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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4.6%
1
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May 4, 2008

Pros:

Less oily skin and hair; Less breakouts of cystic acne; Lost 15 pounds without trying!

Cons:

I haven't had a period in 3 months; dizziness

I have cystic acne from working out and usually around the time of my period. I have had only 1 breakout in the 6 months I have been taking this period. However, I have only had 1 period. I also lost a lot of weight and went from a size 10 to a 6 because I am no longer bloated (yay!). There are many benefits to this medication- I reccommend it!
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May 4, 2008

Pros:

clear skin, less body and facial hair growth

Cons:

excessive peeing =( thurst, occasional dry eys

works great on oily and acne prone skin, just takes a few weeks to work but well worth the wait.
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May 3, 2008

Pros:

Weight loss, larger breasts, dizziness at first but no other side effects.

Cons:

i cant see much improvent yet

I am 34 and have had moderate acne my whole life. I've been on antibiotics and accutane. I'm tired of all the side effects of acne medicines so i'm trying this. I am also drastically changing my diet and started cleansing and exfoliating my face. I have been doing some research on how to clear acne naturally. I have become a Vegan and eat nothing but fruit and vegetables and tofu. I also do not eat nuts. I read that nuts aggrevate existing acne. I wash my face with sulfer soap in the a.m. and cetaphil cleanser at night. I exfoliate with baking soda at night. I exercise daily which can also make acne worse. So immediately after I run I take a cold shower. I read that cold showers help reduce acne. I also use a very mild mosterizer and a organic acne reducer instead of retinal A. Dermatologists have always told me to only wash my face with water, but since I've been gently washing my face and getting rid of the dirt and makeup my face feels and looks better. anyone else?
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May 3, 2008

Pros:

less oil at 4 months...
weight loss (water weight - less bloated)

Cons:

takes so long to work.at 4 months my face is finally clear but terrible bacne.
pee like a racehorse
lower sex drive :(

just stick it out. and don't review it after three goddamn days.
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May 2, 2008

Pros:

Not sure

Cons:

Still oily

I just started using Spironolactone 3 days ago. I am taking 50mg/day. I have really oily skin and I breakouts on my chin mostly. My face is still really oily. Does it take awhile for it to work? Maybe it is because I take the pill at night? That is what my doctor told me because I have another pill that I take in the morning (Oracea) along with benocline.Any thoughts?
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April 30, 2008

Pros:

skin is less oily, 75% reduction in acne within 5 weeks

Cons:

skin gets much worse before it gets better

I've had mild acne since I was 12. I had fairly good results controlling it with antibiotics, duac and other assorted topicals. Then 6 months ago at age 16, I developed moderatly severe cystic acne... my face was ravaged! The cysts were deep and painful, as many as 15 at once. My derm put me on spiro 50mg/day which made my acne worse for about 2 weeks!! Then i began to see some improvement. After 4 weeks, my dose was increased to 100mg/day which helped even more. My skin has improved greatly and now I only have mild breakouts before my periods. I'm scheduled to start accutane next month but I'm reluctant to switch to something new when I dont feel I've given spiro enough time to work its wonders! May postpone and give spiro at least 6 months. It has been a lifesaver. No side effects, just a few more trips to the bathroom at first.
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April 29, 2008

Pros:

perfectly clear skin, no oiliness at all

Cons:

almost nonexistent periods on a shortend cycle, severe breast tenderness for about half the month

I am 44 years old and developed acne in my early 30's (after having 3 children). By the time I was 38 it was severe cystic acne. It was painful and SO embarassing. My self-esteem was in the gutter. I highly reccommend this med for older women with cystic acne.
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April 29, 2008

Pros:

lost weight already? small pill..

Cons:

hasn't started to work yet :(

i've heard great things about this pill but my transition from erythromycin to spiro resulted in 2 cysts that i just got injected today :( hopefully it will start to kick in soon!
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April 24, 2008

Pros:

clearer skin, oil reduction

Cons:

breast tenderness and slight headaches.

I can't stop looking in the mirror. Ive been on 50 mg of spiro for about 3 weeks. I'm a 40 year old female and have been suffering with hormonal acne for aboout 6 yrs. I had a Partial Hysterectomy about 6 yrs ago and had to discontinue using birth control which appeared to managing my acne at the time. Soon after my surgery the anguish of horrible outbreaks and cystic scaring begin to rule my life. Ladies.. I don't want to get too excited about this drug!!!! but it appears I may have found the HEALER to low self esteem and low self worth. I'm hanging in there for the long haul and expecting to one day meet my future husband with my new look and confidence.
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April 24, 2008

Pros:

No more acne. A bit of weight loss most likely water.

Cons:

Shorter menstrual periods, vaginal dryness.

I was put on this medication 2 years ago for hormonal cystic acne. I take 100mg per day. It worked very well for the first year. I hardly ever had a break out and if I did it was very manageable. It seems now though that my body has gotten used to the medication and I may need more as I am beginning to break out again. What I dont like about these meds is that I get my period every 21 days. Also, I do not know if there are long term effects from taking it. I do know however, that for a while this medication saved my self esteem and my life as dealing with cystic acne is horrible.
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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.
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  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

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