.

I'm on a high Spiro and low E right now (hopefully more E by end of month).

As far as I can tell the following have happened:
Sensitivity and development of breasts (I already had these; now they hurt a lot more)
Smooth skin, I think (never compared to aught)
Increase of hair growth in male-hairline areas
Decreased, less spontaneous libido
Change to, umm... Output...

So, unless I'm responding really well to low-dose E, those are a good number of demonstrable effects.

It's a case by case basis, though. Pretty sure my T levels have always been abnormally low (my endo doesn't test 'cause it's Wisconsin and nobody covers it, but there you go), so the Spiro probably had a better than average effect.

Spiro doesn't effect T production directly. What it does is attach to T receptors, forcing regular testosterone into the bloodstream as Free T and when the pituitary gland sees this it sends a message to the testes to stop producing T as it believes that too much T is being produced when in fact there has been no change. This lowers T levels by ceasing the production of T. It's what's called a negative feedback loop. But, yeah, E is quite good at suppressing T as well.  It's also responsible for feminization. You can not feminize without E.

Thanks girl friends for posts & actual results.

I'm on medium spiro & low E/estrofem as advised. I'm too early to report anything of value

Sprio binds to androgen receptors and the causes an increased amount of testosterone in the blood and the body believes there's enough T, begins producing less.

It's all really confusing. But it doesn't seem to do much other then make me have to pee five times an hour lol E is def more important. Some people just take E and progesterone and have ample feminization. So, there are alternatives.

EDIT: The one thing I forgot to mention is I had my spiro does increased quite significantly and there has to be more T in my system because my skin does not look as smooth and pale as it did two weeks ago though it still feels soft and my libido has increased. But this could be for any number of reasons and it might be all in my head. I think it is starting to drop back down today as my libido seems to be going down again. I read on a hairloss forum that some bodybuilders use spiro for one week before a competition because in the short-term it increases T. I don't know how or why. This medication confuses me to no end. The simplest answer I read last night said that it inhibits T production and may have some weak estrogenic effects.

P.S. I'm glad the HRT is finally starting to work for you! ;-)

It is a competitive inhibitor of T. Doesn't stop it's production directly. It has a higher affinity for the same receptors that T normally would bind to.

Quote from: peky on April 23, 2013, 07:52:04 PM
It partially (dose-dependent) blocks testosterone synthesis, and blocks the testosterone receptors..in a nut shell

If the dosage is high enough and you stay on it long enough... The negative feedback loop will cause T production to be greatly reduced by causing the hypothalamus and pituitary to stop releasing hormones (LH/FSH/GnRh) which cause T production in the leydig cells of the testes. No hormones sent to testes, no T production. It's an indirect mechanism of action, but effective.

I just hope they work, funny little peach pills, taste kinda yucky on your tongue. I'm taking a moderate level.

Quote from: peky on April 23, 2013, 09:15:07 PM
Actually spiro blocks desmolase and 5 alpha reductase directly, and thus has a direct effect on the biosythesis of DHT and T

From the papers I've read, it has to be at higher dosages (near max) over a period of time to inhibit 17,20 desmolase production and then it's only a weak inhibitor. And as far as 5α-reductase, that would only be a concern to those with hair issues (balding), as Sprio will directly inhibit that enzyme, so that less T will be converted to DHT.

I Know it's my imagination however my nipples are real sensitive & hurt some. Under spiro & estrofem. Of all the changes I'm hopeful for growing some nice breasts is my most anticipated result. That would just be great!!!!! My mother had nice breasts & I'm trying my best to make her proud.

Quote from: FrancisAnn on April 24, 2013, 07:24:52 AM
I Know it's my imagination however my nipples are real sensitive & hurt some. Under spiro & estrofem. Of all the changes I'm hopeful for growing some nice breasts is my most anticipated result. That would just be great!!!!! My mother had nice breasts & I'm trying my best to make her proud.

Not necessarily, there doesn't need to be much physical change in order for them to be tender.  Mines became very tender and sensitive in the first 2 months of HRT, and then after that it was significantly more sporadic AND effective.

Rita, they are definetly more sensitive. It feels great. Good luck with your girls & everything else.

Quote from: Julie53 on April 24, 2013, 04:01:56 PM
I recently had an interesting discovery when I joined this site and began to follow some of the discussions.  I'm non-op (for the time being anyway) but I have been taking Spironolactone as a diuretic (water elimination) due to some edema in my left leg.  My dosage is low, but I can count on needing a bathroom half an hour after I take it.  As part of effective water elimination, I also have been told to limit my water intake as much as possible.

I was a little shocked to discover that Spiro is often a part of HRT, although at higher dosages than what I take for diuretic needs.  As part of researching Spiro, I found that it is also popular with body builders.  The water elimination helps them to achieve a sculpted, "ripped" look.  I'm unsure what dosages body builders may use.

I'd be curious to know if taking Spiro at HRT levels causes water elimination as it does at my low dosage.  Has anyone experienced the race horse effect (need to pee) while on HRT levels of Spiro?

Yes. It's a well known effect. You will be going to the bathroom quite often.

I never was big on pills and try to limit my intake of chemicals as much as possible. Spironolactone had me up several times during the night to pee and disrupted sleep makes this person grumpy. They do inhibit testosterone activity and it is a necessary evil while you still have your gonads. One thing to be aware of is that unlike a lot of things that flush potassium out of your system, Spironolactone builds up your potassium levels, so you want to stay away from potassium salt, bananas and other things that are rich in potassium so that you don't become poisoned by excess potassium. Though drinking a lot of water makes for excessive peeing, it's best to remain hydrated and your organs flushed. Go with the flow! 

Because spironolactone is commonly used in heart failure treatment, its effects on your kidneys are really important. It turns out that spironolactone causes the kidney to retain or hang on to potassium. And it can increase the blood potassium level, and in some patients actually quite significantly, and even in a few to dangerous levels. So with a new addition of spironolactone to your medical regimen, the blood potassium level should be monitored. Initially the first few days after starting it, and then every couple of weeks for probably a month or two to make sure that your blood potassium levels are okay and are not too elevated. Spironolactone can also sometimes be used to replace potassium supplements, so if you're taking potassium supplements with your loop diuretic -- Lasix or what -- and spironolactone is added, then the potassium level should be checked because the spironolactone may well reduce the need for potassium supplementation.

pee, pee, pee. This stuff is wearing me out, panties down, P up, P down, P up.

Quote from: FrancisAnn on April 25, 2013, 06:24:53 PM
pee, pee, pee. This stuff is wearing me out, panties down, P up, P down, P up.

So, um... would you say you're... pissed?

For those of us with hypertension and resulting high blood pressure, Spironolactone keeps our water levels down, (hence the frequent pee trips) without kicking our postassium levels down to the basement and thus lowers our blood pressure.  I was put on Spiro for the blood pressure by my internist, with the wise crack that I would not object to the side effects of it the way some other people would.  The joys of being old!! 

Shantel, Thank you so much, it's lots of water for me. I'm just peeing away.

Quote from: FrancisAnn on April 25, 2013, 07:15:10 PM
Shantel, Thank you so much, it's lots of water for me.

I hated the getting up at night to pee part the most. I have trouble going back to sleep after getting up. One benefit of SRS for me is no more Spiro. I can sleep thru the night and not have to get up or at the worst, only once to pee.