Spiro - carcinogenic?! And does skin always get worse?

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innocence

New member
Hi there,
I've just been put on Spironolactone 100mg/day (take it as one dose), but have read that carcinogenic effects have been reported in animals?!?! Seems a bit worrying, no?? And what about hyperkalemia, etc? Do you all have regular blood tests??
Also, should I expect my skin to get worse before it clears up??

Thanks a lot!
 
I've been on spiro 200mgs for 2 years and have had a complete curing of my acne. I had the painful cystic hormone acne. I'm 45 years old. My daughter began having terrible acne recently and we wanted to try spiro with her before we pursued accutane. She was put on 100mg. There was no improvement. I asked the doctor to up the amount to 200 since I knew that was the dose that worked for me and she did. Now, after 1.5 months, she is clearing completely!! She has not had a new bump since increasing the dose. There was no initial breakout with either of us. It may have seemed worse because every plug was coming out, but that lasted a few days only. Her self confidence is soaring. I read several studies that stated that 200mgs was the dose found to be effective. For us, that seems to be true and this medicine has given me and my daughter (18) a cure. Good luck! This is not an overnight medicine. It takes a while to work, but if you've been on it for a few months, see if your doctor will up the dose before you give up.
Neither of us have noticed any side effects and we do get our blood checked periodically.
 
I am having a terrible initial breakout (i hope that is what this is). My forehead is going crazy-- lots of little red bumps all over. But the oil production has definitely slowed. It seems like dannaboo did not experience an initial breakout from her post? Have any of you experienced a worsening like this? does it get better? I am 2.5 weeks in on 50mgs./2x day. How long should it take before I start seeing results do you think???I'm so sick of this!:yawn:
 
I think I've seen the same thing in the patient info, but if I'm not mistaken I've also seen it for meRAB like Differin. Lots of times they are using doses that are a lot higher than what you would take, in a small animal. If you are worried you can ask your pharmacist or doctor.
In a normal, healthy young person the chances of hyperkalemia are very low. But I do have my potassium checked every six months. Risk factors would be kidney problems and taking NSAIRAB on a very regular (like almost daily) basis.
 
Hi - I've been on Spiro for about 5 weeks, 100mg one dose daily. The first 3 weeks, I was very pleased with the clearing, less oil, etc . . . very little side effects. However, after my cycle the acne has become worse. Actually worse than it was before with the exception of no cysts, thank god! I can live with zits, but those cysts are killer! I have looked on another health boarRAB posts, and it seems very normal that it gets worse before it gets better. So I am going to stick it out. It's hard to hang your hopes on something and have it get worse, so disheartening. I am hoping just a few more weeks, by the 3rd month will work better. That is the result most people report. Good luck and lets keep each other posted on the progress.
 
hang in there! 100mg a day is working for me right now, I am sure everyone is different - took 6 weeks and had to get past that initial breakout. But my acne was not that bad, just cystic, and hard to get rid of. Honestly I expect it's not completely over yet. I am still using my acne products. You may need more, like dannaboo. Good luck and be patient.
 
Thanks a lot for the replies!!

And that's really annoying that it got worse after 3 weeks! I've been on it (100mg/day) for only a week, but my skin has already improved a lot!!! Really don't want it to get worse now!!
 
Thanks so much for responding Karm099-
I am going to try and stick with it. At least give it a couple months to see what happens-- but as I'm sure you remeraber, each day seems like an eternity when you're badly broken out. I will post again in a bit-- keeping my fingers crossed to see the same positive results you've experienced. I really appreciate the encouragement!
 
innocence-
we are have been taking the same amount for just about the same amount of time, and my skin looks terrible. i am so discouraged. i hope it starts taking a turn for the better like yours has SOON. i just don't know what to do. i am erabarrassed to go out, as my skin has never been this bad before while i've been in grad school. i can feel my frienRAB thinking "what happened to your face?" it's mortifying- but i am trying to get through it. My skin was pretty clear when i began spiro and now it is broken out totally. i don't have a derm. appointment until middle of may...with a graduation to go to before that. great.
please let me know how things go for you and continue to update-- it keeps me hopeful!
 
Here is an update :) 6 weeks in. I did see my Dr. to get the old ones that just wouldn't go away injected. Those are gone now. I've been using AHA glycolic acid 12% to get the rest up and out. And went back on the doxycycline temporarily until I get past the hard part. Skin is looking pretty good - maybe the worst is over.
 
How's it going for everyone?

I'm on my 4th week of 100mg/day of spiro and my skin was clearing up SO fast. However, this morning I have about 10 little red bumps on my chin!! At least they're not big cysts, but they're actually very painful?! Anyway, I hope they clear up and the rest of my face doesn't start breaking out..
 
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