Hello there,

I'm nearly 3 months into HRT, spiro and estrodial. The first couple weeks I took it, I'd feel a bit dizzy, kinda euphoric, giggly, have word finding difficulties: in short, kinda "stoned." I didn't and don't want that feeling, and was very glad when it evened out and went away.

But my doctor recently doubled my dosage of both meds, and now I'm back to the same feelings, although it does seem to be lessening faster than last time.

I find if I drink a lot of water and have something to eat with the meds it helps a bit, but it isn't a guarantee.

Is this something you experienced as well?

~Alia

There's a big psychological lift from starting HRT, and from getting our dosages boosted. 

Add to that the neurochemical 'kick' of estradiol, and as testosterone is suppressed, other neurological changes that tend to bring calm.  Then mix in the drop in blood pressure from spiro, which can trigger dizziness while we adjust.

Yep, I'd say your experience is fairly common, although interpreted differently by each of us.   

It's exactly what I experienced. Same return of the effects when my dosage went up too. I'm supposed to bulk up on salt. My doctor said carry a salt shaker everywhere, and salt everything...even my salt!

Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Michelle_P on June 26, 2017, 01:36:48 PM
There's a big psychological lift from starting HRT, and from getting our dosages boosted. 

Add to that the neurochemical 'kick' of estradiol, and as testosterone is suppressed, other neurological changes that tend to bring calm.  Then mix in the drop in blood pressure from spiro, which can trigger dizziness while we adjust.

Yep, I'd say your experience is fairly common, although interpreted differently by each of us.   

You explained that very nicely. Thank you!!

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on June 26, 2017, 01:40:01 PM
It's exactly what I experienced. Same return of the effects when my dosage went up too. I'm supposed to bulk up on salt. My doctor said carry a salt shaker everywhere, and salt everything...even my salt!

Hugs, Devlyn

Oh. Good to know it isn't just me... But I thought (not from doctor, just thought) that I had to be careful NOT to eat too much salt because the spiro causes it to be retained. I probably misheard something, though...

Quote from: SaintAlia on June 26, 2017, 02:32:44 PM
You explained that very nicely. Thank you!!

Oh. Good to know it isn't just me... But I thought (not from doctor, just thought) that I had to be careful NOT to eat too much salt because the spiro causes it to be retained. I probably misheard something, though...

Spiro help your body eliminate salt.  It retains potassium, and high levels of potassium can cause heart problems, so that has to be monitored.

I had sodium-sensitive hypertension problems, and spiro dropped my blood pressure from high to low normal, while letting me drop an extreme low sodium diet (700 mg/day) and go back to a normal diet.  To keep potassium under control I dropped tomato concentrates like sauces and paste from my every day diet, along with limiting root vegetables and fruits like banana.  My levels are checked every 6 months, and I track my intake daily as part of my diet using the MyFitnessPal app on a phone.  I do tend to be a bt more obsessive than most, though.

My blood pressure went from textbook perfect numbers to frighteningly low. I salt everything much more than I ever did and I feel much better.

Hugs, Devlyn

Unless your blood pressure is sodium sensitive, most people's isn't, you can eat as much salt as you want without any problems.  I have eaten up to nearly 12,000 mg in one day without a blood pressure rise, or any other ill effect.  You probably don't need that much though.  Just increase your salt until the dizziness and lightheadedness goes away.  A good source is bouillon cubes if you like them.  I usually mix salt in my water each morning to get a start each day.  Right now somewhere around 6,000 mg each day keeps me feeling good.


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I agree.  Dizziness goes away when I increase my salt.  Potato chips... Yum

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In a quest to figure out why I was getting out of breath so easily, I left no stone unturned. I asked my doctors, I searched the forums etc. Nothing concrete was found.

So the key piece to the puzzle was progesterone this led me to investigate progesterone.
So I pieced together the following info:

Cyproterone Acetate has a progesterone like effect by activating the Progesterone Receptor and increasing your progesterone.

Spironolactone has some effects similar to those of the hormone progesterone and increasing your progesterone.

To what degree the progesterone increases, is dependent on the dose and individual

So one of the things that happens when your progesterone goes up and you are taking estrogen, your body thinks it is pregnant.  So in preparation for the baby, your brain tells your lungs that they need to take in more air. This can make you feel like you need to take more and deeper breaths. It's one of those genius adaptations our bodies make during pregnancy to help get additional oxygen to the baby.

So in my humble opinion this would partially explain the shortness of breath that is being experienced. I know when I get out of breath sometimes I experience dizziness.

In addition to this spiro lowers your blood pressure, so dizziness is inevitable.

Update:

It's been a bit on the increased dose now, and much of the initial dizzy/loopy feeling is gone. Nearly all. I've been making sure to eat something, and drink a good bit of water with the dose, as well as throughout the day in general. The feeling leveled out much faster than it did after first going on the meds, so I'm pleased.

The salt thing is so true, though! The other day I ate pickles and a pudding cup, and my girlfriend made a pregnancy joke.

QuoteThe salt thing is so true, though! The other day I ate pickles and a pudding cup, and my girlfriend made a pregnancy joke.

Been there...done that...got the t-shirt 

I experience some of the same things, a bit dizzy especially when I get up too fast, also shortness of breath especially when going up the stairs. In all honesty I like it cuz that means the pills are working

Annnd yesterday I decided to finally get back on the elliptical. Granted, I'm out of shape, but wow... 30 minutes, and it took me three hours to recover. Sweating rivers (though it *was* super hot out), couldn't get cool, couldn't get my breath down, soooo overheated deep inside. Crazy!