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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by picklepete on December 22, 2008, at 20:54:45
I have a natural Total Testosterone level of 540.
My free testosterone is 16.I just turned 40.
I went to a urologist because of non existent libido and depression. I told him that I bought some Androgel from France (web mail order) and that it totally cured (or relieved), both problems (Pituitary Tumor, Thyroid, Testicular Trama...etc were all ruled out over the course of previous months.)
But my doctor was reluctant to put me on it because my levels were (and have been),"normal".
But since everything else has been tried - and because i responded well to it - he agreed to give me an Rx of 2.5 g/day. (It brought me up to 850 TT!) This works well for me.
But I am concerned about one thing...
I have read online that once one starts hormone replacement therapy, their own endogenous production goes down...or even disappears!
My question is this...does ANY dosage of artificial testosterone shut down ALL natural production? (And then one needs more androgel later on)? or is it possible that with the relatively small amount that I currenlty take will have little to no affect on my natural T production since I already had a "Medium" level to begin with?
Thanks for any feedback.
Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on December 23, 2008, at 13:51:53
In reply to Androgel.. will it affect my natural testosterone?, posted by picklepete on December 22, 2008, at 20:54:45
Hey there...
I am 39, and I just re-started testosterone. (I'm thinking we are heading into a male "men-o-pause"..heh...seriously..!) My levels are VERY low, but our system of measurement is different then most others here in Canada. My level before supplementation was around 5. After a few weeks it is at the low end of "normal", about 10-11. "Normal-High" is about 28. I am striving to get in the 20's, at least. I just restarted the Androgel after giving up on it awhile back, as it didn't seem to make much of a difference. But, my doctor has now said to, at least temporarily, go over the "normal" prescribed rates of 5-10 and go up to 20.(Four packs of 5) And truth being...I can't really answer your question, but I think the body adapts either way, and it is not harmful. (IMHO..)
See, I am a very, very big guy, and I may not absorb this stuff well. I am also looking supplementation with the med "Clomid", as it is supposed to help boost natural testosterone, as well as "Folicle Stimulating Hormone" (which I am very low on) I've had all tests, MRI, and ruled out any 'natural' causes. I think it is likely the combo of my Risperdal antipsychotic, and my high dose Prozac, that are the cause. Keep us informed...any tips are helpful...thanks.
Jay
Posted by picklepete on December 23, 2008, at 18:23:02
In reply to Re: Androgel.. will it affect my natural testosterone? » picklepete, posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on December 23, 2008, at 13:51:53
Thanks Jay,
It does seem like a large amount that you're taking, but if you need it, you need it! Hope it works out well for ya...
And like you, i was on an antidepressant (actually a few of them) and they all made me feel worse in the long run...The androgel is the only thing that keeps me going! (Hard and Strong! ;O)
I only get concerned when I think of the long term affects of this gel...Since the economy is so effed up here, and if I get laid off and need to stop taking the Gel, (Expensive Stuff without insurance!) I hope I don't end of worse than before i started!
Guess I shouldn't borrow trouble...good luck with your situation and experience with Clomid and your other meds...
Posted by CaptainAmerica1967 on December 24, 2008, at 2:54:31
In reply to Androgel.. will it affect my natural testosterone?, posted by picklepete on December 22, 2008, at 20:54:45
Androgel or any exogenous source will reduce your own production via the negative feedback loop (pituitary-adrenal-testis), but Androgel should be minimal and your own production will go back to normal when you stop the Androgel if you're not taking a high dose. Clomid can restart via LH in the pituitary.
See my recent post:
synthetic androgen (mesterolone) vs amitriptyline
Posted by bulldog2 on December 24, 2008, at 12:39:31
In reply to Androgel.. will it affect my natural testosterone?, posted by picklepete on December 22, 2008, at 20:54:45
> I have a natural Total Testosterone level of 540.
> My free testosterone is 16.
>
> I just turned 40.
>
> I went to a urologist because of non existent libido and depression. I told him that I bought some Androgel from France (web mail order) and that it totally cured (or relieved), both problems (Pituitary Tumor, Thyroid, Testicular Trama...etc were all ruled out over the course of previous months.)
>
> But my doctor was reluctant to put me on it because my levels were (and have been),"normal".
>
> But since everything else has been tried - and because i responded well to it - he agreed to give me an Rx of 2.5 g/day. (It brought me up to 850 TT!) This works well for me.
>
> But I am concerned about one thing...
>
> I have read online that once one starts hormone replacement therapy, their own endogenous production goes down...or even disappears!
>
> My question is this...does ANY dosage of artificial testosterone shut down ALL natural production? (And then one needs more androgel later on)? or is it possible that with the relatively small amount that I currenlty take will have little to no affect on my natural T production since I already had a "Medium" level to begin with?
>
> Thanks for any feedback.
>
>
>Your numbers are not bad and the relationship between testosterone and libido are tenuous at best. Now if your T was around 200 that would be one thing but 540 is a decent number. Libido is very complicated.
Posted by picklepete on December 24, 2008, at 15:10:11
In reply to Re: Androgel.. will it affect my natural testoster, posted by CaptainAmerica1967 on December 24, 2008, at 2:54:31
> Androgel or any exogenous source will reduce your own production via the negative feedback loop (pituitary-adrenal-testis), but Androgel should be minimal and your own production will go back to normal when you stop the Androgel if you're not taking a high dose. Clomid can restart via LH in the pituitary.
>
> See my recent post:
>
> synthetic androgen (mesterolone) vs amitriptyline
I read your post and found it interesting.Coincidently, Elavil was one of the AD's that didn't do crap to help my depression all it did was make me gain weight and feel like *ss - and probably lowered my libido even more!
But after reading your post, I'm starting to wonder if the small amount of Androgel that I'm taking is actually doing anything real in the way of libido/depression(Placebo Effect).
But, real or imagined, I'll take morning wood and a smile on my face anyday - over the smoldering funk i was wallowing in a few short months ago.
Its also reasurring to hear that my T production would return to pre-treatment levels if I ever need to stop...Thanks!
Posted by rvanson on January 1, 2009, at 19:19:17
In reply to Re: Androgel.. will it affect my natural testoster, posted by picklepete on December 24, 2008, at 15:10:11
> > Androgel or any exogenous source will reduce your own production via the negative feedback loop (pituitary-adrenal-testis), but Androgel should be minimal and your own production will go back to normal when you stop the Androgel if you're not taking a high dose. Clomid can restart via LH in the pituitary.
> >
> > See my recent post:
> >
> > synthetic androgen (mesterolone) vs amitriptyline
>
>
> I read your post and found it interesting.
>
> Coincidently, Elavil was one of the AD's that didn't do crap to help my depression all it did was make me gain weight and feel like *ss - and probably lowered my libido even more!
>
> But after reading your post, I'm starting to wonder if the small amount of Androgel that I'm taking is actually doing anything real in the way of libido/depression(Placebo Effect).
>
> But, real or imagined, I'll take morning wood and a smile on my face anyday - over the smoldering funk i was wallowing in a few short months ago.
>
> Its also reasurring to hear that my T production would return to pre-treatment levels if I ever need to stop...Thanks!
>It will return to a natural state after treatment levels of "T" have ended, but it won't be for a very long time.
This is the end of the thread.
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