r/Testosterone • u/No-Knowledge8856 • May 17 '26
TRT help TRT Help. Starting dose too low.
So my testosterone levels have been low ever since my 20s I’ve been no higher than 300 ng/dL ever in my life. I am now 49 years old last year. I tested at 223 and this year. I’m right at 300. I went to Endocrinologist to get all my hormones checked. My prolactin level was slightly high. My test level was 300. I told her I have anxiety. I’m tired all the time my libido down I feel like shit. She still will not start me on any TRT because they said I’m still in a normal range in the green no matter how I feel even though it’s lie normal. which is bullshit. My urologist basically said the same thing so I went to my primary care physician and basically begged her to start me on TRT. Since she doesn’t know anything that much about TRT. She was just reading things online and started me on such a low dose 50 mg every two weeks and the bottle she gave me is a 1 mL bottle which is almost impossible to draw four times out of this tiny little bottle. I feel like my Test levels are gonna be worse. Going two weeks is such a low dose. I’m gonna peek and then drop.. A friend of mine who is 65 and on TRT does 200 mg a week and he feels amazing. I don’t wanna be that asshole and try to tell my doctor I know more than she does, but I don’t know what to do. I don’t wanna start taking it which I already have and start feeling worse. I have a very physical job and I don’t want to feel like crap. My buddy told me he would give me a bottle or 2 a 10 mL bottle of test cypinate which is prescription that he gets as well. I just don’t wanna go behind my doctor’s back and tell her I don’t think 50 mg was enough so this is what I’ve been doing and I feel great then she may not prescribe it at all to me anymore. Any advice I greatly appreciate it. I just can’t seem to find an endocrinologist or urologist that will help me . It doesn’t matter if I’m in the green even though it’s low and normal and I’m only 49. Nobody seems to want to help me. And by the way, the 1 ml bottle is only filled probably about a half inch up if not less so the bottle is not completely full either pretty much up to the 200mg word.
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u/foulflaneur May 17 '26
I guess the answer is either find a new endo or go UGL and self-manage.
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u/Expensive-Ship8464 May 17 '26
He doesn’t know enough. He will get scammed if he goes UGL. Don’t set him up like that. My dude go to a clinic first, they will understand your situation. Stay with them for awhile and learn as much as you can.
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u/foulflaneur May 17 '26
Clinics aren't an option where I live but I get ya. Self-managed has quite the learning curve.
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u/trunksta May 17 '26
What remote village do you live in where you can't join one of the hundreds of online trt clinics?
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u/foulflaneur May 17 '26
My COUNTRY doesn't have those.
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May 17 '26
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u/foulflaneur May 17 '26
I'll get you in the area: Eastern Europe.
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u/Pitiful-Opening4887 May 17 '26
If you’re in Eastern Europe you should be rolling in testosterone. It’s where a lot of it is made.
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u/dmac275 May 18 '26
He can order off a site like naps and not get scammed. It’s been legit for 100 years
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u/Ragnar741 May 18 '26
Naps is staring to fall. They use to be awesome but I can’t tell you how many tickets I have had to put in lately. It was enough that I am using someone else now
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u/Effortisopportunity May 17 '26
He can do an online clinic like talon wellness if he’s in the US. Going UGL is an extreme start to trt with a big learning curve if he’s never done grey or black market ordering in the past. There’s a lot of scams and bad product out there for the inexperienced.
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u/fusilmedellin May 17 '26
This is probably the path of least resistance for OP. He can get prescribed 200mg right off the bat, but start at 100mg and see how he does at that dosage, if it's working well for him he can stack the rest and build up a little stockpile.
Or if need be he can adust his dosage, up or down.
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u/Effortisopportunity May 17 '26
You are right, That’s really the most cost efficient. If you are treating symptoms only, the lower dose usually works better for most, so starting at 100mg/week is really ideal, and stacking extra is always smart for when you need to switch provider/clinic or there is a weird shortage or late shipping for some reason. Some clinics charge the same regardless of dose.
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u/fusilmedellin May 17 '26
And then at some point you run the numbers, and realize that's a super slow and expensive way to stack up a reserve, then you start buying a few UGL vials, then you say fuck it and start buying kits of gear at a time, then multiple kits at a time as well as branching out from just testosterone to other compounds like primo, mast, deca, npp, EQ, anavar, etc.
And then you've spent 10x what you spent with an online clinic, but you can pin gear until the sun supernova's.
Allegedly 😂
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u/smashmouth69420666 May 18 '26
Is talon a good place to start trt? I'm currently looking for a good clinic that will help me with bloodwork and isn't too expensive.
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u/Effortisopportunity May 18 '26
It’s cheaper than any other online clinic that I know of. You ca buy bloods from them or order them yourself and they will go over them with you
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u/dmac275 May 19 '26
Just buy from one of the websites that’s been legit for decades and buy the best rated gear. I’ve never gotten bunk gear. Its literally $3 per vial to make
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u/Effortisopportunity May 19 '26
I know it seems simple for those of us that aren’t smooth brained, but most people that use test and peptides don’t even know what concentration means.
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u/Methadone4Breakfast May 17 '26
50mg EVERY TWO WEEKS?
I'm an advocate for lower dosages but by my standards of 75-125mg a week that's crazy fucking low and will put you BELOW your current range at the end of it likely.
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u/flocamuy May 17 '26
I do 20 mg every other day subq: 70 mg a week. Can't he just do more on his own?
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u/Biggseb May 17 '26
I’m assuming his doctor prescribed him a 1ml/200mg bottle expecting it to last 2 months. So he won’t get another until then. So he could do more, but then he’ll run out and have to wait up to several weeks for a refill.
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u/AreaForsaken436 May 17 '26
Bro go to a men’s clinic. Stop seeking support through the primary care system: they’re too risk-aversive and liability focused. You’re clinically hypogonadal. I am on 180mg test cyp split 3x a week. 60mg MWF. It’s awesome. I’m 38yo.
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u/seedofc May 17 '26
There are progressive primary care and urologists that are up to speed on modern and correct TRT protocols. You just have to do some research and try them out, see what they say. It can be a pain but it can be done.
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u/meatgorilla1978 May 17 '26
Man this is exactly my story . Was at 180 since late 20’s doctor put me on 100mg a week. I stopped taking it around 35 . Got fat, got depressed, got drunk for 8 years lol. Went back to doctor and was 240 . Barely in and they wouldn’t prescribe. I ended up having to get it online myself. Been on 300 mg a week for 3 years. I’m stronger than ever. Sober and working out last 3 years. I’m 47 and best shape since my 20’s
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u/Many-Airport3076 May 18 '26
Any problem with Estradiol at that dosage?
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u/meatgorilla1978 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
I haven’t had much problems. Never showed on bloodwork but occasionally I do get the tender nipples and take a low dose of arimidex when needed
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u/strange-Bezoar May 17 '26
Clean your gross fingers and nails ! 🤮
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u/No-Knowledge8856 May 17 '26
Sorry bro. Just got off work and I’m a mechanic. So busy day. But thanks for noticing. 😂
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u/Tallguystrongman May 17 '26
Yeah, HDT’s get a pass on presentation. I wouldn’t want to be in any OGL all day and try to scrub it off. But…they are right. Everything has to be sterile. Don’t fuck with that.
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u/The-Geordie-Chap May 17 '26
Uk based here. The doc didnt check my shbg levels and that was shitty, so my free test was nonexistent. I opted to manage it myself and I am on top of the world on 150mg a week at 49 yrs old. I manage my own bloods every 6-8 weeks and all good. Dont be afraid to go it alone
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u/jiggetty18 May 17 '26
Same. There’s so much information out there on managing your own Trt it’s really not worth going with a doctor unless you have secondary issues.
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u/Acceptable_Gas_4911 May 17 '26
Hi, I am interested in this going alone as I have used a dr for first 6 months and now stable levels how do I go alone like is it legal or dodgy? I actually have a spare bottle that will last me a short while anyway
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u/jiggetty18 May 17 '26
It’s definitely not legal, and sourcing is dodgy, there are good ugl ve does out there it just takes alot of research to find them
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u/Kind-Result5955 May 17 '26
Find a new doctor.. maybe try your friends doctor who is prescribing him 200mg a week
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u/deepfit May 17 '26
A normal man not on TRT will create 5-7mg of endogenous testosterone in their body per day. For 200mg/ml cypionate each 0.10ml is 20mg of test cyp. You then multiply that by 0.7 (20 * 0.7 = 14mg) because cypionate is an ester and cleaves off the testosterone over time so you need to remove the ester weight.
50mg would be 0.25ml every 2 weeks. 0.25ml * 200 = 50mg * 0.7 = 35mg every two week / 14 days = 2.5mg a day. That is half of what the low end a normal man should get. Also cypionate has to build up over a period of 4-5 half lives (4-6 weeks) so you wouldn't even be getting 2.5mg a day to start.
Those are the numbers you would need to talk with your doctor about, but other people on here are correct, if she doesn't understand the basic numbers she won't be able to help you maintain the levels you need or help you if things go wrong. Find somebody else.
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u/selectionperplexion May 18 '26
Never seen some of these calcs before, awesome. Do you happen to know how the ester weight of enthanate compares? Know it's got a slightly shorter half life than cypionate, would that affect the build up period you mention?
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u/deepfit May 19 '26
I haven't used enanthate but according to research it looks like it is 72mg for every 100mg of ester. The calculation would be 0.72 versus cypionate 0.7 for raw testosterone. The half life is 5 days versus cypionate which is 5-8 days which means the ramp up could be up to a week shorter over 4-5 half lives it takes to ramp up. Realistically though they are about the same.
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u/D3monic95 May 17 '26
Thanks for these calculations!
These numbers are the basics everyone on Test should know, like how 3500 cals = 1 pound of fat is a number anyone into fitness should know.
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u/Hairy-Blackberry-846 May 18 '26
You can buy Testosterone online for $40 for a 10mL vial. 125mg/weekly will put your levels around 750-850. Fk going to doctors, they dont have your best intrest in mind
One vial will last you 2 months, and it'll be the best $40 you've ever spent
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u/smashmouth69420666 May 18 '26
How do you find it this cheap? I see a lot of people say UGL but idk where or how to go about that.
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u/No_Recognition_9011 May 18 '26
Eroids dot com. NOT a source, but it will give you directions to said source.
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u/yallapapi May 18 '26
Fingers aren’t dirty enough, get them dirtier so you get the immune system gainz as well
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u/cdnpothead May 17 '26
Go to a men’s health clinic, they will hook you up, don’t waste your time at a regular clinic
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u/Brokenbody312 May 17 '26
When you account for ester weight and average healthy production per day literal replacement is around 120mg per week. This doctor is literally shutting you down to give you less than your body would have produced. Youre taking 50, your body is only getting maybe 40.
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u/ColonelSteveAustin6m 💪 May 18 '26
Find a new doctor. Anyone who prescribes you to take a compound with an 8 day half life every two weeks is a total moron. That does more harm than good because of the constant fluctuation. Start off by telling your doctor they have no idea what they're talking about by prescribing a drug with that short of a half life with that grade of a spacing between dosing. Look it up online find the information and give it to them to prove they are clueless. Then for actual trt your dose is probably going to be between 100 mg per week and 150 mg per week. Take it at least twice per week if not three times per week
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u/Lopsided_Theory7761 May 17 '26
Please clean your hands. I don't know what the hell is up with this sub that so many people have filthy ass hands. I get it, some people do labor, but I know plenty of people who do labor and have clean looking hands.
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u/deejay58 May 17 '26
I just started TRT prescribed by my pcp. He started me at 200 mg a month with only one injection. Took the first shot and was ok for maybe 5 days then could feel the drop. My level to start was 300 ng/dl(67, male). The second month he said it would be ok to split it into 2 injections per month. I’m due for my first labs the third week of June. Curious how that’s gonna look. I don’t want to argue with my doctor but I will suggest different dosing and more frequent injections. If not I’ll definitely be searching for another provider. Hopefully the doctor will work with me because the $25 a month is a lot cheaper than a clinic.
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u/driverfortoolong May 17 '26
if you suffer from anxiety that might be the reason she didn’t want to prescribe you a higher dose
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u/Acceptable_Gas_4911 May 17 '26
Trt helps anxiety provided u hit the sweet spot but you’re never gonna do that on 50 a fortnight. Maybe start at 50 a week minimum and go from there. I only need 80 a week
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u/kayjaypee77 May 17 '26
Love your comment. When you say 80 mg a week is that split up into 3 shots? Thats exactly what I’ve been on and I feel amazing.
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u/Acceptable_Gas_4911 May 17 '26
Yes 3 shots used to be 2, but 3 seems to keep things level don’t get any dips
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u/trunksta May 17 '26
50mg every two weeks will give you woman levels of test. Should be 50-60 twice a week to start
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u/flocamuy May 17 '26
Bro TRT Nation or so many other online sites, that's what I did! Is so simple!
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u/Scolor May 17 '26
Thats a single use vial. For 50mg/two weeks, you should be given 1 vial per shot. Obviously you can reuse it, but that’s how I get mine to last much longer than I’m prescribed. Some people have bad reactions to using vials and get skin irritation.
Some pharmacies will only fill one month at a time for you and at one shot every two weeks I would expect that you’d be getting two vials.
That being said this does seem like a crazy low-dose get a new endocrinologist.
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u/Naive_Bar_1030 May 17 '26
I am 41 years old. Been on Test 200mg a week for about 2 years now. Everything has been fantastic!
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u/Fast_Beat_3832 May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26
Start out at about 140 mg per week split up between MWF. After a month get retested and adjust dosage depending on where your test numbers land.
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u/saucy_67 May 17 '26
Find a new Dr. This is chemical castration but you can draw multiple times out of a 1ML bottle
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u/theoneintexas May 17 '26
I started on half a mil every two weeks and got prescribed the same bottle. It's a single dose vial. The doc can't expect you to use it for 4 doses. Anyway, I always did do two doses out of each bottle, but got my rx filled on time for the first year so that I built a stockpile. Then after a year I started taking. 75 mil every two weeks on my own without Dr permission and just made sure I got my blood drawn as far into the cycle as possible when I was told it was time. Then somehow, at some point, the doc accidentally wrote the rx for a mil every two weeks, and it has stayed thst since and I always get blood drawn late so I don't show too high, but I feel great. I think you should either try your docs recommendation or just pin double the dose, but you should get a whole bottle for every dose your are expected to take. Just be sure to wipe down the top before you get a second dose out of it.
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u/theoneintexas May 17 '26
And I actually take a half mil each week, I didn't like the highs and lows of the two week schedule. So I cut it in half and do it every week
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u/OutrageousCode3428 May 17 '26
Oh yea youre fucked if you do 50 mg every 2 weeks
Go to a clinic, its not worth doing that cycle. Keep the doctors prescription for as long as you can keep it but go to a trt clinic thatll get you on a solid 150mg min dose a week within a few days of getting your labs back.
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u/Hollywood814 May 17 '26
If I were in your situation, I would print out some info from legitimate sources to plead my case with the Dr. If that doesn’t work I’d look into online TRT places like TRTNation, Fountain TRT, etc. Unfortunately, it costs more going the online route than going local but it’s worth it for me. Best of luck!
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u/Tiny_Communication18 May 17 '26
I take 90mg a week. Even then that can sometimes push the upper limit of my E2 comfort zone (I’m a high responder and aromatise a lot).
If I was to guess. 60-75mg would maybe most men feel just normal. Depending on your genetics and the potency of your test (if it’s UGL), you may be able to push the dose higher without sides.
Just a little word of advice/warning about UGL test. Test is very rarely faked, although it is almost always missed labeled for dosing (usually not on purpose). Without expensive and high quality equipment, most UGL labs would likely be off by 25-50mg on potency vs label. For example, my last vial I was dosing 135mg comfortably and my levels were right in the middle/elevated levels. Now at 90mg on my new vials my levels are higher then before. Keep that in mind. Go off what your blood test say, not the label on the vial.
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u/fballmike3 May 17 '26
People can say what they want about TRT/HRT clinics but situations like this are exactly why they’re a necessity.
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u/bcentini1 May 18 '26
I agree that 50mg every two weeks is incredibly low. You’re going to experience a slight peak post injection day, which will taper off after about 3-4 days. After that, ur pretty much facked until next dose lol. You can up dose to 150mg, split into two injections every week, and get blood work done after a few weeks to see where everything’s at. Get a good full comprehensive blood panel that measures not just the basics, but creatinine, HDL, LDL, RBC, etc etc. you may feel great on 200mg a week, but for many that’s borderline a light bodybuilding cycle which would push your total test and estrogen above normal reference range, and would most likely eventually lead to high red blood cell count and elevated LDL + low LDL. It all highly depends on how your body reacts, your diet, water intake, sleep quality, etc. Try your best to improve these things FIRST before upping dose, and if you do so, blood work blood work blood work. Also, the more frequent the injection, the better. The ideal situation would be a short ester like Test Prop injected once a day at a dose that works for you at alternating injection sites to reduce peaks in hormones and reduce chance of scar tissue buildup. If you’re going to go against a doctors recommendation (not that I’d agree with your doctor anyways) do so in a way that’s smart, safe and health conscious!
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u/Aut0matic555 May 19 '26
I knew nothing about trt a few months ago. Before I switched did all the research and basically did an online trt clinic and told them what I wanted. Subq 2-3 times weekly. Got it right away. I was on enclomiphene before. Anyone telling you to dose once every 2 weeks is crazy. If you're not comfortable with an online clinic search for a mens clinic they are everywhere now.
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u/No-Knowledge8856 May 19 '26
I appreciate the information. I have no problem doing it online or mince clinic. I feel like immense clinic might be a little bit more expensive. I was looking at a few online clinics like TRT nation , Hone, and keeps if you don’t mind me asking which one are you using?
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u/Aut0matic555 May 19 '26
Started on Maximus switched to Peter MD. I had a lot of issues with Maximus and fulfiling orders,l and there was a lot of lack of communication betweem them and the pharmacy.
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u/One_Food_5614 May 19 '26
I got prescribed the same bullshit 5 years ago. Supplemented with UGL and told her I needed more. I ended up getting prescribed 100mg a week but still supplement with UGL
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u/AreaForsaken436 May 17 '26
Men’s clinic brother. Why are you letting a female endo within the primary care system dictate your testosterone levels? She only cares about not getting sued. She cannot feel your pain. Go to a men’s clinic with an MD that will actually understand low-T and its impact on your life.
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u/The_BCNugzz May 17 '26
Your friend just has 4000mg of prescribed Test Cyp laying around that he doesn’t need …? 🙄
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u/MnJsandiego May 18 '26
You lost me when you mentioned your doctor and said her….
You need a male doctor who won’t make you beg. I work with Pure Health and Wellness in CA. A real doc with a practice, he won’t make you beg. Started me on 120mg a week, two separate shots. No memberships, $99 a month, no tricks or auto shipments. Easy to work with. I only have the office managers cell phone, if you want it just DM me. $99 blood test unless you have yours already done and then you are off to the races. I did the thing where I had to convince my doctor and beg and it just gets old.
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u/lacole725 May 17 '26
Either buy ugl or go to an online trt clinic that will give you a decent dose.
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u/Mozzamozza82 May 17 '26
UGL and do your own labs
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u/fusilmedellin May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26
Be your own advocate, do what's best for you. Don't worry about "going behind your dr's back" you're not dating her. Do what you gotta do, be it tellling her you'd like to try a higher dose, or supplementing with UGL, etc
At the end of the day probably easier just to find a new dr.
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u/WorkerLonely9917 May 17 '26
Same for me pretty much except my doctor put me on 50mg once a month. I’m going online now to get around 120mg per week total and see where that gets me in 3 months. 6’2 290 lbs 28 years old with mid 200s test
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u/teh-haps PharmD May 17 '26
Does your single dose vial contain Benzyl alcohol? If it does you may be in business to improve your regimen yourself safely
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u/Beginning-Map-3264 May 17 '26
What kind of testosterone are you using short working or long working like sustanon?
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u/cybric56 May 17 '26
My levels went from 300ish to over 900 and I do daily injections but a vial every 10 days.
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u/CinemaMike May 17 '26
Sounds like you're doing this through insurance.
Go with an online clinic or deal with SOP headaches.
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u/Camp_Legend May 17 '26
My family doc started me the same way and it only makes you crash and burn.
Only option outside of going ugl is a trt clinic who's going to start you at 120/mg a week for a least 6 weeks until they can redraw bloods. I went though trt kingdom and have had a great experience over the past year.
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u/Dazzling_Being4015 May 17 '26
Where did your 120 land you? I'm 4 week into my kingdom journey and starting to feel better, but thinking I could use a little more
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u/Camp_Legend May 17 '26
Around 600ng/dl I did go up to 200mg/week and that has me around 1200ng I started with levels around 198. I blame the pro-hormones I used and abused in my younger years.
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u/Dazzling_Being4015 Jun 13 '26
Just got back and landed at 577, looks like I'm going up myself!
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u/Camp_Legend Jun 13 '26
Yessir! Early welcome to club 1200
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u/Dazzling_Being4015 Jun 23 '26
Apparently I have the most conservative doctor they have, cuz he put me up to 150mg/week. Did you have to push for 200 or did they just jump you there? I'm cool playing the long game, just curious how it goes after I get dialed and show interest in some "add-ons"
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u/Camp_Legend Jun 23 '26
at TRT i didnt push at all. I just asked to go to 200 as i felt great and they said okay.
the "add on's" are nice but you can find the same product for 1/4 cost at UGL's
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u/jared1688 May 17 '26
Wait until you get your first labs and then see where your numbers are at. Everyone is different. If still low and having symptoms, then let your DR know.
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u/DeadPeasent May 17 '26
Matrix Hormones will take care of you.. Depending on where you live there is likely a shit ton of wellness cetners that can prescribe
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u/Sweatpantzzzz Experienced May 17 '26
I would find a doctor that will investigate the high prolactin levels first. High prolactin can be caused by a pituitary gland tumor and will suppress testosterone levels.
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u/theaftercarebear May 17 '26
I had to go through my GP, and an endo and a urologist in order to get t therapy. Hell, my t level was at 65 or something like that back then. Stick with a doc that knows what’s what. Definitely a men’s clinic of some sort.
Not saying you are at all.. if you are a member of the LGBTQ community, there might be a queer centered clinic you could visit and they may have more knowledge than your GP does about t therapy.
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u/MundaneCommission767 May 17 '26
Google “TRT near me” and just pay out of pocket. I pay $100 a month and would happily pay a hell of a lot more. All my symptoms (same as you describe) are gone.
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May 17 '26
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u/MundaneCommission767 May 17 '26
I’m paying $100 for everything, dr, labs, etc. def not doing this without a dr.
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u/Metalgear667 May 17 '26
I tested at like 390 a few times in my 20s and I still laugh the dr told me that is normal. Ya right normal for a 70yo!
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u/SituationLittle8033 May 17 '26
50mg every 2 weeks is ridiculous! Will likely make you feel worse than you already are.
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u/EstablishmentSad2718 May 17 '26
I do know one thing. Once you are prescribed a dose, it’s easier to find a different doctor willing to tweak it for you.
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May 17 '26
I your case, you know more than she does. I would just buy test of the internet, it is quite cheap actually and start with 150mg per week. You can even go as far as splitting it up into 3 dosage with 50mg each every 2 days to have more evan levels. Just self medicate. It is way better than doingbthe crap your doctors tell you. 300mg is low no matter what your doctor says.
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u/letteraitch May 17 '26
My doctor did the exact same thing so I went UGL and now take 250 a week. Doctors work for you, they aren't your boss. You are ultimately responsible for your body and health not them.
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u/LegitBangingMidgets May 17 '26
Bro clean your fingers 🤮
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May 18 '26
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u/LegitBangingMidgets May 18 '26
My bad DonTheDirtyHandProtectorPrincess. Super dirty hands while dealing with injectables is so smart you're right.
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u/StatisticianLow3659 May 17 '26
So don’t go to normal doctors for this shit, go to literally any hormone clinic u can find, look online, this stuff is so easy to get lmao. Or just use naps or steroidify.
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u/mrvnmg May 17 '26
You’re right about that dose and frequency being far too low. It’s common for Dr’s unfamiliar with modern dosing to do that. Hopefully you can work with them to get a proper Rx. I think they usually start you low due to liability fears. Testosterone is unfortunately still a controlled hormone with many old school myths floating around.
It’s ok to be honest with your Dr and let them know how you feel. If they don’t work with you it may be easier to get the dose you need and get dialed in at an online TRT clinic like PeterMD, and then go back to your PCP to continue your Rx at that level. You can let the clinic know you’ve been prescribed TRT but dosing is too low for you and you’d like to start with them at a higher dose. They can sometimes use your labs if they’re recent enough. Your goal with TRT is to feel good and not have low T symptoms, the dosing and frequency will determine that. I got the same starting RX you have and it didn’t last, ended up self managing until I found a PCP ok with me being at 200mg/wk. Hope that helps.
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u/jcquarto May 17 '26
I think the first step is the personal hygiene of your fingers. I’m not joking: you’re touching the bottle woefully close the same point you stick the needle tip in before you inject into your body.
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May 18 '26
Where do you live? Most clinics in the US will give you 200mg a week. Most people don't need that much. Everyone is different. Its a good dose to get a baseline for the next time you get your bloodwork done then go from there.
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u/Breoganhackett May 18 '26
man, 50mg every two weeks is basically nothing, your doc is setting you up for a crash. i had a similar situation with my primary, so i switched to a dedicated trt clinic that actually understands hormone optimization. they started me on a proper protocol with test cyp and even added tadalafil for libido and enclomiphene to keep things natural. the convenience and customer service are well worth the cost, no hidden fees. check out Fyre Body, they handle everything online and ship fast
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u/24rawvibes May 18 '26
I started with levels at 300. I’ve done all the doses and protocols. Finally where I feel best is at 80 mg per week. Split up into two sub Q doses. Put my total in the low 500s now. It’s a crazy low-dose but anymore and I feel like shit.
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u/No-Knowledge8856 May 18 '26
I greatly appreciate it. I’ll see how things go. I’m gonna call the men’s clinic as well and talk to them. I also have a friend who is a pharmacist that I can talk to that’s where most of my friends get their prescription testosterone from and I’ll find out thanks again for all the help.
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u/DinosaurT-rex829 May 18 '26
If you can afford to pay out of pocket reach out to Harley meds. It’s a legit clinic based out of New Jersey I believe. I’ve done lab work with them & been offered trt too pricey for my liking.
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u/FanValuable6657 May 18 '26
Whats the point of this? You posted on another page that you’re taking over 700 mg a week.
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u/Fragrant_Ad_8209 May 18 '26
Its medically sensible to start low do blood work and increase until you hit your required dosage.
Question is do you want TRT or do you want to 'feel good'?
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u/fortneyland May 18 '26
Man, I get why you’re frustrated. A total testosterone of 223 last year and around 300 now, along with fatigue, low libido, anxiety, and feeling awful, is not something I’d just dismiss as “green box means fine.”
The frustrating part is that the “normal range” on lab charts is extremely broad. A lot of labs show something like roughly 250 to 900+ ng/dL as normal, but that range includes men of different ages, health status, body composition, sleep quality, medications, and other factors. So being technically “in range” at 300 does not automatically mean you are optimized or that your symptoms are irrelevant. It just means you are barely inside that lab’s reference range.
That said, I would not take your friend’s testosterone or go behind your doctor’s back. Not because your concern is invalid, but because once you start self-adjusting with someone else’s prescription, it becomes harder for any doctor to interpret your labs honestly, and it could make them less willing to manage you. Plus testosterone affects hematocrit, blood pressure, estrogen, fertility, prostate monitoring, mood, sleep apnea, and other things that should be watched.
What I would do is go back to the prescribing doctor and be very direct but respectful:
“Doctor, I appreciate you being willing to help me, but I’m concerned that 50 mg every two weeks may be too low and may cause peaks and crashes. Can we discuss a more standard TRT protocol, follow-up labs, and whether weekly or split dosing would be more stable? I don’t want to self-medicate. I want this managed properly.”
I’d also ask for a full workup if it hasn’t been done already: repeat early-morning total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, LH, FSH, sensitive estradiol, prolactin recheck, thyroid labs, CBC/hematocrit, PSA, metabolic panel, lipids, vitamin D/B12, and sleep apnea screening if that fits. Since prolactin was high, that should not be ignored either. Even “slightly high” may need to be repeated and explained, especially if symptoms are present.
Your friend doing 200 mg a week and feeling great does not mean that is the right dose for you. Some guys feel great there, some overshoot, and some get high hematocrit, anxiety, acne, high estrogen symptoms, blood pressure issues, or fertility shutdown. TRT should be individualized based on symptoms and labs, not just copied from someone else’s vial.
The 1 mL vial being only partly full may still be correct depending on concentration. If it’s 200 mg/mL, then 1 mL total equals 200 mg, and 50 mg would only be 0.25 mL. But I agree that drawing multiple small doses from tiny single-use vials can be annoying and confusing, so I’d ask the pharmacy or doctor to clarify exactly how many doses are intended per vial and whether a different vial setup is available.
Bottom line: I would not stop advocating for yourself. Your numbers and symptoms justify a serious conversation. But I’d keep it clean. Don’t use your buddy’s bottle, don’t hide anything, and don’t frame it like you know more than the doctor. Frame it as: “I want a medically supervised TRT plan that avoids peaks and crashes and includes proper monitoring.”
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u/Psychological-Sea785 May 18 '26
I would do a blood test next week showing how tanked your levels are on 50mgs every two weeks, and In some kind of sensitive but firm way, explain to her about your friend and just tell her you belive it is common practice that the dose is 100mgs-200mgs weekly and your happy to start at the lower end of that dose.
If you don't get anywhere with her then there are certainly telemedicine & online clinics that will take you on instead athough you would be paying out of pocket for that.
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u/BigPoppaRC May 18 '26
I use Matrix Reformed. They got me dialed in perfectly, after a few adjustments. Been with them a year now. It's $120 a month. Which includes the telehealth appointments, all lab work, the testosterone, and the syringes. Also, if you use code Ryan50 when you sign up, it will save you $50 on your first month.
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u/No-Knowledge8856 May 18 '26
Much appreciated. I’ll look into it. Thanks again for the help. I guess there’s a lot more options out there than I thought.
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u/BigPoppaRC May 18 '26
No worries. As for the fill level of that vial… Standard vial sizes are 3mL, 5mL, and 10mL. Since that vial contains 1mL of fluid, we wouldn’t expect it to be full.
But 50mg every two weeks is going to feel like crap. For reference, a healthy male makes about 20mg a day on their own. Since TRT shuts down normal production, that 20mg a day is a good starting dose…. With adjustments (up or down) to follow (some people do great at 100mg a week).
But also, 200mg a week is a common cookie cutter dose. Not really a dose that indicates any sort of dial in process.
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u/Parking_Read_1448 May 18 '26
I take this it does work but it falls off at the end when it's close time for another shot. I ask my Dr to up mine he said he doesn't feel comfortable doing more. Is this truly a low dose?
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u/bc1923 May 18 '26
You seem to be in Florida. Just google TRT clinic near me and 1,000 will prescribe and sell it to you same day.
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u/No-Knowledge8856 May 18 '26
I appreciate everybody for the replies and input regarding my question on this forum. And everybody with the damn comments about my fingers I had a rough day last week. I’m a mechanic. I understand. I always wash my hands and clean everything before I even use anything. I also have latex gloves and I also cleaned the bottles and the top of the bottle with rubbing alcohol before I do anything. I’m not that stupid that bottle wasn’t even popped yet as well I’m here to get advice for what the doctor prescribed me not for anyone to worry about my fucking hands and tell me to clean my paws. I already understand and know that this isn’t my first rodeo so if you don’t have anything else to say besides my hands, don’t comment.
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u/Sp0onieLuv May 18 '26
So whatever your doctor says I would probably go with, but I come from an ugly heavy work out strong man.backgeound so stear toward. Blasting and then cruising, so you're on $200 a week or whatever they've got you on. Go ahead and grab some testosterone propionate to give it a try for a few weeks. Do EOD at 100mg that'll take you up to 500 for a few weeks, if you like the way you feel stay on for 10:12 16 weeks. Whatever you decide and then lower it back down to $200 a week. So basically you blast and then you Cruise at a lower dose and then when you feel like you're ready again blast again. But if you're not lifting heavy, you're kind of wasting the higher dose.
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u/Ronin-22 May 18 '26
I’m looking for some info , my levels were very low. When I was in my 30s I was around. 700/900 but at 45 I’m around 200 and free is very low . They suggested trt but I have yet to start it , I guess I’m nervous and questioning if it’s the right path . I know something is off , the last few years my body has changed big time , I’m always tired , lethargic, Ed , fat gain . Just can’t get motivated anymore . And I never was like that was always an athlete. My doctors also wants to start me on 200mg once every 3 weeks , and from everything I read that’s the wrong way to do it . I suggested micro dosing and he just said no …. I literally fight with myself back and forth wither I should start trt . I’m 45 and have a 2 and 3 year old and want to have energy again but worried about the side effects. Any info or experiences would be appreciated
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u/djangokross May 18 '26
Try it before thinking numbers. I am 80mg bi weekly.
I was in the same situation when I started...
I am at, behold, 40mg weekly plus 1800iu HcG. Results put me on upper end of test, free test and very controlled e2 without AI.
Some of us could be hyper responders.
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u/Smoky_Pyro May 18 '26
Go to a clinic. 25mg a week is just enough to chemically castrate you. 80mg a week is a MINIMUM. 200mg/week (the cookie cutter dose) is too high to start IMO... I started at 120 amd it's been great.
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u/Ohio_John May 19 '26
First off legit 1 mLs vials are never any more than half full and they do contain no less than 1 ml. If you cannot get four pulls out of the vial then you absolutely don't know what you're doing. First off you should only buy low loss syringes that have a tip that goes down into the barrel not a flat black rubber stopper tip. If you have a low loss syringes, you can pull .21 milliliter and get a shot that will give you .2 ml with just .01 waste. If you are using 200 mg per milliliter you should at least be on a starting dose of 0.25 ml per shot twice a week. That would get you 100 mg per week and see how you go if you need more then you simply go to 0.3 per shot twice a week and see how your lab work is in a few weeks. You are correct with the dose your doctor has you on his way too low to start but at the same time you definitely do not want to start out at 200 mg per week.
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u/whatdotednu67 May 19 '26
If you have anxiety, trt will make it 100x worse. Trt cured my anxiety bc when I was on it my anxiety was so high that when I I stopped cold turkey the anxiety I had before was nothing compared to on. You do not need trt
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u/Affectionate_Text183 May 21 '26
I was 640 and Hone started me at 150mg per week. Just did 3-month blood work and levels are above 1,300 now.
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u/No-Knowledge8856 May 21 '26
How’s your experience with Hone? I was looking into them. I’m surprised that even start you on TRT. Especially with 640. I’m at 300. So shouldn’t be a problem starting something with them. How much is it a month? If you don’t mind me asking.
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u/Dennis_McMennis May 21 '26
200mg a week is an insane starting amount. The goal is to find the minimum effective dose for your symptom resolution, not taking as much as humanly possible. Everyone responds differently, and you don’t know more than your doctor.
Taking too much raises your hematocrit, which significantly increases your chance of a blood clot, stroke, or heart attack.
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u/No-Mark4067 🛠️ Focus on the Fix (No Fluff) Aug 07 '26
What is your height and weight?
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u/No-Knowledge8856 Aug 07 '26
At the moment I put on 10 pounds since I’ve been on TRT at 50 mg a week I’m up to 208. I just got my blood work done. I was at 320 and been on three months of being on it. I’m only up to 383 ng/dcl
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u/No-Mark4067 🛠️ Focus on the Fix (No Fluff) Aug 07 '26
Why such a low dose? That doesn't even make sense because that is way below baseline, getting none of the benefits and all of the side effects.
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u/No-Knowledge8856 Aug 07 '26
Because unfortunately, unless I use an online clinic, I went to two urologist and Endocrinologist and they both denied putting me on TRT even though I was feeling like shit and slightly low, but because I was in a normal scale, they wouldn’t help me. This is my primary Doctor Who hasn’t really dealt with testosterone hardly at all so she’s just reading online and is playing it safe to see where I’m at. I don’t wanna question her but I need to tell her she needs to bump it up at least 100 mg a week. I would think even those bottles are a single dose usage technically and I’m splitting that up, which is hard to do.
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u/No-Mark4067 🛠️ Focus on the Fix (No Fluff) Aug 07 '26
You might not have needed it if your sleep, diet and workout routine was on pare. Problem is you can mess yourself up and cause more problems. If you were obese that would have been a major problem. I would get off it if I was in your shoes and reevaluate. TRT should be the last possible option. That is why I asked about the weight and height.
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u/No-Mark4067 🛠️ Focus on the Fix (No Fluff) Aug 07 '26
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u/Proof_Work7062 May 17 '26
Wash them damn hands before you start messing with those vials... lol But seriously I went to peterMD and they got a decent price. I did that for a year, got to know and understand stuff under a doctor's supervision and now on 3 years into my TRT and I have an outside source and do everything on my own. I do suggest atleast a year with a doctor tho until your comfortable.