Question... not sure where to post this here

[RugbyHooligan]

I am on Androgel as part of a TRT regimen and my insurance is about to lapse until February.

I have an appointment with my doctor this wednesday and I hope to convince her to use a compounding pharmacy to alleviate a lot of the cost and to get me a better product.

I am not sure of the rules of the board regarding this, but how can I find a reputable compounding pharmacy and how can I convince her to go this route?

 

[Selene]

do not hold breath not good atmosphere at this time for request such as this

good luck to you

 

[2raptors]

you're right...not a good time, OR PLACE to ask....your current provider should be able to provide you with that info...... GL

 

[RugbyHooligan]

thats what I figured, just had to try

I know the time is horrible but it sucks that people who actually use the service legitimately get drowned out by those that abuse it.

thank you.

 

[PWTurbofan]

You didn't say how much AndroGel you were prescribed, but the stuff runs about $250 per box (of the 50mg packets), and if you're taking two per day, the box only lasts two weeks. In comparison, prescrip test cypionate (branded, Pharmacia) is about $120 per 10ml vial (dosed at 200mg/ml). For HRT, this would last about 10 weeks (1ml shot/week).

If cost is a concern, just tell your doc that you can't afford the AndroGel and would prefer to be switched to a more economical alternative such as injectables. How could she argue with this? Plus, the injectables are just a better product, IMO.

Good luck.

 

[needtogetaas]

You didn't say how much AndroGel you were prescribed, but the stuff runs about $250 per box (of the 50mg packets), and if you're taking two per day, the box only lasts two weeks. In comparison, prescrip test cypionate (branded, Pharmacia) is about $120 per 10ml vial (dosed at 200mg/ml). For HRT, this would last about 10 weeks (1ml shot/week).

If cost is a concern, just tell your doc that you can't afford the AndroGel and would prefer to be switched to a more economical alternative such as injectables. How could she argue with this? Plus, the injectables are just a better product, IMO.

Good luck.

Sounds good to me.

 

[RugbyHooligan]

You didn't say how much AndroGel you were prescribed, but the stuff runs about $250 per box (of the 50mg packets), and if you're taking two per day, the box only lasts two weeks. In comparison, prescrip test cypionate (branded, Pharmacia) is about $120 per 10ml vial (dosed at 200mg/ml). For HRT, this would last about 10 weeks (1ml shot/week).

If cost is a concern, just tell your doc that you can't afford the AndroGel and would prefer to be switched to a more economical alternative such as injectables. How could she argue with this? Plus, the injectables are just a better product, IMO.

Good luck.

I am on 10mg per day.... I am on the pump and it takes 4 pumps for 4 weeks. This shit is wicked pricey without insurance.

I have an appointment with her wednesday and I am really going to try to convince her to go the shot route and trust my judgement with this and not continue with the overpriced, insurance company has me by the balls, androgel.

what should I tell her about dosage and whatnot so I can go in there with convincing info besides price that tells her that I know what I am talking about?

thank you for the info and I just read that sticky about labs.... yea I come from another forum and didn't get a chance to read your stickies yet.

 

[Mavafanculo]

questions about TRT and compunding pharmacies via doctors scripts are fine imo, but you might get a better answer in the life extension forum - I'll copy this there as well

 

[jhondo]

As you've found, Androgel is the most ridiculously overpriced thing your doctor could prescribe to you as far as TRT goes. If he has any scruples at all, he should volunteer to write a script for a pharmacy to create a cream for you. They can customize it so it is more potent than Androgel and cost MUCH less. I don't know about now but it used to be like 30 bucks as opposed to 240.

 

[digimon7068]

questions about TRT and compunding pharmacies via doctors scripts are fine imo, but you might get a better answer in the life extension forum - I'll copy this there as well

yup. . .as long as it's legal there shouldn't be any reason why you/we can't talk about it openly. . .

i'm being evaluated currently by a legitimate doc for hrt. . .i've had my physical and i'm just waiting on the results of my blood tests. . .i'm 43 so it's pretty much of a slam dunk. . .additionally, as a result of some of my joint issues (i got djd in both knees), it's my understanding that in addition to t.est, i will most likely get a prescription for d.e.ca. . .along with h.c.g and an anti-e, the cost is supposed to be around $100 per month, including sharps, alcohol swabs, etc. . .not bad. . .especially compared to the costs of incarceration. . .

 

[musclemom]

My husband's insurance didn't cover the cost of the compounded stuff at all, but it was bioidentical test, which might make a difference. It was, I believe, about $150 for a similar dosage to what you're using. Good pharmacy, but maybe they were overpriced.

I have to ask, why don't you switch over to injectible? Much cheaper, more convenient in our (his) opinion.

 

[RugbyHooligan]

I'm seeing my doc wednesday and I am bringing a list of compounding pharmacies in new york and info about cypionate as per TRT. I hope to convince her of the situation so I can be put on the more affordable, more convenient way of doing things.

androgel is nice but inconvenient and the insurance hassle isn't always worth it

 

[digimon7068]

I'm seeing my doc wednesday and I am bringing a list of compounding pharmacies in new york and info about cypionate as per TRT. I hope to convince her of the situation so I can be put on the more affordable, more convenient way of doing things.

androgel is nice but inconvenient and the insurance hassle isn't always worth it

wtf did you get g-bombed for??

oh, btw, i played 2nd row and 8 man for 4 years in college

 

[musclemom]

I'm seeing my doc wednesday and I am bringing a list of compounding pharmacies in new york and info about cypionate as per TRT. I hope to convince her of the situation so I can be put on the more affordable, more convenient way of doing things.

androgel is nice but inconvenient and the insurance hassle isn't always worth it

You're actually not limited to your geographic area, most of the compounding pharmacies I've dealt with ship nationwide.

There's really no reason why she shouldn't be willing to put you on injections, if the needle isn't an issue for you, it's so much easier (usually one shot once a week). HRT is HRT.

 

[RugbyHooligan]

wtf did you get g-bombed for??

oh, btw, i played 2nd row and 8 man for 4 years in college

gbombed because someone answered me with a smart comment so I called him on it and he used his "platinum power" to gbomb me.... another reason why internet bulletin boards can be idiotic.

I play #3 and 2nd Row... have for 10 years

I am going to bring her lit about injections and hope she works with me

 

[Mavafanculo]

yup. . .as long as it's legal there shouldn't be any reason why you/we can't talk about it openly. . .

i'm being evaluated currently by a legitimate doc for hrt. . .i've had my physical and i'm just waiting on the results of my blood tests. . .i'm 43 so it's pretty much of a slam dunk. . .additionally, as a result of some of my joint issues (i got djd in both knees), it's my understanding that in addition to t.est, i will most likely get a prescription for d.e.ca. . .along with h.c.g and an anti-e, the cost is supposed to be around $100 per month, including sharps, alcohol swabs, etc. . .not bad. . .especially compared to the costs of incarceration. . .

did you talk about doses yet? - most people have been reporting TRT script doses in the neighborhood of 150mg every week

 

[digimon7068]

did you talk about doses yet? - most people have been reporting TRT script doses in the neighborhood of 150mg every week

i'll post up as soon as i have info. . .every otherwise healthy guy over 35, that leads an active, physical lifestyle ought to look into it imho. . .i'm not expecting any "life extension", i just wanna have as much fun as possible with the time that i get. . .

 

[musclemom]

My husband is 53 and currently is on 200 mg every ten days, plus 1 mg Arimidex M-F, and two Novedex every night until he uses up the bottle, then I take him off for a couple of weeks. His serum test is 1120 (range 241-827) and his free test is 43.8 (range 7.2-24)

His doctor is a trip. Doctor says "How do you feel" husband says "Fucking great" doc says, okay, numbers are a little high but everything else is good, so we'll keep things as they are.

 

[RugbyHooligan]

My husband is 53 and currently is on 200 mg every ten days, plus 1 mg Arimidex M-F, and two Novedex every night until he uses up the bottle, then I take him off for a couple of weeks. His serum test is 1120 (range 241-827) and his free test is 43.8 (range 7.2-24)

His doctor is a trip. Doctor says "How do you feel" husband says "Fucking great" doc says, okay, numbers are a little high but everything else is good, so we'll keep things as they are.

yea that is a tad high, but if he feels good thats all that counts

 

[musclemom]

yea that is a tad high, but if he feels good thats all that counts

He just had a blood draw this past Thursday, I want to see those results. If he's still that high I think I'm gonna encourage him nudge it down to 150 every 10 days and see how it goes.

 

[digimon7068]

He just had a blood draw this past Thursday, I want to see those results. If he's still that high I think I'm gonna encourage him nudge it down to 150 every 10 days and see how it goes.

the perpetual woody starting to annoy you??

 

[musclemom]

the perpetual woody starting to annoy you??

More truth there than I'd like to admit, but believe it or not, it's more like it's starting to bother him, he's beginning to worry that he's got priaprism or something. He'll wake up at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. and it's THERE and it stays there. He's afraid the blood will congeal or something

I just worry if there's any sort of negative health impact with such high levels.

 

[digimon7068]

More truth there than I'd like to admit, but believe it or not, it's more like it's starting to bother him, he's beginning to worry that he's got priaprism or something. He'll wake up at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. and it's THERE and it stays there. He's afraid the blood will congeal or something

I just worry if there's any sort of negative health impact with such high levels.

as long as the doc does regular blood tests (esp. prostate) and there's no negative changes in mood, etc., there shouldn't be any problems. . .i think that's what the hrt is all about. . .improving/maintaining quality of life. . .and the seggz is a big part of the "quality" for me. . .

 

[musclemom]

as long as the doc does regular blood tests (esp. prostate) and there's no negative changes in mood, etc., there shouldn't be any problems. . .i think that's what the hrt is all about. . .improving/maintaining quality of life. . .and the seggz is a big part of the "quality" for me. . .

Oh he got the finger stick and he gets six week draws like clockwork.

His quality of life improved 150%. Like night and day. The funny part is that he never had sexual problems, his were all emotional stuff. He was depressed, Digimon, really fucking low and just had zero ambition, came home from work and totally crashed out. I won't say he's the Energizer bunny, but he wants to do something other than work and sleep, he gets excited about things, has ideas and stuff.

Frigging M.D. wanted to put him on an antidepressant. I constantly wonder how much depression in men over 30 is low testosterone (I think it affects the shit out of women, too).

 

[digimon7068]

Oh he got the finger stick and he gets six week draws like clockwork.

His quality of life improved 150%. Like night and day. The funny part is that he never had sexual problems, his were all emotional stuff. He was depressed, Digimon, really fucking low and just had zero ambition, came home from work and totally crashed out. I won't say he's the Energizer bunny, but he wants to do something other than work and sleep, he gets excited about things, has ideas and stuff.

Frigging M.D. wanted to put him on an antidepressant. I constantly wonder how much depression in men over 30 is low testosterone (I think it affects the shit out of women, too).

you don't have to have "sexual problems" perse in order for hrt to significantly improve your sex life. . .as far as the depression thing. . .i have no statistics (there hasn't been enough research yet) but i'll bet 80% (or more) of males that are over the age of 30, that suffer from the classical symptoms of depression, would improve significantly from hrt, exercise, diet and nothing else. . .the rest of the meds just mask the problem(s) imho. . .

 

[thelion2005]

I am probably the oldest person here and have been on HRT for years. I'll never go back.

As for the original question, I had no problem having my insurance pay for androgel or compounded bio-identical testo. And my blood tests said that both raised my testo total and free levels significantly. I found the bio to be smoother.

Compound pharms belong to associations and are easy to find via Google. Just try

compound pharmacy yourcity

Then visit two or three and see who is sending them prescriptions.