Why are they prescribing Spiro to do that?
Spironolactone starts blocking androgen receptors within hours to days, but it typically takes 8 to 12 weeks to notice visible physical changes and up to 3 to 6 months (or longer) to see significant drops in actual hormone levels or maximum clinical results.
You can get a Leuprolide injection that lasts up to six months and blocks testosterone production at the source, not blocking the androgen receptors. The biggest issue with leuprolide is cost. I received the 90-day injections and I believe they ran about $400. But that was every 90 days, so it was worth it.
I was on leuprolide and bicalutamide for just over a year. This combination is a form of chemical castration that is prescribed for cancer patients and sometimes repeat sex offenders. It is very effective.
Spironolactone and Finasteride are NOT testosterone blockers. They have a side effect of interfering with androgen receptors via the 5a-reductase enzyme. They are not the same thing. By interfering with 5α-reductase, they also interfere with all hormones, which can throw things into confusion.
If your insurance will cover it, or you can afford it, please talk to your doctors about using leuprolide instead, unless they have a valid reason to need you to be on a diuretic. If their only reason for Spiro is to drop T-levels, they need to do their homework, and it is up to us to educate them.
