Buying T-blockers online...

[Sylvia]

OK, so after promising he wouldn't do anything without discussing things first, my OH has admitted he's been taking Spiro for three months that HE BOUGHT ONLINE. Apart from the fact that he hasn't been honest with me, please can you tell me the reasons why this is a REALLY bad idea. I've already gone through the side effects, on how dosages need to be regularly monitored etc. He knows now that he needs to see a gender therapist - he still doesn't really know if he is really TG, or at least where on the scale he may be (he still feels he's androgyne), or if he's a cross dresser. In my eyes, taking a chemical castration pill puts him firmly on the transgender scale. He says he's just 'experimenting'. I am furious with him. What can I do?

[Deborah]

It's a bad idea because he should be monitored by a doctor periodically to be sure there are no adverse effects. Completely eliminating all sex hormones can increase the risk for such things as bone mineral density loss.

Also, the spiro is more expensive without a prescription.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dena]

Spiro is used to treat high blood pressure and it has the side effect of suppressing testosterone. Beside not being sure of the quality of the drug, without proper monitoring it can be deadly. It causes the body to pass water so dehydration is possible. It also passes salt which could result in becoming very sick or passing out. Last but not least is it causes the body to retain potassium. Excessive potassium is difficult to bring under control if it reaches dangerous levels and it's the last drug administrated in lethal injections as it stops the heart from functioning.

Monitoring tracks sodium and potassium as well as provides the proper diet recommendations to correct for the dangers of this drug and this is something that shouldn't be experimented with. We have some members who have had to stop Spiro because the side effects were serious enough that they weren't able to take the drug even with proper monitoring.

Yes a gender therapist is needed but something that might help is viewing "the transition channel" . Yes, he is transgender but I will agree that I don't know where on the scale.

[Bari Jo]

Hi Sylvia, I personally have a history of DIY and ordering online.  I think the importance is to stress being healthy and be monitored by an MD if continued transition is decided on.  As for the taking an anti androgen to experiment.  I'd heard of doctors actually prescribe  a low dose hrt to do just this, experiment.  I should stress, I've never seen it only heard of it.  I realize this can be scary for you too. Spiro also has been a blood pressure medication for a decade or more.

Seeking a gender therapist and really deciding what is wanted and needed will help solidify any direction decided upon.

I'm new here and can't give more insight than this, I don't feel I'm qualified, just wanted to help a little since my history of DIY.  The need in my head overtook any perceived risks for me.  It's only when I had group therapy, talking with others and a lot of soul searching did I come to accept myself and not hide and seek the help of an MD.  It might come for your SO that through similar therapy and soul searching that he decides he's not trans.  I'd get that ball rolling just to clear that mental fog and decide what is really wanted and needed.

I hope that helps a bit.  I'm sure others will pipe in too.  It takes courage to post a question like that and to support you SO in this stressful time.  You are to be commended.

Bari Jo

[Sylvia]

Thanks, everyone. Dena, your words put the fear of god into him. Down the toilet they go....

(There is nothing wrong if he just stops is there?It is ok to do that?)

[Devlyn]

Stopping spiro is fine. I'm surprised your partner wasn't complaining about the side effects of it.

Hugs, Devlyn

[Sylvia]

Stopping spiro is fine. I'm surprised your partner wasn't complaining about the side effects of it.

Hugs, Devlyn

Hi Devlyn, he says he hasn't had any side effects. No dehydration/peeing more, no erectile dysfunction/shrinkage etc (thank god, I'd have killed him!).  The only changes were things that I noticed (sensitive and hard nipples, taking longer to climax, bigger appetite - all things that may not even be related to the drugs) - it was the things I noticed (as well as good old feminine intuition) that led to me forcing the truth out of him. I just knew he was taking something.
Maybe he's been conned into buying a placebo...

Syl