Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Ayaname on June 15, 2010, 05:13:12 PM

Title: First day on spiro
Post by: Ayaname on June 15, 2010, 05:13:12 PM
I just took my first Spirotone pill today.  But now I feel really light headed. Has this or anything similar happened to anyone else when you first started taking it? If so, how long did it last?
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: Ayaname on June 15, 2010, 05:33:03 PM
Quote from: ƃuıxǝʌ on June 15, 2010, 05:30:05 PM
I noticed...absolutely no change after my first anti-androgen pill.
However, I was hyper-aware that I'd introduced something new to my body and I was very quick to attribute anything odd to the anti-androgens. Because I was hyper-aware, I also noticed things that I'd normally ignore.
It's important to take that into consideration.

I have done that in the past, but how I feel now is really something that couldn't be ignored. I've read on other forums about a lot of people feeling dizzy after taking it though. I just hope it doesn't take too long to get used to it because I feel absolutely awful right now. :(
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: Sarah Louise on June 15, 2010, 05:37:42 PM
Did you receive a list of side effects of Spiro when you purchased them?  If not, you might go to Webmd or another site like that and look this up.

Sarah L.
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: Ayaname on June 15, 2010, 05:51:07 PM
Quote from: ƃuıxǝʌ on June 15, 2010, 05:46:57 PM
How long after taking it did you begin to feel this way?
It could be something as simple as dehydration. How much fluid have you been drinking today?

I started feeling like this probably only like 15 minutes after taking it. I've been drinking a lot of water today. So much in fact that I feel very full from it. It doesn't help much that I was out drinking last night though. Today was probably not the day to start something like spiro.  :-\

Post Merge: June 15, 2010, 06:17:58 PM

Well, I just threw up. :-\
I feel a bit better now though aside from having stomach acid in my sinuses.
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: Asfsd4214 on June 15, 2010, 07:06:07 PM
I honestly doubt that it's related, but just to put this out there. Spironolactone tends to reduce blood pressure, if your blood pressure was already on the low side, light headedness wouldn't be a surprising side effect.
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: MsFierce on June 15, 2010, 07:10:48 PM
Spiro can make you dizzy. Try drinking more water when your on it. eat a lil meal when you take it that could help. stay away from ''salt'' that could make you sick too.
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: pebbles on June 16, 2010, 07:20:19 PM
You might be allergic.
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: Ayaname on June 16, 2010, 07:44:43 PM
I've been doing pretty well with it today. I think it was just a bad choice to take it while I was still a bit hung over from the night before. :-\
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: justjo on June 16, 2010, 08:02:32 PM
lots of water and watch the potassium
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: Nicky on June 16, 2010, 10:13:38 PM
Quote from: MsGiselle on June 15, 2010, 07:10:48 PM
stay away from ''salt'' that could make you sick too.

Oh gosh, salt is the best thing about taking spiro! You don't have to worry as much about having too much as spiro stops you retaining much salt.

I can't remember my first day on spiro... I wrote about it somewhere here probably...mmmm I do remember starting small and having to build up, supposed to combat some side effects...
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: MsFierce on June 17, 2010, 01:06:25 PM
Quote from: Nicky on June 16, 2010, 10:13:38 PM
Oh gosh, salt is the best thing about taking spiro! You don't have to worry as much about having too much as spiro stops you retaining much salt.

I can't remember my first day on spiro... I wrote about it somewhere here probably...mmmm I do remember starting small and having to build up, supposed to combat some side effects...


It clearly says on the bottle ''Don't use salt'' without asking your doctor or pharmacy. My doctor told me the same thing salt on spiro can make you sick blood pressure wise.
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: Ayaname on June 17, 2010, 04:16:46 PM
Quote from: MsGiselle on June 17, 2010, 01:06:25 PM

It clearly says on the bottle ''Don't use salt'' without asking your doctor or pharmacy. My doctor told me the same thing salt on spiro can make you sick blood pressure wise.

They'll usually warn against salt "substitutes" because they contain potassium, but as a diuretic, Spiro will cause your body to lose more salt through fluid loss. Also most table salt has potassium iodide in it as an additive so it's just safer to stay away from it unless you know what's in it. I have no worries about that though since I already only use sea salt and I'm in the habit of always reading labels since I'm intolerant of gluten, soy, and lactose along with many other less well known substances.
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: Nicky on June 17, 2010, 04:31:37 PM
Quote from: MsGiselle on June 17, 2010, 01:06:25 PM

It clearly says on the bottle ''Don't use salt'' without asking your doctor or pharmacy. My doctor told me the same thing salt on spiro can make you sick blood pressure wise.

That is interesting, mine doesn't. I was told to avoid 'low' salt or salt substitutes as Ayaname said, which is often made from potassium chloride, as you retain more potassium with spiro. That can make you really sick. But my endo said that I might get salt cravings, particulalry on hot days, and it was perfectly fine to go lick some salt. Otherwise you can end up with muscle cramps or worse.

I guess if you are using it for blood pressure, too much salt increases your blood pressure. You retain more water which would counteract the effects of spiro on your blood pressure. If you don't have any blood pressure issues then worrying about salt intake is probably not such an issue - but best to follow your doctors advice on this. Regular blood tests help to keep an eye on such things.
Title: Re: First day on spiro
Post by: Asfsd4214 on June 17, 2010, 04:51:22 PM
None of the 3 brands of spiro I have seen have said anything about salt, and my doctor specifically noted that salt was a good thing for me because of spiro's diuretic effects.