Blood pressure drug takes on antibiotics for Women's acne

NCT ID NCT03334682

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Sep 14, 2026 · Last updated Sep 15, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

Researchers are testing whether spironolactone, a drug usually used for high blood pressure, can treat moderate acne in adult women as effectively as doxycycline, a common antibiotic. The trial enrolls women with acne who have not recently used certain treatments. Participants receive either spironolactone or doxycycline for several months, and researchers measure changes in acne severity and monitor side effects.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
spironolactone
What this could lead to
If spironolactone works, it could offer adult women an acne treatment that avoids antibiotics and their resistance problems.
What could go wrong
Spironolactone can cause hormonal side effects and is not safe during pregnancy. The trial may show it is no better than standard antibiotics.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 3

Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.

Participants

158 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jan 2018

Finished

Jul 2023

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

20 years and older

Sex

Female participants only

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient with acne, with at least 10 inflammatory lesions and no more than 3 nodules * Patient who already had one cycline course for her acne treatment with a 3 months\* wash out or who never had any cycline * Patient having signed an informed consent * Absence of use of oral antibiotics and Zinc salts in the last 30 days * Absence of use of systemic isotretinoin and antiandrogens in the last 6 months * Absence of microphysiotherapy in the last 15 da * Women of child-bearing age under contraception since 3 months (oral contraception, implant or IUD). * Patients with social security Exclusion Criteria: * Patient affected by active /progressive diseases, as infections including Hidradenitis suppurativa, cancers, or endocrine syndrome (eg polycystic ovary syndrome), Addison's disease) * Patient affected by Rosacea * Patient with contra-indication to the use of one of the investigational products or auxiliary : * Patient with intolerance or hypersensitivity to cyclin's, spironolactone or to any ingredient present in associated benzoyl peroxide gel * Patient with significant impairment of renal excretory function, acute or chronic renal failure, anuria. * Patient with life-threatening or very severe hepatic impairment.(grade III or IV) * Patient with hyperkalaemia or strongly requiring potassium-sparing diuretics (eg amiloride, canrenoate, eplerenone, triamterene), or treated continuously with Angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II antagonist, NSAIDs, heparin and molecular weight heparin, ciclosporin and tacrolimus. * Patient requiring topical isotretinoin or who stopped this drug since less than 2 weeks * Patient previously treated with spironolactone * Pregnant woman or likely to become pregnant or nursing and refusing to use an effective contraceptive method * Patient participating in another interventional clinical trial * Patient under guardianship or trusteeship

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Acne vulgaris are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

acne Acne Vulgaris

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • CH La Rochelle

    La Rochelle, France

  • CH Le Mans

    Le Mans, France

  • CHRU Tours

    Tours, France

  • CHU Caen

    Caen, France

  • CHU Grenoble

    Grenoble, France

  • CHU Poitiers

    Poitiers, France

  • CHU de Nantes - Dermatologie

    Nantes, France

  • Cabinet du Dr Jean-Paul Claudel

    Tours, France

  • Chru Brest

    Brest, France

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.