Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Ellement_of_Freedom on June 01, 2016, 07:08:26 AM

Title: Spironolactone question
Post by: Ellement_of_Freedom on June 01, 2016, 07:08:26 AM
I'm not sure if this question is allowed, so please remove it if necessary. I would really appreciate an answer even by PM though.

My doctor told me I can have my spironolactone all in one go, once a day. However I've seen online that dividing it to two dosages daily is more effective? Is this true? Thank you and sorry if this is breaking any rules re: dosages!
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: FrancisAnn on June 01, 2016, 07:22:33 AM
It only lasts for like 12 hours so it's better to spread it out. Drink lots of water, get ready to pee all the time.
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: Cindy on June 01, 2016, 07:25:21 AM
Once a day is fine. I took mine with breakfast.
Dosages refer to not posting the amount of the drugs you are taking.

As spiro reduces blood pressure it is better to take it in the morning rather than at night when your blood pressure drops anyway. Less chance of complications.
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: Ms Grace on June 01, 2016, 07:56:33 AM
I take mine once a day in the morning after breakfast. My endo recommended morning not night that way the diuretic effects wouldn't be waking me up during the night for trips to the bathroom!
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: Dee Marshall on June 01, 2016, 08:13:02 AM
My doctors, (endo and PCP) split my dosage, but I take it for blood pressure also.
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: Rachel on June 01, 2016, 12:01:17 PM
Make sure you drink water and eat salt, avoid foods with potassium.

My script says to take one pill twice a day. Times of the day are not mentioned.  Some suggest taking it with food but I take it when I wake up (0330 and when I come home from work  1730). During the week  I drink water on the way to and from work (20 ounces each time). I get to work 0450 and walk up and then down 27 stories then I go to the Control Room and I have more water, some nuts and fruit.
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: RobynD on June 01, 2016, 02:45:06 PM
I take mine in two does, morning and evening. I need to drink more water, a never ending challenge for me.
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: veritatemfurto on June 01, 2016, 03:01:19 PM
Quote from: Rachel Lynn on June 01, 2016, 12:01:17 PM
Make sure you drink water and eat salt, avoid foods with potassium.

My script says to take one pill twice a day. Times of the day are not mentioned.  Some suggest taking it with food but I take it when I wake up (0330 and when I come home from work  1730). During the week  I drink water on the way to and from work (20 ounces each time). I get to work 0450 and walk up and then down 27 stories then I go to the Control Room and I have more water, some nuts and fruit.

hmm sounds like a Roller Coaster Theme Park job? I know what you mean!


anyways, as mentioned before, think of taking medications like climbing a hill, taking it all at once just means climbing a higher hill. You'll still arrive at the same place in the long run... but the higher dose can give a headache going that much up and down every day. that's why doctors prefer taking things in moderation.
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: .Christy on June 01, 2016, 04:48:12 PM
depends if you can handle the side effects (if u experience any) of taking it all in one go. if no problem, go ahead and take all in one go, once a day as you were prescribed (I recommend in the morning and with food). i split mines since i cant handle the loss of fluids all at once. As for efficacy from 1 dose vs. split dose, it doesn't matter. The duration of spiro in your system is about 2-3 days, maximum effects may not be seen until two weeks.
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: Ellement_of_Freedom on June 01, 2016, 04:50:36 PM
Quote from: Cindy on June 01, 2016, 07:25:21 AM
Once a day is fine. I took mine with breakfast.
Dosages refer to not posting the amount of the drugs you are taking.

As spiro reduces blood pressure it is better to take it in the morning rather than at night when your blood pressure drops anyway. Less chance of complications.

So all in one go won't reduce its t-blocking effects?
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: veritatemfurto on June 01, 2016, 09:00:00 PM
technically, no, but the t will advance again after it wears off after 12 hours and then negate that again on the next dose for another 12 hours. by evenly spacing dosage, the t will stay down. sorry if the last analogy didn't make sense.
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: Ellement_of_Freedom on June 02, 2016, 04:30:44 AM
Quote from: veritatemfurto on June 01, 2016, 09:00:00 PM
technically, no, but the t will advance again after it wears off after 12 hours and then negate that again on the next dose for another 12 hours. by evenly spacing dosage, the t will stay down. sorry if the last analogy didn't make sense.
So there is no point in me dividing it into two dosages if I can handle having it all in one go re: diuretic effect etc?
Title: Re: Spironolactone question
Post by: FrancisAnn on June 02, 2016, 06:58:55 AM
Oh me, talk about spiro...., stuck in the mud. I sure hope I can get on with my GRS to just finally have those stupid things removed from my body. In my teens I almost took care of them with a razor so many times.....but I was scared that I would bleed to death. I did not want to die, only wanted my correct physical gender. Good luck to all out there dealing with spiro & stopping the wrong hormones from entering our bodies....Looking back at life when puberty started I so wish I had just sliced them off......I hated every minute of receiving the wrong hormones.