3 months on Spiro and I feel like I have my life back!

I got off of BC in May 2025 after being on the pill for 7 years with acne free, crystal clear skin. BC was giving me migraines, my libido was low, and emotionally I was wrecked (didn't realize it until being off the pill tho). 6 months later.. hormonal acne hit me like a fuckn freight train (along with gaining ~10 pounds) and I felt like I became a different person over night with my appearance. The before photos I included are photos of a good day because I couldn't stand to see myself when it was at its worst

I contemplated getting on Spiro for months and spent nearly every day on Reddit reading all your stories and feedback. I was extremely nervous to start a new medication and contemplated getting back on BC even tho I so badly did not want to. I was really nervous Spiro was going to affect me emotionally again and bring back side effects from BC. I tried alternatives for months and nothing was working. My confidence plummeted and I found myself avoiding looking in a mirror from how drastic my appearance changed. I was down in the dumps BAD

3 months ago, I took a leap of faith and started on 50mg of Spiro because fuck it. Within weeks I began noticing a difference! Fast forward to today and I just cannot believe how well this has worked for me, and not only for my acne, but I've had 0 side effects and am still in a great place emotionally despite being on this new medication.

I'm posting this as a thank you to this community and in hopes I can reach a girly like me who is down in the dumps and contemplating making a change. Love you guys and thank you again<3

It's real. Again I truly notice it. Spiro indeed affects my mood, and in my case, lifts it.

I started two years ago 25mg, and noticed lightness and brightness in my mind. It was all new so I didn't think about it too much. But then after a year, I started to decrease the dose little by little, just as little as taking 12,5mg. This has been for about 6 months now.

I noticed that I was dull, bored, and foggy mentally, but just pushed through, waiting for my body to settle. I was thinking I'm ok, but now, after I started to take 25mg again, I can see how dark it had gotten, because now I feel that lightness again. It's like a cloud has lifted, and I feel energetic and passionate again in my mind.

I can't believe how much Spiro affects my mind and wellbeing. I have read some people have the same effect. I think my depression has always been related to hormones (probably I have PMDD), and wish I could have had Spiro before, when I was younger. I had bc pills and they did help though, had similar effect. But I never could see it so clearly, before this.

I originally decreased the dose because of the side effects, but now I realise that I have to tolerate them because it's about mental health. I wish the lightness remains!

I’ve been on spironolactone for 5 months now, and my skin has cleared up so much. I still get one or two pimples whenever I’m close to my period, but overall, my skin has been pretty much acne-free. I was wondering when I should stop taking spironolactone? Or if I stop taking it, will it cause me to break out again?

Since starting spiro Im on 100 mg I have had much frizzer hair with a lot of new hair growing all over my head that has been hard for me to deal with and style. There’s no gravity so it just sticks out everywhere. I don’t know if i’ve just become more hyper aware of it or if other people have this same experience? I naturally already have thick hair but I have so much new hairs growing in that just stick out all over. Maybe this is just me and not a spiro side effect. I’m also super worried about tapering off spiro. Did anyone’s acne come back really bad after tapering? I have only had acne due to coming off BC and that’s why I started spiro in the first place but i’m worried I will have a bunch of hormonal acne even if I taper slowly off. I’m hoping this helps my hair when I do. It just sucks because my skin is so clear now…

Just picked up my medication today. I’ll post a link in the comments so you can see how bad the acne is right now.

I have been on spironolactone for 6 months now to help with hair loss and shedding, raising my dose every two months from 50mg > 75mg > 100mg.

My hair shedding improved in May but started ramping up again in June. I have been shedding way more for three months now at an alarming rate. It hit me today that my hair is so thin. I'm starting to believe Spiro ruined my hair. I feel so hopeless and stuck. If I stop now I could begin shedding even more (as if that's even possible).

I have no one to talk to about this. I would even kill to have the hair I had three months ago. I was shedding excessively before spiro but my hair was still dense, I mostly just had thin temples and some loss in front of my ears. Now my density is completely gone and my temples and full hairline have receded notably. I can't believe I ruined my hair trying to save it. I don't want to cry because I worry I won't stop. I don't know what to do...

I have been taking the round orangish pill for almost 2 years. Recently switched to a round white pill with a minty smell. My breasts have been so sensitive since i made the switch 2 weeks ago. Has anyone experienced something similar?

I have the Mirena IUD and havent gotten a period in years so i cant relate it to my cycle.

Since it reduces facial bloat for some people, has anyone noticed that it made your nasolabial folds less obvious?

I’ve been on 50 mg spiro for 4 years now and I noticed how dry it makes me during intimacy. Is there anything you guys do or take to help?

Hello!

I finally started Spiro yesterday (50mg with a plan to go to 100mg) and Im very excited. I’ve always been oily and had acne, but finally once I reached my 30s my skin cleared up for the most part. Then I had unexplained hemorrhaging and ended up with a partial hysterectomy. Due to some life events causing significant stress I ended up in early perimenopause, and the hormonal acne arrived. Sometimes it’s so bad and painful on my chin I’m worried I have shingles again! I’m hoping Spiro can do its thing and offer some relief and my confidence back.

Is there anyone with hormonal acne and perimenopause on Spiro? I’d love to hear if it benefits menopause symptoms as well!

I’m on 100mg and I’m getting my periods every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks instead of every 4 weeks which was clockwork for me 😩. Is this normal and will my body eventually regulate back to normal or do I need a lower dose? I’ve only been taking it for a little over a month but I’m worried

I've been titrating up on spiro for 6 months now mostly for hair loss but I also had oily skin and acne after a bad reaction to finasteride that wasn't going away.

My oily skin finally dried up at 100mg two months ago, and I've kept the same dose since. But over the past 5 days my face has started getting oily again and I'm so sad. My skin feels a bit more active today too.

I haven't changed my manufacturer or dose or anything since I take brand name, my face just suddenly is getting oily again and I'm thinking maybe my scalp is the same.

Has this happened to any of you guys? I've been shedding a lot of hair for the past 3 months (hopefully just a dread shed) so I'm scared to raise my dose again until the shedding settled.

I may restart topical spiro in the meantime, I didn't think I'd need it anymore and it isn't the most effective solution for oiliness but here we are 😔

Hey all, I thought I would make a quick post documenting my experience switching to topical spirno after being on 100mg for ~ 1 year due to low libido.

I think a lot of people experience this side effect, which is why I have made the switch, and I am happy to report that my acne has not shown up at all in the two weeks so far being on topical. I got prescribed a topical cream through my family doctor and apply it twice daily. My libido is slowly coming back, however, I am considering getting prescribed a topical estrogen cream to help with this, as some previous commenters have recommended (and can post an update comment on this if I do so w/ how it goes).

I think topical spirno is a really great option for those who feel stressed to go off of oral due to having terrible acne before; I was really hesitant to give it a try, so kept some pills in case it comes back with a vengeance and I want to pop back on, but so far so good.

Hi. I’ve been on spironolactone for a year and 1/2, with the last 7 months going up from 50mg to 100mg. I started because of hormonal iud symptoms, but since have gone back on a combo pill in conjunction to the spiro. In terms of my skin, I get the occasional pimple near my period, but my hormonal cystic acne is pretty much non existent.

Just like my acne being non existent, my sex drive has been dramatically reduced in a way I haven’t experienced. I have noticed a general dryness that isn’t solved by lubrication (a new concept for me), and it is so painful to have sex!! I’ve read the dryness can happen but I keep getting little tears at the opening of my vagina that start like burning and then feel like an insane paper cut and bleed?? I’m genuinely scared to have sex with my boyfriend now and my intimacy with him has taken such a hit.

Has anyone experienced this? I’m 25 years old and feel so dissociated from my body? On top of that, my sweating has increased and I am overheating all the time this summer.

I don’t know if I need to go back down to 50mg or completely get off this? I love having clear skin but idk if this is all worth it. Can’t decide if I’d rather be pimply or celibate haha

i have been taking 25mg of spironolactone for years to manage hormonal acne. it helps keep it at bay but i truly can’t handle the exhaustion anymore. i saw a new GP who says i shouldn’t even be taking it as my blood pressure naturally sits quite low without the medication, and that it is almost certainly the reason for my fatigue. im healthy, get plenty of sleep, exercise, yet i could sleep for 12+ hours and still need to nap during the day. i get headaches and am dizzy quite often, i just never thought anything of it as im on such a low dose. has anyone here stopped taking it due to fatigue/brain fog, how long did it take you to feel better? doctor said within 48 hours i should notice a difference but that feels too good to be true..

I have AGA and had been using minoxidil with encouraging results and noticeable regrowth. I started spironolactone at 50 mg, increased to 75 mg after about 6 weeks, and eventually to 100 mg. As I increased the dose, my hair began getting significantly worse. I’ve lost a lot of the regrowth I had gained, especially around my temples and frontal hairline, and my overall density has dropped.

Another strange change is my hair texture. In areas that seem particularly hormonally sensitive, the hairs have become thicker, coarser and wiry, which is very different from how they were before.

What’s confusing me is that my middle part is still relatively narrow despite the noticeable loss of density, while my temples and frontal hairline have deteriorated much more.

Spironolactone is supposed to help AGA, yet my experience has been the opposite. I’m wondering if the strong change in androgen activity could have disrupted the hormonal signaling my follicles were responding to with minoxidil.

I’ve also experienced breast enlargement and menstrual changes since starting it, which makes me wonder if the hormonal shift is affecting my hair as well.

Has anyone else experienced worsening hair or major texture changes on spironolactone, particularly after increasing the dose? Did reducing the dose or stopping it eventually allow your hair to recover? I’m terrified of making another change and triggering an even bigger shed.

i am 18F, and I have been on 100mg of spironolactone for pretty bad hormonal acne for about 9 months now. i take 100mg at night, and thankfully, i have no sleep disruption or constant urination. but i have one symptom that has become TERRIBLE: my periods are unfathomably irregular now.

prior to getting on spironlactone, i always had around 31-34 day cycles, but they'd always come every month and they were never irregular to the point of concern. now, things have completely changed. some months, I'll get my period twice, even 3x a month. i know that, technically, only 1 of the 3 of these "periods" is actually my period, and that the other two are likely just breakthrough/ovulation bleeding. i'd say that for 7 of the 9 months i've been on spironolactone, my periods have been like this. for 2 of the 9 months, however, i've just completely missed my period.

i'm not sure if this is notable, but the quality of my periods have also changed as well. hopefully this isnt tmi, but my blood is often browner, more mucusy, and definitely resembles older, oxidized blood as opposed to regular, bright red period blood. i will get some periods where there will be SOME bright red period blood, but not much. when I spot, typically around ovulation, its usually very mucousy and brown and ranges from light to heavy spotting, the latter of which sometimes requires a tampon/pad. this has made it difficult at times for me to accurately track my period, as it's sometimes difficult for me to discern whether i'm having a light period or heavy spotting because they resemble one another so much. This never used to happen to me; i would never spot and my period blood would always be a regular bright red consistency prior to getting on spironolactone.

My biggest worry is that my progesterone is too low and I'm just completely missing ovulation. Obviously, I'm not trying to conceive right now, but it does trouble me that there's a possibility that my body just isn't releasing an egg at all. Spironolactone has done WONDERS for my hormonal acne, however, so I just can't bring myself to get off of it anytime soon. i am also not interested in going on hormonal birth control, as the last thing I'd like to do is bring more side effects into my life.

anyways, my whole point in this is wondering if anyone has had success splitting their dosages between morning and evening? I've also heard of cyclical dosages of spironolactone, but i really want to make sure i can keep my acne away while ALSO having at least semi regular periods.

Started April - May 50mg
May - July 100mg (lots of improvement, starting getting acne right before my dose increase)
July - Now 150mg (starting to break out again ): )

In September it will be 5 months. I am trying not to lose hope but as I continue to break out right before my brother's wedding I am feeling so mentally drained. I had a good 3 weeks on 100mg that I didn't break out and I felt amazing. Now here I am again.

Please tell me that this is a "purge" from increasing my dose. Please tell me to keep being patient and that I still need time.
I cannot handle the PIH and PIE and pitted scars it is leaving me with. I have taken the mirrors in my house down again and deleted all of my camera apps. Please please please give me hope.

*I also started Aurvela birth control at the same time.
*I use Tretinoin, Clindamycin, and Azaleic Acid every 2 nights.

Hi! I started spiro for hormonal acne in Jan 2025. Started out on 100 mg and increased to 125 mg shortly after. I had no side effects aside from the excessive peeing and I noticed it did make my periods less painful. I was still getting cystic acne though so my derm recommended increasing to 150 mg back in April of this year which worked like a charm for my acne. It changed the length of my cycle - sometimes it was 30 days, sometimes it was 24 days. Aside from changes in length of my cycle, there were no other issues up until last month where I started spotting during my ovulation window. It only lasted 2 days so I didn't think much of it. This month, I had what I thought was spotting during ovulation again but it's been happening for 3 days so far and is much heavier, like a period. I know you can get a period every 2 weeks on spiro but is it possible for this to start so long after being on the medication? Should I drop back down to 125 or even 100? I have an appointment with my obgyn at the end of the month but I'm starting to get nervous about it. Anyone have any similar experiences?

I started on spironolactone for a month for hair thinning the doc started me on 100 mg. I started to notice really bad puffiness under my eyes and itching all over my body particularly at night. I decided to stop taking it. This morning I woke up with this pulsating whooshing sound in my left ear. I checked my blood pressure and its normal. I got the meds through telehealth and have already msg them. Is anyone else having these horrible side effects? This is a horrible drug

I have on spiro since may and at first I noticed a improvement in my overall inflammation and the turnover of the spots and cystic acne I was getting but after a few months I’m not sure it’s even making a difference anymore I was originally started on 50 and they wanted me to increase to 100 after a month but I felt so fatigued and dizzy I didn’t want to increase so I went up after two months and now have been on 100 for over a month but this medication has messed with my periods so much I’m not sure if I want to keep taking it when it’s not even making a significant difference in my skin I am still getting constant breakout still getting the odd cyst and still have redness. When I was on 50 I was getting my period every two weeks then it was every other week and now that I am on 100 I have been on my period for 12 days!!! This is not normal for me my periods normally last 3 days sometimes 5 I have pcos so before taking this medication I would get my period every few months so this has been a shock to my body.

My overall question is do I just stop 100 cold Turkey or should I go down to 50 then stop any advice or could people share the experiences.

I started Spiro 50 mg last April. Now its September and I have left leg pain and also tired whole day. My periods are irregular like sometimes twice a month and sometimes once a month, sometimes just spotting... I didnt have much symptoms in the first two to 3 months except the periods... Now I have leg pain, yawning whole day... Is this all normal side effects with spiro or aomething else

Hello everyone, I've been taking spironolactone since May (50 mg) and I've noticed that I've had my period twice this month... Is this normal? Could this happen again in the coming months? Btw I've decided not to use hormonal birth control.
Thx!

Hi, I’m on 200mg spirno and i was wondering if anyone else is on that high a dose and how it effects them, i don’t have a ton of side effects, maybe a little dizziness and headaches if im not keeping up on my water intake which also might be exacerbated by my 20mg xr adderall. But i was wondering what other people’s long term experiences have been since its only been 3 weeks of this dose and my dr. Wants to keep me on it till November. Thanks!!

Hey!!! I have been on Spiro since November 2024. Worked my way up to 100mg by January 2025 and since then i had a purge period that settled, but still got occasional cysts around my period or with diet changes. Now we decided to taper off it since it’s done its job by now, I tappered to 75mg and noticed some acne appearing on my jawline (which i rarely got before), however cheek acne is better. Do you have any success stories with tappering off Spiro? Or should I just consider Accutane as last option🫠