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Hi all, two days ago my doctor upped my dosages, I was on an "introductory" dosage for a month and my doctor was quite happy to double my spiro and triple my estrogen dosage.

About an two hours after taking my meds for the past two days I've had pretty disorienting dizzy spells and a general feeling of being a fair bit out of it. The dizzy spells last for a few hours and the whacked out feeling lasts till the end of the day.

Is this to be expected? Is my body just trying to adjust to such a big jump up in dosage?

A side effect of the spiro.

Just be careful when standing. Do it slow and not rushed.

Keep eye also on dehydration.

Quote from: mrs izzy on December 12, 2014, 07:08:46 PM
A side effect of the spiro.

Just be careful when standing. Do it slow and not rushed.

Keep eye also on dehydration.

Definitely this! And keep a close eye on your blood pressure and the warmth of your extremities. I was on spiro and losartan HTCZ simultaneously and my blood pressure plummeted. My PCP dropped the losartan and said he would up my spiro if my BP raised too much.

Eat as much salt as you want (real salt, not salt substitutes) because you are losing sodium on Spiro and drink water, stay away from diuretics or , at least, in moderation, stay away from sodas, mineral water, fruit juices and anything that contains too much potassium. Listen to your cravings. If it persists, I would advise doctor ASAP.

Drink 9-12 glasses of water a day.

You may want to eat with the spiro intake. I do not but I do not have an issue. Also, I split my spiro dose morning and night.

Quote from: Dee Walker on December 12, 2014, 07:54:58 PM
Definitely this! And keep a close eye on your blood pressure and the warmth of your extremities. [...]

About a year or so ago I found my hands and feet would get really, really, really cold a few minutes after laying down (just "really cold" while  standing).  My feet would get so cold I couldn't sleep and socks didn't help.  After a bit of research I found that diuretics like spiro can drastically lower your folic acid.  Two weeks of a vitamin supplement that contained the daily recommended amount* of folic acid alleviated much if not all of the problem.

Better still, I found I no longer get dizzy skating.  It was kinda awkward going fast, turning left and then...I'd just drop.  It has also *really* helped my endurance, which I'd chalked up to being anemic, dehydration, drinking too much water, etc...it was the anemia research that eventually led me to the folic acid - spiro connection.

(*O.K., fine...it was Flintstones.  We give 'em to our kids, so we get the big bottle.   It's convenient and fit into an existing daily habit.  :) )

Thanks so much for all the advice, I've been making sure to keep hydrated over the last couple days and am feeling allot better, no dizziness or horrid in a daze feeling, I'll be sure to let my doc know when I see him next just in case.

only issue I'm having is the emotional changes, pretty much going from wanting to cry for no reason to wanting to (and having to stop myself from) swerving into someone on the road because they cut me off, I don't think I've ever felt this enraged in my entire life.

Spiro can be used to treat high blood pressure. My doctor was concerned about my high blood pressure and when I went back I told her the endo switched my HBP med, but put my on spiro and estro. I also mentioned that my blood pressure was low at the endo and was staying low on its own. That's when she told me about spiro's other use. She told me not to take the alternative HBP med unless I needed it and I haven't. In fact today I've had symptoms of LBP. I'm not sure what, but she said there are ways to deal with it if the spiro gives me LBP.

Quote from: Samantha6string on December 12, 2014, 04:45:30 PM
Hi all, two days ago my doctor upped my dosages, I was on an "introductory" dosage for a month and my doctor was quite happy to double my spiro and triple my estrogen dosage.

About an two hours after taking my meds for the past two days I've had pretty disorienting dizzy spells and a general feeling of being a fair bit out of it. The dizzy spells last for a few hours and the whacked out feeling lasts till the end of the day.

Is this to be expected? Is my body just trying to adjust to such a big jump up in dosage?

If you're taking progesterone be aware that it also has mild diuretic effects. I'm taking spiro and progesterone and have had postural hypotension in addition to a now nornal BP of around 96/59. As everyone has said increase your sodium and fluid intake but avoid sodas and coffee as they're both diuretics. Also mind your potassium intake as spiro is a potassium sparing diuretic.

I think 96/59 is very low.

Quote from: Wynternight on December 17, 2014, 11:25:59 AM
If you're taking progesterone be aware that it also has mild diuretic effects. I'm taking spiro and progesterone and have had postural hypotension in addition to a now nornal BP of around 96/59. As everyone has said increase your sodium and fluid intake but avoid sodas and coffee as they're both diuretics. Also mind your potassium intake as spiro is a potassium sparing diuretic.

Quote from: awilliams1701 on December 17, 2014, 11:50:38 AM
I think 96/59 is very low.

It is but my body seems to have adapted to it. I haven't had any bouts of dizziness or postural hypotension in a few weeks.

Hmm I only experienced that once they added progesterone to my regiment. About an hour and a half later I would feel "high" like i took a couple Vicodin Lol. Lasts about a half hour for me

I'll try drinking more water though because I don't think I'm getting more than 5-6 bottles worth

Quote from: TSLexiknight on December 22, 2014, 12:27:32 PM
Hmm I only experienced that once they added progesterone to my regiment. About an hour and a half later I would feel "high" like i took a couple Vicodin Lol. Lasts about a half hour for me

I'll try drinking more water though because I don't think I'm getting more than 5-6 bottles worth

The progesterone euphoria is nice but fades in time. Kind of stinks as I enjoyed it.

Still experiencing the P euphoria 9 months after starting it.  ;D Can last up to an hour.

Quote from: KayXo on December 22, 2014, 12:36:32 PM
Still experiencing the P euphoria 9 months after starting it.  ;D Can last up to an hour.

Wow. I wish I still had it. All I get is drowsy. :(

Maybe cause I always take it with food and fatty food. Also I add grapefruit to the mix to increase potency BUT, I CAN, some can't because it may adversely interact with their other medications...ask your doctor before. Be safe. ;)

Quote from: KayXo on December 22, 2014, 12:42:48 PM
Maybe cause I always take it with food and fatty food. Also I add grapefruit to the mix to increase potency BUT, I CAN, some can't because it may adversely interact with their other medications...ask your doctor before. Be safe. ;)

Spiro inteferes with it so I keep a good three hours in between those two and always take it with food. Bah. I could use some euphoria right about now.

How does Spiro interfere with it? Finasteride/dutasteride definitely reduces the euphoric effect from P.

Quote from: KayXo on December 22, 2014, 12:53:44 PM
How does Spiro interfere with it? Finasteride definitely reduces the euphoric effect from P.

It reduces the anti-anxiety properties of the progesterone.

Spiro reduces conversion to anti-anxiety metabolites such as allopregnanolone? I thought this was only the case with finasteride/dutasteride? Are you sure? I think you may be mistaken...and taking them hours apart won't decrease the interaction anyways, dropping it will.

Quote from: KayXo on December 22, 2014, 12:58:36 PM
Spiro reduces conversion to anti-anxiety metabolites such as allopregnanolone? I thought this was only the case with finasteride/dutasteride? Are you sure? I think you may be mistaken...and taking them hours apart won't decrease the interaction anyways, dropping it will.

The literature I've read says as much. I haven't heard of interactions with 5a-reductase inhibitors (I'm on dutasteride) but anxiety and depression can be side effects of finasteride. I've been on Avodart since August without any ill effects.

5 alpha reductase is the enzyme that is necessary in the process of converting progesterone to allopregnanolone so finasteride, dutasteride by inhibiting these enzymes, reduce this conversion process, reduce allopregnanolone and this is why it can lead to an increase in anxiety and depression. Spironolactone, as far as I'm concerned, has very little effect, if any, on this process.

Quote from: KayXo on December 22, 2014, 01:19:48 PM
5 alpha reductase is the enzyme that is necessary in the process of converting progesterone to allopregnanolone so finasteride, dutasteride by inhibiting these enzymes, reduce this conversion process, reduce allopregnanolone and this is why it can lead to an increase in anxiety and depression. Spironolactone, as far as I'm concerned, has very little effect, if any, on this process.

I'm aware of this. My statement was that the literature reflects a loss of the anti-anxiety effects from progesterone if taken with spiro. I didn't mention finasteride or dutasteride.

Can you provide links to the literature, if possible?  Thanks. :)

Quote from: KayXo on December 22, 2014, 01:30:57 PM
Can you provide links to the literature, if possible?  Thanks. :)

I will look for it when I'm home. I'm at work currently.