spiro and low blood pressure

[Brooke]

I recently started a low dose of spiro and within a week my blood pressure went from my typical 115/75 to 80-90/60-50. It seems to only get this low in the 1-3 hours after taking it.

Adding salt does seem to help, and it does go back to normalish levels after 3 hours.

As its only been three weeks since starting, and its a low dose- definitely concerned.

Has anyone here experienced something similar, and if so what was the resolution? Did your body adjust, or did you have to switch to a different med?

Given the short half life Im thinking splitting 2 doses into 4.

Has anyone seen exacerbation with spiro and intermittent fasting (I fast 2x/week for a ketogenic diet).

Thanks for the feedback!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mod Edit:Dosage

[Dena]

Spiro was designed as a blood pressure medication and it had the unusual side effect of reducing Testosterone levels. Using it in transgender treatment is an off label use of the drug. To accomplish this goal, Spiro removed both salt and water from your system so you need to be sure your intake of both is sufficient or you will have and excessive drop in blood pressure. Because it conserves potassium you need to be very careful of your intake of many fruits and vegetables as well avoiding anything with potassium chloride (aka salt substitute).

As for fasting, if you don't continue your salt intake you can feel weak and the lack of food can do the same.

[Brooke]

Spiro was designed as a blood pressure medication and it had the unusual side effect of reducing Testosterone levels. Using it in transgender treatment is an off label use of the drug. To accomplish this goal, Spiro removed both salt and water from your system so you need to be sure your intake of both is sufficient or you will have and excessive drop in blood pressure. Because it conserves potassium you need to be very careful of your intake of many fruits and vegetables as well avoiding anything with potassium chloride (aka salt substitute).

As for fasting, if you don't continue your salt intake you can feel weak and the lack of food can do the same.

I am definitely thinking salt is a culprit. Not allot of extra potassium in my diet, and the ketogenic diet already is lacking in salt- and pushes fluids through the body at faster rates.

Sounding like I created the perfect storm  with no salt during a fast day, and already a lack of salt intake.

I resulted to salted plums tonight, feeling a lot better- might just need to add more of those into my diet, and keep some with me.

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WendyA]

You might want to try the garlic stuffed green olives or the jalapeno stuffed green olives.

[Michelle_P]

Spiro definitely lowers blood pressure, and requires a change in sodium intake if your BP was already a little on the low normal side.

I monitored my BP twice daily and was controlling it by restricting sodium, typically 700 mg/day.  I use diet tracking software (MyFitnessPal) to log everything.  Everything!  Yeah, OCD much?

On spiro, I saw an immediate dip from numbers around 110/70 to more like 85/60 to 95/65.  I uppers my sodium intake to about 1500 mg/day, and the pressure has come up a bit.  I was slowly ramping up my daily spiro dose to the target the endocrinologist had recommended, while tweaking my sodium intake.   Oh, the joy of being able to eat a bagel after all these years!

(I've had to stop HRT, alas.  The prolactin numbers were too high.  That's another issue, though.)

I suggest tracking your sodium closely, along with liquid consumption and BP, until you settle into a 'new groove'.

[Rachel]

Water, salt and potassium as mentioned are important.

I had low blood pressure and fainted 3 or 4 times. Once hitting my head pretty hard. I increased my water and salt intake and have been fine since.

[Brooke]

One question on the water intake.  Does more water help with evening out potassium levels as well- or just dehydration

With the electrolysis I have upped my water intake  as well.

Sounding more and more like I need to find my new groove. Good advice all around.

Looked at my sodium levels and was typically under 500 mg. looking like I need to up that considerably.

Thank you everyone for the feedback and advice!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Deborah]

More water will probably not even out your potassium level other than maybe helping the spiro to excrete it more quickly.


Sapere Aude