“Prescribed compounded BHt for 13 years”
I am a military veteran who was diagnosed with hypogonadism, hypothyroid, and depression/anxiety resulting from PTSD. Early on when my symptoms began during my last year in the military extending to my first two years of college, I tried several conventional treatments they included antidepressants and benzodiazepines supplied by the VA then numerous private doctors. This led to a 2 year dependency on benzodiazepines followed by 18 months of horrible withdrawals after deciding to discontinue. Around the time I was withdrawing from benzodiazepines, I found a new integrative doctor who called for a more tutor Pugh evaluation than I had ever received before. The evaluation included blood work that confirmed a diagnoses of multiple hormone insufficiency including very low levels of testosterone. I was prescribed testosterone replacement therapy using a compounded testosterone that blends multiple esters to accommodate note frequent subcutaneous dosing (there is a specific reason for this regimen and it took a few years to dial in the best protocol for me). To mitigate the upstream hormone depletion from TRT I am also prescribed DHEA, and pregnenolone capsules which made a huge positive impact on my depression and anxiety. It was almost immediate starting with the initial dose before bedtime which I can still recall today. I’m addition I am prescribed HCG. Years later, or 1 year ago I was diagnosed with sub clinical hypothyroid by another primary care doctor who I saw several times for symptoms related to fatigue and a GI issue. Along the way it was determined I had low circulating T3 and elevated reverse T3 which has been treated with a short course of compounded T3/T4 I’m a specific ratio that the physician dialed in over several tests and titrations (it took her 3 to get my dosing right). Once again I notice a difference within days of starting my course.
I am a patient of compounded medications and fully understand the importance of maintaining access to custom hormone formulations. I know many other veterans who also are prescribed compounded BHT. I believe patients have a right to access and freedoms of choice. What the FDA is doing against compounded BHt seems unnecessary, wreaks of bias, and will do nothing but hurt patients and their providers who are unable find anything like these medications on the commercial market, let alone destroy the ability to personalize the dosing.
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