What Effects Could I Expect From Just Spiro?

[marriedtgdad]

I am considering trying out spiro for a month or two by itself. What sort of effects (both positive and negative) should I expect from taking it?

[lisagurl]

See your doctor.

[Tanya1]

I self-med too but you can't discuss this here and ask for others help on self-medication on here.

I'll say this. On spiro you must watch your potissiam intake. Not completely rid it but reduce it's consumption. Side effects of high potssium is headaches, unusual tiredness, pain in legs. You can also go in Full cardiac arrest and die from just seconds away the clock.-Sometimes the person will feel "good", "fine" but suddenly they get a heart attack and scratch their heads on what happened.

Keep in mind that tiredness during the start of spiro is normal because of blocking androgens to the recpetors. It doesn't reduce levels only blocks androgens effects.

You must also watch your salt and electrolytes.

I don't suggest what your doing, the reason why is because taking Spiro alone for 2 months without E will not feminize you much. Essentially, planning on do it for only 1-2 months is quite ridiclous. I tried too before and I'll say it's pointless.

Also you body needs a hormone to run on. Depriving it of T for too long without E, will cause problems.


Again, I'll tell you now, don't expect much from only a anti-androgen for only 2 months. I'm not lecturing you about self-medication because I do it but I'm trying to say that it won't benefit you with feminizing.

-it lowers blood pressure- if you have a heart condition this can become serious.
-its a diuretic, which means that it rids your body of water so you need to drink more water than usual.

HRT isn't very dangerous when it is done properly. Their are far many dangerous drugs but HRT can also be just as dangerous to the ignorant. It depends on the individual, some person can die from just a single drop of alcohol due to drinking abuse, others drink are still alive

-If you have the money to see a therapist and endo, go see one because I would defiently go to one but I don't have the money to do so.

[Laura Eva B]

I am considering trying out spiro for a month or two by itself. 

Why ... ...

The only reason you should be doing HRT is as part of a long term transition plan, otherwise what do you achieve (?), where are you going (?), its like setting out on a journey without any destination !

Spironolactone in really large doses might just damp libido within a month, but it will de-hydrate you something rotten, you usually won't look the better for it ....

If you have really oily skin / hair, or acne, you'll see a rapid improvement ....

At modest dosage it will drop your systolic blood pressure by 10 - 20 mm Hg, so if you're hypertensive OK ....

Otherwise WHY ?

Laura x

[NickSister]

From what I read it can reduce your secondary male characteristics i.e. loss of muscle tone, reduced body hair (though not much affect on facial hair). I've read suggestions that you might get some breast growth.

From wikipedea:
Spironolactone is associated with an increased risk of bleeding from the stomach and duodenum, but a causal relationship between the two has not been established.[3] Since it also affects steroid receptors elsewhere in the body, it can cause gynecomastia, menstrual irregularities and testicular atrophy. Other side effects include ataxia, erectile dysfunction, drowsiness and rashes. A carcinogenic effect has been demonstrated in rats. Spironolactone has been shown to be immunosuppressive in the treatment of sarcoidosis.[4]

[Laura Eva B]

From what I read it can reduce your secondary male characteristics i.e. loss of muscle tone, reduced body hair (though not much affect on facial hair). I've read suggestions that you might get some breast growth.
From wikipedea: ....

Sorry, my response was from experience, and not from Wiki ....

Been there, started to self-med, and realised it was either a stepping stone to transition or a waste of my time, a dead end .... I chose the former !

Let's be realistic here ... Spiro on its own does little .... you need to see an endo with TS experience .... go for full TS HRT, and get all the safety checks and feedback that comprehensive blood tests give ....

And do RLE concurrently .... !!!

Otherwise why bother (?) .... fetishists should stick with their fantasies !!!

Laura x

[Tanya1]

 if you can afford an endo go to one!!!

Blood tests can determine health problems which is important!- I wish I had one soo bad.

Plus sometimes you need play around with your regimen for it to be effective which only a endo can do better.

Ps. The endos that are experienced in TS issues not the regular ones...

[Laura Eva B]

if you can afford an endo go to one!!!

Otherwise you DON'T SELF MED ...  ...

Laura x

[Tanya1]

^ Depends. I don't want to discuss it here since it's not allowed

I've known of some pretty crazy cases of this one girl that took hormones when she was 9!!!! 9??!! yea 9 years old she took it and then got her SRS I think at 13-14, not sure.

TBH, I wish I would have dealed with this when I was 9-11, got a therapist etc ...but at that time my parents wouldn't have allowed it.

[DJorgensen]

Being just prescribed spiro myself, it really depends on the dosage.

For the first couple of weeks until your body adjusts, you will likely be dehydrated, sleepy, somewhat bloated feeling, possibly constipated (or feeling such). It may affect your sleep a bit too (after I get so much I end up waking and am unable to sleep anymore). Oh and the odd muscle spasm is also possible. It will increase with frequency if you are dehydrated and your salts are out of wack so it is something to keep an eye on. I also find that I crave salt when mine is low, so I keep my tongue on that one

When you are not sleepy though, or at least for myself, its great. Being free from T is like a mini vacation.

I am much more concerned about the possibility of weakened bones and even the slight possibility of menopausal symptoms, but I have had no evidence of either in the last number of months. To be honest I am looking to HRT, but the process in my area prevents a GP from prescribing it so I instead must be referred to a psych and then referred to a endo to start HRT. And so I wait.