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Men turning to testosterone for edge in daily life; doc warns of potential side effects

BY Jamie Skorheim  on September 21, 2012 @ 10:42 am (Updated: 1:53 pm - 9/21/12 )

cedargrove
Axiron, an underarm gel that rolls on like deodorant, is one drug used by men struggling with symptoms of growing older associated with low testosterone such as poor sex drive, weight gain and fatigue. (AP/Eli Lilly & Co.)

Everyone's aware of athletes taking advantage of a little testosterone boost to enhance performance, but there's a new trend of regular old Joes looking to it for an edge in everyday life.

"I know guys that take it, older guys, and they swear by it," says Ross and Burbank guest host David Boze. "They say that they feel younger. They're working harder. They're more energetic. They feel better than they have in years."

Prescriptions for the hormone have increased nearly 90 percent over the last five years, according to IMS Health. Last year, global sales reached $1.9 billion.

The latest marketing push by drugmakers is for easy-to-use gels and patches that are aimed at a much broader population of otherwise healthy older men with low testosterone.

But government researchers worry that medical treatments have gotten ahead of the science. While people may experience these positive effects, there is also research that points to negative side effects associated with testosterone use.

Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, Chairman of urology at the Cleveland Clinic, says additional testosterone can raise blood count which can cause clots. There have also been reports of cardiac side effects and worsening of prostate conditions. All testosterone drugs carry a warning that the hormone should not be given to men who have a personal or family history of prostate cancer.

"The problem is we can't really predict who is going to have those side effects, and we can't predict the timing of it, so there are men that may be on this medication for years and really there is no long term data that says it's safe."

For the right patient, someone whose low testosterone condition has been demonstrated by blood tests, he says supplements can bring a marked improvement, but he warns it shouldn't be taken by just everyone.

"More and more we're seeing patients that haven't had the blood test or have normal blood tests but want to try testosterone for an edge at work," says Sabanegh.

He says everyone wants an easy fix to up their vitality and quality of life, but testosterone has some potentially significant side effects and people should be very careful about using it.

"I think what we really need are responsible physicians to try to make sure we give the right medicine to the right patient."

For otherwise healthy men just looking to up the ante and improve their energy level, Sabanegh suggests living a healthy lifestyle with a good amount of exercise.

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jamie Skorheim, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Whether it's floating on Green Lake, eating shrimp tacos at Agua Verde, or taking weekend drives out to the Cascades, she loves to enjoy the Pacific Northwest lifestyle as much as humanly possible.
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Comments (13)


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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Everyone wants the "Magic Bullet"
    September 21, 2012 1:43 pm
    The shortcut,the energy boost,the super sex pill.Hey SUCKERS it doesn't exist.The chemical that gives you temporary pay off energy,sexual powers will cost you in the long run.I heard a story about 13 and 14 yr old boys trying to buy "BONER" pills at the 7/11. Imagine a kid 13 needing "Boner" pills
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  • William P wrote...
    Messy 1
    September 22, 2012 7:47 am
    Mom told you not to hang out at the 7/11 anymore. You are to old; time to move on to subway. Oh yeah, you forgot to take your pills this morning.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    HA!
    September 22, 2012 9:31 am
    What I probably needed at 13 was an anti-boner pill!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    You got right Ron
    September 22, 2012 1:57 pm
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Kief Sloberman wrote...
    messiah101...you are one sik prik
    September 21, 2012 3:45 pm
    you could have only heard stories like that at a NAMBLA meeting.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    I studied this, can cause cancer!
    September 21, 2012 6:35 pm
    You loose sex drive when you get old because its natures way of saying that old people should not have kids. Adding T to a diet causes everything from mood problems to uncorrectable changes in the brain chemistry and yes, prostate cancer. Diet and exercise is the only safe way.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jeff Schroeder wrote...
    Just what we need at rush hour...
    September 21, 2012 11:24 pm
    ...More jerks in Hummers and F350's on Steroids.....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    Jeff
    September 22, 2012 9:36 am
    I never made the connection, but I wonder how many of those jerks in lifted 1-tonnes with the 40 inch tires ARE taking steroids?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Silverado wrote...
    Use Now Pay Later
    September 22, 2012 8:37 am
    What a concept!! Oh, the fountain of youth that isn't....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    There's a reason why
    September 22, 2012 9:34 am
    we have lower energy, lower sex drive etc. when we get older; It's because that's the way nature intended! I don't want to walk around with a woody all day, it would interfere with my other activities like taking a nap!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    RonJ
    September 22, 2012 1:50 pm
    But getting out of bed would be a lot easier as all you would need to do is roll over and pole vault out of bed
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gouged Away wrote...
    Responding to the comment about the cars they drive.
    September 23, 2012 4:45 am
    Umm...I beg to differ, usually the dudes in big lifted vehicles are cool and not on Steroids, or Testosterone, or whatever animal growth hormone it is these guys are talking about. It's usually the D-Bag's in the BMW's, AUDI's, and sometimes Caddies too. And maybe a few Mercedes. I'm just saying.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Grow up and get a pair........
    September 23, 2012 6:21 am
    NATURALLY
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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