Cypionate Crushing my Potassium Within 36 Hours of an Injection?

Pharma / TRT Testosterone Replacement
1

It would seem 6mg cypionate has crushed my potassium within 36 hours after restarting TRT. I felt fantastic for 34 hours, increased appetite, overly strong sense of smell, sore muscles, increased energy and better sleep quality needing less sleep. Last night at work I felt something all too familiar, crushed potassium just like in April when more than one deficiency was discovered.

The potassium problem did cause my gut to become paralyzed causing other deficiencies. Pre-TRT potassium was on the high end of the ranges (4.8), after the first 6-8 months on TRT (4.8->4.0->3.8->3.6->3.3), I started having blood pressure problems which I now know was low potassium because labs show potassium lower and lower on every new lab test.

When my potassium gets down to 3.5, my heart has trouble beating and a feel bad long before potassium gets to 3.5. Days prior to restarting TRT, potassium was 4.6 (range 3.5-5.2) and 36 hours after two 6mg injections, potassium was crushed, teeth turned yellow again, muscle spasms in stomach, gut, legs and arms. I had burning sensations on skin, skin was also damaged from low potassium.

I’ve supplemented 800mg potassium today where the norm is 400mg, I feel good right after taking the potassium, I’ve felt better ever since doubling up on potassium, so 800mg instead of 400. I’m trying to understand what’s going on here.

The enanthate doesn’t affect my potassium to the same degree, it’s a bit more mild so my next move should come as no surprise. The 7mg cypionate is devastating to potassium, the same 7mg enanthate doesn’t affect potassium quite the same as cypionate.

Late 2018 I went from 7mg cypionate to 7mg enanthate which I felt better because potassium wasn’t affected to the same degree. I can only imagine what T-cream would do to me shooting T high so quickly knowing what 6mg cypionate does to me.

It would seem cypionate crushes my potassium faster than a diuretic, a water pill for edema which can crush my potassium within 3-4 days, cypionate does it faster. It seems the more time passes, potassium is getting lower and lower, I wonder where it all stops.

It’s like I’m over responding to testosterone cypionate, I’m also over-responding to vitamin C which recently was taking 250mg for 5 weeks with no problems, now I can’t even handle 20mg without vitamin C excess.

Maybe this is hyperthyroidism and when testosterone is increased, stuff gets used up. TSH with no TRT is 0.6.

Does anyone know why cypionate or even enanthate is crushing my potassium?

Maybe something else is going on that needs attention, maybe TRT is supercharging my kidneys excretion of potassium?

2

@unreal24278 is the only person I could think of that may have an answer for that

3

At a guess, it is probably going to the muscles when the androgen receptors are activated. Do you have any immediate weight gain? Do you get really thirsty? Feel dehydrated? Have you ever used creatine? Maybe it’s cellular uptake of water for increased ATP? You’re pretty delicate.

4

No weight gain.

I am well hydrated even though it’s very dry outside as it’s fire season.

I feel hydrated, but again air is very dry and and not overly thirsty

Never.

I have taken 1200mg of potassium today and still feel I’m coming up short, off TRT 400mg would be enough, where is all this potassium going?

My veins are really starting to pop out in hands and arms, two days ago veins were deflated. My erections were better tonight, days earlier they were pathetic.

I’ve heard some mention daily injections is more anabolic, could this be the issue? When on once weekly injections levels didn’t decline much, peaking at 550-600 and 6 days later 440. The twice weekly protocol trough was 697, FT 29, but felt fluctuations on both and neither showed the muscle, veins and erections benefits of daily and EOD protocols.

5

Have you gotten bloods to confirm potassium depletion is the culprit?

T/AAS alter the mechanics of the RAAS system, appear to influence accelerated renal electrolyte excretion. Fluid and electrolyte retention/imbalance are documented side effects of anabolics, furthermore 11HSD inhibition could alter electrolyte imbalance.

Once again however I’m no expert, the mechanisms as to how AAS modify the RAAS system (pro-hypertensive properties, electrolyte/fluid balance and retention) is super, super complex. I’m studying right now and taking phat naps and thus don’t have the ability to go into detail at this moment.

Hyperthyroidism can induce low blood potassium concentrations, esp during episodes of thyrotoxic paralysis.

Daily injections aren’t more anabolic, if anything more spaced out injections would influence a more anabolic/pharmacologic effect due to higher peaks, hence why injections (heavily spaced apart) are more indicated within regards to causing secondary polycythemia compared to gels, patches etc.

Get bloods, until you know for certain (even though bloods are merely a brief snapshot), supplementing with excess potassium can be dangerous (arrhythmia risk)

I’m seriously not qualified to be answering these questions though. Don’t take this as an answer, it’s merely me hypothesising possible explanations using my understanding of mechanisms as to how anabolic steroids interact with the human body

1 Like
6

I’ve had three episodes today, each time I took more potassium and symptoms vanished. The symptoms are bloating, burning sensations and feeling mentally strange, like almost loss of the ability to think and function mentally.

Potassium brings me out of this brain stuper, cures the bloating and halts the burning red skin until the next event at which time adding more potassium cures all ills.

I am concerned though as too much potassium is dangerous. I’m going to try the enanthate like I did last time which greatly lessened these symptoms tremendously then only having to deal with the red burning skin issue and not the spasms and bloating.

7

I had Tourette Syndrome as a child, my CNS is extremely touchy and hyperesexualality all my life.

I never get sick.

TRT Shuts Down Ability to Urinate
8

Generally potassium replacement in which symptomatic hypokalaemia is present takes a few days to relieve symptoms, however if this is working then I can’t fault you as only you know you’re body best.

Just be very careful not to consume too much. If you’re got red burning skin and whatnot are you certain you’re issues aren’t related to an allergic reaction from the carrier within the oil? I react fairly badly to benzyl alcohol

If you’re prone to sympathetic nervous system dominance (such as myself), have you ever tried a beta adrenergic receptor blocker (beta blocker), perhaps propranolol may be of help (watch insulin sensitivity)… Remember this is NOT MEDICAL ADVICE… Just saying beta blockers helped me immensely with anxiety, being able to socialise and whatnot.

Woooooooot, yeeeeeeeeettt (this is a good thing I assume)?

TRT Shuts Down Ability to Urinate
9

It is a good thing if you can tame it, otherwise it is curse on relationships and marriages. I’m an introvert with extrovert traits, I internalize and organize my thoughts and how I can never contemplate depression.

I have an the results were unpleasant, I felt like death. Alpha blockers was no better as I over- respond to all medications. The Klonopin/Clonazepam suppresses the CNS system, maybe this is why everything is worse off the drug. I withdrew in 2015 after 30 years and then needed TRT.

10

What dosages are we talking here? Low dosages (say 10-20mg) of propranolol or higher dosages more akin to treating hypertension and/or arrhythmia

I take atenolol (cardioselective beta blocker), between 25-50mg/day.

11

I don’t remember, but even the lower dosages I will over-respond. If I can just tame this potassium loss, life will be easier. I probably should have attempted to cut up the pills into smaller portions.

12

What if the the shorter half-life is the key here, enanthate has a slightly shorter half life than cypionate, what if the shorter half-life causes the peaks to be shorter lived sparing potassium enough to be noticable?

That might mean Test prop would have a quicker, shorter peak sparing even more potassium. I think the longer the half-life, the longer and more gradual the peak and this is what’s crushing potassium, I need shorter peaks to spare potassium.

The question is will I feel the fluctuations and therefore symptoms.

13

Nah, because the HL difference between test E/C is within 24 hrs of one another, the fluctuations experienced in hormonal swings (esp if you’re doing ED shots) will be like within 5% of each other.

Buuuuuut the peak will also be far higher on test prop and you tend to be sensitive to hormonal fluctuation, thus the daily fluctuation of 30%+ may be difficult. There is no “peak” when shooting long estered test ED, unless you’re a genetic anomaly that somehow cleaves off the ester/eliminates long estered testosterone at a rapid rate (think of it like a bell curve, you could theoretically be an outlier many standard deviations off the norm)

You can always give it a shot, not recommending it obviously as it can’t be done under the supervision of a physician (I think)

14

Testosterone per se is not described to increase potassium excretion by the kidneys. However, in stress susceptible individuals exogenous testosterone might increase levels of corticisteroids and thereby on the long run cause potassium depletion.

Are you really sure that K is the factor to how you respond to T? I am definitly not saying that this is not possible, but for sure its something not typical to how people respond on T. If its really K and you are running into hypokalemia with serum levels below 3.5 than you need higher amounts to compensate for the loss, something in the range of 1000 to 3000 mg potassium (about 2000 to 6000 mg KCl) per day.
But yes since you dont know how your K homeostasis is regulated it might be a risky.

The 800 mg that you take after T injection is this calculated as K only or is it a potassium salt (eg 800 mg KCl)?

'Because serum potassium concentration drops approximately 0.3 mEq per L (0.3 mmol per L) for every 100-mEq (100-mmol) reduction in total body potassium, the approximate potassium deficit can be estimated in patients with abnormal losses and decreased intake. For example, a decline in serum potassium from 3.8 to 2.9 mEq per L (3.8 to 2.9 mmol per L) roughly corresponds to a 300-mEq (300-mmol) reduction in total body potassium. Additional potassium will be required if losses are ongoing. Concomitant hypomagnesemia should be treated concurrently.

Rapid correction is possible with oral potassium; the fastest results are likely best achieved by combining oral (e.g., 20 to 40 mmol) and intravenous administration.22’

A friend and coworker of mine is struggling with symptoms of depression and OCD and he swears by inositol. He is convinced that OCD is a result of an imbalance between Acetylcholine and Dopamine. Inositol apparently increases the Dopa/Acetylcholine ratio. Mucu puriens also helps him. Interestingly he also describes a very high libido when he is out of balance with increased Acetylcholine (supplementing with Choline excarbates his symptoms). Maybe thats worth a try?

Take care my friend!

15

Your on HCTZ right bro? As you have already stated diuretics can deplete your electrolytes, it’s possible that the exogenous T and your HCTZ are having some sort of synergistic effect. I retained water for the first five weeks on TRT. I gained a little bit of weight. You’ve been at this longer than me but you have a problem with edema. Your potassium could be third spacing because of your edema issues, leaving you with a relative hypokalemia. I know that’s a sensational theory but T causes fluid shift and all that and your obviously sensitive to fluid retention and obviously potassium levels. You may need a new dose for your HCTZ, it may be depleting you a bit too much, especially if your third spacing following T injection.

16

It was confirmed I never had edema, the swelling was caused by the prolonger low potassium which effects fluid balance within the body.

17

Ahhh ok

19

are you sure, testosterone itself has indirect interactions within relation to aldosterone secretion. It’s known DHT stimulates aldosterone secretion in adrenocortical cells (in vitro), thus indirectly increasing urinary potassium excretion

Furthermore 11hsd inhibition induced by testosterone may lead to an increase in mineralocorticoids thus increasing potassium excretion. While not directly “testosterone itself”, it could still be a potential issue within those predisposed.

That being said I think OP requires bloods to accurately determine where his potassium concentration is at. If he is downing potassium supplements without a deficiency in place he could be putting himself in serious danger. quite a few case reports of potassium supplementation induced arrhythmias.

20

Bro try scrotal cream it doesn’t process through the liver . Just try it see if that doesn’t cause these issues. It’s been a while I’ve been suggesting and everyone whose taken the suggestion had loved the change. Only guys who go back are due to transference and they want to inject once weekly. That’s les than 5 men I know who have out of the hundreds who have switched.

21

I landed in ER with a vitamin C deficiency, I lost consciousness. I got vitamin C infused because I was unconcious. When I arrived at the ER, my skin had rashes, welts and red damaged skin. It looks similar to a really bad sunburn.

The doctor gave me the vitamin C infused and I came right out of it quickly and then the doctor gave me 600mg of potassium and am feeling better, I believe the potassium at home is fake because I took 1300 mg today and potassium was below range at 1.8!

The hospital brand 600mg potassium is got my levels to 3.5 and then gave me additional 400mg since I told then it took that much to go from 3.5-> 4.6 (3.5-5.2).

I recently switched to potassium citrate and was using gluconate.