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I am chemically castrated for about 2 months now. Because of the very bad sexual fantasies including children I got depressions but these are now almost gone. I feel much better now.

But I have a problem with very excessive sleepiness but I am physically ok. When I do a longer sprint or ride on the bicicle I dont feel more exhausted than before I took Androcur. Its just that I have these "sleep-attacks" when I sit on the pc or do something where I dont move much.

The question is: Many castrated men (surgically or chemically) report "loss of energy". But what is meant by that? This sleepiness I have or less energy to do physical things?

You're experiencing one of the many side-effects of castration. Testosterone is a muscle building hormone, without it your muscles will atrophy to a certain degree. The problem is, without the testosterone you won't be as motivated to exercise, you feel fatigued, tired and your body will put on more fat. That's why a lot of women and some men and many eunuchs are, well, fat. Obese men have low testosterone and I've read that obese men have more estrogen. So chemical/physical castration is beneficial in removing most sexual thoughts and desires, but it can spur obesity because testosterone helps build muscle. Look at this article: http://www.draxe.com/lack-of-energy-may ... tosterone/ Notice the list of side-effects of low testosterone levels. This is what you're experiencing. However, if you want to maintain low testosterone levels because you want to remove your sexual desires, you'll need to consume high energy foods or products to prevent your sleepiness and lethargic feelings. Here's a high energy diet that will help you greatly: http://www.webmd.com/diet/fiber-health- ... ost-energy

Lastly, you might be over doing it with the chemical castration. For example, I use a low dose regimen of testosterone to ward off osteoporosis and to give me some needed energy. I maintain about a 125-145 level of testosterone in my body. It's a lot lower than an intact non-castrated man. Normal testosterone levels are between 250-1000mg's or more. So my testosterone is low, but good for me. I can function, I have sufficient energy, without it, I fall into depression pretty quick. That's another danger of being castrated. But experiment, try to use a lesser amount of chemical castration. Try to find a balanced place, where your testosterone level is not to high and not to low, a balanced place. It'll take some time, but it'll be worth it. Hope this helps.

My Psychiatrist said its likely I have this because of the medicine I take. Besides Androcur its also Mirtazapine and Risperidone.

But i am a little sceptical because physically I feel ok and like I said:

nicnic1988 (imported) wrote: Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:10 pm I dont feel more exhausted than before

when I do something like sprinting....

Your sleep attacks like you said are caused by the lack of testosterone. I had same problem when I had low T level. Mirtazapine is for night time. Wellbutrin is known to keep you awake during the day. Most anti depressors are known to have anti androgenic effet. Perhaps you can lower your Androcur, your T level doesn't need to be at castration level to keep you out of trouble.

I have been on Androcur for over a year, I experienced severe energy loss and lethargy I began getting Gall bladder pain and my Doctor who knows my low testosterone levels said it was a result of to much oestrogen taking over where the testosterone left off, he advised taking a zinc tablet daily drinking lots of fresh orange juice and vitamin C, These to my surprise neutralise the effects of too much oestrogen and almost instantly my energy levels increased, I no longer nap in the day and my Gall bladder pain disappeared almost over night, as a bonus my breasts no longer ache either. Be careful with energy drinks containing glucose, Androcur can make you glucose intolerant and with me if I had too much glucose in my system it brought on night sweats and chills.

I did not suffer a lack of energy after castration. My job was very physical at the time and I was still lifting weights. Today I spend about 3 hours total walking my dog at different times. I work full time and all my other activities keep me busy. Now I can drop off to sleep in front of the computer so quickly that I have trouble getting things done. Working on my iPhone causes me to drift off to sleep. This phone has been dropped so many times as my head drops off to sleep. Physically I have energy but optically I fatigue easily.

Yes I think its true, the lack of T you loose energy its not only the loss of T but age plays into it as well as weight gain. Add them all together and you have the couch potato.

Welcome to the world of the eunuch.

But the real question is, do you feel happier now that you have no T? If that answer is yes then the rest is worth while and can be dealt with.

River

I should have added that I was never high energy/hyper type of person. I have always been slow and steady wins the race. I also was castrated at 41 so the slow down may have already occurred. If I was castrated in my 20's I may have noticed more of a change.

Riverwind (imported) wrote: Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:34 pm Yes I think its true, the lack of T you loose energy its not only the loss of T but age plays into it as well as weight gain. Add them all together and you have the couch potato.

Welcome to the world of the eunuch.

But the real question is, do you feel happier now that you have no T? If that answer is yes then the rest is worth while and can be dealt with.

River

The body needs some level of testosterone in order to help ward off the bad health effects of being castrated. It does not mean that there will a return of libido if the dosage is not too much. Eating less and exercising also helps, as it does for anyone who gets older and his metabolism begins to slow down, but a lack of T in the body makes it worse.

With androcur, lose the Remeron (Mirtazapine) (interesting perhaps, my doctor used to prescribe it not only for depression, but also as a sleep aid). Try wellbutrin (bupropion) instead - it has no drowsy side-effects, generally - if you need an antidepressant. Of course, a side effect of castration is often deprression. A very common side effect of Risperidone is drowsiness / excessive sleep, as well as weight gain; reducing dose may help with the drowsiness, but won't do much for the weight gain (only diet and exercise will help that). Insist that the psychiatrist start adjusting the med levels of all three drugs - keep in mind that once castration effect is achieved, the level of androcur can often be reduced yet maintain the same effect, often after about 6 months of use.

kristoff wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:22 am With androcur, lose the Remeron (Mirtazapine) (interesting perhaps, my doctor used to prescribe it not only for depression, but also as a sleep aid). Try wellbutrin (bupropion) instead - it has no drowsy side-effects, generally - if you need an antidepressant. Of course, a side effect of castration is often deprression. A very common side effect of Risperidone is drowsiness / excessive sleep, as well as weight gain; reducing dose may help with the drowsiness, but won't do much for the weight gain (only diet and exercise will help that). Insist that the psychiatrist start adjusting the med levels of all three drugs - keep in mind that once castration effect is achieved, the level of androcur can often be reduced yet maintain the same effect, often after about 6 months of use.

I already reduced the mirtazapine dosage from 30 to 15mg last week. Tomorrow I will reduce it to 0 when my psychiatrist say its ok. I will quit the risperidone soon most likely because I already took a very small dosage of 0,5mg and I felt nothing.

I had the depression when I still had my sex drive. Without it I now feel much better..

I am still not sure if the sleepiness is 100% connected to the medicine. I had the symptoms before but then I thought it was the depression....

My psychiatrist is not so sure anymore my smyptoms come from the androcur. I dont take mirtazapine and risperidone now and lowered the androcur to 75. I still am very sleepy and unfocused. She said its still from a depression I am not really finished with... I will take SSRI-Antidepressents soon... I will see if this will help. I am not so sure about it.

I also had an adjustment period once while I was taking anrdocur and before I was castrated. Your body needs to adjust to the physical changes. After a few months i was able to regain some of my energy and was less sleepy But I have to agree with everyone here. You need to eat well and exercise. Its one of the trade offs for the benefits of being castrated. And something everyone castrated or not should do anyway.

Good Luck

Getting rid of Mirtazapine might be a good idea. I used it as SLEEP medicine for years, it makes one extremely sleepy. Also, reserpine is a medicine rarely used nowadays due to its bad side-effects profile, guess you might drop this one as well (depending on the condition, but there are rare if any nowadays, that particularly need RESERPINE usage).

nicnic1988 (imported) wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:25 am I already reduced the mirtazapine dosage from 30 to 15mg last week. Tomorrow I will reduce it to 0 when my psychiatrist say its ok. I will quit the risperidone soon most likely because I already took a very small dosage of 0,5mg and I felt nothing.

I had the depression when I still had my sex drive. Without it I now feel much better..

I am still not sure if the sleepiness is 100% connected to the medicine. I had the symptoms before but then I thought it was the depression....

Jorge2008 (imported) wrote: Wed May 29, 2013 4:09 am Getting rid of Mirtazapine might be a good idea. I used it as SLEEP medicine for years, it makes one extremely sleepy. Also, reserpine is a medicine rarely used nowadays due to its bad side-effects profile, guess you might drop this one as well (depending on the condition, but there are rare if any nowadays, that particularly need RESERPINE usage).

I already dropped mirtazapine and risperidone. I am only taking androcur for over 2 weeks now. But there was no change. I will take escitalopram again in the next weeks because my psychiatrist says my problems come from depression...

nicnic1988 (imported) wrote: Wed May 29, 2013 1:05 pm I already dropped mirtazapine and risperidone. I am only taking androcur for over 2 weeks now. But there was no change. I will take escitalopram again in the next weeks because my psychiatrist says my problems come from depression...

A well known side effect of taking androcur is that it can bring on depression, I assume your psychiatrist knows that and is adjusting your medication accordingly and watching you for signs of it.

this is the blurb from the leaflet with my pills "Other side effects include: tiredness and diminished vitality, temporary inner restlessness or depressive moods, and changes in body weight. "

ukdesexed (imported) wrote: Wed May 29, 2013 5:22 pm A well known side effect of taking androcur is that it can bring on depression, I assume your psychiatrist knows that and is adjusting your medication accordingly and watching you for signs of it.

this is the blurb from the leaflet with my pills "Other side effects include: tiredness and diminished vitality, temporary inner restlessness or depressive moods, and changes in body weight. "

My psychiatrists first thought was that these were side effects of androcur but i had these symptoms for over a year before the androcur. SO androcur is not the only cause.

Hello ninnic1988!

I wan wondering how you were getting on with your treatment?

Are you still struggling with your depression or has it eased somewhat?

Best Wishes

DavidB (imported) wrote: Sat May 25, 2013 12:22 am I also had an adjustment period once while I was taking anrdocur and before I was castrated. Your body needs to adjust to the physical changes. After a few months i was able to regain some of my energy and was less sleepy But I have to agree with everyone here. You need to eat well and exercise. Its one of the trade offs for the benefits of being castrated. And something everyone castrated or not should do anyway.

Good Luck

I totally agree, add some vitamins the whole range and you want to add Calcium and D3 for your bones.

River

scatra2791 (imported) wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:08 pm Hello ninnic1988!

I wan wondering how you were getting on with your treatment?

Are you still struggling with your depression or has it eased somewhat?

Best Wishes

I still have depressions. A week ago I started with fluoxetine (fourth antidepressant try now). But no positive effect so far.

Riverwind (imported) wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:40 pm I totally agree, add some vitamins the whole range and you want to add Calcium and D3 for your bones.

River

I already take this.