Hormetheus
Member
I am a final year med student and have been replacing my hormones for multiple years. I post this because I want to raise awareness that it is not just testosterone. One thing I frequently notice, is that many males are really fixating on testosterone (e.g. whether adding HCG or different doses of anastrozole would make a difference, etc.), however upon asking them about their body temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and other signs and symptoms, it is often evident, that they are deficient in thyroid or adrenal hormones.
Frequently, after discovering low testosterone levels, many males go on TRT and feel somewhat better. Often, however, their energy levels (and other symptoms) do not improve as they wished. Many then tend to raise their dosage of testosterone -often repeatedly. Doing this, some symptoms improve (e.g. energy, mood) and therefore to them, it seems obvious that they were still deficient and simply have not raised their dosage high enough. But if thyroid or adrenal hormones are deficient, injecting all the testosterone in the world, will not make someone feel (or function) much better. For example, both libido and body hair are two things generally ascribed to testosterone. But if levels of thyroid hormones or cortisol are low, libido will be as well, even if testosterone levels are high. The same holds for body hair.
Unfortunately, the overreplacement of any hormone is tempting because it might ”feel good” and does often indeed improve some symptoms (esp. energy levels). However, the overreplacement of any of the major hormones (e.g. cortisol, thyroid hormones, testosterone) will almost always improve energy levels and mood, which will almost always improve symptoms. Therefore, every single one of the major hormones can be (ab)used as a stimulant and “masking-agent”. However, over the long run any form of overreplacement -whether intentional or not- carries more risks than benefits and likely comes with a tradeoff of health and longevity in the future for an increase in wellbeing and performance in the present.
Instead of over-replacing and abusing a single hormone in high and unphysiological doses, it would be much healthier, safer, more natural, and more effective to add one or more other hormones in small and physiological doses.
While treating adrenals can be dangerous if not done properly, treating thyroid hormones is quite safe and easy to do (comparably speaking) and for many males, it can make a world of a difference and bring them back alive -sometimes even more than TRT.
Thyroid hormones are the most prescribed medication on the planet. Despite there being millions of people with thyroid issues, the vast majority of them are not treated adequately (i.e. in 99% of people T4 monotherapy is used). This holds back millions of people from living far better lives and from contributing what they otherwise could. In my opinion, the therapy of choice should follow this order:
NDT > T3/T4 > T4 > T3
What about dosage?
dosages needed vary widely depending on patient needs, cortisol levels, ability to derive T3 by deiodination, thyroid sensitivity, IGF1 levels, and esp. the endogenous residual output by the individual's own thyroid gland.
Principle: Starting with 25% of the presumed target dose and then gradually increasing the dosage over a 2 month period.
Implementation: Starting out with 0.25 grains of NDT (or 20–25% of the presumed target dose) → increase by 0.25 grains every 14 days until the average target dose of 1.25 or 1.5 grains/day is reached (about 0.25 grains less in the summer).
I wrote an article on how to properly replace thyroid hormones and because this post is already quite long and there are many other topics to delve into, if you are interested you can read more on some of these topics:
How To Replace Thyroid Hormones - An Ultimate Guide
I hope you find value in it. If you have any questions, feel free to leave your questions below!
Frequently, after discovering low testosterone levels, many males go on TRT and feel somewhat better. Often, however, their energy levels (and other symptoms) do not improve as they wished. Many then tend to raise their dosage of testosterone -often repeatedly. Doing this, some symptoms improve (e.g. energy, mood) and therefore to them, it seems obvious that they were still deficient and simply have not raised their dosage high enough. But if thyroid or adrenal hormones are deficient, injecting all the testosterone in the world, will not make someone feel (or function) much better. For example, both libido and body hair are two things generally ascribed to testosterone. But if levels of thyroid hormones or cortisol are low, libido will be as well, even if testosterone levels are high. The same holds for body hair.
Unfortunately, the overreplacement of any hormone is tempting because it might ”feel good” and does often indeed improve some symptoms (esp. energy levels). However, the overreplacement of any of the major hormones (e.g. cortisol, thyroid hormones, testosterone) will almost always improve energy levels and mood, which will almost always improve symptoms. Therefore, every single one of the major hormones can be (ab)used as a stimulant and “masking-agent”. However, over the long run any form of overreplacement -whether intentional or not- carries more risks than benefits and likely comes with a tradeoff of health and longevity in the future for an increase in wellbeing and performance in the present.
Instead of over-replacing and abusing a single hormone in high and unphysiological doses, it would be much healthier, safer, more natural, and more effective to add one or more other hormones in small and physiological doses.
While treating adrenals can be dangerous if not done properly, treating thyroid hormones is quite safe and easy to do (comparably speaking) and for many males, it can make a world of a difference and bring them back alive -sometimes even more than TRT.
Thyroid hormones are the most prescribed medication on the planet. Despite there being millions of people with thyroid issues, the vast majority of them are not treated adequately (i.e. in 99% of people T4 monotherapy is used). This holds back millions of people from living far better lives and from contributing what they otherwise could. In my opinion, the therapy of choice should follow this order:
NDT > T3/T4 > T4 > T3
What about dosage?
dosages needed vary widely depending on patient needs, cortisol levels, ability to derive T3 by deiodination, thyroid sensitivity, IGF1 levels, and esp. the endogenous residual output by the individual's own thyroid gland.
- T4: 50mcg-200mcg (average: 120mcg; once per day)
- NDT: 1–2.5 grains (average: 1.5 grains; twice per day)
- T3: 40–80mcg T3 (average: 60mcg T3; split into at least 3 daily doses)
Principle: Starting with 25% of the presumed target dose and then gradually increasing the dosage over a 2 month period.
Implementation: Starting out with 0.25 grains of NDT (or 20–25% of the presumed target dose) → increase by 0.25 grains every 14 days until the average target dose of 1.25 or 1.5 grains/day is reached (about 0.25 grains less in the summer).
I wrote an article on how to properly replace thyroid hormones and because this post is already quite long and there are many other topics to delve into, if you are interested you can read more on some of these topics:
How To Replace Thyroid Hormones - An Ultimate Guide
- Improving thyroid hormones naturally
- Thyroid hormones require adequate levels of cortisol
- A low-carb diet can impair thyroid status at multiple levels
- Why T4 is not the therapy of choice
- Temporary use of high-dose T3 can reverse thyroid resistance
- Permanent treatment with T3-only?
- Dosage
- Timing
- How to start therapy
- Thyroid treatment in individuals with low levels of cortisol
I hope you find value in it. If you have any questions, feel free to leave your questions below!
