As I have said before on this site, I still take medication for depression. I am convinced that I do not need this medication any longer however I am completely dependent on it and have suffered from a profound withdrawal syndrome when I try to stop. I think that these antidepressants have also had a marked impact on my testosterone levels. In fact, it was a doctor of mine (not my shrink) who first pointed out the number that psych meds due to your T levels and why I started testosterone boosting supplements in the first place.

I have been on the natural testosterone boosting regimen for a while now, but I am always looking to juice my results a bit. When I ran out of one of the main supplements that I take, the DHEA, I went to the store to buy some more. When I got there I saw that in addition to the regular DHEA that I had been taking there was also a DHEA supplement for men. This one mixed DHEA with a unique blend of other herbs that are good for men’s reproductive health like Yohimbe and Horny Goat Weed. I decided to buy this DHEA For Men.

I love what I am taking right now, but I am also always looking to tweak and make things even better so that’s why I did it. Unfortunately, I did not talk to my doctor before I decided to try it. And I had a lousy interaction. I only managed to take the DHEA For Men a couple of times before I started to get a ringing in my ears. I looked up the supplements that were listed on the package and it said that Yohimbe should Never be taken by people who are on antidepressants as it has a powerful interaction. Whoops!

Just goes to show you what I have been saying all along. Supplements are very powerful and effecting. You need to talk to a doctor before you get on any testosterone boosting supplement regimen especially if you are taking any prescription medications because there can be interactions.

There are several reasons why a man (or woman) might want to learn how to increase testosterone levels. In many cases the reasons boil down to increased functioning. Low testosterone can lead to many unwanted symptoms such as fatigue and exhaustion, weight gain, difficulty focusing, and poor performance. I know that in my case, all of these symptoms were a factor. So we know why we want to do it, the question becomes how to do it.

At first my doctors could not explain why I was having these symptoms. Several times it was suggested that I was just getting older (though I was in my twenties at the time) and it was only natural that I “slow down.” Basically, they didn’t know what was wrong with me and, in their befuddlement, pretty much just wanted me to go away. It was only after I met with a nutritional expert that the possibility was raised that low testosterone could be culprit. Lo and behold blood work did indeed find that to be the issue. At this point, I had a couple of options. I could re-visit my doctor and try to get a prescription for a testosterone patch or gel or I could take the nutritionist’s advice and try to raise my testosterone levels naturally.

I didn’t particularly like the idea of adding another prescription to the mix, since it was party because of prescription medications that I was in the fix in the first place, I decided to give the supplements a chance. I also wanted to give this nutritionist’s solution a chance since he was the only one that seemed to have any idea what was wrong with me.

I told him that I would take whatever he recommended. Almost instantaneous he got out a notepad and started making some notes. He told me that we could do this and that it would work, but that it would take some time for the supplements to begin to work. He told me that even if I wasn’t noticing any dramatic effects that I needed to be prepared to stay the course for at least 3 months. And I was okay with that.

In fact, on that subject, after I first started this supplement regimen I got frustrated after about six weeks. Thinking that I was not seeing quick enough results, I stopped the program for about ten days. After about a week of not taking my supplements I started to struggle with fatigue and exhaustion. It was then that I realized that actually had been working. It was just that the improvements that I had experienced had been very gradual. I didn’t realize how much better things had gotten since I quit taking them and saw my testosterone levels plummet.

I quickly re-started the supplement regimen and saw my level of functioning begin to rise. Within a couple of weeks, I found that I was experiencing a much higher quality of life. I was able to enjoy more activities and my focus and sexual functioning were back. Naturally, I attribute a great deal of this improvement to my increased testosterone levels.

Quickly a disclaimer: I am not a medical practitioner and I am not liable for any ill effects that you may experience if you choose to use any of these supplements. I am only telling you what I do and what works for me. Always consult a doctor before making any changes to your diet or taking any supplements.

How to Increase Testosterone Levels

I take the following supplements as indicated every day. I purchase mine from Amazon.com and I usually buy from third-party sources – the “new and used” merchants – to save myself some money. I’ve included the links if you want to do the same.

In the AM after breakfast I take the following:

• 1 Tablespoon Lecithin Granules (mixed with 8 oz water)
• 250 mg DMAE
• Hemaplex – 2 capsules (*see important note below on Hemaplex)
• 100 mg DHEA

* With the hemaplex it is very important that you cycle this supplement. I take two capsules in the morning for 21 days then for 7 days I do not take it at all. Then I return to taking for 21 days. And so on.

In the afternoon after lunch I take:

• 250mg DMAE

Finally, before bed I take:

• 3 capsules of Zinc Magnesium Aspartate (ZMA)

Remember that this should be used as a guide only. You will need to consult with a medical practitioner before making any changes to your diet or beginning a supplement regimen.

So, that’s the exact step-by-step path that I have taken to increase my testosterone levels naturally. This works for me. You will need to (after talking to a doctor or nutritionist) see what works for you.

I look forward to the comments from you guys about what you have done to increase your testosterone.

- I’m out

When I first realized the nature of my situation, and set out to increase my testosterone levels I wanted to do so naturally. And by naturally, I mean that I did not want to use a testosterone patch or gel to boost my levels. I wanted to promote testosterone production in my body by using as few prescriptions as possible. For me, and this goes back to my problems with anti-depressants, I try to limit the number of drugs that I put in my body because I have found that they are almost always come with severe side effects.

For instance, to this day, I still take some anti-depressants, and hence have low testosterone levels. The reason that I take the anti-depressants still is that I have had a very difficult time withdrawing from them. The particular medication that my doctor put me on, has a very profound discontinuation syndrome. The average person has a hard time weening off this medication once they are put on it. I have had a devil of a time and, therefore, have been unable to completing taper off it. I am in the process of a long (year long) taper to finally, get off these medications. When I do my testosterone might return to normal, but for now I need to take supplements to stimulate testosterone in my body to allow me to function properly. It is also possible that I have naturally low testosterone levels. It has been impossible to determine this since I have been unable to completely get off of the meds.

Anyway, I had to therefore set out to increase testosterone naturally. I was able to do this with the help of a doctor who put me on a prescribed regimen of supplements which have boosted my testosterone. Of course, they have also boosted my effectiveness. I have lost weight and gained muscle mass. In fact, I am in some of the best shape of my life now that I realize how important exercise can be to increasing the body’s testosterone levels. Additionally, my sexual functioning is vastly improved and, most importantly, my energy and focus have returned.

Obviously, I have experienced a lot of benefits since I set out to increase my testosterone. So much in fact that I started this site Increase Testosterone Levels to share what I have learned and what has worked for me. I have already detailed foods that increase testosterone so I’d next like to point out what dietary supplements I have been taking and how they have helped to increase my testosterone without drugs or medications.

Now for the disclaimer. I am not a doctor or health care provider. I do not give medical advice. What I can do is share with you what I do to boost testosterone levels. I simply tell you what I am taking and the results that I have experienced. If you choose to follow in my footsteps please know I take no liability for any adverse effects that you may experience.

Okay. Well what do I do? I take a number of dietary supplements that cause increased testosterone production in the body. Here are the supplements that I take, which you can purchase at Amazon.com. I buy mine at Amazon from companies that were recommended to me for their quality by my doctor. I get them quickly and the price is reasonable, but you can buy yours anywhere.

Here’s what I take:

ZMA – Before bed
Lecithen – In the morning
DHEA – After breakfast and again after lunch
DMEA – Once a day

Using this regimen I have been able to increase my testosterone without having to resort to prescription hormones. So, naturally, I am quite pleased. If you have any questions about anything, please use the comments below.