Jump to content

DOES ANYONE IF TAKING TESTOSTERONE EFFECT BENZO WITHDRAW??


[Mr...]

Recommended Posts

Hello I have been on HRT( hormone replacement therapy) for about ten years I wonder if this effects my valium taper? I take testosterone twice a month... Any one have info??

Thank you....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am on it as well and if it is done properly, then it should actually make things better.  My question for you is your dosing schedule.  You said 2x per month so i assume you get an injection from your doctor every two weeks.  You should really research that schedule and get your doctor to do AT LEAST every week or let you self-inject.  (I am the biggest wimp with needles and I was able to do it myself) It is widely accepted that injections every 2 weeks will make most men absolutely miserable.  You feel good for a few days as it peaks, and then the 2nd week feel like crap.  Also, that large of an injection usually causes rapid conversion to Estradiol which can also make you feel miserable.  Not sure if that pertains to you, but if you feel like you are having these good days and then fall apart, see how they coincide with your T dosing and i encourage you to try more frequent dosing.  And if you are in the US, don't let them tell you you can't self-administer!!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't know if this is relevant at all, as I am female. I use a rub on testosterone cream everyday. It is compounded into my progesterone and estriol. I can't imagine having to get testosterone by injection. My levels stay very even with my topical cream. Is there a reason men can't do this too?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't know if this is relevant at all, as I am female. I use a rub on testosterone cream everyday. It is compounded into my progesterone and estriol. I can't imagine having to get testosterone by injection. My levels stay very even with my topical cream. Is there a reason men can't do this too?

 

Many men do both.  It is mostly preference.  Injections are cheaper, less frequent and you don't have to worry about transfer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi everyone. I'm glad somebody brought up this topic. My testosterone in the past six months has been as low as 113. I'm assuming that was due to my paxil withdrawal. However even at 37 I have been low for about 10 years. I've also been on and off testosterone. Both injection and cream. Currently my levels are still low and I had considered going back on. Mr scared, I Think you will be just fine continuing. Research has shown that low testosterone can cause all sorts of fun symptoms. But I understand your feeling. Otherwise I would've started back up last month. Lol. In my situation I think it only make things better as I am extremely low. If anyone else has any thoughts let me know. Hope all of you are well. 😀
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It can make you worse. So be careful. Testerone can have a stimulating effect. I used the rub on stuff a year ago and almost had a seizure from it. It's rare but it can happen. Kept me flared up for about a week. Im sensitive to everything though.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well Birdman your very funny today!!! Love the picture had a great laugh!!!! Thanks to every one else for ur answers.....
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Birdman - Hilarious!!!!

 

Mashoo - I would say go for it to everyone if needed, except..... there are many that report hormone levels will stabilize when done with the benzos.  I started the therapy before I figured out that the benzos were why I was miserable.  Perhaps if I had held off my levels would have increased on their own.  Then again perhaps I would have had an even rougher taper - I don't know.  I tried coming off the testosterone a few months ago and that was a mistake.  I physically crashed big time because my body wasn't able to ramp up production again.  Once I feel like I am stable off of the benzos I may try it again but for now I am on it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Hello I know for sure even taking a 75mg test injection flares up

My anxiety threw the roof.... If I stop taking it my body will not produce it on its own... So I will get major depression.... I going to talk to my doctor about this cause as my valium dose lowers ... My anxiety will get worse after every injection .... I can't live like this for the next year... Any have any ideas.... I could take clomid but my body would have high anxiety as the clomid kicks my body back into test production which would take about 30 days... I'm afraid I will harm myself if I gotta keep living this way... I'm going to my doctor in an hour.... I'm in a real bad spot.. Please reaching out to any one that has research on input for me... Thank you

 

Mr scared in Ottawa Canada

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mr Scared.  I was on TRT and I am attempting a restart with clomid and nolvadex as well.  There are a few things to try...

 

1.  Inject more frequently.  I was injecting 2-3x per week.  I was doing well on 60mg a week, at 20mg a shot.  This obviously doesn't flood the body with as much T, and also minimizes the conversion to estradiol, which can be a major cause of anxiety and depression and can happen fairly quickly.

2.  Check your Estradiol (E2) levels.  Although we need E2, we do not need too much.

3.  Switching over to clomid could work, but only if your testes can respond.  Have you been using HCG - if not then your testes are likely shut down and you would need to use HCG to bring them back on line.  When on T, your testes and your pituitary shut down.  You need HCG to wake your testes back up, then you need clomid or nolvadex to wake up the pituitary.

4.  Clomid supposedly has more mental side effects than Nolvadex for some.  I think going over 12.5mg clomid makes my depression worsen some.

5.  Do you get nervoous about the injections?  Don't discount anxiety from just being anxious in general versus from the testosterone.  I know because I have been there!

 

Good luck

 

Oh yeah - how are your symptoms (the reason you went on TRT).  For instance - my NUMBERS lokked better on 100mg per week, but my SYMPTOMS felt better on 60mg/week.  Perhaps you would feel better at a lower dose. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello I have been on HRT( hormone replacement therapy) for about ten years I wonder if this effects my valium taper? I take testosterone twice a month... Any one have info??

Thank you....

 

Me too I am on TRT but I have not taken it since my WDs started. I am on 200mg of Test Cyp every two week. I stopped everything.  I just eat and drink.  I am going to take a break from chemicals for a while. No vitamins, no soda, no candy, nothing.  Just water

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good luck with just stopping it.  Your body shuts off its own production just like it has shut off its production of GABA because of the benzos.  Hopefully you can restart but be on the look out for signs your T levels have tanked, because if you have been on it for any length of time your body doesn't just bounce back on its own.  I tried a restart for Test months ago and didn't do it right, so I know from experience that it can make you feel like hell, which is not something we need more of haha. 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi cirerecrem,

 

What kind of restart did you try?  I've heard that you typically need to use HCG to help restart your own T production although my GP seems to think that you can just stop cold turkey and deal with it until your T levels return (if they return).  Of course, he also said there'd be no problem with my taking Clonazepam for sleep issues.

 

I stopped my T injections in August.  I had been on T cypionate 200mg every other week for about 3 years. After about 1 month off I didn't feel so great, but I could deal with it.  And I started feeling better after a few more weeks. Then a couple of weeks ago, I woke up feeling incredibly depressed.  I've been having sleep problems in which I wake up feeling anxious a few times during the night, but that's been true whether or not I've been taking my T injections.  I was feeling so bad one morning that I decided to see whether it was low T causing the depression so I took an injection.  The depression didn't go away right away, but I haven't had any depression lately.  Hard to tell whether it was the low T, a wave, or both.

 

In any case, like USA312, I wanted to stop all chemicals.  I'd like to stop taking T, but I'm not sure what the correct protocol is and I'm not sure I trust my GP anymore.  Yes, I'm looking for a new GP...

 

-b

Link to comment
Share on other sites

bjl perhaps get bloodowrk first to see where you stand, but yes in general HCG to get the testes working again since they have been shut down.  If they respond then you need to get your pituitary back on line with clomid or nolvadex.  Google PCT or Power PCT and you will get a bunch of specifics.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks cirerecrem.  I did have my T levels checked after being off T for 2 months and they were welll below normal, but not 0. I've read about PCT.  Is that something your average GP or endo would do or do you have to go to an "aging specialist" for that?  Not surprisingly, I'm pretty wary of getting on another multi-drug roller coaster.

 

-b

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was on Androgel for 2 years. I will have been off it for a year at the end of December. In Feb. I will have been off benzos for 3 years. I have not yet checked my T levels, but I feel ok. Relative to how I felt in BW I feel freaking great. Has anyone considered that their T issues are purely benzo related. I have faith that if my body is otherwise ok then it will begin to produce its own T again.

 

-CL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My whole body feels out of balance.... My all day anxiety is the very worst.... I've dropped my test shots from 400mg every 15 days to 75 mg per week over the last six months.... The anxiety the day after my shot is unbearable .....I'm in big trouble.... I need to find help or I will have to go to the ER again before I hurt myself.... I don't have any plans to hurt myself.... But I just can't keep feeling like this every day...any input?? Thanks sooo much

 

Mr scared

Link to comment
Share on other sites

bjl perhaps get bloodowrk first to see where you stand, but yes in general HCG to get the testes working again since they have been shut down.  If they respond then you need to get your pituitary back on line with clomid or nolvadex.  Google PCT or Power PCT and you will get a bunch of specifics.

 

Do not touch HCG that would raise your proges, estrogen and all other femal hormones.  Your body will still make some test

but low dose as soon as you recover jump back on it again. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just to be clear, I was diagnosed with low-T 3 years ago prior to entering the wonderful world of benzos.  My T levels were "low normal" at that time. Also at that time, I was a fat, sedentary, no-exercise tub of lard.  My cholesterol was over 200, I was pre-diabetic by all other measures, and I had fatty liver disease. Then I got my act together, changed my diet, started exercising (a lot).  I went from 197 lbs (I'm only 5'6") to 160 and all those numbers normalized. I didn't realize at that time that my lifestyle might have affected my T levels (and my dr never suggested that). After my run-in with benzos, I wanted to be rid of all unnecessary drugs including T and give myself a chance to see whether my new healthy lifestyle would also address my T issues.  I don't need the T levels of a 20 year-old, but I don't want the T-levels of a 90 year-old either.

 

I didn't experience any bad side-effects from my T injections before or after I quit benzos.

 

Anyway, I stopped taking my injections (200mg T cypionate EOW) on August 11.  At 1 month and even 2 months out I wasn't feeling too badly in general although I could definitely tell the difference.  My workouts weren't as easy and I gained some belly fat.  But I didn't expect my T levels to just bounce back right away so I wasn't too worried about these minor setbacks. I had bloodwork done a few weeks ago and my total T was 300. That's well below normal, but it at least looks like my body is producing some T.

 

I've been struggling with insomnia since I stopped the benzos (7-8 months ago). 2 weeks ago, during a particularly bad bout of insomnia (with some heart palpitations and other stuff), I got pretty depressed.  And I wondered whether that could be due to my stopping T or whether I was just in a particularly bad wave. So I gave in and took an injection 2 weeks ago.  I felt a bit better, but I really can't tell whether it's the T or I'm just over a bout of depression.

 

It has occurred to me that now may not be the best time to try this particular experiment.  Dealing with benzo withdrawal is challenging enough. However, I really want to not be dependent on any drugs if I can help it. And I didn't realize 3 years ago when I started T that it might be a life sentence.  If for some reason, I'm no longer able to produce sufficient T myself, then so be it, I guess I have no choice. But I'd like to be able to find out without having to live through some long bout of depression to do so.

 

Use of HCG and PCT in general appears to be controversial as evidenced by the comments from usa312 and cirerecrem.  And my dr who said, "Oh, you can just stop the T injections any time you want without doing anything special" may be well-meaning, but clueless.

 

Thanks for letting me rant about this.  I realize it's a bit off-topic.

 

-b

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...