Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Male to female transsexual talk (MTF) => Topic started by: coral on September 05, 2026, 01:20:55 PM Return to Full Version
Title: How quickly does Spironolactone lower testosterone ?
Post by: coral on September 05, 2026, 01:20:55 PM
Post by: coral on September 05, 2026, 01:20:55 PM
Everything was aligning for my Orchiectomy until surgeon said my testosterone had to be 50 or less. Yesterday's labs show my testosterone is 240+. So now I need to start Spironolactone. Still waiting for the doctor to prescribe it but know she will.
Will it take weeks, months or??
Thanks,
Coral
Will it take weeks, months or??
Thanks,
Coral
Title: Re: How quickly does Spironolactone lower testosterone ?
Post by: Lori Dee on September 05, 2026, 01:38:01 PM
Post by: Lori Dee on September 05, 2026, 01:38:01 PM
Why are they prescribing Spiro to do that?
Spironolactone starts blocking androgen receptors within hours to days, but it typically takes 8 to 12 weeks to notice visible physical changes and up to 3 to 6 months (or longer) to see significant drops in actual hormone levels or maximum clinical results.
You can get a Leuprolide injection that lasts up to six months and blocks testosterone production at the source, not blocking the androgen receptors. The biggest issue with leuprolide is cost. I received the 90-day injections and I believe they ran about $400. But that was every 90 days, so it was worth it.
I was on leuprolide and bicalutamide for just over a year. This combination is a form of chemical castration that is prescribed for cancer patients and sometimes repeat sex offenders. It is very effective.
Spironolactone and Finasteride are NOT testosterone blockers. They have a side effect of interfering with androgen receptors via the 5a-reductase enzyme. They are not the same thing. By interfering with 5α-reductase, they also interfere with all hormones, which can throw things into confusion.
If your insurance will cover it, or you can afford it, please talk to your doctors about using leuprolide instead, unless they have a valid reason to need you to be on a diuretic. If their only reason for Spiro is to drop T-levels, they need to do their homework, and it is up to us to educate them.
Spironolactone starts blocking androgen receptors within hours to days, but it typically takes 8 to 12 weeks to notice visible physical changes and up to 3 to 6 months (or longer) to see significant drops in actual hormone levels or maximum clinical results.
You can get a Leuprolide injection that lasts up to six months and blocks testosterone production at the source, not blocking the androgen receptors. The biggest issue with leuprolide is cost. I received the 90-day injections and I believe they ran about $400. But that was every 90 days, so it was worth it.
I was on leuprolide and bicalutamide for just over a year. This combination is a form of chemical castration that is prescribed for cancer patients and sometimes repeat sex offenders. It is very effective.
Spironolactone and Finasteride are NOT testosterone blockers. They have a side effect of interfering with androgen receptors via the 5a-reductase enzyme. They are not the same thing. By interfering with 5α-reductase, they also interfere with all hormones, which can throw things into confusion.
If your insurance will cover it, or you can afford it, please talk to your doctors about using leuprolide instead, unless they have a valid reason to need you to be on a diuretic. If their only reason for Spiro is to drop T-levels, they need to do their homework, and it is up to us to educate them.
Title: Re: How quickly does Spironolactone lower testosterone ?
Post by: Stottie Girl on September 05, 2026, 03:29:00 PM
Post by: Stottie Girl on September 05, 2026, 03:29:00 PM
My testosterone is < 0.5 nmol/L using Spiro so it does work but I have been using that for years. I would have thought they would want your levels down faster than that, so as Lori says GnRH injections are the way to do it fast.
Not really sure why they need to get them down before the op though? They are cutting the damn things off, you will have pretty low T levels after that!😃
Not really sure why they need to get them down before the op though? They are cutting the damn things off, you will have pretty low T levels after that!😃
Title: Re: How quickly does Spironolactone lower testosterone ?
Post by: Charlotte Kitty on September 05, 2026, 03:37:11 PM
Post by: Charlotte Kitty on September 05, 2026, 03:37:11 PM
GnRH or cyproterone acetate. Both nuke T very fast.
Title: Re: How quickly does Spironolactone lower testosterone ?
Post by: coral on September 05, 2026, 06:55:11 PM
Post by: coral on September 05, 2026, 06:55:11 PM
@Lori Dee @Stottie Girl @Charotte Kitty
Thank you for all the valuable information. I will pass this on to my doctor when I see her on 1st of October. I always have a typed sheet of items to cover, other info, etc. I will include your information on sheet(s) I give her.
Cost is not my issue. I have Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage insurance. They pay well but doctors are very determined to follow their standard processes. So not much chance to get any options, but I will try!
I have been on finasteride for 7 years. It does not appear to do much by itself. Hoping doctor will prescribe the Spironolactone this week after the holiday before I see her. I sent the request a few days ago.
Patiently waiting,
Coral
Thank you for all the valuable information. I will pass this on to my doctor when I see her on 1st of October. I always have a typed sheet of items to cover, other info, etc. I will include your information on sheet(s) I give her.
Cost is not my issue. I have Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage insurance. They pay well but doctors are very determined to follow their standard processes. So not much chance to get any options, but I will try!
I have been on finasteride for 7 years. It does not appear to do much by itself. Hoping doctor will prescribe the Spironolactone this week after the holiday before I see her. I sent the request a few days ago.
Patiently waiting,
Coral