Spironolactone.... what should I expect

[Megan]

I am going to see my general doctor this Saturday for spironolactone, well anyways, what should I expect once I get on it?

Should I expect it to make me stay the same as I am now; facial hair wise? I am unsure about what would happen if I do not get on it, since I am sure I am done growing and been the same for 3 years. I am going to seek for daily.

But would I look "younger"... I guess is the term for it? Since I would lose body hair, and muscle mass.

[Janet_Girl]

Spirolactone will shut down the T factories, which helps with the facial and body hair.  Be ready for being thirsty and the need to pee a lot.  Although I go pee more now after my Orchie than I did on Spirolactone.

You may have some breast enlargement.   But it it a bad thing?

[Megan]

I probably will, all the females in my family have large breasts, and I think my chest is a bit too big for a guy already, but that's probably because I am 20 lbs overweight.

It's not a bad thing lol in the end though.

[Maddie Secutura]

Spiro is supposed to shut off T at the point of origin?  Criminy I'm taking a what I would consider a ridiculous amount now (prescribed not DIY) but my blood level is still around 500 nanograms per deciliter.

[Janet_Girl]

Side effect of Spirolactone.

[Janet_Girl]

That I really don't know.  I just know it is listed as a side effect.

[Flan]

everyone has some testosterone and estrogen even without gonads, it's a matter of how much (estrogen) spiro lets loose.

[Asfsd4214]

everyone has some testosterone and estrogen even without gonads, it's a matter of how much (estrogen) spiro lets loose.

Correct. Testosterone would normally counter whatever small amount of estrogen your body naturally produces, without it, it can have mild feminisation effects.

[HayleyVera]

I was wondering if you need a letter from a therapist to start Spiro, or can I go to my general doctor and explain that I want to stop any further masculinization?

[Janet_Girl]

It is called 'informed consent'.  Just ask.

[HayleyVera]

It is called 'informed consent'.  Just ask.

Thanks alot Janet, I have actually never heard of informed consent. I will definitely ask my doctor about this.

[Nicky]

Spiro does not stop testosterone, it just competes with it at the receptors. The more you have the more competition it gives, reducing the effects of your testosterone on your body. (of course too much spiro is gonna kill you)

What this means is you end up with more T floating about unused in your body. Because some of your T converts to estrogen, more T means more estrogen. This is why some people get some breast growth on spiro.

(actually spiro is an androgen itself I heard, just a very weak one)

[Asfsd4214]

Spiro does not stop testosterone, it just competes with it at the receptors. The more you have the more competition it gives, reducing the effects of your testosterone on your body. (of course too much spiro is gonna kill you)

What this means is you end up with more T floating about unused in your body. Because some of your T converts to estrogen, more T means more estrogen. This is why some people get some breast growth on spiro.

(actually spiro is an androgen itself I heard, just a very weak one)

It's not an androgen so much as it looks an awful lot like one, enough to bind to the receptors, but it's an antagonist, so it doesn't actually invoke a reaction from them.

Also I believe it does have a slight effect in reducing testosterone levels partially because of its antiandrogenic effect. Even though it only competes with androgens for receptors, that in itself causes reduced testosterone production. I could be wrong though.

What definitely is the case is that spironolactone plus estradiol will reduce testosterone production, i have the blood work to prove it.

[Autumn]

Spiro definitely can make you grow boobs.
I was on avodart when I started taking a 1/8th standard dose spiro and within a month had the painful, hard budding of beginning breasts. My doctor argued with me that it was impossible for me to have grown breasts without estrogen until he examined me. My estrogen level was pretty high (still within allowed ranges, but very high) for a male before the spiro - I do not know if 2 years of AAs caused that or if it was natural.

You will probably get stomach aches at first til your body adjusts. And your erections will not be as strong. You will also screw your body up if you take only spiro for too long because the lack of hormones causes fatigue and bone density loss. I was virtually a cripple after several months of taking just spiro - between the overwhelming fatigue and the horrible spinal pain I developed, all I could do was go to work, come home, and nap. Things got much better once I added estrogen.

Some people do fine on spiro, or post-orchi, for long periods. Just depends on your body, like anything.

You may notice reduced body hair growth, but, it takes 6-12 months to notice significant changes in hair growth cycles for the most part.

I'm curious; how would blocking T cause breast growth?
Wouldn't children all have breasts if no testosterone = breasts?

No children have breasts because they haven't started puberty yet. 

Why do you think teenage boys can start growing breast tissue? When hormones go wild, excess T converts, or any number of things. The female body constantly struggles against testosterone to stay female, which is why you see older women grow facial hair, get deeper voices, etc.

[Megan]

Well I am going to get it! But I have to wait another week for a second visit to do some blood work, and then I get it. The doctor was understanding. It's going to start off with low dosage for a week, and then progress to higher ones.

Still, I have a weird plan when I take spiro, since in June-August I plan to lose 60 lbs. I'll do this by taking only in protein drinks and soy milk, and live off this for three months. Then I'll exercise like a madman to work which is 15 miles, 30 miles back and forth. Then I am taking so many vitamins as is.


_{Dosages removed.}

[Autumn]

Okay, slow down a second. Did you discuss THAT with your doctor?

Losing 5 pounds per week for 12 weeks straight is going to be intense hell and also an unsafe speed of weight loss. Plus, the faster your body fat percentage changes, the worse your stretch marks are. With how much you want to be as beautiful as possible, do you want to be covered in stretch marks? BE SURE to moisturize your arms/armpits/shoulders/stomach/chest/biceps/wrists/thighs/legs/screw it, moisturize everywhere, at least twice a day, with a deep penetrating lotion with shea or cocoa butter.

Furthermore, that's... okay, look, basically impossible. I'm going to assume june-august means all 3 months full, so 12 weeks like I said. That's a deficit of 18,000 calories per week for 12 weeks. That's a deficit of nearly 2600 calories EVERY SINGLE DAY without any days used to rest and recover. You needed to have already started warming up for this kind of thing if you were going to do that, as someone 60+ pounds overweight and out of shape is not going to be able to start and sustain that pace. You will need frequent days off for your body to recover. Protein builds muscles, but only if you actually let it rest.

100% diets always fail, every time. Do not even try that. A "diet" is actually a long term consumption habit, not a temporary thing you do. It is better to be at 70% of a diet, than 100% - because you will psychologically and physically crash.

Plus, a protein only diet is going to counter-act the effects of blocking testosterone. And you're going to wish you were dead without fiber. Vitamins are not a substitute for fresh fruits/vegetables and portion control.

I am not telling you to give up on everything. I am telling you that psyching yourself up for this and then failing will be very damaging to your forward progress. You went from being lethargic to being excessively gung-ho about the future and you need to reign in your reality before something bad happens.

Don't wait til June, setting a deadline to start some massive project is just another hurdle. Start changing your life today. Stick with lean chicken and fish, water/unsweetened teas, fruits with low fructose content, vegetables high in fiber and nutrients, and BUY MEASURING CUPS AND MEASURE EVERY PORTION.

Doing that by itself will cause you to lose weight just breathing - adding in cardio a few times per week and some strength training will be gravy.


Edit: I just noticed you said it was a 30 mile round trip to work that you plan to bike or jog to every day in the middle of summer. Oh god. *facepalm*

[Megan]

Thanks for your advice.
Post Merge: May 06, 2010, 12:18:52 PM
I'm starting tomorrow, finally.
Post Merge: May 07, 2010, 12:04:04 PM
Wow, it had this euphoric feeling in my system, or maybe I just put some much hype behind it that it feels like it. Yeah that's it.

I am so happy, and yet bittersweet. I hope I didn't become too much of  a man man yet, but I don't know, and I will never know what could of be if I didn't have spiro. Now I'm forever stuck at 5'7, and I'll never get a deeper voice than I do now, wow, even if I wouldn't change afterward it's just good to know that I am not taking chances.

[stacey fisher]

I have no been on estrado for 10 months and my doctor is no starting me on a high dose of Spironolactone with them I have all ready a lot of brest groth

[KayXo]

Spiro does not stop testosterone, it just competes with it at the receptors. The more you have the more competition it gives, reducing the effects of your testosterone on your body. (of course too much spiro is gonna kill you)

What this means is you end up with more T floating about unused in your body. Because some of your T converts to estrogen, more T means more estrogen. This is why some people get some breast growth on spiro.

(actually spiro is an androgen itself I heard, just a very weak one)

Spiro actually also reduces androgen. If it didn't, all these transwomen taking Spiro wouldn't experience significant reduction in their T levels.

Spiro may act as negative feedback at the pituitary gland since it is a progestin and as such, reduces LH and testis's production of androgens. It also reduces 17-hydroxylation and conversion to androgens, increases catabolism of androgens as well.

Spiro reduces and blocks androgens.