compounded testosterone, now DHEA

Was wondering if anyone had experience with DHEA for the treatment of low testosterone and low sex drive. I tried 2% compounded testosterone cream(pea size) which was working really well for about a month when I developed the oily skin but worst of all- terrible anxiety every time I used it although I had cut down to twice a week. Saw my doc and asked about a weaker % cream (a .5 or a 1%) and she said I would probably develop the same problem on the weaker strength creams. She said the problem for me seemed to be in the "delivery method". Her next approach was the prescribe DHEA 25mg sublingual/day. She said that it can convert to testosterone and wanted to see if it would raise my level and get my response back. My last total testosterone level 6 weeks ago was 17 ng/dl (norm 15-70) and Free testosterone was 3.1 pg/mL (norm 1.0-8.5). She felt that was very low. I can tell you at 17 was sex drive was gone (and still is). I also feel like I am loosing sensation "down there" and have to work a very long time to experience a minimal orgasm. (THAT was IT????) My estadiol was also 57 pg/mL which she felt was too low (she would like to see it at least 100) so she increased my vdot patch to .01. I also use compounded progesterone cream. I just had followup bloodwork done and will meet with her later this week to review it. Her next move if the DHEA doesn't work (and it seems like it isn't) is to prescribe testosterone in a troche. Anyone have problems with the cream yet have sucess with the troche? I guess I fail to see how this delivery system would be different than a compounded cream. RaineyL

RaineL. I am on 2mg. subling. troche. My serum level was 23 with undetectable bioavailable level. I have not had my blood work rechecked yet. I am interested in your experience if you go on the troche.

Just found out that my total testosterone is down to 14 ng/dL and my estradiol is down to 33 PG/ML. It appears I am not absorbing my patch or progesterone cream very well. No wonder I feel so lousy!I guess the DHEA wasn't converting for me because it also decreased. My doctor is going back to square one and trying a different delivery system. I will be taking 1/2 of a troche with Biest 1.25 mg /progesterone 150 mg twice a day. If I tolerate that well, in 2 weeks I will be adding the testosterone troche 1 mg. three times a week. I will let you know if it is successful for me once I get that far. Are you having any success yet with the troche? I'm feeling very frustrated at this point. RaineyL

RaineyL, What time of day do you have your lab work drawn? How many hours has the patch been on? The reason I am wondering is because when you look at the data from the drug companies there is a peak after 4-6 hours and then a slow decline prior to the patch becoming depleted at which point it the blood levels fall off very rapidly.

With the troches or cremes I am wondering how long the drug actually circulates. There is a peak and trough for any drug blood level. Does you doctor make any recommendation as to when the lab work should be drawn in relation to when you took it? Just wondering.

I take A 4 mg sublingual troche daily. I love it! My Dr says the troche, for me, is the best deliverary. As far as bloodwork times..I am told to have my blood work done at 1 pm..about 5 hours after I take my hormones. Laura

I always have my bloodwork done at 8am because some of the other lab work needs to be fasting. My last bloodwork was done on a Friday morning which is the day that I usually put on a fresh patch (but not until after my shower at 8:30- so it would have been at the tail end of the 3.5 days). My doctor did ask me the same question but didn't comment on it. I didn't realize that levels fell off so quickly. My doctor didn't make any recommendations as far as when in relation to when I take the troche I should have my bloodwork done in 8 weeks. I will email her and see what she says. Thanks, RaineyL