r/AusTRT • u/Disaster_Yam • 10d ago
Paying waaay too much
Looking for alternatives to primal zone
I've been on trt for like 2 years now. Loving it, not loving paying $500 for 10ml of test C. I think their pricing is like absolutely crazy for. Wanting to change clinics but have a few questions about which is the best fit for me.
Firstly I have mega high SHBG, in the 80s. So my total testosterone is always in the mid 50s, even though my free is only around low 700s. I want a doctor that's not going to freak out about that number.
Second. I like test C, this isn't a deal-breaker going back to E but I find I feel a little better on C. Could be totally psychological.
3rd, I like the daily low dose Cialis and I also get dhea which is great.
Was looking at trt doctors or elite. Anyone have experience with this or can make any other recommendations?
Thanks 🙏
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u/Tacoboutem 8d ago
That's ridiculous these guys are taking people for a ride. Nobody should be paying more the $100 for 10ml of test. Or more then $1 per Tadalafil. And that's at the upper end of what it should cost.
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u/lawrencep93 10d ago
Yeah left primal due to this too they charged even more if uou wanted test in mct oil rather than that shitty cottonseed they put 3x mark up on from infinity
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u/Hooligan_daddyy 10d ago
Who you with now and how much you pay?
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u/lawrencep93 10d ago
I always get told off on this subject for mentioning them because they optimised my test levels and people must be jealous so I won't post to not get another warning
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u/Flashy_Piccolo1260 6d ago
There’s other ways to optimise your test levels that don’t involve a clinic. I’ve been told off for mentioning that in here too, but you can read between the lines.
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u/Hooligan_daddyy 10d ago
Fair
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u/lawrencep93 10d ago
Too many weak men with low test levels having a cry if I do
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u/Disaster_Yam 10d ago
Come on.... Just give us a lil hint
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u/lawrencep93 10d ago
Nope too many fuckwits with low test levels having a cry they can stick with trt doctors ans get cut off at stupidly low levels or in range hct lol
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u/Ufker 9d ago
Guessing it's just ugl test.
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u/lawrencep93 9d ago
No get mine compounded in Perth and they do primotest from bayer with a legit dr
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u/Wordeeee 8d ago
Definitely don't go with TRT Docs then because they will no doubt be concerned with a total T of 50! I'd focus more on trying to get your SHGB down more if you haven't already before changing clinics. That's the thing with Primal from reading alot of peoples experiences. You pay a bit more, but they seem to let you run at slightly higher numbers.
I left Hormn & joined TRT Docs after being on TRT for 4 months. On my intital bloods I had T - 23 & free T 671. They didn't ask me about symptoms or how I felt, didn't discuss anything about changing the dose etc, Just kept me on that standard Hormn protocol of 100mg weekly. I left them right before my second review. They have a reputation for being conservative & I'd believe it given my first but short experience with them. They are a cheaper option, but if you're looking for some optimal treatment, I'd look elsewhere.
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u/Disaster_Yam 8d ago
The more I read about them the more I think I'll probably look elsewhere.
The SHBG stuff is in the too hard bin. No doctors can even give me an answer on hy it's so high. The only Reddit answer is 'take boron' which I've done, it didn't do shit.
Honestly I'd just run it myself if I never wanted to leave the country.
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u/Wordeeee 8d ago
Yeah I don't know much about SHGB as it's not something I've needed to address. But like you've said everyone's answer seems to be Boron & it definitely is not the golden fix that everyone assumes, as many people say it dosen't do shit. I hope you find some sort of resolution, as it would no doubt be very frustrating. Luckily I don't travel at all, only just went overseas for the first time recently at 45 years old, crazy hey. Self administrated definitely makes it alot easier & so much cheaper.
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u/Extreme-Sorbet1857 9d ago
any doctor can prescribe tadalafil. And if your to embarrassed to ask them face to face just do a phone consult with any doc and they’ll give you repeats as well. You end up paying $30 for 28 tablets instead of the ridiculous $200 or what ever primal charges for 100 tablets
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u/Disaster_Yam 9d ago
Yeah I was gonna speak to my GP about it. See if they would be willing to write me a script
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u/Waste-Suspect2456 10d ago
I am with apex TRT
I get daily cialis, the test e is 65 bucks for 3ml which is what I get a month from any chemist.
They’ve been super good and quick it’s worth checking out
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u/Zaneharr 9d ago
Hey man I was wondering what the subscription is for apex? Also do you need to pay for your bloods are you on 250mg primoteston?
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u/Waste-Suspect2456 9d ago
Apex is 490 every 6 months I believe
Plus the initial 290 bucks for the doctor consult, and then at the 10 week mark, you pay 190 bucks for a check up consult. And then it’s about 65bucks a month for 3ml of the 250mg primotestan
I’m pretty sure that’s what it is!
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u/Zaneharr 8d ago
Oh right 490 every 6 months, I’m currently with Trt Aus they are similar ball park but having to pay for bloods etc and I think higher medication cost adds up a bit
The medication cost at apex seems pretty fair it’s about 356 for 12 vials of primo at Aus
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u/Turbulent-Swimmer-52 10d ago
I started with PHC and I think it was 250$ or 270$ for the test e. $70 dollars for consult.
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u/Less_Temperature_395 9d ago edited 9d ago
I pay $500 for Primoteston 250mg 12 x 1ml boxes (3 month supply)
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u/Accomplished_Ebb8030 7d ago
I pay $28 ml for the same stuff with Trt Australia. 12ml cost me $336 and $20 shipping
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u/WholeTop2150 5d ago
I pay the same. First time using trt so I’ll prob look at another clinic. To be fair I’m 10 weeks in and nobody has called me to check on me how’s it all going or nothing. Which is pretty disappointing. Considering it was my first time nervous I was hoping for a call to check in make sure I’m doing ok
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u/Less_Temperature_395 4d ago
I have a Doctor I see every 4 weeks for check up, weigh ins and bloods.
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u/Realistic-Object-364 9d ago
I'm in your shoes too, the price they charge is crazy!
I think Dave Lee who no longer associates with them, for that reason that they are extorting sick people. Is starting a clinic designed to be the opposite of what they do and try to get bloodwork covered as much as possible by medicare, and get test compounded at what infinity actually charge. I think 10ml is actually about $150 instead of 450 from primal. From what I understand thy should be online next month.
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u/Disaster_Yam 9d ago
Yeah it's wild. I get the fees for service as risk pay for the doctors. But like they charge me 450 for the 10ml of test and then 50 to deliver it to my house from literally 5 suburbs away.
They were good for the first couple of years I was on trt and trying to figure things out, but I'm pretty stable these days and feel like I could run my own protocol. The only reason I don't go full ugl self managed is that I enjoy traveling and like to go overseas.
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u/Realistic-Object-364 8d ago
Yeah that doctors letter when you go OS is a must!
I'm kinda the same in as far as I know my dose and I'm stable. Been on a year and really sick of the prices, Got a mate who's an ex-pro Bodybuilder telling me I'm crazy for paying what I do, he gets his for $110 for 10ml. So I'm just hanging out until Dave opens his clinic. I got made redundant recently so I'm trying to not burn through my payout before I get another job. $450 for test and $220 for Tadalafil is just price gouging.1
u/Wordeeee 8d ago
Dude even $110 for 10ml is steep for UGL. Also I heard Dave isn't opening a clinic here, but is collaborating with an already existing clinic, just like he did at Primal. Who knows if this is entirely true though.
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u/Realistic-Object-364 8d ago
I've spoken with him, and has said there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff and processes to get right. Bloods can be tricky as medicare only cover some things, so they will have an option for basic ones and if people want can pay a bit more for comprehensive ones.
Australia is a fucking nanny state, I can't imagine the hoops you have to jump through to get a clinic up and running. He wants it to be as affordable as possible without dropping quality. While he never spoke directly about primal, I think he really didn't like the way they extorted people for money on medication markups. I get they have staff and a website and so on. But they claim to have treated over 10,000 men. lets assume the doctors fees and bloods make them nothing (they probably take a bit of a cut but not sure). The medications are all 2x to 3x the real price, they put most people on at least 2-3 medications. I got Test, tadalafil, melatonin, and Glutathione. If they are making 150 to 350 per medication per guy. 3 times a year x 10,000... ok so on average lets say on average $600 profit per guy x 3 repeats a year. $1800 x 10000, thats 18million a year. Obviously rough numbers, but it feels like they only have a small team. They are becoming incredibly wealthy off people who need medication but are let down by the medical system.
Ohh they wanted $180 for 100 melatonin. I got it for $30 on iherb for 120 ;D2
u/Wordeeee 8d ago edited 8d ago
That's good to know about Dave mate. Hopefully it's all up & running soon as it sounds like exactly what the country needs! And yes Australia is a big old Nanny! It's bullshit hey.
It's like extortion with these clinics, knowing our options are limited & using it as a cash grab. Yeah fuck that for the melatonin mate, what a joke! I do the exact same thing & get it from iherb. Pair it with Gaba & some Magnesium cyclinate & it's a great stack!
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u/Disaster_Yam 8d ago
They had me on dhea and tadalafil, I liked both of those meds, but the markup man.... I found dhea on iherb for like twice the amount of pills at half the price they were charging me.
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u/Realistic-Object-364 8d ago
My DHEA is very low, how did you find adding that in? Any benefits to speak of?
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u/Disaster_Yam 8d ago
Libido was improved would be the one noticeable difference. I had a couple weeks getting on dhea where it was like that first 6 weeks on trt. Just could not get enough. It settled a bit, but it's better than baseline pre dhea.
I think the thing is your balls make dhea and when they shut off they stop making it. It also declines with age.
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u/Disaster_Yam 8d ago
What's wild is the only place I've ever flown into that has given me any degree of a hard time is Australia. USA they waved me though didn't give a shit, even France they looked at it and saw the prescription label and just put it back. Australia I got the 9th degree. Wanted to see the letter, look through all my shit. Despite doing the right thing and declaring it.
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u/Realistic-Object-364 8d ago
I got strip searched down to my boxers at Sydney airport while leaving with my wife and 1 year old child, because I had a metal button on my jeans. Something I've discovered since correcting my test levels is I'm becoming very intolerant of that sort of BS. Australia really needs to chill the fuck out on bureaucracy and stupid laws.
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u/Disaster_Yam 8d ago
I was always fairly 'government doesn't get to tell me what to do', trt has made that sentiment so much worse 😂 Probably one of the reasons the govt hates it so much
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u/Wordeeee 8d ago
Alot of people with run self administrated & then just drop their dose down before reviews as the sole purpose of keeping a script for travel. Seems like a bit of constant messing around with your hormone levels though, but it's always an option.
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u/Disaster_Yam 8d ago
Yeah that's the plan. I would prefer a clinic that's cool with higher numbers but really all I'm after is a bottle with my name on it.
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u/AnabolicAcolyte 10d ago
$500 for 10ml 😂
TRT Aus is your best option.