Drug use and Hormone replacement for Male to female

[OrderOfOriah]

I am heavily considering hormone replacement to feminize my body, but I would like to gather more information in regards to what can and cannot be taken with hormones.

I know alcohol is greatly advised against, which isn't much of an issue as I don't enjoy the effects of ethanol, but what about other less harmful natural drugs such as marijuana and psilocibin mushrooms, and perhaps opiates?

Yes, I am aware that any psychoactive chemical/chemical containing plants can be overused or used as a crutch or coping mechanism.  I'm not here to argue that point.  I merely wish to know about the interactions of commonly used psychoactives and hormones, as I am a responsible adult with the right to make informed decisions to consume substances which alter consciousness occasionally for personal and spiritual reasons.

Please don't give me the typical "Drugs r bad and illegal, so don't do em mmkay?" rap.  I grew up with parents and DARE for long enough.  Echoing their one sided and often uninformed angles isn't going to change my opinion at this point.

All I want is some good information from scholarly sources, or personal accounts of interactions of estrogenic drugs used in hormone replacement regarding male to female cases.

Of course I am willing to cease all use of chemicals while transitioning, but I also wouldn't mind if I didn't have to cease altogether. 

anyone got good information?

[eli77]

I'm on Percocet, and neither of the two HRT doctors I've had, nor my family doctor were particularly bothered. So opiates seem okay, and I haven't noticed any difference in effect.

I also wasn't warned against alcohol, so I'm not sure where you got that from. The painkillers come with big orange "NO ALCOHOL, IDIOT" stickers on them, and none of the HRT drugs I'm taking or have taken had them: estradiol acetate, estradiol valerate, prometrium, spironolactone, androcur. Drinking has pretty much the same effect on me it always did.

No idea about weed or mushrooms. But even if I did, I'm not allowed to answer here due to the TOS for Susan's Place. Speaking of, I'd just like to point out that the Percocet is legally prescribed - please don't hurt me, mods.

[kelly_aus]

I'd suggest leaving them behind.. Your doctors may view your usage as a crutch or other 'self medicating'.. And as such may be disinclined to prescribe you hormones..

[mimpi]

I am heavily considering hormone replacement to feminize my body, but I would like to gather more information in regards to what can and cannot be taken with hormones.

I know alcohol is greatly advised against, which isn't much of an issue as I don't enjoy the effects of ethanol, but what about other less harmful natural drugs such as marijuana and psilocibin mushrooms, and perhaps opiates?

Yes, I am aware that any psychoactive chemical/chemical containing plants can be overused or used as a crutch or coping mechanism.  I'm not here to argue that point.  I merely wish to know about the interactions of commonly used psychoactives and hormones, as I am a responsible adult with the right to make informed decisions to consume substances which alter consciousness occasionally for personal and spiritual reasons.

Please don't give me the typical "Drugs r bad and illegal, so don't do em mmkay?" rap.  I grew up with parents and DARE for long enough.  Echoing their one sided and often uninformed angles isn't going to change my opinion at this point.

All I want is some good information from scholarly sources, or personal accounts of interactions of estrogenic drugs used in hormone replacement regarding male to female cases.

Of course I am willing to cease all use of chemicals while transitioning, but I also wouldn't mind if I didn't have to cease altogether. 

anyone got good information?

Well, as you know we are not allowed to reply directly but I'm reliably informed by a "friend" there is/was no interaction...

[OrderOfOriah]

for biological males marijuana lowers testosterone levels, so I could always say i'm taking it as an antiandrogen.  Maybe I'll even get my medical card.  (My state allows perscription ganja)

Sounds like a decent idea.  One stop shopping

[Flan]

don't count on it (alleged testosterone reducing effects of cannabis)
and rules aside, the "one stop shopping" doesn't, to me, seem like a very healthy attitude towards recreational drugs.

The plasma testosterone levels of 66 male Pakistani who for years had smoked cannabis daily or drank cannabis regularly where measured after chronic and acute intake of the drug and compared with a material of 41 normal controls, i.e. persons who did not use cannabis. An evaluation of the results showed that there were no significant differences between the two groups. No influence of long-term cannabis usage on plasma testosterone levels was found.

[OrderOfOriah]

umm one stop shopping was speaking of perscriptions, not recreational drugs, as in getting perscription hormones and medical marijuana from a doctor.

And my past use of marijuana has been far from recreational.

Also, I can't trust any "scientific" information that's posted if no source(s) are cited

[kelly_aus]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2241844 Is the article you are looking for..

Also this one:
The effects of 9-ene-tetrahydrocannabinol on hormone release and immune function.

Dax EM, Pilotte NS, Adler WH, Nagel JE, Lange WR.

Addiction Research Center, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224.

We investigated effects of 9-ene-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on endocrine and immunological function. Seventeen male volunteers entered into a double blind, randomized study to receive oral THC (10 mg t.i.d. for 3 days and on the morning of the fourth day) or placebo, after at least 2 weeks of abstinence. Plasma prolactin, ACTH, cortisol, luteinizing hormone and testosterone were not altered during or after THC, compared with baseline concentrations. Tests of lymphocyte function showed no differences compared to baseline between THC and placebo groups. As the relatively low dosing regimen of THC (10 mg t.i.d.) resulted in no alterations, another group of 6 men were administered higher doses of THC by inhalation (18 mg/marijuana cigarette) following the same dosing regimen. No endocrine or immunological alterations were observed. When the subjects were grouped according to their history of THC use prior to admission, heavy THC users had lower prolactin concentrations than light users. No differences were observed in concentrations of other hormones or in tests of immune function.

[OrderOfOriah]

well, the size of the study isn't that large, but I will admit that there are many studies that deny that testosterone levels of men are effected, as well as many citing that they are.

But regardless, doctors will perscribe marijuana for just about anything from anxiety to a skinned up knee.  at least in cali they do....

[kelly_aus]

I'll also add in my personal experience.. I was a heavy, daily user until just after my first bloodwork was done just prior to starting HRT.. Guess what? My hormone levels were pretty much 'normal' for a person 'born male'..

[OrderOfOriah]

perhaps the results are different for those who arent frequent heavy users.

typically I don't use more than once every few weeks.

Regardless, does anyone have any information on how marijuana may interact with hormone replacement therapy for an m2f?

[Devlyn]

Sorry I'm late, I was..Oww! I just skinned my knee something awful! Any recommendations?

[Karen 007]

Wvogkduill hormones help me grow breasts and make my but and hips stick out?

[Karen 007]

didn't see the cat jump up

[Karen 007]

It should read would hormones help me

[OrderOfOriah]

depends which ones you take

[Alainaluvsu]

It's known that smoking nicotine will increase your chances of blood clots significantly while on estrogen. I'm not too sure if it's the nicotine or the smoking part that increasesd the risk, but I'm willing to bet if you tell your endo that you smoke ANYTHING, they will prescribe you less estrogen and monitor your circulatory system more carefully than if you do not tell them anything.

In fact, my endo really stressed the question when she asked me, whether I smoke at all.

But again, I'm not sure whether it's the act of smoking, or simply it's the nicotine that would cause clots.

However, a therapist is going to try to break, your "dependency" on drugs. If i'm not mistaken (correct me if I'm wrong), a key factor in getting "the letter" is that either you show no drug "dependency" or you are showing a track that you are moving away from drugs.

[OrderOfOriah]

goo advice.  I'll remember not to tell them

[Cen]

Well, as you know we are not allowed to reply directly but I'm reliably informed by a "friend" there is/was no interaction...

Seconded, though alternative methods to smoking might be safer.

[OrderOfOriah]

Seconded, though alternative methods to smoking might be safer.

That's fine.  Transdermal has always been my preferred route of administration anyway.  thanks for the input guys!