Axiron vs. Androgel 1.62% --- Sort me out!

[zerodarkthirty]

Ugh. I've been taking 60 mg of Axiron (that's 2 pumps per day, 1 each armpit) for one month. Initial (untreated) T went from 261 to 65 as tested this week. PCP wants me to try Androgel 1.62% before moving over to shots.

She said that I should try a higher dose than what I've been on with the Axiron. However, she mistakenly (?) thought that the Androgel was more concentrated than the Axiron. On the Androgel 1.62% box, it says each metered pump = 20.25 mg. One pump of Axiron = 30 mg. So taking only 2 pumps of Androgel (as she now suggests) would actually put me at 40.50 mg of T, whereas I have been on Axiron at 60 mg. Right?!

Am I missing something? Apples vs. oranges in terms of each transdermal's delivery efficacy? Seems like she's actually LOWERING my dosage.

Thanks everyone. This forum has been such a great resource, in a very short time.

[sparverius]

Doctors don't do math. And the Agel people sell the 1.62% as "more effective" than 1%. It's not any more effective than you'd expect given the T concentration. I had a simular experience as you, only I didn't do the math until after I'd crashed due to low T.

Good luck. If I was at 65 I would't be able to post let alone do math.

[xcraider37]

Ugh. I've been taking 60 mg of Axiron (that's 2 pumps per day, 1 each armpit) for one month. Initial (untreated) T went from 261 to 65 as tested this week. PCP wants me to try Androgel 1.62% before moving over to shots.

She said that I should try a higher dose than what I've been on with the Axiron. However, she mistakenly (?) thought that the Androgel was more concentrated than the Axiron. On the Androgel 1.62% box, it says each metered pump = 20.25 mg. One pump of Axiron = 30 mg. So taking only 2 pumps of Androgel (as she now suggests) would actually put me at 40.50 mg of T, whereas I have been on Axiron at 60 mg. Right?!

Am I missing something? Apples vs. oranges in terms of each transdermal's delivery efficacy? Seems like she's actually LOWERING my dosage.

Thanks everyone. This forum has been such a great resource, in a very short time.

Not sure of the math, but would bet your doc is wrong, try going to four pumps of axiron daily, I do two on underside of forearms and two underarms, I've gotten very good results.

[zerodarkthirty]

Well, I went to 4 Androgel pumps today. Felt really goofy pretty much all day. In fact, I felt like garbage.

I know everyone says that this process takes time to dial things in, but wow. I almost regret starting the protocol. I wonder if I'm still hovering around 65.

[EverettCD]

It does take a while. I've been on Axiron for 12 weeks now, I am waiting on BW I had done Monday. I still haven't got things balanced, I will probably move to injections since the Axiron isn't cutting it so far.

Sent from my iPhone that was manufactured in a sweat shop in China

[zerodarkthirty]

Ugh. I don't think I can do this for 12 more weeks.

[The Deadlifting Dog]

I do four pumps of Axiron each morning. Approximately one per each armpit and one to each forearm and flanks each morning. (I put half on my forearm and half on my side abs and rub them together.) This has taken my testosterone from 270ish to 820ish. (Over 900 if I apply lotion 1-2 hours after applying my medication.) If one tests their blood before application (approximately 24 hours after last application), one will obtain a very low testosterone score since most/all of the medcication will be gone from one's body.

[zerodarkthirty]

I do four pumps of Axiron each morning. Approximately one per each armpit and one to each forearm and flanks each morning. (I put half on my forearm and half on my side abs and rub them together.) This has taken my testosterone from 270ish to 820ish. (Over 900 if I apply lotion 1-2 hours after applying my medication.) If one tests their blood before application (approximately 24 hours after last application), one will obtain a very low testosterone score since most/all of the medcication will be gone from one's body.

Dog, have you ever tried any compounding gel/cream? I was interested in your results, if any, from those. Axiron is cost-prohibitive with my lousy (but expensive) Anthem insurance.

[cvdixon29]

I used Androgel at first it was the 1% pump and it didn't help me at all and it was so messy, no mater where i put it, my stomach would ache afterwards and i know that sounds crazy! I now use Axiron 30mg pump, one pump under each arm and it works great, my stomach does ache a little with this but it's mostly subsided now. My T levels have returned to normal levels, however My voice has started to deepen further and I clear my throat a lot and my voice cracks when I sing now, Just like when i was a teen and went through puberty. Is this a side effect? I am not complaining, just curious and wondered if anyone else has experienced this?