Switched from Cyproterone Acetate to Spironolactone: Feedback

[Ruth Ruthless]

Maybe I'm peeing out all the estrogen.

[KayXo]

That's why he also suggested Flutamide. Not to many trans folks get that and with good reason. It does not lower T on it's own.

To suggest flutamide when there is now a safer alternative, BICALUTAMIDE, on the market is STRANGE. This avoids the side-effects of diarrhea and liver impairment sometimes seen with flutamide and only needs to be taken once daily compared to three times daily with flutamide due to shorter half-life.

Flutamide, bicalutamide are non-steroidal anti-androgens that are used in prostate cancer patients to inhibit androgens. They are POTENT anti-androgens and despite not lowering androgens, they block them so effectively that androgens have little effect on the body.

[Yukihime]

This topic is funny as I recently went from Spiro to Cyproterone Acetate myself. I wish I could say I don't pee as often but I'm honestly not sure. I still have to go a fair bit in a day. Maybe just not as back to back as with the spiro. So far I've been enjoying the effects of CPA now that I got through the weird high/low crash. I take an anti-anxiety/depression med as well so that probably staves off the low periods just fine. The body hair loss has is super comforting, while the head hair growth has been quite nice, though I think Spiro was doing well in that regards. I had only switched because the dose of spiro I was on wasn't lowering the testosterone enough, especially given my estrogen levels. I've got my first bloodwork since the switch, so let's see if CPA has done it's job or not.

One thing I will say, especially if you take premarin, is I feel a bit safer with Spiro + Premarin than CPA + Premarin. If my financial situation was better I'd switch over to Estrace and pay for it but I...just don't make that kind of money to comfortably do so. I still might anyway depending on how my results go and of course, a talk with my doctor. Though if I'm talking saving money, I probably should just go straight to injections since they're covered on my drug plan (yet Estrace isn't, Ontario's Drug Benefit plan is so much nonsense sometimes XD)

[KayXo]

I feel a bit safer with Spiro + Premarin than CPA + Premarin.

To my knowledge, Premarin and CPA both adversely affect clotting and prolactin secretion, thereby potentially leading to certain health problems while Spiro neither affects clotting or prolactin but may affect other health parameters. Double check with your doctor/pharmacist as always and you could also read what the science has to say about it.

If my financial situation was better I'd switch over to Estrace and pay for it but I...just don't make that kind of money to comfortably do so. I still might anyway depending on how my results go and of course, a talk with my doctor. Though if I'm talking saving money, I probably should just go straight to injections since they're covered on my drug plan (yet Estrace isn't, Ontario's Drug Benefit plan is so much nonsense sometimes XD)

It seems, according to what I've come across, that injections of bio-E or EV affect clotting much less than Premarin. Had I been in your situation, I would have ceased Premarin already and either switch to Estrace, regardless of cost, my health matters more or since you say injections are covered, then discuss this option with your doctor ASAP. This is just my position on the matter. I'm not a professional. My intentions are in the right place.

[Yukihime]

To my knowledge, Premarin and CPA both adversely affect clotting and prolactin secretion, thereby potentially leading to certain health problems while Spiro neither affects clotting or prolactin but may affect other health parameters. Double check with your doctor/pharmacist as always and you could also read what the science has to say about it.

It seems, according to what I've come across, that injections of bio-E or EV affect clotting much less than Premarin. Had I been in your situation, I would have ceased Premarin already and either switch to Estrace, regardless of cost, my health matters more or since you say injections are covered, then discuss this option with your doctor ASAP. This is just my position on the matter. I'm not a professional. My intentions are in the right place.

I've got my appointment later today (since it's past midnight at the time of this post). I got my bloodwork done Monday so let's see what the results are. I'm going to definitely talk with my Doctor again about my estrogen medication. To be honest, I'm not afraid of needles per say but more so of giving myself an injection. Which I totally think is childish but it is holding me back a bit from switching to that route. When I first spoke with my doctor last year about doing my HRT regimen, I was interested in doing so and she explained how it worked but I got squemish at the thought and felt like I'd be more responsible taking pills. I was supposed to avoid premarin and go for estrace based on info I'd gleaned from my lurking days but financial reasons worked in premarin's favour. In it's defense, it was quite fine health wise too. It's only in my eight month that premarin started to act up.

I find it suspicious that it did so after switching to CPA too. I paused my premarin momentarily to confirm and it was indeed premarin which was giving me issues. Therefore, I will defo be talking with my doctor and getting prepared to go the injection route, it is available to me after all. Worse case if I still find myself with a bit of cold feet, I'll switch them to Estrace and by my hrt anniversary, I'll get on injections (July 30th ). Thanks for the advice Kay, your posts have always been informative for me <3

[Rachel]

Here is the what injections were for me. The issue of the needle was 100% in my head.

After the 3rd injection I had no issue at all. The 1st one I fainted, 2nd almost fainted. Third one I had the slightest of feeling and from there on out nothing. There is a very minor pinch and a feeling as you inject, not pain, just a feeling.   I inject in bed and after put no weight on my leg and go to bed.

The benefit the next day and following week, well I look forward to injections now.

I have only done pills and IM. There were a lot of pills per day and although there was a great benefit from the pills I really enjoy the feeling of the high level of E with injections and I see and feel better results.

I still have issues with needles and passed out 3/20 from a blood draw but IM is not an issue.

[Yukihime]

Here is the what injections were for me. The issue of the needle was 100% in my head.

After the 3rd injection I had no issue at all. The 1st one I fainted, 2nd almost fainted. Third one I had the slightest of feeling and from there on out nothing. There is a very minor pinch and a feeling as you inject, not pain, just a feeling.   I inject in bed and after put no weight on my leg and go to bed.

The benefit the next day and following week, well I look forward to injections now.

I have only done pills and IM. There were a lot of pills per day and although there was a great benefit from the pills I really enjoy the feeling of the high level of E with injections and I see and feel better results.

I still have issues with needles and passed out 3/20 from a blood draw but IM is not an issue.

Thank you for that post Cynthia and thanks again Kay. I'll be switching to injections officially, got my prescription and sent out the fax to get it covered. It's a bit of a hassle, since the pharmacy is further away for the compounding and I'll be using two different pharmacies to get my medication for the time being but my Doctor has offered to give me the injections for now until I get used to doing it on my own =)