In Reply to: Re: Spironolactone to treat excess hormone levels that cause acne posted by Sue Newman on August 30, 1999 at 14:26:00:

: Has anyone who takes spironolactone for acne experienced having dry, chapped lips? I recently started taking an increased dosage from 50mg daily to 50mg twice daily and approximately 2 weeks later my lips became very dry and chapped.
: : : : I've been using spironolactone (75mg/day) for the past 5 months and am extremely satisfied
: : : : with the results. I've had cystic acne for 10 years and have been on Accutane three times.
: : : : When the acne started coming back a year and a half after the last Accutane treatment, I was
: : : : pretty desperate and started searching the internet, where I first heard about Spironolactone. My
: : : : dermatologist knew about it, but surprisingly, never suggested it to me (actually, I'm the first
: : : : patient he's prescribed it to). He was very relunctant to give it to me because of possible
: : : : negative side affects, which I have had some of, including a bad fainting spell after getting
: : : : dehydrated on the plane. Also, I constantly crave salty foods, but I try to drink a lot of water.
: : : : Since being on Spiro, I've also noticed that my mood swings have improved, but my doctor isn't
: : : : sure if that's a direct effect of the Spiro.

: : : : I'm also taking ortho tricyclen, which I started a year before the Spironolactone.

: : : : Right now, I might get one or two blackheads during my period, but they're so small as to be
: : : : unnoticeable. The rest of the time, I've been completely clear, especially the last two months.
: : : : I wish I'd gone on this drug earlier, because my life would have been completely different. I am
: : : : concerned, however, about the long term effects of this drug, especially whether it will continue
: : : : to be effective in curing my acne. If anyone has experience, I would appreciate your input.

: : : : Also, in case this info is of help to anyone, I had my hormone levels tested a few years ago and
: : : : nothing abnormal was detected. Yet, the Spiro has been very effective when nothing else,
: : : : including oral and topical antibiotics, birth control pills, Accutane, and glycolic peels, has been.

: : : **I have hirsutism which is a condition that causes excess growth of dark, coarse hairon women...I am tired of waxing all the time, so my Dr. has put me on 50mg a day of spiro and birth control pills (desogen to start although I have heard of ortho trycyclen). I am wondering about any other side effects(abdominal cramping, nausea, diarrhea, or deepening of the voice) you may have had using the spiro. I am kind of nervous and a little scared to tell you the truth. I don't have severe acne, but I do get pimples and breakouts on occassion. I wonder if I too will get the extra benefit of clear skin from this drug. I will start taking it on 06/12/99.**

: : I also have excess hair growth and acne. My dermatoligist tells me that in my case it is caused
: : excess androgen levels. Initially she put me on the pill and perscribed me some topical
: : acne treatement(isotrex). A month later at my next visit she saw that the isotrex had iritated my
: : acne. She has now put me on 25mg Aldactone(spironolactone) in conjunction with the pill to help with the acne and excess
: : hair growth.
: : I also did not suffer fron acne when all the teens around me were. Both my problems
: : started when I was about 17, I am now 20.
: : I have tried almost all of the commercial acne treatements, they just dont work for
: : serious acne. If there is any one out there reading this that has not yet seen a doctor about their
: : condition I urge you to. The sooner it is treated the better and your life can get back to normal.
: : I put off telling my doctor for 4 years due to emberresment,it was not worth it I was misreble for those four years
: : . You DON'T have to live with it. Your not the only one with this problem and your doctor has seen a lot of weird stuff
: : , theyre not going to laugh at you or think you are a freek. You will feel so much better when it is being treated.

: : I am nervous about the side affects of spiro, but am very hopful and confident after reading many
: : success stories on the internet; thankyou.

: : My daughter has been taking Ortho Trycyclen for about 6 months for her acne problem. The acne problems have been eliminated. Recently she started experiencing Body Odor problems that were not there until recently. She says she could be just sitting (not cold or hot) and will sweat profusely. Is there any known problems like this?