Testosterone Supplements

[Reluctant Daddy]

Has anyone here used over the counter testosterone supplements? I've been reading up on them and the opinion seems to be split down the middle as to whether they're effective or complete rubbish.

 

I'm interested in them primarily for upping strength and muscle development/tone. Any assistance in keeping the furnace stoked would be a welcomed benefit as well.

[bigvalboy]

Has anyone here used over the counter testosterone supplements? I've been reading up on them and the opinion seems to be split down the middle as to whether they're effective or complete rubbish.

 

I'm interested in them primarily for upping strength and muscle development/tone. Any assistance in keeping the furnace stoked would be a welcomed benefit as well.

 

I would contact [uSER=9945]@funguy[/uSER]. If memory serves me, awhile back, he gave a rather informative and in depth analysis of over the counter testosterone supplements. I believe the end result was..."Don't waste your money".

[Rudynate]

Has anyone here used over the counter testosterone supplements? I've been reading up on them and the opinion seems to be split down the middle as to whether they're effective or complete rubbish.

 

I'm interested in them primarily for upping strength and muscle development/tone. Any assistance in keeping the furnace stoked would be a welcomed benefit as well.

 

 

You might look into Ostarine. It's a SARM (selective androgen receptor modifier). It gives you a nice boost in the gym and, for some people, in the sack. You can order it from sites that sell bodybuilding supplements. The downside to it is that it can lower HDL.

[whipped guy]

I would contact [uSER=9945]@funguy[/uSER]. If memory serves me, awhile back, he gave a rather informative and in depth analysis of over the counter testosterone supplements. I believe the end result was..."Don't waste your money".

Yes! [uSER=9945]@funguy[/uSER] is the resident expert. As an MD he is quite well versed on the subject and from what I hear is quite the Dynamo as a result!!!

[+ glennnn]

+1

[+ Funguy]

Thank you WG, BVB, and Glennnn.

 

Yes, BVB is correct - do not waste your money on OTC Testosterone supplements. That being said, many of the OTC's have compounds that will give you a boost (e.g. caffeine, etc.) but it is a temporary boost to make you feel better. By Rx you can get real Testosterone replacement by injectable, implantable pellets, cream/gel (my favorite).

 

Oral is not yet available (working on it.) Get your minds out of the crotch please. It is broken down in the Gi tract before enough can be absorbed. Injectable, once a week, is fine but its first pass in the blood stream is through the liver and it can be hard on the liver. And it's a pain in the ass, literally. Pellets - well, once they're there, they are there, lasting up to 3 months. I've also seen a number of infections from the insertion - oh, boy - lots of double entendres. Gels are fine but the usual such as Androgel is max at 6.25% and most gents do best on 20% twice a day. Cream is very well absorbed and tolerated.

 

And no, Testosterone replacement (not supplement) does NOT cause cancer. Besides libido, it aids in deposition of leaner muscle and bone support.

 

And last, it should only be given if a blood test shows that your Free Testosterone is low. The only substitute is for the younger guys under 38-40 and we use HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to stimulate the body's own production of Testosterone.

 

This is just a capsule - there is just too much to impart in this setting.

[Rudynate]

. Pellets - well, once they're there, they are there, lasting up to 3 months. I've also seen a number of infections from the insertion - oh, boy - lots of double entendres.

 

Not to mention that the insertion is a billable procedure +/- $1k.

[+ Funguy]

Absolutely.

And also, if going the injection route, same principle - don't go to the doc's office and pay - do it yourself.

[+ glennnn]

Thank you WG, BVB, and Glennnn.

 

Yes, BVB is correct - do not waste your money on OTC Testosterone supplements. That being said, many of the OTC's have compounds that will give you a boost (e.g. caffeine, etc.) but it is a temporary boost to make you feel better. By Rx you can get real Testosterone replacement by injectable, implantable pellets, cream/gel (my favorite).

 

Oral is not yet available (working on it.) Get your minds out of the crotch please. It is broken down in the Gi tract before enough can be absorbed. Injectable, once a week, is fine but its first pass in the blood stream is through the liver and it can be hard on the liver. And it's a pain in the ass, literally. Pellets - well, once they're there, they are there, lasting up to 3 months. I've also seen a number of infections from the insertion - oh, boy - lots of double entendres. Gels are fine but the usual such as Androgel is max at 6.25% and most gents do best on 20% twice a day. Cream is very well absorbed and tolerated.

 

And no, Testosterone replacement (not supplement) does NOT cause cancer. Besides libido, it aids in deposition of leaner muscle and bone support.

 

And last, it should only be given if a blood test shows that your Free Testosterone is low. The only substitute is for the younger guys under 38-40 and we use HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to stimulate the body's own production of Testosterone.

 

This is just a capsule - there is just too much to impart in this setting.

 

 

Please let me add that this gentleman knows whereof he speaks. This works! PM me for details.

[Reluctant Daddy]

Thank you WG, BVB, and Glennnn.

 

Yes, BVB is correct - do not waste your money on OTC Testosterone supplements. That being said, many of the OTC's have compounds that will give you a boost (e.g. caffeine, etc.) but it is a temporary boost to make you feel better. By Rx you can get real Testosterone replacement by injectable, implantable pellets, cream/gel (my favorite).

 

Oral is not yet available (working on it.) Get your minds out of the crotch please. It is broken down in the Gi tract before enough can be absorbed. Injectable, once a week, is fine but its first pass in the blood stream is through the liver and it can be hard on the liver. And it's a pain in the ass, literally. Pellets - well, once they're there, they are there, lasting up to 3 months. I've also seen a number of infections from the insertion - oh, boy - lots of double entendres. Gels are fine but the usual such as Androgel is max at 6.25% and most gents do best on 20% twice a day. Cream is very well absorbed and tolerated.

 

And no, Testosterone replacement (not supplement) does NOT cause cancer. Besides libido, it aids in deposition of leaner muscle and bone support.

 

And last, it should only be given if a blood test shows that your Free Testosterone is low. The only substitute is for the younger guys under 38-40 and we use HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to stimulate the body's own production of Testosterone.

 

This is just a capsule - there is just too much to impart in this setting.

 

Thank you. My Dr. is going to run the test for testosterone levels, but is hesitant to to act unless they're really low. Apparently the suggested age for replacement to begin is 62-65, and I'm not sure if it's an insurance issue or my Dr being overly cautious because I'm not quie there yet.

 

I wasn't sure whether any of the supplements did anything that would help increase production.

[Phlmuscle]

Just be careful. You tend to retain a lot of water with these supplement in the belly and legs.

[Rudynate]

Just be careful. You tend to retain a lot of water with these supplement in the belly and legs.

 

 

If one is messing with substances that cause water retention, he might as well bite the bullet, go to the doc, get the testing done and go on real TRT. If the doc is knowledgeable, he can manage your TRT so that you never get water retention.

[+ Funguy]

[uSER=12070]@NYClocker[/uSER] make sure your doc does Total and Free T. Optimum age for replacement is whenever your levels are low, not just 62-65. If under 38-40, we simply use a different approach. "Supplements do not increase production.

 

There is no water retention if using real Testosterone replacement. You have water retention occasionally when using HGH and you start at too high a dose. Better to slowly work up to it. If you have the opportunity to go to an MD specializing in bioidentical hormone therapy i would go to him or her. Look on line for your area. Many MD's are not up on all of this and are old school, so to speak.

 

When a patient needs consultation re: hormone replacement therapy, we often do SKYPE if the patient can't get to us.

[Reluctant Daddy]

[uSER=12070]@NYClocker[/uSER] make sure your doc does Total and Free T. Optimum age for replacement is whenever your levels are low, not just 62-65. If under 38-40, we simply use a different approach. "Supplements do not increase production.

 

There is no water retention if using real Testosterone replacement. You have water retention occasionally when using HGH and you start at too high a dose. Better to slowly work up to it. If you have the opportunity to go to an MD specializing in bioidentical hormone therapy i would go to him or her. Look on line for your area. Many MD's are not up on all of this and are old school, so to speak.

 

When a patient needs consultation re: hormone replacement therapy, we often do SKYPE if the patient can't get to us.

 

Thanks [uSER=9945]@funguy[/uSER]. In your experience dealing with insurance, are they less likely to cover replacement if the level is low, but not quite low enough?

 

I'm not looking to do the therapy to bulk at the gym, but I've been pretty fatigued lately, and my strength seems to have dropped a bit. The libido comes and goes. I know that stress and lack of proper sleep contribute to falling levels - I have both in my life because of my job.

 

I'll need to do some homework on doctors in my area that might specialize in this so I can deal with someone more versed on the matter.

[+ Funguy]

I'll PM you later tonight, Clocker, with some thoughts.

[+ Gar1eth]

I'll PM you later tonight, Clocker, with some thoughts.

 

Years ago before I went on testosterone, my levels showed that they were low normal. My urologist at the time, when I told him my libido was low, said that meant that even though technically my levels were normal, they weren't high enough for me. So he put me on 200 mg of testosterone cypionate by injection every two weeks. Two years later I had moved and was seeing a different urologist. This new guy said the rationale my 'old' urologist used for putting me on testosterone was ridiculous. Can you give us your opinion on 'old' urologist vs 'new' one [uSER=9945]@funguy[/uSER]?

 

Gman

[+ glennnn]

Again, I'm telling you [uSER=9945]@funguy[/uSER] knows. I have been his patient for a couple of months, and along with my efforts to resensitize my cock head, his prescribed treatment is working for me. I've gone from no libido, no erections, no cum, back to nearly daily masturbation and ejaculation (video available on request. LOL!)

Seriously, PM me for details and let's remember that fun guy is an endocrinologist with a busy practice.

[Rudynate]

Again, I'm telling you [uSER=9945]@funguy[/uSER] knows. I have been his patient for a couple of months, and along with my efforts to resensitize my cock head, his prescribed treatment is working for me. I've gone from no libido, no erections, no cum, back to nearly daily masturbation and ejaculation (video available on request. LOL!)

Seriously, PM me for details and let's remember that fun guy is an endocrinologist with a busy practice.

 

You're sure he's an endocrinologist? He sounds far too smart to be an endocrinologist. The last person you want to go to for TRT is a mainstream endocrinologist.

[Phlmuscle]

I take testosterone (Androgel) as a prescription from my doctor because it is low. I get blood work every six months, and take a water pill as a prescription from my doctor.. I don't get water retention doing it this way.

[+ glennnn]

You're sure he's an endocrinologist? He sounds far too smart to be an endocrinologist. The last person you want to go to for TRT is a mainstream endocrinologist.

 

I didn't say "mainstream", and really don't know what that means or implies. All of my meds are produced in a compounding pharmacy to his specs for me. I'm not a science guy, much less an MD, but it's working. I think endocrinology is just one or his fields, but, to tell you the truth, I'm sorry I brought it up. I'm not comfortable speaking about his methods or credentials. He has a practice where I am being given treatment that is working. Please don't read too much in to what I said. I'm really ignorant, but very happy with the improvement in my sex life.

[Rudynate]

I take testosterone (Androgel) as a prescription from my doctor because it is low. I get blood work every six months, and take a water pill as a prescription from my doctor.. I don't get water retention doing it this way.

 

That's why you would be better off going to a doc like [uSER=9945]@funguy[/uSER] who knows how to do hormone replacement therapy. There's a high likelihood that you wouldn't need that diuretic.

[Rudynate]

I didn't say "mainstream", and really don't know what that means or implies. All of my meds are produced in a compounding pharmacy to his specs for me. I'm not a science guy, much less an MD, but it's working. I think endocrinology is just one or his fields, but, to tell you the truth, I'm sorry I brought it up. I'm not comfortable speaking about his methods or credentials. He has a practice where I am being given treatment that is working. Please don't read too much in to what I said. I'm really ignorant, but very happy with the improvement in my sex life.

 

 

And that's what counts.

[+ Funguy]

OK! OK!

 

No, I am not an endocrinologist. I specialize in adult preventative care having to do with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with Bio-identical hormones (not the synthetics with can cause cancer.

 

Gman - your first urologist is correct. Without knowing the actual level, your urologist's rationale was on target. We do not use the wide reference values as "normals" but have values we consider to be optimum and which put you into the range of a 25-30 year old. These are at the high end of the spectrum. Your first urologist accepted your symptoms as a reason to treat you. Thus, he treated the patient, not the lab value! The injections are a perfectly acceptable way to go tho, as i said above, ouch!

 

And thank you, Rudynate. 1) you are right that many mainstream endocrinologists do not treat patients like HRT specialists do - they are often more into treating lab values than the patient. 2) @Phlmuscle - you shouldn't need the water pill and i would be surprised if Androgel brought your levels to what they indeed could be.

[Guest]

And no, Testosterone replacement (not supplement) does NOT cause cancer. Besides libido, it aids in deposition of leaner muscle and bone support.

 

Well, technically true, but testosterone replacement can stimulate a prostate cancer if it is present. Although it's not recommended for the general population, the product information does say that men on testosterone replacement should be screened for prostate cancer:

• 
  
  
  • Patients treated with androgens may be at increased risk for prostate cancer and should be evaluated prior to initiating and during treatment with androgens. Monitor prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels periodically.

https://www.androgelpro.com/isi

[Rudynate]

Well, technically true, but testosterone replacement can stimulate a prostate cancer if it is present. Although it's not recommended for the general population, the product information does say that men on testosterone replacement should be screened for prostate cancer:

 

• 
  
  
  • Patients treated with androgens may be at increased risk for prostate cancer and should be evaluated prior to initiating and during treatment with androgens. Monitor prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels periodically.
    

https://www.androgelpro.com/isi

 

Part of the initial exam for TRT is a PSA and DRE.