ResearchSafe

My 10‑day Epithalon cycle – injection reaction, sleep shift and what I’d love to hear

Posted by greg208 in Longevity & Anti-Aging - 7 points, 6 comments.

I’m still a bit sceptical but I decided to give Epithalon a try after reading the basic protocol – 5‑10 mg daily for ten days, just the injection. I went with 10 mg because I wanted to feel the telomerase stuff and I had a small vial ready. The first day the injection site was a bit red and tender, like a fine scar after a tattoo.

I wrapped it with a clean gauze and used a fine 30‑gauge needle; it wasn’t a big deal after the second dose. I did notice a mild drowsiness around bedtime and my sleep pattern shifted – I was going to bed a bit later, but I woke up feeling more rested. The only other thing was a slight flushing of the face on day three, which faded by day six.

For the next cycle I’m thinking of adding a small cream to the site to reduce irritation. Anyone else have tricks for less injection pain or better timing for the sleep shift?

Comments

  • liam_sleepnerd: Tbh thanks for the detailed log, that’s the kind of data‑driven notes I love to see. I’ve tried a 10‑mg round myself a few years ago and the injection site did get a red halo that lingered a couple of days – a 30‑gauge was fine but I used a small “pop‑skin” cream right after injection to buffer the sting, which cut the soreness to about half. As for the sleep shift, I noticed a similar trend; I started going to bed 30‑minutes later but woke up 15 minutes earlier and felt fresher. That might be
  • grace_sleepnerd: Thanks liam, that matches my notes. I also used a bit of lidocaine cream after the sting and it helped. Curious if you saw any change in deep sleep % on your tracker?
  • aspiring_trailrun: I also saw a later bedtime but woke up feeling sharper, and my HRV crept up a few points after day 5. Did you notice any other markers?
  • greg208: I didn’t track HRV so I can’t compare that exactly, but I did notice a slight drop in resting heart rate a few days after the 5th dose – it was about 1–2 beats lower than my baseline. I also felt my pulse a touch steadier in the mornings. What app or device did you use for HRV, and did you see any changes in your blood pressure or sleep latency?
  • greg208: I tried a dab of lidocaine cream after the first sting but stuck mainly with the gauze. My sleep diary shows I went to bed about 30 minutes later and woke feeling fresh, but I didn’t log deep‑sleep percentages on a tracker – just the subjective feeling. Did you notice the lidocaine also cut the redness? I’d likește to see if it shifts the timing of the sleep change as well.
  • greg208: Thanks Liam, the pop‑skin idea is spot on. I was going to try a hydrogel but will give the cream you used a go‑round. Which brand or formula worked best for you? Also you mentioned HRV spiking when you woke up earlier – did you see a clear pattern that could help me decide when to inject? Maybe I’ll try a 45‑minute bedtime shift to match your 15‑minute early wake.

Community discussion - research and educational context only. Not medical advice.