Testim vs Androgel

My husband was diagnosed with low testosterone last year (300). He is 43 and all of a sudden starting having ED. They put him on 1 pack of Testim 1x a day. His followup level was 470. There was a noted improvement at this time (although not 100%). Instead of increasing his dosage the doctor added a prescription for Viagra. This still does not bring things back to 100% - no notable change with the Viagra. Also, when his Testim prescription ran out they changed it to Androgel. After being on Androgel for several months his level was down to 380. And his performance has also decreased. I think he needs more HRT. Any ideas?

Hi Maggie. You don't say why your husband's doctor switched him from Testim to Androgel. It seems odd to change medications when the first is obviously working. Sometimes the combination of testosterone supplement plus Viagra improves the ED to the point where the Viagra is no longer necessary. It might be worth it for your husband to try it for a few months along with the testosterone.

Like your husband the first month I started on androgel My level increased about the same amount, after the first couple of months I was back down to where I was when I started. I switched to Testim and still did not have an increase. I have been on HRT for about 9 months now and I am now below my level when I started. This month I started on 2 pkg a day and I can't tell any difference in how I feel, I'm going to give it a couple of months on this double dose and then Make a decision on what the next course of action to take, however I don't see a lot of alternatives st this point.

I am 55 years old in good physical shape. Total Testorone 514 ng/dl, % free 2.48, Testosterone free 127.6 ng/ml. No diabetes, normal blood pressure and normal cholestrol. I am treated for Hypothyroidism and my TSH level is 1.5.<br> <br> No sex drive, no erection even in the morning. Please advise. I dont know what is wrong with me.

Andrew -- You might ask your doctor for a referral to an endocrinologist who may be able to study your hormone levels more closely. Hypothyroidism can be a factor in ED and you may need to have an expert "tinker" with your medication to improve things. In any case, we aren't going to be able to help you much through this forum -- talk more with your doctor about helping you find a cause for your problem.

Andrew, my numbers were much lower than yours. Went to my primary, diagnosed it as hypogonadism. Since I am only age 47, he said this was way too low to be aging. Sent me to a urologist, who ran some tests, and found slight increase in prolactin. Primary then sent me for an MRI suspecting a pituitary tumor. Sure enough, it was there like the size of a walnut (pituitary is normally dime-sized.) To make the story short, I had it removed (transphenoidal surgery). The tumor was large enough to cause pituitary damage, with the only effect being low Testosterone. Dr. prescibed AndroGel, and I am now at the low end of normal, so he's switching to Testim after 2 months.<br> <br> No one (neurologist, eye, ENT) could believe that this was determined by the primary, simply by hormonal testing. Eye dr. said most with this condition (pituitary macroadenoma) don't realize it until they start losing peripheral vision from tumor pressing on the optic wall.<br> <br> Ask your doctor about doing an MRI. My primary was right on with it.

[charles51]

Hi maggie, I was born with klinefelter syndrome, i have very low testosterone, i try testim , but it stay, low. now I take Depo- testosterone shots . 200mg. every two wk. it help my bones from being bittle, my sex drive, 2 or 3 time a day, if my wife let"s me. crazy uh. am 51 yr. old.