Hi, thought I’d log my experience stopping TRT after 3 years. (33 years old) in case anyone is interested in the outcome for reference.
Summary-
Now 17 days since last Cyp shot, was running 125mg per week everyday administration.
Began test prop 5 days after last test Cyp shot
87.5mg per week everyday administration. Had my last shot yesterday.
Been running HCG pretty much the whole time while on TRT 400IU every 3 days.
Experimented with both using AI(Arimidex) and not using AI. It seems that HCG causes my e2 to rise out-with reference. 0.5mg Arimidex typically used every 3 days although according to my blood work I’m not convinced Arimidex controls e2 produced as a result of HCG particularly effectively. I’ve read intratesticular e2 may be more difficult to manage. Certainly, seems that way for me.
For reference, my hormone profile without an AI is as follows- 125mg per week of Test Cypionate everyday frequency shallow Intra-muscular using 1/2 insulin pin and 400IU HCG twice weekly into the belly subQ. Total test sits around 980ng/dL, free Test 29ng/dL & e2 55pg/mL at trough.
EDIT: I amended my HCG and SERM protocol please jump to bottom section headed “PCT Log” for details. The proposed restart protocol now changed but shown below for reference was based on the successful attempt by bodybuilder, trainer and youtuber “Vigorous Steve” after 10 years of Blast and Cruise he managed to restart his HPTA. I would like to try a less heavy handed approach as I have used HCG throughout.
Now about to begin 1000IU of HCG every other day for 2 weeks beginning tomorrow followed by Nolvadex and Clomid for 4 weeks following that.
Clomid/Nolvadex
Daily dosage split in half morning and night for example week 1- 50mg clomid/20mg Nolvadex morning and night
Week 1- 100/40
Week 2- 50/40
Week 3- 25/20
Week 4- 0/20
So far, no negative symptoms since I used shorter ester prop to mitigate any Cyp withdrawal.
By the end of 2-week HCG course I hope the test Cypionate and Propionate are out of my system just going by the 5x half-life guide. ~Assuming 5x6 for Cypionate & 5x2 for propionate. Since the peak serum levels of every day administration are low when compared with once per week for example the actual clearance time may in fact be less.
Will get blood work taken at the end of HCG and before I take SERMs (Clomid and Nolvadex) and again at the end of the SERM course.
Hopefully the boys can start producing decently enough again. My previous levels were
TotalT 490ng/dL; FreeT 14 ng/dL; E2 35pg/ml; SHBG 20 nmol/L;
Body fat percentage is down at 14ish from 30 so will be interesting to see if that influences production and aromatisation.
Apologies if I’ve spelled things out more than necessary. I’ve kept abbreviations to a minimum in case anyone new to this subject is reading.
I am no expert most of what I know is interpreted from forums like this, some research papers and my own experience any input from the community is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
PCT LOG
17 days since last shot of Cypionate (125mg/week every day dosing schedule)
Day | Cypionate (mg) |
Propionate (mg) |
HCG (IU) |
Arimidex (mg) |
Clomid (mg) |
Nolva (mg) |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-18 | 18 | 400 | 0.25 | ||||
-17 | 18 | ||||||
-16 | |||||||
-15 | 400 | 0.5 | |||||
-14 | |||||||
-13 | |||||||
-12 | 400 | 0.5 | |||||
-11 | 12.5 | ||||||
-10 | 12.5 | ||||||
-9 | 12.5 | 400 | 0.25 | ||||
-8 | 12.5 | ||||||
-7 | 12.5 | ||||||
-6 | 12.5 | 400 | 0.5 | ||||
-5 | 12.5 | ||||||
-4 | 12.5 | ||||||
-3 | 12.5 | 400 | 0.5 | ||||
-2 | 12.5 | ||||||
-1 | 12.5 | ||||||
0 | 0 | 12.5 | 500 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 | |
1 | 0 | 0 | 500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2 | 0 | 0 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 | |
4 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
5 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
6 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 | ` |
7 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
8 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 | |
9 | 4 | 0 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
10 | 0 | 0 | 450 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
12 | 0 | 0 | 500 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 | |
13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
14 | 0 | 0 | 500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
15 | 0 | 0 | 1000 | 0.6 | 50 | 0 | Bloodwork |
16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | |
17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | |
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | gyno | 20 | |
19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 40 | |
20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 40 | |
21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.25 | 50 | 40 | |
22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 40 | |
23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 40 | |
24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 40 | |
25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 40 | |
26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 40 | |
27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 40 | |
28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 40 | |
29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | Bloodwork |
30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Bloodwork |
Week 1
The day after the 1000IU HCG dose I felt more emotional and aggressive than usual. Have felt great since reducing dose to 300 IU every morning. Still just as strong in the gym and feel generally fine, sexual function and mood normal at this point as I am essentially on HCG monotherapy. Still a long road ahead. Table of compounds and dosages below.
Week 2
Feel generally ok, libido has taken a bit of a hit but still acceptable and managed to perform a few times this week. Played with dosages to see if I could notice any difference. If anything, I felt better with EOD opposed to ED for what its worth. Lifts are still decent but had to drag myself to the gym and I had less apparent energy. Had a stressful week with general life shit that we all have. All things considered still in a good place. Starting SERM today after I do a blood test on HCG only.
Week 3
Had bloodwork on day 15 before taking the HCG, Clomid and Arimidex
TT(ng/dl) | FT(ng/dl) | E2(pg/ml) | SHBG(nmol/l) |
---|---|---|---|
617 | 15.2 | 21.6 | 23 |
Notes-
Felt ok this week other than my Libido has apparently went on vacation. Balls were noticeable larger and much heavier 3 days after first Clomid tablet and last HCG shot but coinciding with gyno symptoms. Ejaculate is thicker and whiter than its been since on TRT. Added 40mg of Nolvadex to the 50mg of Clomid to address gyno symptom which have now subsided. Dosages will be tapered down to 25mg Clomid and 20mg Nolvadex per day for upcoming week. Have had some intermittent anxiety on the SERMs but nothing debilitating. Its easier to rationalise when its expected(from clomid).
Week 4
Second week of SERMs was the most difficult so far although nowhere near bad enough to think about quitting this restart. I had no libido and had very limited sensation in my dick during sex. Muscle soreness was present as I was still training hard in the gym. As I write this I am mid-way through week 3 of SERMs. Libido has increased slightly along with sensitivity.
At the end of two weeks on Nolva and Clomid my Total T was in high double figures, E2 less than 10(undetectable to method used), no significant change in SHBG it has risen a few points.
**Bloodwork results from the morning of day 29 **
TT(ng/dl) | FT(ng/dl) | E2(pg/ml) | SHBG(nmols/l) |
---|---|---|---|
98 | 2.4 | <10 | 25 |
Week 5
Feeling not too bad, libido 4/10. Erections and sensitivity good. I have seen some improvements this week and am interested what current levels are but have decided to complete the 4th week of Nolva before more bloodwork. Going by how I felt, I would speculate that the day 15 bloodwork numbers were on an upwards trajectory and that my hormones had bottomed around day 7- 10 after my last HCG shot. All exogenous testosterone would have been long gone by that point and residual HCG would have been very diminished (~72 hour half-life) leaving me with a set of balls that were ready to go but were getting no signal. Days 19 to 28 were difficult, partly due to the Clomid side effects but not unbearable. As I write this its currently day 36. Running another week of 20mg Nolva only. Tapering to 10mg daily for final 2 weeks.
Week 6 and 7 seen most low T symptoms subside. I was feeling good generally. Libido was 6/10 and acceptable.
Week 8
A noticeable improvement seen week 8 which was the 6th and final week of Nolva. I had tapered down to 20mg 3 times per week. Libido maybe 7/10, hitting good numbers in the gym. Gained around 2kg of fat in 8 weeks as I have been deliberately eating surplus to aid recovery.
TT(ng/dl) FT(ng/dl) E2(pg/ml) SHBG(nmols/l) LH (IU/L) FSH(IU/L)
690 15.5 29 35 7.7 1.6
Plan for the coming months is to work on insulin sensitivity while supplementing with calcium d-glucacrate, vit D, zinc and magnesium.