Author Topic: Questions About Supplements (Read 12581 times)

RobbyR · « **on:** May 17, 2015, 11:29:44 am »

Hey everyone I have a few questions about supplements. I take a multivitamin every now & then, & magnesium for digestion issues, & occasionally iron. I also drink Boost chocolate protein shakes just for a little extra protein kick. The last year or so, I've noticed a bit of thinning of my hair & a decline in my sex drive. Not HUGE, but enough to notice. It seemed to come on kind of suddenly. Not sure if it was due to some medications, or aging. I'm only 33, which is still young, or so I tell myself. Lol. I notice that I have less interest in sex and fewer erections & my erections don't last as long. Also along with this I've noticed that when I ejaculate, it's harder to achieve it without getting my heart rate up a whole lot. I've recently been dabbling into the dating scene again.

Several months back I started taking Metoprolol a beta blocker twice a day, for a problem called SVT super-ventricular-tachycardia a benign condition but one that would cause my heart rate to randomly shoot way up for sudden bursts. I've done great on the metoprolol, overall, but I've also noticed the slight decrease in libido & some slight hair thinning. Is there an equivalent medication I could ask my doctor about that might be easier on the libido?

I'm not sure of my testosterone levels, but I think as of the last labs about a year ago they were in the normal range. My interest in sex is still there, just slightly less than it used to be, & the diminished erections make me wonder.

Are there any simple over the counter supplements I should take that can enhance natural libido/performance? How about natural foods? I'll admit I'm pretty clueless in the area of supplements so open to any suggestions. Thanks!

Jeff G · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2015, 11:36:13 am »

Unless your doctor diagnosis you with a vitimin deficiency science has pretty much proven that supplements are at least a waste and at most harmful . A multivitimin can’t hurt but its just not a good idea to add supplements in light of the latest science .

RobbyR · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2015, 11:52:35 am »

Yea I've never been told I have a vitamin deficiency. My doc told me I needed Vitamin D supplement once because my levels were a bit low but other than that, normal. I know there's no quick fix lol. I just wonder if there's one that can enhance natural libido/testosterone levels a bit, to offset some of the minor sexual effects of some of my medications.

Jeff G · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2015, 12:27:07 pm »

My brother ordered some crap off the internet that was supposed to boost his T and libido and called me all excited about and I will tell you the same thing I told him .

If there is an over the counter drug that really works for these things you will read about on POZ.com … low T and other metabolic problems sometimes go hand in hand with HIV so our community is usually one of the first to hear and spread any of the good news to be had about mitigating some of the side effects of living with HIV, and so far there are no effective supplements for these these disorders, or any other disorder for that matter .

Buckmark · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2015, 12:34:06 pm »

There are all kinds of folks who will claim that supplements can treatment all kinds of things. However, proof -- clinical, scientific proof -- is very hard to come by. I think it comes from our society's desire to cure everything with a pill. While medications have been a godsend and lifesaver for many of us, you have to look to your doctors and the medical research to know if medications and supplements are appropriate and effective and appropriate for you. You can spend tons of money on supplements, but its hard to know if you are really getting what you paid for, and in most cases end up being a waste of money. Still, there is always the placebo effect. But you should always talk to your doctor before taking any supplements, to be sure there are no undesirable interactions.

Believe me, if I could take a pill to get my libido back, I'd give it a try -- if there was real evidence. But that ship (my libido) sailed when I had chemo, and now it is lost at sea.

Regards,

Henry

RobbyR · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2015, 12:45:09 pm »

Good points guys. (Sorry about your chemo ordeal Henry hope you're doing better now) There are more important things than libido. But it is distressing to feel it ebbing after mine was so high & virulent for so long. I don't like it

But I'm thankful to be generally healthy overall. It's just a tug on the ego, to date & not be as virulent as I once was. I used to get erections constantly but I guess this is called aging right. Lol. I'm sure part of it is due to the combination of hiv & the natural aging process. I still wonder about the Metoprolol though. It's benefited me so much, but I wonder if it's led to some of the hair thinning/libido loss I've felt. Maybe I can ask my doc about lowering my dose a bit.

My doc did tell me very emphatically that testosterone supplements (which I have seen many of my friends take in the gay community) are very bad for your health in his opinion. He said they can cause lots of major problems & told me to avoid them. So I don't think I'd ever take testosterone unless my doctor told me it would benefit me.

In the meantime I'll just ask if I can lower my blood pressure med dosage slightly & see if I do okay with it, & just try to keep eating healthy & stuff. Guess that's all I can do.

RobbyR · « **Reply #6 on:** May 19, 2015, 05:04:31 pm »

I'm going to ask my doctor about it. My libido overall is okay, but what I'm noticing is that my erections are less than they were, & last for less. Is there any basic good supplement for men that I should be taking that I'm not? I've heard B6 is good. Heard about testosterone gel too but unsure about that. I think my testosterone levels are ok. My issue seems to be erections more than libido. I'm only 33 too. One nurse once mentioned viagra or cialis? Would a low dose of those help? Are there any generics of them? I'd prefer to stay the natural route, but I miss my woodies. Don't know if the Metoprolol (beta blocker) is to blame but I'm cutting my dose of it down to see.

mecch · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2015, 06:17:17 pm »

Robby please think twice before tinkering with dosages of any of your medicine. Basically, do not self manage this. I don't. Most people don't do that. Take a list of all the medicine to your HIV doc or your gp, and talk about your libodo. Maybe the docs will test your T. Maybe if they do test your T, they will prescribe the gel or shots. But they don't give that stuff away easily thats for sure.
If you KNOW you are going to screw, yes, erection drugs could be your ticket for wood. My experience with them was that each molecule worked depending on the other drugs I was taking - my HIV molecules, or when I was on SSRIs. Each time I switched ART combos, the boner pills changed as to which was effective.
Cialis, when it worked, was the best because it was 2 days for me. Viagra is the one that works for me presently but its 4 hours.
There are no generics in USA. Far as I know. But you can check. Some of us in switzerland get them from India or when someone visits Thailand, where they sell the gell packets. Otherwise its 25 bucks a pill, not reimbursed here. Don't know about your medical plan if they would be reimbursed or not.
Long story short, don't adjust other medicine to experiment, just lay out THIS issue with a doctor and let the expert figure it out and offer solutions. Thats my opinion.

RobbyR · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2015, 06:31:22 pm »

Points taken mecch. I'm going to see my doc next week will ask her about it. I've already spoken with them on the phone they told me it's ok to slightly lower my beta blocker and see how I feel on it so I'm doing that. Next week I'll go more in depth with them. In the last few months I noticed that my erections would be flighty, come & go, not last as long as I'd like, except (oddly enough) when I jerk off I have no problem keeping it. It's when I want to have sex or something when they tend to be more fickle.

Not sure if it's an HIV thing, I've been on meds for about 5 years, or natural aging, or beta blocker, or combination. But I want to get better woodies. Cumming is no problem for me, it's just getting better quality erections is my only real complaint.

I'm on Ryan White grant & also the ACA insurance. Not sure if they'd cover something like Viagra or Cialis. The only reason I brought those up is because the cardiologist nurse mentioned them as possibilities for me when we spoke on the phone. But I'll have to ask my primary doc.

I know a lot of gay friends of mine who take testosterone gel or even shots. But that's probably has to be because their levels are low. I'll have to probably get labs done & see what my current levels are. And if they're low, maybe they can give me a testosterone supplement. If testosterone is fine, then I might need viagra or cialis.No idea.

But yea I'll ask my doc all this.

zach · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2015, 06:35:49 pm »

damn it robby, don't mess with the doses

(yes i've been waiting to use that one)

RobbyR · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2015, 07:09:21 pm »

As I said..I'm not "messing with the doses". The nurse from the prescribing doctor's office gave me the ok to lower my beta blocker dose. So I'm doing it with their approval.

mecch · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2015, 07:48:59 pm »

Good to hear

RobbyR · « **Reply #12 on:** May 20, 2015, 11:25:12 pm »

I tried lowering slightly my Metoprolol dosage with my doctor's approval, just to try, and unfortunately I had another bout of tachycardia

So I guess for now I'll have to keep the dose at 100mg a day to control that. I'm seeing my GP next week. Hopefully he can give me some options for getting back a sex life. I suspect the Lexapro & the Metoprolol are what have taken a toll on my penis. I have Medicaid & Viagra & Cialis were both on the formulary website, but I know no generic versions exist of them. Maybe my GP can give me some options for recovering my lost woodies. If my testosterone is low it should be as simple as trying gel or letting them do injections. If it ends up being normal though, then maybe they can give me a voucher for Viagra & try. I'll have to see. But I know without generic forms of them there'd be no way I could afford them without some type of voucher or coverage. I'll see what doc says, & report back.

zach · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2015, 12:01:34 am »

robby you're gonna kill your heart trying to get a hard on, read the warning label on viagra

i've had one orgasm this year... ONE!!!

only time i get hard is if i happen to wake up right before i wake up and i realize i've got morning wood...

RobbyR · « **Reply #14 on:** May 21, 2015, 06:27:31 pm »

I've had an echo, my heart is structurally normal. For some reason I just get these bouts of tachycardia/palpitations. The Metoprolol controls those very well. But it definitely has caused some pretty substantial erectile dysfunction. So I guess for now I'll stay with Metoprolol until my doc & I can figure out maybe a better alternative. And I'm definitely going to consider Viagra if the doc warrants it. I'm having a testosterone panel done to check those too just to be sure. Basically I need something to control my heart rate but also something to allow me to have normal reliable erections. I've just not long ago began dating again, & so I want to have somewhat of a normal sex life in future.

Lorenzopier · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2015, 02:40:40 pm »

Hello Robby in your first post you mentioned that occasionally you take a multi vitamin and that you take magnesium for a digestion issue. You also mentioned that you were diagnosed with slightly low vitamin D levels. Are you taking a vitamin D supplement daily with a meal that has some fat, and how many IU of vitamin D are you taking? This is very important because vitamin D plays a crucial role in the testosterone production pathways, and even slightly low levels of vitamin D can have a major impact on testosterone production and affect androgen binding proteins. Conversely levels of vitamin D that are above the normal range can cause lower production of testosterone. I also noticed that you take magnesium as a single agent which can cause a imbalance in calcium levels. Magnesium must always be taken with calcium to prevent this imbalance. If calcium levels have become deficient due to the intake of magnesium, then this can cause a lower production of free testosterone. Definitely get your total testosterone and free testosterone levels checked and follow the advice of your doctor. Post back and let me know the results of your total and free testosterone ranges. Restoration of libido can easily be achieved naturally.

RobbyR · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2015, 06:08:45 pm »

Quote from: Lorenzopier on May 22, 2015, 02:40:40 pm

Hello Robby in your first post you mentioned that occasionally you take a multi vitamin and that you take magnesium for a digestion issue. You also mentioned that you were diagnosed with slightly low vitamin D levels. Are you taking a vitamin D supplement daily with a meal that has some fat, and how many IU of vitamin D are you taking? This is very important because vitamin D plays a crucial role in the testosterone production pathways, and even slightly low levels of vitamin D can have a major impact on testosterone production and affect androgen binding proteins. Conversely levels of vitamin D that are above the normal range can cause lower production of testosterone. I also noticed that you take magnesium as a single agent which can cause a imbalance in calcium levels. Magnesium must always be taken with calcium to prevent this imbalance. If calcium levels have become deficient due to the intake of magnesium, then this can cause a lower production of free testosterone. Definitely get your total testosterone and free testosterone levels checked and follow the advice of your doctor. Post back and let me know the results of your total and free testosterone ranges. Restoration of libido can easily be achieved naturally.

Thanks so much for the response! This one is one of the most helpful responses I've had. Way back they told me my Vitamin D levels were slightly low & my doc recommended a supplement so I am taking one though not every day but I will. Today I went for labs & had the metabolic panel, usual hiv numbers, & testosterone levels done among others.I do take Magnesium because I had some minor hemorrhoid flare ups in past & the Magnesium helps with digestion I find. I usually take 500mg of Magnesium a day. I do know for sure that I do NOT get enough calcium. I am lactose intolerant. But I hadn't thought of that! I'll def have to ask my doc about adding more calcium, if my testosterone turns out to be low.

I think the last time my testosterone was checked, it was something like 280 or so. I know that's in normal range but it still struck me as a bit low.

I'll see how my doc interprets the lab results, and if indeed it is a testosterone issue I'll def explore all options to try and boost it. I have friends who are hiv positive who get regular testosterone injections at the same clinic I go to. I guess their levels are low.

If it isn't a testosterone issue, then I guess viagra or cialis would be what they do for erectile dysfunction.

I'll report back when I hear from doc. Thanks again for the responses.

Lorenzopier · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2015, 06:20:57 pm »

Thanks so much for your response Robby. Since you have the correct magnesium dosage nailed down, lets gets things into gear by adding the correct dose of calcium which is 1000mg divided into two doses or 500mg per a meal. You are also correct in establishing that the vitamin D must be taken daily. Supplemental calcium does not pose the lactose intolerance that some experience from diary.

Joe K · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2015, 07:14:05 pm »

Robby,

I hope you are coordinating all these supplements with your doctor? An average person does not need supplements on the magnitude that you are taking and they can create real issues with other health problems you have. It takes time to address each issue and you must tell your doctor about EVERYTHING you are taking, so they know to look for potential problems.

Joe

Forums Index

Welcome

Author Topic: Questions About Supplements (Read 12581 times)