In a candid conversation with Tucker Carlson, actor Charlie Sheen made a surprising revelation: testosterone cream was harder to quit than co*aine. The admission came during an extensive interview where Sheen discussed his infamous 2011 “Tiger Blood” interview, his journey to healthy living and the unexpected culprit behind some of his most erratic behavior.
Sheen explained that while he was using multiple things during his public meltdown, testosterone cream applied in excessive amounts—”40x” the recommended dose—proved to be the most difficult to stop.
“That’s why I couldn’t pull the train back into the station,”
he told Carlson, describing how the PED metabolized into what was essentially “roid rage.”
The actor was remarkably honest about the effects of testosterone abuse on his behavior and psychology.
“I became that thing of which I detest most and that was a bully,”
Sheen reflected. He noted that while co*aine withdrawal was physically challenging it was relatively quick—about a week. The testosterone cream, however, fundamentally altered his psychological state in ways that made stopping far more complicated.
What’s particularly striking about Sheen’s account is his clinical understanding of the difference between the two. While discussing his past dr*g use he distinguished between the predictable effects of co*aine and the volatile unpredictable impact of excessive testosterone. The hormone gave him the aggressive energy and altered mindset that prevented him from recognizing how out of control his behavior had become.
Sheen also addressed the misconceptions surrounding his 2011 media tour, revealing that much of his famous “Tiger Blood” and “Adonis DNA” material wasn’t even his own creation—it came from a motivational phone call with baseball player Brian Wilson days before his notorious ABC interview. Combined with heavy testosterone use, Sheen transformed Wilson’s pep talk into a media spectacle that would define his public image for years.
Despite the chaos of that period Sheen has been clean since December 12, 2017, crediting a combination of physical warning signs and a pivotal moment with his daughter for motivating his change. Interestingly, he achieved this without traditional recovery programs, choosing instead to approach dependency from a different philosophical perspective focused on personal responsibility rather than disease management.
Sheen has used testosterone responsibly in recent years at proper doses and acknowledges its legitimate benefits: enhanced libido, increased lean muscle mass, and more energy. He also claimed that the gravel quality of his voice during the 2011 interview—something he only recognized in retrospect—was a direct result of the excess testosterone.
Now, nearly eight years clean, Sheen has launched Wild AF, a 0% beer company, and released a documentary and book about his experiences.