From my upcoming book: Testosterone: A Man’s Guide (to be released in May and available on amazon.com)
TOP TEN MISTAKES IN TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
In my years of using testosterone and lecturing, I have seen mistakes being made by people who did not know better. Some mistakes really caused serious negative effects on their quality of life. I will attempt to list a few.
1. Using “street sources” of testosterone: I have met men whose doctors do not support the use of TRT, so they buy it in the black market or from someone at their gyms. This is illegal and dangerous since you need physician supervision. Also, no one knows what those street testosterone products may contain. Some may contain just peanut oil. Testosterone is classified as a controlled substance under the Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 and has been assigned to Schedule III, so it is a controlled substance regulated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). It can be legally prescribed by a doctor but it is not legal to use it without a prescription. Buying it, importing it, selling it, or even using it without a proper prescription may have legal consequences. Not having a doctor follow-up your blood work is a sure way to get in trouble! If you have low testosterone, there are hundreds of doctors who will prescribe TRT. If you are using it to increase muscle even though you have normal levels, be a smart patient who knows the legalities and research all you can. The use of testosterone or its cousin molecules (anabolic steroids) is illegal in the United States for those without a medical diagnosis that justifies their use. Be careful not to be set up by “informants” who may inform the DEA of your purchase. Read the information in this book about how stopping testosterone can cause health problems (if you are using black market testosterone, chances are that you will run out of your source eventually). In one word: Don’t do it.
2. Not exploring what TRT option is best for you: Some people are told by their doctors to use injections even if needles were a concern to them or if they had to be inconvenienced to go see their doctors every 2 weeks for an injection. Some did not know that they could learn to self-inject. Others were prescribed daily gels even if their busy lives make it difficult to have perfect compliance to the daily therapy. Others were not told about the potential transfer of testosterone from their skin (after applying gels) if they hug their wives, kids, or sexual partners. Every TRT option has advantages and disadvantages that may be more suitable for one person over another, so read the following section on TRT options.
3. Not using the right dose: People put on TRT need to have their testosterone blood levels rechecked 2 weeks or a month after they start therapy, right before they administer the corresponding dose for that day or week. This gives you information on whether you need to increase or decrease the dose. Total testosterone blood levels under 500 ng/dL that are not improving your sexual desire and energy should be increased to 500–1,000 ng/dL by increasing the frequency of injection or dose, increasing the amount or concentration of the gel, etc. Some doctors fail to retest to adjust and some patients stop using TRT because they do not feel the benefits related to a low dose or had too many side effects related to a higher dose. I have seen people getting 200 mg injections of testosterone cypionate once a month, which actually is worse than not treating them at all. See next sections for more details.
4. Cycling on and off TRT: TRT is a life time commitment. Once you start, you should assume that you will stay on it unless you have an unmanageable side effect. Some patients think that “giving the body a break” once every few weeks is a good thing. What they do not know is that when you are on TRT, your testicles do not produce testosterone, so when you stop you are left with no testosterone in your system for weeks. Depression, weight loss, lack of motivation, and loss of sex drive can appear rapidly. Some men never have their HPG axis return to normal after stopping testosterone (especially if they were hypogonadal at baseline). Read more details on “resetting the HPGA.”
5. Stopping TRT abruptly due to an unrelated signal: Some of us may be taking medications for other conditions along with TRT. Sometimes new medications can increase cholesterol and triglycerides and/or liver enzymes (I call these “signals”). Some doctors prematurely blame TRT instead of any of the new medications that the patient might have started. I have seen patients suffer because of this poor judgment of their doctors. Weeks later, they learn that stopping TRT did not improve any of these problems and by then they feel tired, depressed, and asexual.
6. Not knowing how to manage potential side effects: Luckily, this will not happen to you after you finish reading this book. I know men who have stopped TRT due to swelling in their nipple area, acne, moodiness, perceived lack of benefit, hair loss, or a prostatic specific antigen (PSA) increase that was due to a prostatic infection. Knowing how to manage these is key to long-term success so that you do not prematurely stop when you could have just readjust the dose, the delivery method, or taken a medication to counteract the potential problem. Only the best doctors who do not overreact know how to do this.
7. Having a life style that is not “testosterone friendly”: If you smoke, drink more than two drinks a day, smoke too much pot, are overweight, do not exercise, do not keep your blood sugar or lipids in control, and do not show up to doctor’s appointments, you do not have a testosterone-friendly lifestyle. Studies have shown that these factors may influence your sexual function and long-term health. Excessive alcohol can decrease testosterone. Exercise can increase it (to a certain degree if done properly). You can read more about this later in this book.
8. Not reading or being “networked” with other patients: Being in isolation when it comes to information and experiences make you a less effective patient. There are online groups of men who discuss testosterone and other issues (see the Resource section). Sharing your experiences and learning from others are keys to being an empowered and proactive patient who maximizes benefits of any therapy you are using. Many of the practical “tricks” that I have learned have been obtained via this method. The collective wisdom is more powerful than just relying on everything your doctor tells, or does not tell you.
9. Not divorcing your doctor when you have to: Divorcing your incompetent doctor can be difficult, especially if you are not a networked patient who reads a lot about your condition. Many people do not have options and have to see a certain doctor in an health management organization (HMO) setting. But most of us can search for educated doctors who do not speak down to you and who treat you as equal. Your doctor should be your partner in your health and not just an unquestionable authority. Although they are saving lives and have spent hundreds of hours in school and practice to do so, they are human beings who are exposed to myths and misconceptions similar to all of us. I have heard the most incredible things from doctors about TRT that make me question how unfortunate their patients may be. So, do your home work and find a doctor who supports you in your search for optimum health. See the Resource section.
10. Poor compliance: Forgetting when to inject or apply gels is a common complaint. Good time management and reminders are key. I use Google calendar which can be set up to send me text messages to my phone as reminders. Avoid the yo-yo effect that poor compliance causes! TRT is a lifetime and life style commitment that should be explored with care.