Posted by Psychquackery on July 30, 2003, at 16:42:16
In reply to Re: testosterone equals bigger, stronger erections, posted by stjames on July 30, 2003, at 15:29:34
> This guy has found his "magic bullet"
>
> Has he ? Give anyone large doses of some androgens and they feel great. Nothing is
> proven by this, in the context of treating
> depression, because it is a given that anyone
> will feel pumped up on enough androgen.
> Large doses of cortisone "cured" depression,
> up until people went psychotic.StJames, first a little lesson in the broad subject of steroids. Cortisone is in a specific class of steroids known as corticosteroids. Other corticosteroids include cortisol and prednisone. Prednisone is well known for inducing the nastiest of mood disorders in previously healthy individuals. In sufficient doses prednisone and other corticosteroids can cause psychosis or mania. Corticosteroids are known in the bodybuilding world as "catabolic" or muscle wasting...in short they tear you down when they fluctuate in excess in the body. Corticosteroids are nasty stuff as a general rule and have bad psychiatric side effects sometimes.
The type of steroid this guy is talking about is in a totally different class of steroids. Known as anabolic steroids. Anabolics include testosterone and others like dianabol, etc. and are known to do the exact opposite of the corticosteroids. While corticosteroids often cause severe mood disorders, anabolic steroids oftentimes create a feeling of "well being" along with increased sex drive.
Anabolic steroids, being in a totally different class of steroids as cortisol or cortisone, are being studied seriously for refractory depression in men.
>
> I don't question there is a link to AD's and lowered testosterone. I am working this on this
> issue at present. I question drawing a false conclusion between black market steriods and
> a possible treatment for depression. How can one tell, as it is a given they will make anyone feel great ?
>I agree, black market steroids are bad news. But the legal anabolics supervised by an MD can be truly lifesaving in some cases of male depression. You shouldnt generalize testosterone with cortisone or prednisone...its apples and oranges.
Igor
poster:Psychquackery
thread:246093
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030728/msgs/246835.html