Testosterone Base (Sublingual)
Sublingual T · Testoplek
Sublingual testosterone with extremely rapid peak and clearance; dosed multiple times daily.
Key takeaways
- Ester-free T absorbed under the tongue; peak ~15 minutes, back to baseline within ~2 hours.
- Human data exists only at 0.5 mg research doses; multi-mg protocols are anecdotal extrapolations.
- Plotter half-life (~37 minutes) and 30% bioavailability are model estimates from that research.
- Wide daily swings; bloodwork meaning depends on draw timing relative to dose.
Reported dosing protocols
Protocols reported in research literature and clinic/community use — informational context, not a dosing recommendation.
| Use case | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research (published) | 0.5 mg, cyclodextrin-complexed | Sublingual | Single dose | |
| Androgen replacement (community) | 12.5–50 mg | Sublingual | 2–3× daily | Ongoing |
Pharmacokinetic summary
- Model tier
- Advanced (t½ + Cmax + Tmax + F)
- Half-life
- 37 min
- Cmax
- 800 ng/dL
- Tmax
- 0.0 days
- Bioavailability
- 30%
- Typical dose
- 12.5–50 mg
Harm reduction
- Aromatizes
- Yes
- DHT derivative
- No
- Injection frequency
- 2–3×/day
Frequently asked questions
Does sublingual testosterone actually work?
At raising serum testosterone for an hour or two, yes; that's documented. As a full replacement strategy, no evidence exists. The published studies used 0.5 mg for acute effects in women, which says nothing about holding eugonadal levels all day.
Why not just swallow it?
Swallowed testosterone is destroyed by first-pass liver metabolism before it reaches circulation. The oral products that work (oral testosterone undecanoate) absorb through the lymphatics instead. Sublingual dosing dodges the liver via the oral mucosa, briefly.
Is the 30% bioavailability figure reliable?
It's an estimate from small acute-dose studies, not a validated parameter. Real absorption depends on formulation (cyclodextrin complex vs raw base), contact time under the tongue, and how much gets accidentally swallowed.
References
- BPS sublingual T PK
- Bloemers et al., Br J Clin Pharmacol 2016: sublingual T PK — Single-dose PK of 0.5 mg sublingual testosterone vs a combination tablet.
- van Rooij et al., Drugs R D 2014: sublingual T prototype PK — Earlier prototype sublingual formulation PK in premenopausal women.
Related compounds
Testosterone Gel (Testogel/AndroGel)
Transdermal testosterone gel providing steady low-level delivery. Transfer risk to others.
Testosterone Enanthate
Long-acting testosterone ester; the most common TRT and cycle base. Reaches steady state in ~5 weeks.
Testosterone Cypionate
Standard US TRT ester with a slightly longer release tail than enanthate. Steady state ~4–5 weeks.
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