Androgel Therapy / Benefits and Side Effects

Do you have LOW T? I did a previous post on Low Testosterone and premature death in Type 2 Diabetics. How do you know if you have Low T? A simple blood test will reveal your testosterone levels next time you have your blood lipid profile done. If you are a Type 2 Diabetic and depending on your family history, you should be getting your entire blood lipid profile done at least twice a year, along with your testosterone levels checked. You should also have a prostate exam and your PSA run every six months or every year, and if you have low T, perhaps a bone density scan done. I am NOT trying to play doctor here and I strongly urge you to sit down with your diabetes doctor and ask about having your testosterone checked and what tests your doctor thinks that he or she should order and how often.

What are the basic symptoms of low testosterone?

• Little or no interest in sex
• Impotence (ED)
• Reduced lean body mass
• Decreased bone density
• Lower overall mood (mood swings)
• Lower energy
• Possibility of early death in Type 2 diabetics

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC PLEASE READ MY OTHER POSTS ON TESTOSTERONE:

12/20/11 "More On Testosterone and Your Health"
12/21/11 " Exercise To Increase Your Testosterone levels"
12/27/11 "Nuts To Testosterone" / value of eating nuts
12/29/11 "More On Testosterone"

After meeting with your diabetes doctor and discussing possible symptoms of Low T and what tests your doctor should run, he or she may want to put you on some sort of Testosterone therapy. The other posts I referenced above give you an idea of your options:

• Painful injections / deep muscle injection with a tack record of ups and downs
• Patches
• Testim / proven track record
• Androgel / proven track record

Once you decide that you have diabetes and LOW T and you and your doctor decide to do something about it, you then need to research on your own over and above what is written on your prescription as possible side effects, a deeper search for the pros and cons of your chosen therapy.

Here is a list of possible side effects to Androgel you need to keep somewhere so you can refer to it:

• Acne
• Breast pain and/or inflammation
• Decreased Libido
• Depression
• Emotional instability
• Headache
• High or elevated blood pressure
• Loss of hair
• Nervousness
• Prostate disorders
• Testicle disorders
• Weakness

I will post a link here to MORE SERIOUS side effects which can apply to any prescription drug:

http://health.timesfreepress.com/DrugFactsheet.aspx?id=4923&pg=2

EXCERPT from SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS of possibly any drug:

The following symptoms may indicate that you are having a serious side effect to a medication. They will not necessarily occur with your specific medication. However, if you do experience any of these symptoms while taking any medication, report them to your doctor as soon as possible.

• abdominal pain or cramps
• back or joint pain
• cold, clammy skin
• continuous thirst
• depression (symptoms include loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities; feelings of sadness, guilt, or worthlessness; increased or decreased appetite; increased or decreased sleep; weight gain or loss; lack of energy; thoughts of suicide)
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• fatigue
• increased sweating
• hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not actually there) or abnormal thinking
• liver damage (symptoms include yellow skin or eyes; abdominal pain; dark urine; clay-colored stools; loss of appetite; or nausea and vomiting)
• muscle cramps
• painful or difficult urination, or changes in urine color or odor
• pain in the lower back or side
• rapid weight gain
• ringing or buzzing in the ears
• severe diarrhea or constipation
• skin rash with severe itching
• sore throat and fever
• trembling or shaking
• tingling or prickling sensations
• unusual excitement or restlessness (especially in children)
• uncontrolled and repeated body movements or vocal outbursts

The following symptoms may indicate that you are having a very serious side effect to a medication. They will not necessarily occur with your specific medication. However, if you do experience any of these symptoms while taking any medication, seek immediate medical attention.

• allergic reactions (symptoms include puffy, swollen eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands or feet; hives; shortness of breath; or a severe skin rash with peeling and blistering (possibly with headache, fever, coughing, or pain))
• changes in vision
• chest pain
• convulsions (seizures)
• high fever
• irregular breathing with chest tightness or shortness of breath
• irregular, rapid, or slow heartbeat
• stroke (symptoms include a sudden severe headache; loss of coordination; confusion; difficulty speaking or understanding speech; sudden vision problems in one or both eyes; or sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body)
• unusual or unexplained bleeding (symptoms include easy bruising; bleeding gums; nosebleeds; spitting or vomiting blood (like ground coffee); brown or discolored urine; or bloody, black, tarry stools)

(MY INPUT):

Drugs and testosterone therapy are serious business. SO IS Type 2 Diabetes and so is LOW T and Type 2 diabetes. You need a doctor's care and you need a good doctor's care. A good doctor is one who will take the time to explain things to you, answer your questions, run the right periodic tests, and will work with you and your personality and be personal enough and competent enough to get to know you and someone you can TRUST and have confidence in. I have a GREAT doctor and pray I never have to make a switch to anyone else.

Dan

Our Lord is the Great Physician ~

God's name is Jehovah-rapha ~ the God who heals. The God who is in the process of healing the woman with an eating disorder, or the one abused by her father, is the same God that can heal YOU. In Exodus 15:22-26Listening and obeying Him will bring healing.