Hi Lisa,
Here are some of the hormones that I take.
I am giving the generic forms because there are so many brands and it gets very confusing. You will need prescriptions from your endocrinologist for these hormones.
Androgen Blockers
Generic - spironolact 200mg/day - it interferes with testosterone preproduction and interference with the production of testosterone or its conversion to the potent metabolite 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can be exercised by drugs like spironolact 100-200 mg/day.
Generic - cyproterone acetate 150mg./day - Sarting at 50mg/day and taking blood tests in two months, if there are no problems it can be increased to 100mg and then test 2 months after that. Then if there are no problems it can be increased to 150mg/day. This is an androgen blocker which interferes with receptor binding of androgens or in the future with post receptor mechanisms have been used successfully is cyproterone acetate 150 mg/day orally. This hormone can only be purchased in Canada. I purchase mine from Aspen Park Drugs RX Calgary, AB and you will need to have a prescription.
Estrogens
Generic - estradiol 2mg/day is a systemic estrogen. This is a mild form of estrogen and is usually taken as a beginning estrogen.
Generic - ethinyl estradiol 100ìg/day Birth control medication. This is the strongest form of estrogen.
Premarin is a good and is a conjugated systemic estrogen, however sometimes you could get the opposite affect that you are looking for. If you take too much it will cause you body to produce more androgens (testosterone). It also very expensive.
Any type of estrogen that you take will produce mood swings. This due to fluctuations of estrogen levels. There are herbs that help balance the swings.
Aldactone is just spironolact which is the generic form. As you can see above you can take 200mg/day and in order for you see the affects of the estrogen you will need to be on it. You need to block the production of testosterone to keep from having the two fight within your body. This could also be a cause for the mood swings.
There is a great "T" Log that is available free on this website. You should start taking measurements right away.
Look for subtle changes. My bottom eyelashes started to grow first. My body hair diminished. I started to grow breasts you can tell this because your nipples hurt just as young girls who are forming their figure. My skin got softer. These are some of the changes that we don't look for. Depending on one's age the process takes longer. The older one is it takes longer to overcome the age old affects of the testosterone on the body. When a person is young the affects of HRT are more transforming.
I hope I have been helpful.
Love,
Rebecca C