Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Gamergirl on August 19, 2017, 11:44:48 PM

Title: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: Gamergirl on August 19, 2017, 11:44:48 PM
Hey everyone !

I have been on Spiro in the past, but I am just curious if anybody has had any reactions or side effects that they experienced.  When I was on it last year I remember by shins were very itchy and dry.  My new doctor just wants to be cautious, and asked me to get a consensus here.

Thanks !
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: Sluggy on August 20, 2017, 12:04:42 AM
I got really dry from Spiro but it became a lot less noticable and intense over time
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: Laurie on August 20, 2017, 12:15:39 AM
Hi Gamergirl,

  Spironlactone is a blood pressure medication so the first thing you should know is that it is likely to lower your blood pressure, watch for feeling  lightheaded when getting up. Be careful as we don't want you falling down. I've experience this quite often as I was already on BP medication and adding Spiro lowered my BP significantly.
  It is also a diuretic so you will pee a lot more and can become dehydrated so you should increase your water intake. This is likely the cause of dry skin and possibly itchiness. 

  Your doctor should know these things.

  Hugs,
   Laurie
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: OCTrisha on August 20, 2017, 01:11:45 AM
I started out with a low dosage of Spiro when I first began HRT and had to get off after only a few weeks.  I was suffering from pretty significant depression... my doctor and therapist thought that it might have been from the stress from starting HRT, but it felt much different for me... this was chemically induced.  Not surprisingly, depression is a known side effect for some people on spiro.  (I've since switched to Finastride without any negative issues thus far.)

There are many upsides to Spiro, however.  And many folks, apparently, use it without the complications... so best of luck.  :)
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: Jessica on August 20, 2017, 01:23:54 AM
When I started spirono at a low dose, it once made me dizzy.  I'm at a much higher dose now and never felt it again.  I'm glad it's blocking "t" for me.
Jessica 💁
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: Laurie on August 20, 2017, 02:00:57 AM
Quote from: Jessica on August 20, 2017, 01:23:54 AM
When I started spirono at a low dose, it once made me dizzy.  I'm at a much higher dose now and never felt it again.  I'm glad it's blocking "t" for me.
Jessica 💁

When your bp get down to this 78/50 like mine was yesterday morning, you need to be careful getting out of bed or standing up from a sitting position. It's not always that low but it is not unusual for me now.
I've even had things go black once. It's not fun.

Hugs,
   Laurie
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: sid104 on August 20, 2017, 03:40:48 AM
For some people its Just a pill but it can disrupt your electrolytes balance.so be careful
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: Julia1996 on August 20, 2017, 06:23:44 AM
I've been on a large dosage since I started HRT. For like the first week it made me a little dizzy when I would stand up. But that went away. The only side effect I have now from it is that I have to pee like every 10 seconds. I even wake up in the middle of the night to pee. It's a very annoying side effect.
Julia
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: KathyLauren on August 20, 2017, 06:57:53 AM
The only side effects for me have been peeing a lot and low blood pressure.  My doc was alarmed when she measured my blood pressure at 90/65, so she reduced my dose.  My BP prior to starting was a textbook 120/80.

I am lucky that we have no "bathroom bills" here, because avoiding bathrooms is not an option.  If I go anywhere, I have to check out the ladies' room.  I have to get up twice in the night to pee.
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: Deborah on August 20, 2017, 07:19:04 AM
My blood pressure didn't drop at all with spiro.  It was running 130+/85+ most of the time.  I ended up having to use diet, exercise, and weight loss to get that down to an average 109/71.

I did experience dizziness often on spiro until I chronically elevated my salt consumption.  More salt and more water fixed that.


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Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: Harley Quinn on August 20, 2017, 01:23:17 PM
Same. Dizzy spells, but i had lower blood pressure to start with. It floored my sodium and pushed my potassium through the roof. I have dietary restrictions to combat the electrolyte issue. I still get dizzy a couple times a day after a year and a half. I just take a knee and wait for it to pass.
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: .Christy on August 20, 2017, 05:05:40 PM
for me it's constipation; i also have a high heart rate due to my low body weight and the extra loss of the fluids decreased my normal cardiac output so my body adjusted itself like that.
Title: Re: Question about Spironolactone
Post by: Jessica on August 20, 2017, 07:20:58 PM
Quote from: Deborah on August 20, 2017, 07:19:04 AM
My blood pressure didn't drop at all with spiro.  It was running 130+/85+ most of the time.  I ended up having to use diet, exercise, and weight loss to get that down to an average 109/71.

I did experience dizziness often on spiro until I chronically elevated my salt consumption.  More salt and more water fixed that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think it was the lack of water that made me dizzy.......and maybe a bit of "herb".  In CA it say right on the label that marijuana may intensify the dizziness.
Girls just wanna have fun! Jessica 🙆