Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: missjanealice on December 12, 2011, 04:40:19 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Effexor effect t levels?
Post by: missjanealice on December 12, 2011, 04:40:19 AM
Post by: missjanealice on December 12, 2011, 04:40:19 AM
I have been on hrt for a while now. About 6 months ago my levels tested within female range, soon after that I had some issues with depression and suicidal feelings so they put me on a high dose of effexor. Last month I got my levels tested again, and now I am right back to normal boy range. nothing else has changed...
could it be the effexor?
can your levels adjust that drastically on their own?
In the past I have had issues with my body quickly adapting to hormonal type drugs and making them ineffective, is this possible with hrt?
I have almost reached my dr. recommended "max", if levels are still not with-in female range is my only other option srs?
could it be the effexor?
can your levels adjust that drastically on their own?
In the past I have had issues with my body quickly adapting to hormonal type drugs and making them ineffective, is this possible with hrt?
I have almost reached my dr. recommended "max", if levels are still not with-in female range is my only other option srs?
Title: Re: Effexor effect t levels?
Post by: Sybil on January 02, 2012, 02:01:56 PM
Post by: Sybil on January 02, 2012, 02:01:56 PM
Hi there,
I also take Effexor (or venlafaxine - I take the generic). Unfortunately, for the sake of your question, I am on the lowest possible dose and I have only been taking the medication for two weeks. I can report significant differences in my mood, however, and feel absolutely no change in what HRT has done for me; i.e. I'm still extremely emotional, albeit with a very heavy influence on positive emotions. I realize that this is too short an amount of time to be of any significant help to you, so I will try to remember to come back here after my tests and share a general idea of my hormonal levels with you.
To attempt to answer some of your questions:
I have read that some people have the misfortune of adapting to their hormone regiment, and that orchiectomy or some other, similar treatment is necessary to combat this. You may also be going through a resistance phase where your body is fighting the hormones, but will eventually give in and normalize. This happened to me several months after I had gone on HRT, but it passed and hormones hit me harder than ever when my body decided to roll over and play nice. I think it is worth noting that, in my personal experience, the resistance phase happened shortly after my medications (both estradiol and spironolactone) were increased to much more effective levels for me - I was not on a steady regiment when this happened.
I have done some research on Effexor and I find no mention of it interfering with hormones, aside from a typical decrease in libido which is not abnormal with anti-depressants.
I hope this was somehow helpful to you, and I really will try to remember to report back with my more elaborate experiences. Best of luck!
I also take Effexor (or venlafaxine - I take the generic). Unfortunately, for the sake of your question, I am on the lowest possible dose and I have only been taking the medication for two weeks. I can report significant differences in my mood, however, and feel absolutely no change in what HRT has done for me; i.e. I'm still extremely emotional, albeit with a very heavy influence on positive emotions. I realize that this is too short an amount of time to be of any significant help to you, so I will try to remember to come back here after my tests and share a general idea of my hormonal levels with you.
To attempt to answer some of your questions:
I have read that some people have the misfortune of adapting to their hormone regiment, and that orchiectomy or some other, similar treatment is necessary to combat this. You may also be going through a resistance phase where your body is fighting the hormones, but will eventually give in and normalize. This happened to me several months after I had gone on HRT, but it passed and hormones hit me harder than ever when my body decided to roll over and play nice. I think it is worth noting that, in my personal experience, the resistance phase happened shortly after my medications (both estradiol and spironolactone) were increased to much more effective levels for me - I was not on a steady regiment when this happened.
I have done some research on Effexor and I find no mention of it interfering with hormones, aside from a typical decrease in libido which is not abnormal with anti-depressants.
I hope this was somehow helpful to you, and I really will try to remember to report back with my more elaborate experiences. Best of luck!
Title: Re: Effexor effect t levels?
Post by: missjanealice on January 12, 2012, 11:55:22 PM
Post by: missjanealice on January 12, 2012, 11:55:22 PM
Update...
After stopping the effexor my t levels have reduced by half in a months time. Both my doctor and myself agree that it was influencing the HRT.
After stopping the effexor my t levels have reduced by half in a months time. Both my doctor and myself agree that it was influencing the HRT.
Title: Re: Effexor effect t levels?
Post by: Joelene9 on January 13, 2012, 02:18:55 AM
Post by: Joelene9 on January 13, 2012, 02:18:55 AM
Good! Keep off of the stuff and try the estrogen awhile. Effexor almost screwed-up my liver after my former doc maxed the dosage. Brown urine = liver damage.
Joelene
Joelene
Title: Re: Effexor effect t levels?
Post by: missjanealice on January 31, 2012, 06:10:25 AM
Post by: missjanealice on January 31, 2012, 06:10:25 AM
Please keep me informed, I am very interested if this is a case by case or if there is a certain level where effexor will effect hormone treatment (of course no discussion of dosages).