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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September 16, 2008

Pros:

softer skin but still waiting for acne to clear

Cons:

no to speak of

I started taking this medicine approximately 7 weeks ago. (200mg in am) Although my skin is severely breaking out since starting medicine, the overall quality of my skin has noticeably improved (skin is softer and blackheads have decreased somewhat). Like most people on this message board, I have struggled with acne for over ten years. I will report back once I start to see signs of improvement.
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September 16, 2008

Pros:

My skin is clear clear clear, plus my jeans fit less tightly.

Cons:

None so far

I started taking this last week. I went to my OB/GYN to see if there was anything going on with my body, but it was "just" hormonal acne. My whole chin felt like one big cyst and every morning a new one appeared. After taking one 25mg pill at night, I woke up with the swelling gone on my "cysts" and I haven't had a new one in a week. I am taking 25 in the morning and 25 at night. I haven't had any side effects either besides a little water/weight loss, which is a plus for me. Try it. I have been on antibiotics for the last 2 years, but for some reason the last 2 months they stopped working. this is the only thing that has helped at all. I went from not wanting to leave the house to being OK with my skin over night.
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September 15, 2008

Pros:

clear skin, less oily skin, less oily hair

Cons:

sometimes a little dizzy at the gym if i am taking a step class and have to do a spin. weird, i know.

i have taken this medication for 4 months now. it has definitely improved my skin. i am getting comments from people that my skin looks amazing (it never looked amazing before with all the acne) i take a very low dose of only 25 mg/day. i saw results immediately, which is hard to believe, but true. my face is awesome. my back is much improved, but still not perfect. my doctor said i could increase my dosage to see if my bacne would go away, but i am happy with my low dose and am using apple cider vinegar on my back. this medicine works!!!!
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September 15, 2008

Pros:

It really works!! I've had every type of acne since age 11 (now 38). My skin was near flawless with occasional monthly breakouts until about 2 weeks ago when I had to stop it due to severe dehydration. My skin currently looks worse than ever.

Cons:

Was taking too high a dose(200mg per day)which resulted in too many trips to the bathroom incl. never sleeping through the night. Often felt fatigued & sluggish, but never (until reading other reviewers) made the connection.

I intend to go back on it as soon as I can get back in with my dermatologist. Will try a lower dose & hope for the best.
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September 13, 2008

Pros:

It's actually working!!!! I've been on Spiro for 2 months and 1 week and it's really working! This is the 1st time in years I finally don't have a break out!

Cons:

In the beginning, I broke out worse than I ever had!! and I got very weepy around my period, which I think has to do with the hormones

I'm 36 and have had adult acne with cyst acne since I was 19. I've tried everything except accutane. I started out with Spiro 25mg 2x a day for the 1st month then the 2nd 50mg 2x's a day+ 100mg of Doxy 2x a day. My acne is always my cheeks and jaw line. I have tons of red marks from picking and I'm going to start Derma-abbrasion but I'm really happy and I just think it's going to keep getting better. IF you try it, get through the bad break out in the beginning, it takes like a good 6 or 7 weeks for the break outs to stop. I feel like my self-esteem is already getting better.
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September 13, 2008

Pros:

I JUST STARTED TAKING IT SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2008. SO THIS IS N/A FOR NOW.

Cons:

LOTS OF TRIPS TO THE BATHROOM, DIZZY A LOT, MUSCULE ACHES, SORE THROAT. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE FLU AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE ALLERGIES. I'M TAKING CLARITIN D OVER THE COUNTER TO HELP.

I'VE HAD ACNE SINCE I WAS 13 and I STILL HAVE IT AND I'M NOW 33. I WILL PUT UP WITH THE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT TO CLEAR UP THIS ACNE. I HAVE BLACKHEAD AND WHITEHEAD ALL OVER MY FACE AND SO ARE LIKE CYSTS. IF I MESS WITH THEM THEY JUST SEEM TO FILL BACK UP WITH MORE COCKA. MY PORES ARE VERY SMALL.. I JUST WANT CONFINENCE AND SELF ESTEEM BACK.
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September 11, 2008

Pros:

Much less oily skin, never made me dehydrated or gave me the urge to use the restroom more than usual

Cons:

dry hands and feet, bad initial breakout

I started taking 100 mg of Spiro on July 15, and I'm very broken out right now. The break out is almost completely on my chin and jawline, which I've heard is more hormonal acne than anything. It alot more cysts/papules than anything, and I usually don't get those. Still, I have faith this is going to work! I hope to start seeing some improvement within the next couple weeks, but if I still don't see any within 6 months then I'll stop.
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September 10, 2008

Pros:

Clear skin

Cons:

HORRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

1 am 17 years old and started spiro 5 weeks ago. Although it has made my skin so much better, i wish i never started it and considered other options - my side effects are TERRIBLE - i cannot breathe, i've had a sore throat the entire 5 weeks that ive been on it, can't sleep more than 5-6 hours a night (whereas before i was sleeping 10), always tired, irregular periods, DRY skin. CONSIDER YOUR OTHER OPTIONS FIRST!!!!
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September 9, 2008

Pros:

Seems to be helping, but not totally clear yet, but I'm hopeful since others say it takes awhile.

Cons:

muscle aches, fatigue, frequent urination

Like one other reviewer said, I feel like I'm dying... My muscles are very achy and I feel sluggish. I have low blood pressure to start with, so I'm sure that has a lot to do with why it is affecting me so hard. BUT it seems to be clearing my skin up, so it's worth it. I'm 30 and have had hormonal acne around my mouth and chin just in the last year or so and I have a Mirena IUD like one other reviewer. I'm on 50 mg, twice a day right now. My skin isn't perfect yet, but I think it's working. When I wake up in the morning, I feel really stiff and it doesn't get better until a few hours into the day. I can tell a difference when I eat more. I seem to not feel quite as bad. At first I thought the drug was making me depressed, but really, it's just sluggishness and I'll have long stretches where I just don't feel motivated to move at all - which really isn't like me. But I've tried everything - pills and topical, except Accutane, so this is worth it, if it continues to help my skin.
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September 9, 2008

Pros:

Spiro cleared my cystic acne within 2 weeks. I started with 25mg twice a day and moved up to 50mg twice a day after 1 week. My skin was very clear and I went from having very oily skin to normal skin. I loved it!!!

Cons:

Very dehydrating. Also, after being on it for 6 months I broke out in a hive-like rash on my arms and legs. The doctors advised that I discontinue spiro because they were not sure what caused the rash. The rash cleared up within 1 week of stopping.

I loved it while I was on it. I am bummed that I can't take it anymore because I loved not having to worry about oily skin or acne while I was on it. It is probably best that I stopped it when I did though because when researching Spiro I discovered many studies that claim that it causes tumors in rats and that it is actually banned in England. I have started Yasmin because it is similar to Spiro. So far my skin is less oily and acne free.
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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.
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