Coming of TRT

[semper48]

I have been on TrT for 18 mths. Used low dosage and frequent pinning. One vial of Cypionate (150 mg) pr month. A little at a time (twice weekly). I had to take a break so I cut down to 75 mg pr month for one month, then cold turkey. I felt good on it and knew I would have some comedown/depression. Maybe that is what I am dealing with now. Have been 4 weeks off now. When can I expect normalish wellbeing?

 

[Genetic Freak]

I have been on TrT for two years. Used low dosage and frequent pinning. One vial of Cypionate (150 mg) pr month. A little at a time (twice weekly). I had to take a break so I cut down to 75 mg pr month for one month, then cold turkey. I felt good on it and knew I would have some comedown/depression. Maybe that is what I am dealing with now. Have been 4 weeks off now. When can I expect normalish wellbeing?

You can't...!!!

I assume you were prescribed TRT treatment by your GP or Endocrinologist, this would have been due to your body not producing enough endogenous hormones...
That situation won't have changed after 2 years on TRT... TRT is a management of a permanent condition not a cure...

 

[CFC]

Exactly as GF says, you can't expect to feel normal again if your TRT was prescribed for a medical issue. The only way to feel normal again is to go back on; indeed it's unhealthy to have abnormally low testosterone levels for too long.

 

[semper48]

My TRT was self prescribed. Later stabilized and monitored by doctor. I was in a depression rut and wanted to know if normal test levels would give me wellbeing. Extensively discussed it on this site. Been on 150 mg pr month for 18 months. It did bring me the effects I was hoping for. This is all hunky dory in my home country Thailand where test is not an issue and can be bought in most mayor pharmacies otc.
What then happened next is I crossed some borders and my Cyprionate didnt make it through. Now I am in a country with not so lax steroid laws (but still not illegal for personal consumption). Will be here for another 2 months. Two months ago I took 75 mg pr month, readying myself for an eventual change. Last month (when supply was docked) went cold turkey. Not felt the adverse effects before now (3-4 weeks in). Depression and listlessness mostly, hot flushes at night. Nothing I cant handle in the short term, if I know its eventually going to get better (and my normal production kicks in).
I suppose I can get my hands on test here, I know people. But I was thinking if I can wean myself off for a while and get normal production going I will see better what its doing and not doing for me. I have read that using Arimidex when coming off Test is a good idea to kick start normal production. Just so happens I have that (but not used it) and some Anavar too (unused by me). This situation is a work in progress. All input gratefully accepted. Keep going cold turkey? Get some Test? Use Arimidex/Anavar?

 

[semper48]

Exactly as GF says, you can't expect to feel normal again if your TRT was prescribed for a medical issue. The only way to feel normal again is to go back on; indeed it's unhealthy to have abnormally low testosterone levels for too long.

I can appreciate that and fully understand. But my question is still unanswered. Maybe there is no one right answer as mostly is in these cases. But a guesstimate would be nice.

 

[CFC]

Thanks for giving us a little more information. However the fact remains that if it took the TRT to make you feel normal in the first place, you aren't going to feel normal without it, no matter what you do. It's likely your own HPTA has already 'recovered' as far as it's going to do, and whatever you feel now is your new 'normal'.

If you don't want to go back on TRT, you could try taking some anastrazole at 0.25mg ED for a few weeks to see if it elevates your own test a tiny bit; some guys do sometimes report success with that method. It won't compare to simply going back on 100-150mg test per week though.

 

[semper48]

Thanks for giving us a little more information. However the fact remains that if it took the TRT to make you feel normal in the first place, you aren't going to feel normal without it, no matter what you do. It's likely your own HPTA has already 'recovered' as far as it's going to do, and whatever you feel now is your new 'normal'.

If you don't want to go back on TRT, you could try taking some anastrazole at 0.25mg ED for a few weeks to see if it elevates your own test a tiny bit; some guys do sometimes report success with that method. It won't compare to simply going back on 100-150mg test per week though.

Thanks for that CFC. It shows it pays to give all the relevant information if one wants a good answer. 100 mg pr week? You mean pr month? I was good on 150 mg pr month. I will try the .25 Arimidex. It is recommended here and there on this site and others. I have 2 months until I am back in a safe environment. If I still feel lousy I will happily continue with aforementioned 150 mg Cyp pr month.

 

[CFC]

How old are you semper, if you don't mind me asking? If 150mg of Test Cypionate per month was making you feel better, your natural test production must be really quite low. Did you have it measured before you began your self-administered TRT 2 years ago?

FYI 100-150mg test cyp per week (factoring in bioavailability and the ester weight) would take a typical male to roughly the mid-to-top end of the normal range in most labs.

 

[semper48]

How old are you semper, if you don't mind me asking? If 150mg of Test Cypionate per month was making you feel better, your natural test production must be really quite low. Did you have it measured before you began your self-administered TRT 2 years ago?

FYI 100-150mg test cyp per week (factoring in bioavailability and the ester weight) would take a typical male to roughly the mid-to-top end of the normal range in most labs.

I am 57 yrs old and was 95 kg, now down to 83. Sorry my mind was tripping with the mg before. But it is 250mg in a vial and I use one vial a month. I was taking 350 mg Ethanate pr month and was measured at 20 something in total Test when norm was said to be up to 8. So doc told me to go down to 250 mg. He wanted me just to do it all in one go once a month. After discussing it at length on this site, I decided to go down to 250 and split it up, pinning twice a week (total of 10 pins pm). Also changed to Cyp, as it has a longer half life (and is cheaper than Ethanate). That did nicely and was measured with total Test at just over the 8 mark. So it couldnt be better. I cant see how doing more will benefit, if its breaking all the norms? They cant measure the "free Test" in Thailand, need to send the bloodwork to the US to get it done, so I recon I am ok using the total Test as a benchmark. Am I missing something? To be honest, no I did not measure myself before TrT back then, but I will this time, before I re-continue.

 

[CFC]

Generally speaking, you want to use the smallest amount you can get away with whilst still reaping all the benefits in terms of mood, muscle mass retention/body composition, and blood markers of good health (eg HDL/LDL cholesterol etc). So if the approach you had before with smaller doses worked, stick with it. The doses I mentioned are only for generic guidance.

 

[semper48]

Thanks for giving us a little more information. However the fact remains that if it took the TRT to make you feel normal in the first place, you aren't going to feel normal without it, no matter what you do. It's likely your own HPTA has already 'recovered' as far as it's going to do, and whatever you feel now is your new 'normal'.

If you don't want to go back on TRT, you could try taking some anastrazole at 0.25mg ED for a few weeks to see if it elevates your own test a tiny bit; some guys do sometimes report success with that method. It won't compare to simply going back on 100-150mg test per week though.

You think my natural Test production is normalized so soon? Its only been 4 weeks off after 18 mths TrT. I dont have a clue, thats why I am asking

 

[CFC]

Unfortunately yes, I do. What you were taking, and the dose, is not very suppressive. But let's face it, you went on TRT because your natural level wasn't working, so I'm not entirely sure of the logic that makes you think it will feel any better this time around?

 

[semper48]

Unfortunately yes, I do. What you were taking, and the dose, is not very suppressive. But let's face it, you went on TRT because your natural level wasn't working, so I'm not entirely sure of the logic that makes you think it will feel any better this time around?

I dont think it will be better, same as before is fine. I started TrT as a next step after using Androgel with good effect. This was all done on a speculative and self research basis. The reason why I stopped TrT is twofold.
1. I thought it would be pertinent to take a break and let nature take its course, see how I can function, or not, without it (this is not going too well so far).
2. I crossed borders and my test was confiscated.
If I had test on me now, I would be back on it in a heartbeat. But I also want to see how this pans out. 5 weeks off and I feel like I am still coming down/hung over. Not nearly as good as I was before this self experimentation. No regrets, its only the situation I am in and the wanting to know. It was no big deal pinning 1/10 of a ml every 3 days. Didnt bother me (that much). Wife did it for me and I did it myself too. I would go back to the exact same way as before. It just seemed reasonable and did the trick. The only real side effect was that I found myself rather oversexed. Daily not a problem. Now I have (what I would consider) a normal libido.

 

[CFC]

Unfortunately the change in your physiology that brought you to trying out TRT (aging) will not spontaneously change It continues to worsen with time, which may explain why you don't feel as good as you did before you first took the TRT. Possibly after a few more weeks it will get better but nobody can say for sure.

Typically when a man is on TRT he is on it for the rest of his life, or until he decides to no longer bother and just accept the decline in energy/libido/health etc.

If you found your libido too high last time, lower the dose next time until it feels just about right. You would benefit from regular blood tests to check everything is within range as well.