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ninners

Updated 1y ago

Taking Spironolactone with POTS: Any Experiences?

My doctor started me on spironolactone (to help with my PCOS and hormonal imbalances) but I’m concerned that it might make my POTS worse. Does anyone have any experience with taking spironolactone while having POTS?

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CoffeeBeanC

1y

Postsie here. I don't take it, but my girlfriend is trans and I study medications as a hobby. The most alarming thing I see is that it lowers your blood pressure and reduces your ability to retain salt. Retaining salt is very very important with POTS. you'll need a lot more salt and a LOT more water. As someone with PCOS as well, I just started birthcontrol with a high estradiol content. I think Spiro is a really risky move here :( just my personal opinion though. Let me know how it goes
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ninners

1y

thank you! I appreciate your insight. I’ve been really pounding water and electrolytes and it seems like it’s been ok. I’m a little more dizzy, but other than that, I haven’t noticed any worsening symptoms
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MiscAmy

1y

I was diagnosed with PCOS well before I was diagnosed with pots. However, I believe both of those symptoms started around puberty, and the pots just escalated about five years ago and both of those diseases took forever to be diagnosed because most doctors just assumed everything that has been wrong with me was due to my weight, that being said, I am not on spironolactone, but I have been in birth control with drosperidine, which can act similarly, and I was told I needed to be careful with my potassium levels. Though I can’t say anything about how it affects my POTS since I’ve been in it so long.
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ninners

1y

yeah I was reading about spironolactone and it said the same thing about potassium. I’ve just been avoiding bananas haha I’m not sure if I need to avoid anything else though
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stxrberrym00n

1y

i have suspected POTS and i took spironolactone for acne a couple years ago. it made my already low blood pressure very very low. i had to be taken off of it because it was so low and i was feeling so terrible on it. so if you are someone who has low blood pressure from POTS i would just be aware that may cause problems.
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ninners

1y

oh that’s scary… thank you, I’ll definitely keep an eye on my blood pressure 🤍
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bridgiebee

1y

Spironolactone is a diuretic, it gets rid of water. Steroids and electrolyte tablets given to people with POTS is made to hold the water. This honestly sounds like a recipe for disaster, even if you don't take POTS medication. CALL YOUR DOCTOR AND HAVE HIM REVISIT YOUR MEDICATION LIST. If you tell him you are uncomfortable and don't want to risk the side effects, he is required to to find a new method of treatment
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ninners

1y

ugh this sucks. Thank you for your insight though! I’m meeting with my doctor next week, so I’ll talk to him about it then
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ninners

1y

also, we’re 94% alike! If you wanna chat, feel free to message me 🤍
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darklyfeathered

1y

I just quit spiro 50mg (I’m trans) last week for concerns over this, only taking estradiol 6mg now. I took it for 2.5 years and gradually lowered dose. I currently can’t afford a home blood pressure or heart rate meter unfortunately, not much has seemed to change since quitting/starting although my symptoms have worsened with age (since I was 15 or so). I know someone who had a terrible experience with fatigue on 100/200mg though

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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