How to build a stockpile of testosterone for HRT, as a buffer in case of emergency:
Get your provider to prescribe “single use” vials and make sure they’re marking them as “single use” in their prescription notes. These usually contain 200mg, which for most people is two doses or more. By design, you’re meant to throw away the leftovers when you don’t use all 200mg in a single dose, and that is what pharmacies and insurance companies expect you to do.
Use each vial more than once, just make sure you alcohol swab the top.
Organize your vials by expiration date. This will not necessarily line up with the order in which you receive the vials, so you have to actually check. Use vials with earlier expiration dates first.
This will result in access to testosterone at twice the rate you use it, and you’ll be able to build up at least a bit of a buffer.
I’m not telling anybody to do this. Just that if I were scared of losing access to HRT, this is what I’d do.
Edit to add: A friend suggested a couple more details to keep in mind. The “single use” vials lack a bacteriostatic additive like benzyl alcohol, so they pose a greater risk of infection. Extra important to be meticulous about sterilization! Also, sterile syringe filters can be used to save a cored or otherwise problematic vial—either filtering entirely to a new container, or just filtering when drawing.
How to build a stockpile of testosterone for HRT, as a buffer in case of emergency:
Get your provider to prescribe “single use” vials and make sure they’re marking them as “single use” in their prescription notes. These usually contain 200mg, which for most people is two doses or more. By design, you’re meant to throw away the leftovers when you don’t use all 200mg in a single dose, and that is what pharmacies and insurance companies expect you to do.
Use each vial more than once, just make sure you alcohol swab the top.
Organize your vials by expiration date. This will not necessarily line up with the order in which you receive the vials, so you have to actually check. Use vials with earlier expiration dates first.
This will result in access to testosterone at twice the rate you use it, and you’ll be able to build up at least a bit of a buffer.
I’m not telling anybody to do this. Just that if I were scared of losing access to HRT, this is what I’d do.
Edit to add: A friend suggested a couple more details to keep in mind. The “single use” vials lack a bacteriostatic additive like benzyl alcohol, so they pose a greater risk of infection. Extra important to be meticulous about sterilization! Also, sterile syringe filters can be used to save a cored or otherwise problematic vial—either filtering entirely to a new container, or just filtering when drawing.