The Testosterone Lies - IncreaseMyT

[IMT staff]

Between four and eight million men in the US alone suffer from below-normal testosterone levels, a condition known as hypogonadism, or Low-T.

Testosterone clearly plays a major role in men’s health and fertility – but achieving healthy levels must be done the right way. As with anything, knowledge is power, and to reap the benefits of testosterone therapy you must learn a little about what testosterone is, how it works, and what can cause levels to sink below normal.

It’s a problem that gets progressively more common as men age, though it can also strike men at any age for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, very few men with below-normal testosterone are getting the help they need. It’s estimated that only 5% of the millions of men with hypogonadism are currently being treated, despite a booming business in testosterone replacement therapies of many kinds. (Prescription sales of testosterone have soared more than 800% since 1996)

This surge in the use of testosterone products may not be an entirely good thing. Testosterone replacement therapy is only appropriate and safe for men who have below-normal levels and who don’t have any medical conditions that could be made worse by testosterone, such as an enlarged prostate or evidence of prostate cancer..


Use of testosterone by men with normal levels is very risky. The symptoms of hypogonadism are often overlooked, because, in part, they are mistaken for ordinary signs of aging.

Link...........?????????? thought we talked about this.

 

[Alpin]

Good article but I don't agree with this statement: "sometimes alleviating the depression with antidepressant medications can raise testosterone levels".

Way too many guys have gone on the anti d's and their T just sinks....
seen mine and my dads sink too!
My dad went from TT of 749 ng/dl at 55 y.o. then went on paxil, trazodone e.t.c. for insominia and anxiety, low energy feelings, his levels then started to drop...2 years later TT is 507 ng/dl and just last fall his TT tanked out at 273 ng/dl.
He's been on these meds for 8 years and he uses them as a crutch to feel better meanwhile they are making him hypogonadal.

BTW Daniel when we gonna talk I shot you a pm

 

[JOWS7]

Good article but I don't agree with this statement: "sometimes alleviating the depression with antidepressant medications can raise testosterone levels".

Way too many guys have gone on the anti d's and their T just sinks....
seen mine and my dads sink too!
My dad went from TT of 749 ng/dl at 55 y.o. then went on paxil, trazodone e.t.c. for insominia and anxiety, low energy feelings, his levels then started to drop...2 years later TT is 507 ng/dl and just last fall his TT tanked out at 273 ng/dl.
He's been on these meds for 8 years and he uses them as a crutch to feel better meanwhile they are making him hypogonadal.

BTW Daniel when we gonna talk I shot you a pm

Testosterone Levels and Sexual Function Disorders in Depressive Female Patients: Effects of Antidepressant Treatment.

Introduction Women suffer from depression more frequently than men, which indicates that sex hormones might be involved in the etiology of this disease. Aims The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between testosterone and depression pathophysiology in depressive women along with sexual function. We also investigated whether antidepressant treatment causes any change in levels of this hormone or in sexual function. Methods Premenopausal female patients aged 25-46 years (n = 52) with diagnosed major depression were included in this study as the patient group, and 25- to 46-year-old premenopausal women without depression (n = 30) were included as the control group. Main Outcome Measures Serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin ( SHBG) levels were measured twice, before and after the antidepressant treatment. Bioavailable testosterone (c BT) levels were calculated using the assay results for total testosterone ( TT), SHBG, and albumin according to the formulas of Vermeulen et al. Depression severity was measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and sexual function was evaluated with the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale. Results The mean TT and c BT levels significantly increased in the patient group after the antidepressant treatment ( P < 0.001). Pre-treatment TT and c BT levels were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group ( P < 0.001). Similar results were obtained for post-treatment serum TT and c BT levels in the patient and control groups ( P > 0.05). There were no significant differences among the groups in terms of SHBG level. Conclusion The low testosterone levels in depressed women compared with women in the control group and the elevated levels post-pharmacotherapy suggest that testosterone may be involved in depression. Kumsar ***350;, Kumsar NA, Sa***287;lam HS, Köse O, Budak S, and Adsan Ö. Testosterone levels and sexual function disorders in depressive female patients: Effects of antidepressant treatment. J Sex Med

 

[Alpin]

Testosterone Levels and Sexual Function Disorders in Depressive Female Patients: Effects of Antidepressant Treatment.

Introduction Women suffer from depression more frequently than men, which indicates that sex hormones might be involved in the etiology of this disease. Aims The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between testosterone and depression pathophysiology in depressive women along with sexual function. We also investigated whether antidepressant treatment causes any change in levels of this hormone or in sexual function. Methods Premenopausal female patients aged 25-46 years (n = 52) with diagnosed major depression were included in this study as the patient group, and 25- to 46-year-old premenopausal women without depression (n = 30) were included as the control group. Main Outcome Measures Serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin ( SHBG) levels were measured twice, before and after the antidepressant treatment. Bioavailable testosterone (c BT) levels were calculated using the assay results for total testosterone ( TT), SHBG, and albumin according to the formulas of Vermeulen et al. Depression severity was measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and sexual function was evaluated with the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale. Results The mean TT and c BT levels significantly increased in the patient group after the antidepressant treatment ( P < 0.001). Pre-treatment TT and c BT levels were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group ( P < 0.001). Similar results were obtained for post-treatment serum TT and c BT levels in the patient and control groups ( P > 0.05). There were no significant differences among the groups in terms of SHBG level. Conclusion The low testosterone levels in depressed women compared with women in the control group and the elevated levels post-pharmacotherapy suggest that testosterone may be involved in depression. Kumsar ***350;, Kumsar NA, Sa***287;lam HS, Köse O, Budak S, and Adsan Ö. Testosterone levels and sexual function disorders in depressive female patients: Effects of antidepressant treatment. J Sex Med

Tells me nothing in all honesty. We are mostly dealing with men in this forum....not women.

 

[JOWS7]

Tells me nothing in all honesty. We are mostly dealing with men in this forum....not women.

You can take it for what it's worth but keep in mind, there are no studies that show antidepressants directly lowers testosterone levels. Having said that, your evidence stems from your father's levels which dropped within eight years. Do you see a flaw in your reasoning? Sounds like natural aging.

 

[bigben34]

You can take it for what it's worth but keep in mind, there are no studies that show antidepressants directly lowers testosterone levels. Having said that, your evidence stems from your father's levels which dropped within eight years. Do you see a flaw in your reasoning? Sounds like natural aging.

This is true that there is no evidence that AD's DIRECTLY lower T. No, they don't work that way. They can however, depending on the AD, indirectly lower T by causing hormonal imbalances. In Apollon's example...Paxil being an SSRI, can raise serotonin to the point where dopamine begins to lower...As that happens you will always have a rise in prolactin. As rise in prolactin will cause a hormonal imbalance and most likely a drop in T production. That being said, there are plenty of AD's that are dopaminergic and won't/shouldnt cause those problems...Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Viibryd, Brintellix, are a few common ones that come to mind. Also his father uses Trazadone (SARI) for sleep...not an SSRI but it's well known to cause major problems with dopamine.

 

[bigben34]

Testosterone Levels and Sexual Function Disorders in Depressive Female Patients: Effects of Antidepressant Treatment.

Introduction Women suffer from depression more frequently than men, which indicates that sex hormones might be involved in the etiology of this disease. Aims The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between testosterone and depression pathophysiology in depressive women along with sexual function. We also investigated whether antidepressant treatment causes any change in levels of this hormone or in sexual function. Methods Premenopausal female patients aged 25-46 years (n = 52) with diagnosed major depression were included in this study as the patient group, and 25- to 46-year-old premenopausal women without depression (n = 30) were included as the control group. Main Outcome Measures Serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin ( SHBG) levels were measured twice, before and after the antidepressant treatment. Bioavailable testosterone (c BT) levels were calculated using the assay results for total testosterone ( TT), SHBG, and albumin according to the formulas of Vermeulen et al. Depression severity was measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and sexual function was evaluated with the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale. Results The mean TT and c BT levels significantly increased in the patient group after the antidepressant treatment ( P < 0.001). Pre-treatment TT and c BT levels were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group ( P < 0.001). Similar results were obtained for post-treatment serum TT and c BT levels in the patient and control groups ( P > 0.05). There were no significant differences among the groups in terms of SHBG level. Conclusion The low testosterone levels in depressed women compared with women in the control group and the elevated levels post-pharmacotherapy suggest that testosterone may be involved in depression. Kumsar ***350;, Kumsar NA, Sa***287;lam HS, Köse O, Budak S, and Adsan Ö. Testosterone levels and sexual function disorders in depressive female patients: Effects of antidepressant treatment. J Sex Med

This study has no relevance in this discussion since we're talking about Men. Men and Women respond completely differently to changes in brain chemicals and hormone fluctuations. For example, give a woman an SNRI (noradrenergic) and 9 out of 10 times, their libido will be through the roof. Give a man the same thing and 9 out of 10 times he'll have major erectile dysfunction and no libido whatsoever.

 

[Alpin]

This is true that there is no evidence that AD's DIRECTLY lower T. No, they don't work that way. They can however, depending on the AD, indirectly lower T by causing hormonal imbalances. In Apollon's example...Paxil being an SSRI, can raise serotonin to the point where dopamine begins to lower...As that happens you will always have a rise in prolactin. As rise in prolactin will cause a hormonal imbalance and most likely a drop in T production. That being said, there are plenty of AD's that are dopaminergic and won't/shouldnt cause those problems...Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Viibryd, Brintellix, are a few common ones that come to mind. Also his father uses Trazadone (SARI) for sleep...not an SSRI but it's well known to cause major problems with dopamine.

Zoloft is dopaminergic ??
isn't it an SSRI ?

 

[bigben34]

Zoloft is dopaminergic ??
isn't it an SSRI ?

it is an SSRI but it has secondary action that is slightly dopaminergic. This is why some people find it to be too activating. It likely doesn't have a huge effect on dopamine, but enough to keep prolactin from rising. Almost every SSRI has a secondary action...Paxil is noradrenaline (NA), Celexa is also NA, Zoloft is DA, ect...Lexapro is the only true SSRI with no other action besides 5HT. This typically causes issues with both NA and DA pathways.

 

[Alpin]

Big Ben.....
So in other words... if Dopamine levels are lowered by a drug, Prolactin becomes higher ?

 

[bigben34]

Big Ben.....
So in other words... if Dopamine levels are lowered by a drug, Prolactin becomes higher ?

Yes. Serotonin goes up and without anything effecting dopamine, dopamine will go down. This is often why people will "augment" SSRI's with dopaminergic drugs like wellbutrin or adderall. Also why people with elevated prolactin levels are prescribed dopamine agonists (Caber, Prami, Requip).

And as a side note...I would have your father discontinue trazadone and switch to Ambien or Lunesta. Better sleep cycles with less side effects. There may be a bit of a transition period but either one is a better option in the long run.

 

[Alpin]

Yes. Serotonin goes up and without anything effecting dopamine, dopamine will go down. This is often why people will "augment" SSRI's with dopaminergic drugs like wellbutrin or adderall. Also why people with elevated prolactin levels are prescribed dopamine agonists (Caber, Prami, Requip).

And as a side note...I would have your father discontinue trazadone and switch to Ambien or Lunesta. Better sleep cycles with less side effects. There may be a bit of a transition period but either one is a better option in the long run.

He's hypogonadal how good can his sleep process be....
it's ridiculous we have to deal with GP's who know nothing and were med school students in the 1970's and are simply there to push pills to the masses.
This doc my dad goes to seems to feel that T levels have no effect on a mans life..
He's very anti TRT. I've discontinued seeing him as a doctor he would outright verbally attack me when I reported any improvement of feelings while on TRT backed up by labs that were staring him in the face showing optimal levels....
I was at a lower level for T than my dad and I am half his age and he told me to hope on wellbutrin to treat the symptoms I had.
Disgusting!

 

[JOWS7]

This is true that there is no evidence that AD's DIRECTLY lower T. No, they don't work that way. They can however, depending on the AD, indirectly lower T by causing hormonal imbalances. In Apollon's example...Paxil being an SSRI, can raise serotonin to the point where dopamine begins to lower...As that happens you will always have a rise in prolactin. As rise in prolactin will cause a hormonal imbalance and most likely a drop in T production. That being said, there are plenty of AD's that are dopaminergic and won't/shouldnt cause those problems...Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Viibryd, Brintellix, are a few common ones that come to mind. Also his father uses Trazadone (SARI) for sleep...not an SSRI but it's well known to cause major problems with dopamine.

Maybe you are missing my point. Yes, the use of antidepressants may increase prolactin levels but you two are so sure this is the sole reason for Apollon's father's state of hypogonadism. At age 58 his levels were fine and close to a decade later, his levels dropped - you cannot state unequivocally this is the result of Paxil. A complete evaluation must be considered before making such statements.

Impaired thryoid function? Increased visceral fat? Sleep apneas? Normal aging? Impaired gonadal function? . . . . . . Nope. It's the Paxil.

 

[Alpin]

I for one just have to google: "paxil and Low Testosterone" and see there is a thread devoted to this topic on paxil progress. Can't be circumstantial that there are tons of men hypogonadal after staying on this drug for a while.
One guy in that thread said he was 600 ng/dl before treatment and after his tour on paxil crashed to 200 ng/dl.