Is there anyone out there who takes both Testim and Arimidex?
I take 10g Testim daily, and it holds my free T in the 700s. However, my estradiol is usually in the high 30s, low 40s with Quest’s ultrasensitive assay.
I convinced my endo to write me a script for Arimidex, but he wrote it for 1mg daily. This seems too high.
Does anyone out there have any experience with Testim and Arimidex? Most of the posts abotu Arimidex seem to be from guys who are doing the shots.
Three drops daily of liquidex took my E2 from 41 to 18. I’ve lost a bit of weight, so cut to two drops per day but haven’t rechecked yet. PM me if you want the sight I buy it from. It’s cheap. Screw the script.
I am bumpin this up just to check again if there is anyone out there who has taken Testim - or really any T gel - and Arimidex at the same time.
Please stop assuming that T-gels are an issue at all. Your need for anastrozole is mostly driven by your FT or bio-T levels. You can use any form of T delivery to increase T levels. If you know your serum E2 level and its non optimal, you need to manage your R2 level with anastrozole.
Yes, many using T-gels need E2 modulation and they use anastrozole. Your question is really a statement of your misunderstanding of some basics.
Some do need more anastrozole with T-gels because of the large skin areas with high T levels and the pressure created on T–>E2 aromatization in the fat cells under the skin. T creams are applied to smaller areas and this effect is less.
Injections [frequent]: less E created in the skin, normal DHT created in the skin, 100% absorbed, $
Creams: some E created in the skin, more DHT created in the skin, 10% or less absorbed, $$
T-gels: most E created in the skin, most DHT created in the skin, 10% or less absorbed, $$$$
Note that some will absorb transdermals then soon will not. Some simply do not respond at all. Those who do not respond are typically having some degree of hypothyroidism.
It is safe to say that T-gel users probably need larger amounts if anastrozole to manage any given serum T levels.
Hey KSman, solid post with some useful knowledge. A couple questions…
What do you mean by, “the pressure created on T–>E2 aromatization in the fat cells under the skin.”
For the people who are nonresponders to tgel, do their T bloodwork numbers not go up even when they are on the gel?
The testosterone tissue concentrations under the skin exceed serum levels. T–>E conversion is driven by FT or Bio-T concentrations. T in tissues is substantially free because there is no SHBG. So E2 production in the skin from T-gels can be a significant factor contributing to one’s serum E2 levels.
Some non responders have T increases that then drop. Some do not absorb, but make E2 in their skin which increases serum E2 levels, which further represses their HPTA, which lowers T below levels prior to TRT, and the now have more E and less T, and feel much worse.
And there are those that are poor responders. Some docs do not understand and will simply keep increasing the dose.
Note that some guys metabolize T at an unusual rate. Some guys need to inject 300mg/week to get levels near what most get injecting 100mg/week. Put that person on T gel and he would be applying 30 grams per day. That would be insane and could also do insane things to E levels.
What to we call them… hyper-metabolizers or hypo-responders?
Another question: When I read guys’ subjective descriptions of their experiences with gels or shots, it seems that there’s a frequent theme that comes up. Guys say they have low libido/erection quality with the gel, then they switch to the shots and their libido goes back up. It seems I read it again and again, at this site and on others.
After reading what you say here, does it seem like that could be connected to the higher t->e conversion with the gels?
Yes in part… if E is not been managed.
When transdermal works well, libido can be higher because of the higher DHT, if E is managed.
I think that the basis of what you have found to read is that there are guys who were not absorbing transdermals well and when they inject and have 100% absorption, their T levels go up and their libido can too, all the more if they had low T transdermal absorption and were generating a lot of E from the T applied to their skin.
Remember that 100mg T ester per week converts to around 70mg T ester or 10mg/day. If one applies 100mg/day as a transdermal and if 10% were absorbed, that would be 10mg/day. Note that 10mg/day is approximately the T production of an average normal young virile male.
For older guys, there is more SHBG and they need more than 10mg/day to get proper FT levels. And older guys have less T receptors or they do not work as well and need higher T levels to feel well. There are many aspects that are completely off the radar screens for doctors. The really good ones are symptom centric.
I am on arimidex and testogel, , just started will let you know how it works out…