Hi all,
I have now started TRT, and I’m curious if I can take rhodiola rosea while on TRT. I’ve been taking it up until now and am now not sure after starting TRT. I left a msg for my doc, but he did not get back to me on it.
I have been trying to research this subject myself without much luck.
If anyone has any thoughts, thank you… there is the whole “RR helps boost T” floating around out there, but I really like it for the effects on mood more than anything.
Thanks!
I don’t see why not.
My main concern is that I see RR touted as reducing the effects of menopause. Since one of the chief causes in menopause is a reduction in estrogen, it would follow that RR may increase estrogen. Being on TRT and stimulating the increase of estrogen seems like it would not be the best course of action. However, this is my own surmising from my armchair nutritionist/endocrinologist’s seat, so I may be wrong.
Anyone have any thoughts in this regard?
[quote]ZenFitness wrote:
My main concern is that I see RR touted as reducing the effects of menopause. Since one of the chief causes in menopause is a reduction in estrogen, it would follow that RR may increase estrogen. Being on TRT and stimulating the increase of estrogen seems like it would not be the best course of action. However, this is my own surmising from my armchair nutritionist/endocrinologist’s seat, so I may be wrong.
Anyone have any thoughts in this regard?[/quote]
Are you using an AI while on trt? If yes then the rising of estrogen should not really be of concern since the AI would take care of it.
Are you monitoring E2 levels at all?
I just started TRT last Thursday (6/7/2012) and will be having my first blood test at the beginning of the next month (July). Before starting TRT my E2 was at 18.5 (normal range 7.6 - 42.6)… so yes, monitoring, but I’m not sure what the effect is thus far.
rhodiola rosea causes e2 to rise?
dammit i just started taking this and i have e2 problems
Don’t take my word for granite on this one… I only inferred this as it is advocated to treat menopause in women, and declining estrogen is the main factor (from what I understand) in causing menopause. What I’m saying could easily be broscience… I just can’t find anything anywhere discussing this link. RR apparently did cause estrogenic effects in female rats in terms of the size of their uterus (or something along those lines), but I haven’t been able to actually find the study on this (I’ve seen it referenced multiple times).
I will say that the energy boost I get on RR is remarkable… I definitely miss the afternoon boost.
[quote]paulieserafini wrote:
rhodiola rosea causes e2 to rise?
dammit i just started taking this and i have e2 problems
[/quote]
I am usually very skeptical of plants like this… I mean if the plant works as good as Tribulus for testosterone you have nothing to worry about.
rhodiola decreases cortisol. it has zero effect on estrogen i dont know where you read that.
A couple of studies/articles I found:
http://www.aacrmeetingabstracts.org/cgi/content/abstract/2004/1/663-b
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6399116/description.html
The former suggests no E2 effect, the latter the opposite.
Another article that shows potential estrogen and testosterone increases… can you see why this is so confusing? Just search the PDF for estrogen and testosterone - practically in the same paragraphs:
RR recommended here for adrenal support in low testosterone males:
http://www.drmostovoy.com/Decline_of_Masculinity.htm
I’m researching this further and will post back with results.
I’m also seeing that RR is potentially an adaptogen - does this mean its function would be to regulate hormones instead of increase one or the other? I’m not 100% sure on what an adaptogenic herb does.
i found equal sites showing that rhodiola has no effect on estradiol. take it and have your blood e2 tested because thats the only way to know for sure. plus most of the studies showing it does increase estrogen were done on menopausal women.
I just had my first round of blood work done while on TRT. I was not taking rhodiola rosea during my initial blood work (just before starting), and my E2 levels are as follows:
Before TRT: 18.5, range 7.6 - 42.6
After seven week of TRT: 11.5, range 7.6 - 42.6
My total T has tripled from TRT, so I would have expected higher E2.
As a result (and this is just my personal experience), I’m cutting out rhodiola altogether. My E2 is now too low in my opinion - it should be double what it tested for or slightly higher.
Thus, and this is only from one blood test on one individual, RR has not increased my E2. I started it about 3 - 4 weeks in on TRT, and I felt like shit after that along with some other issues (semi-ED, etc.). I stopped taking it a few days ago (about a week after my blood work) and all those symptoms disappeared, so potentially my E2 is coming back up.