Testim & mood swings

[Golgo]

I have hypothyroidsm and hypogonadism. I took testim for 1 month about 6 months ago (insurance and prior authorization nightmare). Now I am finally ready to take it full time for at least 6 months (until my prior auth wears out again). The last time I took it I did notice a slight increase in desire and performance. However there were a couple of days when I was a complete basket case. I was angry at everything. Now one of the reasons I want to take it again was to help with osteoarthritis and also arousal.

Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
I take
Mirtazapine 15mg  (remeron)
Synthroid 100Mcg (Levothroxine)
Testim 1% 50mg

I am awaiting my endocrinologist appointment (9 month wait) to see if I have a pituitary disorder. In the mean time I would like to take the correct meds.

[DaFoo]

I'm 43 have have low T, I switched from injections to Testim, and doing much better.  I think my stupid body adjusts to different stuff and then it stops working.  

My guess is It's some kind of estrogen build up, I just need to find a Doctor that will properly monitor me.

[skin_kin]

That is correct. So give it a try! Good luck!

[john911]

I am going to follow a strict weight loss and testosterone building health regimen and completely change my lifestyle.  There were a bunch of circumstances surrounding my last test. This time I will also test as early in the morning as possible, as the last time I tested it was almost 12:30 in the afternoon. This time I will test Dhea, Total testosterone, Free testosterone, Serum Testosterone, Estradiol, Cortisol, Shbg, Prolactin, LH, TSH, Free t3 and Free T4. I will use this as a more stable base for my plan of attack. I believe the cause is secondary and it is obesity and lifestyle. I am obese and have for the last few years let myself go. No more I believe that I can change and get my levels where they should be without HRT as long as prolactin and Shbg levels are okay. I read online it is possible to bring your levels up alot especially if you are obese or live an unhealthy lifestyle. So here I go.

[skin_kin]

Good luck John! Please do keep in mind that a T-level of 346 is not really normal at your age (that was even low for me at my 44).  

[john911]

I'm in a similar situation as you guys. My testosterone is within the normal range, but is in the lower quadrant of the normal range. The problem is I am 25 years old. I am going to get retested as there were certain issues surrounding my first test recent sudden weight loss, poor diet, poor sleeping habits all due to health anxiety. It is also worthy to note that I am about 100 pounds overweight based on the normal weight for my height.It is actually not as bad as it sounds as I am big boned. 6'1" broad shoulder size 13 feet.... I took my hormone test at about 12:00pm. So  I am going to try and be healthier for a couple weeks and then get retested. I am not expecting miracles just improvement in levels that I will use as a base to build on. My goal is to increase my testosterone naturally without therapy and then if need be get on therapy. Hopefully it works and the symptoms go away.

Dhea(NL)                          458ng/DL           Ref range142-1410
Testosterone, total (DSL)   346Ng/DL          Ref range  190-1037
Estradiol (DSL)                  32 PG/ML         None given
Cortisol                             14.8 Ug/DL        None given

I do not have hypogonadism my doctor told me when I asked him he said my fsh and tsh levels are okay. I think that was what he said. I am also trying to find and endocrinologist to help me sort everything out. I want to cover all the bases I doesn't make sense my levels are so low at my age.

anyway good luck everyone keep posting you are not only helping yourself

[skin_kin]

I am experiencing the same extremely awful mood swings with Trostan (a variant of Testim). How fast was your recovery after switching to injections? And, when you say problems solved, you really mean bad days are over? That's huge!

[Thordogofthunder]

switched to injections six weeks ago, problems solved!

[Thordogofthunder]

I too started taking testim and developed extreme mood swings and a very dark feeling along with a decrease in libido and overall drive.  I can't answer your questions but for me it is good to find someone else who had issues with testim.  I had been on androgel for almost a year increasing doses every 4 months.  The switch to testim in Dec was painfully bad. However the androgel doesn't do it for me either.  I see an endocrinologist on the 14th of Feb.  In the mean time my Primary (a woman who is awesome!) is checking for pituitary issues.  I want them to check SHBG as well.  I want to have a better outlook on life again and to want to be as active as I was just a couple of years ago!  I am 42 as well.  My original T- levels a year ago were 164, after 6 months they were up to 250 still felt bad, now up to 307"normal" I feel just as bad.  I want to go to Injections I think they can titrate those better.  Whew.....If you felt like **** before it will happen agian.  I have had Osteoarthritis in both Shoulders it was very painful, however I could live that way over the way I've felt on Testim.  
regards!