I am curious as to what dose you are being given, as a female. Do you use opoids for pain?

I just got my levels checked just because I knew they were off, and I have had problems since I have been 14 with that. And all the ordinary tests came back normal, and then he got my hormone levels and they were wack. I haven't started in like 5 months (which is fine with me) but i know its bad. SO he put me on hormones and then birth control to level my hormones out. I haven't noticed it do anything to the pain... as I just had a ketamine infusion yesterday and I feel like an energizer bunny. It not good to have your hormones out of wack... so its good to get it checked!

I know that long term opiod use affects (lowers) testosterone levels, and where my subdural hematoma occured, at the top of my brain stem, put direct pressure on my pituitary and the gland underneath it (sorry, forget it's name) which regulates testosterone and other hormones, So I've got two strikes against me.
I've taken testosterone, and it has helped, in a couple ways.

But, my doc wants bloodwork now to start using it again, and his concern is mostly (as I understand it) my blood levels, as I should also be on a Statin.. Testosterone affects that too. So, as MRS D said, we really should be tested before just taking testosterone.
(which usually comes in a Gel form, or Gel in a patch).

Be well,

Pete
asb

Are these forms of testosterone available OTC or do you have to have a prescription?
My local health store sells topical progesterone and estrogen hormone supplements over the counter.....just wondering if the topical testosterone is available as such?

Hi Mrs. D. Thanks so much. I am taking ESTRGN METHTEST 1.25/2.5MG TAB. I was taking premarin for a full hysterectomy I had back in 2000 and we just switched to this med a few weeks ago.

I do use opoids for pain. I have the option of utilizing up to 8 norco/day. The strength is 10/325 I believe. I also combine that with tramadol, if needed (up to 4/day). I've tried the extended release opiods but they make my heart race and as such I'm not able to take them. I am also taking nortriptyline, topamax and a slew of vitamins (including prescription strength vitamin D).

I should have asked how low my testosterone level was and will the next time I go in. But, I can tell a huge difference with my pain level and have to attribute it to the testosterone. And, it seems so weird that something like this can help so much with my pain levels.

Thanks for that drug info. Oral agents to deliver testosterone, are not really efficient. Males for example are never given oral, but use topical or injected for that reason.

So I would think your intake is not delivering a high amount orally. The reason for this is that the testosterone passes thru the liver after being in the GI tract, and the liver really metabolizes it out. Food and drugs absorbed orally go thru the portal system thru the liver first before entering the rest of the body's blood stream. This is called "first pass" phenomenon.

Doses by injection for males typically start at 100 or 200mg a shot.

And in reference to Rrae's question I don't know of any testosterone OTC product. There are anabolic steroids which orally are being monitored closely now by the FDA...they have some androgenic actions. I don't know what their status is now however OTC.

The progesterone creams typically are from Wild Yam, and are thought not to be really active as hormone supplements.

There is a way to pump up sex hormone production by the body OTC, and that is called pregnenalone:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnenolone

http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetCo...chunkiid=21848

This article is one of many suggesting that some hormones may improve sensory pain issues at the spinal cord level:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18434133

Occasionally the Traumatic Brain Injury forum here has posts about using progesterone for brain injuries/concussions.
If you search "progesterone" on that forum you'll find those links.

So the bottom line is that using an oral pill for a female, is common, especially in the menopause treatments, and has been around for many years. It does not have dangerous high dose potential therefore.