Guest guest Posted December 20, 2004 Report Share Posted December 20, 2004 On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 16:18:55 -0000, you wrote: > > > >Hi All, > >Due to changing insurance companies, I am being required to swap to >the androderm patch instead of Androgel. I have been on Androgel 5g >for about a month and things have greatly improved. I would say that >I am about 80% back to normal. I am 46 and have not been tested since >I started HRT. Should I request my doctor to proscribe the patch or >go to injections? What are the pros and cons? > >Your insights would be greatly appreciated > >Thank You - Dan in Arkansas Personally I'd go injections over the patch. With the proviso that shots should be weekly to ten days not every two or three weeks as too many prescribe. That gives you a roller coaster up and down. Weekly is more stable. Some insurers insist on self-injection. It's easier to get the weekly shot that way though. The patch seems the least reliable form. Many people don't absorb near enough through it. There are also many many complaints of skin irritation from it. - - - - Just another albino black sheep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2004 Report Share Posted December 20, 2004 I think retro had some good advice. I tried androderm as well as androgel. Neither one worked for me. But since you have absorbed the androgel well you might have better luck with the patch. I did get the red marks that retro mentioned. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2004 Report Share Posted December 20, 2004 Hi Dan, I like injections better than AndroGel or Androderm. Only have to do injections once a week or so, instead of daily application. No mess, no transference concerns. Costs considerably less. AndroDerm patches would come off when sweating. Taxed my creativity trying to explain what had fallen out of my trouser leg ( " It's a super-sized nicotine patch, the little ones didn't work... " ). I started with intramuscular injections administered by a physician's assistant. My wife learned how to do them for me, and was better at it than anyone in my doc's office. I'm now doing subcutaneous self injections in thighs or abdomen. SubQ is a lot easier for self-injection, but might cause more aromatization to E2. I think many docs go by prescribing information which instruct intramuscular injection. Bruce > > > Hi All, > > Due to changing insurance companies, I am being required to swap to > the androderm patch instead of Androgel. I have been on Androgel 5g > for about a month and things have greatly improved. I would say that > I am about 80% back to normal. I am 46 and have not been tested since > I started HRT. Should I request my doctor to proscribe the patch or > go to injections? What are the pros and cons? > > Your insights would be greatly appreciated > > Thank You - Dan in Arkansas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2004 Report Share Posted December 20, 2004 > > Thanks for the response. If 5g of androgel was OK (I think I could use a little bit more) then what dose of injections would you suggest? Since I am in the US, what would be the best compound? > > Thanks - Dan > The choices are Depo-testosterone (testosterone cypionate) or Delatestryl (testosterone enanthate). They are equally good and dosing is quite close if not identical. Depo-testosterone is usually selected because it is usually cheaper. It is difficult to try to convert transdermal doses to injectible doses. First, you don't know how much androgel you are actually absorbing across the skin. Second, the milligrams of injectibles include the mass of the esterification agent (the " cypionate " or " enanthate " bit). Just go by your symptoms, side-effects (if any), and your follow up labs to adjust your dose of injectible t. I would suggest starting with 100mg of either cypionate or enanthate per week and adjust upwards or downwards as needed. Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2004 Report Share Posted December 20, 2004 > Bruce, > > What does it cost you a month for the injections? I currently use Testim at $200.00 a month. Tried to get my PCP to switch but so far no luck. He though it would actually cost more but I don't think it does. > > Dave > Oh piffle. He's a candidate for the Get-A-Clue Club. A 10ml vial of testosterone cypionate usually runs around $100. Such a vial would last me almost 5 months. Syringes are necessary also but are inexpensive. Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2004 Report Share Posted December 20, 2004 Thanks Phil philip georgian <pmgamer18@...> wrote:Hi Dan I would start with a Depo shot of 100mgs. everyweek in the thigh. But first get tested for Total and Free T and Estradiol. Then in a month get tested again if you are not doing better up the shot to 150 mgs. and so on. So do good at 100 and some do good at 250. Phil Dan Meatheany <dmeatheany@...> wrote: Thanks for the response. If 5g of androgel was OK (I think I could use a little bit more) then what dose of injections would you suggest? Since I am in the US, what would be the best compound? Thanks - Dan philip georgian <pmgamer18@...> wrote: Hi Dan the patch left red sore marks on my skin and the glue was hard to get off. My Dr. gave me a cream to put on the red rash so it would heal by the next week I put the patch on that spot agian. If I had to choose I would do the shot and make sure if you do you do a lower dose every week. So you don't driver up your E2 Estradiol. Phil dmeatheany <dmeatheany@...> wrote: Hi All, Due to changing insurance companies, I am being required to swap to the androderm patch instead of Androgel. I have been on Androgel 5g for about a month and things have greatly improved. I would say that I am about 80% back to normal. I am 46 and have not been tested since I started HRT. Should I request my doctor to proscribe the patch or go to injections? What are the pros and cons? Your insights would be greatly appreciated Thank You - Dan in Arkansas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2004 Report Share Posted December 20, 2004 Ok Dan now go to the links and files section on the home page it is on the left side of the screen and look for how to give your self a shot. Phil Dan Meatheany <dmeatheany@...> wrote: Thanks Phil philip georgian <pmgamer18@...> wrote:Hi Dan I would start with a Depo shot of 100mgs. everyweek in the thigh. But first get tested for Total and Free T and Estradiol. Then in a month get tested again if you are not doing better up the shot to 150 mgs. and so on. So do good at 100 and some do good at 250. Phil Dan Meatheany <dmeatheany@...> wrote: Thanks for the response. If 5g of androgel was OK (I think I could use a little bit more) then what dose of injections would you suggest? Since I am in the US, what would be the best compound? Thanks - Dan philip georgian <pmgamer18@...> wrote: Hi Dan the patch left red sore marks on my skin and the glue was hard to get off. My Dr. gave me a cream to put on the red rash so it would heal by the next week I put the patch on that spot agian. If I had to choose I would do the shot and make sure if you do you do a lower dose every week. So you don't driver up your E2 Estradiol. Phil dmeatheany <dmeatheany@...> wrote: Hi All, Due to changing insurance companies, I am being required to swap to the androderm patch instead of Androgel. I have been on Androgel 5g for about a month and things have greatly improved. I would say that I am about 80% back to normal. I am 46 and have not been tested since I started HRT. Should I request my doctor to proscribe the patch or go to injections? What are the pros and cons? Your insights would be greatly appreciated Thank You - Dan in Arkansas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 Hi, I am new to the patch. I just started my second application and i have a question. I am not sure if the gel is supposed to come in contact with the skin surface or not - is it? I ask because, when i separate the adhesive side from the silver side of the patch, the gel is still covered by a light protective material (film). Hows the gel absorbed into the skin, when on application, it is still by this material? any thoughts ? Pinto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 No, the gel does not come in contact with the skin. The amount you need will pass through the membrane (transdermal) . I tried the patch for awhile and it didn't do much for me. Good luck, it may work out fine for you. Dave pintonala <pintonala@...> wrote: Hi, I am new to the patch. I just started my second application and i have a question. I am not sure if the gel is supposed to come in contact with the skin surface or not - is it? I ask because, when i separate the adhesive side from the silver side of the patch, the gel is still covered by a light protective material (film). Hows the gel absorbed into the skin, when on application, it is still by this material? any thoughts ? Pinto --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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