Hey everybody :) Alright so I have a question about long term use of only taking spiro on the body. I have been on it for one year to prevent any further masculinization of my body since I am still young and going through puberty. I havent noticed much negativity except I always have to pee and I have less energy than I used to. I just want to know if I am looking at any serious problems down the road. Thanks so much!
edit- no dosages please
The body needs testosterone or estrogen to retain bone mass. See: osteoporosis when women go through menopause and when skinny men get old.
Having low levels of both throughout puberty might have unforseen consequences on your bone density and growth, though that may be good for not further masculinizing your skeleton. Take cal/mag supplements and find a doctor you can confide in about your bones. Most people who take spiro are fully grown adults, and further yet, most people who take just spiro are not taking HRT level doses. It's generally not recommended to stay on a HRT-level dose of spiro by itself for too long, though from what I've seen the short term bone loss can be regained once proper hormone levels are restored.
Post Merge: August 03, 2009, 04:04:18 AM
Second thought: Why just spiro?
I don't want to be giving medical recommendations to a minor, obviously, but if you're still developing, now is the time for the best medical treatment.
other than your skull, testosterone doesn't cause bone masculization!
IT's just that women bones seal EARLIER due to estrogen.
Estrogen seals the bones' growth plate.
Other effects on bones (other than maintaining bone mass/thickness which prevents bone disease, and by that I don't mean the thinkness you measure with tape around the bone, that's growth, I mean bone density) are:
Testosterone:
Masculized Growth of the jaw
Masculized Growth of the Chin
Masculized Growth of the Forehead
Masculized Growth of the nose cartilage
and some other parts of the skull which are usually less bothering because they are usually very much overlapped with females - someone might want to correct me if I am wrong here!
Estrogen:
SEALS GROWTH
Causes Expansion of the pelvis, like furthering apart of the pubic bones, rounding of the crests.
I am still not sure of the changes in the pelvis bone later ossify into bone or not.
One thing which points to it not turning into bone is pregnant women have further pelvic expansion due to relaxin hormone.
Relaxin softens the cartilage, ligements which hold to pelvis together and cause it to expand, mostly the pubic bones go further away from each other. - If anyone has information about this, please share it and even PM me :)
In conclousion, avoiding testosterone won't help you to prevent bone's masculization, sorry! :(
Post Merge: August 03, 2009, 04:09:39 AM
I forgot to mention!!!
Avoiding testosterone/estrogen will probably cause you grow even more.
In girls, estrogen closes the bones fast as they have high levels of it and at young age.
In boys, testosterone starts later in life and does not seal the plates BUT it is being converted to estrogen via enzyme arotomise (terrible spelling I think :D) which slowly closes the growth plate.
People without estrogen simply keep growing until the material which bone builds from is depleted and then the bone seals.
See giantism
Well, I said unforseen consequences about growth - yipes.
You should ask that of the doctor who prescribed the spironolactone for you.
The doctor who gave you the prescription for a controlled substance,
which you don't know what adverse side affects it might have to your heath,
The doctor who did so after conferring with your therapist who feels this is the best
way to help you deal with what ever issues, you might be having, after someone
who cares a great deal for you, arranged for you to meet with a therapist
because they have your best interest at heart.
I'm glad that you chose that route instead of getting a drug,
which you know hardly anything about from a complete moron and I'm glad that
you didn't rely on a total stranger behind a keyboard for medical advice.
I'm also glad that you're not a member of law enforcement
who is conducting some sort of sting operation.
I have been on spiro since I was 18 and now I'm 33 (i'm still pre-op but is a long story, and yes I plan on going all the way)and I have never had any issues with it but you should always ask your doctor for a certain concrete dmedical answer.
Spirolactone is generally used as a diuretic. That is why you pee a lot.
You will be thirsty and should drink lots of water. Avoid squashes as these will just make you fat.
Fategue is also reported.
There are lots if sites describing spirolactone on the web. Word of caution. When people look at a list of side effects they often assume that they will get al of these. They also, often get worried about some, saying I don't want that.
The side effects are just all those reported. Many will be very minor. Most will be very rare.
Another very important point. Every medicine has side effects. When a Dr prescribes any medicine or treatement, he will think about the benefits and weigh these against the problems. If the benefits are greater, the treatment is given. Every Dr uses this approach.
Since you have this medicine from a proper Dr. you can feel confident that he knows what he is doing.
If you have any concerns you can go back to him as you must for a checkup and mention them.
Good luck and very pleased that you have such a supportive Dr.