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 6, 2008

Pros:

It works! It really works!

Cons:

None for me!

Please ask your doctor for this med, give it a try. I could see an improvement in days. Do not suffer with breakouts a day longer then you need to. I wish I would have known about spiro years ago, would have saved my self-pride and my skin from scarring. I am so grateful that I finally found a doctor that had a solution for my acne. It's so easy and effective. Check it out! Feel better fast! I am combining 50mg Spiro 1x a day with a low dose antibiotic 2x a day (doc said I can stop antibiotic soon), Benzyclin pump topical every other night, and tazorac every other night (to start to resurface this new break-out free skin I have!) Exciting to see something work after trying so much.
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September 5, 2008

Pros:

Hoping it will help with my oily skin....

Cons:

Being careful about consuming foods with Potassium

Only been on it a week, waiting to see how I do....
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September 5, 2008

Pros:

Didnt give it a chance

Cons:

I had severe side effects

I felt like I was going to die! I was feeling very week, unenergized, tired, sick to my stomach, headaches, bloating, early menstral bleeding, muscle aches, dizziness, you name it. I felt horrible. My derm just put me on Bactrim. So well see if that works for me, and I dont have the scary side effects. Any feedback on Bactrim?
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September 5, 2008

Cons:

It made my skin super sensitive and I had a nasty reaction when I got my normal hair color done. Plus I got a sore on my tongue that wouldn't heal. I even cut down my dose. All went back to normal when I stopped. Didn't do anything for my acne.

Didn't work for me. It could work for you though.
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September 5, 2008

Pros:

My face and scalp seem to be a little less oily so far

Cons:

Maybe an extra trip to the bathroom here and there, for the first day I felt slightly dizzy about an hour after taking the pills

Havent really noticed any improvement in the breakouts so far, I am also going for Blu-U light treatments twice a week which kind of helps keep them at bay, I started on 25mg of Spiro for the past 5 weeks, recently upped the dose to 50mg daily. I am also on Alesse for the last 3 months but Im considering quitting that after this pack is done because it seems that my acne completely exploded since starting the birth control. Does anyone know how long before you start to notice a difference with the spiro or do you need to be on a high dose (eg. 100 mg daily) for a few consecutive months before you see anything?
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September 4, 2008

Pros:

decrease in cystic acne, hormonal acne
less oil

Cons:

dry skin, frequent unrination, heart palpitations at times, muscle weakness

At first this medication gave me an initial breakout, muscle weakness at 100 mg a day. After 3 months my cystic acne has improved but I need at least 150mg a day. I have tried everything since I was 13 yrs old and accutane was not an option since I can't tolerate BCP. It is worth it to help me feel better about myself since acne is emotionally difficult.
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September 4, 2008

Pros:

I have normal skin now!

Cons:

None for me maybe I have to pee a little more often

If you have hormonal acne then try this! I have used everything and my roommate told me about spironolactone. It takes a little while to work but it has been a miracle for me! no more accutane or antibiotics finally something that really works!
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August 31, 2008

Pros:

It's working so far. Skin is 95% clearer and I am not oily any longer. This med keeps the water weight off.

Cons:

Kind of tired and a lot of bathroom trips. But not a major problem.

I have been troubled with acne for about 4 years and I am in my 30's. Tried a lot of different prescriptions topicals and they did not work for me. Proactiv did not work. It actually left my skin worse. Tried solodyn and it did not work. My dermotologist tried spiro because we had started to discuss accutane. No need for accutane now. I am using a combination treatment which is taking 100 mg twice a day and differin at night.
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August 30, 2008

Pros:

No longer need to blot my face 10 times a day! 90% of my acne is gone at only three weeks.

Cons:

NONE!

I'm 29 and have had acne since 15... this is the first time I've seen results! I tried proactive... that was a joke! Now my makeup stays in place all day. I no longer need to blot my face 10 times a day and my pores are tiny. AMAZING. It took a week to titrate my dose so that my BP wouldn't drop too low. I take 50mg twice a day. It's only been three weeks and people are already telling my how good my skin looks! LOVE THIS STUFF!
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August 29, 2008

Pros:

For the first time in almost 3 years I can actually leave the house without tons of makeup bc my skin is almost completely clear

Cons:

Skin is a bit drier bc there is no oil left. I went from at the end of every day having to wipe off so much oil to nothing.. It is unbelievable. I do think this medicine makes me a bit more tired than usual but clear skin is worth it

I am in my 30s and ever since I got the Mirena IUD I have had constant cystic acne and pimple break outs month after month for almost 3 years. It has been absolutely DEVASTING for me. Nothing else worked topical, other medications etc. As a last resort before getting the IUD removed the nurse practioner at my OBGYN's office recommended this. I was skeptical but decided to try, what else could I lose since I was determined to win this battle. For the first 6 weeks my skin broke out horribly but for the last month something amazing is happening I am not having daily breakouts and for the first time in years I can walk outside without makeup. I am in shock, I just keep praying the acne doesn't come back but 4 weeks now and no pimples. If you try this be patient, I have read several other reviews with people saying the same thing give it time to work! Best of luck.
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