RagingRandy
06-10-2008, 02:35 PM
A recent study on the use of testosterone replacement therapy in 22 depressed HIV-negative men aged 30 and over indicates that hypogonadism may cause more depression than previously thought. Researchers from Harvard Medical School found that 43% of the men who had not responded to antidepressant medications had total testosterone levels below 12.2nM and about a third of the men with these low or low-normal levels who received 10g of 1% testosterone gel daily showed dramatic improvement in mood, anxiety, and other measures of depression after eight weeks, compared with placebo (Pope 2003).
An earlier non placebo-controlled study of hypogonadal HIV-negative men treated with intramuscular or oral testosterone replacement therapy found that significant reductions in anger, irritability, sadness, tiredness and nervousness, and significant improvements in energy levels, friendliness and sense of well-being were seen in all men on therapy compared with being off therapy (Wang 1996).
Grinspoon (2000) found that men with HIV-related wasting and total testosterone levels below 14.8nM were more likely to be depressed than those men with higher total testosterone, and those who received testosterone replacement therapy were less depressed than those received placebo.
Fatigue has also been seen to be greatly alleviated in an open-label trial of testosterone for 108 HIV-positive men with clinical symptoms of hypogonadism and a total testosterone level below 17.4nM: 79% were rated as having much improved energy level by the studys end (Wagner 1998)
An earlier non placebo-controlled study of hypogonadal HIV-negative men treated with intramuscular or oral testosterone replacement therapy found that significant reductions in anger, irritability, sadness, tiredness and nervousness, and significant improvements in energy levels, friendliness and sense of well-being were seen in all men on therapy compared with being off therapy (Wang 1996).
Grinspoon (2000) found that men with HIV-related wasting and total testosterone levels below 14.8nM were more likely to be depressed than those men with higher total testosterone, and those who received testosterone replacement therapy were less depressed than those received placebo.
Fatigue has also been seen to be greatly alleviated in an open-label trial of testosterone for 108 HIV-positive men with clinical symptoms of hypogonadism and a total testosterone level below 17.4nM: 79% were rated as having much improved energy level by the studys end (Wagner 1998)