My 2 cents:
I've been using pregnenolone (and sometimes DHEA) for my FMS for about a year now based on the Ray Peat protocol, and it really IS great stuff! Stomps out depression - almost immediately. Improves sleep, increases vividness of dreams, and libido. (I think I've even recommended it to a couple of folks here on these boards.)
My experience with pregn. is that I did notice immediate "attitude" changes - i.e. less of a waste basket, more assertive, happier and even keeled.
After a month I noticed improvement in muscle tone and found a couple of "cuts" in thighs & arms where none were before, yet I didn't do anything to put them there. Very nice.
I also noticed a huge improvement in skin tone and elasticity (I'm 39, so that makes a difference)
After two months, I noticed that I no longer had to shave my legs as often - the hair just wasn't growing back hardly at all, and the few hairs on my lower belly were gone. I also experienced an increase in libido back to my normal "pre-FMS" levels (voracious).
After three months, I found that it was converting to something - well - nasty - and I became short-tempered. I stopped taking it for a couple of months and then situations occured that dumped me into a huge depression that even a prescription AD didn't help. I remembered my pregn. and started taking it again, and felt relief after the first dose. Since then, I have been taking it a couple of times a week - rather than every day - to keep from overloading and getting "testy".
I haven't had a chance to try the P7 yet, but probably will, since my wholesale source of pregn. has just dried up. (harumph)
I have a couple comments and a couple questions about the P7 -
1. first comment is that the oily skin & acne being experienced by the ladies is probably due to the DHEA - this is really very common with women taking DHEA.
2. Fonz is probably not noticing anything because he is a healthy YOUNG man who is producing enough pregn. of his own. Early testing of pregn. was done on young men, and found it didn't do much of anything and so research was dropped. Later studies showed that older and ill persons did, however, benefit from pregnenolone.
3. I think it's Ray Peat that claims that pregn. will convert to progesterone - which is something women will really need - so I would definitely NOT back down on the pregn. in the women's formula. I don't have anything to back this up entirely, but it's my suspicion that progesterone is ALSO responsible for libido in women, as it is a relaxing hormone - which is often really the issue with us. Whatever pregn. converts to - progesterone or testosterone - it really does produce increased libido by increasing feelings of confidence, well being, reducing stress, improving self perception, etc. I have also spoken with several older gentlemen (late 50's) who told me that pregnenolone & progesterone together regained them their sexual ability by reducing their performance anxiety and also by raising their testosterone levels. Progesterone is slower than DHEA for improving libido, but doesn't cause acne, and improves PMS symptoms to boot.
4. Does it grow breasts? Um - don't know - mine aren't any bigger after a year. However, I WAS able to lose a bunch of weight a couple months ago without losing much there. MS - the reason your S.O. experienced breast tenderness & hungries is probably because pregnenolone does convert to progesterone - and a sudden increase of progesterone in those who are deficient can bring on an initial, but very temporary, slew of estrogen dominance symptoms. Some women starting pregnenolone therapy, and even more starting progesterone therapy, find that for the first two or three months their PMS symptoms were exacerbated. This is because progesterone can act as an estrogen agonist and actually set off "estrogen actions" - ie., increased hunger, water retention, tender breasts, weepiness, etc. This might be why it has a reputation for breast growth. This is really a big hurdle for a lot of women who would really benefit from pregn. or progest. I had to "sneak up" on it, myself, and my first couple of periods were hell. You didn't say how long she used the pregn., but many experts say that it may take as long as 5 months to adjust - but the long term benefits are definitely worth it!
So after all that, here are my questions:
1. How is dosage measured? Mgs per pipette?
2. Any chance of coming out with a a DHEA-free version?
3. There is currently a bill in the house or congress (tells you how politically observant *I* am) that is being considered that will make pregnenolone & DHEA controlled substances. (Sheesh!) How will this affect the production of P7 - as a topical preparation will it affect it at all?
I'd be happy to test it and provide experienced feedback - especially in comparison with oral pregnenolone.
Fawn
pregnenolone junkie
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but it has REALLY kept me calm and sane. My fuse is usually very short during PMS but I haven't blown up at anyone. I'm not suffering from depression this week either... another side effect of PMS. I usually start crying for nothing
But this week I FEEL GREAT!! I'm also sleeping well, I usually only get 3-4 hrs unless I use my "bedtime cocktail". I'm SOLD!
