Has Sylvester Stallone confirmed using testosterone replacement therapy?

Yes. Stallone has publicly confirmed TRT use in multiple interviews, describing it as part of his approach to maintaining physical function as he ages. He has stated that he works with physicians to monitor and manage his hormone levels.

Is it safe for men over 60 to use TRT like Stallone?

TRT can be appropriate for men over 60 who have documented low testosterone levels and symptoms consistent with hypogonadism. The TRAVERSE trial showed that replacement-dose testosterone did not increase major cardiovascular events in older men with cardiovascular risk factors. The decision should be made with a physician after thorough blood testing and risk assessment.

Did Stallone use HGH?

Stallone's use of HGH became public record following a 2007 Australian customs incident in which vials of Jintropin (somatropin) were found in his luggage. He was fined and publicly acknowledged HGH use. The FDA has not approved HGH for anti-aging purposes.

What are the main risks of long-term TRT?

The primary risks include polycythemia (elevated red blood cell count), potential cardiovascular events (pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation), prostate-related concerns requiring PSA monitoring, fertility suppression, and the reality that discontinuation after long-term use can be difficult, particularly in older men.

Can TRT alone explain Stallone's physique in his 70s?

No. TRT at replacement doses produces modest improvements in lean mass (typically 2-5 kg over 12 months). Stallone's physique reflects decades of intense training, structured nutrition, genetic factors, and potentially other interventions beyond what he has publicly confirmed. TRT is one component, not the entire explanation.

The Medical Takeaways from Sylvester Stallone's TRT Story

By HealthRX Medical Team

Published May 25, 2026Updated May 25, 2026Last reviewed May 25, 2026

What Stallone Has Actually Said on the Record

Stallone has spoken openly about using testosterone and human growth hormone to maintain his physique well into his 70s. In multiple interviews, he has framed hormone therapy as a tool for preserving quality of life rather than chasing bodybuilding goals. "Everyone over 40 years old would be wise to investigate it," Stallone told Time magazine in a 2008 profile, referring broadly to hormone optimization.

The most widely documented incident occurred in February 2007, when Australian customs officials found 48 vials of Jintropin (somatropin/HGH) in Stallone's luggage upon arrival in Sydney. He was fined AUD $10,600 under Australia's Customs Act. Stallone did not contest the charge and publicly acknowledged HGH use afterward. "HGH is nothing," he told reporters at the time. "Anyone who calls it a steroid is grossly misinformed."

In subsequent years, Stallone has confirmed testosterone use as part of his regimen, telling interviewers that he works with physicians to monitor bloodwork and adjust dosing. He has not disclosed specific dosages or protocols publicly, so any claims about his exact regimen remain speculative.

At a glance

Confirmed by Stallone: Long-term testosterone replacement therapy under physician supervision
Confirmed by public record: HGH possession (2007 Australian customs incident, resulting in a fine)
Not publicly confirmed: Specific testosterone dosages, injection frequency, or ancillary medications
Speculated but unconfirmed: Use of additional peptides or anabolic compounds beyond testosterone and HGH

The Clinical Reality of TRT After 60

Stallone began discussing hormone therapy publicly in his early 60s, which places him squarely in the demographic where testosterone decline becomes clinically significant. Serum testosterone drops roughly 1-2% per year after age 30, and by age 60, a substantial percentage of men fall below the 300 ng/dL threshold that most endocrinologists consider the lower boundary of the normal range.

The Endocrine Society's 2018 clinical practice guidelines recommend TRT for men with consistently low testosterone levels (measured on at least two morning samples) combined with symptoms such as fatigue, reduced libido, loss of muscle mass, or depressed mood. Age alone is not an indication. The guidelines stress that TRT is a medical intervention requiring ongoing monitoring, not a lifestyle enhancement.

For men in Stallone's age bracket, the expected clinical benefits of properly dosed TRT include modest improvements in lean body mass (2-5 kg gain over 12 months), increased bone mineral density, improved sexual function, and better energy levels. The Testosterone Trials (TTrials), a coordinated set of seven placebo-controlled studies published in NEJM and JAMA, confirmed these benefits in men over 65 with documented low testosterone.

What TRT does not do, even at celebrity-tier medical budgets, is halt aging. Stallone's continued physical presence in action films into his mid-70s reflects a combination of hormone therapy, rigorous training, nutrition, and genetics. Attributing his physique solely to TRT misrepresents the drug's actual effect size.

Dose-Response Patterns: What Stallone's Case Illustrates

Standard TRT protocols typically start at 100-200 mg of testosterone cypionate or enanthate per week, titrated to achieve mid-normal serum levels (generally 500-800 ng/dL). The HealthRX Medical Team emphasizes that "more is not better" applies with unusual force to testosterone: supraphysiologic doses (those pushing total testosterone above 1 to 000 ng/dL) carry escalating cardiovascular and hematologic risk without proportional benefit.

Stallone has not disclosed his dosages. Speculation in bodybuilding communities about "celebrity doses" ranging from 300-500 mg/week is exactly that: speculation. From a clinical standpoint, a man in his 70s on supraphysiologic doses would face elevated risks of polycythemia (hematocrit above 54%), which increases stroke and venous thromboembolism risk. Responsible prescribers monitor complete blood counts every 6-12 months and reduce dosing or recommend therapeutic phlebotomy if hematocrit climbs.

The TRAVERSE trial, a large cardiovascular safety study published in NEJM in 2023, found that TRT at standard replacement doses did not significantly increase major adverse cardiovascular events compared to placebo in men aged 45-80 with pre-existing or high risk of cardiovascular disease. This was reassuring, but the trial also noted a higher incidence of pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, and acute kidney injury in the testosterone group. These findings reinforce that TRT is not risk-free, regardless of how seamlessly a celebrity appears to tolerate it.

The HGH Question: What the Australia Incident Actually Tells Us

Stallone's 2007 HGH incident provides a useful clinical teaching moment. Growth hormone and testosterone are frequently combined in anti-aging medicine, but the evidence supporting HGH for body composition in older adults is considerably weaker than for testosterone.

A systematic review in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that GH therapy in healthy older adults produced small increases in lean mass (roughly 2 kg) and small decreases in fat mass, but with high rates of adverse effects including edema, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and glucose intolerance. The FDA has not approved HGH for anti-aging purposes. Its approved indications in adults are limited to adult growth hormone deficiency and HIV-associated wasting.

The HealthRX Medical Team notes that Stallone's openness about HGH use, while unusually candid for a public figure, should not be interpreted as a clinical endorsement. The risk-benefit ratio of GH in otherwise healthy older men does not favor routine use, and most endocrinologists reserve it for patients with documented GH deficiency confirmed by stimulation testing.

Side Effects Every TRT Patient Should Discuss with Their Doctor

Stallone's decades-long public use of testosterone makes his case useful for discussing the side-effect profile that all TRT patients eventually encounter.

Hematologic effects. As noted above, testosterone stimulates erythropoiesis. Polycythemia is the most common lab abnormality in TRT patients, occurring in up to 20% of men on injectable formulations. Regular CBC monitoring is non-negotiable.

Cardiovascular considerations. The TRAVERSE trial provided some reassurance at replacement doses, but men with pre-existing atrial fibrillation or a history of venous thromboembolism should approach TRT with particular caution. The FDA added a cardiovascular warning to testosterone products in 2015.

Prostate monitoring. TRT does not appear to cause prostate cancer based on current evidence, but the American Urological Association recommends baseline PSA testing and digital rectal exam before initiating therapy, with follow-up PSA at 3-6 months and annually thereafter. Men with active prostate cancer remain a contraindication for TRT.

Fertility suppression. Exogenous testosterone suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, reducing or eliminating sperm production. For men of reproductive age, this is a critical counseling point. Stallone, who fathered children earlier in life, has not publicly addressed this aspect, but for younger TRT patients it remains one of the most consequential trade-offs.

Psychological effects. Mood improvements are among the most consistently reported benefits, but some patients experience irritability or mood swings, particularly with fluctuating levels between injections. Stable protocols (such as twice-weekly injections or transdermal delivery) help minimize these peaks and troughs.

What Stallone's Story Teaches About Discontinuation

One area Stallone has not addressed publicly is whether he has ever discontinued TRT. This is a significant gap, because discontinuation is one of the most poorly understood aspects of long-term hormone therapy.

When a man stops exogenous testosterone after prolonged use, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis may take weeks to months to recover, and in older men, recovery to pre-treatment levels is not guaranteed. Symptoms during this period can include profound fatigue, depression, loss of libido, and rapid loss of the lean mass gains achieved on therapy.

The HealthRX Medical Team considers this the most underappreciated reality of TRT: for many men, particularly those over 60, initiating testosterone replacement is effectively a lifelong commitment. Patients should enter treatment with that understanding rather than viewing it as a trial they can easily reverse.

The HealthRX Medical Team's Clinical Commentary

Stallone's public record with TRT is valuable precisely because it spans decades rather than a single promotional mention. His case illustrates several principles the HealthRX Medical Team emphasizes with every TRT patient:

Physician supervision is mandatory, not optional. Stallone has consistently mentioned working with doctors. TRT obtained without medical oversight (through gray-market sources or online mills that prescribe without adequate testing) carries substantially higher risk.
The drug works within biological limits. Even with access to elite trainers, nutritionists, and medical teams, testosterone produces effects constrained by biology. Patients expecting Stallone-level results from TRT alone will be disappointed. His outcomes reflect a comprehensive program, not a single prescription.
Long-term monitoring is the price of admission. Bloodwork every 6-12 months (CBC, PSA, metabolic panel, lipids) is the minimum standard of care. Skipping monitoring is how manageable side effects become medical emergencies.
Public figures are not clinical evidence. Stallone's experience is an anecdote, not a study. The clinical evidence from trials like TRAVERSE and the TTrials should guide treatment decisions, with celebrity cases serving only as conversation starters.

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