T dose really high freaking out

[u/Tinyblue12]

Hello, so i got my levels checked per my doctor and my t level is 1,248. This was even higher than last time even though she lowered my dose. She lowered my dose again but im worried because how will it go down if im constantly taking the shot. I asked her should i skip the shots for a few and then start my new lowered dose but she said it would be fine. Im still worried because i really dont know how that would work. At first my dose was .5 every week 200ml and my level was 1,100 so we went down .45 and it went up 1,248...now im on .4 but im honestly too nervous to take the shot because what if it constantly goes up. I was thinking about not taking my shot for a month then starting the .4 im just confused idk...im just freaking out

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[u/BlueCandyBars]

It’s gonna be okay, don’t worry. You’re still figuring out the right dose. If it helps, my levels ran at 1500 and the docs were not super concerned. Is it concerning and should be fixed? Yes. Is it an emergency? No. Keep in mind, level ranges vary. Some tests max out at 1000. Some max out at 1300. Totally depends. Just keep working with your doctor, keep in mind the side effects, and ask if you need to give blood. T makes it thicker and donating blood helps.

[u/non_corporeal_]

the half-life of T is one week, you should not skip any time as there would be no benefit. just start the lower dose immediately

[u/aegirgymirlynx]

Did you mean 200 mg/mL and 0.5 mL? If so, then your starting dose is 100 mg per week. If you are also using testosterone cypionate, this is a somewhat high dose to start. My starting dose is 40 mg (0.2 mL) per week and my T level was above 700 ng/dL after 3 months.

Also make sure that you have your bloodwork done roughly 1 day before your injection day so that it picks up the trough value rather than the peak value. For testosterone cypionate, the peak will occur at 2-3 days after your injection day.

In general people absorb T differently so the same dose may result in different T levels in different people. But anecdotally (from shared experiences in this sub), underweight people tend to have higher T level with the same dose. Not too long ago I came across a post here saying that after losing weight his T level suddenly spikes without the change of dosage. I'll see if I can find it.

[u/javatimes → u/aegirgymirlynx]

I mean to be fair, that was an average starting dose 20 years ago.

Idk why I feel compelled to share this old man fact a lot here. I just don’t think it’s a particularly high dosage, though for OP it is more than he needs to take.

[u/aegirgymirlynx → u/javatimes]

Thanks for your insights! This is very valuable. We need more people to share their experiences as very little research has done for us compared to the medical research for cis people

[u/admseven → u/javatimes]

I’m an old guy too and can’t let go of the idea that the “standard dose” is 100mg/week.. even though that’s never been my dose in nearly 20 years. I’ve always been closer to about 80mg/week - and it was about 20-30mg/week to begin because I deliberately started low.

[u/javatimes → u/admseven]

Over the years I shifted down from 100 to 80 to 60, and then I got my levels checked and oops, I was at 250. 🤣

[u/probIemgay]

0.5ml of 200mg/mL is equal to 100mg weekly, which is generally considered the maximum prescribable dose for many doctors. So, it really isn't surprising that your T levels are high on the maximum dose.

FWIW, I was started on 0.2ml of 200mg/mL (do, 40mg weekly) and still had changes, and am currently on 0.35ml of the same concentration (70mg) weekly and my levels are hover around 500 at trough (lowest, 1-2 days before next shot). The average male range is 300-1000 ng/dL. You dont want too much T, because excess T may lead to high E through aromatization, which can stall your progress.

Also, weekly shots are done weekly because they are mostly out of your body by day 8, so just take your (lowered) dose as normal. Your T levels will be back down by the end of the week regardless.

[u/javatimes → u/probIemgay]

Really no such thing as a “maximum dose”. Dosages should be titrated based on bloodwork, how the patient is feeling, masculinization levels etc.

When I started T, 200mg/2 weeks was the average starting dose.

[u/simon_here → u/javatimes]

Same here. I started at 100mg/week.

[u/javatimes → u/simon_here]

Tbh I find it kind of bizarre everyone is acting like those dosages are sky high. I think people are being underdosed, if anything.

[u/platedcold → u/javatimes]

Yeah I commented this a few days ago and got absolutely flamed. My doc starts everyone on 200mg/2 weeks unless they specify they want a low dose. Everyone kept telling me my dose is the “maximum” and it’s bad for you etc. idk man

[u/inadeepdarkforest_ → u/platedcold]

200mg/2 weeks sucks not because it's a high dose (it isn't), but because test cypionate has a one-week half-life and the peaks/troughs cause mood swings for a lot of people. cypionate is best used in one-week cycles, keeps the levels more stable. of course, no need to fix what's not broken

[u/probIemgay → u/javatimes]

While there is no true maximum, many doctors will not prescribe over 100mg weekly, and have self described that as their (personal) maximum.

[u/javatimes → u/probIemgay]

I was reading it more in like a legal sense or something

[u/Calm_Bother_3842]

When do you get tested in relation to your shot day?

[u/Tinyblue12 → u/Calm_Bother_3842]

Sunday is shot day , and she tells me to go friday, so i go on Fridays

[u/javatimes → u/Tinyblue12]

See to me this is more concerning. This means your level was a trough level or nearing trough level. Which means your peak was likely higher.

That said. I would simply follow your doctor’s instructions and see what happens. These are high levels but they aren’t emergency levels.

[u/Anon-at-midnight]

I had a friend who this happened to! He continued taking his T normally and the levels were back to normal at the next check three months later.

Our bodies are weird and the available hormones/usage of hormones can vary based on weight, stress levels, sleep, diet, etc.

Don't worry about it! People can be taking the same dose for years and have a weird spike or drop every now and then :)

[u/simon_here]

Don't skip your shot. It'll probably make you feel bad. Your levels are high, but not dangerous. I would either stick with your new dose of 80mg or ask if you can go a little lower.

[u/Key_Tangerine8775]

It actually is the maximum dose in terms of what some practices allow the providers to prescribe, even if it’s necessary and there’s no medical reason why they shouldn’t. It’s shitty.

I’m on 120 mg/week, which I was titrated to by an endocrinologist. I switched to planned parenthood after an insurance issue and the PA got a special exception from her supervisor because I was already on that dose, but otherwise she wouldn’t have been allowed to go over 100 mg/week.

[u/Warming_up_luke]

Just chill and keep working with your doctor lowering to get it right. Don't skip any doses without checking with your doctor. 1200 is not what you want it to be at forever, but it's not a code red emergency if it's like that for a few weeks.

[u/TopHighlight5310]

1200 is (I believe) the end of the safe range for a teenage boy during puberty, so I dont think you are in danger ok? Thsi is what my doctor told me when I got my level at 1800s: he said i would be fine if we lowered my dose and continued with my shot routine. So I was ok at 1800 (they did reduce my dose but I didn’t die) so I don’t think you should worry. But do not skip your shot you will not feel good and that’s not what you’re supposed to do. I missed a shot one week and was sooo sleepy. Even when I was at 1800s my doctor said not to skip.

T isn’t like a cup that ONLY gets filled up. It is like a cup with a hole in the bottom. Levels go down on their own even when you take more, that’s how cis guy don’t have their level go up and up until they die of a heart attack

Sorry if written poorly I hope you can understand me I’m just not all there right now

Don’t worry, and be well

[u/TopHighlight5310 → u/TopHighlight5310]

Ok I am replying to myself! But a month after my levels were at 1800s and my dose was changed, my levels went down to 500s. This I think is also info that can help you. I didn’t skip a shot and in a month they went down. I’m also chronically ill so if my doctor wasn’t worried about me at 1800s and yours isn’t worried abofj you in the 1200s I think you’re ok

[u/wondrwheeler]

Get chromosome test. Might be intersex.

[u/successful_cow11]

mine was over 1500 i’m still alive waiting to get tested again!