Kroms_laugh said:
I've gotten horrible acne since starting HRT in April. I've been told that so long as I'm taking the androgen, I'll continue to break out. I've also been told that my body will acclimate to the consistantly "high" (as in, normal levels or higher than pre-HRT levels) levels of test.
Which is it!? I'm taking minocycline right now, and just today my doc bumped my dose to 200mg daily because it's done nothing in the past 30 days.
SinginHawk sent me this this morning. A cut & paste.
Phil
Found more articles that say T raise Thy med
In men, acne suggests the dose is too high. It is important to monitor levels because (as in body builders who abuse testosterone by taking many times the recommended dose) elevated levels can cause elevated blood counts, liver inflammation, a decreased sperm count with resulting infertility (also usually reversible), and elevated cholesterols with increased risk of heart disease. Because of this, in men, a complete blood count (CBC), cholesterol test, and liver enzymes test should be considered from time to time. Testosterone supplementation can also cause elevated thyroid hormone levels in those taking thyroid supplements. If the patient is on thyroid supplements, I would recheck thyroid hormone levels after six to twelve weeks or sooner if they get a racing heart or anxious/hyper feelings. In addition, some men may get prostate enlargement or hair loss. Adding saw palmetto 160 mg twice a day--to decrease conversion of testosterone to DHT, can decrease this problem. If a man gets breast enlargement because of increased conversion of testosterone to estrogen, adding an aromatase inhibitor to prevent this conversion can also be helpful. These include DIM 100 mg a day, Chrysin 300 mg a day, and/or the prescription Arimidex 1 mg/day.
Interestingly, in men, most studies show that bringing a low testosterone up to mid normal levels decreases angina and leg artery blockages, improves cholesterol, and may decrease diabetic tendencies! It is not clear if taking testosterone increases the risk of prostate enlargement or cancer beyond that of any other healthy male. While I don't think being testosterone-deficient is a good way to prevent these illnesses, it is reasonable to consider a prostate exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test yearly. For many men, improvements in stamina, energy, and overall sense of wellness have been dramatic, and treating the low testosterone has been critical.
Below are the treatment recommendations from the checklist that I give patients.
Testosterone (Rx)--Males 100mg (1/2cc) shot every 7 days or 25 to 50mg (order 100mg/gm of cream) 2 to 3 times a day (less if acne occurs). Rub the cream into an area of thin skin on the abdomen, inner thigh or inner arms.
Testosterone (Rx)--Females 2mg tablets or cream, 1 to 2 times a day--make 4mg/gm of cream (less if acne or darkening of facial hair occurs). Rub the cream into an area of thin skin on the abdomen, inner thigh or inner arms.
For those of you who would prefer not to use estrogen or progesterone to treat the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, excellent natural remedies are available. These will be discussed next month.
Jacob Teitelbaum, MD is director of the Annapolis Research Center for Effective CFS/Fibromyalgia Therapies, which sees patients with CFS/FMS from all over the world (410-573-5389;
www.EndFatigue.com) and author of the best selling book From Fatigued to Fantastic! His newest book Three Steps To Happiness! Healing Through Joy has just been released. He gives 2-day workshops on effective CFS/Fibromyalgia therapies for both prescribing and non-prescribing practitioners(see
www.EndFatigue.com). He accepts no money from any company whose products he recommends and 100% of his royalty for products he makes is donated to charity.
