2-4 HGH IUs a day- difference and realistic expectations?

[Celt123456]

Definitely a long slow slog for muscle building and other benefits but fat loss effects kick in fairly fast.

 

[Primoo]

HGH is pointless if your taking less then 5iu a day

 

[neutrino]

Do any of you guys have igf-1 scores on 2-4iu? I would be very curious to see.

Not IGF, but I tested actual GH levels with 10 units pre-draw

 

[neutrino]

HGH is pointless if your taking less then 5iu a day

Im not so sure about that. Your statement echoes the "500mg test for first cycle or bust" mentality of the yester-threads. Its no like your body pulls in 3 IUs and says "fuck it, not enough, get rid of it"

 

[Primoo]

Im not so sure about that. Your statement echoes the "500mg test for first cycle or bust" mentality of the yester-threads. Its no like your body pulls in 3 IUs and says "fuck it, not enough, get rid of it"

I’ll say it again anything less then 5iu if your trying to grow is pointless . Really should be 10iu minimum

 

[neutrino]

I’ll say it again anything less then 5iu if your trying to grow is pointless . Really should be 10iu minimum

Maybe that's true for you and your ability to grow and/or quality of the stuff you get, but making a blanket statement like this is just....dumb. revising your original statement with a few extra words does not inherently increase its accuracy.

 

[monstaa]

2iu is nothing 6iu atleast

 

[Primoo]

Maybe that's true for you and your ability to grow and/or quality of the stuff you get, but making a blanket statement like this is just....dumb. revising your original statement with a few extra words does not inherently increase its accuracy.

You stay with your baby dosages if your scarred to grow

 

[paulweber55]

Extremely good numbers for just 2iu

I should probably pull igf. Curious what mine is at 12iu

Agreed. I've never seen over 400 on 2ius pd.

 

[paulweber55]

I wish I knew my 10.9 estrogen was remotely accurate. From what I’ve read, the basic test overstates estrogen in men, but would he surprised if I was actually that low back then. I was fighting a gyno flare up and was running raloxifene and a small amount of aromasin. From what I understand, estrogen aids in the conversation of igf1 so low estrogen levels should impair igf, right?


Im currently running ~3.3iu on some 100iu kits and will switch back to blacktops at 5 shots per vial pretty soon. So it will stay in that 3iu range. I am just starting a small cycle and will pull bloods in several weeks. I will report back with my results.



I have been running TRT dose of test along with a little.

Black tops are black tops, but which source did you get these specific black tops from (if you don't mind me asking)?

 

[rtrnofbesoge]

Black tops are black tops, but which source did you get these specific black tops from (if you don't mind me asking)?

Very curious as well

 

[Scott5575]

Any time I hit 4iu or higher, I get carpal tunnel symptoms bad so I quit right away. Last time took forever to get things (mostly) back to normal.
I'd love to stay on, but just doesn't seem to be a good option for me -jealous of yall

 

[neutrino]

Any time I hit 4iu or higher, I get carpal tunnel symptoms bad so I quit right away. Last time took forever to get things (mostly) back to normal.
I'd love to stay on, but just doesn't seem to be a good option for me -jealous of yall

Have you tried slowly building up to that dose? I just today am feeling it for first time...after jumping from 5iu to 10iu basically overnight. From what I am seeing online it could be due to water retention. BP still sitting at a solid 110/75 so whatever.

 

[Scott5575]

Have you tried slowly building up to that dose? I just today am feeling it for first time...after jumping from 5iu to 10iu basically overnight. From what I am seeing online it could be due to water retention. BP still sitting at a solid 110/75 so whatever.

I started at 1iu AM and 1iu PM, then after a few weeks upped it to 3, then again to 4.
Maybe I need to go even slower though. I definitely noticed some water retention but I'm very sensitive and prove to that. Even upping TRT dose will cause it for me for a few weeks!

 

[neutrino]

I started at 1iu AM and 1iu PM, then after a few weeks upped it to 3, then again to 4.
Maybe I need to go even slower though. I definitely noticed some water retention but I'm very sensitive and prove to that. Even upping TRT dose will cause it for me for a few weeks!

Yeah man tough for me to say as I am experiencing this for the very first time after years of dabbling with lower doses. Its very mild, but def noticeable. Hopefully someone with more experience than I can shed some light on a better approach

 

[AlexDavis43]

I started at 1iu AM and 1iu PM, then after a few weeks upped it to 3, then again to 4.
Maybe I need to go even slower though. I definitely noticed some water retention but I'm very sensitive and prove to that. Even upping TRT dose will cause it for me for a few weeks!

Yeah man tough for me to say as I am experiencing this for the very first time after years of dabbling with lower doses. Its very mild, but def noticeable. Hopefully someone with more experience than I can shed some light on a better approach

When I was increasing GH dose (up to 10 IU/d eventually), I noticed other things that worsened GH-induced water retention:

Salt and carb-rich meals caused more water retention, so no more fast food for me (probably for the better)

Increasing water intake and cardio decreased water retention

 

[neutrino]

When I was increasing GH dose (up to 10 IU/d eventually), I noticed other things that worsened GH-induced water retention:

Salt and carb-rich meals caused more water retention, so no more fast food for me (probably for the better)

Increasing water intake and cardio decreased water retention

Yeah odd thing is I dont really notice any water retention. I am sure there is some, but I don't feel the usual negatives associated with it. Only my 4th week on blast so who knows, check might be in the mail.

 

[OldManLogan]

So I did a ChatGPT dive into GH bloat last time I upped my dose, sharing it here as it may help to answer a lot of the questions and doubts I see on the thread- here you go:

GH (growth hormone) bloat—aka “moon face” or that soft water-retaining puffiness—usually kicks in when you increase your dosage, especially if you’re running higher-than-replacement doses (e.g. 4+ IU/day).

Here’s what you can expect:

Timeline of GH Bloat
• Onset: Usually within 3–7 days of increasing the dose.
• Peak Bloat: Around 1–2 weeks after the new dose is sustained.
• Duration: If your body adapts, bloat can subside in 2–4 weeks. If not, it may persist as long as the dose stays elevated.

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Why It Happens:

GH increases aldosterone and anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) activity → water retention. It also boosts IGF-1, which increases sodium retention and extracellular water volume.

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Mitigation Tips:
• Titrate slowly: Bumping up by 0.5–1 IU every 1–2 weeks is safer.
• Split dosing: AM + PM shots sometimes reduce bloat.
• Hydration and electrolytes: Weirdly, drinking more water and balancing sodium/potassium can help flush retained fluid.
• Dandelion root or mild diuretics (if you’re desperate—but only short-term).
• Watch carbs: GH can impair insulin sensitivity, making bloat worse if you’re high-carb at the same time.

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If You’re Bloated Too Long:

If the water retention hangs on past a month, or if you’re getting numbness, tingling, or carpal tunnel-like symptoms, it might be time to back down the dose or add breaks (or consider using mod GRF(1-29) + GHRP-2/6 instead for more pulse-based stimulation).

GH bloat doesn’t play coy—it’s that unmistakable soft, puffy look that can sneak up on you and ruin your jawline faster than a bulk on Krispy Kreme. Here’s the breakdown of typical symptoms and signs of GH-induced bloat:

⸻

Classic Physical Signs of GH Bloat:
1. Puffy Face / Moon Face
• Swollen cheeks, loss of facial definition, especially in the jawline and under the eyes.
2. Finger and Hand Swelling
• Rings feel tight, or you get “sausage fingers.” Common early sign.
3. Foot and Ankle Swelling
• Shoes feel tight, or sock lines leave deep imprints.
4. Abdominal Distension / Soft Midsection
• Not fat, but a water-retentive, bloated look—especially if combined with high carbs.
5. Overall Softness
• Muscles lose their “dry” look; you appear flat and smooth despite being lean.

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Functional Symptoms:
1. Numbness or Tingling (Paresthesia)
• Usually in the fingers or hands; a sign of carpal tunnel-like compression from soft tissue swelling.
2. Joint or Muscle Stiffness
• Especially in the morning—feels like you’re holding extra pressure in the connective tissue.
3. Weight Spike Without Increased Calories
• Sudden 3–10 lb gain in a week from water retention, not fat or muscle.
4. Increased Blood Pressure
• More fluid = more volume = higher BP (check it if you feel weirdly tense or flushed).

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Bonus Tip: How to Confirm It’s GH

If the symptoms show up within 3–7 days of bumping your dose and recede after tapering or pausing GH for a few days, you’re almost certainly dealing with GH bloat. It’s dose-dependent, and higher doses (4+ IU/day) make it more likely.

⸻

Your body’s adaptation to a higher GH dose is basically a fluid balance negotiation with your endocrine system—and it takes a little time. Here’s what’s going on under the hood:

⸻

How the Body Adapts to Higher GH Doses

1. Hormonal Rebalancing

GH spikes aldosterone and ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) early on, leading to sodium and water retention—aka bloat city.
Over a couple of weeks:
• Aldosterone downregulates
• Kidneys start to dump excess sodium
• Fluid balance gradually returns to normal as homeostasis reasserts itself.

Think of it like your body saying: “Okay, this isn’t a temporary GH surge, I guess we’ll stop holding onto every drop like we’re prepping for a desert hike.”

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2. Increased IGF-1 Sensitivity

GH increases liver production of IGF-1, but your tissues need time to fully utilize it.
As IGF-1 receptors saturate and adjust, the anabolic effects ramp up and the water-retention side effect fades.

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3. Improved Insulin Sensitivity Response (Or Not)

GH initially decreases insulin sensitivity, which leads to:
• Higher blood glucose
• More water being pulled into tissues (osmosis)
• Even more bloat if you’re eating high-carb

Over time (assuming diet and training are dialed in), your body may improve insulin management, especially if you’re stacking with berberine, metformin, or cardio.

⸻

4. Receptor Downregulation / Normalization

GH receptors and downstream pathways can desensitize slightly with chronic exposure, which is why some of the intense water retention diminishes over time. You’re not necessarily becoming “immune”—you’re just not getting that overcompensated shock response anymore.

⸻

How Long Does It Take to Adapt?
• Initial adaptation: 1–2 weeks
• Full adaptation (minimal bloat, stable energy, better insulin sensitivity): ~3–6 weeks depending on dose, diet, and training

⸻

Pro Tip

Want faster adaptation? Try:
• Smaller dose increases (0.5–1 IU at a time)
• Split doses (AM + PM)
• Support with electrolytes, cardio, and possibly GDA supplements
• Avoid hammering high GI carbs during adaptation phase

⸻

Bottom line: your body will adapt—it just needs time to realize you’re not trying to recreate puberty 2.0 overnight. Keep the dose steady, train hard, and you’ll stop floating like the Michelin Man pretty soon.

 

[BigLittleJoe2]

Being in my mid fifties, insulin resistance is my primary concern. My FBG does better on 2 iu vs 4 iu, if all else is equal. Seems like a lot of guys my age find 2 iu to be the sweet spot, but YMMV.

 

[Performance Based]

God I love ChatGPT... Fantastic post logan