Spironolactone advice

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Hi everyone I have really bad acne I used to have it 80-90% under control with the combined pill but have been taken off it (18 months ago) due to age and threat of blood clots. My acne is the worst its been in years and I want to discuss hormonal medication specifically spironolactone with my doctor (antibiotics and roaccutane don't really touch it in fact the latter aggravated it). However some of the side effects like increased chance of renal failure are quite worrying, has anyone had any experience with this drug? Is it worth the risk, I am pretty miserable with my skin at the moment.

I was hoping that I could help my PCOS with weight loss alone and although my periods now have started (fingers crossed will continue) to become regular and normally spaced that seems to be the only symptom I've managed to control with weight loss. x

Replies

  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,104 Member
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    I took it, but it didn't touch my acne at all and it made me massively dehydrated. I'm using homemade facial serum, CeraVe facial cleanser and lotion, and leveling out of my insulin levels (and therefore my hormones)... I'm also beginning to worry about the ongoing risks of hormonal BCP, as I'm 41...
  • soechsner09
    soechsner09 Posts: 119 Member
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    I use Spironolactone and have for a while. I love it and have had no issues. My acne had cleared up before I went on this, but I've noticed a huge difference in hair growth. I get labs regularly and everything is good there too.
  • animatorswearbras
    animatorswearbras Posts: 1,001 Member
    edited September 2017
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    @soechsner09
    oooh how did you clear your acne if you don't mind me asking? x

    Thanks knitormiss I'll look into those facial products! Maybe getting my insulin under control is key x Debating whether to give dairy free a shot lots of anecdotal support not many studies though. :/
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,104 Member
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    The CeraVe was recommended to me by a dermatologist I saw. He sells it in his clinic, but you can get it anywhere from Walgreens to Walmart, etc.
  • soechsner09
    soechsner09 Posts: 119 Member
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    @soechsner09
    oooh how did you clear your acne if you don't mind me asking? x

    I actually found different skin care. I used to always use acne targeted products but I discovered that was making my skin worse because my skin was too sensitive. I switched to using L'Bri which is an aloe based skin care line. My skin loves it and cleared up fairly quickly. I don't sell L'Bri myself but I could get you info if you wanted it.
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,104 Member
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    @soechsner09

    I've never even heard of it...but for sensitive skin folks, Aloe is awesome...
  • MeepleMuppet
    MeepleMuppet Posts: 226 Member
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    I've been on spiro for about 2 years and it definitely helped. I had some side effects (namely extreme breast tenderness and probably some others I can't remember anymore) but they completely and quite suddenly switched off maybe 4 to 6 months after I started. I stuck with it for those months because of folks in this forum telling me it would get better. It reduced my acne somewhat (changing diet finished it off), and reduced my extra body and facial hair by about 60%. They do check my kidneys about once a year but everything has been fine so far.
  • animatorswearbras
    animatorswearbras Posts: 1,001 Member
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    Thanks for all the tips guys I spoke to my doctor and she was reluctant to prescribe me spiro since it isn't approved by NICE or the NHS unless prescribed "off brand" by a specialist so I'd have to get some tests done and be referred if I want to go that route, we went through the same acne meds which don't work/made me worse (apart from Yasmin but I can't go back on that) and I just ended up getting some topical cream and said that I'll cut dairy for 6 weeks to see if that's an issue (also got hold of some dermalogica acne facewash which ain't cheap but came recommended from a friend since it's cruelty free and I can get hold of in the UK), I'm going back in 2 months.

    I'll have to be honest and am in two minds whether I hope going dairy free will help, I ruddy love cheese!
  • MeepleMuppet
    MeepleMuppet Posts: 226 Member
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    I live in Wisconsin. Some meals are nothing BUT dairy :smiley:
  • soechsner09
    soechsner09 Posts: 119 Member
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    I live in Wisconsin. Some meals are nothing BUT dairy :smiley:

    Me too!!! I have an entire drawer for n my fridge dedicated to cheese
  • raesac
    raesac Posts: 3 Member
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    Hey. So I took spirolactone when I was maybe 18-19 and one of the side effects is memory problems and I got it. It's not that I have memory loss as much as when I'm talking I sometimes can't remember words. Like I'll be talking about a giraffe and I can see the girraffe in my head I can tell you where it lives and what eat eats and describe it to you but I can't recall the word giraffe for a short period of time. Like a tip of my tounge phenomenon. It was the worst when I was on it and has gotten better since I've been off but it definitely still happens. It's a problem because the words I'm trying to think of are never obscure they are always easy things that I should be able to recall. Not to say you would get that but I wish I knew this before I started. And it was 100% the drug. it's a known side effect.
  • Twinkleeeeeeeee80
    Twinkleeeeeeeee80 Posts: 43 Member
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    I took it for about a year before getting married and worked great. Although I was still on BC then so acne was mostly here and there on my back. I don't recall side effects. I've been on BC again the last couple months and it's really helping.
  • macchiatto
    macchiatto Posts: 2,890 Member
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    Looking for threads on spironolactone since my dermatologist put me on it about 5-6 weeks ago. My skin was relatively clear as a teenager but I've had acne since about age 40 (I'm 43 now). Also I've had the chin/neck hair growth since my late teens.

    So far it seems to be helping my acne (I think? Not a dramatic difference yet), not sure it's helping with the hair growth yet. Risk of S/E's makes me a little nervous just since I have several other health conditions I'm managing and meds I'm taking but I'm on the lowest dose.

    One thing I wondered: My dr mentioned since it's a potassium-sparing diuretic that I shouldn't take potassium supplements. Since then, I dropped back to keto and previously on keto I always would make "keto-ade" with salt, nusalt and Mio. Does anyone know if that will be a problem on spironolactone? Or should I not need the extra potassium if I'm on this?