Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Shelina on September 15, 2009, 03:04:18 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: Shelina on September 15, 2009, 03:04:18 PM
Post by: Shelina on September 15, 2009, 03:04:18 PM
This always intrigued me, is there a specific reason why is this so?
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: Ellieka on September 15, 2009, 05:43:26 PM
Post by: Ellieka on September 15, 2009, 05:43:26 PM
I never realized one was prescribed more then the other in America then in Europe.
Most people I know either here or there are on Spiro because of it's lower risk of negative side effects.
Most people I know either here or there are on Spiro because of it's lower risk of negative side effects.
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: GinaDouglas on September 15, 2009, 08:48:08 PM
Post by: GinaDouglas on September 15, 2009, 08:48:08 PM
I think it's because so many of us already have high blood pressure from living here. Two birds, one stone.
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: aurora17 on September 15, 2009, 09:12:18 PM
Post by: aurora17 on September 15, 2009, 09:12:18 PM
Not sure...
Here in Japan, TG often use Estrogens alone, without an antiandrogen.
I use Cyproterone Actetate, because it's the most powerful (and it really does wonders!), and because Sipronolactone is too diuretic to be convenient (in my opinion).
Now, Cyproterone Acetate is not approved by FDA iin the US, so that might be the reason why it is not prescribed.
Here in Japan, TG often use Estrogens alone, without an antiandrogen.
I use Cyproterone Actetate, because it's the most powerful (and it really does wonders!), and because Sipronolactone is too diuretic to be convenient (in my opinion).
Now, Cyproterone Acetate is not approved by FDA iin the US, so that might be the reason why it is not prescribed.
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: Ellieka on September 15, 2009, 09:18:39 PM
Post by: Ellieka on September 15, 2009, 09:18:39 PM
Quote from: aurora17 on September 15, 2009, 09:12:18 PM
Now, Cyproterone Acetate is not approved by FDA iin the US, so that might be the reason why it is not prescribed.
I was thinking that but I wasn't sure.
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: jesse on September 25, 2009, 03:05:47 AM
Post by: jesse on September 25, 2009, 03:05:47 AM
Spiranolactone is not approved for tg in europe do to its strength and that its primary function is to reduce hypertension not act as a t blocker which is a side affect it is actually a stronger t blocker then the one used in europe i believe
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: sweetstars on September 25, 2009, 03:25:32 PM
Post by: sweetstars on September 25, 2009, 03:25:32 PM
Actually...Cyproterone is actually a more powerful anti-androgen. The problem is it is not an FDA approved medication in the US.
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: Myself on September 26, 2009, 08:09:07 AM
Post by: Myself on September 26, 2009, 08:09:07 AM
Cyproterone is said to be 4 times stronger than spiro, is not FDA approved in the USA as far as I know, but I think it might be used for cancer treatments.
Spiro is considered much more safe, it is so safe it is even used for skin problems at times! and acne I think and stuff..
Spiro, seems to be very safe and pretty much nothing for the liver to handle so, safety over effectiveness.
Even though it is said that Cyproterone might have better effects even if taken at same doses, I don't think it is completely decided that it is really having better effects, it might just be a feeling.
Spiro is Aldesterone, which is actually a male hormone about 15 weaker than testosterone if I remember correctly.
Spiro is usually not taken at such high doses.
Edit dosage info
Spiro is considered much more safe, it is so safe it is even used for skin problems at times! and acne I think and stuff..
Spiro, seems to be very safe and pretty much nothing for the liver to handle so, safety over effectiveness.
Even though it is said that Cyproterone might have better effects even if taken at same doses, I don't think it is completely decided that it is really having better effects, it might just be a feeling.
Spiro is Aldesterone, which is actually a male hormone about 15 weaker than testosterone if I remember correctly.
Spiro is usually not taken at such high doses.
Edit dosage info
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: Kaitlyn on September 26, 2009, 02:09:41 PM
Post by: Kaitlyn on September 26, 2009, 02:09:41 PM
I'd love to see cypro approved by the FDA here, since I've gotten much better results from it than I ever did from spiro.
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: Stella Blue on September 27, 2009, 11:02:09 AM
Post by: Stella Blue on September 27, 2009, 11:02:09 AM
Is there more cons with one or the other? It seems like the consensus is that Spiro may be safer on the liver while cypro seems to give better results? I live in the U.S. and it seems when I begin my HRT, which will be sooner rather than later, that Spiro is going to be the way to go, but if there is a safe more effective anti androgen to go by I'd like to look into it.
-Heather.
-Heather.
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: Naturally Blonde on September 30, 2009, 07:20:12 AM
Post by: Naturally Blonde on September 30, 2009, 07:20:12 AM
Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Good question! we can get Cyproterone Acetate here in England no problem but it's harder to get Spiro and even harder to get HRT shots which are still not available or licenced over here. I have been on HRT for 10 years but only pills and patches have been available to me. They have had very little effect. I believe shots would work a lot better but they are not legal and GP's won't support it if you do manage to get it imported yourself.
Good question! we can get Cyproterone Acetate here in England no problem but it's harder to get Spiro and even harder to get HRT shots which are still not available or licenced over here. I have been on HRT for 10 years but only pills and patches have been available to me. They have had very little effect. I believe shots would work a lot better but they are not legal and GP's won't support it if you do manage to get it imported yourself.
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: jesse on September 30, 2009, 07:41:46 AM
Post by: jesse on September 30, 2009, 07:41:46 AM
patches are v...very slow but safer for older transitioners you might have to go out of country for pills or something
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
Post by: Naturally Blonde on October 02, 2009, 08:03:36 AM
Post by: Naturally Blonde on October 02, 2009, 08:03:36 AM
Quote from: jesse on September 30, 2009, 07:41:46 AM
patches are v...very slow but safer for older transitioners you might have to go out of country for pills or something
As I said in my previous message I have been on pills for more than 10 years and they have very little effect but are readily available in the U.K. Shots are not available in the U.K but I think for me they may be more effective. I could try importing HRT shots from overseas but my GP won't support me because they are illegal here.
Title: Re: Why Americans are more on Spiro and Europeans more on Cyproterone Acetate?
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