This is just and update/FYI in case anybody is interested. I posted a few weeks back asking if there were any other males who had used colistin and had an adverse (negative) effect on their testosterone. I didn't get any responses, and I am assuming it's just because nobody else had the specific exeperience.
My husband started Colistin in Aug/September for the first time and all his previous testosterone labs were normal or above range.
In October his testosterone was outside the normal range-it was very low. He was still using the colistin.
Then in December it was even lower than in october. HE stopped using the colistin in December.
In January it was even lower-double digits. His doctors were absolutely puzzled and had no idea where to go with this or what to do. I questioned all three of his doctors (CF doctor, urologist and infertility doctor) because in researching the Colistin there have been NO published reproductive studies on it, and his CF doctor found literature that stated something to the effect of 'the current studies either aren't substantial or need further evaluation because there were adverse effects'. I inquired about reporting this to the FDA to have them do studies, but the doctors said since there haven't been substantial complaints, nobody is going to do anything about it. I don't really know if the low testosterone is fully attirbuted to the Colistin, but I want others to be aware and suggest that they monitor it if they are using the colistin.
As stated above, my husband got off colistin in December. His January labs were rock bottom, then in February his labs started coming back up again, and we haven't done anythin different except stop the colistin.
If anybody out there is using colistin and is a male, I am very curious to see if you had a previous testosterone level and if it is now lower since you started to use the colistin. IOr, i suggest maybe getting a testosterone level if you insurance will cover it. If there are enough people who are experience the same situation, then no dobut someone will start looking into it. I just think the FDA has become too negligent lately (vioxx as an example, and many others).
Julie (wife to Mark 24 w/CF)
My husband started Colistin in Aug/September for the first time and all his previous testosterone labs were normal or above range.
In October his testosterone was outside the normal range-it was very low. He was still using the colistin.
Then in December it was even lower than in october. HE stopped using the colistin in December.
In January it was even lower-double digits. His doctors were absolutely puzzled and had no idea where to go with this or what to do. I questioned all three of his doctors (CF doctor, urologist and infertility doctor) because in researching the Colistin there have been NO published reproductive studies on it, and his CF doctor found literature that stated something to the effect of 'the current studies either aren't substantial or need further evaluation because there were adverse effects'. I inquired about reporting this to the FDA to have them do studies, but the doctors said since there haven't been substantial complaints, nobody is going to do anything about it. I don't really know if the low testosterone is fully attirbuted to the Colistin, but I want others to be aware and suggest that they monitor it if they are using the colistin.
As stated above, my husband got off colistin in December. His January labs were rock bottom, then in February his labs started coming back up again, and we haven't done anythin different except stop the colistin.
If anybody out there is using colistin and is a male, I am very curious to see if you had a previous testosterone level and if it is now lower since you started to use the colistin. IOr, i suggest maybe getting a testosterone level if you insurance will cover it. If there are enough people who are experience the same situation, then no dobut someone will start looking into it. I just think the FDA has become too negligent lately (vioxx as an example, and many others).
Julie (wife to Mark 24 w/CF)