Will Testosterone Levels Rebounding After Opiate Use

Dr Pepper

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I'm not currently on high dose opiates, only about 30mg oxycodone per day; I just recently had major hip surgery which unfortunately was not very successful and I might need another surgery.

Anyways, opioids suppress testosterone, estradiol, dht, etc; this is a well known fact.

Many people seem to opt for TRT to restore these levels since they do not want to get off of the opioids.

I, however, would like to get off of the opiates; i used to be a heroin addict and I was having ED issues and other symptoms of low T during that time.

My levels recently, when using opiates sporadically, were around 400ng/ml. Bear in mind, I am 22 years old. I also underwent HCV treatment with interferon a couple years back which messed with my test levels as is a common effect of combination antiviral therapy for Hep C.
My levels used to test above 600ng/ml before my addiciton. This was when i was 18, and shouldn't have even peaked in test production (which normally occurs around 25 years old from my knowledge)

Regardless, When off opiates for a month I had tested a bit over 500 ng/ml, which i can live with. But i wonder if they will keep increasing over time, since it likely took a couple years for them to become so suppressed with opiates. Never taken anabolics fwiw.



My question, now, is if and when testosterone levels will return to normal after chronic opiate use?
In occasions where opiate use was very high doseage as well as long term, such as long term chronic pain patients, will there ever be a rebound? Seems like everyone just jumps on testosterone instead of allowing their body to attempt to restart production.

I realize there isn't much in the way of studies; i was hoping for anecdotal evidence but a study would be very interesting testing levels of addicts while on their DOC, then after being off for lets say 1, 3, 6 months. Without replacement therapy for either opiates or for testosterone. Simply let the body restore its production. Anybody care to chime in?
 
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I'm 22, been off opiates for almost a year, and getting blood checked sometime soon. will keep you posted.
 
This is just a guess, but your levels will probably bounce back eventually. However I'm guessing you don't have blood work from before you started using opiates so you'll never really know if they bounced back completely. And add to that the fact that test levels slowly drop with age...

Tbh, if you feel fine and your levels aren't in the shitter I wouldn't worry that much.
 
I'm 22, been off opiates for almost a year, and getting blood checked sometime soon. will keep you posted.

Nice. Ever have your test levels from before? Test is supposed to peak around 22-25 years of age.

Crazycat, i'm not too concerned, i'm just curious.
My ED was actually due to a congenital venous leak from a superficial vein on my dong. When i had it ligated (tied off) all my ED disappeared immediately. Very happy about that.
 
not sure. probably since I had a thorough physical done when joining Rotc back when I was clean.
 
This is just a guess, but your levels will probably bounce back eventually. However I'm guessing you don't have blood work from before you started using opiates so you'll never really know if they bounced back completely. And add to that the fact that test levels slowly drop with age...

Tbh, if you feel fine and your levels aren't in the shitter I wouldn't worry that much.
Yes agree with you. it is glade to know...
 
the reason why I'm getting my levels checked is because my mood is pretty fucked since I got clean. there are three possible reasons I can think of so I wish to work a process of elimination of them: lingering PAWS symptoms, actual depression (or other psychiatric disorder), or hormonal irregularities. if my blood comes back fine then I know its one of the two left. so then ill wait a few more months and by that time PAWS should be out the picture and ill find out if its something naturally wrong with me. with my luck its a combination of all three lol. I laugh now, but ill be pissed if its the truth.
 
i just recently had surgery and was on dilaudid(hydromorphone) and been off of them for a week and test levels are already back to normal, im a young guy, but if you are younger than 30 you should be fine with recovering, time will differ from person to person if recovering to homeostasis, be patient and get levels checked.
 
I just switched from a few grams of dope to medium dose suboxone and started working out and eating well. I have never seen my muscles grow so fast and felt so good in my life. So I'm guessing yes. I'm going to continue to taper down. Incidentally I'm 25 so my level should be high.
 
TRT is for those with permanent hypogonadism. Injecting exogenous test will only decrease your natural test levels and worsen your problem. Unless livelong bi-weeky test injections sounds intriguing to you than ride it out and let your levels recover naturally.
 
I wonder how that study go published stating suboxone does not effect testosterone level.. what a load
 
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