Narcotic/Opioids Withdrawal And Testosterone
Apr 16, 2013
brief case history: I am a 24 years old male, i was on variety of opiates for the better part of 2-3 years, in the last year, i began taking methadone...which was a major mistake. in any case, i weaned off methadone and to prevent withdrawals, i began taking vicodin daily for 3 weeks; i then ditched opiates all together and endured about a week of mild withdrawals with the help of various OTC drugs and supplements.
now to the "juicy" stuff. I'm not a doctor and i do not know how this impacts females as hormones in both sexes act very differently. that being said, take this information with a grain of salt. I am a Male speaking from personal experience.
Testosterone is the king of all hormones, specifically in males....it is made in the testes and is responsible for emotions, sex drive, attitude, appetite, energy, sleep and so forth. that piece of information is key as this will help you understand some of the withdrawal symptoms. NOW, during the use of opiates for extended amounts of time, testosterone levels and production are seriously depleted ..which results in lower sex drive, less energy and motivation, etc. SO, when you stop taking opiates and endure the withdrawals, your body will be rebooting itself, there will be a lack of balance of your total biology for some time.
this is where my experience played a role in my understanding of what happens to the body during detox. after a week of withdrawals, i began experiencing restlessness, break outs and really oily skin on my face, and energy i didn't know what to do with. because my body was out of balance, i was in a state of "limbo": i was energetic and tired at the same time. i talked to my doctor and as it turns out, my testosterone levels were Through the Roof! upon detox, and opiates out of my system, by body began producing testosterone at near dangerous levels...its like going through puberty again! now...this is both good and bad. too much testosterone can result in the possibility of testicular cancer, and this isn't me trying to scare you...every single individuals experience varies, no two are alike. anyway...now for the good news. after a week of being lethargic yet restless and having little sleep, i forced myself to go to the gym. BEST DECISION EVER. your body is producing all this testosterone post-opiates, might as well put it to use. i KNOW how it feels to get up and drag ur arss to the gym, but i promise you that it will be revitalizing.
i did some basic stretching and work outs and got myself some heavy duty protein. i also learned that testosterone is most easily and directly distributed to your legs which could be a factor that plays a role in RLS. think about it, testosterone production sky rockets, testosterone is responsible for energy, you're not putting that energy to use and therefore drives ur legs crazy when all you do is lay around and do a whole lot of nothing. anyway, i did some basic work outs, came home, loaded up on vitamins and drank a nutritious protein shake and that night, i slept like a Rock. the next day i felt like a million bucks...but because i've been on methadone for a year, to this day (37 days post methadone) i still experience very very mild but noticeable symptoms of w/d (hot flashes and stuff).
after FORCING myself to get up and go to the gym, i've gotten out of my state of "limbo" i am energetic during the day and sleep significantly better at night.
The KEY here is: know your body, understand it. you may be sober, but FAR from normal. so it is crucial to do whatever it takes to help your body regain that balance.
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I don't know all the reasons why Doctors won't just tell a patient the truth about dependency, but, my best guess is fear of the unknown. In my opinion they are scared of Lawsuits. Scared of what this person may do. If you are trying to stop taking Oxycodone like I was in 2011 then you probably felt like no one was giving you a roadmap to success. You felt like you had somehow acquired a PHD in chemistry and the medical field with all of the knowledge you had obtained through the internet. You asked and pleaded for help to stop taking these drugs. I read everything. I felt as if no one cared. I felt like my doctors were pawning me off to pain management doctors and no one was simply saying the obvious...Stop taking them! That is it.
I suffered a back injury, had spinal fusion, was given Oxycodone during recovery and was taking them for a year. As I felt my back injury and recovery or healing process of that surgery was over. I started weaning off the meds. Lowering my dosages. I did everything any normal person would do. I asked doctors, everyone, how? How to I stop taking this drug? The back injury and surgery was no longer my issue, the issue now was this feeling that I was a drug addict and it had to stop, in order to fully heal. In retrospect I would have gladly suffered the pains of the surgery, because, that was to be expected. After surgery it is going to hurt. You can expect to be in pain from that. What I didn't expect was becoming dependant on the drugs and being shunned by my own doctors who prescribed me the medications. Surgeons perform surgery. Mine didn't have any concerns with anything afterwards. I tried slowly weaning off the meds. I felt like c**p! I learned as much as I could from every media I could. I asked everyone How to stop taking these drugs. I asked all the questions one would ask? Will I die if I just stop taking them, How do I stop taking them? Is there someone who can give me a list of what to take and slowly taper them off of me? Nothing worked! Nothing....worked. After reading everyone's experiences and seeing everyone go through the same things I had been going through. I came across one post...one person...simply said "You people are stupid"....Stop taking the drugs. This was on a site where I had been reviewing probably fifty cases of people begging for relief, begging for answers on how to slowly wean off these meds. No one wants to feel pain. It's that simple, but, here's the reality....It's going to suck! You will feel terrible. Go to CVS and buy some circulatory leggings ( stocking to help bad circulation) They are tight fitting socks that go up to your crotch, put them on! Find your favorite pillow or large stuffed animal and get in bed, have plenty of Gatorade, pedialyte, anything to replenish the fluids and vitamins, you are going to need to keep drinking these fluids as much as possible! Tell your family to bear with you and forgive anything they hear come from your room. I screamed, I cursed, I cried and after a couple of days the worst was over. It was two Hard days. It was a hard week following, but the days get better, the weeks get better and the good news is...You will no longer be dependant or addicted to this ridiculous drug. I'm not a Doctor. I don't claim to be a drug Guru. I was a patient suffering from an injury and thrown away. My recovery process was just as important to me as my surgery. That was not the sentiment my surgeon shared. he performed surgery, that's his job and that's how he saw it. Oh , you're having difficulty with the medications? well here is a doctor who specializes in that, go away! The pain management doctor wanted to substitute my addiction, dependancy? (whatever) with other drugs? Methadone, you name it, and told me he was there to give me whatever I wanted for as long as I wanted. I can call that guy right now and get drugs if I wanted! Stop taking them! That's no life. The pains you are experiencing on a daily basis regardless of whatever injury or illness you have are increased by these pain medications. They tell your brain this doesn't hurt ...but, now you have this pain...these doctors have no idea, what you are going through. They will give you drugs, they will perform surgeries, but, they are not going to hold your hand and suffer with you, this horrible suffering... you are going to have to overcome. Check with your doctors first, tell them your plan, get their opinions and make a choice.
Ask your doctor this one question...Am I going to die if I quit taking these medications right now?
Once the drugs were no longer in my system (and I mean months, If not a year to fully regain my sanity of overcoming this) I was able to get my life back.
Do not flush your meds in the toilet! I do not want to drink from my tap water and worry about ingesting your meds. Empty the contents of your prescription bottles in the trash can and then dispense of the bottles themselves. I finally threw all my drugs away about a year AFTER I completely withdrew from my addiction...I was not in my right frame of mind to part with them. I honestly kept them as a backup to end my suffering, but, one day the clouds separated and my eyes were finally opened enough and were clear enough, not to need them anymore.
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Ok well I'm sat up as I'm typing this, I've been a heavy cocaine user for the past 2 years. Put been using for 15 years. Sat here now my eye is weeping water I've bad headache side of my face is in sore.
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I have for a year been taking Norco 10/325. 3 pills a day and 2 of them I take half at a time. I had a serious injury years ago with my left foot. Accident broke 3 bones, fractured 2, shattered 1 and dislocated it. Than over the last year have had many surgeries on my jaws. So I have a legitimit reason for taking them with chronic pain now. My Dr keeps a close watch on my body and last test showed no dangers in my liver. A few months ago I found myself taking 5 a day. Caught myself and dropped back to 3 max a day. The last 3 weeks I have been waking up feeling so scared and depressed and even fear and anxiety. And of course the bathroom part which starts only 12 hours after the half I take before sleep. However, things that never bothered me before all come to light in the mornings. Things like world problems. The election, North Korea, terrorism and so on. These things never bothered me up until a few weeks ago. Now I find myself scared of even dying with the world problems. I realized today that its because of the Norco. I don't take much though. I take a half in the morning a couple hours after I wake up and I feel better and realize the things I was worrying about I dont worry as much about after I take it. I was at the same time trying to get off Paxil and I thought that was the problem and ended up going back on the Paxil which did not help me at all. That's when I realized this morning it has to be from the Norco. I go right back to taking it as prescribed because it helps me think better and clearly and get through the days. I also lost my appetite and sleep very badly. I HATE the feeling but I know now what has happened. Seems when I started backing off the 5 a day is when I started feeling this way. I will not take any more than 3 though a day. I can limit myself to what it says to take. Half a pill each dose helps get through the day. But than again I start feeling the pain. I want to test my theory just once to see if I am correct. I will wake up early in the morning and take a half and see how I feel when I wake up. When today I realized why I am feeling so bad, I felt a little better knowing that the problem is not with me. Its the medication. Does this to anyone sound like withdrawal from Norco? From what I have read, this is exactly what I am feeling.
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I am now been abstinence from substance-abuse. For 2 years, I was mixing opiates/opioids and alcohol together, and sometimes I mixed other substances with those-including cocaine. Plus, I already have depression and anxiety. I have been to a treatment/health care center twice. First time of abstinence, for 2 weeks I couldn't speak right. I'd think of a sentence. I'd start to say the first few words-with a stutter-and then forget the sentence. I would have to start my think process over again a couple of times.
I continued using/mixing-if not more-and became dependent on opiates/opioids, and I had already been diagnosed an alcoholic. I became abstinence, and still am. It's been about over 2 months of no substance abuse. I developed unnecessary stops in my sentences while I speak. Like my brain can't catch up to my speech while I talk, causing me to have to stop for a very short time before continuing me sentences-this can happen a few times in one sentence. I still have to restart my thinking process over again because my mind goes blank while trying to speak. When there are things that distract me or someone speaks a little bit while I'm talking, I have to restart my thinking process all over again.
Some other things that are going on with me is that I often feel microscopic bugs crawling on me and biting me. I also sometimes become frightened because I sometimes see shadows in the corner of my eyes or behind me. While staying still, my leg or arm will sometimes randomly jerk-I'm not doing it, my body is doing it by itself. I also forget to breath, and I have to remind myself to breath by myself.
I want feedback of what you'd think these are symptoms would be of, and/or if this is more of a severe or minor thing. Drug-induced brain damage?
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Can anyone help me understand these test results? I had a blood test that read my testosterone was 35 NG/ML (17-76 ref range) free testosterone is 0.2 NG/DL (0.3-1.5 ref range). I then had a saliva test done and my results were Testosterone 1,852 pmol/L (34-148 ref range). I am so confused. Do I have HIGH or LOW testosterone?
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For those who are daft enough to think cannabis withdrawal is not a real, physical withdrawal....
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I am a 38 year old male that has been experiencing some problems lately. I find myself fatigued from morning til night, around the clock. I have no motivation or energy to do ANYTHING. It's beginning to affect my work life as well as my sex life. I literally have no sex drive and I am engaged to the most wonderful woman. However I am so scared to lose her and feel as though she thinks I don't desire her.
I have had to sets of blood work done to see what's going on. Results came back showing my testosterone was low. A lot of the numbers and data I have no Idea what it means. However when he said the normal testosterone range for males was mid 300-s up to 1100 and mine came in at 241...I obviously am very concerned.
He sent me to an endocrinologist to have even more work done so that they could determine treatment. Needless to say, I'm nervous, exhausted and feel like I'm existing away.
I will admit, I didn't do my body good in my early 20's as I did take steroids to bulk up. It have me energy and I felt great. But did I ruin my body? It's also hard to say...because maybe I have low T back then and the steroids helped me feel better!? Idk. I would like to have energy again, a sex drive, and have kids with my beautiful fiance one day.
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I am worried I have low testosterone levels. I am 16, and have a very high-pitched voice, hourglass figure, little body hair, little pubic hair, little underarm hair and very little muscle.
I am really worried, as this will affect me long-term and it is really embarrassing.
I know many people might say "maybe you're gay" but i don't think deep down i am.
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My husband & I are so upset over his testosterone level and the way kaiser permanente is treating him! his t is 232. he is 46 years old. he is brain fogged, fatigued, erectile dysfunction ed. ect, kaiser told him his blood test for t is normal at 232. we were previously with bcbs and they told him he was extremely low. our personal research shows the range to be 300 to 1000 and that his level of 232 would equate to a man of the age 85 to 100. today he followed up with an endo through kaiser again. the doc said it was normal again. when he told the doctor that it was normal for a man that is 85 years old. the doctor said well, we don't go by age, and the normal range is 175 to 720. so my husband said to the doc that are you telling me that a 25 year old can have the same level as an 85 year old and you think that's okay?? so absurd. the doc said yes as long as it's in that range. oh my God, he is an idiot! the doc said we go by the lab. we called the lab and they said that they send the testosterone out to a kaiser lab called regional. is that legal. i know they just don't want to pay for it. what can we do?
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I've recently taken a blood test and my testosterone levels seem pretty low (total 382 ng/dL, free 8.3pg/mL), DHEA levels are 505.7ug/dL.
I'm 28 and I've been having issues with sleep for most of my 20's and teens. I've also been experiencing some minimal gynecomastia (for several years) and general exhaustion. I don't come from a hairy family but have noticed, it can take several weeks before I need to shave.
My other blood and urine tests came back within normal ranges and I've been wondering....am I suffering from Low T?
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I am 24 years old. I was losing my weight , feel tired everytime. Fatigue in muscles every time. Lazy and very less concentration on things. Less erection of penis. Very less facial hair only weak mustache and chin hairs. Feel weak every time. Poor wound healing. Always depressed.
After noticing all these symptoms i searched on internet about the solution for these problems and found out that this can be due to low testosterone. I did my medical test and my serum testosterone level was 158 ng. Normal person in my age must have testo in between 260 and 1600 ng. I am very much conscious about my hormones.
I want to have some info and solutions to these. Can i go for a testosterone injections?
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Guys: I have a question. If one's Testosterone is LOW. Dr says take Testosterone meds to improve Testosterone level.
once Testosterone level is higher, does that mean that erections will be better?
Also, how soon can someone notice any difference in erections?
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I have just started using testosterone gel applied to my thighs in the morning. Per the instructions that came with it, I don't shower for at least two hours (usually four hours later) and thoroughly wash the application area. I'm very paranoid about being intimate with my wife because of the cautions concerning skin to skin contact. How many hours do we need to wait? We're morning people so I thought if we did it before my daily application, she might be OK... Does anybody have any insight?
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I am stressed out. I feel older than I really am. I have a older brother. And everything we are together. People think I am the older brother. I don't have any energy. My body is 24/7 working to make me out of fat. But here is the flip side...
I go to gym 4-5 days a week. I eat healthy. I lift weights. I run. I don't smoke and I don't drink. I go through times where I am happy and energetic. But mostly I am only down. And it's not psychological. I feel it's physical. I just don't feel like doing anything. Another thing..
About 2 years ago I did steroids. I have to say when I did steroids, that time period was the happiest time of my life. I was just happy. I had no worries. Even in problems I saw solutions. I was just happy. No anger issues. No depression. Not even a thought of negatively. I was just happy as crap. I had no worries. But BEFORE I did steroids and AFTER I did steroids, I am the way I am today. And it's getting worst. I'm getting more lazy. More tired. But I force myself to keep going to the gym to stay healthy. But it's just that I just don't have the want to do anything.
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Has anyone used testosterone gel to help with the bedroom but i've just been prescribed by my gp.
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I am really started to wondering about the what can testosterone does to human body. the more i learn about the more i started to wondering.can anyone give me clear idea on testosterone and masturbation. i read in a article masturbation does not considered as a sex, but in many people are arguing it is sex. how much testosterone does a 25yr old men need to have muscles growth. how much testosterone can an 25yr old man can produce ?
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I've been on.Cit for nearly three weeks now (second course) my anxiety has dropped to a level where I am happy. But as part time hobby I do a lot of weight lifting... But as the past three weeks have gone by my energy levels have dropped. My recovery time has droppeD. The.only thing I can think of off is lower testosterone
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what is causing my t4 and testosterone to be low but tsh to be normal?
i am a 19 year old male and I have had these symptoms for 3/4 years that have slowly gotten worse and have been tested for nearly everything but nothing has come back positive.
i have asked my doctor if my free t4 was low but as always will not agree that it is as it is in their "normal range". i shall be going back to the doctors this week and will request to be tried on some thyroid pills to see if it improved my symptoms? i also read that this could be a pituitary tumor, is this correct?
my symptoms are
Fatigue
Muscle pain
sore lower back
stiff neck
sinus problems/ phlegm in throat/ blocked nose
dry throat and mouth
red nose/ rosacea
cold hands and feet
anxiety
depression
Low testosterone at 13 nmol
mood swings
excess urination
excessive thirst
prickly/itchy/burning legs and feet when stood still for a few minutes.
clay coloured stool / diarrhea
TSH 1.6
Free t3 5.3
free t4 10.9 -----------?
i also had my cortisol tested which was 472 nmol
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I am 21 years old and have found I have low testosterone. About 5 years ago, I started having heart racing, extreme fatigue, confusion/mind fog, and erectile issues. The doctors I saw chocked it up to anxiety disorder, and never checked my hormone levels.
I finally found out about my levels a couple of weeks ago, and I just got the results back for my LH, FSH, and SHBG - and I wanted some advice as to what I should push my doctor to do next. Here are my levels:
LH | RANGE: (1.5-9.3 mIU/mL) | VALUE: 2.4 FSH | RANGE: (1.4-18.1 mIU/mL) | VALUE: 1.5 SHBG | RANGE: (14-48 nmol/L) | VALUE: 17 TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL | RANGE: (249-836 ng/dL) | VALUE: 203
I currently have Kaiser Permanente and I don't believe they have anti-aging doctors, only endocrinologists. I want to be prepared to tell my doctor how to proceed because she is only an internal medicine - and she has been consulting with one of her fellow endocrinologist practitioners for how to proceed.
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I went to my doctor and she said that a PSA is needed for screening purposes. I asked why and she said that TRT can cause cancer. I told her I have heard nothing of this and if it does I would have never started it. I have read that being on TRT can fuel cancer that is already there making it grow faster and more likely to be aggressive in nature. She looked at me with a puzzled look and said really well maybe you are right I will check into it. OMG! this is my doctor. Now what the heck am I supposed to think. I have never read anything that links TRT to causing cancer, fueling it yes, but causing it no. I have also read that men with low T are at a higher risk of developing cancer so it would be safe to say I am better off on TRT than not. I wouldn't be on it, but my body no longer makes it so it was 0. My side effects from this were really bad. It is like having chronic fatigue syndrome and sexual dysfunction. With a side of extreme depression. It was terrible and I don't want to go back to feeling that way, but the doctor would like me to stop due to cancer risk and blood clotting. I am getting checked regularly for blood issues and have no desire to take a PSA test. I believe it will open Pandora's box. I wish to leave it alone. What is a guy supposed to do?
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