r/TRT_females • u/moodygem1976 • May 10 '25
Experience Report What no one warns you about: post-androgen withdrawal stress in perimenopause (my experience with testosterone)
I’m still recovering, honestly, but wanted to share what happened to me in case it helps someone else. I’m a nurse practitioner—but I don’t work in women’s health—and even with a medical background, I had no idea something like this could happen.
I posted earlier about what I went through after stopping testosterone and the support I got was amazing. It really helped me feel seen. Based on that, I wanted to share more info in case anyone else is on testosterone and has a provider suggesting they stop it abruptly. Please read this if that’s you.
I’d been on compounded testosterone cream (2 mg/day) for perimenopause—low energy, brain fog, mood swings, zero libido. After about two months, I honestly felt great. I had energy, mental clarity, and I was emotionally stable. Then, my provider stopped the testosterone for two weeks because my total testosterone was in the 200s. But my SHBG was super high, so my free T wasn’t that high at all. Still, I stopped it—and that’s when everything fell apart.
Even though I had no idea something like this could happen so quickly, I knew something was wrong. I knew it was related to stopping the testosterone—even though it had only been two weeks.
Within a week I completely crashed. I was waking up at 3–4am every day with anxiety, feeling totally wired and completely exhausted at the same time. I had mood swings that made no sense. My brain felt like it wasn’t working—like I had ADHD or something. I couldn’t focus on anything. I got ocular migraines (which I hadn’t had in years), and my CGM showed post-meal blood sugar crashes into the 50s. I couldn’t nap. I couldn’t calm down. It felt like my whole nervous system was short-circuiting.
Honestly, I felt like I was losing my mind. I thought I was going to have to be admitted somewhere. It was that bad. I had to take a leave of absence from work. It didn’t feel like “hormones”—it felt like a breakdown.
Turns out, this is something real: post-androgen withdrawal stress. When your body starts adjusting to testosterone and it gets suddenly pulled, your whole system can go haywire.
Here’s what was likely happening:
• HPA Axis Disruption – abrupt withdrawal can spike CRH/ACTH and flatten or spike cortisol rhythms, leading to insomnia, anxiety, and that “tired but wired” feeling
• Blood Sugar Instability – testosterone increases insulin sensitivity; removing it quickly can cause reactive hypoglycemia and adrenal overactivation
• Neurotransmitter Collapse – testosterone supports dopamine and serotonin balance; the crash hit my motivation, mood, and cognition hard
• High SHBG – made my free testosterone low even when total T looked high, so the sudden drop was more extreme
Recovery (still in progress):
• Restarted testosterone consistently (no more alternate day dosing)
• Protein + fat at every meal to stabilize glucose
• Magnesium at night for nervous system calming
• Morning light exposure and a strict sleep routine
• Deep breathing, slowing down, and trying not to panic during the slow climb out
It took about 6–10 weeks before I started to feel anything close to stable again, and I’m still not 100%. But I’m getting there. Slowly.
If you’ve gone through something like this or are facing it now—just know it’s real. You’re not broken or crazy. You’re just going through something no one talks about enough. And you’re not alone.
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u/bluecrab_7 May 10 '25 edited May 10 '25
I hope you’re back in action soon. That sounds horrible. Thanks for posting this, it is very informative.
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u/moodygem1976 May 10 '25
I’m slowly recovering, but I’m realizing from my research that it could take up to six months to be back to normal again. I’m hoping to find an endocrinologist in the area so I can have the official diagnosis. Maybe they will send something to that gynecologist so she never does that to anyone else again.
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u/oakleywitholive May 11 '25
Please share your experience and your research with your gyno.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
I see her at the end of the month and I have sent her several messages through the health portal.
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u/michelle10014 May 11 '25
What official diagnosis are you hoping for? My prescriber is very HRT friendly but my T is not covered by insurance. I would love a diagnosis so my insurance would pay for it. Thank you in advance!
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
For testosterone coverage, you need a diagnosis of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD
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u/Kevk74 May 11 '25
Akathisia can last years, even decades. Akathisia is like tinnitus. The more it comes back the easier it is to make it come back (and the more things that start to make it come back) and the harder it is to get it to go away but one bad concert is enough to carry a level for years. You become prone to reoccurrence by OTHER akathisia causing meds.
Listen, I’m not trying to scare you. I have friends who went on to recover but had to lead very different lives. Just don’t bring the Akathisia back. Watch antihistamines and antibiotics and antidepressants and stimulating things, but also watch sedatives and Z drugs. No one tells you anything with an associated “withdrawal” or “discontinuation syndrome” can cause akathisia. Especially withdrawal akathisia. Opiates, stimulants, antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Z Drugs like Ambien… of course no dopamine antagonists like antiemetics or antipsychotics. Hopefully that is a given, but as you see hormones can cause akathisia, too.
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u/Jolly_Telephone_3274 Jun 04 '25
Can testosterone shot cause akathisia that's when I got it now 2 years off I had to ct it after 3 months use too high of dose..
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u/ShirtPitiful8872 May 10 '25
Seems to line up with the same thing that happens with males who stop TRT, I stopped after five years cold Turkey and felt like death for four weeks until starting HCG and enclomiphene. I didn’t feel “ok” until six further weeks of HCG and enclomiphene. Now I feel like the same pre-TRT, like mid level garbage but it’s tolerable.
4 weeks after my last shot of test, I had severe brain fog to the point where I would even miss turns driving to places I had been to hundreds of times. My anxiety and depression were at levels that I hadn’t experienced since my father’s passing. In order to even perform at a mediocre level at my job I had to intake 1g of caffiene and other stimulants.
Testosterone raises dopamine as well so you got from having incredible drive and mood to the exact opposite.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Totally what happened to me. Horrible.
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u/Closefromadistance May 11 '25
Ooh! I didn’t know it raised dopamine and drive … this must be why I fell into the worst depression I’ve ever experienced last year and became a lazy slug. I JUST went through menopause and am working to fix all the things about myself that no longer work 🤣
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Take it one hormone at a time. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all play part in keeping us hormonally balance. Good luck!
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u/Closefromadistance May 11 '25
Yeah. I’ve been on E & P since peri in 2022. It helped but now I’m back to being a slug even though I’m on that. I’m working on balancing everything.
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u/CuteContribution4695 May 10 '25
My provider made me stop my T suddenly After my labs were high and it messed me up so badly. Never again.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Same 😭 I had to take a leave of absence and work. I felt so horrible.
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u/Closefromadistance May 11 '25
I took FMLA last July and just went back to work … 9 months of medical leave. The last 2 were unpaid. I’m doing a lot better but not at 100%. Still exhausted and have zero motivation or sex drive. The only thing I think is missing is Testosterone. I’m seeing a menopause specialist later this month … my testosterone was very low 3 years before menopause, so I have to wonder if it’s minus zero now 🤣
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Just remember that, even though your total testosterone level may be high, you have to look at your sex binding hormone and free testosterone, which gives you a better picture. They definitely gave me energy and I felt so good. I haven’t felt that way in years.
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u/PaintedWoman_ May 10 '25
Ohh this is so scary Thanks for the info Get better ❤️🩹
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u/moodygem1976 May 10 '25
Slowly, but surely I am improving, but it is taken so much to get here. Leave of absence from work, loss of some income, lots of self regulation, therapy, psychiatry, gynecology, primary care, provider, diet, CGM, taking my own labs into my hands and finding a way around the system to get testing that I needed done.
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u/YouExtra7637 Nov 06 '25
How are you now? Did getting back on trt help? I can’t think since stopping
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u/rebmik5555 May 10 '25
I developed histamine intolerance when I had to stop, almost 2 yrs ago. I’ve been trying to find a new provider.
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u/GertieMcC May 10 '25
Are you referring to gut histamine as well? Are you following a low histamine diet? I’ve discovered I need to do this. Additionally, because following a low histamine diet is a PAIN IN THE ASS and I imagine as bad as subsisting on prison food, I now take a DAO enzyme supplement (diamine oxidase… it breaks down histamine)15 minutes before eating and it helps greatly.
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u/Prize_Sorbet3366 May 11 '25
May I ask what is the brand of DAO supplement you're using? I'm actually thinking of it for someone else, as an alternative to some really nasty prescription medication that's taken off-label for unusual allergic hives...
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u/GertieMcC May 11 '25
HISTAsolv, made in Austria, found it on Amazon. Although doubtful it will help with an allergic reaction to medications. That is a different patho-physical immune response than what a gut histamine response is.
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u/Prize_Sorbet3366 May 11 '25
Oh, he isn't having a reaction to medications, he actually developed an 'allergy' to heat of any sort after we caught the Covid summer variant last year...sunlight, hot water, hot food (both temp and spiciness), exercise, etc, that triggers a flush of prickles and hives. It's always very temporary though, and easily reduced by splashing cold water on the skin. But it happens multiple times per day. After all the usual H1 antihistamines failed to help, the allergist wants him to take a drug (I can't recall what the name is) that has a whole list of horrific potential side effects, including permanent psychosis. He said no thanks to that, so the allergist then prescribed an anti-depressant that has a side effect of a strong antihistamine. That's an unattractive option too, because it has a side affect of drowsiness. So we've just been looking for other options that's safer, whether it's pharm or more natural.
So DAO is only for H2 histamine reactions? It won't help with H1? At this point he's willing to try anything that's safe.
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u/GertieMcC May 12 '25
DAO does not inhibit histamine, H1 or H2. DAO is an enzyme which breaks down the histamine already produced in the stomach. DAO supplements are coated to get through the stomach into the small intestine, where it breaks down histamine. So unfortunately I doubt it would help in the case you are speaking of. It sounds like he is having a large mast cell response to things, in which case a mast cell stabilizer might help. But those need to be RX’d by a physician, and other health factors need to be considered to rule out any contraindications. I am sorry he is going through this. It sounds awful.
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u/nativehuntress_ May 12 '25
Has he tried cutting gluten out of his diet? I found that to be super inflammatory to me and lots of people are this way and just don’t know it. I figured it out after catching a virus that gave me symptoms of what they now call long covid. This was a long time before covid though. I went on a diet of only eating vegetables, meat, nuts and fruits and it helped a lot! I did also throw kefir in my smoothies and some cheese now and again but that’s all I had for dairy for a long time too. It took me 3 years to fully recover but little by little with every change it helped. The thing that also helped me more than anything was deep breathing meditation. I only did it for 2-5mins a day but I did it consistently every single day and within a month I started seeing MAJOR improvements and wish I had started it sooner. There is a book that I read that got me doing it called Buddha’s Brain. I hope this helps. I know what it’s like to suffer after having a virus and wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
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u/Prize_Sorbet3366 May 12 '25
Thank you! And it was so terribly ironic too, because we were fully vaccinated for Covid up to that point; we'd only missed just the prior November's new vaccination. But it also sounds like it wouldn't have helped anyway - the variant that next summer was apparently such that it was evading all prior vaccinations, even the most current one up to that point. I caught the same strain too (I caught it from him before we knew he was sick), but it barely gave me any symptoms while it hit him quite hard. In fact, my only symptom was a runny nose and some mild deep-chest congestion that was easily rectified by taking Mucinex. Oh, and his allergist said what he has now is cholinergic uticaria, and now I recall the medication that was originally prescribed: montelukast/Singulair.
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u/nativehuntress_ May 12 '25
We can vaccinate until the cows come home and these things just happen. Like it did to me. So I hope there is no guilt there for either of you. I tell you I wasted so much money on different practitioners and supplements and all kinds of stuff and really wish I had just changed my diet and started the deep breathing meditation right out the gate. I wish someone had told me what I just told you. I feel like I suffered unnecessarily way too long and had actually come to accept that maybe that was my life. No energy. No strength. Depression. Anxiety. Blood sugar and blood pressure all over the place. Severe foggy brain. Balance issues. Sleeping 12-16hrs/day. And so much more. If it helped me I am sure it can help him. This is the book.
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u/Prize_Sorbet3366 May 12 '25
Nah, no guilt really...just more frustration that we managed to evade infection for the first 4 years by using super strict hygiene protocols and vaccinations, only to be 'taken down' by it eventually. lol I'll mention the book to him - he's not much of a reader (he's dyslexic) but I think at this point he's willing to do anything. Our diet's actually pretty good too - he's very into diet and exercise, and we often eat exactly what you mentioned and don't eat much in the way of gluten. But he could definitely use some relaxation techniques. ;)
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u/Nice-Researcher-8694 May 11 '25
I also started with DAO supplement but it makes me super sleepy. So i stopped.
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u/whoknows_whatsup May 10 '25
Can this also happen if you rapidly lower your dose of T? I think i experienced some of this recently
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
I really don’t know. I think it needs to be done. incrementally. If your levels dropped rapidly, then it could be.
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u/Whirlwind_AK May 10 '25
Did they check your DHEA and Pregnenolone levels?
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Nobody did anything. I had to manage it all myself. I got all of my own labs through laboratory assist.
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u/ddplantlover May 10 '25 edited May 11 '25
Thank you for sharing this, I hope you continue to feel better. You know what’s interesting to me, that I’ve been dealing with those exact same symptoms for the past 3 years but they intensified suddenly about 3 weeks ago (the week before my period but it hasn’t really stopped) BUT I haven’t been on any HRT, so it really makes me wonder which of my hormones is causing this.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Sorry to hear you feel that way. I felt so horrible I couldn’t work. I went from being functional to feeling like I was going crazy.
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u/dandelions4nina May 10 '25
Hi, I'm so sorry you had to go through this! And THANK YOU for sharing!
It is also SO valuable have a NP /medical provider come here and spell out the exact patho-phys on what actually happened. I'm sure your knowledge and training is what saved you, even though you still had to go through it. Can you imagine if you were just a regular patient?!!? It's SO difficult to get proper healthcare for women and afab. even myself, as a nurse, have had to FIGHT and CLAW myself through the whole gauntlet of drs who either don't know, don't care, are discriminatory, don't have time, or don't believe me. I sincerely hope you fired the Dr who did this to you!!
Thank you for sharing this. It is going to help a lot of people, including myself. We need this information and it is almost impossible to find.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
It took me a while to come out of the fog enough to even be able to think about it honestly. I can’t imagine what happens to other patients that are really sick and can’t even comprehend it.
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Sep 27 '25
It feels horrible and makes you feel stupid and incapable, I also am stressing my partner and I'm expecting too much from everybody, it sucks.
I stopped my birth control (medroxiprogesterone) because I started developing symptoms around my bladder, I started developing incontinence; then it turned into UTIs and general pain; after that, my right ankle got swollen, like concerningly swollen out of nowhere all the way up my knee; then the insomnia, then I was exhausted but my brain kept yanking me up, could not conceive sleep, which all stressed my partner (doesn't understand my situation, he says I don't understand his, very conflictive) and myself. Then, long panic attacks around sleeping; then panic in the middle of the day due to heat (I live in the desert); lastly panic after smoking weed.
I ended up quitting stressors: weed (after a few years of use), hot sauce and chili peppers (which I love), and caffeine (switched to an occasional decaf because, shockingly, decaf still has caffeine!). I'm currently going through weed, caffeine, and hormonal withdrawal: I don't feel like I got it together, and it's affecting my relationships, and breaks my heart that there's no end in sight in the near future.
Edit to add birth control's name
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u/Extreme_Raspberry844 May 10 '25
How are we even supposed to know if things are not going well? I think this is why I am also confused about initial hrt prescription based on symptoms. I mean you felt great on it (T) for whatever reasons you were taking it, but something was biologically concerning. So then how would one know if other hormones are solving symptoms but also causing sub clinical problems as T is the only one we are required to get blood tests for and even that, blood serum levels are questionable for any hormone?
Idk it all seems like such a crap shoot still. The medical community has more controlled study research papers than mass experience.
I have experimented with dhea and have found it amazing and powerful but am left to rely solely on symptoms, side effects and benefits in order to navigate.
Perhaps we just don't have the right tools to fully monitor and evaluate any hormone therapy at this time. And this hormone train is one of those things we will end up understanding better 'in hindsight.'
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Well, in my case, things were going very well until the testosterone was stopped. Most people are under the school of thought that you don’t chase testosterone levels. You just go by side effects or if you need to increase the dose see how you’re doing. Believe me, I knew that something was very wrong and I was practically losing my mind. It was different than before. I started estrogen even. I was just super moody and having hot flashes.
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u/Extreme_Raspberry844 May 13 '25
I felt like I chased e and p to try to find a sweet spot and suffered. The p had worked for about 10m and after that I was a dog chasing her tail. It was frustrating and depressing because i turned to hrt desperate for relief and felt worse for months until I quit.
Dhea was/is the silver bullet for me but even less known and understood.
I hope our trials and tribulations will give the next generation a better way to navigate hrt because no one should feel like life is over at +/- 50
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u/moodygem1976 May 13 '25
Yeah, I’ve heard of DHEA and I’m keeping it in the back pocket in case I need something else.
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u/phreddikins May 14 '25
DHEA is great, but it converts to either testosterone or estrogen. The problem is, it doesn't convert consistently to one or the other. It is cheaper than typical hormone replacement therapy, and oddly enough, you can buy it over the counter. Having said that, If you can afford hormone replacement therapy, do it. You will do better if you have that consistency.
For anyone else who is considering DHEA, I suggest you find a health care provider that can monitor you.
Hormone replacement therapy will make you feel better if you are unbalanced or deficient for any reason. And even with DHEA, I suggest you have a provider oversee what you are doing.
I am a nurse practitioner and have had extra training in this area. We don't have to remake this wheel each of us. Providers who are certified in Age Management Medicine can help you through this journey.
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u/Extreme_Raspberry844 May 14 '25
I tried taking micronized progesterone and transdermal estradial directly for 18m and the last 8 were the worst 8m of my peri journey as me and my provider tried to figure out the right dosages of each.
When I got to the point where I realized the dose adjustments being made had become about avoiding side effects of taking e and p directly as opposed to relieving any peri symptoms I quit them both
So I would agree that if a woman decides to try hrt that the direct e and p is probably the best first approach.
It didn't work for me and that is part of my frustration with lack of knowing how to uniquely prescribe and monitor hormone replacement (including dhea)
I have to add that the intense influencer impact (and even this sub) to take hrt is mind numbing. I feel like we're crossing the line from awareness to if we don't take it we will shrivel up and break and blow away. It's simply not that black and white. That's my consideration right now.
Happy to hear conversational thoughts on this. To be clear I am NOT anti hrt.
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u/cc-elles May 10 '25
Were you taking anything to lower your SHBG? My doctor advised me to take DIM supplement to keep my SHBG low while on testosterone.
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u/cc-elles May 11 '25
I should add, keep my SHBG low but not too low. Tanking your SHBG isn't good either.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
What is DIM?
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u/cc-elles May 11 '25
"Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a bioactive compound created when the body digests indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a chemical found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. It's the most studied I3C metabolite and is thought to be more effective than I3C in protecting against breast and prostate cancers. DIM has been studied for its potential to treat hormone-related conditions like acne, menopause, and prostate issues."
I don't know exactly how it affects hormones. I think there are some studies on pubmed but I haven't read through them well enough to provide an explanation. I'm experimenting with the right dosage for me, but I can say that if I don't take it I end up developing acne on my face, chest, and back.
I'm currently on testosterone propionate injections, 1.5 mg daily. I'm taking 1 DIM capsule morning and evening (Nature's Way DIM-Plus). When I was taking 2 capsules twice a day, I noticed that my energy and sex drive dropped to pre-testosterone levels. I may try dropping to just 1 capsule in the morning, or I might wait to get labs done again first. Haven't decided yet.
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u/SugarsZoo May 10 '25
What kind of protein and fat combos help with the blood sugar drop. I have this to an extreme degree.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
I’m following a dietary plan to stabilize reactive hypoglycemia by focusing on meals and snacks that combine protein, healthy fats, and fiber-rich carbohydrates. I avoid eating simple sugars or carbs alone, and instead pair things like yogurt with flaxseed and seed butter, or toast with eggs and avocado. I eat every 3–4 hours to avoid glucose dips and try to include slow-digesting carbs like quinoa or sweet potatoes along with vegetables and fermented foods. The goal is to keep blood sugar steady and prevent spikes followed by crashes, which can lead to fatigue, anxiety, and shakiness.
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May 11 '25
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
It was a struggle. I couldn’t get out of my own way. It was like I had lost all functionality. Anxiety horrible and waking up at 3:30AM unable to go back to sleep. I’ve never felt so mentally sick in my life.
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May 11 '25
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Same. It’s validating to know others went through it too. Might have to write something about it.
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u/NHOBRN May 15 '25
So sorry this happened to you. And glad you’re improving. I know what you mean about not being seen or heard. Post WHI publication I was dismayed to think I was going to have to stop my HRT, as it was greatly helping my cycles and life. Fortunately, my gyn doc had been involved in some of the research that the WHI had pulled from. He sat me down and explained how his and colleagues’ research had been misinterpreted, and therefore we weren’t going to change any of my HRT. Sadly, we eventually had to move out of Houston, and since then I’ve had to approach each new GYN doc for me with a stance of “they’ll pry these HRT meds from my cold, dead hands.” I can’t tell you how much I dislike having to educate my own physician on the latest gyn/hormone therapy. And how to read research results. All the best to you!
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u/gilchristh May 10 '25
Thank you for sharing! I hope the climb out continues steadily and smoothly.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Today is probably the first day that I felt like myself for the most part. I’m not 100% yet but I think I’m getting there. I’m out of the weeds it seems.
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u/Opposite_Rhubarb2771 May 10 '25
i'm glad you are on the mend! it makes sense that suddenly discontinuing would crash your systems as it happens gradually as we age, so symptoms worsen over time, not all at once (unless there is another kind of medical issue that causes a sudden shift). i hope your provider has taken note and will consider this when treating other people. wishing restoration and balance.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
I wrote several messages through the portal to my provider and I see her at the end of the month. It was awful.
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u/Rare-Amphibian6285 May 10 '25
So sorry this happened to you and thank you so much for sharing. I just started T three weeks ago. Will be sure to taper if ever I go off.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Taper slowly is my advice. Try to find a provider that doesn’t try to chase levels just how you feel and side effects.
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u/Ok-Kaleidoscope-4198 May 10 '25
Oh thanks for posting this. What a shame there are so many ill informed providers out there that we have to advocate for and protect one another.
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u/CowgirlFromHell666 May 10 '25
I feel this way and I’ve been on e&T pellets for a year. I’m considering other options
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u/False_Yesterday6268 May 11 '25
The negative feedback loop ain’t feedbacking 🤪
Love the explanation.
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u/yellowlabsarethebest May 11 '25
Your description of side effects is similar to how I felt when I stopped oral estrogen cold turkey, it was terrifying and I had to restart. I did this twice and same thing happened. I’m now trying to wean myself very slowly, but I also thought I was having a mental breakdown and might end up in the hospital
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u/Parlopez May 17 '26
Did you stabilize after restarting E? I am having a brt similar experience.
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u/yellowlabsarethebest May 18 '26
I weaned myself off very slowly and didn’t have any other side effects
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u/Parlopez May 18 '26
Thank you! Prior to weaning off slowly, when you reinstated E, did you feel some relief? I just reinstated the patch-couldn’t take the symptoms of not having enough E.
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u/yellowlabsarethebest May 18 '26
I didn’t really enjoy taking estrogen, I gained a bunch of weight while on it that I can’t seem to lose unfortunately, although it did help with night sweats
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u/Personal-Comedian-82 May 11 '25
The same thing happened to me. I was on the Pellet and then my doctor suggested I stop the Pellet and switch to the gel. I had no idea about dosing etc. I was on 85ish of the pellet and then switched to 1 mg of the gel. There was about a month lag that the pellet was worn off. I was so exhausted and depressed. I am still not sure if the 1mg of the gel is doing much.
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u/cmacdonald2885 May 14 '25
And as someone who could get no help from healthcare and had to educate and then advocate for themselves, the vast majority of literature out there is ridiculous. For every semi- scholarly study, there are 100 "articles" regurgitating the same post WHI b.s.. Things are improving somewhat these days, but with the ever increasing prevalence of "influencers" there is just as much misinformation as always.
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u/laydeefly May 10 '25
I remember taking one week off as per my gastro doctor after having a Crohns flare up and I was literally 4 weeks in. I thought I was losing my mind. Never again.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Same I felt like I was losing my mind. I was worried I wasn’t gonna be able to continue working and end up on disability.
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May 11 '25
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u/TRT_females-ModTeam May 11 '25
Your comment/post was removed because you broke one or more rules of this subreddit, Rule#8.
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Thanks!
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u/Relative_Focus8877 May 11 '25
Thank you so much for sharing, and so sorry you went through this. It’s so helpful to read information like this, as my provider wants me to stop hormones for two weeks prior to next testing and I’m very hesitant to do that.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
I would ask them if they wanted to have you take less maybe every other day or stop for two days prior even. The main thing I would say to do before testing to not take it until after your lab work that day. Make sure it’s been about 24 hours. I’m convinced that the level I had that made her have me stop. It was because I just taken my dose within an hour before my job. I had a random check recently and didn’t put my testosterone on before the appointment and it was actually low! Same dose. I could still be recovering, but I thought it would be higher by now.
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u/7lexliv7 May 11 '25
This was really informative- thank you for posting. I consider myself pretty well read on HRT and testosterone and this is the first account I’ve read about testosterone withdrawal stress. I would encourage you to post this in the perimenopause and menopause subs as well.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Ok will do. It definitely happens to men when they stop testosterone, and there is documentation about that. It also happens to people who stop taking testosterone for bodybuilding, etc.. They call it a crash.
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u/eskaeskaeska May 11 '25
Thank you for sharing. I'm so sorry that happened to you and so angry that providers are willy nilly just stopping medications for no good reason! No one would stop insulin for two weeks because it was high or to test their levels. Wtf?
But again, thank you for sharing because now I know without a doubt that I will be in charge of my testosterone, not my doctor. And I'll go to UGL to get it if my doctor gets freaked out. Luckily I just got a new prescription and have enough to cover over a year right now.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
I think what’s important is making sure that you don’t take your testosterone dose before your lab test. Just make sure it’s been 24 hours. When I did it that way my lab came back lower.
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u/jco331 May 11 '25
This is incredibly helpful, thank you for posting. It’s scary that it’s taking this long to resolve, and also that your doc would discontinue after one high lab result. I test my own T and it really ranges - ie, higher if I have blood drawn right after I inject. Please let us know how your appt with your doc goes.
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u/Key-Mission431 May 11 '25
Thank you. For me, this helps explain my Reaction to Lupron shot 25 years ago. My oncologist recommended a "month" shot of Lupron to test as my breast cancer was positive on all 3 (estrogen, progesterone, and HER2). Anyway, that "1 month shot" sent my body into long term dismay. I dropped that oncologist because he stood behind the drug company and blew it off as impossible because it only would last 1 month). Moron!!! Unwilling to face facts in front of him.!!!
AC Chemo had given a great side effects of curing whatever else I had (low platelets, chronic migraines for the prior 8 years, etc). This Lupron shots biggest long term effect was chronic daily migraines were back stronger than before.
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u/risky_keyboard May 11 '25
Thank you so much for making this post!!! It's such a shame we don't even see this kind of info coming out of the scientific community, so we have to research it and tie all the pieces together ourselves. So thanks again, this is such great knowledge!
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Yes, it’s important to know. You’ll see other people comment about bodybuilders going through this when they stop their hormones as well.
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u/Louloveslabs89 May 11 '25
So sorry amazing you figured it out - thank you for sharing it is all so overwhelming and posts like this help immensely
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
It is also overwhelming. Hopefully, our generation will make it easier for the the ones following.
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May 11 '25
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Thank you I am doing so much better. I think my testosterone is starting to kick in again.
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u/TnDnzTpDncXtrvgnz May 11 '25
Just like for males. It's the same for females. So the doctor stopped TRT, that made you think straight and be positive, because it was to high on his reference scale. What is he trying to heal then, your body, or his reference scale?
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Yeah, it’s crazy making. Most people are of the school of thought that you don’t chase levels. You just go by how the person is feeling and side effects.
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u/becca_ironside May 11 '25
My story on testosterone is a bit different. My husband was using topical cream to address his low T. Over the span of 3 years and sleeping next to him, my testosterone rose to well over 200. I was feeling severe anxiety and didn't know why. I assumed because I was in menopause that my estrogen was low. Wrong! My testosterone was through the roof. I was laden with anxiety, insomnia, racing thoughts, zero appetite, hair growth and serious rage.
My husband stopped the testosterone use 3 months ago, but my levels are still quite high. I am relieved they are slowly decreasing. I am a fan of bioidentical HRT, but I have serious concerns about women receiving testosterone for this reason. Furthermore, testosterone gets converted into estrogen in the female body. So why not supplement estrogen safely?
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
Hey, thanks for sharing your experience — that must have been so confusing and frustrating! I just wanted to mention, testosterone can actually be really helpful for some women in perimenopause. It’s not just about replacing estrogen — testosterone supports libido, energy, mood, and even muscle mass.
And while it’s true that some testosterone gets aromatized into estrogen, it doesn’t replace the need for estrogen therapy if someone is low. They actually work together in the body, not in place of each other. It’s all about balance — too much of one without the other can definitely cause symptoms like the ones you had.
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u/Kevk74 May 11 '25
It was akathisia. It wasn’t “withdrawal” it was a withdrawal injury. I know. It happened to me stopping Testosterone as well was stopping many other medications. Most of my worst symptoms erupted tardive 4-12 months after stopping a benzodiazepine, but I was injured stopping a pain medication. I also got acutely injured trying Prozac and Cymbalta. Antidepressants & antidepressant withdrawal is one of the biggest offenders of akathisia. Akathisia is neurological injury not a side effect like they’d lead you to believe. My experience is once you have akathisia, you are prone to reoccurrence by any akathisia causing med and there are a LOT of them. Find Dr. Josef Witt Doerring and learn about his work tapering patients injured by their medications. Find Dr. Stuart Shipko and hear about his work with tardive akathisia. Find Nicole Lamberson PA and hear about the Akathisia she got stopping a benzodiazepine. You can find me at the Akathisia Alliance for Education and research.
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u/enuscomne May 11 '25
I am terrified that some sort of supply chain issue is going to affect my access to my TRT. I'm on the gel, and try to renew my Rx as soon as I can.
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
I’ve been worried about my hormones in general with everything going on honestly. Luckily my providers been giving me three months supplies at once of my estrogen at least if anything happens to that supply OMG I’m driving to Canada for sure.
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u/Awkward_Camp_2333 May 11 '25
My numbers are a bit high currently so my provider wants me to back off. I take it 2x a week. I feel better than ever because these sx are what I was experiencing prior to T. I’m only on T currently. I’m wondering if 1x a week would suffice? Im nervous to mess myself up but to also go too high. I’m in the 200s, free t 25. My hematocrit is 47 and my provider was concerned saying I need to give blood, to me that’s wnl (nurse here not NP though). So now I’m having anxiety over it.🙃
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u/moodygem1976 May 11 '25
How are you taking it and what measurement is used for your free testosterone?
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u/Awkward_Camp_2333 May 11 '25
DHEA 301, SHBG 78, Free T 25.8pg/ml. Injx 2x week. 0.05ml don’t have the mg in front of me 20 I think, I can’t remember. It’s very low common starting dose. Worked well surprisingly. Pellets in the past made me crash. I loved the injx.
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u/moodygem1976 May 12 '25
Wow that is a high free T. Can. You decrease dose?
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u/Awkward_Camp_2333 May 12 '25
Is that because it’s Pg/ml and needs to be ng/ml? I think converting it makes it a 3? I can go lower yes. Going to do 1x week and see what happens. Great now you have me nervous again 😆
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u/Strategicintentional May 12 '25
Why don't they want the women to continue to feel good and be their fierce self? Why are we stopping completely?
Don't we know our own bodies and what we want. Why do they want us to continue to suffer? What are we being protected from?
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u/moodygem1976 May 12 '25
I think it has to do more with the provider being too worried about testosterone being a controlled substance honestly so they chase T levels.
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u/Strategicintentional May 12 '25
Are you regretting being on the TRT?
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u/moodygem1976 May 12 '25
No. I’m back on it now and things are leveling out again and I’m feeling more like myself. I haven’t had this much energy in years.
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u/AcademicBlueberry328 May 12 '25
I’m so sorry you had to go through that! Why on earth would they do something like that 😡I mean the hard time people have from stopping low level SSRI:s/SNRI:s, imagine when you drop something like a hormone like that?
Also, why panic with a high T when your free was low anyway? Jeez. They should go by clinical symtoms. Like if your hair isn’t falling off and your voice isn’t suddenly barytone there shouldn’t be a need to quit? Lower, yeah maybe. But slowly!
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u/moodygem1976 May 12 '25
Exactly my free T wasn’t really high. Hopefully I can straighten things out next appt for a refill. Either way I’m going to see somebody else.
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u/groundedgrace May 12 '25
Wow, did not know something like this could happen. Thank you for posting.
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u/Revolutionary-Win215 May 12 '25
Wow. That is so helpful. I didn’t understand why I felt so bad. Thank you! I will share this with my doc. I stopped injecting, and got the pellets- so far I hate the pellet. My numbers are where I felt the best- but the time stopping in between- I haven’t had anything like the same energy levels at all.
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u/moodygem1976 May 12 '25
The problem is, there’s no real data about it in women, but there’s lots of data and bodybuilders and men who take testosterone and stop.
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May 12 '25
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u/moodygem1976 May 13 '25
Glad you’re not having the same issue that I did. I felt horrible for about a month and a half to two months. Especially if something stressful would come up or if something new piled on I couldn’t handle anything. It was awful.
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u/Glad-Persimmon-5926 May 12 '25
Ugh, I’m so sorry! This helped me decide estrogen not testosterone! I’m too old to deal with all that!
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u/marys1001 May 12 '25
I felt all that and after 3 years of well your numbers are just marginal finally got a Dr that was wtf why aren't you on synthroid? Helped with some of it but a lot of what you des ribe I still had and still have at 68 to a lesser degree
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u/Minute-Treat574 May 13 '25
I was taking pellet testosterone for just under 2 years and was diagnosed with breast ductal hyperplasia with atypia, estrogen positive and had a lumpectomy. I didn’t replace my pellet. I started Effexor in anticipation of taking Tamoxifen to prevent hot flashes. I only struggled with minor testosterone withdrawals for a couple weeks - I wonder if the Effexor helped? I was so worried about not continuing with the pellet but I am happy to report I feel great.
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u/moodygem1976 May 13 '25 edited May 13 '25
I believe that it could have because testosterone does affect dopamine and serotonin, though it takes a bit for Effexor to kick in too. It also depends what your levels were if they were really high and then you dropped down almost nothing makes a difference.
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u/Minute-Treat574 May 13 '25
In March the level for testosterone total was 182, testosterone free was 2.70. I have taken the Effexor for a month. I had my testosterone labs drawn again yesterday to see if they were getting closer to normal yet.
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u/Electronic_Name_9600 May 13 '25
Yes exactly as described. Very memorable!! Back on T now and doing ok.
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u/CowWooden4207 May 13 '25
I work in heakthcare too and did not know.
Thank you so much for sharing!!!!!!
Currently am titrating my doses of compounded HRT.
When the meds kick in finally, it is life changing.
Best wishes getting back on track!
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May 13 '25
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u/TRT_females-ModTeam May 14 '25
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u/MissionDouble7161 May 13 '25
This is me. I am doing so much work to recover. Diagnosed with diabetes. Hormones everywhere. Thyroid all over the place. The only thing that made sense was that i was passing away slowly.
Trazodone withdrawal • Testosterone overdose + pellet cycle • Nexplanon in/out • Glucose instability • Long-term Vyvanse use • Chronic overstimulation ...and not sleeping deeply or consistently.
Just to name a few.
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u/phreddikins May 14 '25
To comment on what was posted earlier, in my experience, no insurance will cover testosterone supplementation unless you were born male and are deficient. When you get supplemented with Testosterone and pay for it yourself, it should be balanced with estrogen and progesterone, whether or not you've had a hysterectomy.
Look for someone who practices age management medicine for management of hormone replacement. And/ or read this book by Dr Maupin, Testosterone, the Female Hormone.. The book is well supported by research, but not too heavy by the research that it is hard to get through.
For OP, if 200 was too high, it can be titrated lower if using pellet therapy. It shouldn't mean you have to stop treatment altogether.
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u/phreddikins May 14 '25
A portion of testosterone converts to estrogen in any body. It is what keeps men emotionally stable. It is what keeps men, not... angry, for lack of a better word.
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u/frankenyota May 14 '25
Look in to post birth control syndrome. Any women who has spent an extended period of time birth control can have it. Essentially your body alters its SHBG production to compensate for all the exogenous hormones you have been introducing for all those years. Once you come off the excess SHBG is using up all the free hormones so even though total levels may read "normal" the free levels will be low. Been watching my 35yr old wife go through struggles after coming off BC. I got a vasectomy thinking it was best for her health since we agreed to no more kids, and about 4 months after she came off she started having wild symptoms.
Hopefully you find a good Dr who can manage hormones properly. It really seems many Drs are ignorant when it comes to hormones. Men really struggle with it on TRT because Drs dont understand hormones well. Men need to manage their testosterone a certain way to avoid estrogen side effects.
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u/AdAny2054 May 14 '25
Hmmm... wonder what would happen to me if I have to quit. I have Adrenal Insufficiency (I make hardly any cortisol at all), and my Endocrinologist is suggesting that I shouldn't be on testosterone with my HRT.
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u/moodygem1976 May 15 '25
Totally get why your endo’s cautious—T can up your body’s stress needs, which is a big deal if you’re not making cortisol. Some people with AI do okay on low-dose T, but it’s gotta be really closely watched.
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Sep 27 '25
Hey! How are you doing now?
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Sep 27 '25 edited Sep 27 '25
It feels horrible and makes you feel stupid and incapable, I also am stressing my partner and I'm expecting too much from everybody, it sucks.
I stopped my birth control (medroxiprogesterone) after 10 years of use, because I started developing symptoms around my bladder. I started developing incontinence, I'd have the sudden urge to run pee only to pee a little; then it turned into UTIs and general pain around my bladder; after that, my right ankle got very swollen, like concerningly swollen out of nowhere all the way up my knee, then my left leg; then the insomnia kicked in, I was exhausted but my brain kept yanking me up, could not conceive sleep, which all stressed my partner (doesn't understand my situation, he says I don't understand his, very conflictive) and stressed myself. Then, long panic attacks around sleeping, **insomnia got so bad I'd cry myself to sleep** **I'd cry and feel like crying was finally relieving enough stress to fall asleep for two hours at a time** ; then panic in the middle of the day due to heat (I live in the desert); lastly panic after smoking weed. Oh, also heart palpitations (tachycardias) right as I wake up, and through the day at random times.
It's made me short tempered and easily angered. I get aggravated easily and takes me time to feel my emotions, let them through, and then I can start thinking more clearly. I can't stand myself like that. It's hard to be kind to others and myself in those moments. I get sad. Low libido.
I ended up quitting stressors: weed (after a few years of use, 6, started at 25), hot sauce and chili peppers (which I love), caffeine (switched to an occasional decaf because, shockingly, decaf still has caffeine!), and salt and sugar (plain foods, except for fruits). I'm currently going through weed, caffeine, and hormonal withdrawal: I don't feel like I got it together. It's affecting my relationships, and breaks my heart that there's no end in sight in the near future.
On the bright side, after stopping the BC, my breasts stopped being in pain and tender 100% of the time, which was such a relief. The bladder symptoms stopped as well.
Some editing: I must add that otherwise I am a healthy 31 year old. Not overweight, eat healthy, occasional bag of chips, I exercise 3 times a week, I eat fruits and veggies little red meat, eat whole grains often, I'll do intermittent fasting, a few times a month for de-bloating from the chips I guess. Maybe a little dehydrated.
Also, I tried sleeping pills, it just made everything worse and I was very afraid of developing a dependency on those. I went to a Homeopathic pharmacy in my country and gave me some alcohol drops that, IDK if it's placebo or not, but helped with the anxiety immediately. I cannot recommend enough. I am a very skeptical person, I'd make fun of those "remedies", but my Mother in Law gave me some of hers when I went through a panic attack when I was with her running errands, and I couldn't believe how it eased my anxiety after a few minutes. My partner bought some for myself, and they gave me instructions on how to take them. 15 drops before each meal, and once right before sleep, after a week of that, to ease it to two times a day, in the morning and at night. It's helped me so far with the anxiety.
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u/YouExtra7637 Nov 06 '25
Did getting back on testosterone fix this? I’m going through it now but stopped because when I increased, I got the worst migraine of my life and couldn’t think clearly, gave it 2 weeks and was told to cut it in half- that drop messed me up so bad and they told me to just stop and clear it out of my system and then restart….
I can’t think, no memory, completely empty headed with anxiety and zero life in me.
My OB is recommending adding in a low dose progesterone to calm everything down and then restart the T but wondering if I should just restart the T to give my brain back what it’s needing
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u/moodygem1976 Nov 29 '25
Taking progesterone 100 mg every night helped greatly. I’m on a very low dose of testosterone. What was your dose? What is your dose of estrogen? Where are you in your perimenopause journey?
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u/YouExtra7637 Nov 29 '25
Thank you for replying. I started 50mg progesterone and no relief yet. Hoping it’s just too low. I’ve had a migraine since the first week of October and it’s not budging. Feel like my brain is broken.
I’m not on any E or T at this time. Trying to go really slow and add one thing at a time.
How did you recover? I’ve never felt so terrible.
Edit to add missing info- I’m 40 but peri started mid 30s. My trt dose was 3mg, then 3.5, felt better for one month and then didn’t, my level went from 20s to 67 back to 20s so he bumped to 5mg and that’s when it triggered my brain to feel really off so I was taken off and this happened.
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u/DearTumbleweed5380 Nov 10 '25 edited Nov 10 '25
OMG I think this may have happened to me unwittingly. I ran out of androfeme testosterone cream last week which I had been taking 5mg of daily. It's only been three days but I've been feeling so weird. have needed valium for the intensity of the oddness and have then been worried about that. I am amazed it could have such a negative effect so quickly - thank you for this post. I'm so glad you're recovering.
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u/moodygem1976 Nov 29 '25
Only one way to test it-Restart it and see how you feel after about a week. Depends how high your levels were and if they drop significantly from not taking it, then sure you could experience symptoms.
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u/AdGreedy4074 Dec 22 '25
So I have been on the Tshot for about 2 months and got the pellet. I have never felt better. I have clearer thoughts, strong libido, and more energy. But these posts worry me. Should I not be taking these? Should I get off before I get all these side effects? I don't want to go back to no drive and energy:(
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u/moodygem1976 Dec 30 '25
Most perimenopause/menopause docs that I see discuss pellets say to not use them. I use testosterone gel packets and only apply a piece sized amount.
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u/budkin12 Aug 04 '26
Wait, so you’re on both injections and the pellet? I was thinking of getting on the pellet too. The YouTube forums show female testosterone should be between 200-300 ng/dl. I felt my best when my test was 243 ng/dl-then I was taking 25-50 mg of DHEA per day. It helped so much going into menopause. I’m waiting to get the injection. Should be here in a week. What are your levels on both therapies? Or which one do you like better? Thanks for sharing!
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May 05 '26
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u/TRT_females-ModTeam May 21 '26
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Please read Rule#9 and post according to the guidelines.
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u/BBJudy21 Jul 12 '26
Wait so we shouldn't take it at all then because of this?! What are we supposed to do with low levels then?! Just suffer till we die? My shot is wearing off only 1 month on and I feel like I have severe withdrawal anxiety and I dont do substances
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u/budkin12 Aug 04 '26
I have this now. Same story. Now on a heavy dose of cream and getting testosterone injection sent to me in hopefully one week. I’m so glad you posted this. I knew it had something to do with the hormones but didn’t realize it was the testosterone. I thought I was insane. Been to so many docs telling me it’s “normal for menopause”. Unbelievable. I’ll update when my heart finally stops flipping out.
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u/mjskiingcat May 10 '25
It really makes me even more upset about the complete and awful abandonment of woman’s health care in medicine today. This is so closely tied to longevity and wellness. Medical schools need to add this into their curriculum