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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kreedi on June 24, 2002, at 8:44:58
Has anybody used injectable testosterone, either alone or in conjunction with an AD, to enhance mood? What's the efficacy and safety of this?
Kreedi
Posted by Seamus2 on June 24, 2002, at 10:08:01
In reply to Testosterone question, posted by kreedi on June 24, 2002, at 8:44:58
About a year and a half ago I had my doc check my T levels, knowing full well they'd probably come back "normal." Well, they weren't. They were practically non-existent. Started on transdermal T (known as Androgel here but compounding pharmacies can make it for a lot less).
Well, what do you know -- within in weeks I had vim and vigor and a libido I'd only read about! I stopped my Parnate and it still held, even through winter which was always a bad time for me. In short, I think it wiped 20 years of recurrent unipolar depression; though I won't say that conclusively for another year.
EXCEPT for the time I was living in India and used "Nuvir" an oral form (T undecanoate). It just wasn't as well absorbed as the transdermal gel, and after six months I was back in the pit.
When I got back here I did a month of Parnate again, restarted my transdermal T-gel and am back among the living again; working, playing and enjoying myself.
Mine is just one man's opinion, but I'd have your T levels checked and if they're even on the low end of normal, give T a try.
Where in India are you? I miss it... I'll be back soon, though.
Posted by Phil on June 24, 2002, at 12:18:39
In reply to Testosterone question, posted by kreedi on June 24, 2002, at 8:44:58
Had mine checked a month ago...above normal..bummer. I was hoping there would be low levels.
Docs aren't shooting it much these days, the gel is really good.
Would not recommend it w/o test first.
Posted by Ant-Rock on June 25, 2002, at 12:55:45
In reply to Re: Testosterone question, posted by Seamus2 on June 24, 2002, at 10:08:01
> About a year and a half ago I had my doc check my T levels, knowing full well they'd probably come back "normal." Well, they weren't. They were practically non-existent. Started on transdermal T (known as Androgel here but compounding pharmacies can make it for a lot less).
>
> Well, what do you know -- within in weeks I had vim and vigor and a libido I'd only read about! I stopped my Parnate and it still held, even through winter which was always a bad time for me. In short, I think it wiped 20 years of recurrent unipolar depression; though I won't say that conclusively for another year.
>
> EXCEPT for the time I was living in India and used "Nuvir" an oral form (T undecanoate). It just wasn't as well absorbed as the transdermal gel, and after six months I was back in the pit.
>
> When I got back here I did a month of Parnate again, restarted my transdermal T-gel and am back among the living again; working, playing and enjoying myself.
>
> Mine is just one man's opinion, but I'd have your T levels checked and if they're even on the low end of normal, give T a try.
>
> Where in India are you? I miss it... I'll be back soon, though.Just wondering,
have you been able to discontinue the parnate again and still be depression free?Thanks
Posted by Will_Hung on June 25, 2002, at 19:09:49
In reply to Re: Testosterone question, posted by Phil on June 24, 2002, at 12:18:39
Sorry to butt in folks...
I've read about the link between low testosterone and depression before. Anybody have any ideas as to how I could get my testosterone levels checked here in the UK? Its a long shot, I know. I can't see the NHS being too keen to humour me without a damn good reason. Are there any self test kits that you can buy over the internet?
Cheers
Will
Posted by kreedi on June 26, 2002, at 9:35:31
In reply to Re: Testosterone question, posted by Will_Hung on June 25, 2002, at 19:09:49
I had my testosterone levels checked a couple of years ago (wasn't depressed then, "just" anxious). They were smack in the middle of the normal range, 539 ng/dl (I think I might be getting the unit wrong). So, I suppose I have "enough" of the stuff in my system. Was just wondering if more might be better.
Kreedi
Posted by Seamus2 on June 26, 2002, at 10:02:37
In reply to Re: Testosterone question(Seamus2) » Seamus2, posted by Ant-Rock on June 25, 2002, at 12:55:45
>>Just wondering, have you been able to discontinue the parnate again and still be depression free?<<
Yes.
Posted by Phil on June 26, 2002, at 12:41:01
In reply to Re: Testosterone question, posted by Will_Hung on June 25, 2002, at 19:09:49
Tell the morons that low testosterone side-effects are identical to depression. My doc had no problem and, in fact, said most men over 30 should have it checked every 5 years or so.
Maybe you could have it done with a full workup.From what I've heard, I'd hate to have a mental illness in the UK. Do the docs still use typewriters, work out of dimly lit, green walled offices, and still work out of the original DSM?
Why can't they be more innovative..just curious.
Posted by Will_Hung on June 26, 2002, at 17:34:27
In reply to Re: Testosterone question, posted by Phil on June 26, 2002, at 12:41:01
Hmmmmmmmm, I'll certainly give it a try next time I see the doc (about a month). Not too optimistic though.
I've actually been quite lucky as far as treatment is concerned. Once I'd got past a smug idiot GP (who insisted I waste six months seeing a counsellor - very useful for chronic depresssion and social phobia/avoidant personality, I don't think) I was referred to a consultant shrink who I still see about once every three months. Immediately I was put on the 'golden boy' drug Seroxat(Paxil) and within six months I was recieving CBT. My shrink is actually quite good and I have a fairly big say in my AD treatment. Although my problems remain, I can't really blame this on my treatment at the hands of the NHS.
Its seems to be mainly the 'serious' mental illnesses that get the rough treatment here - the schizophrenics and the psychotics who get locked up for a year or two before being turfed out onto the streets. Whats more, our government is trying to get all serious personality disorder sufferers locked up for life. I can only hope that this does not include AvPD!
Having said this, I doubt that there are many social phobics in the UK who get within a mile of a consultant. Most are diagnosed and treated by their GPs. Although this may keep the waiting lists down, it means that many conditions do not get diagnosed or don't get the optimum treatment. Most GPs, for example, don't prescribe MAOIs because of the associated liability that comes with them. In many ways, the idiot GP (not my GP any longer) did me a favour by offloading me onto someone else.
This is the end of the thread.
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