Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm having trouble with spirolactone - if I take the full dose as prescribed, I have problems with dizzyness and lightheadedness due to low blood pressure. Even something as simple as going from a lying position to standing upright can sometimes make me have to hold on to a wall for support. With half the dose, the symptoms are lessened, but they don't entirely disappear.

Other than androcur (which is problematic for other reasons), is there any other choice?

Androcur <3

Do you know if you actually need the full dose?

Finasteride

Spiro is a diuretic and lowers blood pressure by causing the body to lose water.  At the same time the body flushes out a lot of sodium.  This lowers blood volume and blood pressure.

To alleviate your symptoms drink more water and eat more salt to keep your blood volume constant.


Conform and be dull. —James Frank Dobie, The Voice of the Coyote

Quote from: Rachel_Christina on June 23, 2017, 01:22:54 AM
Androcur <3

My doctor also prescribes Androcur. From what I read here I asked about Finasteride. She told me that Androcur is more powerful and that non of her patient had any problem in the last years.

Rachel, based on the " <3 " I guess you like it ?

I personally don't like Androcur because it can slightly increase the risk of a meningioma, raises prolactin levels significantly (risk of prolactinoma), can cause depression/anxiety in some and can lead to too much weight gain. Better, and with less side-effects in my opinion and based on studies, thus far, is bicalutamide or a LhRh agonist. The former only blocks testosterone while the latter completely suppresses testicular production. Bicalutamide is more affordable these days while the other one remains still quite expensive unless you have insurance. Last option is just taking enough E, preferably non-orally (i.e. IM injections, pellets) where T is suppressed by E.

Finasteride is a weak anti-androgen and can't replace spironolactone or any of the other anti-androgens. It only reduces DHT levels, not T.

Depending on where you are located there are options. Androcur is used in Europe and I think Canada, but is not FDA approved in the United States yet. You could try to up your water and make sure you're getting enough sodium/electrolytes or discuss trying smaller doses and/or taking more frequently to see if that helps. Finasteride or dutasteride can help, but it doesn't actually suppress testosterone. You could potentially discuss using a combination of Finasteride & a lower dose of Spiro as well. I know virtually nothing about it, but I've heard some other US ladies mention flutamide as an AA supplement as well, but I've never heard of anyone taking that as an exclusive or primary AA.

I'm going with option C, an orchiectomy. By all accounts, no T is better than blocked T.

Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on June 23, 2017, 10:23:03 AM
I'm going with option C, an orchiectomy. By all accounts, no T is better than blocked T.

Hugs, Devlyn

Orchiectomy is also a good option and it's a 100% natural solution.  But for some one side effect to keep in mind is it might suppress T too much so that T supplement is needed.

Quote from: Rambler on June 23, 2017, 10:05:01 AMI know virtually nothing about it, but I've heard some other US ladies mention flutamide as an AA supplement as well, but I've never heard of anyone taking that as an exclusive or primary AA.

Flutamide is in the same class of anti-androgens (non-steroidal) as bicalutamide and nilutamide. Of the three, bicalutamide appears to be the safest and have the least side-effects.

Quote from: Jane Emily on June 23, 2017, 10:28:54 AM

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on June 23, 2017, 10:23:03 AM
I'm going with option C, an orchiectomy. By all accounts, no T is better than blocked T.

Hugs, Devlyn

Orchiectomy is also a good option and it's a 100% natural solution.  But for some one side effect to keep in mind is it might suppress T too much so that T supplement is needed.

True. I'll cross that bridge if and when I get to it.  :)

Hugs, Devlyn

i ve read that spearmint is a natural anti androgen, has anyone used this to reduce testosterone?, i ve also read that progesterone is not effective when taking spearmint

Quote from: nola on June 25, 2017, 03:41:29 PM
i ve read that spearmint is a natural anti androgen, has anyone used this to reduce testosterone?, i ve also read that progesterone is not effective when taking spearmint

I bought a pound of spearmint, drank 2 cups of spearmint tea / day and even made my own spearmint supplements for a few months, but I never realized any effect other than calming my moods.

Other women claim to have better results with it, but I just didn't feel like it was doing anything for me.