Re: Men, read this if you take pain meds!

[Guest guest]

Wow! What an eye opener. I know several people to which this applies. Thank you

for sharing.

Ellen-Hangin in

Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless

> wrote:

> Opioid medications block the production of testosterone and this effect is

reversible after cessation but may take time.

[Guest guest]

I too suffer from secondary hypogonadism (aka Low-T) which was brought on by

either my brain tumor or the vast quantity of opioids I take. I take 4 times the

normal dose of Androgel to counteract the symptoms.

Steve M in PA, age 21

Married with 3 year old daughter

Duragesic 300mcg/hr (q48hr)

Actiq-600 (4/day)

OxyIR 30mg (6/day)

Grade II DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma)

Fibromyalgia

Probable RSD

> wrote:

> Opioid medications block the production of testosterone and this effect is

reversible after cessation but may take time.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting that information. Sadly I think doctors do not think or

do not want to tell patients about these side effects. I know several of the

older anti depressants cause similar problems. I think patients do not even

realize that is what the problem is. Then they feel it is just another problem

to struggle with and one they are hesitant or embarrassed to ask about.

Woman also can experience changes in their mood and sex drive from long term use

of pain medications and sometimes antidepressants.

I am thrilled to see someone post this type of information. I think it is

important to share our experiences both positive and negative some others are

not suffering in silence!

Many gentle hugs, Tami

> wrote:

> Opioid medications block the production of testosterone and this effect is

reversible after cessation but may take time. I myself have needed testosterone

replacement.

[Guest guest]

> wrote:

> How his testrotosone levels were low and he feels better now that he was

tested and treated. I deleted his original post by accident but wanted to share

the importance of hormones and getting them tested for both genders.

All,

This applies to both genders and is discussed in the " Survival Guide for

Intractable Pain Patients " by Dr. Forest Tenent and research has shown that

estrogen and testosterone helps decrease pain along with Vitamin D deficiency.

The actual pain cycle itself causes and increased cortisol adrenal level state

to tell the body something is wrong so it is thought that this also depletes the

hormone levels by causing an imbalance.

I am going back on my Estritest HRT (hormone replacement therapy) since my

cardiac test was okay and other thinks are also.

Estrogen helps to prevent inflammation which can cause joint pain.

Low estrogen levels cause the stress hormone cortisone to rise. Higher cortisol

levels trigger the fight / flight response in the central nervous system with

higher blood pressure and insulin levels and rapid heart beat

I think all chronic pain patients should have a metabolic lab panel or lab work

for a baseline as we need to take care of these things. Thank you for

reminding of this and this is important for us to feel as good as we can. Just

remember that uncontrolled pain can do this also so we have to make sure our

pain is controlled and the medications we take do not make us worse. Bennie

*You can look this up and maybe bring in the research so the Doctor might be

more susceptible to the information and it is sad that more Doctors do not learn

more about it.

[Guest guest]

Hello every one

I ended up with enlarged breasts from the pain meds causing low testosterone. I

can no longer go with out a shirt in public. It is very noticeable and it makes

me self conscious all the time.

I see people looking at me, especially when I wear a T-shirt. I wear an large

are extra large shirt now so it is not as noticeable.

Does any one else have the problem?

50s

Duragesic 600mcg/hr every 72hour

Morphine sulfate 30 mg 10 a day for break through.

RSD

Bill/Mi