With labs every 6 months, you have plenty of time to get levels back to normal before testing. Beisdes test levels, you also want to think about hemo and cholesterol. So maybe 3-4 months on, then 2 months off, with labs at the end of your 2 month off period. This would be a good ideal to take time off regardless of needing to labs for the Dr anyway. Really, if you want to be safe, 3 months, 3 months off. You can use just about any gear you want. It will have plenty of time to taper out of your system with 8 wks off