Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Apparently there is a nasal spray called Suprefact (Buserelin Acetate), which can reduce T levels to insanely low levels, basically to zero. It's also a lot more expensive than Spironolactone ($98.67/3 months). I just wanted to know if anyone has used it, and what is the approximate cost for a three month supply (I know dosages vary).

That's not really that much more than I pay for my spiro. Is it once a day? Twice a day? I'd like to know - I'm seeing my doc this Thursday and would really like to get off spiro because of the diuretic effects (which seem to have gotten quite a bit more pronounced in the last month).

I want to be able to eat all those potassium rich foods that I've not had in the longest time. It would sure as hell help. ::)

Quote from: In Limbo... on February 08, 2011, 09:31:16 PM
I want to be able to eat all those potassium rich foods that I've not had in the longest time. It would sure as hell help. ::)

Hey, I hadn't thought of that.  I also wonder if perhaps Suprefact is not such a diuretic as Spiro is.  THAT would also be valuable information...

Quote from: Colleen Ireland on February 09, 2011, 05:25:53 AM
Hey, I hadn't thought of that.  I also wonder if perhaps Suprefact is not such a diuretic as Spiro is.  THAT would also be valuable information...

It's NOT a diuretic!

Quote from: ClaireA on February 09, 2011, 07:02:47 AM
It's NOT a diuretic!

Exactly, and that would be so amazing, depending on the cost. Plus, I could go back to eating potassium rich foods.

Quote from: In Limbo... on February 08, 2011, 09:31:16 PM
I want to be able to eat all those potassium rich foods that I've not had in the longest time. It would sure as hell help. ::)

Assuming your liver is fine, you don't need to avoid potassium rich foods.

Quote from: girl_ashley on February 09, 2011, 04:36:44 PM
Assuming your liver is fine, you don't need to avoid potassium rich foods.

Liver? Isn't potassium processed by the kidneys? Spiro causes you not to excrete as much potassium as you otherwise would, so a lot of us on it have to avoid eating potassium-rich foods. I haven't really had much of a problem with this personally - I just make sure that I double-check and avoid anything labeled "heart-healthy" or "low sodium" as they usually substitute potassium chloride for salt.

Here are a couple of things that I found on the net.
This was for Prostate Cancer Treatment but I thought it was intresting.

What is buserelin?
Brand names: Suprefact
Buserelin is a form of hormone therapy
called an LHRH (luteinizing hormone releasing
hormone) against. It comes as an
injection and as a nasal spray. The brand
name is Suprefact®.
Buserelin and other LHRH agonists work by
stopping the brain from telling your body to
make testosterone. Without testosterone the
prostate cancer cells are not able to grow.
Buserelin will not cure prostate cancer but it
can keep the cancer under control for many
months or years.
How do I take buserelin?
For the first seven days of treatment you will
have an injection of buserelin under the skin
three times each day. The injection is not
usually painful but your skin may darken or
redden for a short time afterwards. You may
be given the injection by your GP, practice
nurse, district nurse or at your local hospital.
You may also be taught how to give the
injection yourself.
After you finish the seven day course of
injections, you will be able to take buserelin
as a nasal spray. You will need to spray
once in each nostril six times a day.

6 times a day?   Holy smokes!

I was like "Woah!   Something I could use without having to take a pill everyday that may or may not upset my stomach?" ... 6x/Day isn't worth the change. :P

I think we worry too much about the effects of spiro as a potassium sparing diuretic. Some of the people that have issues I have noticed have also have upped their water intake as they are worried about the diuretic effect and they wonder why they pee so much! Something else to consider is that estrogen shrinks your bladder over time too.

As for potassium, If you're not eating those salt substitutes then you generally don't have much to worry about. Otherwise you would need to avoid most plant foods which tend to be relatively high in potassium - like tomatoes, raisins, saltanas, potato chips, nuts, seeds, beans, bannanas,  Not to mention meat and cheese and sea foods which are often high in potassium too. The amount you get from food is nothing compared to what you would get from a 'low' salt. And you should be getting blood checks now and then anyway which will pick up if you have too much potassium.

QuoteI think we worry too much about the effects of spiro as a potassium sparing diuretic.

I agree with you Nicky. But it doesn't hurt to investage new drugs.
And to hope for something safer and faster is just human nature.

Quote from: Epigania on February 09, 2011, 09:29:10 PM
6 times a day?   Holy smokes!

I was like "Woah!   Something I could use without having to take a pill everyday that may or may not upset my stomach?" ... 6x/Day isn't worth the change. :P

True that. This seems a lot less convenient. And I bet this drug is VERY expensive. When they start talking about "cancer" in the description, that puts this drug in a cancer-class, essentially putting the price into the stratosphere. I did some digging, and it sounds like the first week of treatment costs >$2000.

Oh well, it was fun to consider :(

 

Quotebet this drug is VERY expensive. When they start talking about "cancer" in the description, that puts this drug in a cancer-class, essentially putting the price into the stratosphere. I did some digging, and it sounds like the first week of treatment costs >$2000.

I found that on the web too.

This is a really old thread, I know, but some updating is in order here. I use this(Suprefact), it's $130/month (I'm paying 19.50 thanks to my drug plan). It is available as a nasal spray which I take twice daily, really unobtrusive, and  I have to say I'm quite happy with it (and so is my endocrinologist  ;) )

I'll have to look in to this, thanks for the reply ellie

Quote from: ClaireA on February 08, 2011, 08:18:34 PM
That's not really that much more than I pay for my spiro. Is it once a day? Twice a day? I'd like to know - I'm seeing my doc this Thursday and would really like to get off spiro because of the diuretic effects (which seem to have gotten quite a bit more pronounced in the last month).

I take 2 sprays twice a day

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So spirolactone, is giving me fits. Exhaustion, lower leg cramps, upsets belly with or without food, kidney area pains like back spasms. @ 54 excellent health, looking forward orchi just makes sense to me, But . . . . ya know :-\

EllieM female-ish :laugh: So cute girl

I don't know anymore, so much electro & ffs I don't even want srs! what to do  ::)
clear