Low dose trt regimine question

[DGK]

So my total test was 200, my doc perscribed 200 mg of test cyp every 2 weeks. This seems low right? Also with test c having such a short life isnt 14 days between injections a lil long.? I go in next wednesday for bloodwork after my first 4 weeks being on trt, i assume with the bloodwork my doc will be adjusting my dose if needed, But to u vets does this seem low as a dose and too long between injections,. I dont want to bring it up to my doc if its not un-ordinary cause i dont want him thinkin im searchign for higher doses for recreational purposes or whatever. please let me know what u think

[funkymonk]

You'd probably feel better on 100mg/week instead of 200mg/2 weeks. 100mg is "the norm" to start out on. Only bloodwork (and how you feel) will reveal what adjustments need to be made.

FYI, I made the switch from 200/2 to 100/1 w/o even telling my doc.

[HRTstudent]

100mg of t per week is NOT low... in fact, experts like dr crisler have talked about starting new patients on around 80mg per week lately.

however, the 2 week I would disagree with, and so would dr crisler. do t cypionate once a week intramuscular. some people have even switched to twice a week subcutaneous, but all the research is on IM. I would start there and tweak as needed.

[GetItHot]

You'd probably feel better on 100mg/week instead of 200mg/2 weeks. 100mg is "the norm" to start out on. Only bloodwork (and how you feel) will reveal what adjustments need to be made.

FYI, I made the switch from 200/2 to 100/1 w/o even telling my doc.

I made the switch too.

[keep fightin]

cant comment on your protocol but after about 6months on 100/1 I could feel a low coming on at day 4, switched to 50x2ew SQ and feel smooth and great all week

[DGK]

Yeah i was thinking about switching to 100/ a week. im gonna wait for my bloodwork and see what my levels are, Before my first injection i had the levels of an 80 yr old man so i guess i didnt see what adding 200 every 2 weeks would do.

[socalfun64]

Yeah i was thinking about switching to 100/ a week. im gonna wait for my bloodwork and see what my levels are, Before my first injection i had the levels of an 80 yr old man so i guess i didnt see what adding 200 every 2 weeks would do.

DGK,
Take it from the pros here (not me, not yet, lol) and don't over do it. Start out slow at the 80 or 100mg/wk. I was tested at 87 at first and like you I thought that meant I must need extra to get back up there. We;;, I got UP there all right. I had a heck of a time getting back below 1187 (top of the scale for me). I was really hitting it hard for a while and all the good results I had at first were wiped away. Now I'm back at the start again, working my way back up. Do the right thing and heed the advice here!

[zaggahamma]

agree with hrt and socal 100%

[steroid.com 1]

Your Doctor needs to understand the half life of Test Cyp:

1. Serum levels peak at about 72 hours
2. Half life is about 6 days

So by the time of your next injection your serum levels are tanked...not a good situation as it can increase in E2 and put you on an emotional roller coaster...besides other shitty neg sides.

[HRTstudent]

Your Doctor needs to understand the half life of Test Cyp:

1. Serum levels peak at about 72 hours
2. Half life is about 6 days

So by the time of your next injection your serum levels are tanked...not a good situation as it can increase in E2 and put you on an emotional roller coaster...besides other shitty neg sides.

a lay person trying to "teach" their doctor something is almost always an exercise in futility. it's bizarre that they just don't get it (or refuse to apply it). dr crisler is befuddled why it is this way when it comes to Testerone injects but nothing else really.

the good news is, if your doctor is prescribing the right amount of test and you self inject you can simply split it up into weekly doses. I don't advise self treatment really, but when it comes to male HRT it seems like most docs are still in the dark ages. my first doc told me his patients on injects still do once every 3 weeks... he was a young male too and probably graduated MD in early 2000's.

I say it all the time, but they just don't teach male HRT in medical training. the doctors who know about it are the ones who go after this cohort on their own time and effort.

[HRTstudent]

wow I ranted sorry! but I feel like this is one of the most valuable lessons we can learn in treating our low T - find a doctor who specializes in male HRT ASAP. again I apologize lol

[zaggahamma]

wasnt much of a rant

and my actual rx says 200mg every 3 weeks but i self inject so moot point

doctors are afraid because anabolic is a very bad word

[steroid.com 1]

Yea, I didn't think it was a rant either...just the truth.

And j's right of course.

[ecdysone]

a lay person trying to "teach" their doctor something is almost always an exercise in futility. it's bizarre that they just don't get it (or refuse to apply it)

I dunno, think about it: 200 mg/2weeks is the "on-label" instructions, anything else is "off-label" and would put the Doc at risk medically/legally. The use of HCG is 1000% off-label except in very limited cases. AI's: no way!

So, the average Doc is stuck. What is needed is for the TRT Doc's to put pressure on the manufacturer's/FDA to institute the re-labeling of testosterone products. Unfortunately, probably never happen since there isn't any money in injectables. With the markup on creams/gels, no one is going to spend the money to do the required clinical trials.

Funny how guys like us, using the internet, are setting the real standards for TRT medical practice... go figure!

[zaggahamma]

Internet is the future of medicine

[steroid.com 1]

I dunno, think about it: 200 mg/2weeks is the "on-label" instructions, anything else is "off-label" and would put the Doc at risk medically/legally. The use of HCG is 1000% off-label except in very limited cases. AI's: no way!

So, the average Doc is stuck. What is needed is for the TRT Doc's to put pressure on the manufacturer's/FDA to institute the re-labeling of testosterone products. Unfortunately, probably never happen since there isn't any money in injectables. With the markup on creams/gels, no one is going to spend the money to do the required clinical trials.

Funny how guys like us, using the internet, are setting the real standards for TRT medical practice... go figure!

How's that? Doc's in the US prescribe off-label all the time and it's not illegal by any stretch.

These Docs just don't know and prescribe protocols without the proper training...it's as simple as that IMO ecd.

Oh, and BTW ecd, congrats on truning red...I was hoping for that

[flatscat]

How's that? Doc's in the US prescribe off-label all the time and it's not illegal by any stretch.

These Docs just don't know and prescribe protocols without the proper training...it's as simple as that IMO ecd.

Oh, and BTW ecd, congrats on truning red...I was hoping for that

Agree w ecd and u too. It is the lack of training that leads to on label prescribing.

Such hypocrisy... Preach steady levels with gels and risk treatment failure by ignoring half lives on inject's.

And there was a rant in there somewhere? lol

Nice thread.

[Vettester]

As already elaborated, the peak/half/active life of the medication plays a big role here ... Not only in how you feel, but it will also be key on the results of your upcoming serum lab. Not sure when your last injection was, but the real picture could be skewed depending on the injection in relation to your labs. By day 14, you could see a substantial drop off with serum levels, which could lead one to think that the treatment is ineffective.

Same with testing sooner. If you ran labs in/around the peak range, your doctor could flip, because there's a good chance you will be (over the top) out of range. However, if you did smaller amounts 1x or 2x per week, your serum levels would be more balanced and stable, and they would paint a truer picture with where you really sit. A 200mg every 2 weeks protocol is really a feast & famine program (feast the first 4 or 5 days, famine the last 4 or 5 days). Slow & steady always wins the race!

[DGK]

Yeah i my labs r going to be next wednesday early morning, my doc wants em then bc test is the highest in the am he says.. and it will be 9 days after my last inject,, ill find out the results thursday and see where we are at

[kelkel]

Find a way to discuss half-life's with him, if he's approachable. You have some very good advice from knowledgeable people above. Run with it!

Post your results on this thread....

[DGK]

my total test results were a 636. Blood work was done wednesday morning around 9am.. Guess the am is when their the highest. My doc is happy with that range bc its pretty much perfect. Talked to him about splitting my dosage up 2 a 1/2 ml a week and he said he had no problem with me doing that although he would like me to run it as prescribed for a few months to see how it goes. I talked to him about ai's and he said thats not something he will prescribe. something about it being too new to be used for this purpose and not enough research or approval or whatever.

[JD250]

This is why I use a clinic and dose what I need, there is no such thing as a GP that knows anything about TRT. I would rather pay cash out of my pocket and get it right than be subjected to an idiot. These guys DONT have their hands tied as some suggest, they are just too busy, too lazy, too rich to give a shit......I dunno, take your pick. Sorry, I have no tolerance for lame excuses.

I thought since we were ranting I would go ahead and throw my own in too.

[DGK]

Well with my pre trt dosing being in the low 200s and now its in the 600s off only 200mg every two weeks, i cant complain. I feel better have my sex drive back and am shocked it was so high from a little bit of test. Makes me wonder what my levels were when i was on cycle takin 500mg every week lol

[HRTstudent]

Well it's good to hear you are doing well.

You mention an AI, but what was your e2 on this recent blood work?

[DGK]

I honestlly couldnt tell you. My doc said that at my age he isnt worried about it, also that he doesnt know much about it. He said there is a guy he knows he could refer me to but since they are relatively knew the doctor he could refer me too isnt covered by insurabce neither are the drugs.. So im goin to use my ai when i blast like i would on previous cycles 12.5mg eod of liquid stane. aND at my next blood test in 4 months ge did mention checking my estrogen levels. What do u guys reccomend for an ai dose while taking 200mg cyp every two weeks.?

[zaggahamma]

glad your feeling awesome as well

dont add the ai til you run your bloodwork and it suggests doing so ( meaning significantly high and your are balooning up with water as well)

read a lot of threads that have been posted there are a lot of theories on ai use, however, mutually agreed that AI use and estro control is INDIVIDUAL

best of continued luck

[HRTstudent]

I honestlly couldnt tell you. My doc said that at my age he isnt worried about it, also that he doesnt know much about it. He said there is a guy he knows he could refer me to but since they are relatively knew the doctor he could refer me too isnt covered by insurabce neither are the drugs.. So im goin to use my ai when i blast like i would on previous cycles 12.5mg eod of liquid stane. aND at my next blood test in 4 months ge did mention checking my estrogen levels. What do u guys reccomend for an ai dose while taking 200mg cyp every two weeks.?

any recommendation we give you for an AI is a shot in the dark without blood work. Some don't need any, some need a lot... it's not one of those things you can "feel". Now if you start to get gyno then add it in for sure! But otherwise blood work needs to be done. Sounds like your doc knows nothing about male HRT nor the basic testicular hormonal pathway