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Does Testosterone Replacement therapy cause anxiety issues?


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I had started TRT in November 2017 and felt great for 6-8 weeks, even though I also had trouble sleeping, which I had to a lesser degree before TRT.  But, I also started taking .25-.75 mg of xanax during that period to get some sleep.  Then, in early 2018, I got a cold with a severe cough.  The doctor prescribed amoxicillin.  During the antibiotic regimen, I started getting PVCs, and then my anxiety spiked.  The PVCs were successfully addressed with magnesium citrate.  But, I still had unrelenting waves of anxiety.

 

The benefits of the TRT were less noticeable as the anxiety became my primary focus.  I gradually figured out I was suffering from intra-dose benzo withdrawal, and began a tapering program at the end of February.  The tapering was completed in October, and by January, I was feeling pretty good.  However, my TRT was in the form of pellets that last six months, and my taper began at the start of month 5, at which time the T levels were probably starting to decline back to low (280-300).  Coincidence?

 

My levels were checked in May 2018 after the pellets had worn off and my hormones were back to my normal (but low) range.  I just focused on the benzo taper from May to November, 2018, when I jumped successfully.

 

I have had few anxiety symptoms in the last six months, so I decided to resume TRT a week ago without all of the conflicting medications, but this time doing weekly injections.  The recommended amount is 100-150mg testosterone cypionate per week.  I injected just 20mg to see how well I tolerated it five days ago.  I have discovered that what I feel is an anxiety similar to what I felt in January-February of 2018.  But, I've been 100% clear of benzos for ten months.

 

So, I have to wonder if some people have bad reactions to testosterone supplementation after using benzos?  I'm even wondering if what I thought I was suffering from in January 2018 was benzo intra-dose withdrawal?  Maybe, I can't mess with my endocrine system without experiencing anxiety?  Anybody else have similar experiences?

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HRT and/or TRT can cause increase in symptoms. I believe it is the fluctuation. I am female, but take Estradiol and a very small amount of T for muscle mass and energy. Have been on in for many years.

When I do have fluctuations which happen, I then have to tweak them. T can cause sleep issues if taken in too high of a dose. I believe it interferes with Stage 4 sleep.

Pellets can raise the hormones very quickly to high levels and then plummet. I have been offered pellet therapy by my Dr. I won't do them as it can cause levels to be too high depending on how much they implant. Once they are in, you can't take them out. Andro gel  might be a better alternative as you can control that. My husband has been on it for years and he does fine.

I have had increased anxiety when I tried to up my T. I used compounded sublingual drops. My levels need to be higher as they have dropped, but I sure don't like that anxiety. I can tweak it by .25mg which is good.

Of course men make a lot more than women. It is best to monitor your levels and try something that will give you a smooth ride as opposed to the up's and down's.

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All steroids (both endogenous ones like estradiol and testosterone, and exogenous ones like prednisone), bind potently to GABA receptors.  And so, messing with any dosage could cause Benzo-like WD symptoms.  The only way you can avoid WD symptoms while taking these is to make sure that the levels in your blood are not fluctuating, and that can be hard to do if they are taken weekly, etc. 

 

Friendly advice, only take these if you absolutely have to and if you need to get off of them, taper carefully.

 

(FYI, I am in a massive setback from having a single steroid shot 1 year ago.)

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I had to quit trt at a couple months off , it really ramped up my sxs. I am 9 months off now and I will get my t levels checked in a few months.
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All steroids (both endogenous ones like estradiol and testosterone, and exogenous ones like prednisone), bind potently to GABA receptors.  And so, messing with any dosage could cause Benzo-like WD symptoms.  The only way you can avoid WD symptoms while taking these is to make sure that the levels in your blood are not fluctuating, and that can be hard to do if they are taken weekly, etc. 

 

Friendly advice, only take these if you absolutely have to and if you need to get off of them, taper carefully.

 

(FYI, I am in a massive setback from having a single steroid shot 1 year ago.)

That's depressing to hear!  2 options: Calm with no libido, or dysfunctional with libido.  I've been clean and hopefully healed for ten months.  Are you saying that just because i had a benzo problem for a short time in my life, my system can never tolerate testosterone exogenously for the rest of my life?

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The only way you can avoid WD symptoms while taking these is to make sure that the levels in your blood are not fluctuating, and that can be hard to do if they are taken weekly, etc. 

 

(FYI, I am in a massive setback from having a single steroid shot 1 year ago.)

athsey1, do you have a reference to a study or article or something to substantiate this?  I was just starting to feel better, but now I realize I'm hyper-psychosomatic, and can't believe I just put myself back in the freakin penalty box!!  Once again, without having a clue I did something wrong until it was too late!!! ARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!

 

Also, what was the steroid that caused an issue with you and what was the dose?  Are there any doctors that are aware of how benzos screw people for life?

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All steroids (both endogenous ones like estradiol and testosterone, and exogenous ones like prednisone), bind potently to GABA receptors.  And so, messing with any dosage could cause Benzo-like WD symptoms.  The only way you can avoid WD symptoms while taking these is to make sure that the levels in your blood are not fluctuating, and that can be hard to do if they are taken weekly, etc. 

 

Friendly advice, only take these if you absolutely have to and if you need to get off of them, taper carefully.

 

(FYI, I am in a massive setback from having a single steroid shot 1 year ago.)

That's depressing to hear!  2 options: Calm with no libido, or dysfunctional with libido.  I've been clean and hopefully healed for ten months.  Are you saying that just because i had a benzo problem for a short time in my life, my system can never tolerate testosterone exogenously for the rest of my life?

 

By all means, you can take testosterone. Check your levels to see where you are at. Again, Androgel is a good one to try as it allows you to have a more consistent blood level. Hormones are crucial especially if you are really low. The shots and pellets cause a lot of fluctuations and therefore the up's and down's. That is the main cause for anxiety.

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I had to quit trt at a couple months off , it really ramped up my sxs. I am 9 months off now and I will get my t levels checked in a few months.

 

Issey, it sounds like we are in the same boat?  I won't take any more TRT until I have seen a psychiatrist.  I'm fairly convinced my bad reaction is somewhat psychosomatic.  Also, the TRT specialists generally start out with the full weekly dose, and recommend against easing into it.

 

I know the TRT protocol has been around for decades and worked for millions of people.  But, it seems that there is little science regarding TRT with GABA-impaired brains (like ones withdrawn from benzos).

 

I'll tell you what - I wish I understood how systemic GABA issues are and the lifelong deficit and sensitivity it can create from even short-term daily use of benzos.  It has created a huge roadblock that wasn't there, and never needed to be, just because of my ignorance on the subject.  And being frustrated by that fact is amplified by my out of balance brain. SMH.

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Somehow can't figure out how to attach a file, so I copied a short abstract.  Google "steroids and GABA" and a whole slew of studies come up.

 

 

 

 

"1. Curr Top Med Chem. 2002 Aug;2(8):887-902.

 

Interaction of steroids with the GABA(A) receptor.

 

Hamilton NM(1).

 

Author information:

(1)Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Organon Laboratories Ltd., Newhouse, ML1

5SH, Scotland, UK. n.hamilton@organon.nhe.akzonobel.nl

 

Over the last two decades there has been a resurgence of interest in steroids as

potential therapeutics for central nervous system disorders. This interest

followed the discovery that neurosteroids and neuroactive steroids are potent

modulators of GABA(A) receptor function. This article traces those developments

focussing particularly on the structure-activity relationships that have been

identified through synthetic modification of established ligands, but also

examines the influence of GABA(A) receptor subunit composition for steroid

modulation. The review then covers some of the physiological effects such

steroids are liable to exert and their therapeutic potential for treating central

nervous system disorders including epilepsy, anxiety and insomnia.

 

 

PMID: 12171578  [indexed for MEDLINE]"

 

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BenzosBeGone,

 

When I had horrific symptoms from my steroid shot 1 year ago (60 mg Kenalog), I did a whole bunch of research as the symptoms took me very much by surprise.  I don't remember the study, but I distinctly remember reading about having steroid levels (just like any other psych drugs') in your body be consistent.

 

Check your experience:  do the symptoms go away/reduce when you get the shot, and do they ramp up by the time you are about to get the next one?

 

(I tried attaching a few files but am not able to do it. Can someone tell me, in case I am doing something wrong?  I press the "attachment" option, but nothing happen.)

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BenzosBeGone,

 

When I had horrific symptoms from my steroid shot 1 year ago (60 mg Kenalog), I did a whole bunch of research as the symptoms took me very much by surprise.  I don't remember the study, but I distinctly remember reading about having steroid levels (just like any other psych drugs') in your body be consistent.

 

Check your experience:  do the symptoms go away/reduce when you get the shot, and do they ramp up by the time you are about to get the next one?

 

(I tried attaching a few files but am not able to do it. Can someone tell me, in case I am doing something wrong?  I press the "attachment" option, but nothing happen.)

 

Athsey1,

Firstly, I couldn't figure out how to make the attachments option work either.  Looks like BB has some issues.  Maybe it only works for the first post in a thread?

 

I read some stuff based on your key words.  Though I can normally follow medical jargon fairly well, most of what I read sounded like gobbledy-gook.

 

The steroid you are having issues with is a corticosteroid, which I assume is different from a sex hormone?  But, clearly the GABA receptors are the main way the brain modulates consciousness and perception.  So, messing with that in any way, can produce unexpected reactions.

 

The TRT people have me convinced I am creating my recent symptoms from my expectations and fear.  Ugggh.  I intend to consult with my endocrinologist, who is, of course, on vacation during my acute need period.  ::)

 

And talk to a psychiatrist, who can hopefully rule out medical issues.  I am definitely hesitant to try TRT again.  A good friend suggested that maybe I don't feel worthy of happiness because TRT was basically the last missing link I had setup in my systematic plan for happiness.  He might have something there.  Need to do more self-exploration I guess.  More boulders to roll up more hills.  YAY!

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BBG,

 

ALL steroids modulate (potentiate or increase the effect on) GABA A receptors. The degree to which this happens may be different from one steroid to another, their dosages, etc., I am assuming.

 

Whatever the mechanism of action, I think you would do well to somehow make sure the levels in your body do not fluctuate, if you can help it.

 

Hope your-self-exploration helps you along. 

 

Best.

 

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  • 1 month later...
I started doing hormone replacement therapy and my plan included shots of testosterone cypionate.  I can tell you that evening after the first shot, my symptoms came back just like I was in acute withdrawal again.  Couldn't sleep, my heart rate and blood pressure shot way up. Needless to say, one shot was enough for me to know that I don't need that shit.  I stopped taking the shots and its much better although I'm far from being healed at 27 months out. 
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I started doing hormone replacement therapy and my plan included shots of testosterone cypionate.  I can tell you that evening after the first shot, my symptoms came back just like I was in acute withdrawal again.  Couldn't sleep, my heart rate and blood pressure shot way up. Needless to say, one shot was enough for me to know that I don't need that shit.  I stopped taking the shots and its much better although I'm far from being healed at 27 months out.

Sorry to hear that Keith.  Did you have any anxiety about taking the TRT before you got the first shot?  I'm trying to figure out if we are more vulnerable to expectation-induced anxiety having messed with our GABA system previously?

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Yes, I still have lots of anxiety and fear everyday.  The shot made it 10 times worse.  My resting heart rate went from 50 to 60 in less than a week.
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  • 2 weeks later...

I was a short term benzo user and today is the end of my 5th month since jumping. I still have withdrawal symptoms, but I’ve had windows that lasted 2+ weeks. I also use a compounded testosterone cream (60mg) daily. I do not notice any difference when I apply my cream. I feel fantastic when I do have windows. I’ve been on the cream for almost a year. I started the benzo due to situational anxiety.

 

Maybe with the injections it’s so much testosterone at once it shocks you CNS. I do t know. Just a guess. A daily cream or gel will give you more steady levels. I pay $40 a month for my cream at a compounding pharmacy without insurance. My levels stay in the 600-800 range. It may be worth a shot.

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Hey thanks for the info, going to my doctor on Tuesday and see if I can get on the gel or cream.  Its worth a shot at this point, better than reinstating.
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i've been on trt for a coupe years and i'm almost a year off benzos. i'm still battling waves and windows. haven't noticed trt effecting me though.....not yet at least. i always seem to feel better afterwards. i'll have to pay closer attention though now that i'm reading this

 

my T was severely low. and men with low t can develop an array of health issues with low t including inflammation problems, heart, etc. it appears  benzos effect hormones in some way negatively. having them at normal levels and not exceeding normal levels is really healthy for us men

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  • 3 months later...

 

I have had few anxiety symptoms in the last six months, so I decided to resume TRT a week ago without all of the conflicting medications, but this time doing weekly injections.  The recommended amount is 100-150mg testosterone cypionate per week.  I injected just 20mg to see how well I tolerated it five days ago.  I have discovered that what I feel is an anxiety similar to what I felt in January-February of 2018.  But, I've been 100% clear of benzos for ten months.

 

So, I have to wonder if some people have bad reactions to testosterone supplementation after using benzos?  I'm even wondering if what I thought I was suffering from in January 2018 was benzo intra-dose withdrawal?  Maybe, I can't mess with my endocrine system without experiencing anxiety?  Anybody else have similar experiences?

FOLLOW-UP:

I'm back on TRT for three weeks now with no issues.  I'm taking 85mg/week injected sub-Q in the belly fat.  I haven't had my levels checked yet, but, subjectively, I'm noticing a boost in the beneficial effects from higher T.  How am I able to tolerate T now, when 5 months ago in August, I reacted poorly to a quarter of what I'm taking now?

 

I'm not sure.  But, I think a few things are in play.  I've had five months of relatively low/non-existent w/d sx.  I'm now some 17 months post xanax and feel pretty normal most of the time.  That regular confidence building normalcy has become my "normal" mind again, therefore I expect things to be fine and for me to feel normal, and for the most part, I do.  Also, my body produces testosterone, so why would I react poorly to a higher concentration of the stuff?

 

I think benzo w/d produces a temporary over-sensitivity to everything, especially chemicals.  This also seems to create a tendency to be psychosomatic.  The good news is, at least in my case, that eventually appears to have receded.  Hopefully, permanently.

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Following... about to give TRT another go myself. Free T is under the low-end mark and total T is super low for a guy my age. Good luck everyone.
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Stay positive Colley!

 

I'm expecting to eventually take between 100-120mg/week.  But, I've decided to stabilize around 90mg for 2-3 months first, and see if I "need" more before upping the dose.  So far, so good!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Any updates from those doing TRT? Good or bad... changes in health etc... would like to hear from you if you're out there. thks,

 

Also wondering if anyone's had any startup stuff like hot flashes, emotional swings, etc...

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  • 5 weeks later...

UPDATE:  I am now on week 9 of TRT.  ALL IS WELL!!!!!  :D :D :D

I had mild PVCs in the first few weeks which were reduced by upping my magnesium supplementation. I went to 90mg testosterone cypionate after the first week.  Then up to 100mg a month ago.

 

Improvements: Muscle mass.  Doing the same exercises I used to do with no results, are now giving me definition and mass.  Have received many unsolicited comments on my "muscles".  My self-confidence is way better.  More interest in sex, and some spontaneous boners.  Wake up from dreams almost always with boners.

 

Other things:  Though my sex drive is improved, orgasm is still harder than I would like.  I think more T solves this.  Sleep is still about the same.  Zanax w/d s/x are still fairly absent.

 

I was thinking I would cut my dose in half and double the injections to 2X/ week in order to have a flatter curve.  But, it's still only been 9 weeks, so I'm going to err on the side of slow changes.  Maybe I'll try that in a month?

 

I hope those that want to go on TRT find this encouraging.

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  • 2 weeks later...

use testosterone replacement and changed during tapering from 1 ml 250 mgr every two weeks to 1/2 mgr every week  on advice from members here

Still consider to stop it totally but use it already  for 10 years

So do not know if stopping it would cause big problems later on

Please your advice

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  • 2 weeks later...

Ometon,

Since you have been using testosterone for ten years, I think you should try to maintain what you are used to during your taper, if you can tolerate it.

 

I am taking my Testosterone dose half at twice a week.  Hoping to have a flatter response curve.  Nipples seems smaller so far.

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