Spironolactone for Acne User Reviews (Page 4)

• Somso
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 3, 2020

"I was on spiro for several years. It helped but didn't completely clear my skin. I still had cystic nodules that were painful and scarred. A new dermatologist upped my dose to 200mg/day. I'm 5'5" and 115lbs. The side effects were bad before, I always had to pee in the middle of the night, but they were significantly worse with the higher dose. I couldn't remember anything. The brain fog was unbelievable. I wasn't on any other medications, so I knew it was the spiro. I decided to stop taking the medication in order to return to graduate school (needed a sharp brain for that). My acne is 100% back but at least I can sleep through the night and remember what I've read."

• RPhWD
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 28, 2016

"After turning 30, I started getting severe, red, painful cysts along my jawline, cheeks, and forehead. They would last forever and would not go down with any topical treatments. I had my androgen levels checked, and they were 3x the normal limit. Around this time, I was also having trouble maintaining my weight (5'4'', around 120 lb), my skin became really oily, and I felt fatigued all the time. I'm very active and eat very healthy, so something was going on. I started spironolactone 25 mg - 2 tablets twice daily (three times daily around the time of my cycle), and it's as if I am a new person. The initial breakouts took about 3 months to completely go away, but now I have energy, no weight issues, and no acne!"

• TXgirl
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2014

"I have always battled acne my whole life. I've been on spironolactone for 2 months, and I'm seeing great results on my skin. I am concerned that my menstrual cycle just won't stop! I had my normal period, which is 6 days. I went one week without a period and then started again for 11 days, then off for 5 days, and then started again. I'm on day 9 of bleeding. I don't want to take any other meds. Does this get better?"

• WildS...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 10, 2023

"Mental lifesaver! After 48 years of the most beautiful skin, I started getting terrible acne. Even through my teen years, it's like I'd never even gone through puberty, I literally never got bumps, not even during that time of the month. So to start breaking out at almost 50 years old was devastating to me. My derma said it was hormonal and prescribed Spironolactone. I swear in less than two weeks my beautiful skin was back in action. I emailed my doctor singing her praises. Fortunately, I have no side effects from taking a 100mg pill one time per day in the evening with dinner. I never want to be without this medication if it can keep my skin in this condition."

• Anony...
• October 1, 2013

"I am a physician and tried really everything on my acne, which has lasted now for 24 years. It started during puberty and has been hormonal since then. I have been put on anti-androgen medication once, which was quite bad considering me being a very young woman. But since then, nothing helped. Spironolactone was well known to me as a diuretic, but not as an acne medication (off-label use). But I gave it a try, was quite concerned about the potassium retention, but what do I have to say: acne is almost gone, no water retention before my menstrual bleeding (always gained about 2-3 kg) and something I would not have thought: no further cramps in my legs, which sometimes woke me up at night. I am very happy about taking spironolactone."

• calcium
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 8, 2015

"Months 3-5 were very difficult for me. I had been very optimistic after reading reviews, and I wanted a quick fix after trying everything else. Sometimes my acne seemed even worse than before I started treatment. Thankfully, I didn't give up, and it seemed like one day, overnight, my face stopped producing acne!! I guess that it just took 6 months for my hormones to adjust to treatment and balance out. But my skin has never looked better in my whole life, and I am so grateful and thankful for this medication and that I stuck with it! I don't wake up anymore expecting to see a new cyst on my face, I can just live my life not worrying about my skin anymore! Took 6 months, but it's the only thing that has worked, and my skin is CLEAR for the 1st time!"

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2009

"Spironolactone has been a miracle drug for me. I've suffered from acne since the age of 11. I've tried every pill and cream that my parents could afford. Nothing has ever fully worked because my acne is hormone-related. If it did help, my face would be red, peel, and break out again once I discontinued the product. A friend introduced me to spironolactone, and my life has never been the same. It took a good 4 months for me to see even a slight difference. But 1.5 years later, my face is clear and has been ever since. I would highly recommend spironolactone. Just be patient for the first 3-4 months, but you will see results."

• Unbel...
• January 10, 2011

"Let me start off by saying this drug is the #1 medicine, in my opinion, for the treatment of severe cystic acne! I'm currently 51, and when I was 13, I experienced acne, but it worsened into cystic acne at age 16 through to age 30. (NOTE: I took all dermatologist-prescribed creams and antibiotics.) AFTER my two children were born, I took several rounds of treatment with Accutane. Accutane finally rid me of my problem at the end of the treatments, but a year or so later, acne returned, but not as severe, and when I was in my mid to late 30s, I told my thyroid doctor of my battle and treatments with acne. My thyroid doctor 'shocked' me when he said that he could stop my acne within 2 to 3 weeks with a maintenance drug named 'Aldactone.' Acne GONE."

• Megan...
• December 6, 2015

"I've struggled with moderate acne since the age of 11 or 12, and I'm now 26. I've tried benzoyl peroxide solutions, salicylic acid, tretinoin cream, doxycycline oral antibiotic on numerous occasions, clindamycin cream, and the list goes on and on. Nothing ever worked, and I learned to live with acne - I learned how to cover it to the best of my abilities and to try to act like it didn't bother me. But honestly, at any given point, I had at least 8-10 pimples. By the time I turned 24, I had started with horrific large pimples on my chin and cheeks, and I pleaded with my dermatologist to start me on something different because I had just had enough. Spironolactone was the best thing to ever happen to my skin!!! I started at 50 mg daily, then after 2 weeks, it was increased to 100 mg daily. I noticed within 4-6 weeks that my skin was clearing up and I no longer was getting new breakouts. I've been on it now for 10 months, and honestly, I don't think I've even had one pimple in the past 2 or 3 months. This stuff is simply amazing. If you struggle with acne, I would recommend at least trying this. I never thought I would ever have clear skin, and I now have completely clear, smooth skin. It's incredible. The only side effect I've had is fatigue, so I do take it at night before bedtime, and I wake up very well-rested. In addition, I pee a lot more often, as is to be expected from a diuretic, so I drink tons of water to make up for it. Also, as a side note, I've lost about 10 pounds since starting it, which is also a plus.:)"

• Hanna...
• December 9, 2014

"This past summer, I experienced the worst breakout I've ever had all over my entire face. Never before had that happened- I just had a few cystic nodules around my mouth. For a month, I tried everything- a very strict diet and stayed away from bad carbs and sugars. Nothing worked. After seeing my dermatologist and gynecologist and doing research of my own, I presented them with what I believed to be Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. They did blood work and confirmed. The dermatologist wanted to put me on Accutane, but I didn't feel good about it. I did more research, found out about spironolactone and asked him if this could be a good alternative, he agreed, and I've been on 100 mg for about two months now. It has changed my life. Gave me back confidence."

• EmRae
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 27, 2014

"I'm 42 and began taking spironolactone and using Differin for adult acne about a year ago. It took almost 8 months to really make a huge difference, but I could see some changes in the inflammation and severity of my acne after about four months. My acne was worse along the jawline and under my jaw and usually manifested as deep, sore nodules that never really came to a head. I still get some breakouts, but the pimples are much smaller and more on the surface, and almost none of them are on my jawline. They also heal much more quickly. The only negative side effects I've had are increased urination and weight gain. I've put on almost fifteen pounds over the last year, mostly in the belly, hips, and thighs."

• Anonymous
• October 2, 2018

"I had a great experience with Spironolactone until my pharmacy changed the pill. I’m not sure what brand I was on before but I know it had a minty coating and worked really well! I saw complete skin clearing within 3-4 months. Then the pill was changed and the bottle says “Accord Healthcare” and the acne has come back, almost worse than before. Really frustrating that different brands of the same drug will cause such drastic changes."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2013

"I started taking this medication about four months ago combined with minocycline for my hormonal cystic acne. The first month, I saw no improvement in my skin and abnormally lost 5 pounds. Now, three months later, my skin is finally completely clear, but I'm facing a new problem: the medicine has caused me to gain 10 pounds in my thighs, butt, tummy, and breasts and has given me a yeast infection that has been on and off (mainly on) for the last four months."

• Bossmom
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2023

"Avoid!!! Took me 9 months and digging on the internet to discover the 25mg dose I’ve been taking for a year is the cause of my extra 12 pounds of fluffy fat in my abdomen, thighs, and hips, also my face has never been more round. The doctor that prescribed told me countless times weight gain was not a side effect. I’m livid with myself for not figuring it out sooner as I know my body. As part of my focus on overall health (I work out and lift heavy on a very regular schedule along with eating very clean), I do a body scan about every 4-6 months. I’ve gained 9 pounds of straight-up fat since the moment I started taking Spironolactone oh, and some weird cellulite. I am cutting the dose in half for a week then a quarter for a week and then I’ll be all the way off. I hope I can lose these extra pounds faster than I gained. So frustrating."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 5, 2020

"I’ve been on 50mg for 3 months. Before then I had awful cyclic acne and pimples on my cheeks, chin and neck. Like 20 spots at a time. After just a week on spironolactone, I stopped getting new cysts and acne. Since then I’ve only had a couple of zits on my forehead. Now just waiting for the discoloration from old acne to go away. It’s been a miracle for me. Never had “purge” acne, the breast tenderness/thirst went away in a week, but holy moly, I have lots of gas for the first time in my life. The upside is my kids think it’s hilarious."

• Dpano
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 8, 2019

"I am never someone to write reviews, but spironolactone really is the only medicine that has ever get rid of my acne, it really works. I am a 29 year old female that has struggled acne most of my life. I am now 7 months in and only have scars and some pigmentation. if you are woman that has a lot of acne here near your jawline this is definitely what you want to try! I'm so grateful for this pill! To echo what others have said it really does take three or four months to start working so be patient even though it's really hard."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2014

"I was taking Bactrim DS prior to spironolactone (50 mg 2x/day) and clindamycin from November to April, but I started to build resistance around March and waited until it just stopped working. I recently went to my dermatologist about a week ago, and from the large painful cysts all around my mouth and chin, he told the PA and me to prescribe spironolactone as it is hormonal. I wish I had gone on this sooner! The persistent cysts are shrinking and drying! I had an initial breakout (still have a little), but I am keeping a positive attitude, which helps a ton. This will be the medicine that cures my acne of 9 years, I just know it. I'm glad my dermatologist stopped talking about Accutane with me, this is a much safer alternative if you have persistent hormonal acne."

• There...
• September 12, 2015

"Like many of the women posting here, I have used almost every prescription and non-prescription acne treatment over the last 15 years. I was prescribed spironolactone, 50 mg a day at the end of April 2015. The first 3 months were horrendous. My cheeks and sometimes forehead broke out so badly, and the pimples lasted for weeks or months and left red scars. I was so depressed, I came on these sites for answers. I found hope when others stated that it took a while to start working. I was noticing a decrease in the amount of oil my skin produced. I can honestly say that as of today, 9/12/15, my skin is amazing. I have a few light red scars, but other than that, my skin feels amazing, no pimples, very little oil. I hope it stays this way!"

• Bee
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 16, 2019

"Girls, please be careful. Spiro was my miracle drug for the first year. But now after 2 yrs its not working, my body has gotten used to it. Its aged me so much my face has sunken in, I feel so ugly. Its made me anorexic from dehydration (I drink 3 litres a day) you can see all my veins. It also caused extremely purple veins all over my legs. I'm depressed and all my muscles ache. Plus acne comes straight back when you stop. It might be worth it for a few months but its not worth it in the long run :( fyi I'm a 27yr old"

• Dt23
• September 5, 2020

"I was on spirolactone when I was about 14, and going through puberty which brought some unfortunate acne. My skin cleared and I got off of it up until 2 and a half weeks ago when my dermatologist put me back on it at 50mg. I started dealing with hormonal acne that was making me self conscious. My skin purged for 2 weeks and literally at the 2 week mark, bam, my skin cleared up so fast. Everyone is different but please stick with it because it will get better and you can feel confident about your skin again."

• thatd...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 5, 2013

"Love this stuff. Miraculous. I am 50 years old and have suffered with cystic acne since age 36. Nothing helped, and it left my once nice skin discolored and scarred. I saw 'the best' dermatologists in Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York, spent a fortune, and nothing helped. Finally, I met a dermatologist from a small town completely by chance, and he urged me to try spironolactone. Within one month, my skin was clear and still is. One caveat: when I first started taking it, I was dizzy and nauseated, so I stopped taking it. The doctor told me to try again with half the dosage, and it worked like a charm."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2014

"This really works! I was a little hesitant because it seemed like nothing would clear up my acne. After about 2 weeks, my face was clearing up, and I was no longer getting acne where I usually did (forehead, chin). I had a few weird breakouts near my lip and on my nose, which never used to happen, but they cleared up pretty fast. This combined with scar gel has really improved my face. No side effects that I have noticed."

• Clair...
• February 13, 2017

"I had HORRIBLE cystic acne on my chin - i'm talking 20 huge cystic pimples on my chin at any given time - no amount of makeup could cover it up. It was causing me major concern and depression. My Derm put me on Accutane that worked fairly well (aside from bloody noses and extremely dry skin) but as soon as I finished Accutane, my acne came back with a vengeance. So I went back to my Dermatologist and she put me on Spironolactone. She told me the pills could take up to 2-3 months to take any effect BUT here's the thing: it worked STRAIGHT away! I'm telling you - I took 2 pills! One on Sunday then another on Monday and by Tuesday my pimples were almost gone! I honestly think this is some sort of miracle pill...it's changed my life."

• Erb
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 8, 2015

"I went off birth control after about 10 years, and my skin did not appreciate that! I dealt with the severe jawline/neck acne for a few months until it started affecting my life. I went back on birth control, so I did some research on this medicine and prepared to ask my derm for it; but as soon as he heard my story, he recommended 150 mg of spironolactone. I've been on it for about 4 months, and my skin is amazing. It took about this long to actually see dramatic results, so don't get frustrated! Unfortunately, I had some light superficial scars on my neck and jawline, which was disappointing. I began using some Cosmedix products that I read were successful in reducing acne scars, and indeed they did!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2012

"Only used it for 2 weeks, and people are already like... WOW... it's crazy how much better your skin looks. I know I won't see the full effects for another few months, but I have noticed that my face is not nearly as oily. It's more normal now, before, by the end of the day, I used to be able to use 5 of those Clean & Clear oil-absorbing sheets! My redness has gone down a lot too, my acne was crazy. Not all over cystic, but it looked like a rash but wasn't rosacea. And now it's getting better! Yay! I am excited."