Armidex regimen problems

[Vforcer2]

It has been a while since I have contributed to this forum, and I find myself in a bit of a pickle and could use some advice.

I have been on 1mg of Armidex for a couple of years now. It has done a great job of keeping my total T between 700-800 and free T over the top of the range.

Now for the problem. I have been gaining weight and am only now figuring out why. I think it is the Adex. I have gained about 25lbs in 2 years and when I diet it does not come off easily. I came to this conclusion after reading up about women breast cancer patients that have gained weight on Adex.

So with that said, I think I need to go off it. Trouble is I don't know how with out severe adverse effects such as E2 rebound.

I could use some suggestions since it has been a while since I have been involved in the research of this stuff.

 

[hardasnails1973]

It has been a while since I have contributed to this forum, and I find myself in a bit of a pickle and could use some advice.

I have been on 1mg of Armidex for a couple of years now. It has done a great job of keeping my total T between 700-800 and free T over the top of the range.

Now for the problem. I have been gaining weight and am only now figuring out why. I think it is the Adex. I have gained about 25lbs in 2 years and when I diet it does not come off easily. I came to this conclusion after reading up about women breast cancer patients that have gained weight on Adex.

So with that said, I think I need to go off it. Trouble is I don't know how with out severe adverse effects such as E2 rebound.

I could use some suggestions since it has been a while since I have been involved in the research of this stuff.

i be more concern about the change in lipids then anything.
Also you need to know where your levels are at. If you use adex and e2 is inrange then there may be other issue such as adrenals and thyroid that it may have triggered.

 

[Vforcer2]

i be more concern about the change in lipids then anything.
Also you need to know where your levels are at. If you use adex and e2 is inrange then there may be other issue such as adrenals and thyroid that it may have triggered.

I watch my other hormones pretty closely and they are fine. Free T3 and T4 are in the upper ranges. E2 is 24 which is ideal.

I need help on how to get off the Adex with out major adverse effects. I may go back on pellets once that is accomplished.

 

[hardasnails1973]

taper off slowly
may take 3-4 weeks to do it..
cut back 1/2 every week-10 days is a sensible amount to were it would not cause a huge change in levels.-4

 

[Jeton]

May i ask what was your original reason for taking Arimidex? I'm curious about why you have an estradiol level of 24 when you're taking that much adex daily...wouldn't one expect your levels to be much lower? especially if your total testosterone is not far from the median?

i'm curious if (A) your weight gain might not be tied to your underlying reason for taking adex and/or (B) if stopping adex might make your E2 skyrocket, which itself may result in undesirable body changes.

also, may i ask where you read about adex and weight gain? since i'm on Femara (2.5mg/d)myself, i'm anxious to know if i'm vulnerable to the same effect. currently i have far less sex drive and cramp-up more easily, so if you end up needing/able to switch to another longterm aromatase inhibitor like Letrozole, you'd want to use far less than the standard dose. or maybe tapering down to a lower dose of Arimidex may also work for you...

thanks for reading...

 

[Vforcer2]

May i ask what was your original reason for taking Arimidex? I'm curious about why you have an estradiol level of 24 when you're taking that much adex daily...wouldn't one expect your levels to be much lower? especially if your total testosterone is not far from the median?

i'm curious if (A) your weight gain might not be tied to your underlying reason for taking adex and/or (B) if stopping adex might make your E2 skyrocket, which itself may result in undesirable body changes.

also, may i ask where you read about adex and weight gain? since i'm on Femara (2.5mg/d)myself, i'm anxious to know if i'm vulnerable to the same effect. currently i have far less sex drive and cramp-up more easily, so if you end up needing/able to switch to another longterm aromatase inhibitor like Letrozole, you'd want to use far less than the standard dose. or maybe tapering down to a lower dose of Arimidex may also work for you...

thanks for reading...

I have tried nearly every form of TRT there is to find one that was effective, made me feel well, and was low maintenance. I had read were some progressive docs were using A'dex at 1mg per day to suppress estrogen and trick the negative feedback system into producing more T. I worked for me since I am not primary hypo. Before therapy my TT was 350-450 on avg, so it doubled it. At T level of 700-800 for a 43 year old is not median, it's the upper quartile of the range. Its where I want to be.

T creams did not raise my levels much. Injectables were a major hassel, and HCG skyrocketed my E2. The only other modality I have found with the most favorable results are pellets. Next to A'dex I like them very much and will probably go back on them, but I wanted to see how I felt first by getting off the A'dex properly. I wasn't sure if I should just taper off or if I need to do some type of PCT in an attempt to properly restart things(if that really works for these bodybuilders...I don't know).

You can google the weight gain and find numerous sites with many women talking about it.

Femera is way to powerful in my opinion killing 98% of all estrogen. It is no wonder you cramp and have low sex drive. Your E2 is to low, plain and simple. I bet your joints ache as well. Feeling any carpel tunnel in your hands?

 

[Vforcer2]

taper off slowly
may take 3-4 weeks to do it..
cut back 1/2 every week-10 days is a sensible amount to were it would not cause a huge change in levels.-4

Thanks Nails, I am considering something like that. Just wanted to hear from more guys about it.

 

[JanSz]

I have tried nearly every form of TRT there is to find one that was effective, made me feel well, and was low maintenance. I had read were some progressive docs were using A'dex at 1mg per day to suppress estrogen and trick the negative feedback system into producing more T. I worked for me since I am not primary hypo. Before therapy my TT was 350-450 on avg, so it doubled it. At T level of 700-800 for a 43 year old is not median, it's the upper quartile of the range. Its where I want to be.

T creams did not raise my levels much. Injectables were a major hassel, and HCG skyrocketed my E2. The only other modality I have found with the most favorable results are pellets. Next to A'dex I like them very much and will probably go back on them, but I wanted to see how I felt first by getting off the A'dex properly. I wasn't sure if I should just taper off or if I need to do some type of PCT in an attempt to properly restart things(if that really works for these bodybuilders...I don't know).

You can google the weight gain and find numerous sites with many women talking about it.

Femera is way to powerful in my opinion killing 98% of all estrogen. It is no wonder you cramp and have low sex drive. Your E2 is to low, plain and simple. I bet your joints ache as well. Feeling any carpel tunnel in your hands?

While on pellets did you had to use Arimidex?

For the last 2 years I am doing shots every day.
One day T-shot next day HCG-shot
Last August 08, 7 months ago I was able to stop using Arimidex.

I am assuming that Arimidex vise the best that you can expect is what you have had on pellets.

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[Vforcer2]

While on pellets did you had to use Arimidex?

For the last 2 years I am doing shots every day.
One day T-shot next day HCG-shot
Last August 08, 7 months ago I was able to stop using Arimidex.

I am assuming that Arimidex vise the best that you can expect is what you have had on pellets.

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Hi Jan, as I recall you were on pellets at a much smaller dose than I was right? No I did not need any armidex while I was on pellets. They release so nice and gradually that it was not an issue for me at that time. If I tried them today with the weight I have gained I might need an aromatase inhibitor.

Why did you switch to shots?

 

[JanSz]

Hi Jan, as I recall you were on pellets at a much smaller dose than I was right? No I did not need any armidex while I was on pellets. They release so nice and gradually that it was not an issue for me at that time. If I tried them today with the weight I have gained I might need an aromatase inhibitor.

Why did you switch to shots?

I have newer been on pellets.
i discussed them a lot with you.

I am convinced that most men on testosterone shots who use Arimedex will see either lower Arimidex dose or would be able to eliminate arimidex all together if they were able to do EOD T-shots.

The hurdle is mostly in size of the needle used in T-shots.
Most are married to huge needle so they can't accept the idea of daily shots.
But when arguing their point, they use other arguments, and that clouds the real reason.
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[uppercut]

what was the dose of your arimadex? did it increase your libido? i know it increased T levels but that does'nt always correlate to high sex drive//

 

[Vforcer2]

what was the dose of your arimadex? did it increase your libido? i know it increased T levels but that does'nt always correlate to high sex drive//

I have never had much of a problem with sex drive, it has always been relatively good. Of course at 43 years old it is less than it was at 23 years old. That is to be expected.

I have been taking 1mg per day. I will say that the highest my sex drive has ever been on therapy was about the first month after pellet implants.

 

[uppercut]

is'nt 1mg a day too much? i heard 1/4 every other day.

 

[Vforcer2]

is'nt 1mg a day too much? i heard 1/4 every other day.

I would like to know where you heard this. I started this 2 years ago, and as we know this stuff is ever evolving. Perhaps I take too much and that is the reason for my weight gain. I started cutting back to .5 mg every day for now and will taper down and see how that goes.

 

[JanSz]

I would like to know where you heard this. I started this 2 years ago, and as we know this stuff is ever evolving. Perhaps I take too much and that is the reason for my weight gain. I started cutting back to .5 mg every day for now and will taper down and see how that goes.

My routine is T & HCG shots on alternate days, using 31Ga 5/16"long insuline syringe 3/10cc
HCG-400iu
T-shot-20units-40mg
Currently I do not need Arimidex (due to frequent shots).
======================================================================
Test and verify, I set up for my self list of tests.
My whole list, that I do once a year or less, is on post #44, between blue lines, here:
https://anabolicminds.com/forum/male-anti-aging/66268-jans-bloodtest-april13-2.html

I also have a set of goals, for those goals I need much shorter list of blood tests.
I test at Quest Diagnostics, 2-3x/year.

29 T3, Free
42 DHEA sulfate
46 Progesterone, LC/MS/MS - (17183X)
47 Pregnenolone, LC/MS/MS (31493X)
48 Estradiol, Ultrasensitive, LC/MS/MS (30289X)
49 Estrone, LC/MS/MS (23244X)
50 Testosterone, Free, Bio/Total (LC/MS/MS) Code: 14966X
51 Dihydrotestosterone (204X)

============================================================
My own Goals
DHEAs(500-640)mcg/dL------------------major player, 95% time overlooked
Progesterone(0.9-1.2)ng/mL
Pregnenolone(> 100ng/dL)
Estradiol, Ultrasensitive(25-29)pg/mL
Estrone, LC/MS/MS (23244X)
BATest(342, 460-575)ng/dL------------stay around 342 if you need AI to control E2
DHT(60-90)ng/dL
FreeT3~400pg/dL
Body temperature (97.8 - 98.2F) (36.56 - 36.78C); (36.6-37C)(97.9-98.6F)

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[clloyd]

Everyone is different. I have found that me and another friend of mine who is an MD react differently to arimidex. Also, I have found that my a-dex protocol has changed over time. This is why I get my e2 sensitive tested frequently.

I have tried pellets twice. You are right about the slow release. In theory, it's perfect. I don't need any a-dex at all. All my assays look great on pellets. The problem I found was 2 fold. One, you are stuck with the dose after you get them (good be too high or too low). Second, after day 60, serum test decreases every day while still being suppressed. I personally feel like shit in the declining stage. I would feel better if my total test is consistently 300, than going from 800 to 300 in a declining fashion. I now do 2 shots of cyp a week and have had no problems except for back acne (a lot of it disappeared when using Pan Oxyl 5% soap). I take a-dex the day after each shot (0.2mg or 0.4mg per week). My friend follows the same protocal but needs 0.7mg per week. He takes 0.1mg every day (using liquidex).

I would like to know where you heard this. I started this 2 years ago, and as we know this stuff is ever evolving. Perhaps I take too much and that is the reason for my weight gain. I started cutting back to .5 mg every day for now and will taper down and see how that goes.

 

[Vforcer2]

Everyone is different. I have found that me and another friend of mine who is an MD react differently to arimidex. Also, I have found that my a-dex protocol has changed over time. This is why I get my e2 sensitive tested frequently.

I have tried pellets twice. You are right about the slow release. In theory, it's perfect. I don't need any a-dex at all. All my assays look great on pellets. The problem I found was 2 fold. One, you are stuck with the dose after you get them (good be too high or too low). Second, after day 60, serum test decreases every day while still being suppressed. I personally feel like shit in the declining stage. I would feel better if my total test is consistently 300, than going from 800 to 300 in a declining fashion. I now do 2 shots of cyp a week and have had no problems except for back acne (a lot of it disappeared when using Pan Oxyl 5% soap). I take a-dex the day after each shot (0.2mg or 0.4mg per week). My friend follows the same protocal but needs 0.7mg per week. He takes 0.1mg every day (using liquidex).

Very interesting. I felt great on pellets for the first 2 months, Good in month 3, and okay in month 4. I was getting 1200 mgs which was a great dose for me. I know many docs want to use about half that.

How much test and what kind are you injecting? Are you subq or intramuscular?

 

[clloyd]

My protocal:

50mg of cypionate IM every 3.5 days
0.2mg of Liquidex 24 hours after test shot
300iu hCG subc EOD

50mg of oral Pregnenolone every night before bed
50mg of oral DHEA every night before bed

 

[Vforcer2]

My protocal:

50mg of cypionate IM every 3.5 days
0.2mg of Liquidex 24 hours after test shot
300iu hCG subc EOD

50mg of oral Pregnenolone every night before bed
50mg of oral DHEA every night before bed

Glad it's working for you. We are all different and that is what makes the world go around. I personally would not look forward to jabbing myself that many times every week the rest of my life. I've done it and it grows old all to fast.

 

[clloyd]

BTW, for IM I use a 5/8" 25gauge in my thigh and have had great success...yes, a 1.5in 23gauge in the glute would get old

Glad it's working for you. We are all different and that is what makes the world go around. I personally would not look forward to jabbing myself that many times every week the rest of my life. I've done it and it grows old all to fast.