Orchiectomy and T Levels Question

[Jordie]

Dear Friends,
My orchiectomy is scheduled for the second week of October of this year . It has been about two years of taking Spironolactone daily, but in the last 4 months my body has started feeling very sore, my muscles and joints and specially my lower back have been hurting a lot. My endocrinologist has suggested that this could be an effect of potassium levels getting higher in the body, which could be a secondary effect of Spironolactone. She has put me on Finasteride. I am felling better, all the sore pain is going away slowly BUT I don’t want my T levels to go up and I am wondering if Finasteride is as effective as Spiro. According to endocrinologist, Finasteride will also do the job. Does any body know about the effectiveness of Finasteride in terms of blocking T?

Sharing your knowledge and experience will be appreciated.

Thank you very much!

[Cheryl Ann Owens]

For what it's worth, my doctor prescribed Bystolic for high BP as the other meds are usually prescribed for. My T levels are now way, way down. I too have the physical symptoms you describe but probably due to lack of exercise. I get a sore back spending 15 minutes doing the dishes. I know everyone's results vary but you might also explore that med with your doc.

Cheryl

[CharleneT]

The two drugs affect T levels differently. After you have been on Spiro for a while, it is possible that it becomes less important - IF you are on Estrogen ?? One main sex hormone replaces another. I'm curious, are you on just Spiro and Finesteride ? Has your endo put you on Estrogen ?

Spironolactone blocks the production of Testosterone, Finesteride and Dutasteride both lock up the receptor sites for testosterone. So one drug slows the production of T, while the other blocks existing T from working.... Often they are used together to ensure estrogen has an "easy" path to control.

The orchi will end all of this very effectively, you will have very little testosterone in your system after that surgery. Are you aware that some SRS/GRS surgeons will not work on you if you have had a orchi ??

[TeresaL]

BUT I don’t want my T levels to go up and I am wondering if Finasteride is as effective as Spiro. According to endocrinologist, Finasteride will also do the job. Does any body know about the effectiveness of Finasteride in terms of blocking T?

Thank you very much!

IMO, no. Finasteride blocks the DHT component, but can increase your serum testosterone up to 9%. That's a small amount though, and after two years of Spironolactone, you may not produce much T anyhow. If you are taking estrogen, then the T will be lowered as well, and balance out in the long run.

I don't know about you, but T makes me cross dress. A lot. LOL

[Jordie]

Yes, I am also on estrogen (patch) for about two years. My endo asked me to stop spiro for a while and be on finasteride. She said depending on how I fell, she might ask me to introduce spiro again on a low dosage little by little. Meanwhile it is only finasteride.

Thank you for your reply dear friend.

[drag n fly]

I've been on xxxx daily of Finasteride, and now xxx daily of Spiro...I'm also on xxxx daily of Estrofem (estradiol)...Due to spiro's side effect of frequent urination I deceased the dosage to xxx from xxxx ...and the frequency lessened...I just increased it back to xxx.and have experience no problem with the frequency...My libido was coming back on the lower dosage...It seems to have declined since the increase...Thank goodness...I have noticed a lessening of strength and stamina since starting this journey, but I seem to have either acclimated to it, orit has abated a bit..I feel pretty good overall....actualy VERY good...14 months or so now...Time will tell Thanks good luck Jackie