It seems most of the attention here is focused on androcur for chem cast., but I have had wonderful results with Spironolactone, which is reasonably priced and easy to get in the States. Anyway, I just thought I'd share my results with spiro. Maybe this would help others. First of all I am TS so I am seeking breast growth, which I am getting, so you might want to consider that. But I must say that within the space of 2 months using 200mg spiro a day and 6mg estrodial, I feel absolutely castrated. Erections just don't happen by themselves and I can barely raise one no matter what stimulation is provided and then it is very poor quality. What little ejaculate there is is now clear, odorless, and tasteless. Overall I am thrilled, i really can't imagine anything working any better and the side effects are nil with the exception of peeing a lot due to the diuretic effect. I just drink a lot.

Spiro used to work wonderfully for me, then it stopped working and I had to take more and more! -- at high doses the side-effects are scary. :/ The cramps and dizzy spells and occasional fall-on-my-ass blackouts were awful.

Gosh i hope that doesn't happen to me. How much time passed until this happened and what was your peek dose?

I was on Androcur, 100 mg/day, for 3 1/2 months, when I switched to Spiro. The side effects of the Spiro where really debilitating at first. Particularly bad was major cramping of muscles over much of my body. This was despite the fact that I drank plenty of water. I'd had no side effects on Androcur.

After several weeks, the side effects went away and I'm doing well on Spiro now. I'm not totally convinced it's as effective as Androcur, based on how I feel. I suspect my testosterone isn't as low on Spiro as it was on Androcur.

I hope to start estrogen in 2 weeks.

Best of luck to you.

-Danya

The side effects of spiro may be a major factor on reason why it may be chosen. The male to female transgender group like these side effects and find them as a real bonus.

The male to eunuch group may not want the side effects and would prefer a drug that would produce the castration effects without the unwanted side effects.

While the price is higher for the androcur, the lack of some side effects out weigh the additional cost.

I've been on spiro for several months and it's totally shut down my erections. I still have a little sex drive, ie; I still love a man to make love to me. The side effects I have are, feeling weak, loss of muscle mass, slight pumpness in my breast and fat on my hips.

My hair doesn't grow back as fast as it use to. The only side effect I don't like is the weakness.

Pauline.

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k_alanis (imported) wrote: Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:03 pm How much time passed until this happened and what was your peek dose?

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I was on and off Spiro many times (along with high dose estrogen + progesterone, etc.). After about 6mos of being on Spiro continuously I noticed if I missed my dose I would RAPIDLY regress (I was on 300-400mg/day then), and then I ran out for a couple months and when I went back on they were almost ineffective (even at 800mg-a-day!!). At the higher doses things got scary. Also, taking Spiro sublingually is not a good idea. heh.. I took some stupid chances.

http://www.drugs.com/spironolactone.html

Read the ahole article especially if you are taking a potassium supplement if you are on other meds that leach it from you.

That muscle cramping is a seriuos side effect and warrents medical attention.

Thanks everyone for the input. I really do hope this continues to be as effective for me as it is now. The reason I went with it is because my Dr. can prescribe it as part of my hormone therapy and she monitors my blood chemistry. I feel reasonably safe doing this, but I will be mindful of what has been said here.

I for one, Free to be Me, was not on a potassium supplement when I started Spiro and had bad cramping. I knew about the potassium danger and did speak with the doctor about the cramps. When I was out of town a few days for vacation, she said I should cut out the Spiro altogether. This was about a week after I'd started it. I had told her I was really concerned about getting serious cramps on the long plane trip!

Once I returned home and restarted the Spiro, the cramps came back. I increased my water intake even further and after a few days the cramps disappeared and haven't returned.