Dopamine Agonists

[DragonRider]

Ive read some dopamine agonists inhibit testosterone. There has to be a difference in the way the drugs work versus the way testosterone modulates / increases dopamine throughout the brain and body.
Personally, my testosterone is low, around 300, and anytime I take a dopamine agonist I get increased anxiety. Really hoping testosterone works in a different manner than these drugs.

It should. Generally, dopamine agonists block receptors so that existing dopamine stays active longer, whereas testoserone increases dopamine slightly.

 

[imrj]

i thought it didnt matter how much dopamine is hanging around anyways if one synapses are already desensitized due to tolerance from over exposure or long term use.....

 

[OhNoYo]

It should. Generally, dopamine agonists block receptors so that existing dopamine stays active longer, whereas testoserone increases dopamine slightly.

Dopamine Agonists (DA) or any agonist for that matter doesn't work that way. You are confusing agonists with ANTAgonists. Agonists activate receptors, antagonists block receptors, and inverse agonists active the receptor BUT causes a different or opposite/reverse effect of what agonists do.

 

[zkt]

It should. Generally, dopamine agonists block receptors so that existing dopamine stays active longer, whereas testoserone increases dopamine slightly.

Dopamine Agonists (DA) or any agonist for that matter doesn't work that way. You are confusing agonists with ANTAgonists. Agonists activate receptors, antagonists block receptors, and inverse agonists active the receptor BUT causes a different or opposite/reverse effect of what agonists do.

More like confusion with reuptake inhibitors perhaps. But whatever the case he is confused somehow. Glad you pointed it out.

 

[OhNoYo]

More like confusion with reuptake inhibitors perhaps. But whatever the case he is confused somehow. Glad you pointed it out.

Or possibly a bit of both since yes reuptake inhibitors do prevent particular substances (neurotransmitter, hormones, catecholamines, etc.) from re-entering the presynpase so as he poster said, will "stay active longer". However, instead of saying the drugs block the, "presynapse", he said block, "receptors" instead.

 

[James23]

Agreed. I would be interested in anyone's experience with this particular drug - perhaps in combination with those others mentioned.

James, you seemed to have tried a lot, how did you 'lose' your libido if you dont mind me asking?

The problem with the drug is that the hypersexuality side effect is "very rare."

There's no explanation for it. From the age of 13 onward, I noticed a steady decline in libido. At 19, thin and "healthy," blood tests revealed clinical hypogonadism (185 ng/dl total,) terrible lipid profile, and arguably under-active thyroid.

Elevated testosterone does not help. Elevated thyroid does not help. SHBG will not increase no matter the level of other hormones.

I spent from age 19 to 29 trying to improve my situation or at least find an answer. So far, I have nothing to show for the effort. All relationships have been ruined, and life is not worth continuing to live.

 

[zkt]

The problem with the drug is that the hypersexuality side effect is "very rare."

There's no explanation for it. From the age of 13 onward, I noticed a steady decline in libido. At 19, thin and "healthy," blood tests revealed clinical hypogonadism (185 ng/dl total,) terrible lipid profile, and arguably under-active thyroid.

Elevated testosterone does not help. Elevated thyroid does not help. SHBG will not increase no matter the level of other hormones.

I spent from age 19 to 29 trying to improve my situation or at least find an answer. So far, I have nothing to show for the effort. All relationships have been ruined, and life is not worth continuing to live.

I`m really hesitant to say this, but have you tried elevating your glucocorticoids? Using drugs as diagnostic tools isnt usually the best way of determining the nature of a problem but in your case it might be justified.

 

[Tyler81]

The problem with the drug is that the hypersexuality side effect is "very rare."

There's no explanation for it. From the age of 13 onward, I noticed a steady decline in libido. At 19, thin and "healthy," blood tests revealed clinical hypogonadism (185 ng/dl total,) terrible lipid profile, and arguably under-active thyroid.

Elevated testosterone does not help. Elevated thyroid does not help. SHBG will not increase no matter the level of other hormones.

I spent from age 19 to 29 trying to improve my situation or at least find an answer. So far, I have nothing to show for the effort. All relationships have been ruined, and life is not worth continuing to live.

Hey dude. Don't give up hope. I have been there. Sometimes it seems like "f**k this. im tired of this sh*t" but don't let your brain think like that. Try to focus on solutions. Try to focus on things you haven't tried yet.

Have you tried androgel or testim? At the levels you have: 185ng/dl i think they should be able to prescribe it. If your current doctor says no, get referred to another doctor and another and another, until you find one that will prescribe it and that can oversee the treatment.

Don't sit on your ass and whine about it. Go out and get what you want.

Androgel or Testim will boost your T, your DHT, and your mood. Those 3 combinations should bring back your libido.

I would avoid prami because it looks sexy on paper, but i think it's a pretty awful med. It causes very brutal Anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure from anything) which is why is probably causes the excessive gambling. People on the med probably just want to feel something, anything. That sounds pretty scary to me.

 

[James23]

Hey dude. Don't give up hope. I have been there. Sometimes it seems like "f**k this. im tired of this sh*t" but don't let your brain think like that. Try to focus on solutions. Try to focus on things you haven't tried yet.

Have you tried androgel or testim? At the levels you have: 185ng/dl i think they should be able to prescribe it. If your current doctor says no, get referred to another doctor and another and another, until you find one that will prescribe it and that can oversee the treatment.

Don't sit on your ass and whine about it. Go out and get what you want.

Androgel or Testim will boost your T, your DHT, and your mood. Those 3 combinations should bring back your libido.

I would avoid prami because it looks sexy on paper, but i think it's a pretty awful med. It causes very brutal Anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure from anything) which is why is probably causes the excessive gambling. People on the med probably just want to feel something, anything. That sounds pretty scary to me.

I spent a year on Androgel, two or three years on injectibles, a few months on Clomid, etc. Increasing testosterone is a bad idea, because my SHBG won't budge to compensate for the excess. It goes even lower, causing all sorts of problems.

 

[James23]

I`m really hesitant to say this, but have you tried elevating your glucocorticoids? Using drugs as diagnostic tools isnt usually the best way of determining the nature of a problem but in your case it might be justified.

I haven't tried anything like that, yet. I have only tried raising pregnenelone in an effort to raise cortisol (even though I have no evidence that it is low.)

I will look into this.

 

[conquerit]

Well here is my story with Mirapex... I am not supporting its use for anyone but here is what it has done for me. I have been on .5mg for 3 months. I started with .125 and built my way up to this dose over 2 week. To me it has been a godsend. It has completely turned around my sex life. I went from having virtually none while on trt to having a strong desire every day. I have also dropped an antidepressant and my motivation has increased in work and all areas of life. I would credit this with saving my marriage. I am 46 and my wife did not know what hit her first and was a bit freaked out but now we are like young kids in love. We are all wired differently but it was the missing ingredient in my protocol. I feel great and have no desire to gamble, cross dress etc... If anything I am more calm and reserved. I drink less and seem to stress less but I can turn up the intensity if need be personality wise.

Good Luck to you and there is an answer so don't get so upset about this. You are one of many going through this and the important thing is you aren't giving up. Stay Strong my friend!

 

[James23]

Well here is my story with Mirapex... I am not supporting its use for anyone but here is what it has done for me. I have been on .5mg for 3 months. I started with .125 and built my way up to this dose over 2 week. To me it has been a godsend. It has completely turned around my sex life. I went from having virtually none while on trt to having a strong desire every day. I have also dropped an antidepressant and my motivation has increased in work and all areas of life. I would credit this with saving my marriage. I am 46 and my wife did not know what hit her first and was a bit freaked out but now we are like young kids in love. We are all wired differently but it was the missing ingredient in my protocol. I feel great and have no desire to gamble, cross dress etc... If anything I am more calm and reserved. I drink less and seem to stress less but I can turn up the intensity if need be personality wise.

Good Luck to you and there is an answer so don't get so upset about this. You are one of many going through this and the important thing is you aren't giving up. Stay Strong my friend!

Thank you for posting your experience. What was your reasoning behind taking the drug in the first place? Were you just experimenting, or was it by a doctor's order?

 

[zkt]

Its easy to see that one mans meat is anothers poison. For instance, all the testosterone in the world isnt going to make you "right" if you have a lack OR excess of other hormones and/or neural transmitters. It is a question of ballance. Everyone begins with slightly different initail conditions and requires a bit different treatment.

I could swear that I started this thread, not that it really matters

 

[DragonRider]

Or possibly a bit of both since yes reuptake inhibitors do prevent particular substances (neurotransmitter, hormones, catecholamines, etc.) from re-entering the presynpase so as he poster said, will "stay active longer". However, instead of saying the drugs block the, "presynapse", he said block, "receptors" instead.

Thanks OhNoYo. I stand corrected.

 

[DragonRider]

Well here is my story with Mirapex... I am not supporting its use for anyone but here is what it has done for me. I have been on .5mg for 3 months. I started with .125 and built my way up to this dose over 2 week. To me it has been a godsend. It has completely turned around my sex life. I went from having virtually none while on trt to having a strong desire every day. I have also dropped an antidepressant and my motivation has increased in work and all areas of life. I would credit this with saving my marriage. I am 46 and my wife did not know what hit her first and was a bit freaked out but now we are like young kids in love. We are all wired differently but it was the missing ingredient in my protocol. I feel great and have no desire to gamble, cross dress etc... If anything I am more calm and reserved. I drink less and seem to stress less but I can turn up the intensity if need be personality wise.

Good Luck to you and there is an answer so don't get so upset about this. You are one of many going through this and the important thing is you aren't giving up. Stay Strong my friend!

Good point. I wonder how many of us lose important relationships or jobs before we ever get the answer that simply helps us to live NORMAL lives.

 

[Tyler81]

Well here is my story with Mirapex... I am not supporting its use for anyone but here is what it has done for me. I have been on .5mg for 3 months. I started with .125 and built my way up to this dose over 2 week. To me it has been a godsend. It has completely turned around my sex life. I went from having virtually none while on trt to having a strong desire every day. I have also dropped an antidepressant and my motivation has increased in work and all areas of life. I would credit this with saving my marriage. I am 46 and my wife did not know what hit her first and was a bit freaked out but now we are like young kids in love. We are all wired differently but it was the missing ingredient in my protocol. I feel great and have no desire to gamble, cross dress etc... If anything I am more calm and reserved. I drink less and seem to stress less but I can turn up the intensity if need be personality wise.

Good Luck to you and there is an answer so don't get so upset about this. You are one of many going through this and the important thing is you aren't giving up. Stay Strong my friend!

Hmm that's a pretty encouraging account. Do you ever worry that your physician will one day stop prescribing this for you? It is typically prescribed for restless leg syndrome. The withdrawal is also pretty bad from what i've read.

 

[CubbieBlue]

Well here is my story with Mirapex... I am not supporting its use for anyone but here is what it has done for me. I have been on .5mg for 3 months. I started with .125 and built my way up to this dose over 2 week. To me it has been a godsend. It has completely turned around my sex life. I went from having virtually none while on trt to having a strong desire every day. I have also dropped an antidepressant and my motivation has increased in work and all areas of life. I would credit this with saving my marriage. I am 46 and my wife did not know what hit her first and was a bit freaked out but now we are like young kids in love. We are all wired differently but it was the missing ingredient in my protocol. I feel great and have no desire to gamble, cross dress etc... If anything I am more calm and reserved. I drink less and seem to stress less but I can turn up the intensity if need be personality wise.

Good Luck to you and there is an answer so don't get so upset about this. You are one of many going through this and the important thing is you aren't giving up. Stay Strong my friend!

Why were you initially given the medication?

 

[conquerit]

I have a friend who is also a doctor that prescribed it for me for RLS. There are several off label scripts written for this. I will say it is not a drug to take lightly and it is not for everyone. The sides the first few days were noticeable however I did it correctly and increased the dose to where it is over time and stayed there. I am of the opinion that less is better in all areas of this HRT arena. At .5mg the effects are profound but controlled "for me". If the times comes to get off of it I am sure tapering down over time I will be fine. Again we are all wired differently but at 46 being on HRT and using Mirapex I am chasing my wife (who is hot by any ones standards) around the bedroom every night and I know it makes her feel highly appreciated again. Many of us lose interest in our wives because the need for sex isn't there any more. Women often feel lessened because we would rather watch espn that have sex with them as we get older. Now take all the wisdom you have achieved in your years and throw a high powered sex drive into it. I guarantee you your wife, girl friend or if your single the women you meet will find you very interesting again. Not to get philosophical but this is how I feel and trust me I too was frustrated and felt like a high powered sports car that couldn't get out of the garage. Let me reiterate this was what worked for me and I am under a doctors supervision for HRT and now the Mirapex so don't take the guinea pig approach to this.

 

[James23]

I have a friend who is also a doctor that prescribed it for me for RLS. There are several off label scripts written for this. I will say it is not a drug to take lightly and it is not for everyone. The sides the first few days were noticeable however I did it correctly and increased the dose to where it is over time and stayed there. I am of the opinion that less is better in all areas of this HRT arena. At .5mg the effects are profound but controlled "for me". If the times comes to get off of it I am sure tapering down over time I will be fine. Again we are all wired differently but at 46 being on HRT and using Mirapex I am chasing my wife (who is hot by any ones standards) around the bedroom every night and I know it makes her feel highly appreciated again. Many of us lose interest in our wives because the need for sex isn't there any more. Women often feel lessened because we would rather watch espn that have sex with them as we get older. Now take all the wisdom you have achieved in your years and throw a high powered sex drive into it. I guarantee you your wife, girl friend or if your single the women you meet will find you very interesting again. Not to get philosophical but this is how I feel and trust me I too was frustrated and felt like a high powered sports car that couldn't get out of the garage. Let me reiterate this was what worked for me and I am under a doctors supervision for HRT and now the Mirapex so don't take the guinea pig approach to this.

I'm going to be a guinea pig! I'm almost 30 and I have nothing to lose at this point.

 

[1erCru]

I guess Im hosed. I have too much dopamine and low T. I go near anything resembling a dopamine agonist and its grandiosity + anxiety + ocd. Hoping testim doesnt make my head explode.