Soon after this discovery (and plenty of clinical studies), dermatologists began prescribing Spironolactone off-label to treat difficult hormonal acne cases in women. Gynecomastia. Spironolactone is an oral form of medication that was initially developed to treat mild blood pressure irregularities and water retention. Unger, C. A. Are there any other drugs out there that will remove water, but retain the potassium? other information we have about you. Because it's a diuretic (water pill), it causes you to urinate more to get rid of extra fluid in your body. Male-to-female (MTF) hormone therapy, or estrogen hormone therapy, is a treatment that some people may receive in order to induce feminine physical traits and suppress masculine ones. -, Cuhaci N, Polat SB, Evranos B, Ersoy R, Cakir B. Gynecomastia: Clinical evaluation and management. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. Spironolactone can alter the body's electrolyte balance (think potassium, magnesium, and calcium)thereby leading to low sodium. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. To date, there is no good evidence to support the notion that women using spironolactone are at increased risk for breast cancer. Does using spironolactone increase the risk of breast cancer. BMJ. Breast development. We are reporting a case of spironolactone-induced unilateral gynecomastia. They may recommend a specific birth control or prescription topical before resorting to Spironolactone. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. According to UCSF Transgender Care, the impact of estrogen hormone therapy on fertility is unclear. In the U.S., most people can access estrogen hormone therapy at the age of 18 years, when they are capable of consent. This can cause high levels of potassium in your blood, which can cause heart problems. Estrogen hormone therapy is a treatment that induces typically feminine physical traits while suppressing typically masculine ones. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this. Together, you and your provider can decide if continuing spironolactone (Aldactone) is the best option to treat your condition. Lowering blood pressure can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Spironolactone (Oral Route) Description numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips. rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin. reddened skin. weakness or heaviness of the legs. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. An official website of the United States government. In fact, females with high hormone levels and acne at any This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This is more likely to happen if you already have kidney problems or regularly take other medications that also have a risk of damaging the kidneys, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve)), certain cancer treatments, and certain antibiotics. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below. And when used as directed, it's actually quite effective (in fact, one study found that 86% of patients saw their acne improve on spironolactone therapy, and most saw results after three to six months of use).