Retin-A Alternatives Compared

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Retin-A (tretinoin)	Spironolactone	Doxycycline	Enter another drug to compare

Retin-A (tretinoin)

Spironolactone

Doxycycline

Prescription only

Prescribed for Photoaging of the Skin, Lichen Sclerosus, Acne, Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum. Retin-A may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Prescription only

Spironolactone is a diuretic that may be used to remove excess fluid (edema) from the body, lower blood pressure, or treat hyperaldosteronism. It does not cause potassium loss from the body; however... View more

Prescription only

Doxycycline is an effective antibiotic that treats a wide range of infections. However, it is not usually recommended for children aged less than eight or pregnant women in the last half of their... View more

More about Retin-A (tretinoin)

More about Spironolactone

More about Doxycycline

Ratings & Reviews

Retin-A has an average rating of 7.9 out of 10 from a total of 97 ratings on Drugs.com. 77% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 14% reported a negative effect.

Spironolactone has an average rating of 6.9 out of 10 from a total of 703 ratings on Drugs.com. 58% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 24% reported a negative effect.

Doxycycline has an average rating of 6.4 out of 10 from a total of 1635 ratings on Drugs.com. 50% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 27% reported a negative effect.

View all 97 reviews

View all 703 reviews

View all 1635 reviews

Side Effects Experienced by Users Side effects are reported in Drugs.com user reviews and not clinically verified.

Acne (27.8%)
Peeling (19.6%)
Dry skin (11.3%)
Dryness (10.3%)
Pain (7.2%)
Burning (6.2%)
Irritation (5.2%)

View all Retin-A side effects

Acne (11.4%)
Dizziness (8.0%)
Hair loss (7.1%)
Weight gain (5.5%)
Headaches (5.1%)
Tiredness (4.4%)
Fatigue (4.3%)

View all Spironolactone side effects

Nausea (19.9%)
Headaches (9.5%)
Acne (7.9%)
Vomiting (7.6%)
Upset stomach (5.4%)
Diarrhea (3.2%)
Dizziness (3.1%)

View all Doxycycline side effects

Drug Class

Topical acne agents

Generic Availability

Lower cost generic approved

Lower cost generic

Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance

Quantity	20 gram(s)
Strength	0.025%
Per unit^*	$1.30
Cost^*	$26.01

View all Retin-A prices

Quantity	100 each
Strength	25 mg
Per unit^*	$0.23 - $0.25
Cost^*	$23.10 - $25.17

View all Spironolactone prices

Quantity	2 tablet
Strength	hyclate 100 mg
Per unit^*	$6.62
Cost^*	$13.23

View all Doxycycline prices

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Dosage Forms

Topical cream
Topical gel

Oral suspension
Oral tablet

Injectable powder for injection
Oral capsule
Oral delayed release capsule
Oral delayed release tablet
Oral powder for reconstitution
Oral tablet

Half Life Drug half-life is the time required for plasma concentration to reduce to half its original value.

N/A

37 hours

23 hours

CSA Schedule ¹ View glossary of CSA terms

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category D Positive evidence of risk

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 12 drugs are known to interact with Retin-A:

1 major drug interactions (2 brand and generic names)
11 moderate drug interactions (342 brand and generic names)

A total of 382 drugs are known to interact with Spironolactone:

51 major drug interactions (248 brand and generic names)
311 moderate drug interactions (1490 brand and generic names)
20 minor drug interactions (145 brand and generic names)

A total of 235 drugs are known to interact with Doxycycline:

22 major drug interactions (60 brand and generic names)
208 moderate drug interactions (2245 brand and generic names)
5 minor drug interactions (21 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

No known alcohol/food interactions. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Spironolactone and alcohol may have additive effects in lowering your blood pressure. You may... View more

No known alcohol/food interactions. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

October 20, 1971

January 21, 1960

December 05, 1967

WADA Class View classifications

N/A

S5 - Diuretics and Other Masking Agents

N/A

More Information

Patient Resources

Retin-A uses

Spironolactone uses

Doxycycline uses

Professional Resources

Prescribing information

¹ The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Retin-A Alternatives Compared

See also:

Accutane

Deltasone

Botox

Sprintec

Yaz

Vibramycin

Lo Loestrin Fe

Yasmin

Ocella

Junel Fe 1/20

Further information

Retin-A Alternatives Compared

See also:

Further information

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