Question About Very Low Dose Spironilactone

[Aveline]

Hello all, I am a pre-everything 26 year old MtF transsexual, and I will go to an appointment soon with an endocrinologist. However, I have no choice but to take low dose spironolactone , because I am not financially stable to move out of my parents' house and become independent, and I've been threatened with death by my own family if I ever transitioned (I live in the Middle East). Does anyone here have any experience with this much low dose, and what I can expect? I will have to stop taking them if I experience breast growth at such a low dose, but I know as well that everyone's mileage may vary. Still, I'd love to hear about anyone's experiences with low dose spironolactone. Thank you

no dosages please

[LordKAT]

Hi Aveline and welcome to Susan's.

I don't have any anecdotes for you but,

Here are some site rules and answers to often asked questions.

• Site Terms of Service and rules to live by
  
• Standard Terms and Definitions
  
• Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar/post links and photos)
  
• Age and the Forum
  
• Reputation rules
  

Is there any way you could move to somewhere you would be safe?

[Jennygirl]

Hi Aveline. I hope you are taking the spiro under a doctor's order, because we cannot help you if you are self medicating with it :/ In fact if you are self medicating, please don't~ just wait until you schedule your appointment with the endocrinologist. It's worth it to be on the safe side.

(#8 in the first link that LordKAT posted)

[Aveline]

Oh don't worry, I haven't started anything yet. As I've said, I'm pre-everything and I'm against self-medding as well, but sometimes in third world countries transpeople have to choose between self-medding and suicide and nothing else. I know a transwoman who is self-medding and whom almost got murdered by her family. I don't blame her nor do I intend to lecture her about self-medding.

I am pretty safe now because my parents believe that I won't transition, they think it was a phase I grew out of and made no effort to know more about gender dysphoria and ->-bleeped-<-, because they simply don't believe it exists. As long as I respect the rules of the household, no harm will come to me.

I do realize this is a sensitive question, but I live in a sensitive situation

[luna nyan]

Regardless of how low a dose you go on, some changes will occur.  The lower the dose, the slower it happens - generally speaking.  Going on spiro alone may not induce much feminisation, but ymmv - however it may prevent or reduce further masculine age related changes.

[Aveline]

I see. I read your low dose HRT thread and it was very informative ^_^
What I'm hoping for the most is the reduction of dysphoria and some mental stability for now, since a complete transition is not an option. However, I've read somewhere that being exclusively on spironolactone alone can have damaging effects in the long term. Does anyone know about these effects?

[LordKAT]

Your kidneys won't be real happy.

[Hikari]

I see. I read your low dose HRT thread and it was very informative ^_^
What I'm hoping for the most is the reduction of dysphoria and some mental stability for now, since a complete transition is not an option. However, I've read somewhere that being exclusively on spironolactone alone can have damaging effects in the long term. Does anyone know about these effects?

If you don't take estrogen, and Spiro reduces your Testosterone, your bone density will lower. It won't be an immediate problem but, in the long term you are going to need to take Estrogen as well or your bones will eventually get too weak and break. I am not sure the details of your situation but Spiro alone is generally a short term solution, if nothing else it could give you time to think of a long term solution to your situation.

[JulieBlair]

Spironolactone won't by itself do any feminizing.  It will lower your T levels some, and as a side effect lower your blood pressure.  At low doses this will be pretty minimal.  You may need to supplement Calcium and Magnesium and since it is a diuretic, expect urine output to rise.  Also since it is Potassium sparing don't use salt substitutes and don't eat a lot of potassium rich foods.

Your endo will set the proper dosage but it is usually well tolerated, even over the long term.  It is very important to have medical monitoring and periodic blood and bone density testing.

I know it must be hard, but hang in there.  The real world is coming to even the children of Abraham.  "The arch of history is long, but it bends towards justice" MLK

Blessings,
Julie

[Aveline]

Thank you all for your informative replies! The endocrinologist I'm setting an appointment with will be referred by my psychiatrist, and he is one of the very few that has actually worked with transpeople in my country, so hopefully he will be able to advise me accordingly. I guess a low dose of estrogen is a good decision along with the low dose spironolactone, as is outlined in luna nyan's low dose HRT thread.

JulieBlair, I really hope that is true, because the authorities and most people in the Middle East could really care less about what happens to the well-being of a transperson, and as a result they treat us like sexual deviants instead of normal people.