Treating Acne with Aldactone

Treating acne with Aldactone should be under your dermatologist or physician's advice. Treating acne with Aldactone is performed when the root of the problem is hormonal. Aldactone is an antiandrogen drug that works by reducing excessive oil production.

Things to remember

Before you resort to treating acne with Aldactone, you should understand that it is a diuretic pill that prevents salt absorption in the body. It also keeps potassium levels from hitting their lowest. Usually, the drug is prescribed by doctors to treat conditions wherein you have high levels of aldosterone. It is a hormone from your adrenal glands used for regulating the balance of salt and water in the body.

How it works

As an effective product for treating acne, it blocks the androgen hormones that cause acne. Aside from hormonal acne, Aldactone can also treat other forms of acne in adults. It works in 2 ways to control and prevent acne and further breakouts:
1. It blocks the receptors of your androgen hormone to decrease its effect on oil production to reduce acne.
2. It prevents the formation of the hormones that can reduce the formation of acne.

Common side effects

When treating acne with Aldactone, you may experience some common side effects like headaches, breast tenderness and irregular menstruation. These side effects recede in 2 to 3 months. If they continue to persist, birth control pills may help decrease the symptoms. Another way to reduce the side effects involves stopping the medication for a week every month.

Serious side effects

Aldactone can also impose serious side effects on the user. These includes increased potassium levels, which happens if you have kidney problems or taking other diuretics. While it this condition is rare, you should consult with your doctor once you experience any kind of reaction to the drug. Furthermore, make sure you discuss with your doctor any previous conditions you have had.

A few warnings

When treating acne with Aldactone, you should make sure that your blood pressure is checked regularly. You should also have some blood tests taken during treatment. This is because the drug may cause low blood pressure. Furthermore, women are not advised to take Aldactone if they are pregnant or if they are trying to conceive since it can have possible effects on a male fetus.

Effects and dosage

When used for treating acne, it may take several weeks before Aldactone to show its benefits. The dosage differs among the prescribing dermatologist or physician but it usually starts with 25mg tablets that you have to take twice a day. The dosage increases up to 100mg per day.

Aldactone may also be used for purposes other than treating acne. Additional information can be obtained at Prescription Drugs Guide.