Stopping spironolactone

[Guest DianeATL]

Since I no longer have measurable testosterone, my doctor took me off of spiro and finasteride.  The good news is since it is a diuretic I am no longer getting up in the middle of the night to pee.  Bad news is I gained 5+ pounds almost overnight.  I feel swollen all over and puffy.

Has anyone else gone through this and had these symptoms?  How long before your body started balancing out the water retention on its own again?

Thanks

 

[Charlize]

I remember the weight gain you mention.  I also got some swelling in my feet and my cardiologist put me on a milder diuretic.

Give your body time to readjust.  It takes time, but if it doesn't abate please mention it to your doctor.  Overall being off the blockers is much better for your health for various reasons.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

 

[Guest DianeATL]

Thanks Charlize - my ankles especially look swollen but nothing serious.  I will monitor and mention it to my surgeon in a couple of weeks when I visit for my 6 month follow up.

I do know being off of them is good for other organs. ;-)

[Cyndee]

Hi Diane, I also stopped the use of spiro about a month before surgery. I was receiving BP lowering benefit however from it. One symptom I experienced in stopping was I became quite sodium sensitive, I really had to watch my sodium intake for a while or I would get "salt headaches".

My weight is now exactly the same as before. It took my body a couple of months to adjust, it is quite a change. I take another BP med now and have no issues. My salt intake in diet is now just about the same as before and I have no issues. 

My electrolytes were tested and are fine now.

C -

 

 

 

[Guest DianeATL]

Thanks CyndiRae for the info.  I have a BP cuff myself and will closely monitor my blood pressure.

[VickySGV]

I was kept on Spiro after surgery, since it had originally been prescribed for me as a diuretic because several others kept crashing my potassium levels and I was a muscle cramp mama on them.  If you do not need the diuretic for blood pressure, it is a good idea to get rid of it, but it could be several weeks to get it out of your system.  Check with your pharmacist to see if there is information on how long it will take to get out of your system.  The pharmacist could call your doctor for you if it is a big problem.