Testogel- first time user

GOOD NEWS

I was in touch with Besins today and spoke direct on phone regarding Testogel Sachets.

The supply of Sachets was brought up at various meetings within their headquarters and they have decided to start supplying Testogel sachets again from mid - August onwards, I was informed that by September there will be supplies of both the sachet form and the bottle form.

.

If you are like myself and prefer the sachet form of Testogel, inform your doctor from September onwards and ensure your prescription is for "Sachets" and not for the bottle.

.

They also informed me that Testim transdermal gel is coming off the market, no longer being supplied (even though they don't manufacture this, they were informed that it is being stopped.

Great news any news of this being available in pharmacies now, due a repeat and GP visit tomorrow.

Confirmed sachets are back in general supply. (To the surprise of the pharmacist) 

@Fox1 Yay! Just not getting on with the pump. Told to go on four pumps by the GP and my bloods were 18. Great, I thought. But since then I've gradually gone downhill, feeling nauseous and totally exhausted again.

Just asked the pharmacist this morning about the sachets and was told they got some in this week. What a strange coincidence.

Seeing the GP this morning to ask for more blood tests as I feel so awful. If I don't get any help, I'm going back on the sachets.

Fox 1,

I am new to this forum, but have read many of your posts regarding Testo Gel. I have sent you a friendship request on here, as I would like to discuss Testo Gel with you in further detail. My doctor wants me to try Testo Gel at 10g daily, so two sachets like yourself. Since you wrote this post, are you aware of Testo Gel being once again available in sachet formulation here in the UK?

My doctor said she will prescribe either Testo Gel pump or the sachets, and I didn't want to ask for the sachets for fear of them not being available at the pharmacy. Are you able to confirm that the sachets are once gain available in the UK? If so, please let me know, and I will ask my doctor to prescribe the sachets not the pump.

It would be good to talk more to you, as you seem something of an authority on Testo Gel, so would be great to discuss this further with you. 

Joe.

I believe  works offshore so may have gaps in availability. To tag someone add an @ before their username.

I can confirm that sachets are in general supply and available for all pharmacies to order, I had a prescription fulfilled 2 days ago for this.

Are you under the care of an endocrinologist or other such specialist in this area?

Cheers 

Thank you for your message. I was told by my GP that the pump forumulation of Testo Gel was the only one available when I enquired about this today? SInce when have the sachets been available again, and are they 50mg 5g gel sachets like the previous Testo Gel ones?

Are you yourself on this medication? If so, how has it helped improve your symptoms, and which symptoms did it improve? What was your total testosterone before starting, what dose are you on at present, and what number has the treatment got you to? I know some people say gels are rubbish and simply shut you down without replacing your levels to an optimal range.

Yes, been referred to an Endocrinologist, but MRI if pituitary and measurement of serum prolactin levels seems to exclude the possibility it is prolactin related, as is sometimes the case with so called secondary hypogonadism.

Appreciate your views :) 

Joe.

@

Hopefully, I can be of some help here. My pharmacist told me the 50mg sachets were available again but you can get confirmation by phoning Besins Healthcare direct 

Tel: +44 203 862 0920
Email: information@besins-healthcare.com

Ask for someone called Lawrence. He is very helpful.

I was on the sachets for 1 year (1.5 a day) and they worked great. When going on the pump, the dosage recommended of 3 pumps wasn't enough but now I'm on 4 pumps daily, my levels are the same as the sachets. 

I'm not feeling great at the moment but my GP says it's nothing to do with the Testogel. I've just got a lot of stress going on in my work life.

The pump is easier to apply and dries quicker which is probably why the absorption isn't as good as the sachets. But it will absorb better if you spread it over the largest area possible as quickly as possible. 

Hope this helps.

@Inw56

Thank you for your input here. I will email Besins first and then call them if not. If you don't mind me asking, what were your testosterone levels when you commenced TRT, and what level did the sachets get you to? My level at the moment is 15mnol, which, when age and overall health are taken into consideration, is very low. My GP said that a man in his mid 20s should ideally have a total testosterone level of at least 24mnol, and a free testosterone above 0.225?  Are you on the pump now out of choice rather than necessity? If you wanted to get sachets you could?

Also, do you use any ancillary medications to keep oestrogen in check? I have suffered with high oestrogen for some time now, which has led to minor breast enlargement and possibly worsened my low libido and ED problems. Doctor has given me a medication called Aromasin, dosed at 12.5mg EOD, to try and balance my oestrogen out. Do you apply your gel to the shoulders and the arms, or just the shoulders? 

I prefer the idea of sachets, as the maximum dose you can get with a pump is 88g I believe? Whereas two full sachets would put you at a respectable 100g. @ Fox1 uses two sachets and has gotten to mid 20s, so I definitely think sachets are the way to go.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts as to the above.

Pre treatment, My free testosterone levels were 91 pmol/L and serum level was 5.2 mnol/L because I'm in my early 60's the levels I should be 163-473. So, 250 ish would be good. And between 6.68-25.7 nmol/L serum levels - About 15 optimum.

Went on 1 sachet to start with and felt better within a few days. Retested and the levels had gone up to 12.3 nmol and 274 pmol

Then started to feel tired again ( I assume my body stopped producing it's own T) levels had gone down to 11nmol and 213 pmol

My GP upped the dose another 25mgs ie. 1.5 sachets. Since then my levels have stayed perfect at 14nmol and 268 pmol and haven't needed any other meds. But everyone is different.

Everything was fine until I went on the pump. Besins rep had told our pharmacist that 2 pumps equalled 1 sachet even though there was a lower amount of T. He said it would absorb better. I started feeling really unwell and exhausted, I compared the two products on the EMC Medicines website and found the pump had a much lower absorption rate. So, I just went back on the sachets and phoned Besins to ask how my pharmacist could get hold of the the sachets. They were very helpful and I managed to get more. But then it became impossible to get a further supply, so had to try the pump again. My GP said I could use 4 pumps and when having my levels checked a few weeks ago they were: 15.1 nmol and 288 pmol. So, for me, 4 pumps = just over 1.5 sachets. I believe @Fox  was taking 5 of the pumps along with moisturiser to make it absorb better, last post I saw of his.

It's best used on the shoulders as much as possible because there's less fat on that area and it can get into the blood stream more easily. And I spread it down my arms to tee-shirt sleeve level. You mustn't use the pump on your stomach or other muscle/fat areas as it won't absorb properly.

I'm quite happy with the pump now I'm at good levels again. My endocrinologist said you just need to 'up' it until you get the correct blood levels. He didn't seem to think it was important to stop at 4 pumps. But don't take my word for that without consulting an expert.

Hope that helps you with your decision. I've got sachets and pumps in my meds cabinet now, just in case