How to counteract spironolactone sides?

[dan peres]

Hi,

I have used spironolactone cream twice in the past 10 years. Most recently a few weeks ago. In fact I had ordered the cream from Dr. Lee during the time when his site was hacked. But I digress.

The side effects for me of using topical spironolactone is a dramatic lessening of my libido and an inability to become completely erect. Prior to restarting the spironolactone, both my libido and erectile functioning, were very strong.

My query is this. Can I somehow counteract these side effects? If the spironolactone raises the estradiol in my system can I take Arimidex to counteract this? Or can I take anything else?

I'm afraid that the only treatment that I've used besides finasteride (even worse sides btw) that's worked is spironolactone.

Any comments?

Dan

 

[guybrush]

How much spironolactone do you apply? You should use just a very thin layer.

I always get topicals absorved into my bloodstream but spironolactone hasn't given me much trouble. If I apply too much I feel like it lowers a bit my blood pressure but there is no sexual effect whatsoever.

If you apply it once a day only you might get advantatge from applying twice a day, on one part of the scalp each time. spironolactone gets metabolized quickly and that would prevent you from having too much spironolactone in your bloodstream.

 

[HatGuy]

I have been on spironolactone for about 5 months, using a fairly thick layer of the cream 2x a day (started thin, got thicker), and I don't think I've had any side effects at all. Have you heard of the study in which a group of healthy men placed spironolactone on 55% of their bodies?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3411088

Lack of endocrine systemic side effects after topical application of spironolactone in man.
Rey FO, Valterio C, Locatelli L, Ramelet AA, Felber JP.

Département de Médecine, C.H.U.V., Lausanne, Switzerland.
Abstract
In six healthy male volunteers, the percutaneous absorption of spironolactone was compared with placebo in a double-blind crossover study. The subjects were randomly given either a cream containing 5% spironolactone or placebo to be applied in a randomized sequential way to a well defined skin area equivalent to 55% of body area. During the 72 h following the application of the ointment, blood levels of canrenone, the major metabolite of spironolactone, have been determined. In order to estimate the systemic antiandrogenic effect of spironolactone, plasma levels of 17-alpha-Hydroxy progesterone (17 alpha-OH-P), Testosterone (pT) and non-conjugated 3 alpha-Androstanediol (3 alpha-diol, metabolite of the active androgen 5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone or DHT) as well as salivary Testosterone (sT) which relate to the free and active plasma testosterone fraction have also been measured. Urinary levels of canrenone have been determined 48 hours after cream application. No changes in any levels of these hormones have been detected and plasma canrenone levels were undetectable during the 72 hours of topical treatment. Topically administered, spironolactone appears to have only a local skin impregnation.

It's also very odd to me that I still have a fairly decent amount of spironolactone despite accidentally spilling almost 25% of it.

 

[dan peres]

I use a thin layer but I try to cover the top and vertex area of the scalp. There's no doubt in my mind that I do have side effects from the spironolactone.

As for the study, there were six people total enrolled. And as it was a double blind study there were only three people who used the spironolactone. So I doubt that any resulting conclusion from this study would be valid.

 

[HatGuy]

True. There really wasn't enough people in that study at all. I recently noticed that my libido is lower than usual when I use too much so I'm trying to cut it down. However, normally my libido's fine on spironolactone.

 

[guybrush]

From my experience I would say obsorption might vary a lot between individuals. That means somebody can apply a thick layer and experience no systemic effects while someone else can suffer of strong sides using a lesser amount.