Coming Off TRT After 3 Years- HPTA Restart Log

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.

2 Likes

I’ve always read this, but you’ve got blood work to back it up?

Hi swoops there’s a bit of reading between the lines to be had here. Any input appreciated.

400IU HCG was held constant for the two tests.
SHBG pretty much remained the same in the low twenties (nmols/L)

Blood tests were taken at ~ 6 week intervals on trough day

Total T(ng/dL)
2053
1005

E2(pg/ml)
44
51

Arimidex(mg)
0.25 e3d
None

The higher total test level was on 200mg/week split into every 3 days dosing schedule. The lower total test level was taken while on 125mg/week split into every day dosing schedule.

I hoped to get E2 down and stop the AI by lowering dose and injecting every day (ventrogluteal shallow IM) but no change was noticed.

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When I came off the AI, I was told that my T levels May be lower on the same dose of test, because I stopped the conversion of T to estradiol while on Anastrozole. That may be part of what you experienced. Were you having symptoms that you attributed to high estradiol, or were you simply shooting for a number. Forgive me if you already mentioned this

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Hi Gossamer,

I reduced my weekly dose that will be the reason for the reduced T level. I’d have expected the E2 to go down a bit but then again I did take the AI out of the equation. I had a previous blood test during what was more like like a mini cycle at 3500ng/dl total T, 0.5mg arimidex every 3 days & same HCG protocol. E2 was still in the 50s! Very odd.

Please continue to update as you progress. I’m very interested in how it goes for you. thanks and good luck!

Will do as I’ve found similar forum logs very helpful while preparing for this restart.

Aiming to update weekly along with a conclusion (hopefully positive) complete with blood work at the end.

Already looking to amend my PCT regimen the one stated above might be a bit heavy handed.

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Have edited original post. I’m new to this site so not sure if that is the convention or if its better to update the thread with a new reply instead of changing original post?

I have change my HCG and SERMs protocol pretty drastically from what I initially proposed. I am thinking of running 300 IU of HCG & 0.25 mg Arimidex for another week getting ablood test then going with;
Clomid only 25mg every day for 4 weeks
Clomid 12.5mg every day for 2 weeks
Will keep taking 0.25mg Arimidex every 3 days throughout.

Just a question, this seems like a low dose compared with some PCT examples. Has anyone heard of good results on a lower dose like this? From what I can tell, it’s the high dosages that seems to give people issues with SERMs normal e2 related.

Some PCT examples are overkill. Guys take two SERMs and double the dose on each, cos more has to mean better, right?

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I have a question hopefully someone can help me with.

I have a box of Clomid and a box of Nolva. Both are enough for 4 weeks at the dosages that I want to run but the Nolva expired 5 months ago.

I have decided to stick with one compound for 28 days and considered the Nolva due to a general consensus that it is more tolerated and has a higher potency mg per mg.

My question is, has anyone ever taken an expired SERM and noticed a difference at all when compared to tablets that have not expired? I am happy to use 25mg daily Clomid as it seems to have its own benefits and certainly has many papers backing up is effectiveness in boosting GnRH release in men.

I have also updated my post with week 2 PCT. Blood results to follow.

How’s it going man? Have you pulled any labs since stopping the T?

Feeling fine so far. Had blood work done today I’m due back at the clinic for results midweek. Took the first 50mg tablet of Clomid straight after the blood work. Will update the PCT log in the original post as I go.

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It feels like I have gyno symptoms in my right nipple. Puffy and tender, something is definitely going on in there. I took my first 50mg Clomid tablet on Monday along with my last shot of HCG 1000IU. I was basically using what was left or would have went with closer to 500IU. Also took 0.6mg Arimidex.

I’ve taken a total of 4 clomid tablets now, one each day.

The gyno could be occurring due to the high dose of HCG and the clomid. HCG probably just hitting half life now.

My question is whether or not Clomid works by the same mechanism and is as effective as Nolva for stopping gyno progression?

The drugs are similar in so many ways yet Nolva is seemingly always the go to for gyno.

Just took 20mg of Nolva.

Other than the gyno how are you feeling?

About 7/10 no significant changes. A bit sluggish

Clomid can cause gyno and so can HCG.

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Basic blood work 30 days since last cypionate shot and 14 days since last propionate shot

Protocol ~500IU HCG every other day 0.25mg Arimidex every 3 days. Lab ranges in brackets

Total T 617 (240-865) ng/dl

Free T 15.2 (6-17.4) ng/dl

Estradiol 21.6 (12-40) pg/ml

SHBG 23 (17-55) nmols/l

After two weeks on Nolva and Clomid my Total T was in high double figures, E2 less than 15(undetectable to method used), no significant change in SHBG it has risen a few points. Im thinking the large dose of HCG before the serm maybe held back my recovery as it may have taken a week to clear sufficiently. This wasnt necessary in hindsight and probably gave negative HPTA feedback.

Now midway through week 3 and starting to see improvements. Hopefully they continue. Tapered into 20mg per day of Nolva only which i will run for another week after this one and get detailed blood work incl gonadotropins and lipids.

Review

In general, I now have the opinion that the design of this restart in more complex than necessary.

It is clear from my blood work that I can maintain “optimal” levels of hormones on 500IU HCG every other day. Given that I have used HCG during TRT, I simply should have stopped cypionate and ran the 500IU HCG EoD for 4 weeks and began Clomid and Nolva. The propionate was added to relieve withdrawal from Cypionate and allow for faster clearance. Before my blood work I did not know that HCG alone provides me with this relief(Total Tin the 600s) when testosterone is stopped.

Nearly finished 5th week of SERMs was taking 10mg/d Nolvadex this week. Its now 7 weeks since last test shot. Felt pretty consistent for about 10 days. Acceptably good. Lost a lot of strength in the gym but generally feel well while not having to pay for and take shots of test every week which is nice.

This process has highlighted to me how poorly I managed my TRT program. I never sufficiently controlled my e2 and prolactin which gave rise to issues like high blood pressure, inconsistent erection quality and mood issues.

Currently have no idea what my levels are as I meant to get blood work last week but been busy. I hope to get blood work done this week as I’m interested what my levels are while on a low dose SERM. Will lower to 10mg eod for a 6th and final week week PCT.

The only question I have to myself is whether I will still feel as good if I were to find out that my levels are currently low.