Why does DHEA supplementation stop working?

[kingplaya4]

As many of you may have read in my previous posts, I have a number of symptoms related to low testosterone. One thing which I'm not sure is "chicken or egg" is catching frequent colds at least once a month and more in the winter. Anyway, my energy, mood, and cold symptoms don't appear when I supplement with DHEA. (I have stopped using Testosterone) This usually lasts for a month, and then I begin getting my old lack of energy back, cold symptoms etc. When I was using Schiff DHEA the benefits only lasted a week. (I now use Country life) And another brand was the same. So I have a situation where I'm essentially cured temporarilly by DHEA but it only lasts temporarilly and benefits vary based on what brand I use.

Is there any explanation of all this, and perhaps any way to counter it? Unfortunately I need to stop DHEA for a month at least before I can restart and again feel the benefits. If I restart too soon, no benefit.

Any input on this would be great. Thanks.

 

[rockdoc]

Not sure about the DHEA but are you taking Vitamin D? Its vital for immune system health.

 

[DJ_UFO]

If you are diagnosed with low testosterone, why did you stop supplementing with it? Low testosterone levels is not healthy. Physiologically, with low levels you are "less man"

 

[XMAN.]

agree with DJ u need to supplement urself with test not dhea if u want a healthy lifestyle.

 

[hannes joubert]

DHEA is 'sposed to be a precursor to steroid hormones like T and E, not so?

So perhaps what is happening is that when kingoplaya4 starts with the DHEA supp, the body uses the precursor to synth the hormones and he feels better, then within 30 days his body is back in homeostasis and it feels as though the DHEA is not working anymore, then he goes off for 30 days, the body returns to original baseline levels and then he starts the whole process again.

Perhaps leave the DHEA for 30 days, get a blood panel done, and then start the DHEA supplementation again, and have another blood panel done when you feel good again, then compare the two by having someone on the board interperet the results for you?

Anybody agree with the above?

H

 

[XMAN.]

yes DHEA is the parent steroid for both androgens and estrogens but supplementing it can work to a certain extent , it depends on how much the body is metabolizing it to produce androgens and estrogens , maybe it's not producing enough and he's just feeling the little bump in the beginning and then it stalls. IMO it's not enough as a treatment for low test and should switch to a full hrt regimen of course after having blood work done and seeing an endo.

 

[kingplaya4]

Interesting theories so far guys. If I used Transdermal DHEA would that change matters at all? I've tried testosterone supplementation. For some reason with androgel, I get sick just as always (with frequent colds etc) and do see some boost but it isn't very significant (my bloodwork says otherwise but I don't feel it physically) Total T on adrogel 700 free T 25. I took the shots for a couple of months (once every two weeks) that was much better, but I had serious insomnia (had to to take double my usual dose of sleeping pills and had mood swings where I would get really angry about minor things.)

Anyway, I've been doing some reading on adrenal fatigue and I think I fit the syndrome to a T. I doubt I've ever had particularly high Testosterone levels as I can't grow a full beard and have never been very muscular, but prior to moving to Korea I had good energy levels, was rarely sick, and had a high sex drive (at least I think it was, can't imagine if other people want it even more lol) After several months in Korea I began to get sick frequently, and my energy and sex drive have been getting worse and worse. After one year here I could already feel a big difference, and I doubt it was getting one year older between 26 and 27. I did come back to the US after two years for a two month rest, and although I did recover somewhat it wasn't a big difference, and I had to go back.

I've seen so many doctors and have gotten few answers. Most don't even want to treat me because of my age or they want to give me Testosterone and send me on my away. At this point I've decided to diagnose myself and procede as if I have adrenal fatigue. I've read some about progesterone cream for men with adrenal fatigue. There is a life-flo brand on ebay. Anybody know if this is real stuff and if so, what the effects on men can be? I also trying resveratrol and maca as well as a multivitamin. I will try to update and let people know what works for me and what doesn't.

 

[hannes joubert]

I feel your pain Bro....

You started feeling bad after moving? Is there not something in the new location that you are allergic to? Maybe heavy metal (not the music) poisoning? Food type allergies etc? You may want to look at your situation from a different angle. If you had been under a greater than normal amount of stress for a prolonged period with not so stellar diet exercise etc, then yes, adrenal fatigue could very well be a possibility...The reason I say that is because that is what my life extension diagnosed me with and he also prescribed a progesterone cream, however, I decided to go with trt instead...

Please keep us updated if you don't mind

Peace,

H

BTW, I am of the opinion, and guys, feel free to chip in here...Multi Vits, anti oxidants etc will only help to a degree. If your hormone profile is messed up (as in the case of adrenal fatigue/hypo gonadism, you would have to address these parent issues before the other supplements will help.

 

[DJ_UFO]

Supplementing with DHEA is not effective. You need intramuscular Testosterone injections. In the numbers you posted while using patches, your Free Testosterone is TOO LOW. That means automatically low libido. You can have a total test of 5000, but if your free test is on the floor, there will be no libido. You need a full blood panel to see how are your SHBG levels for free test and all the other hormones that play a role in the endocrine system.

 

[XMAN.]

again agree with DJ , u should check ur blood panels and specially free T E2 and SHBG ,all the bad mood anxiety are coming from a high E2 SHBG and a low free T , that's what happened to me when i first started HRT and solved it by using aromasin.
u need a real HRT regimen , test e or cyp injected on weekly basis (if not twice a week which is even better) and an AI (aromasin , arimidex , femara or letro) u could include a low dose of deca too in ur regimen as it'll help a lot with immunity and joint support, i do it 2-3 times a year i add 50-100 mg deca to my hrt and run it for 2-3 months, at 50mg u can keep running it all year long.
good luck