Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Important questions are bolded. :)

When I saw my dr for the first time back in september I wanted to start on injections but she suggested pills (to start with) so I was like :( okay!! I'm going to make another appointment for the end of January and I want to switch to injections because I don't like the idea of taking pills all the time, it's a little annoying even though they are the best pills ever it's not fun having to take them night and day. I also heard that injections are cheaper. Which would be great cuz my spiro script is 86 (friends dad is a pharmacist so he buys it for me for the cheapest price at a small pharmacy for 32, but that's a hassle to be like omg I'm almost out I need him to get me more!! kinda thing)

So now that I spilled my life story the questions I have are

Are injection hormones cheaper? How does it work do you inject the anti androgen and estrogen? How often do you get a refill? And How much without insurance?

My original doctor was not big on injections.  He had had Transpatients when he was in SF and never saw any really changes between the two.

Quote from: Janet Lynn on December 27, 2010, 10:02:03 PM
My original doctor was not big on injections.  He had had Transpatients when he was in SF and never saw any really changes between the two.

Why not big on them? I'm not interested in them because I'm hoping to get different/better results or anything. I'm more curious about the convenience and price.

I have been on pills for 30 months and I know someone who has been on them for 20 years.  She is an F cup and I am a B.  So I guess it is what ever you feel most comfortable with.

Quote from: Janet Lynn on December 27, 2010, 10:10:25 PM
I have been on pills for 30 months and I know someone who has been on them for 20 years.  She is an F cup and I am a B.  So I guess it is what ever you feel most comfortable with.

Well my biggest concern is are injections cheaper?

well my pills are $20 at Walmart for 90 pills.  No syringes or needles to buy or dispose of.

Injecting can be cheaper, or much more expensive depending on where you get them. If you send your script (from your doc) to a compounding pharmacy and get it sent to you in the mail for instance it can be much cheaper. Similarly with needles, buy in bulk online and save. Major chain drug stores tend to be a bit more, but I prefer the convenience. No you can't inject the anti-androgen... only estrogen, and/or progesterone if your doc has you taking that. You get a refill as often as your doc says you can based on your dosage. Most inject once a week or every two weeks. I prefer every two and I've done both. Both methods have their plusses and minuses, for me it's nice not having to take a pill 2x a day that I have to hold under my tongue for 10 minutes and can't speak. The positive about pills was that it had a really nice anti-depressant effect. Development seems only slightly better on injections, but there are many positives, I could go on forever but I'll stop :)

My Doc only prescribes IMI.

I think all Dr's are different, unless they are an expert in Trans I don't know if any of them are right or wrong.

I do know that when you are in hospital, Dr's prefer to inject any drug rather then pill form. I have read that injection for any type drug is the best form. I don't know if that is true or not, just something I read.

I have been in IMI for a little over six months, I can definitely say it is more convenient and the results are better.

I have gotten use to self injecting, but still take a little nerve to do it. ;)

Shelly

I've also been interested in injections - seems like it would be a lot more convenient, and I do just a touch of partying, so it'd be better for my liver. Both docs that I have been to have been apprehensive about injections - the first one tried to talk me into the gel, and the second one was clueless about everything. I guess the thought of having people injecting themselves makes some docs uncomfortable.

One big tip about getting your spiro cheaper - do it through Costco online. I was getting my script filled at Walmart and paying about $65/mo, and now I'm paying about $20/mo. Mail or fax in your script, and they'll fill it for you. Also, ask your pharmacist to get the spiro filled in lower doses - i.e. instead of one high dose pill, fill it as multiple lower dose pills. This cut the cost down to like to like 1/5 of what it would have been.

Oh, and Costco's estradiol is also dirt cheap - I'm paying ~$5.75/mo, but estradiol is dirt cheap at any big pharmacy.

Well according to costco's pricing, I'd be paying like 50 dollars for spiro. So I guess I'm stuck getting it through my friends dad. Not terrible just inconvenient. So it looks like if I inject estrogen I still have to take spiro in pill form :( Well since dose discussion isn't allowed here, I'll have to talk to my dr about pricing info. Thanks for the help! :)