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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by turalizz on October 29, 2002, at 4:30:54
Hi,
I feel like I am really very close to something:
This summer, for the first time I felt terrific. I was (and still am) on 300mg/day moclobemide and 2.5mg/day selegiline. I felt completely out of depression, my sexual drive was wonderful, my concentration, memory, attention were at the top and I didn't have any fatigue. Also, I was doing some weight-lifting exercises every day.
Things began to change as we are getting close to winter. I don't feel like doing the exercise anymore, it seems my cronic fatigue syndrome has returned. Although I am not depressed, my concentration is not so good, and I have lost my sexual drive.
Now, I've read that selegiline increases testosterone (I believe it is true, because I had some acne and a very sharp sexual boost just after starting selegiline) and testosterone had some MAO-A inhibiting action. So, I believe selegiline and moclobemide were working synergistically to offset my testosterone deficiency, and now that it is winter and my testosterone levels fell (or the MAOI's I am taking pooped out, I don't know???) I am having trouble again.
I am almost sure that I have low testosterone levels, because my sexual developement took place very late with respect to my peers, I was always skinny etc.
Anyway, I will consult to an endocrinologist and have my androgen levels checked as soon as possible. I hope this will put a full stop to my 3 year journey of seeking mental relief that started with prozac.
Has anyone gone through this and tried testosterone replacement therapy? Did you find a way to cope with acne, because I have a very acne-prone skin. Any succes stories I would really like to hear.
best of wishes to everyone,
cem
Posted by Vanessa on November 2, 2002, at 17:45:38
In reply to testosterone connection, posted by turalizz on October 29, 2002, at 4:30:54
Hi...I recently tried testosterone and it really worked for my lack of libido (medication caused,
no sex in 7 years). I took it in combination with
estrogen, in a pill named estrostat. Then, along
comes the report about estrogen causing more heart attacks, and I already have two major predisposing conditions for that. So I went off
the estrostat. My doctor gave me some testosterone
cream, which is worthless. She told me there
are no separate testosterone pills that can be
used by women -- the existing ones are too strong
(?} I see her this week and will tell her I want
to go back on estrostat BECAUSE AFTER 7 YEARS OF
SEXUAL DEADNESS IN THE PRIME OF MY LIFE IS
UNACCEPTABLE...even if I have to put up with the
increased dangers of estrogen. I would gladly give up years of my life to have a life of passion
again.
Posted by ZeeZee on November 3, 2002, at 20:42:43
In reply to Re: testosterone connection, posted by Vanessa on November 2, 2002, at 17:45:38
Please show your doctor the book "Screaming to Be Heard" by Dr. Elizabeth Vliet. Yes, they do make a testosterone pill in low dose for women. I had to beg my GYN for it, who also told me it didn't exist. However, after contacting a local compounding pharmacy I was told they fill scripts for it all the time. As a result I had a script called in. However, I have not taken it for fear of worsening my problem with anxiety which took a turn for the worse during this period of debate over the existence of this pill. I encourage you to contact a local compounding pharmacy and see if any of your doc's colleagues use it. If so the pharmacist may be willing to contact the doc and "enlighten" her, as was done in my case.
Good Luck
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 5, 2002, at 19:00:04
In reply to Re: testosterone connection » Vanessa, posted by ZeeZee on November 3, 2002, at 20:42:43
> Please show your doctor the book "Screaming to Be Heard" by Dr. Elizabeth Vliet.
I'd just like to plug the new double double quote feature. But I don't mean to be pushy. Did you deliberately not use it to link to Amazon? If so, I'd be interested in why, over at PBA:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Cece on November 5, 2002, at 23:53:59
In reply to Re: testosterone connection » Vanessa, posted by ZeeZee on November 3, 2002, at 20:42:43
I take methytestosterone 2.5 mg/day plus an additional capsule 1-2Xweek. My GYN prescribed it after I inquired and my HMO (Kaiser) has it compounded. Strangely, only one Kaiser pharmacy in my area seems to know that this is possible. It helped my libido immensely, affected by meds some by also by my age (53)- there are hormonal reasons why many middle-aged women lose interest in sex! My facial skin has gotten oilier from the test, the only unpleasant effect. It helped perk up my energy level some too (in a good way- no anxiety effects).>By the way, when I was finding the right dose, I tried taking the daily dose plus 3 extra a week which was as high as my GYN wanted me to go, and I got raging sex drive. Fun for awhile, but I realized that I didn't really need to feel like I was 30 again.
I've decided to continue to take the estradiol estrogen that I have been taking as it has clearly been a factor in my mood stability. My BPII really got fierce when I hit peri-menopause and estrogen smoothed out that part of the aggravation. This is such a hard and personal decision for all of us women in this age range. For me, I think I'll be better off taking estrogen and working on my other risk factors- weight, diet, exercise, and smoking.
Best,
CecePlease show your doctor the book "Screaming to Be Heard" by Dr. Elizabeth Vliet. Yes, they do make a testosterone pill in low dose for women. I had to beg my GYN for it, who also told me it didn't exist. However, after contacting a local compounding pharmacy I was told they fill scripts for it all the time. As a result I had a script called in. However, I have not taken it for fear of worsening my problem with anxiety which took a turn for the worse during this period of debate over the existence of this pill. I encourage you to contact a local compounding pharmacy and see if any of your doc's colleagues use it. If so the pharmacist may be willing to contact the doc and "enlighten" her, as was done in my case.
> Good Luck
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