Anabolic Steroids withdrawal symptoms in 45 years old man Bipolar

Dear Ask The Doctor: I am a 45 year old man who has been on paxil and epival for 13 years for bipolar. It has been a godsend for me with no problems really in that time. Well For the last 12 weeks I decided to do a cycle of testosterone cypionate. I have been off of it for 10 days now and am in absolute suicidal depression and a complete mess. I also have a gastric ulcer. 2 doctors have told me the steroids need to metabolise through my system and then all will return to normal. Thats all I want is to feel normal again---does this sound reasonable that it just has to work its way out of the system? I feel like a menopausing 50 year old woman

Dear Josh: Anabolic steroids refer to hormones or pro-hormones that are either taken orally or by injection that influence the body's hormonal system to produce extra testosterone. The goal of taking anabolic steroids is to increase muscle mass. Anabolic refers to this muscle-building capability. The use of steroids suppresses the naturally occurring testosterone in the body and, in males, may lead to a decrease in testicle size (atrophy), decreased sperm production, infertility, acne and baldness. As well, the excess steroid can be converted to estrogen in males and may lead to enlarged breasts (known as gynecomastia). Liver damage may often occur, and liver cancer is a risk. Psychiatric effects of steroids include excitation and depression. Aggression is common. Manic episodes of aggressive behavior are known as "roid rage," and violence may be the outcome. Depression and suicide may also occur. In the view of your previous medical history of Hashimoto’s (which is an auto immune thyroiditis) and you are being treated with thyroid hormone for that, I do not recommend that you take any anabolic steroid or “boosters” because it can disrupt your hormonal balance and besides the side effects mentioned before.