free moisturizing gel) and my skin has never been so smooth and soft. My back and chest were my worst breakout zones and they are completely clear. I did try to reduce my dosage and my back started to break out again.
May 18, 2008
Pros:
I love this drug. I used to have continuous breakouts of these small pimples all over my body and spironolactone has changed all of that. Before that, I tried every topical ointment and antibiotic known to man, and nothing ever seemed to help.
Cons:
None really. Sometimes I forget to take my pill since I take it twice a day (50 mg morning and night), but thats it.
Fantastic product. Wish I would've known about it sooner.
May 17, 2008
Pros:
much less oily, cysts have almost cleared up completely after 4 weeks
Cons:
light headed at the beginning (started with only 25mg), recently tripped and fell, mild twisted ankle, but almost passed out after. dr. said this was due to a very low BP.
Emotional
seems to be reducing oil significantly. cysts have cleared up...they became resistant to 200mg daily of doxycyline combined with trinessa (generic ortho tricyclen) and topical creams like duac/differin. i am still on the trinessa and have kept up with the topicals. it is great to be less oily and have clear skin, but
1. I feel like this drug is really no joke...we are playing with a med inicated to lower BP. also from what i have read it can cause serious birth defects, in my opinion just as bad as accutane.
2. So...has anyone been able to stop using sprio after a course of say 5 months and stay clear? Thanks!
May 14, 2008
Pros:
Clear skin!
Cons:
Irregular cycles
It took about seven weeks (one month at 50 mg daily followed by an increase to 100 mg daily) but for the first time in many years my skin has made a tremendous improvement. If I get any blemishes at all, they last about two days a month. They're typically tiny and non-inflamed and only noticeable to me. But I consider my skin to be "normal" finally. It feels smoother and healthier than ever. The cycle irregularity doesn't really bother me, though I realize that could get frustrating for some.
May 9, 2008
Pros:
much smoother skin / starting to dry out
Cons:
steady menstruation
hi girls! been taking about 7 weeks now - started with 50 mg once a day for three weeks now on 100 mg per day
starting FINALLY to see improvement , my skin is so smooth and soft
i am not breaking out in usual places but smaller break outs where i havent before - i have have never had bad acne just very persistent (been on accutane once and dont want to go that route again) i was getting the cystic acne on my chin forever - everywhere else just bumpy
starting now to see an overall improvement and anxious to see results in another few months. only problem for me has been last 4 weeks of consistent period - yuck!!!! no other side effects! Good luck my friends!
May 8, 2008
Pros:
Clearer skin!
Cons:
More bathroom trips, more tired
I've been using this stuff for about 2 or 3 months now and the amount of cysts I get has greatly decreased. Now it seems that I only get those big, deep pimples before my period. Since my dermatologist saw that I hadn't completely cleared up and he still had to inject 2 pimples on my cheek with cortasine, he just upped my dosage from 25 mg 2x a day (morning and night) to 3 times a day (1 in the morning, 2 at night). Hopefully it will completely take care of my acne. Unfortunately, I still have a lot of annoying red marks that I have to cover up with makeup. I am using glycolic peels and finacea in an attempt to get rid of those. Hopefully by the summer time I wil be able to go to the beach without makeup on and feel beautiful! Good luck everyone on getting clear, gorgeous skin!
Pros:
It's working!