Lower TRT dose = more optimal results?

Pharma
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Hey group,

I am testing a theory and I would like to get your feedback/experience.

Theory: I think lowering my TRT dose (for me) may actually provide better results (energy, confidence, libido, ect.)

Premise: I usually take a few weeks off from injections this time of year. I just got my blood work done last week (the morning before I was supposed to take my weekly shot). In the last few days (days 12-14 of no shot), I have noticed an increase in energy, libido, confidence, and positive mood. Is it possible that I will feel better on a lower dose?

Info:

I have been taking 150mg test cyp once per week subcutaneous for 10 years, no other meds. I have always felt good on this dose, but feeling better the week after I skip a shot.

Labs:

Total: 728 ng/dl, Estradiol 33 pg/ml, free T (they didn’t check even though I asked).

Hemoglobin 17.8 g/dl (high), hematocrit 53.3 (high) - these values are typical for me.

CBC, glucose/A1C, thyroid, PSA, metabolic/liver, all normal.

Age: 44, body weight normal with about 20% body fat

New Strategy: I have no idea what my levels are at today. Total test was 728 ng/dl 6 days ago, so I may be in the 500-650 range today. Thus, I am planning on reducing dose to 120 mg per week testosterone shots for a few weeks to test this out.

Any experience with this sort of adjustment? Any success stories? Perhaps I am experiencing a transient effect that won’t hold on a lower dose?

Thanks!

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I tried something similar last year and would not recommend it.

I take 160 mg Test C, 2x a week, sub q, and noticed the same feeling of feeling better when I missed a dose. I tested on one of those days (6 days after the last shot) and was around 600, which lines up with what you felt.

The problem was trying to maintain a lower level made me feel worse. I think if you have a peak of 900 and drop to 600 as a trough your body starts to try to ramp up production, so you get those positive effects from your hormone system. If you try to keep it at 600, your trough goes to 400 and then it feels like you’re not on Trt, and it takes a couple of months to recalibrate to experience the “bounce effect” again.

Disclaimer- Not a scientist, and this is an n=1 anecdote.

That was my experience.

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I don’t know man. There’s a natural swing to hormones. If you feel good and occasionally feel great, I wouldn’t touch it. If you’re like me, you felt like shit and occasionally felt good prior to starting.

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Thanks, that is great feedback!

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I’ve been on 100 mg weekly of test cyp for 16 months now. I have been splitting the dose (50 mg) twice weekly subq the whole time.

Since I’ve transferred to my primary (cost was the issue with self pay clinic), my doc has acknowledged my dose may be suboptimal based on total test readings alone. He doesn’t check Free unless I ask. That statement shocked me alone.

BUT, he won’t increase because of the secondary erythrocytosis (don’t call it polycythemia!). So I’ve been stuck.

I changed my dosing to three times weekly on a hypothesis that I would feel a little better if my levels were up more consistently.

Yes. I understand the half life, I hear/read ALL the opinions it makes no difference with longer esters, etc but its my own body so why not experiment?

I’ve seen how low I go on “trough” with twice weekly. It’s what led my doc to comment.

After 1 month on 100 mg total divided on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, my total and free test (ordered my own with higher sensitivity tests) were both above high-normal by a moderate margin.

I repeated the tests on another random day and same results.

I’m checking again shortly for 8-10 week experiment. I check CBC, CMP, Ferritin myself.

Subjectively, I feel better enough to continue the experiment. More consistent feeling of “this is how I used to feel” prior to low T.

I still plan to consult with Defy as even my doc thinks my dosage could go up but gets cold feet.

I think I’m essentially milking everything I can, subjectively, even if biomarkers all come out as equivalent. We’re dealing with complex biology. Labs are just little markers that kinda sorta guide you. Personally, I’ve done my best to avoid the “blast” mentality which is my tendency in life.

Just adding my experience of 1 to consider.

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Thanks for sharing that. It helps alot.

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More power to you buddy. I’m in Asian on vacation and 8 days in with no shot is killing me!

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As I explain it to friends, you’re trying to achieve a happiness range. TRT done right will very likely move the range’s floor and ceiling higher & it can be much higher if someone will meet it part of the way (diet etc). I’ve been TRTing it for over 8 years and was literally right where you are at a previous point thinking lower seems best. For me it wasn’t, it was that I was not dialing it all in. I’ll try to hit the germane points of my experience:

  1. Testosterone is the big one but just one of several factors. Another big component is E2/Estrogen. A. Never be satisfied with the lab or doctor saying “your levels look good or in range” Your levels are good when your happiness range is high. That is the metric that counts. B. High test (for ex. 1150) and high E2 (for ex. 40) may be your ideal. Anecdotally, IME, there’s a strongly positive effect of getting these two the optimal ratio for you the individual, not from the big medical establishment book of what people’s numbers should be. I believed the bro code for many years of keep your E2 as low as possible. With E2 levels, anastrozole, it’s difficult because it’s picograms and being controlled by a pill that is at the whim of metabolization. You have to patient & persistent to get it right for you. But for me higher end E2 moved my happiness window upward. DHT & Prolactin are another 2 that one wants to dial in if possible.
  2. The bad news: if you’re doing it through a urologist & insurance, very likely your ability to move the happiness range higher is reduced and may be severely reduced. Find a doctor who is dialed in on hormones & do not use insurance. it was a game changer for me. You’ll end up spending on avg a few hundred per month out of pocket and your medicine will come from a non big box pharmacy. But chances of the happiness range moving higher is much much more dialed in.
  3. You must be your own advocate, dial it al in, be patient & persistent. It may take months to find the right protocol. Once you do you’ll likely feel next level happy (meet it part of the way!)
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