I’ve been taking 150mg testosterone cypionate split in two doses weekly for 2 months. I was surprised to get my lab work back. It showed my total testosterone was only 500. I have been going to an ageless clinic which I don’t feel confident so I went to a urologist and he drew my blood and even said he was surprised with that high of a testosterone dosage that my testosterone was that low. He said he rarely prescribes anything 150mg weekly. He has seen men at 80mg weekly with higher levels. It concerned the doctors that this places compound pharmacy might be using not good pharm grade testosterone. I know everyone varies with results. Any feedback on this? I was previously 350 total T before starting testosterone.
This is unusual, but not rare. It’s possible, but doubtful the pharmacy is the issue. Every patient I’ve seen coming from urology was taking 200mg every other week, every third week, or every month so I doubt many would use more than 100 weekly. Regarding the 80mg weekly, when was the blood drawn?
Every day, I see guys taking less than me with higher levels and guys taking more than me with lower levels. They are doing well, so we don’t worry about it.
There is individual variation which may be significant. I remember one guy taking 400mg once weekly and he was at 380 TT at trough.
I was at 575 TT at trough five weeks after 200/180/160/160/160mg weekly when I first started TRT. I’ve been on 170mg weekly for a few months now and am at 800 TT at trough. I agree that you might need a higher dose.
For your information regarding 80mg/wk:
courtesy of @tareload
You seem to either clear test really fast, or may have underdosed test. I’m at my knowledge limit on the subject, however if tareload decides to join us - he knows an absurd amount about this realm.
Yeah you have low SHBG meaning your TT on lab work will not be as high as a guy with midrange SHBG. Your Free T is plenty adequate. You still could probably stand to increase dose a bit if you truly ‘wanted’ to, but I don’t think you need to.
200mg a week split twice a week (100mg/E3.5D) had my total the same as yours and free T on the lower side. Not everybody gets the same reaction to testosterone.
Some people need 80mg a week and some need enough to make @BrickHead have an aneurism
Invidual physiology can definitely play a role in how you respond to a drug. It could be the number of androgen receptors you have, androgen receptor sensivity, clearance time for the drug, etc. Some people just have to take more.
I saw my free T was on the higher side. Which I heard is the important one to look for. Is it bad I lowered my dose to 120mg even with the low total? I was having some wierd libido and tiny bit of insomnia. I thought for sure my levels would be super human haha.
I was just worried it would bring my free and total too low.
As far as libido, sensation wasn’t the best and hard to get to the finish line. I was taking anastrozole on and off but If you look at my labs the estrogen is below normal below 15 so I’m not sure if I crashed my estrogen. This was when I was at 150mg split. That’s why I wanted to lower my testosterone so I wouldn’t have to take anastrozole. My estrogen was around 35 during trough.
IMO you talk to your doc about leaving dose as original and just dropping the AI. You may be taking something you don’t need unless prior to experience dictates otherwise.
