Looking for Androgel 1.62% Advice and Tips; Please Help

**Nate02** · 12-25-2012, 01:45 AM

Hello. It looks like I am to start the use of Androgel 1.62% later this week. I know that the business of gels in TRT can cause issues, such as, contact with others, absorbency, etc. I ask upon any Androgel 1.62% user if they could impart their wisdom and give any advice or tips that someone new would find useful. I am 20 years old and very nervous about starting this; I could really use the help.

**lovbyts** · 12-25-2012, 03:01 AM

Why are you starting androgel at 20? Did you have full blood work done? Can you post up the numbers here? I hope they checked your thyroids.

**Nate02** · 12-25-2012, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by lovbyts

Why are you starting androgel at 20? Did you have full blood work done? Can you post up the numbers here? I hope they checked your thyroids.

I had blood work done on different occasions. They are posted on different threads of mine. If you can't find them let me know and I will post it here again. They did, I do have thyroid issues. Unfortunately, treating my thyroid did not remedy my low testosterone . Two endocrinologists have confirmed that I have thyroid and pituitary issues and each needs to be treated separately. I'm sure you can confirm that from my blood work.

**kelkel** · 12-25-2012, 12:08 PM

Agel works well for some people Nate. Just use it as prescribed and monitor with BW. Keep an eye on your DHT level as gels can tend to raise it a bit. DHT is fine btw but you just don't need it through the roof...

**Ricci82** · 12-25-2012, 12:15 PM

I used it for about 6 months, i have recently went to injections. I did not have a good expieriance with the 1.62%. I either felt like i wanted to rip someones face off or cry like a bitch. Some people say it has a old leathery smell to it. I never smelled that. If you have kids or are going to be around kids or breastfeeding mothers, i would not use it. I was paranoid every time i went around my daughter or wife for fear of cross contamination. Your doctor may tell you that it cant be transferred to other people but whoever says that is dead wrong. If you do decide to use it, if you apply lotion to where ever you applied the gel will increase the absorption by 14-17%......supposedly. Basically i didnt have a good time with the gel, not saying that you wont but my biggest complaint was that it was just inconvienant. Since i have gone to injections, i have been in a better mood and i dont have to put gel on my shoulders everyday.

**kelkel** · 12-25-2012, 12:20 PM

Correct on the lotion but it's not something you want to do right away. Once you settle in to your protocol via BW then you can consider the lotion trick. It does work and is actually on the agel insert. I used to do it myself. The lotion needs to be applied an hour or so AFTER gel application. Not before.

Like ricci said, it's a personal choice and lifestyle plays into it.

**EverettCD** · 12-25-2012, 05:13 PM

Does the "lotion trick" work with Axiron also ?

**kelkel** · 12-25-2012, 08:41 PM

Don't know that answer Everett. No experience with axiron but the logic does make sense with it as well.

**EverettCD** · 12-25-2012, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Don't know that answer Everett. No experience with axiron but the logic does make sense with it as well.

So what's the deal with the lotion trick ? Does it "help" absorb more of the test ?

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**kelkel** · 12-25-2012, 09:26 PM

Exactly that, yes. The lotion pulls residual test into the skin along with it therefore increasing absorption.

**EverettCD** · 12-26-2012, 07:15 AM

Ok cool. Thanks for the info, I'll give that a try a couple hours after applying my Axiron.

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**Nate02** · 12-26-2012, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Agel works well for some people Nate. Just use it as prescribed and monitor with BW. Keep an eye on your DHT level as gels can tend to raise it a bit. DHT is fine btw but you just don't need it through the roof...

I will be sure to. I just bought the Androgel 1.62% today and I must say I am very excited. With all the problems I have had it feels good to have a potential life-changing treatment in my hands. I have read the instructions front and back and will follow it. I plan on keeping it on for at least two hours every day as the instructions suggested. I will monitor everything. On a side note, I have seen different suggestions for a T/E ratio. From what I read I assume the estrogen involved is E2; did I interpret this correctly?

Originally Posted by Ricci82

I used it for about 6 months, i have recently went to injections. I did not have a good expieriance with the 1.62%. I either felt like i wanted to rip someones face off or cry like a bitch. Some people say it has a old leathery smell to it. I never smelled that. If you have kids or are going to be around kids or breastfeeding mothers, i would not use it. I was paranoid every time i went around my daughter or wife for fear of cross contamination. Your doctor may tell you that it cant be transferred to other people but whoever says that is dead wrong. If you do decide to use it, if you apply lotion to where ever you applied the gel will increase the absorption by 14-17%......supposedly. Basically i didnt have a good time with the gel, not saying that you wont but my biggest complaint was that it was just inconvienant. Since i have gone to injections, i have been in a better mood and i dont have to put gel on my shoulders everyday.

I can't say the night before application that this comforts me

, but thank you for sharing your experience. I will keep everything you said in mind. I plan on posting my experience too; take a look if you're interested.

Originally Posted by kelkel

Correct on the lotion but it's not something you want to do right away. Once you settle in to your protocol via BW then you can consider the lotion trick. It does work and is actually on the agel insert. I used to do it myself. The lotion needs to be applied an hour or so AFTER gel application. Not before.

Like ricci said, it's a personal choice and lifestyle plays into it.

I will stick with the prescribed amount prescribed normally then. Good to know.

**Nate02** · 12-27-2012, 12:00 AM

Question: From both your experiences how significant did you find this application with lotion? If I don't find the dosage is enough after a period of time and need to increase it; could the lotion cause such an increase?

**kelkel** · 12-27-2012, 09:32 AM

My point is to settle in with a protocol and get dialed in first via BW before you play around with the lotion idea. More is not necessarily better. Better is better.

If the level you attain is not enough you should speak to your doc and either increase dosage or change protocols. The goal is to not have to use little tricks to get where you feel your best. You should achieve that by partnering with a competent doc, right!