Low Testosterone and Raised on Psychostimulants: Hormonal Effects of Medication?

[Shadowcloak]

Hi there,

I am unsure if this thread would be better suited in the advanced discussion forum--if so, please tell me.

I currently take Vyvanse for inattentive ADHD. I was prescribed psychostimulant medication in elementary and semi-regularly took medication until a year after high school. Then, after two and a half years of no medication and a year of university, I asked to be prescribed ADHD medication again and have been on Vyvanse for roughly a year.



I have a question that I've always wondered and that would be of great knowledge to me currently and in the future.

Do psychostimulants, whether directly or indirectly, decrease testosterone at any point of the day? And/or do they decrease testosterone over time through continued or regular use?



I believe I have low testosterone for my age of 22--I'm getting blood work done on Tuesday to confirm this--and knowing the answer to the testosterone question would help greatly in future use, or lack of use, of psychostimulants. The question, I suppose, is more specific to amphetamines or, rather, Dexedrine--the medication I took during puberty--and Vyvanse, considering they are the psychostimulants I have the most experience in.

Thanks to anyone willing to help.

Sincerely,
Shadowcloak

P.S. For the record, I was also taking Wellbutrin for depression since grade 10 or 11 until a year after high school.

 

[effie]

Short answer - in theory yes amphetamines can decrease testosterone levels (link to research looking at rats). In practice - no idea if it is clinically significant in humans or not.. will try to do some research later

Good luck with your bloodwork!

 

[Louis CK]

From my experience, yes, absolutely. My testosterone levels were unusually low when I got tested during a long period of stim usage. The doc insisted I take supplements, but I just always assumed it was because of the stims. After I stopped, my levels were back to normal.

And besides that, the physical effects are pretty noticeable. My testes were always smaller and colder than usual, I barely gained any muscle no matter how much I was lifting and I was generally tired, lethargic and weak.

Using stims will at least give usual symptoms of low testosterone...I remember reading a study that linked use of ADHD prescriptions in 15-17 year olds with lack of facial hair. I'll try to dig it up for you

 

[nAON]

i guess that explains why i havent grown pubes yet