Can someone point me to an article or forum threat that discusses the typical dose range for TRT?
Just started with a NP who runs a TRT clinic (previously prescribed by family doc and endocrinologist). He stated he usually starts guys off on 200mg total weekly dose. That seems a bit high to me? Also, the enthusiastic way he said it (and also said he had no probs with supraphysical doses) made me cautious.
On the positive side, he’s running labs before he starts tinkering with things….labs my old my old doctors never mentioned (like estradiol)
This 200 mg weekly protocol usually puts guys well above normal for the first half of the week, spiking estrogen high that may or may not cause issues, however this high starting dosage can over time increase your hematocrit and hemoglobin, forcing donating that could also lead to crashed ferritin levels after repeated donation.
Most guys need on average 100-150 to optimize your levels, some need less than 100 mg.
SystemLord, I interpret your comment to mean that its a red flag when doctors DONT mention these others labs (estradiol, sbhg, etc)….whereas his NP practively addressed it with me even though i came prepared to suggest it. Correct?
Yeah, been on TRT since 2016 after having my (total, im assuming) testosterone tested at 136. At no time has either family doctor or endocrinologist mentioned or ordered any tests other than psa, cbc, t4, t3, tsh, and total & free testosterone.
Thanks to this forum i recently realized ive been dealing with well intentioned doctors who were incompetent on this one topic….hence me going to this guy.
Also, this guy is switching me from cypionate to enanthate and from once weekly to twice weekly. Getting some labs drawn tomorrow and intend to do a more thorouh posting here once those come in and i meet wih this guy again friday to discuss dosing.
The switch to enanthate is because he said based on comments and observations that i must be a bit sensitive to cypionate’s longer half life.
It’s common, TRT, sex hormones are a blind spot for many doctors. In medical school they only talk about male reproductive hormones for an hour and never speak of it again.
The TRT doesn’t meet the bulk of a doctors business, they are doing other stuff. I have asked all my endocrinologists how many patients they have on TRT, it’s quite low!
The enanthate has less fuild retention than cypionate in some men. You can argue the difference in half-life is the reason. I for one could tell a difference between the two, the cypionate felt more potent than the enanthate.
I’m very sensitive to changes in half-life. I do best on very frequent dosing and very short half-life formulation of TRT. I’m on oral T capsule, Jatenzo @ 237 mg twice daily and is very expensive ($3468 per refill!).
This makes a lot of men excited for this clinic I’m sure. He’s a good salesman.
That doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t know what he’s doing.
If he’s cool with you lowering if it’s not working for you, or not comfortable with the dose, I’d be fine with him.
I’d start getting suspicious if they start you on a bunch of other stuff without good rational to do so. Stuff like T3, T4, AI, peptides. Clinics are often tied to the compounding pharmacies they work with financially.
He didnt immediately start me on anything. My first visit was him going “hey, what youre doing isnt working, lets take a step back, temp stop your testosterone and do some labs 7 days after your last injection, then discuss”.
He doesnt work with any pharmacies hes in bed with. Just writes the script electronically sends it to your preferred pharmacy.
My only concern so far was his (perceived) eagerness at the dosing. Sorta came off like that “muscle bound meathead” stereotype, which i found offputting. He did state that he typically treats to a goal of 720-ish, while also stating he was ok with supraphysical doses as long as the labs were ok.
As i said, i will reass and do a detailed post after todays labs and then fridays appointment.
Even at the tender age of 43, Im fed up wih the undeserved arrogance and paeudo-intellectualism of the american medical system/western medicine that, in my opinion, became an overt problem after 1990-ish. I treat every doctor and every single medical decision with suspicion.
Sounds knowledgable enough compared to your old physician.
He’s also in a system where he has to compete for business- this where the 200mg starting point comes from.
Bet if you went back and asked to start at 140mg and titrate up if needed they’d have no issues whatsoever.
200mg is a mini cycle in my opinion and what a lot of folks are looking at getting from their Dr. Most folk well into supra physiological ranges with that going in every week.
Good luck. If you go with 200mg keep an eye on red blood count, hematocrit and your lipid profile. Well, keep an eye on those regardless
total t at start - 350
Started at 130mg/wk, once a week on Saturday. Terrible on Thursday Friday.
120/wk e3.5d better
120/wk eOd - best
titrating down to 105/wk eOd to see what happens