If any of you are familiar with PSSD, it's quite similar to post-finasteride syndrome and other lasting disorders of the endocrine system. It's characterized by symptoms such as reduced libido, ED, reduced muscle, cognitive issues, anhedonia, CNS issues, etc. The leading theory is that SSRIs can cause androgen receptor (AR) and esgtrogen receptor (ER) silencing (gene promoter methylation), such that even when blood levels of hormones are normal you still experience the aforementioned symptoms.
I took SSRIs for 8 months when I was 21 (and extremely sexually healthy, I should mention), and since discontinuing the antidepressants 4 years ago, I have been trapped in an unrelenting nightmare.
I was on the paleo diet for a long time and have tried keto and RP diets as well. I may have seen slight improvements at time but nothing to write home about. I've spent a small fortune trying every potential med and supplement under the sun, including preg/dhea, thyroid, k2, etc.
I'm at my wits end here. This condition has single-handedly upended my life. I've watched the best years of my life go by. I'd like your opinions on the best course of action at this point. I've read extensively about pharmacology, physiology, and biochemistry, such that I'm quite familiar with steroid hormones, thyroid, neurosteroids, and other topics discussed here.
Even when I've had "good" hormonal profiles (near top of range free and total T, mid-high DHT, mid E2, high preg, high DHEA), I still have been a far cry from feeling normal, sexually. However, when my hormones are optimized through diet, lifting, etc., I do feel somewhat better (maybe 60-70% normal at times).
Naltrexone and boron - which synergistically raise free T - have provided some windows of relief.
Because I'm able to map my improvements to increased androgen levels -- but because these androgen levels are going to be limited to a certain physiological range no matter how healthy of a diet and lifestyle I achieve - I am strongly considering exogenous testosterone (TRT) to get into the higher ranges (1000-1500 TT). From many studies I have read, androgen receptors are autoregulated centrally. As such, increasing my T levels significantly may enhance AR expression (at least in the areas in which the gene promoters aren't methylated).
Other PSSD sufferers with normal hormonal profiles have benefited from high-dose TRT as well.
Many of you are very knowledgeable regarding health conditions and hormones. Any opinions before I take the leap?
I'm debating whether or not to take HCG, pansterone applied topically to my scrotum, or some combination thereof to keep the pituitary and testicles active. I do have some reservations about HCG, however -- mainly that it's very estrogenic and downregulates er-a (prosexual) while upregulates er-b (anti-sexual) with prolonged use (not to mention leydig cell desensitization).
Sorry for the long post. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
I took SSRIs for 8 months when I was 21 (and extremely sexually healthy, I should mention), and since discontinuing the antidepressants 4 years ago, I have been trapped in an unrelenting nightmare.
I was on the paleo diet for a long time and have tried keto and RP diets as well. I may have seen slight improvements at time but nothing to write home about. I've spent a small fortune trying every potential med and supplement under the sun, including preg/dhea, thyroid, k2, etc.
I'm at my wits end here. This condition has single-handedly upended my life. I've watched the best years of my life go by. I'd like your opinions on the best course of action at this point. I've read extensively about pharmacology, physiology, and biochemistry, such that I'm quite familiar with steroid hormones, thyroid, neurosteroids, and other topics discussed here.
Even when I've had "good" hormonal profiles (near top of range free and total T, mid-high DHT, mid E2, high preg, high DHEA), I still have been a far cry from feeling normal, sexually. However, when my hormones are optimized through diet, lifting, etc., I do feel somewhat better (maybe 60-70% normal at times).
Naltrexone and boron - which synergistically raise free T - have provided some windows of relief.
Because I'm able to map my improvements to increased androgen levels -- but because these androgen levels are going to be limited to a certain physiological range no matter how healthy of a diet and lifestyle I achieve - I am strongly considering exogenous testosterone (TRT) to get into the higher ranges (1000-1500 TT). From many studies I have read, androgen receptors are autoregulated centrally. As such, increasing my T levels significantly may enhance AR expression (at least in the areas in which the gene promoters aren't methylated).
Other PSSD sufferers with normal hormonal profiles have benefited from high-dose TRT as well.
Many of you are very knowledgeable regarding health conditions and hormones. Any opinions before I take the leap?
I'm debating whether or not to take HCG, pansterone applied topically to my scrotum, or some combination thereof to keep the pituitary and testicles active. I do have some reservations about HCG, however -- mainly that it's very estrogenic and downregulates er-a (prosexual) while upregulates er-b (anti-sexual) with prolonged use (not to mention leydig cell desensitization).
Sorry for the long post. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.