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
March 3, 2009
Cons:
None
I love spiro! It works so well!
March 2, 2009
Pros:
Inexpensive, has really reduced oil in just a few weekes on a low dose, skin also looks much clearer, you lose any water wt you've been carrying. I might give it a five in a few months but I just haven't been using it that long.
Cons:
Muscle cramps if you don't stay hydrated, go to the bathroom a little more often, have to check potassium levels every few months.
After reading all the postings on this site my sister and I decided to try spiro. We have tried everything else and nothing has helped for very long. So far, I've had a little bit of a breakout when I first started but now my skin is really starting to look clearer. I wanted to start low (25 mg/d) to avoid any major side effects or break-outs in the beginning and I just now bumped it up to 50 mg/d. I'm really excited that I've already seen such a difference on just these low doses. I plan on getting up to 75-100 mg/d eventually. The part I'm most excited about is that my skin hasn't been getting oily and gross half way through the day when usually I want to wash my face and redo my make-up by then.
February 14, 2009
Pros:
So far so good. I havent been on it long enough yet though
Cons:
Little lightheadedness at first, peeing like seabiscuit, tired
Ive been on spironolactone for almost a week. So i havent been on it long enough yet to see any results. Im taking 100 mg of spironolactone, 100 mg of monodox (doxycycline), and levoclen-4 facewash (brevoxyl-4, benzyl peroxide). Ive been going to doctors for this since i was about 12 and im now 20, still struggling. I must say though...after 2 days it seemed like my whole back cleared up!! it was amazing haha. But im really hoping this works. Im worried about side effects...very worried actually. but i havent really had any yet so im hoping its ok. my doctor didnt say anything about blood tests or anything, im going to check my blood pressure at school. i read in the side effects to keep your potassium intake low...i think thats the hardest so far. but other than peeing atleast every hour and ive been more tired...its been good =]
February 11, 2009
Pros:
Has cleared my acne completely. I used to have very bad cystic acne the kind that needed a cortisone shot since i was 11 years old I am 26. It has been a long road for me.
Cons:
tired, dizzy, spotting
when i first started taken SPIRONOLACTON I was taking it with YAZ. But I stopped both of them due to weight gain. I was off of all medication for about 5 months until i start break out again. I started taken Spironolacton again but with out the YAZ.... NOW my PROBLEM is that i have started to spot thru out the month... I am taking 100mg twice a day...IS ANYBODY ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM????
January 28, 2009
Pros:
Cheap
Internally changes hormonal balance, working from the inside out
Cons:
Length of time it takes for effectiveness
I have been on this for approximately three weeks, and the first week was fine, alot of the acne started to fade, but now my breakout is uncontrollable. I am having large cystic pimples on my forehead, which I never had before. It is red and fluidy. However, it has cleared up my left side of my face and that part is completely clear. I know that it has been only 3 weeks, but my forehead is scaring me. Did anyone have the same issues as me when they started taking spiro? I am on 100 mg and take doxcycline too. I also take fish oil, ACV, and drink lots of water. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts haesook77@[link removed]
January 20, 2009
Pros:
Well, it hasn't made my skin worse yet! (Knock on wood?) They say it takes time, so I am waiting patiently!
Cons:
You need to stay consistent with how much water you're drinking, it's so easy to get dehydrated. The only con I can complain about is the fact that it's severely drying my eyes to the point where it's hard to wear contacts.
I have PCOS and I'm taking Spiro for my acne and facial hair. Everyone warns that it may take a few months to work. So far, nothing has really changed acne-wise, I always have at least one or two flared up pimples on my face. I've noticed that my scars are getting lighter and my skin is beginning to get really dried up and I'm having to use my moisturizer more often. Breasts have been beginning to noticeably grow since I began taking the full 100mg once instead of 50 twice a day... Two things:
1. The "peeing often" went away in about a week.
2. I heard that men should not take this because it blocks androgen and can cause breast growth (something that I absolutely love about this, but I don't think men would appreciate it as much...)
December 17, 2008
Pros:
Works well, no sick-like side effects....took about 2 months to work but now is awesome.
Cons:
My potassium level went up too much and I had to cut back on the dose. Kind of scared of what will happen when I stop taking it.
I've been using spironolactone for about 8 months. My face is 100x clearer. It wasn't awful to begin with but I felt like a 24 year old with 15 year old teen skin. Creams really don't have an effect other than making my face extremely dry. My derm started me on 25mg, and over time we bumped up to 150mg. At that time my birth control was Yaz. My regular doctor was concerned about my potassium levels because both of those medications raise them---so she switched my BC--I was not going to give up clear skin. My derm now put me at 200mg, the highest dose she prescribes, and then had me go get my potassium levels checked again. It was 5.0, the high end of normal range. I eat a lot of healthy food like fish and bananas, both of which are high in potassium. It would be kind of hard for me to avoid high potassium foods, so we switched back to 150 and they're normal again.
November 30, 2008
Pros:
women get your testosterone levels checked...may explain a lot. Spiro is the only thing that works because it blocks testosterone at receptor cites.
Cons:
none
check it out. not many dr.s link acne with hormone levels. Derm will go out of acne business!!go to an endrocrinologist.
October 9, 2008
Pros:
It works - it really does. I've had acne since I was 12 - and acne was all I focused on. For those who have moderate acne, you know what I mean. It's debilitating. I've been on this for a year and my skin is great. Be consistent with taking it
Cons:
irregular periods, dehydration, caffeine like effect
It's great - not sure what the long term affects are - which is scary...but I have clear skin.
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.
Pros:
Clear skin, got rid of greasy hair.