Just realized that sprio was a blood pressure med that just happens to
be a strong anti androgen.
What advice did you get if you had high BP?

  Spironolactone is a diuretic.  It has been known to lower blood pressure.  Great care should be taken while taking the other high blood pressure meds.  A bad interaction may occur.  Ask your doctor about this. 

  Joelene

I have high blood pressure. I took lisinopril before getting on spirol, due to the warning I didn't take lisinopril for 2 weeks monitoring my blood pressure every day.  WHen I went back to my doctor I told him I quit lisinopril because spirol was working for me.

Blood pressure is a safe metric to verify,  as long as you monitor it every day you know if a medication is working or whether you should drop it.  Obviously once my BP seemed stabalized on spirol I stopped checking except for maybe once a month,.

In fact my levels are better on spirol than theyw ere on lisinopril.  And there is no forgetting~

Spiro may affect your potassium levels so ensure you have it monitored, You might have to give foods high in potassium.

Hugs Danielle

Quote from: Rita on October 19, 2012, 12:35:55 PM
I have high blood pressure. I took lisinopril before getting on spirol, due to the warning I didn't take lisinopril for 2 weeks monitoring my blood pressure every day.  WHen I went back to my doctor I told him I quit lisinopril because spirol was working for me.

Blood pressure is a safe metric to verify,  as long as you monitor it every day you know if a medication is working or whether you should drop it.  Obviously once my BP seemed stabalized on spirol I stopped checking except for maybe once a month,.

In fact my levels are better on spirol than theyw ere on lisinopril.  And there is no forgetting~

Very good, I have high BP and am taking linsopril as well as a diuretic. It hasn't been working well either.
I'm beginning to think testosterone may be my problem and may try a antiandrogen before committing myself to boobs with E.
I haven't checked my bp in months. I used to go to the machine at the pharmacy but i cant find them anywhere anymore.
I guess its time to get a home monitor.

Quote from: Joann on October 19, 2012, 08:41:34 PM
Very good, I have high BP and am taking linsopril as well as a diuretic. It hasn't been working well either.
I'm beginning to think testosterone may be my problem and may try a antiandrogen before committing myself to boobs with E.
I haven't checked my bp in months. I used to go to the machine at the pharmacy but i cant find them anywhere anymore.
I guess its time to get a home monitor.

I'd like to see you get a doctor to monitor your health if at all possible. I hope you are considering self-medding with some of the health issues you've mentioned. You need an experienced doc to decide if T is your problem, what meds they'd want to rx and how to measure you bp and stuff. I thought I remember you saying you were on disability in a previous post. Use Medi/Medi to find a decent doc, Joann, we don't want anything to happen to you! Meghan

I have high blood pressure and I'm on medication. Spiro was seen as a positive, also going on to HRT was a positive for lowering cholesterol. Just make very sure you are under medical care. I get regular blood checks for LFTs and take my blood pressure regularly.

If life style issues are a reason for high BP change them. They will also impact on HRT.

Pretty much everyone is in agreement here.
If you're on a BP med, adding spiro to the mix is going to complicate things.  Most likely, you're going to have to either reduce or go off the other med - but this has to be a decision made by your treating medical Doctors.

Ideally, as Cindy said, you should look at eliminating the factors that may be contributing to your BP issues as it will definitely complicate your HRT management:
1.  Weight
2.  Sodium intake
3.  Undiagnosed sleep apnea - this is one that is turning into a bigger issue than previously thought.  If you're a snorer, see an ENT and have a sleep study done.

Thanks for the concern everyone.
I am seeing a doctor(s) for my BP and MS although i am in the process of finding a new Gen practioner and havent had it checked for a wile.

I have Lost weight (18 Lbs) And am excited about it. I can get into my 34's again.
I cook most of my meals from scratch and watch the sodium.

I do have disturbed sleep due to the MS and a med i take for it but i do get adaquet sleep.

I have an upcoming neurologist appt and a bit worried as i want to tell him about my transition and my desire for hormones or anti hormones. He is one of the most  kind and attentive doctors i ever had but he's VERY christian and here in the bible belt (U.S.A) its not uncommon to shun L.G.B.T's altogether.

I am hoping to be enrolled in a clinical trial for the first MS drug that will reverse the damage to my nerves and the criteria can be very rigid so i wont be attempting hormones till i know if im eligible and if accepted probably not till the trial runs it's course.
I may not tell the doc at all till its all over.
I'm finding that once you disclosed the fact your unique you cant take it back and sometimes it's just not the right time to tell them.
I'm still a newbie to this.

Quote from: Joann on October 19, 2012, 08:41:34 PM
Very good, I have high BP and am taking linsopril as well as a diuretic. It hasn't been working well either.
I'm beginning to think testosterone may be my problem and may try a antiandrogen before committing myself to boobs with E.
I haven't checked my bp in months. I used to go to the machine at the pharmacy but i cant find them anywhere anymore.
I guess its time to get a home monitor.

Be warned, while spirol is an excellent calming drug due to its effects(Loss of testosterone, its other blood pressure reducing goodies) you may gain some feminzation and loss of libido.

It would definitely be an interesting conversation with your doctor.

Quote from: DanielleJ on October 19, 2012, 06:08:02 PM
Spiro may affect your potassium levels so ensure you have it monitored, You might have to give foods high in potassium.

Hugs Danielle

Welcome to HYPERTENSION CENTRAL! Now I don't feel so alone Before I could start HRT, I had to get my High BP under control too. Started with Lisinopril and after a month had it under control, then my Endo prescribed Spiro. As Danielle mentioned, Spiro DOES affect your Potassium (or K+) level, and it does this by acting on the part of the tubules in your Kidney's where K+ is reabsorbed, hence its title as a K+ "Sparing" diuretic. Unlike Furosemide (Lasix), with acts on the part of the tubules where K+ is drawn out of the body. If you know of anyone on Lasix, they most likely take K+ as a supplement.

Lisinopril also causes the body to retain K+, and yes certain foods contain high amounts of K+ and either need to reduced in quantity or avoided all together when taking Spiro and Lisinopril. After 4 months my GP took me off of Lisinopril, and since then my BP has remained under control with Spiro, and since starting HRT over 2 months ago I have not seen a change in my BP either. Plus I lost over 15 lbs in 6 months because of Spiro.

Joann, do be careful, it sounds like you are, and it also sounds like your MS is not "advanced" or physically debilitating at this point. Do check your BP daily, Walgreens sells an inexpensive manual BP cuff with an "attached " Stethoscope for around $15.00. An "automatic" or self inflating BP machine can be had at Walgreens, CVS, Wal-Mart, etc for around $20-$30. Also take your weight daily, and keep a log of your BP's to take with you to your Doctor.

And don't self medicate with Spiro or any other prescription antihypertensive, diuretic, or AA, these medications can affect your body's electrolyte balance and put one in danger! And Spiro is a hormone also.

You know funny thing about potassium, I ate a whole bowl of kiwis on spirol and felt nothing yet a friend of mine can't even eat half a banana/

Quote from: Rita on October 20, 2012, 09:37:37 AM
you may gain some feminzation and loss of libido.

It would definitely be an interesting conversation with your doctor.

That's ok with me. Libido has been little better than from 1-10 a 3 for a long time and i dont relay miss it in some ways. Plus ive been a girly boy all my life. Ive spent 30 years trying to be the "man" society expected of me only to find my self friendless and battling brain fog and aggression.

All i got from  taking T was a greasy head, more aggression and body hair. A month of inadvertent E has opened a whole new person whiten me.
I want it back.
Hopefully this next summer will dawn a new and better me. The first MS drug that actually heals the damage and the correct of balance of hormones.
Instead of a mid life crises, a midlife evolution. 

Good Luck Joann,

There are some exciting drugs coming onto clinical trials for MS it will be great when it can be dealt with.

Hugs

Cindy

Quote from: Cindy James on October 22, 2012, 02:23:10 AM
Good Luck Joann,

There are some exciting drugs coming onto clinical trials for MS it will be great when it can be dealt with.

Hugs

Cindy

Yes indeed.. Looking forward to it.