2 Months Switch on Bicalutamide and Progesterone from Spiro and Finasteride

[nikkxo]

Hi everyone! 

Just wanted to give y'all an update on the changes I've experienced when changing from Spiro and Finasteride to Bicalutamide and Progesterone. I'm 22, and been on HRT for 9 months now, and recently changed my regimen 2 months ago.

Pros:
- Slower growth of body hair (especially legs), but didn't have much to begin with anyways
- Less stomach/bloating issues/cramps from Spiro (ugh, the worst!)
- Less times to the loo (even though I still go a lot from drinking lots of water)
- Crazy/vivid dreams from Prog. (I guess this could be a good and bad thing, but I'll put it as positive because it feels pretty cool).
- Nice feeling after taking Prog. (the euphoric, relaxed tipsiness feeling) especially when taking with food.
- No side effects at all (on Spiro, my skin would get itchy a lot)
- Less anxious feeling

Cons:
- INCREASED sex drive (constant erctions, morning hoo-hahs, craving more physical sensations) On Spiro and Finasteride, my libido was very little!
- Hair oiliness
- I feel like my breasts have gotten smaller for some reason, maybe they are filling out more circular as oppose to before they were tubular and triangleish shaped? 
- I feel like my feminization has slowed down for some reason
- Increased weight gain (especially the tummy)


I don't know how I feel about Bic as an anti androgen. I know that it's not supposed to suppress things like sex drive/libido, but I don't know if I'm really seeing any feminization? It kinda feels like my feminization has stopped after switching to Bic and Prog. I was hoping the Prog would increase my breast size or nipple size, but I haven't seen that at all--maybe it has made my breasts more circular looking, not necessarily fuller looking though.

I think I will continue with this regimen for a little longer, but of course with HRT it takes a while to see changes especially switching to a new regimen.

Anyone have similar experiences on Bic or Progesterone? I am thinking of switching to CPA, even though I'm dreading the terrible side effects, but I hear it's a wonderful anti androgen.

[kelly_aus]

Anyone have similar experiences on Bic or Progesterone? I am thinking of switching to CPA, even though I'm dreading the terrible side effects, but I hear it's a wonderful anti androgen.

Without going in to specifics, I find the side effects of CPA are dose-dependant..

[bernadette]

I went from Spiro to CPA after 1 year. Never noticed any difference myself mood or anything else. The only big difference it made was to my prolactin levels which shot up. But they have come back down and stabilised at a level that the doctor is comfortable with. But they are still at the high end. She only switched to CPA because I was not getting sufficient breast growth. I get blood tests every 3 months - and I had 2 tests separated by just 1 month after the switch due to the elevated prolactins.

From what I gather CPA needs much more careful monitoring than Spiro as its an extremely potent medication and small changes in dosage can have very big effects and side effects.

[Ashey]

I was on bicalutamide for three months and I felt like it wasn't working well for me. I could just tell my testosterone levels were going back up. When I switched back to spiro, I felt like I was going back to normal. So definitely not my cup of tea, but maybe that's just me. Hope you have better luck with it!

[KayXo]

I was on bicalutamide for three months and I felt like it wasn't working well for me. I could just tell my testosterone levels were going back up.

Bicalutamide doesn't suppress testosterone (and all other androgens, including DHT), it just blocks them so that switching bicalutamide would indeed lead to a slight rise of relative to when you were on Spiro BUT it doesn't matter since testosterone and all other androgens are effectively blocked by bicalutamide. This is why on bicalutamide, there is no use testing testosterone levels since levels shown in blood are blocked to some degree.

[FrancisAnn]

Think I'll just stay with my spiro, fin. & E patches. My body seems to be improving nicely, no effects from spiro for me other than peeing quite often. Be careful GF.

[Ashey]

Bicalutamide doesn't suppress testosterone (and all other androgens, including DHT), it just blocks them so that switching bicalutamide would indeed lead to a slight rise of relative to when you were on Spiro BUT it doesn't matter since testosterone and all other androgens are effectively blocked by bicalutamide. This is why on bicalutamide, there is no use testing testosterone levels since levels shown in blood are blocked to some degree.

I'm aware of all that. Regardless, it didn't feel like the testosterone was being blocked, and that bothered me. Didn't seem worth it to continue trying something that felt like it was less effective.

[HughE]

I'm aware of all that. Regardless, it didn't feel like the testosterone was being blocked, and that bothered me. Didn't seem worth it to continue trying something that felt like it was less effective.

Bicalutamide doesn't cross the blood/brain barrier, so, even though the androgen receptors everywhere else in your body are deactivated, those within your brain remain active and responsive to T while you're taking it. Most likely, your doctor is giving you insufficient E to fully suppress your T, and your brain is sensing that there's still T present in your body, hence the feeling that it isn't working.

[KayXo]

Bicalutamide doesn't cross the blood/brain barrier, so, even though the androgen receptors everywhere else in your body are deactivated, those within your brain remain active and responsive to T while you're taking it. Most likely, your doctor is giving you insufficient E to fully suppress your T, and your brain is sensing that there's still T present in your body, hence the feeling that it isn't working.

I forgot to mention that as well. I agree. That is what might have happened.