Stopping Cyproterone?

[teeg]

I was advised by my endocrinologist to stop taking Cyproterone.

However, I forgot to ask if I should stop taking it "cold turkey" or taper off of it over time. I called their RN, but they didn't get back to me today.

Anyone know?

[Jessica Merriman]

The rule of thumb in Paramedicine is to taper. You should get ahold of them as soon as possible for a definitive answer. I know this doesn't help much. Call them first thing tomorrow.  Your Pharmacist would be a good person to ask if you cant reach your doctor.

[kelly_aus]

Bayer (Schering AG - they make it.) recommend not going cold turkey.. They recommend tapering it off with dose drops of no more than 50mg per week, over several weeks..

Having stopped it cold turkey, I can recommend following the manufacturers recommendation.. Given the timing, I'm now wondering if this is the cause of my stalled feminisation.

[Miyuki]

Abrupt withdrawal of cyproterone acetate can be harmful, and the package insert from Schering AG recommends that the daily dose be reduced by no more than 50 mg, at intervals of several weeks. The primary concern is the manner in which cyproterone acetate affects the adrenal gland. Due to its glucocorticoid activity, high levels of cyproterone acetate may reduce ACTH, resulting in adrenal insufficiency if discontinued suddenly. In addition, although cyproterone acetate reduces androgen production in the gonads, it can increase adrenal androgen production, in some cases resulting in an overall rise in testosterone levels.[30] Thus the sudden withdrawal of cyproterone acetate may result in undesirable androgenic effects. This is a particular concern because androgens, especially DHT, suppress adrenal function, further reducing cortisol production.[31] In theory, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride and dutasteride may be able to mitigate this effect somewhat by preventing the conversion of testosterone to the more potent DHT.

So yea, definitely taper off, unless you are already only taking 50mg.

[KayXo]

I didn't but maybe I should have because to this day, I suspect it may have adversely affected my adrenal function.

[teeg]

Honestly I'm currently on a relatively low dose of Cyproterone and my Testerone level was 3, apparently normal female range being between 1 - 6 for reference.

I'm unsure if I should even stop it and change things with my HRT if I'm this close to SRS anyway...

[KayXo]

Anyways, cyproterone has to be stopped a few weeks before SRS since it affects clotting but it's you and your doctor's call...