Author Topic: Testosterone Levels, Meds, & Erectile Dysfunction (Read 14713 times)

RobbyR · « **on:** May 25, 2015, 02:05:29 pm »

What is considered a healthy/normal testosterone level for a 33 year old male? The last time I had them check it, with my usual round of labs, it was around 280 or 290. I thought that seemed low. The last year or so, I've had a pretty sharp decline in interest in sex, & arousal, and worst of all, erectile dysfunction. This from someone who in his 20s used to constantly wake up with hardons & think about sex constantly. I have friends in their 40s who seem to have better sex lives than me. I started Metoprolol last year because I had tachycardia & everytime I'd have sex my heart rate seemed to go up way too high (this happens sometimes even on Metoprolol). Not sure why. I'm not overweight, although I am a bit out of shape. Not a diabetic.

I had my testosterone checked last week. So we'll see. I've met someone & really hope to have a normal sex life with him. I've gotten my anxiety & depression largely under control with the help of medication & therapy which I'm still doing. I take Lexapro & Metoprolol & Xanax, along with Mirtazipine to help sleep. I guess these have taken a toll on my penis. It's not that I can't orgasm, quite the contrary. I can get aroused, & still am very interested in sex, but it seems that for some reason, when I'm masturbating, I feel okay, but it's when I am having sex that I have the major erection problems & just inability to perform without intense major exhausting stimulation. What seems to happen is I'll get a brief erection when being intimate, but it quickly goes soft, then takes awhile, then goes hard for a brief moment again, then soft again. I just can't keep a steady erection for the past several months. There's no way this can be normal for a 33 year old.

I'm hoping that I can do testosterone therapy if my levels are low or if not at least try Viagra. I'm finally feeling better mentally for the first time in ages & have met a great guy, but my erectile dysfunction is causing me a lot of stress.

Would any of you care to share your experiences with this or what helped/worked for you? It drives me nuts to see friends of mine in their 40s & 50s who are able to have normal sex lives with hard erections & I can't even keep it up for my boyfriend at age 33. Thanks for any answers I appreciate them

Wade · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2015, 02:16:45 pm »

Hi Robby,
Sounds to me like your thinking too much about something
that would probably happen if you weren't so anxious.
That's just my opinion .
Remember you are not a machine with an off and on switch !
Hope things start looking up

Wade

mecch · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2015, 02:34:39 pm »

Robby, congrats on getting the doc to do tests. Either you need it and you get the testosterone, or you don't. No point in guessing.
If you don't get testosterone - try cialis or viagra. Don't forget to ask the doc if he has a freebie sample. If some doc will write you an ED prescription, ask if cilias is ok for you - it would be better than viagra because cialis lasts a lot longer. Also - get the highest dosage of any ED drug they will prescribe and cut the pills in half. The higher dosage is NOT 2x time price of a smaller dosage pill.

Joe K · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2015, 03:13:24 pm »

Quote from: RobbyR on May 25, 2015, 02:05:29 pm

What is considered a healthy/normal testosterone level for a 33 year old male? The last time I had them check it, with my usual round of labs, it was around 280 or 290. I thought that seemed low. The last year or so, I've had a pretty sharp decline in interest in sex, & arousal, and worst of all, erectile dysfunction. This from someone who in his 20s used to constantly wake up with hardons & think about sex constantly. I have friends in their 40s who seem to have better sex lives than me. I started Metoprolol last year because I had tachycardia & everytime I'd have sex my heart rate seemed to go up way too high (this happens sometimes even on Metoprolol). Not sure why. I'm not overweight, although I am a bit out of shape. Not a diabetic.

Robbie,

The area I colored is a reason why you must work with your doctor to address your ED issues. You have heart issues and Viagra/Cialis can cause a dramatic increase in your heart rate as that is how the drugs work to help overcome ED. Please, please, please, do not try any erectile drugs without the express approval of your doctor, as you very life could depend upon it.

Joe

RobbyR · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2015, 04:47:53 pm »

Oh no worries there Joe, thanks for your concern. I'm definitely going to follow my doctor's advice trust me. Years ago, in my partying days, I was doing GHB (also called Gina) with a guy (bad stuff) & we took some Extenze tablets that his roomate got from the drug store. I guess we thought it would give us really intense sex. Needless to say, it was really scary. Not so much in terms of cardiac issue but the Extenze plus the GHB we were doing made me feel like I was on acid. I literally had insomnia for days afterwards.

I've been clean & sober from drugs since 2009. I don't really have heart issues persay, my heart is normal other than benign palpitations & the tachycardia (which I partly attribute to nearly overdosing on crystal meth twice a few years ago) which the Metoprolol controls.

My main question to my doc will be what can be done to give me a normal functioning sex life but also keeping my pulse under control.

It's very empowering to know what my issue is & to be able to ask my doc about it I hope he can do something to help my sex life get back to normal as it is now I just can't keep an erection for more than a few seconds at a time unless I'm masturbating it makes me feel like an old old man

Just wondered if any of you have experienced this & what helped you. Luckily the guy I'm with is very understanding but it still makes me insecure.

Joe K · « **Reply #5 on:** May 25, 2015, 05:05:20 pm »

Robbie,

Have you seen a cardiologist yet? I treat my heart issues with one, as well as my ID specialist. You really want a second opinion, because if heart rate is an issue for you, then ED drugs may be very dangerous for you. Have you tried a cock ring? It's a low-tech solution, but it might make a noticeable difference.

Joe

RobbyR · « **Reply #6 on:** May 25, 2015, 05:30:47 pm »

Oh yes I've seen a cardiologist numerous times. They've done tons of tests on me (mostly as a result of my past history of drug use) & have told me many times my heart is normal other than benign palpitations & the tachycardia.

The cardiologist is who prescribes me my Metoprolol. I'm going to ask my general practicioner about possible alternatives that might do the same but be easier on libido, but I feel I really need a major "boost" as it was. I just no longer feel I have any sensation much in my penis. I've never really tried a cockring before I have once or twice but because my dick is more of a grower than a shower, & my balls hang pretty low, they never seemed to work all that well. Worth another try though, I guess. Poppers I kind of have to avoid because they tend to exacerbate my tachycardia.

So if someone has tachycardia, then there's no way ED drugs can work? That's pretty discouraging. Surely there must be a way to get me back my sex life. I just want to be able to perform again. Especially now that I've met someone.

Jeff G · « **Reply #7 on:** May 25, 2015, 05:41:39 pm »

Quote from: RobbyR on May 25, 2015, 05:30:47 pm

Especially now that I've met someone.

Does Robby have a boyfriend now … details please !

Joe K · « **Reply #8 on:** May 25, 2015, 06:54:55 pm »

Glad to hear you have a heart doctor. As long as your doctors clear your use of ED drugs, there should be no problems. But when you mention that poppers affect your heart, I would think that ED drugs would also do the same.

Joe

mecch · « **Reply #9 on:** May 25, 2015, 07:02:53 pm »

Robby do you get wood when you jerk off, alone? Yes?

And if so, do you not stay hard with a partner? If so, the problem may be some kind of performance anxiety. ED drugs can help with that and also once you have your confidence back you can drop the ED drugs

But if you have trouble getting wood all the time, alone or with a partner, you probably need a specialist, just to investigate and make sure there is no damage, and what not.

RobbyR · « **Reply #10 on:** May 25, 2015, 09:39:00 pm »

Yes a friend who has known me for awhile & we reconnected after many years not long ago recently asked me out & I said yes & we're now seeing each other it's really more of a lovely spiritual connection kindred spirit type thing than even sexual although it's that too he's a really sweet lovely guy & has really helped me in a lot of ways. We're just taking it slow I'm not used to the serious dating thing it's all new to me in the past it was all just sex sex sex & cheap hookups so to be in a place where I am dating a guy who likes me for me it's really nice

Totally uncharted territory. You know, I really feel like now he makes me feel valued as a person & worth something & he's so interested in everything I do & it's not even about how I look or sex. It's really quite a lovely feeling & very new for me I never though I'd really have this actually

I just don't want him to think it's him when I have erection problems because its not at ALL! I'm so attracted to him when we do mess around I am self conscious because of it.

RobbyR · « **Reply #11 on:** May 25, 2015, 09:46:23 pm »

Quote from: mecch on May 25, 2015, 07:02:53 pm

Robby do you get wood when you jerk off, alone? Yes?

And if so, do you not stay hard with a partner? If so, the problem may be some kind of performance anxiety. ED drugs can help with that and also once you have your confidence back you can drop the ED drugs

But if you have trouble getting wood all the time, alone or with a partner, you probably need a specialist, just to investigate and make sure there is no damage, and what not.

Mecch yes that's the strange part, and what's changed in the last several months, is I can jerk off just fine and keep a decent hardon, all the way through, with constantly stimulating myself. But when I'm with my guy, is when the problem happens. When he sucks me I feel out of breath kind of & even on my Metoprolol I feel like my heart races for a bit but I think some of this may be performance anxiety because I know I won't be able to perform well.

My erection issues seem to be only when I'm with a partner or there is like pressure to perform. Actually even going back a few years I noticed that there was some of that but back then I was able to keep a hardon even when pretty anxious.

I'm just going to let the docs tell me what they think. I'm really glad to have a sweet guy in my life who is being patient with me & I just want to get to where I can perform & he can see me aroused & not think I'm not turned on by him (which I am)!

In the past I didn't ever seem to tolerate poppers well. They made me feel hot & my heart race. I hope ED drugs will be better I mean at least one of them should be able to help me surely. Fingers crossed

bocker3 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 25, 2015, 10:25:28 pm »

Quote from: RobbyR on May 25, 2015, 09:46:23 pm

Mecch yes that's the strange part, and what's changed in the last several months, is I can jerk off just fine and keep a decent hardon, all the way through, with constantly stimulating myself. But when I'm with my guy, is when the problem happens. When he sucks me I feel out of breath kind of & even on my Metoprolol I feel like my heart races for a bit but I think some of this may be performance anxiety because I know I won't be able to perform well.

My erection issues seem to be only when I'm with a partner or there is like pressure to perform. Actually even going back a few years I noticed that there was some of that but back then I was able to keep a hardon even when pretty anxious.

I'm just going to let the docs tell me what they think. I'm really glad to have a sweet guy in my life who is being patient with me & I just want to get to where I can perform & he can see me aroused & not think I'm not turned on by him (which I am)!

In the past I didn't ever seem to tolerate poppers well. They made me feel hot & my heart race. I hope ED drugs will be better I mean at least one of them should be able to help me surely. Fingers crossed

Make sure you tell your doctor about all this -- if your ED is not about a physical issue (and it seems that it is not), then they may want you to try something besides a little blue pill. Something is clearly going on and it's more important to get to the true root of it than to find a temporary fix. Doing that will ensure that whatever the treatment turns out to be is the proper one that will help you long-term.

Mike

RobbyR · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2015, 01:02:42 pm »

Well a quick update on this..I saw the doctor a couple weeks ago, & he told me that it seems to him that there is nothing physically wrong that would cause my issues with erections during sex, (I already knew that) & that it is probably due to meds messing with my libido or maybe even something to do with performance anxiety. He wanted me to give it a couple weeks to practice my mindset & see how my anxiety does & if nothing happens, he's open to trying me on Viagra or Cialis or some erectile dysfunction med. Yea I have performance anxiety sure but it's not so much the fear of a sexual encounter that's my issue, it's the fear that I won't get a decent erection. I know my body, & I can definitely tell a decrease in my erection caliber in the last few months. They didn't have my testosterone labs back yet two weeks ago so I'll get those on my follow up this week.

I think it's the combination of the beta blocker, & the Lexapro, & the other anxiety meds that have messed up my erections, but I can still get one & even cum on my own. It's just with am partner that I notice the erection problems. So since nothing has changed in that regard since my last appointment I'm hoping the doc will let me at least try Viagra or Cialis to see if it helps. Because I have to stay on my anxiety meds that's for sure. Or maybe even see if he can try me on a different anxiety med that might have less sexual side effects.

The Metoprolol has really helped me get my life back in terms of controlling my blood pressure but I also think it's to blame for the penis issues. So, what to do..Is there hope for keeping my anxiety & blood pressure under control but also getting back good erections like in the past? I'll update after my follow up this week.

bocker3 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2015, 10:58:47 pm »

Quote from: RobbyR on June 08, 2015, 01:02:42 pm

I think it's the combination of the beta blocker, & the Lexapro, & the other anxiety meds that have messed up my erections, but I can still get one & even cum on my own. It's just with am partner that I notice the erection problems. So since nothing has changed in that regard since my last appointment I'm hoping the doc will let me at least try Viagra or Cialis to see if it helps. Because I have to stay on my anxiety meds that's for sure. Or maybe even see if he can try me on a different anxiety med that might have less sexual side effects.

This is probably why the doctor is thinking that it isn't a physical thing -- because a physical thing wouldn't only appear when you are with someone else. If you are only having this issue with someone else around, then your doc is probably spot on -- it's some sort of anxiety. Don't discount the fear of passing on HIV here -- even if you KNOW all the risks, the mind can be a funny thing and have internal fears that manifest on their own.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't try an ED drug, but really, wouldn't it be better to get to the bottom of it and solve the actual problem?
Just something to consider -- wishing you the best of luck figuring this out, but please don't discount a doctor simply because he didn't agree with your self-diagnosis.

Mike

RobbyR · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2015, 05:39:05 pm »

Update, I saw my doc for my lab results, my Free Testosterone is about 330 so she said it's right in the middle range which is normal. So the likely cause of my erection issues is some performance anxiety coupled with the meds I am on. The doc prescribed me Viagra although she did warn me that it's extremely expensive she told me it's like 25 dollars for a single tablet! That's very steep! But she said that you could purchase as few individual tablets as you want at a given time to make it less, plus of course you can score each tablet when I am initially sampling it. Wow 25 dollars a pill is crazy. But eventually I'll try a couple tablets & score them & see if it helps my ED.

I asked her about samples, she said the University where I get my medical care & prescriptions does not offer samples. So I'll have to purchase one or two tablets at such time that I am ready to do so. I am going to ask my HIV doc about this too whether through ADAP or Ryan White they would cover it but probably not since Viagra isn't considered a "necessary" medication (just a guess on my part).

So it looks like it will cost me 50 bucks for two tablets. Wow. Lol. But I guess if that's what it takes to get me a good erection I'll pay it eventually. I am glad I got it clarified though.

mecch · « **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2015, 07:27:59 pm »

Yes dear I told you about the price awhile back didn't I?

Was there a reason you go viagra and not cialis? has anyone looked at the interaction of ED drug and your HIV combo and your other meds??

Get a prescription for the HIGHEST dosage ED drug and break it in half.

My opinion is you can use it and if you get super hard, you might find that your confidence is back and then after 1 or 2 uses you should experiment without, again.

LukasAtlPZ · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2015, 04:39:14 pm »

Robby R,

I've walked in your shoes. I was finally diagnosed with hypogonadism five years ago. I had decreased interest in sex, depression, crankiness, loss of muscle mass, weight gain, etc. All while watching my diet and working out 4 times per week, and generally being active. I got the total testosterone and free testosterone tests. Total was borderline and free was below normal. My primary then referred me over to an endocrinologist, who said my levels were 1/2 of where they should be. He ran a number of other tests to determine the actual cause of the low testosterone. He then prescribed Testim, once per day. My sexual desire returned, body composition and mood improved.

I would highly recommend seeing an endocrinologist and having him or her run all the tests to determine whats really going on.

RobbyR · « **Reply #18 on:** June 19, 2015, 12:49:12 pm »

The doctor told me I could try Cardizem instead of the Metoprolol but I hate to swap out the Metoprolol because mostly it's working so well controlling my tachycardia. The doc thought the metoprolol could be partly to blame for the ED. But probably the combination of all the meds I take, cumulative effect.

Again, my testosterone free testosterone was well in the normal range so that's not the cause of the low sexual desire/function. The doc thinks its probably due to meds & some performance anxiety. She didn't mention Cialis, she just chose Viagra not sure why.

Honestly, although it's an annoyance, it's not hugely high on my priority list now. I still struggle with depression & anxiety but the meds I am on now seem to help quite a bit. I might look into seeing an endocrinologist, but I have some major dental surgery coming up soon which will take precedent.

I may end up eventually trying Viagra & seeing how it works for me. If it does, then I'll score the tablets & just use as needed.

DodgerDawg · « **Reply #19 on:** July 23, 2015, 12:18:31 am »

RobbyR,

Your ED is being caused by your anti depressant Lexapro. It's an SSRI and is well known to cause sexual disfunction. The common remedy is to add Wellbrutin to the Lexapro. Ask your health care provider.

Also in the US, Sildenafil (Viagra) is available as a generic called Revatio. I know because my doctor prescribes it to me. It is prescribed "Off Label", for ED, and comes in 20mg tablets. 40 tablets a month cost $22 bux US. I live in Los Angeles. It's a generic of Viagra.

Sildenafil 20 mg Tab Commonly known as: REVATIO

I'm really surprised that your health care provider is not in the know regarding these two very common issues. However it does point out the difference between a general practitioner and a specialist.

Take care,

DD

AusShep · « **Reply #20 on:** July 23, 2015, 11:37:14 am »

Hey DodgerDawg, Revatio is not generic Viagra, it is still pattened sildanafil citrate, but at a dose, brand name, and labeling designed to treat high blood pressure.

The "off label" use could potentially create an insurance issue for you or your Dr if they were to find out it's being used solely for ED. If you need it daily for BP though, why the heck not...

DodgerDawg · « **Reply #21 on:** July 23, 2015, 12:04:42 pm »

Your incorrect. Meds are prescribed "off label" every day. There is no issue. Revatio is Sildenafil, and it's patent has run out in the US. Thus it's available as a generic med. There is no difference whatsoever between Viagra and Revatio other than one is under patent and one has had it's patent expire.

However, if you want to pay $20 a pill for Viagra, be my guest, however I can assure you, doctors and patients in the know; pay generic prices.

Take care,

DD

AusShep · « **Reply #22 on:** July 23, 2015, 02:13:38 pm »

Off label varies on whether insurance will cover it (if they know or suspect), but as a generic they likely don't care. Both my husband and I have had to jump through hoops before because insurance thought a still patented med was being prescribed off label. For instance Seroquel was often Rx as a sleeping aid, my partner had to get denials overturned twice because the low strength he was on was often Rx'd for this reason. Now it's generic and no one cares.

But you're right on Revatio, it expired in 2012, the Viagra branding for ED doesn't expire until 2019. I assumed it was the same patent, oops...

My BP is borderline, I ought to talk to my doc about Revatio...

DodgerDawg · « **Reply #23 on:** July 23, 2015, 04:02:41 pm »

Go forth and save BIG bucks!

DD

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Author Topic: Testosterone Levels, Meds, & Erectile Dysfunction (Read 14713 times)