Best way to "come off" HRT

[Arnold73]

Question fellas, If you were taking about 100mg of testosterone every 7 to 10 days along with about 50mg. of Deca also for about 4 months what would be the best way to come off of this without having disastrous side effects.
I feel the T replacement has helped but would rather not be on it permanantly if you know what I mean. I would like to see what my natural body can do now that it is in better condition. Do I need any major ancilleries here and would Arimidex help at all if i started to suffer sides?

 

[Starkraven]

i thought once you are on HRT, you are on for good? unless you want to have the test levels of a 12 year old girl...get blood work done.

 

[SWALE]

That's the good thing about appropriate TRT: you can just stop taking it, and, but the half-life of the esters involved, you will slowly come down.

I would be careful to manage estrogen along the way if you are on Arimidex, though. And if you are taking a SERM-class drug (and why you would I do not know) you will need to manage a taper along the way.

 

[Desmo996]

That's the good thing about appropriate TRT: you can just stop taking it, and, but the half-life of the esters involved, you will slowly come down.

I would be careful to manage estrogen along the way if you are on Arimidex, though. And if you are taking a SERM-class drug (and why you would I do not know) you will need to manage a taper along the way.

I know you are the professional here, but I would have to disagree with you on this point, that a person on HRT could simply stop taking it. I would specualte that even proper HRT would require a AAS cycle type of PCT to restore test production to pre-HRT or normal levels, especially if you have been on it for some time. The original poster doesn't mention the use of HCG, so he would have to be suffering some atrophy at this point and it would seem to me that it would take a long time for him to get back to normal production without the use of something other then Arimidex to control estrogen. Sure it is possible to do so, but I think it would throw off his entire hormonal system for several months, not exactly the "Best way to come off HRT". I think that a combination of HCG, Clomid and Nolvadex, slowly tapered off would restimulate the the HPTA and get him back on his feet sooner. Just my opinion, I don't have any medical journals to back any of this up, just personal experience.

 

[mranak]

That's the good thing about appropriate TRT: you can just stop taking it, and, but the half-life of the esters involved, you will slowly come down.

I would be careful to manage estrogen along the way if you are on Arimidex, though. And if you are taking a SERM-class drug (and why you would I do not know) you will need to manage a taper along the way.

SWALE, you certainly have experience with this whereas I do not, but I must confess I am surprised.

Certainly, even appropriate TRT somewhat suppresses the HPTA (individual supppresion will vary, of course). The SERMs have a special ability to 'wake up' the HPTA after it has been suppressed. I think that you have eluded to this effect and that it is something more than simply blocking the reverse-feedback of estrogen on the HPTA.

Wouldn't tapering off the TRT or perhaps using a small and tapered dose of a SERM make for a smoother 'landing' when discontinuing TRT? Perhaps discontinuing TRT won't cause a crash, but the landing can certainly be a bit hard.

 

[DLMCBBB]

First off, why would anybody come off "TRT"

Sure anybody can quit, but TRT for me is for life. Why would we want to feel "like crap" all over again?

 

[mranak]

DLMCBBB: Personally, I can't see any reason why I would want to come off of TRT and feel like crap again. However, there might be reasons for coming off of TRT. I think SWALE mentioned that he had a patient on TRT because of severely restricted diet. After correcting the root cause, he was able to discontinue TRT and still have adequate tesotsterone levels. Others might be on TRT when they never needed it in the first place (some physicians will do a total testosterone test and prescribe TRT without a free testosterone test...totally improper).

 

[Arnold73]

i thought once you are on HRT, you are on for good? unless you want to have the test levels of a 12 year old girl...get blood work done.

12 year old girl.....NO PLEASE!!!!
I agree getting the blood work done is the smart thing to do, but just the bloodwork I believe is not the only factor in "how I look and feel" which is most important to me. I was thinking along the lines of testosterone levels vary quite a bit day to day, so just the bloodwork may not be the best option for me in choosing to come of TRT. I will see how it goes.
Im looking at it like maybe when I started TRT I was overweight, depressed, not eating and training properly and suffering the basic low T syndrome which would be obvious. Now Im sleek, in shape, tan and great looking all thanks to the T

Either way its all just a long road to learning about mastering my own body which is the goal. Im still pretty young yet and have plenty of time to figure out whats the best protocol for me.

 

[Arnold73]

That's the good thing about appropriate TRT: you can just stop taking it, and, but the half-life of the esters involved, you will slowly come down.

I would be careful to manage estrogen along the way if you are on Arimidex, though. And if you are taking a SERM-class drug (and why you would I do not know) you will need to manage a taper along the way.

Why is Arimidex so bad though, does it have a suppresive effect on the bodys natural hormone system?

 

[Arnold73]

DLMCBBB: Personally, I can't see any reason why I would want to come off of TRT and feel like crap again. However, there might be reasons for coming off of TRT. I think SWALE mentioned that he had a patient on TRT because of severely restricted diet. After correcting the root cause, he was able to discontinue TRT and still have adequate tesotsterone levels. Others might be on TRT when they never needed it in the first place (some physicians will do a total testosterone test and prescribe TRT without a free testosterone test...totally improper).

Bingo, you hit the nail on the head bro.

 

[pmgamer18]

Arnold73 what were you tests that put you on TRT can you post them. I have had this for over 21 yrs. and have been sent to see a lot of Endo's none of them we worth seeing may I add. I would go to them and they would look at all of my tests and then tell me to stop all meds for 4 weeks so they can retest me. This never showed them anything. But made me feel very sick and my levels were just as bad as the first test I ever had. The big problem is most men see a Dr. have a few tests done and go on TRT. They never find out why they were low. I know why I was low I am primary and my first set of test my Total T was 120 my LH and FSH were way up and my Free T was not much at all. If you had low T levels for diet and over working out you should have done something about it then. No matter what you do if you lower your TRT slow or stop cold your not going to feel very good for some time. And if and when your body starts to make T one it's own will take some time. So if your going to do this I would stop cold and tough it out. I felt bad but it did not put me on my ass.
Phil

 

[Kroms_laugh]

/Insert article (Europe) showing more than 80% of patients using exogeneous testosterone as a form of male contraceptive had their HTPA recover completely/

Damn I wish I could find that fuckin' thing.

 

[Arnold73]

Arnold73 what were you tests that put you on TRT can you post them. I have had this for over 21 yrs. and have been sent to see a lot of Endo's none of them we worth seeing may I add. I would go to them and they would look at all of my tests and then tell me to stop all meds for 4 weeks so they can retest me. This never showed them anything. But made me feel very sick and my levels were just as bad as the first test I ever had. The big problem is most men see a Dr. have a few tests done and go on TRT. They never find out why they were low. I know why I was low I am primary and my first set of test my Total T was 120 my LH and FSH were way up and my Free T was not much at all. If you had low T levels for diet and over working out you should have done something about it then. No matter what you do if you lower your TRT slow or stop cold your not going to feel very good for some time. And if and when your body starts to make T one it's own will take some time. So if your going to do this I would stop cold and tough it out. I felt bad but it did not put me on my ass.
Phil

thanks for the good advice and concern bro, im glad my T levels never got that low, that sounds like death to me at 120. I will not let anything knock me on my ass again whether it be low T or anything else. The only good thing I think about getting older i think is trying to learn from your mistakes to have a better day today and hopefully tommorow.

 

[Arnold73]

/Insert article (Europe) showing more than 80% of patients using exogeneous testosterone as a form of male contraceptive had their HTPA recover completely/

Damn I wish I could find that fuckin' thing.

\

Me too Krom!
Also..what is the riddle of steel?

 

[SWALE]

Where you live on TRT is the same point you stop taking PCT following an AAS cycle. Get it?

Plus, the "PCT" would take you to the same level as the original TRT. How does that recover you?