Testosterone level fell after starting Gel.

[losborne00]

Hi Folks,
I have seen a psychiatrist for several years with moderate depression, anxiety, low energy and very low libido. Anti-depressants have not helped. My psych Dr. tested my total testosterone and it came back low. (209 - Reference range 250 - 1100). She referred me to my family doctor and said that my symptoms could be due to the low testosterone. My family doctor agreed with her and started me on Androgel (5 gram tube - once per day). He did a routine blood panel and checked my PSA and prostate before starting the Androgel. I have been using the Androgel for one month. I had a followup testosterone level done last week and it came back 137. This is lower than when I started the therapy.

The first week of applying the Androgel I felt an almost immediate improvement in mood and energy. I even had a few morning woodies which I haven't had in years. However the improvement didn't seem to last long and my energy level and libido seemed to evaporate. Now with the lab results I got today I wonder what is going on. The Doctor wants me to continue using the Androgel until my scheduled followup appointment in one month. He will then discuss with me what my options are to bring my testosterone level up. I am very discouraged. After the intial boost it seems that the Androgel is just not working. Why would my testosterone level be much lower now than when I began therapy? I am 47 years old (165 pounds) in fairly good health other that the problems mentioned.

 

[mxim]

some people respond better to weekly injections of 100mgs.

 

[tall1]

i had the same thing happen to me with the patches so i switched to shots which i prefer anyway. if you like the gel it might be worth waiting for your next test to check your levels again. i found this line in a post from caos:

"Swale told me that the second test is notoriously inaccurate by as much as 50%...."

heres a link to the thread:

 

[earthdog]

Your problem seems to be a common problem with users of Androgel: you feel good at first, then crappy later, as your testosterone levels plummet. Of course this doesn't happen to everyone who uses the gel. IMO, in your case there is no substitute for weekly testosterone cypionate injections. Don't fear the needle!

 

[caos]

The same thing happened to me. Got a week of feeling great on androgel, then I was back to where I started.

My first TRT tests had my T levels substantially lower than before I started. I assume initially my body was still making T and the T I was absorbing from the gel was added to it, then I stopped making my own and only had what I was getting from the gel.

My GP up'ed my dose from 5g to 7.5g, I still felt like crap. Had an appointment with an endo who told me "60% of the men I see are hypogandal, but most don't need treatment" and I knew I had to stop dicking around and make an appt. with Swale.

From the labs that Swale ordered my T on the 7.5g of androgel was still lower than before I started TRT, but my DHT was 3 times higher than the top ref. range. For me it looks like it was a combination of poor adsorbtion and high conversion to DHT. Swale switched me to T. Cyp.

When you get your labs, try to have your Dr. do more than just test T and follow Swale's testing procedure. It gives you a better picture than just testing T. If I had stuck with my old Dr. I'd just had my androgel up'ed again until my T was within ref. range and I'd never know that my DHT was just shooting through the roof.

If your Dr. doesn't get it right and you get tired of wasting your time, I'd think about setting up an appointment with Swale or having your Dr. consult with him.

Good luck.

 

[ANTB]

The same thing happened with me. A nice effect the first week, than a lower total and free test a month after starting. The strange thing is that when I stopped the androgel, after about a week my test spiked up, then as the weeks went by, back down again.
I'm taking clomid now, but If I ever go back on test, I'm going with weekly injections.
Ask your doc if you could try injections.

 

[buck]

I was good for the first month then the benifits started to diminish. I assume some of that was due to my body stopping/slowing production of it's own T.

 

[mranak]

For future lab tests, be certain to also request (insist) free testosterone and estradiol, sensitive asseys be run.

 

[pmgamer18]

I here this all the time and in most it is there body stopped making T and the androGel was not getting though the skin to bring up the levels. I was on Testim 10 grams and my levels only got up to 600 I don't feel very good at that low of a level better at 800. Getting test for starting Androgel they say to get tested after the first week your test was after 4 weeks most Dr.'s would have upped the dose to 10 grams. I wonder how your feeling as far as the feelings of Depression. I was treated for major Depression for 5 yrs. and took very kind of AD drug on the market never felt better but wose. When they found out I have low T and am not Depressed starting TRT made me feel good enough to go back to work. I was off on sick leave more then I was at work this was 21 yrs. ago. I would call your Dr. and tell him to up the gel or put you on shots evey week. The treatment I got 21 yrs. ago was shots but every other week now we know that every week works better.
Phil

 

[losborne00]

Thanls for the input guys. I have gone ahead and made an appointment with my doctor this week to discuss my options. I don't want to wait a month to get the dose adusted. My doc is a family practice guy and I like him a lot. He was optimistic about what HRT could do for my depression and lethargy. However I think that like most he is not really up to date on HRT. He did give me the option of taking injections or Androgel and I decided on the gel. I'm pretty sure he will give the injections if I request them considering my level is not coming up. Do any of you fellas think that going to 10 grams per day would work or should I just go straight for the shots? I want to feel better like I did the first week of using the gel. I felt better than I had in years but it quickly faded.

 

[mranak]

Don't bother with the shots unless you doctor agrees to let you do weekly injections.

As for the Androgel, I suppose you could try applying it to a different area just to see.