28 Jan Opioid Use and Low Testosterone
Is there a connection between opioid use and low testosterone? It looks that way, according to a study recently published in Pain Medicine. Maria Soledad Cepeda, MD, PhD, et al. compared the testosterone levels of two subject groups—those who had taken prescription opioids in the past 30 days and those who had not. They found that those participants who had been exposed to opioids were more likely to have low testosterone, with age and medical conditions also playing roles in affecting testosterone levels. Study findings also showed that, regardless of opioid use, testosterone levels decrease in both men and women with age. This research could be helpful in the prevention and treatment of medical conditions that are related to low testosterone, such as depression, obesity, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypertension.