Solvent-free propionate: finally a successful protocol for me!

[Pnw0031]

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well and is excited for the holidays coming up. After years of experimenting, pain, insomnia and more I believe I have finally found a protocol that works for me!

Solvent free propionate 12mg before bed with 5mg topical dhea in the morning

Funkodyssey was the first to share with me the idea that many who struggle with insomnia, overstimulation, and other nasty symptoms on cypionate and (regular) propionate are really struggling with sensitivity to benzyl benzoate.

Ive found that through personal experience that I do not tolerate BB whatsoever. Enanthate and cream do not cause these side effects for me (cream doesn’t work for me because it doesn’t absorb well for me however). However, propionate feels the best for me personally despite the insomnia it can cause.

Funk later brought up solvent-free propionate at 50mg/ml to me. It’s through an UGL which made me a bit uncomfortable, but I decided to give it a try because while enanthate works I had zero libido.

Oh mannnnn the difference. All the benefits of propionate without the solvent driven anxiety. Libido has been much better than even regular prop. Energy has been better and I’m sleeping perfectly. I’ve been on this protocol for about 4 weeks. I will be getting my bloodwork done next week.

That said, I do not feel 100% comfortable with using UGL and I am looking for white market options. I use defy medical for my labs and enanthate prescription but I haven’t scheduled an appointment to ask whether they would use a compounding pharmacy that still makes propionate and can make propionate without BB. If anyone can find a compounding pharmacy that defy is willing to work with let me know. I’m planning to call a handful in Arizona.

 

[Willyt]

Many thanks for this and keep the updates coming. I too experienced some odd side effects with Empower's prop and always suspected the benzyl benzoate (listed as 15% on the ingredient listing).

 

[joikd]

The carrier oil alone suffices because of the low concentration? Is there still benzyl alcohol? If so, how much (standard 1-2%?)? Maybe I'll give this a try and brew up a batch.

 

[Pnw0031]

The carrier oil alone suffices because of the low concentration? Is there still benzyl alcohol? If so, how much (standard 1-2%?)? Maybe I'll give this a try and brew up a batch.

Yes there is still benzyl alcohol as preservative, I believe it’s 1%.

 

[Pnw0031]

Many thanks for this and keep the updates coming. I too experienced some odd side effects with Empower's prop and always suspected the benzyl benzoate (listed as 15% on the ingredient listing).

Will do! I’m very sensitive to benzyl benzoate too, I don’t tolerate cypionate or regular propionate

 

[Steve78]

Post labs when you get them

 

[Pnw0031]

Update:

I had to unfortunately drop this protocol as it seems I slowly got more and more sensitive to the ethyl oleate that pharmacom puts in their propionate. I started getting itching spells, slowly worsening sleep, and other histamine intolerance symptoms again. And yet, they still were no where near as bad as how BB makes me feel

I did get bloods before choosing to drop the protocol however:

Taken at 8am, 11 hours post injection:

TT: 946 ng/dl
FT: 25. 5 ng/dl
SHBG: 26 (actually rose which was really surprising and cool!)
Estradiol: 35

Feelings: other than the allergies this protocol felt great. I’m going to be on the hunt for solvent free propionate that I can get compounded or UGL (not preferred) that doesn’t contain ethyl oleate. I may try this protocol again after going back to being more hardcore on my histamine intolerance protocol. I’ve began to remove histamine producing foods and restarted my yogurt with the strain BB536 was has been shown to reduce histamine. Also making beet kvass with L. plantarum 299v. Any other histamine reducing tips anyone has I’d appreciate. I really want to make this protocol work for me!

My current protocol will then be testosterone enanthate at 36mg 3x for around 100mg. Very unfortunate ending to this protocol but I was starting to get an allergic reaction.

I will potentially attempt this protocol again after fully addressing histamine intolerance and doing some research.

 

[Pnw0031]

I started feeling the itching about 3 weeks ago which alleviated when dropping the protocol

 

[Phil Goodman]

Update:

I had to unfortunately drop this protocol as it seems I slowly got more and more sensitive to the ethyl oleate that pharmacom puts in their propionate. I started getting itching spells, slowly worsening sleep, and other histamine intolerance symptoms again. And yet, they still were no where near as bad as how BB makes me feel

I did get bloods before choosing to drop the protocol however:

Taken at 8am, 11 hours post injection:

TT: 946 ng/dl
FT: 25. 5 ng/dl
SHBG: 26 (actually rose which was really surprising and cool!)
Estradiol: 35

Feelings: other than the allergies this protocol felt great. I’m going to be on the hunt for solvent free propionate that I can get compounded or UGL (not preferred) that doesn’t contain ethyl oleate. I may try this protocol again after going back to being more hardcore on my histamine intolerance protocol. I’ve began to remove histamine producing foods and restarted my yogurt with the strain BB536 was has been shown to reduce histamine. Also making best kvas with L. Plantiarium (probably not spelled right) 299v. Any other histamine reducing tips anyone has I’d appreciate. I really want to make this protocol work for me!

My current protocol will then be testosterone enanthate at 36mg 3x for around 100mg. Very unfortunate ending to this protocol but I was starting to get an allergic reaction.

I will potentially attempt this protocol again after fully addressing histamine intolerance and doing some research.

Obviously our environments play a role, but I think the biggest factor with allergens is often diet. That being said, it may be worthwhile looking into something like the AIP diet, even if it’s just for a month to reset. I followed it strictly for a month and the difference was pretty remarkable. Drastically improved digestion(from someone who has digestion issues more than most), mental clarity through the roof, energy levels good, well-being improved, etc. To follow it exactly does require some dedication through, and it’s somewhat easy to get tired of the same foods. The ideal approach is to be strict for a month and then slowly re-introduce foods to see which ones cause issues, but I ended up just drifting back towards a less than ideal diet over time. My diet is still better than most Americans(I know…not saying much), but has room for improvement. I’ve statted off the new year doing really good though and can already tell a significant difference.

The reason I bring this up is because you mentioned allergens, and when we bombard our system with substances(whether that’s via food, water, air, skin exposure, etc) that can irritate it then the system becomes on high alert and is more likely to “attack” something it isn’t sure of. The more you can reduce that level of alert by removing as many irritants as possible from your internal environment the better the whole system will operate. Not saying it will be enough to allow your body to tolerate the additives, but the lower the amount of allergens and irritants via other sources the better your chances will be.

 

[Pnw0031]

Obviously our environments play a role, but I think the biggest factor with allergens is often diet. That being said, it may be worthwhile looking into something like the AIP diet, even if it’s just for a month to reset. I followed it strictly for a month and the difference was pretty remarkable. Drastically improved digestion(from someone who has digestion issues more than most), mental clarity through the roof, energy levels good, well-being improved, etc. To follow it exactly does require some dedication through, and it’s somewhat easy to get tired of the same foods. The ideal approach is to be strict for a month and then slowly re-introduce foods to see which ones cause issues, but I ended up just drifting back towards a less than ideal diet over time. My diet is still better than most Americans(I know…not saying much), but has room for improvement. I’ve statted off the new year doing really good though and can already tell a significant difference.

The reason I bring this up is because you mentioned allergens, and when we bombard our system with substances(whether that’s via food, water, air, skin exposure, etc) that can irritate it then the system becomes on high alert and is more likely to “attack” something it isn’t sure of. The more you can reduce that level of alert by removing as many irritants as possible from your internal environment the better the whole system will operate. Not saying it will be enough to allow your body to tolerate the additives, but the lower the amount of allergens and irritants via other sources the better your chances will be.

That’s a great idea, AIP actually has a ton of crossover with the histamine intolerance protocol. Unsurprisingly, most things that can influence autoimmune responses are high in histamines. My diet is generally very good, high in fruits and veggies and the only grain I consume (which technically isn’t even a grain) is buckwheat. But I will go more and more strict.

That said, I’m very sensitive to most supplements and medications which can be a sign of inflammation and low histamine tolerance.

I’m convinced that a lot of my issues started when I moved to the Phoenix area so I’m also in the process of moving my family out of Arizona.

 

[Forty2]

Update:

I had to unfortunately drop this protocol as it seems I slowly got more and more sensitive to the ethyl oleate that pharmacom puts in their propionate. I started getting itching spells, slowly worsening sleep, and other histamine intolerance symptoms again. And yet, they still were no where near as bad as how BB makes me feel

I did get bloods before choosing to drop the protocol however:

Taken at 8am, 11 hours post injection:

TT: 946 ng/dl
FT: 25. 5 ng/dl
SHBG: 26 (actually rose which was really surprising and cool!)
Estradiol: 35

Feelings: other than the allergies this protocol felt great. I’m going to be on the hunt for solvent free propionate that I can get compounded or UGL (not preferred) that doesn’t contain ethyl oleate. I may try this protocol again after going back to being more hardcore on my histamine intolerance protocol. I’ve began to remove histamine producing foods and restarted my yogurt with the strain BB536 was has been shown to reduce histamine. Also making beet kvass with L. plantarum 299v. Any other histamine reducing tips anyone has I’d appreciate. I really want to make this protocol work for me!

My current protocol will then be testosterone enanthate at 36mg 3x for around 100mg. Very unfortunate ending to this protocol but I was starting to get an allergic reaction.

I will potentially attempt this protocol again after fully addressing histamine intolerance and doing some research.

Did you get any PIP from the prop with no BB?
Do you think you would feel better if it was made with MCT oil, no BB and no EO or would MCT oil make the prop act too quickly?

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Did you get any PIP from the prop with no BB?
Do you think you would feel better if it was made with MCT oil, no BB and no EO or would MCT oil make the prop act too quickly?

I've been using prop in MCT oil for some time now and I don't notice any issues I could relate to a shorter half-life.