I think I am getting it all wrong with dose frequency - High SHBG and poor sleep

Sandz · 2025-10-13T17:21:14-0500

So I've been trying to dial it in for 8 months, starting dose from my doc was 120mg 1x IM. I soon switched to 2x a week sub Q because the peaks were literally keeping me up all nigh, felt like I was on speed, I was too much at the especially at the beginning. I'm a little dude, 165lb, not that it matters, but 4 weeks in I got labs, didn't know Id need a sensitive tests, and I was over 1500. That was in Feb, so I have leaned a lot, had many labs and studied how I feel and my sleep/recover/workouts etc.

8 months in and the below numbers are total dose per week split. I know for sure I was switching too often, sometimes only giving it 4 weeks, not 6 or better yet 8, I know.

120mg 2 x a week
100mg 2 x a week
80mg 2 x a week, 826 through Monday AM furthest out from Friday shot. SHBG was 47. Albumin was 4.4, E was like low 20s sensitive. (free T calc 1.84%)

Thought I would get more androgenic benefit and more even stable numbers at 3x a week so
back to 90mg 3x a week though.

Then to 84mg 3x a week - 1134 through Monday AM furthest out from Friday shot. SHBG was 70. Albumin was 4.6, E was mid 30s so probably even lower sensitive but no symptoms, E is under control. (free T calc 1.54%)

Now at 78mg 3x a week, thinking I will get close to the 80mg numbers and sleep well, but I think I am doing it wrong 3x and still not sleeping. I think I am learning that there is more aromatase activity at 3x per week and this whole time I thought it would stabilize. Is it accurate that slightly longer troughs means less aromatase activity overall? Does more frequency mean slightly higher transient SHBG-suppressing effects, but temp peaks help suppress SHBG? I guess the serum level stays more consistent but the SHBG is higher, am I on to something? I don't feel that different at 826 vs 1134, I felt fine...I think

I am going to ride this out for 8 weeks, 3 weeks in, but If I test again and SHBG is still up, keeping my free T lower than it could be, who cares what the total is.....If I can get a better net effect on a lower dose, I think I will try that. If I was at 800+ before, going back to 78mg (close to 80, easy to measure) If I can get around the same and good free T ratios, the overall sleep and androgenetic benefit would be better, ya? Bottom line, and last question is, is it possible I'm just a 2x a week kinda guy?

madman · 2025-10-13T18:21:48-0500

Sandz said:
So I've been trying to dial it in for 8 months, starting dose from my doc was 120mg 1x IM. I soon switched to 2x a week sub Q because the peaks were literally keeping me up all nigh, felt like I was on speed, I was too much at the especially at the beginning. I'm a little dude, 165lb, not that it matters, but 4 weeks in I got labs, didn't know Id need a sensitive tests, and I was over 1500. That was in Feb, so I have leaned a lot, had many labs and studied how I feel and my sleep/recover/workouts etc.

8 months in and the below numbers are total dose per week split. I know for sure I was switching too often, sometimes only giving it 4 weeks, not 6 or better yet 8, I know.

120mg 2 x a week
100mg 2 x a week
80mg 2 x a week, 826 through Monday AM furthest out from Friday shot. SHBG was 47. Albumin was 4.4, E was like low 20s sensitive. (free T calc 1.84%)

Thought I would get more androgenic benefit and more even stable numbers at 3x a week so
back to 90mg 3x a week though.

Then to 84mg 3x a week - 1134 through Monday AM furthest out from Friday shot. SHBG was 70. Albumin was 4.6, E was mid 30s so probably even lower sensitive but no symptoms, E is under control. (free T calc 1.54%)

Now at 78mg 3x a week, thinking I will get close to the 80mg numbers and sleep well, but I think I am doing it wrong 3x and still not sleeping. I think I am learning that there is more aromatase activity at 3x per week and this whole time I thought it would stabilize. Is it accurate that slightly longer troughs means less aromatase activity overall? Does more frequency mean slightly higher transient SHBG-suppressing effects, but temp peaks help suppress SHBG? I guess the serum level stays more consistent but the SHBG is higher, am I on to something? I don't feel that different at 826 vs 1134, I felt fine...I think

I am going to ride this out for 8 weeks, 3 weeks in, but If I test again and SHBG is still up, keeping my free T lower than it could be, who cares what the total is.....If I can get a better net effect on a lower dose, I think I will try that. If I was at 800+ before, going back to 78mg (close to 80, easy to measure) If I can get around the same and good free T ratios, the overall sleep and androgenetic benefit would be better, ya? Bottom line, and last question is, is it possible I'm just a 2x a week kinda guy?

So I've been trying to dial it in for 8 months, starting dose from my doc was 120mg 1x IM. I soon switched to 2x a week sub Q because the peaks were literally keeping me up all nigh, felt like I was on speed, I was too much at the especially at the beginning. I'm a little dude, 165lb, not that it matters, but 4 weeks in I got labs, didn't know Id need a sensitive tests, and I was over 1500. That was in Feb, so I have leaned a lot, had many labs and studied how I feel and my sleep/recover/workouts etc.

8 months in and the below numbers are total dose per week split. I know for sure I was switching too often, sometimes only giving it 4 weeks, not 6 or better yet 8, I know.

120mg 2 x a week
100mg 2 x a week
80mg 2 x a week, 826 through Monday AM furthest out from Friday shot. SHBG was 47. Albumin was 4.4, E was like low 20s sensitive. (free T calc 1.84%)

As I stated in my replies in one of your older threads that your close to (12 hrs shy) true trough FT was high!

I calculated your free T using the go to linear law-of-mass action Vermeulen (cFTV) seeing as you never even tested your FT using an accurate assay which would be the gold standard Equilibrium Dialysis.

You were started on too high a dose of T off the hop.

Standard starting dose is 100 mg T/week or better yet split twice-weekly (50 mg every 3.5 days).

You are never going to get anywhere seeing as you lack the understanding of how exogenous T works.

Setting yourself up for failure here!

* 8 months in and the below numbers are total dose per week split. I know for sure I was switching too often, sometimes only giving it 4 weeks, not 6 or better yet 8, I know.

It takes 4-6 weeks just to reach steady-state when injecting TC/TE due to the PKs.

Switching a protocol 4, 6 let alone 8 weeks in is too soon.

Once you blood levels have stabilized (4-6 weeks) in and you have blood work done to see where your trough TT and more importantly FT sit and throw estradiol in there too on said protocol (dose of T/injection frequency) you still need to give it a few more months to gauge whether the protocol was truly a success or failure.

The next couple of months after blood levels have stabilized is the critical time period when one needs to gauge how they truly feel overall reading relief/improvement of low-T symptoms and overall well-being!

Every protocol whether just starting on T-therapy or tweaking a protocol (increasing or decreasing) dose of T/manipulating injection frequency should be given 12 weeks before claiming whether it was a success or failure!

This is where most will fail as they are switching things up way too early!

The body needs time to adapt to it's new set-point!

Look over my reply here:

Post in thread 'Starting TRT in Japan – 250mg Every 2 Weeks. Experiencing Bloating – Advice?'

May 10, 2025

KizzaP96 said:
Since I started TRT 125mg a week testosterone enanthate split into 2 injections monday and thursday subq I've also been having incredible bloating and diharea issue, I'm being persistent with this routine until my 6 weeks bloods are done and then I plan on going 180mg a week split into 3 injections, I'm coming from a lower place than you at 120 and high e2 which I take an AI for.

Hope you understand the first 6 weeks means nothing when looking at the bigger picture!

No one should be increasing their dose 6 weeks in once blood levels have stabilized unless your blood work shows...

S

Thread 'Should I lower my trt dose starting semorelin?'

May 15, 2025

Starting semorelin, but concerned because I have high e2 and SHBG. Last test was total T over 1500, free T 17, e2 53 (sensitive) 60 regular, and 60 SHBG.

Last week I lowered my subQ TRT dose from .3cc x2 to .25 x2 (100mg). Not sleeping great and not sure I feel optimal with these high numbers.

Should I lower my TRT to 80mg weekly? As a reference when I was on enclomophine 6.25 EOD I was 900+. Not sure if that response is indictive of TRT response but I feel like I'm responding to small doses.

Thoughts?

S

Thread 'Still trying to figure this out - 120mg to 100mg to now 80mg - what a rough week'

Jun 26, 2025

What a wile ride, and a terrible week I have had.

I started my journey at 120mg 2x a week sub q. Primary driver for starting TRT at 48 was low free T, always below 5.

120mgs my numbers were -
Total T - over 1500
Estradiol - 60
Free T - 17.3
SHBG - 67
Sensitive estradiol - 53
Hemoglobin - 16.6
Hematocrit - 49

So after 8 weeks I lowered my dose to100mg because I wasn't sleeping well and felt I was retaining a lot of fluid. I tested and my labs where and was surprised to see E going up! At this point I was a week into going down to 80mg.

Total T - 1245
Estradiol -...

S

Thread 'Wild ride! Went from 120mg > 100mg > 80mg > 90mg. T is higher at 90mg 3x a week than 100mg 2x a week'

Aug 28, 2025

So its been quite a journey.

48 165ish, 5'6". Always had low free T so I decided to start the journey to optimize. I've posted before, this is my update, thanks for all the previous insight. I can provide other markers if anyone things they are valuable

I started at 120mgs 6 months ago, ended up woth total T over 1500 and didnt think that was good or necessary. Now starting to get dialed in after a lot of trial and error.

100mg sub q 2x a week
T - 1245
E - 77/68 sensitive
SHBG - 60
Albumin 4.6
DHEA - 118

80mg sub q 2x a week (terrible ride down but felt ok after a month)
T - 826...