[rockofage]

I first took injections once a month, but that put me on a hormone roller coaster. For the first ten days I felt invigorated, for the second ten days I felt normal, and for the last ten days I was back to being tired, irritable and depressed.

After some research I switched to androderm (the patch), applying one 5mg patch/day, and it was wonderful. I was on androderm for about three years, and during a conversation, discovered I had an Uncle who had just been diagnosed with a low T level, and was taking androgel. He spoke highly about how convenient it was only having to apply it in the morning after a shower. The only complaint I had with the patch was that it will come off if you are either doing heavy labor and sweating profusely, or swimming, so I switched to androgel, to give it a try, under the same dose of one 5mg pouch/day.

I was on androgel (5mg/day) ~six months and was ready to go back to the patch. My T level test revealed my testosterone level, on androgel, was only 114.2. During the physical I mentioned to my doctor that I was not as satisfied with the gel, as I was with the patch. I didn’t feel “quite right” with the same dose of the gel (less energy especially at the end of the day, irritable at the end of the day, lower libido at the end of the day), and if I miss a dose of the gel, I really notice it. My wife calls testosterone, my “anti-a—hole” medication. When I forget and skip a dose of the gel, even I notice I am in a foul mood. My wife has noticed the gel hasn’t worked as well, and encouraged me to go back to the patch.

My thought is (total laymen hypothesis), that the patch was better regulating the dose as a timed release device. I don’t think I get the same, timed release, with the gel, and think I am getting the entire 5mg absorbed in the AM, but by late afternoon my symptoms are telling me my testosterone levels are down. The recent test results were taken in the AM, so I know at the very least the 5mg gel dose is probably too low. I am going back to the patch. The gel is convenient, but I don’t mind the “big band aid”, and feel it gives me a better timed release dose.

[rockofage]

My Doctor wanted to increase my androgel (the gel) dose from 5mg to 10mg/day, however I requested to switch back to androderm (the patch) at a smaller dose of 7.5mg/day (one 5mg patch and one 2.5mg patch). My point to him was that I was feeling moody with the gel, wanted to go back to the patch, and if the dose still wasn't right when I get tested again then we can eventually go to 10mg/day.

I have just finished 30 days back on the patch (7.5mg/day) and it has been outstanding. No more mood swings, libido is back up, energy is pretty constant throughout the day. I am very satisfied with the patch. I will find out in five months if the dose is high enough from testing (the higher dose may be partially responsible), however I do know that I currently feel much better constantly throughout the day, than I did with the gel. My preference is to stick with the patch.