I have a persistent headache that starts when I wake up and continues until I am asleep. I can't tolerate it anymore. I did not take any today and my head is STILL splitting. I may have to quit. 

Hi GrayKat... I was actually severely allergic to Spiro ... I found out as I was starting the 3rd week of stepping up the dose and broke out in severe hives for a week that put me in the emergency room... Anyway... My Doctor switched me to Finasteride as my blocker and my T was well suppressed until GRS...

There is always a way forward!!!...


Onward we go

Ashley

How's your fluid intake? Dehydration can cause headaches and spiro is a diuretic that will require you to increase fluid intake.. It's also a med that will lower your BP, so your headaches are unlikely to be caused by BP issues - unless it is way too low.

Time to go have a chat with your prescribing doctor.

Wow, I'm so sorry that's happening to you. It sounds like Ashley & Kelly have the right idea about going back to the doctor.

Hi GrayKat!
Agree with others... go to your MD. Know that, even if it's really an adverse effect of spiro and that you must abandon it, there are still other options with better adverse effect profiles (bicalutamide comes to mind), so if needed, you can discuss them with your doc.
Good luck!
Hugs, Sarah

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Quote from: kelly_aus on May 26, 2017, 11:32:47 PM
How's your fluid intake? Dehydration can cause headaches and spiro is a diuretic that will require you to increase fluid intake.. It's also a med that will lower your BP, so your headaches are unlikely to be caused by BP issues - unless it is way too low.

Time to go have a chat with your prescribing doctor.

+1

My wife used to call me a camel because I hardly ever drank water. A lot changes as you age and especially with spiro. If I don't stay well hydrated I get a headache. I probably go through a gallon of fluid these days. And what that fluid is also counts. Coffee doesn't count, nor do sugary drinks. Stick to water if you can.

Back in the days when I was in and out of steel mills, all the urinals had a little "Color Code" card above them to gauge your level of dehydration. Essentially any think darker then a slight hint of yellow you are dehydrating

I was started on HRT in Amsterdam ...
In Europe CyproteroneAcetate/Androcur is (generally) used ...
instead of Spiro ...
imo Androcur is FAR superior to Spiro ...
Androcur is generally not available in the USA ...
although (imo) it should be ... and is obtainable ...

Now that I have (finally) had GCS/SRS
I no longer have to deal with no fully safe/effective Anti-Androgens ...

btw: HRT was never intended to be a lifelong undertaking ...
many "out there" continue taking (imo) too sizable a dose of Estrogens ...
for years&years ...
The initial Estrogen dosing/s are/were NEVER intended
to be taken for a lifetime ...
Some (as a result) "out there" end up complaining that
they become overweight ... & that their breasts become obnoxiously sized ...

Headache is a very well known side effect of Spironolactone. Not everyone can take this med. So, the only thing to do now is see you doctor for something else, such as Finasteride

I will ask her about some alternatives, thanks for the info everyone. I cut my dose to 1/4 and I feel a bit better. I also started drinking sports drinks.

Watch out for sports drinks. Many contain potassium chloride and that's a no no on Spiro. Drink water and consume table salt as those are the things that Spiro eliminates from the body.

I now consume a lot of added salt, and Drink a lot more water. Another thing spiro does is allow potassium to build up. My last blood test showed my potassium just a hair above the normal range.

I would also say next blood test get your electrolytes checked.

I personally have to take about 2x the salt I would need normally. I also suffer from bad headaches/migraines on a regular basis. Magnesium in my csse, also needed to be supplemented ( diuretics flush out many electrolytes, spiroenlactone is potassium sparing, but everything else is fair game). Also magnesium can help with headaches as well as constipation (diuretic drying you out  everywhere).

It's definitely a game of balance. Even after a year on spiro if I don't pay attention to my electrolyte balance I'll get lightheaded, high heart rate, muscle cramps, brain fog, and of course headaches.


~Brooke~

Quote from: Dena on May 28, 2017, 10:13:03 PM
Watch out for sports drinks. Many contain potassium chloride and that's a no no on Spiro. Drink water and consume table salt as those are the things that Spiro eliminates from the body.

I did find something I think may be better at Whole Foods, electrolyte water.

I use lyteshow
LyteShow - Electrolyte Concentrate for Rapid Rehydration - 40 Servings (With Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EISFBYA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YJplzbZ5AXQPD


~Brooke~

Hi,

I never have and never will use Spiro. It is unnecessary to get hormones to balance. One does not need to de-man a person because when estrogen is introduced to the body testosterone levels fall as a result. Spiro should be used only as a last resort. My doctor is mega against it's use. It makes doctors lives easier - Yes. Add hormones in pills and the first pass effect which leads to liver damage and you have a fine brew. Headaches are serious....but long term liver damage is unnecessary. Hormones need to be stored in fat anyway, so gels are much less damage for the body over the years. The physical effects are often better than with pills as well.  Sorry if I sound negative....but I think most doctors do not do us favors by using pills that kill the liver over time. I also receive progesterone in gel and my breast growth is steady and seems to be stable. I have no headaches, no depression, not one side effect. That is my take on it. 

Quote from: Walking in Sunshine on May 30, 2017, 05:06:39 PM
Hi,

I never have and never will use Spiro. It is unnecessary to get hormones to balance. One does not need to de-man a person because when estrogen is introduced to the body testosterone levels fall as a result. Spiro should be used only as a last resort. My doctor is mega against it's use. It makes doctors lives easier - Yes. Add hormones in pills and the first pass effect which leads to liver damage and you have a fine brew. Headaches are serious....but long term liver damage is unnecessary. Hormones need to be stored in fat anyway, so gels are much less damage for the body over the years. The physical effects are often better than with pills as well.  Sorry if I sound negative....but I think most doctors do not do us favors by using pills that kill the liver over time. I also receive progesterone in gel and my breast growth is steady and seems to be stable. I have no headaches, no depression, not one side effect. That is my take on it.

Welcome to the forum Walking on Sunshine!

You don't sound negative at all.. Speak your mind around here! !!! I was actually probably better off being allergic to Spiro!!! It can be nasty stuff!

Onward we go!!!!
Ashley

Yeh, walking in sunshine, swallowing the Estrace meds is really bad. For some reason a lot of doctors don't seem to tell their patients to orally absorb it instead. There's a girl in my support group who had some bad health issues because of digestivesly taking estradiol.

I don't mind the spiro for now. It does make a difference in keeping the T production down and blocking T receptors at the cellular level. Since I had high BP it didn't hurt for me to take it anyway.

Another pitch for lots water, 64 oz per day and plenty of salty things. Salt is continually depleted from your body. Definitely talk to your doc before you change meds.