Testosterone treatments dangers

[james1947]

We have around 300 posts regarding Testosterone, this is my reason to open a new topic and not to answer to an existing ones.
FDA calls for testosterone products to carry blood clot warning | Fox News
I am not an expert in the subject, but as someone that have the mentioned problem in the article (Polycythemia) it scares me.

James

[dplookin]

James........if you don't mind my response in regards to Testosterone, I know that I am low on Testosterone due to my age.  I don't see a Doctor regarding the problem due to the Pharmaceutical Drugs that they prescribe.  I tell you what I take.  The one item I take every morning is Testofen.  This can be purchased from mail order vitamin suppliers.  Sometime, not every day, I will take 100 mg of Tongkat Ali (Long Jack).  A person must be careful with the Long Jack because it can make you very aggressive and should not be taken late in the day because it will keep you awake.  There are different qualities of Long Jack.  I am taking Long Jack Powermax by Action Labs.

If a person takes Testofen, the improvement can be felt.  It doesn't last all day, but it does help.  Just FYI  dplookin

[james1947]

dplookin

Thanks for the post.
Personally I don't have testosterone problem (age 66+, T=693), but forum members that are taking drugs should be aware of the side effects mentioned in the article.

James

[UrsusMinor]

All very interesting. Though I have to say that a lot of the oral meds people on this forum take tend to inhibit clotting, so higher test might not be a bad thing!

[BrooksBro]

Yes, polycythemia is a possible side effect of taking testosterone.  It can be determined and expressed by the levels of hematocrit or hemoglobin.

Hematocrit (HCT): Polycythemia is considered when the hematocrit is greater than 48% in women and 52% in men.

Hemoglobin (HGB): Polycythemia is considered when a hemoglobin level of greater than 16.5g/dL in women or hemoglobin level greater than18.5 g/dL in men.


I think blood thinners such as pentoxifylline and plavix reduce the risk of undesired clotting in the presence of polycythemia.

[james1947]

I have polycythemia vera for some 7 years now, the doctor says that in his opinion I had it much longer.
Giving blood, 330 cc per month for 3 years the red blood cells gone down to anemic.
I was hopping Pentox to reduce my platelets because my range is between  800,000 to 1,000,000, but didn't done it.
Also the white blood cells count is around 20,000.
My only treatment now is 100 mg aspirin, the numbers are stable. My doctor don't want to put me on Hydroxyurea because he says is an one way ticket. I wish I could go back on Pentox because I felt much more energetic while taking it.

James