Long-term use of Spironolactone in women for acne
In May 2020, a retrospective study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology examined the safety and effectiveness of long-term oral spironolactone for the treatment of acne in women.
Spironolactone is FDA-approved as a diuretic for blood pressure control. However, it also blocks testosterone receptors and can dramatically reduce cystic acne in women.
The key takeaways from the study are:
Spironolactone was well tolerated, with low rates of adverse effects. Side effects were generally mild and resolved after discontinuing the medication or lowering the dosage. The most common side effects included frequent urination, headaches, and menstrual irregularities.
More than 75% of women showed improvement in their acne. Approximately 20% were clear after six months, 40% were clear after nine months, and more than 50% were clear within one year of taking spironolactone.
It can take four to six months to begin seeing the peak effect of the medication.
An average drop of 3 mmHg in blood pressure was observed, which was not considered clinically significant.
The average patient in the study took spironolactone for more than one year without experiencing long-term side effects.
The average starting dose of spironolactone was 100 mg.
Spironolactone is not an antibiotic or a hormone. Routine blood monitoring is generally unnecessary for otherwise healthy women between 18 and 45 years of age.
