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 25, 2008

Pros:

Clear, bright complexion! No more bumps and marks!

Cons:

Takes a good two motnhs to see a big difference.

It took me about 2 months to see a big difference but my face has been clear since. I have been on spiro for almost 6 months and I have been really happy with the results. I was so worried about my skin back in April and May and now it's not something I think about. I can walk out with no makeup or sweat during a sport and not feel self conscious. It works!!! It was also combined with Tazarac cream which also helped my progress.
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August 25, 2008

Pros:

Clearer skin and no longer losing hair on scalp!

Cons:

Tastes terrible; frequent boughts of urination; having to watch potassium levels; still having a bloated stomach

I'm 19 and though my androgen levels are normal, apparently my body is too sensitive to them and I have female pattern baldness...I was losing so much hair that I was afraid to go out. I'm not sure which particular part of my new regimen has saved my hair, but I can tell you that I no longer look down at my shower drain and see clumps! I haven't noticed a decrease in body hair but additionally my moderate-to-severe acne has almost completely ceased and I've only been on this a couple of weeks. I actually feel like a woman again now that I'm taking this. I'd reccommend it to anyone. I'm still extremely bloated but I am willing to give this a chance! I'm on 100 mg daily so I probably won't have my dosage increased any time soon.
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August 21, 2008

Pros:

No acne, decreased facial hair, and let hair grows slower now. works quicker than accutane without the depresion concerns.

Cons:

dry mouth, frequent urination

If it keeps my acne awaym uts all good
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August 20, 2008

Pros:

Complete disappearance of acne, reduced pores, reduced visibility of red nostril veins, DRAMATIC reduction in facial hair (both size/darkness and number), hair all over body grows back much more slowly, moderate weight loss

Cons:

I already have low blood pressure without Spiro so its bp-lowering effects cause me occasional very brief periods of intense dizziness upon standing

I have been on Spiro + hormonal birth control for almost six years to manage polycystic ovarian syndrome and its works beautifully. My endocrinologist has had me on one 100mg pill per day for the entire duration of the treatment and I am satisfied with the results. I saw an improvement in my acne right away and after two months, the full effect had taken place. My woman-stache was barely visible, the chin hairs went away without any harsh creams, etc. The only thing I didn't like was the month my body took to get used to the hormone change - I cried a lot at nothing at all and would get very dizzy when I stood up. After that, everything's been great. I get a lot of compliments on how nice my skin looks but I don't have to wear any makeup.
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August 19, 2008

Pros:

Haven't Noticed any yet

Cons:

Scary Side Effects...

I hate to leave a review after only being on this med for about a week, (seeing how every acne med takes time) But I have been having some pretty intense side effects with this drug and wondering if is even at all safe to stick it out. I started takeing 50mg twice a day, and am wondering if maybe that was too much for my body to handle at first. My derm perscribed this to me and didn't say anything about gradually starting on the drug then eventually working my way up to a higher dosage. As I read past reviews it seems like everyone started on a smaller dosage and then increased as their body got used to it. In one week I have had headaches, cramps, muscle tenderness, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, and chest pain.. (a little scary) I cut my pills in 1/2 and the side effects have seemed to subside a bit. I would appreciate any feedback on this, Has anyone else had this problem?
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August 19, 2008

Pros:

I haven't had any yet

Cons:

I keep waking up to find my face full of new acne. It's really itchy and they hurt!

I am 20 yrs old andI have had acne since middle school. I have tried everything under the sun except for accutane. When I went to the dermatologist to talk about going on accutane, she said that I might want to try spiro first. She made it seem like this would be the miracle I have been waiting for. I have only been on spiro for nine days, but my skin is the worst I have ever seen it. I'm taking 50mg in the morning in conjunction with differin .3% gel at night. I'm very tempted to just give up? How long does it usually take to start working?
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August 17, 2008

Pros:

Softened my skin texture (less oily, generally more sublte texture and brighter color), Less facial hair, my scalp is nearly never oily yet my skin does not get dry, and oddly enough, i have little to no ear wax!! Hehehe. Miracle Drug!!

Cons:

The first week, i felt tired and a little light headed but that disappeared despite increasing my dosage. I suppose my sex drive went down but...eh...who cares, i have clear skin daaahhling!

I started with 50mg and upped my dosage to 150 as well as a small dosage of anti-biotics. I never really suffered from acne until i was in my mid-twenties. I got on all sorts of medications for four years, all my doctors insisted on putting my on Accutane but i felt it was a risk since i have very dry eyes. Finally, a found a doctor who took one look at me and told me my problem was hormonal and that Accutane will not solve my hormone imbalance. My chest, back and face (which were peppered with acne) slowly started to clear up and with in 3 months, i was completely clear. People now compliment my on my clear and glowy skin. Please give this a shot if you're considering Accutane, ESPECIALLY if you're a growm woman suffereing from acne (especially along the jaw line and lower half of the face). I did'nt expect to find a cure for myself, but i finally did.
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August 16, 2008

Pros:

a lot fewer breakouts, clearer skin, less oiliness

Cons:

not really noticed any

I've been on Spiro for a couple of months now and it has significantly helped with my acne. It was never really bad, but I did have to battle some cysts on throat, forehead and chin, plus the typical stuff one woman gets when menstruating. Very annoying!! I've read the board here and I haven't noticed anybody saying anything about change in menstrual flow. (maybe I haven't gone through all the pages).This is the second VERY light period I've experienced in my life, and it's because of the Spiro. Does anyone else have this blessed side effect?
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August 15, 2008

Pros:

Less bloating, lower blood pressure, aids in weight loss, clear skin, less menstrual cramping. I've also noticed less irritability (note: this is the only med I'm taking other than my multivitamins)

Cons:

occasional headaches

This med was prescribed to me mainly for bloating, but found out that it had help clear my skin (hormonal acne) and less cramping. I've been on it for the last 3 months. I've stopped taking it for the headaches to see if it was the culprit and sure enough, it was. However, I'm starting on it again with a lower dose this time (50mg) and it's doing the trick without the headaches.
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August 13, 2008

Pros:

Made my skin less oily, REALLY helped with my menstural cramps

Cons:

Takes a while to work

Been on this stuff about a month and havent seen any real improvement in my skin so it's frustrating. Got rid of my menstural cramps though! Everyone's different though. Give it a try!
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Finding a Doctor

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.
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