A rare post by me in this part of the Tnation forum. Being a physician with specialization elsewhere, I admit this is an area where my experience is fairly limited. Been following this forum for a long time though, and I realize the experience here is grand - at least in practical terms.
A distant friend of mine, who I met the other day, asked me for advice on how to safely cycle off “TRT”? Appearantly he’s been on for only 3 months, as a parallel treatment alongside PTSD (seems like a vague indication, where the cause/effect can be questioned). As he is feeling much better, he wanted to get rid of the Testogel (“I am growing muscles that I don’t want to have”). He’s a small-built intellectual man indeed. LOL
Anyway, the common procedure in our health care system would be a slow wind down elimination period over weeks to months, before removing Testogel entirely. I have also found an algorith though, from the only clinic here that treat PED related injuries - reminding me of the typical post cycle therapies described here - which made me question whether it would be a similar regime on such a mild problem re short term Testogel?
So, how would you do it? Thankful for any advice, as I believe my friend has doctors - who alike me, have limited knowledge/experience. Sometimes it can be good to be an informed patient, in order to become a powerful allied with your doctor.
IMO this method would result in a prolonged period of discomfort. If supplementing with T your body is not going to start producing its own. Test tapering is typically only done when going from high doses to TRt levels. Albeit I am not all that familiar with response basis to transdermal applications.
If I were in his shoes I would probably not bother with HCG and go right to a Serm regimen. IE stop the gel and start something like Nolvadex for 4-6 weeks.
What explanation does your health care system provide for this protocol of misery? Is he somehow addicted to Testogel for it to be necessary to wean him from this horrible addiction as to not cause seizures, tremors, headaches, i.e. such as from benzo withdrawal?
When he drops exogenous T he’ll feel like crap for a while before his own production is normalized. Weaning him for months will just prolong the crappy feeling. To echo @blshaw he’d probably be best to just do the standard PCT protocol with Tamoxifen.
Thanks @blshaw and @rusty_hammer! You echo my own thoughts re this. To be honest, you almost never get to meet patients suffering from low T here (in Sweden) as there is limited interest in the issue. The question is rarely asked (even though at least 5% of the population are suffering from it!). I know of one collegue INTERESTED in andrology, who is forced to drive his own agenda - in order to help these people. A stigmatized issue among professionals.
Tamoxifen has been a simple and proven PCT strategy for many years among friends using PEDs in cycles. I was merely curious where you draw the line. But, at the end of the day, why not try to prevent bad things from happening.
I’m not being sarcastic. People with normal T values, whether from being eugonadal or real TRT, don’t grow muscle to such an extreme degree or at rapid rate.
I believe so. He bears every sign of low T that a man can have and also an original character. That statement says more about his opinion on muscularity and weight training. Btw, in a present contact with him, he told me he’s a long distance runner. I guess he’s afraid of carrying ANY extra weight…
I see. Anyway, it takes serious weight training for muscle to grow. So I take it he has a hangup.
I think it’s unwise to not treat hypogonadism. I can’t wrap my head around stopping, what is called “cycling off.” I suppose one could taper off, and this will likely won’t do anything in getting back to normal.