Sprinolactone

Sprinolactone is a drug widely used in medicine. Its most commonly used effect, is in kidney diseases as an aldosterone, steroid, receptor blocker. By blocking aldosterones effects on the distal renal tubules, spironolactone causes a potassium-sparing diuresis in patients with heart disease.

Considering acne, the role of spironolactone is different. Spironolactone's androgen,steroid, receptor blockage effects are utilized. It suppresses androgen action to affect sebaceous glands, thereby decreasing there activity. Moreover, spironolactone is used to suppress masculine features in females, termed hirsutism.

Spironolactone is prescribed in doses of 50 to 100 mg per day alone or with an oral contraceptive, as it is not sufficient alone.

Spironolactone, similar to many of the other acne drugs, should never be used during pregnancy or when suspecting that you may be pregnant. Precautions while on spironolactone are abnormal menstrual periods, frequent trips to the washroom secondary to spironolactones effects on the kidney, and breast tenderness.