Side effects of spiro

[Darci]

I started HRT on Christmas Eve, and after being on the regimen for about a week, I started getting diarrhea, and it's been getting worse for about the past week.

I just got off the phone with my endocrinologist, and he advised me to stop the regimen for five days, and then restart.

Has anyone else had that experience, or gotten that advice from their doctor?

[Jackie C.]

No, but I'm like a cockroach. I metabolize EVERYTHING. All Spiro did was make me pee a couple of times a night. Well, and the savage T suppression. I lost twenty pounds of water weight. I looked pretty good though.

 

My advice here is to: Listen to your doctor. It might be something else, but five days of no spiro won't hurt you or saddle you with any setbacks. Then you'll know for sure. We've all got different reactions to medication, he's trying to rule out the easy stuff.

 

In the mean time, drink plenty of water. You don't want to get dehydrated.

 

Hugs!

[Jani]

I only had the need to urinate more often but I have taken many medications over the years and diarrhea seems to be common with many as our bodies react to them.  Stopping and restarting as your doctor recommends is a good decision.  All my best,  

[Carolyn Marie]

That was not one of my side effects, but I have heard that its fairly common.  It can also cause dehydration, frequent urination and is not good for the health of those, like myself, who have Type II diabetes and other diseases.  That is one reason I got an orchi.

 

Carolyn Marie

[Darci]

23 hours ago, Carolyn Marie said:

That was not one of my side effects, but I have heard that its fairly common.  It can also cause dehydration, frequent urination and is not good for the health of those, like myself, who have Type II diabetes and other diseases.  That is one reason I got an orchi.

 

Carolyn Marie

I'd love to get an orchi... they are the seat of my dysphoria.

 

[Carolyn Marie]

2 hours ago, Darci said:

I'd love to get an orchi... they are the seat of my dysphoria.

 

 

Depending on the state, many insurance companies cover the procedure.  You might want to check it out.  You just need a therapist to confirm that it's medically necessary.

 

Carolyn Marie

[Darci]

1 hour ago, Carolyn Marie said:

 

Depending on the state, many insurance companies cover the procedure.  You might want to check it out.  You just need a therapist to confirm that it's medically necessary.

 

Carolyn Marie

Since my transition care is mostly going through the VA, I'd have to be all out of options for androgen blockers. Though if Spiro gets taken off the table, it might be more economically feasible to go with an orchi versus long-term, high-cost GNRH options since cyproterone acetate isn't available here.

 

[Ivy]

I had a bad experience with spiro.  I tried twice and it crashed my sodium level dangerously.  I'm not on any blockers just estradiol.  I'm kinda old though, and I suspect my T level is pretty low anyway.  My (VA) endocrinologist doesn't think I need a blocker, apparently.

[VickySGV]

A variation on the story for me is that post GCS, I am still taking it for its "on label" purpose which is to control high blood pressure since another medication was crashing my potassium levels.  Spiro spares the potassium but cleans out sodium.  This is what the drug encyclopedia at my HMO (Kaiser Permanente HMO)  says:

Quote

Side Effects--

Drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or headache may occur. To minimize lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

 

 

[Audrey]

I met with my doctor this week and specifically asked about avoiding spiro, for some of the reasons listed here in this thread. I don't have any obvious risk factors, but I feel like the more I hear about the unpleasant side effects, the more it reinforces my belief that it's better to avoid it if possible. So far, I've been able to stay off of spiro based on lab results, but estradiol alone might not be able to do what I hope for in the long run, so spiro may be inevitable. Orchiectomy is tempting to me too, but so is having fewer major surgeries. I guess it's too early to decide anything for sure right now, I have another lab check in a few months and will know more then.

 

Love,

~Audrey.

[Darci]

2 hours ago, Audrey said:

I met with my doctor this week and specifically asked about avoiding spiro, for some of the reasons listed here in this thread. I don't have any obvious risk factors, but I feel like the more I hear about the unpleasant side effects, the more it reinforces my belief that it's better to avoid it if possible. So far, I've been able to stay off of spiro based on lab results, but estradiol alone might not be able to do what I hope for in the long run, so spiro may be inevitable. Orchiectomy is tempting to me too, but so is having fewer major surgeries. I guess it's too early to decide anything for sure right now, I have another lab check in a few months and will know more then.

 

Love,

~Audrey.

I'd love to not be on Spiro, but since the VA is doing this, I get to play by their rules. I can only hope that the side effects persist so they'll provide for either an alternative or an orchi.

 

[Ivy]

15 hours ago, Darci said:

I'd love to not be on Spiro, but since the VA is doing this, I get to play by their rules. I can only hope that the side effects persist so they'll provide for either an alternative or an orchi.

I was not at the VA when I started the spiro.  They waited 3 months to do the followup lab, and by that time I was in pretty rough shape from low sodium.

My VA endocrinologist doesn't have me on any T blockers, which I sometimes wonder about.  But I am seeing results with just the estradiol.

[Darci]

1 hour ago, Jandi said:

I was not at the VA when I started the spiro.  They waited 3 months to do the followup lab, and by that time I was in pretty rough shape from low sodium.

My VA endocrinologist doesn't have me on any T blockers, which I sometimes wonder about.  But I am seeing results with just the estradiol.

I'm still waiting back on my labs to see where my pre-HRT T levels were at.

 

[Ivy]

1 hour ago, Darci said:

I'm still waiting back on my labs to see where my pre-HRT T levels were at.

Curiously, I've never been all that interested in my actual levels.  I've pretty much just gone on how I feel and all.  Maybe I should pay more attention.  IDK.

[Darci]

2 hours ago, Jandi said:

Curiously, I've never been all that interested in my actual levels.  I've pretty much just gone on how I feel and all.  Maybe I should pay more attention.  IDK.

I'm likely too inquisitive for my own good. I grew up around too many science-oriented people. Unsurprisingly, as an adult, most of my friends are ALSO science types.