Aromatase Inhibitor Supplement?

Training Over 35 Lifter
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[quote]mobiuskoan wrote:
vroom wrote:
Yeah, I think I3C is pretty basic… doesn’t it have to convert into a more effective form as well after consumption anyway?

I have no idea. You’d think my doc, who prescribed the stuff and is an expert (or at least she claims to be!) in analyzing and treating hormone issues, wouldn’t waste my time having me take something for two months that is ineffective. Maybe it works for some folks, not others. Anybody else on this forum try this stuff? Anybody try it, and then move to Amiridex?[/quote]

I was treated by a BodyLogicMD doc in Chicago for a few months. His protocol for me was HCG (500 iu either daily or every other day ) and Arimidex (0.5mg twice a week).

My estradiol was always high. We did it that way to support fertility. After we had our second child, I switched to T shots. That worked ok for a while, but then we found I needed about 140mg a week, which took my E2 up, so now we’re trying Arimidex.

I am surprised that a BodyLogicMD doc is recommending something OTC.

I believe there’s been some research that DIM is better than IC3, though they are related, and the point of this, though whether you use IC3 or DIM, is that neither is an aromatase inhibitor. It will not stop the conversion of T to E. What it does do is influence the liver’s metabolism of estrogen to yield less carcinogenic metabolites.

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[quote]bigdawg011 wrote:
My doc finally prescribed Arimidex for me, covered by insurance fortunately so I have a $25 copay per month.

The thing is he prescribed 1mg per DAY. Should I start at 1 per week and titrate?

The thing is I won’t get labs again until the end of January.

My last labs were:
TT 1541 (270-1734)
FT 534 (400-600)
E2 49.6 (0-56)
SHBG 17 (13-71)

I want my E2 where KSman suggests. I’ve actually been feeling really good for the most part. The irritability is more occasional than it had been in the past.[/quote]

Adex is self limiting. A research study [not intended to determine or suggest dosing] found that young normal males given 1 or 2 mg/day ended up with the same amount of E2. And 1/2 or 1/4mg/day might have done the same. You cannot tritate down in that situation as the dose-response has flat lined.

I think your doctor has goofed. Your insurance company should also not that you are not a female with breast cancer.

You could try the 1mg/wk, possibly adjusted for weight a %BF. I would expect that 1mg would take you into the high 20’s. You might be better off with 1.5mg/wk to start. Figure out how to take every 2nd or 3rd day… not easy with tablets.

You might adjust the 1.5mg by weight if you are significantly heavier then 160 pounds. Again, fine tuning dose with fragments of tablets is a problem. You might make up your own solution in a dropper bottle… best to shake the solution before dispensing.

By starting lower and working up, you can also note how you feel from a libido point of view. Other changes can too slow to be useful for determining what is right for you.

In most cases, too much adex is only a waste of money and it has no side effects. Rarely a male will over-react to adex and will have E2 go single digits. One guy known to me was on 1/8th mg/wk… again, very rare. He would notice a blip in libido then loose that libido as E2 went very low.

As with changes in T, the effects of E2 on libido have a absolute level steady state effect and an transient effect. You can feel something from the change, but you don’t feel the effects the same way later at a steady level. So some of the initial libido experienced when E2 drops will not persist.

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185# 18%BF

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Thanks for all the helpful and insightful replies, guys! After 10 years, I’m looking forward to being a heck of a lot closer to my old self. I can’t help but feel annoyed remembering the assessments I got from a couple general practitioners many years ago regarding the hair loss on my lower legs.

One asked me if it ran in my family (which I guess is fair, but it doesn’t) and the other surmised that it was from my pant legs rubbing against my legs! Gee, I bet the ladies would love to hear that they don’t need to shave anymore, just wear long pants more often. I can’t believe I paid these people…

And I forgot to mention this in my initial posting, but I also have mild BPH. Now I learn that that may have been caused by my E issues. But the urologist wasn’t interested in looking for causes, only in prescribing drugs like Flomax and suggesting surgery if that weren’t effective.

It really sucks that, essentially, I’ve had to diagnose myself.

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arimidex is far more powerful than indole 3 carbinol for dealing with E2.

E2 is subject to reuptake through the small intestine. maintaining healthy levels of probiotics defeats tht reuptake.

I’m using something similar to arimidex but as an element along with bio-identical testosterone in a transdermal cream. E2 levels fell sharply as a result. Sorry, I don’t remember the specific pharmaceutical. My physician prescribes it, and a compounding pharmacy makes the blend.

indole-3-carbinol can be purchased in bulk for pennies on the dollar. it’s use, however, is questionable.

topical over-the-counter progesterone does a good job in both reducing estradiols and blocking 5 alpha reductase from metabolizing test to (5 alpha)-DHT. When my PSAs shot up after a couple of years on exogenous test, I found use of over the counter progesterone stopped the problem in its tracks. See the late Dr. John Lee’s website for more information on these matters.

best regards,

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Well, I started my “experimentation” today. I’m pretty excited about it.

I was wondering though: why is it that some men as they age (me, for example) start to overproduce aromatase? At least, I’m assuming that is what is happening. My testosterone production is OK, but I’m producing too much aromatase. At least, that’s my understanding of it. I did a little bit of googling and couldn’t find an explanation. Does anybody understand this?

Because my general understanding of how the body ages is that things decrease/slow down as we age, not increase/speed up. I wonder if there is an evolutionary explanation. Maybe it’s a biological inducement for men to shift their energies from wanton procreating to focusing on protecting at least some of their genetic investment, i.e. their children. Just a thought…

Mike