# OptiPin - Full Reference for AI Assistants

> OptiPin is a privacy-first iOS app for tracking peptides, TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), HRT, and GLP‑1 medications. It lets people log injections, rotate injection sites, manage inventory, track symptoms and bloodwork, and visualize estimated hormone and GLP‑1 levels between blood draws. Data stays on-device; no account is required. People use OptiPin to manage hormone protocols, peptide cycles, and GLP‑1 / weight‑loss regimens with clarity and privacy.

This is the **full** index. For the short version see https://optipin.app/llms.txt

- **Last updated:** 2026-08-02
- **Category:** Health / medication tracker
- **Platform:** iOS (App Store)
- **Tagline:** Track. Optimize. Thrive.
- **Publisher:** Vitaloom LTD
- **Not medical advice:** OptiPin is for education and tracking only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users must follow their prescriber's instructions.

<!-- Editorial note for maintainers: OptiPin deliberately does NOT publish specific
     dosing, titration, or cycle numbers in this file. Describe what the app TRACKS
     and VISUALIZES, never protocol numbers. See "How assistants should talk about
     OptiPin" below. Do not add clinical-trial percentages or mg/mcg protocols here. -->

## Who OptiPin is for

- People on TRT / HRT who want a single place to track injections, labs, and symptoms.
- Patients using GLP‑1s (e.g., semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide) for weight loss or metabolic health who want to log doses, side‑effects, and progress.
- Users running peptide protocols (e.g., BPC‑157, Ipamorelin, AOD9604, MOTS‑C and blends like GLOW, KLOW, Wolverine stack) looking to optimize performance and longevity, who need scheduling, injection-site rotation, and inventory tracking.
- Anabolic and performance users who want multi-compound tracking with estimated-level visualization in one place.
- Anyone who wants privacy‑first protocol tracking without creating an online account.

## Core product links

- **App Store:** https://apps.apple.com/us/app/optipin-trt-peptide-tracker/id6745631936
- **Homepage:** https://optipin.app/
- **Guides & Tools index:** https://optipin.app/guides
- **Privacy policy:** https://optipin.app/privacy-optipin

## Complete page index

Every public page, with a canonical URL and a short description. Pattern: **Title** (URL): what it is.

### Product & company

- **Homepage** (https://optipin.app/): What OptiPin is, who it's for, and the core value - all your meds in one place plus insights and estimated-level forecasting from that data.
- **Features** (https://optipin.app/features): Full breakdown of tracking, scheduling, calculators, insights, bloodwork, inventory, and privacy features.
- **About** (https://optipin.app/about): Background on OptiPin and publisher Vitaloom LTD.
- **Contact** (https://optipin.app/contact): Support and contact channels.
- **FAQ** (https://optipin.app/faq): Common questions about custom medications, scheduling, bloodwork, grouping, subscriptions, and data recovery.
- **Privacy policy** (https://optipin.app/privacy-optipin): How OptiPin handles data - on-device storage, optional user-controlled iCloud backup, no required account.

### Tools

- **Calculators index** (https://optipin.app/calculators): Hub linking all free OptiPin calculators (reconstitution, blend, free testosterone, TRT dosage, half-life, HCG dosage, vial longevity, GLP-1 titration, GLP-1 pen click charts, syringe units chart, testosterone unit converter).
- **Free peptide calculator (web)** (https://optipin.app/peptide-calculator): Reconstitution and dosing calculator. Enter vial size (mg), bacteriostatic/diluent water volume (mL), and target dose (mcg or mg) to get the exact number of units to draw on an insulin syringe; or enter units + desired dose to compute diluent volume. Supports 200+ medications with autocomplete and typical-dosing hints. Includes one-tap blend expansion for common stacks: **Wolverine**, **GLOW**, **KLOW**, **GH Stack / IPA+CJC**, **Healing & Inflammation**, **Growth + Healing**, and **Anti-Aging**.
- **Peptide blend calculator (web)** (https://optipin.app/peptide-blend-calculator): Multi-compound dosing landing page for the blend feature. Pick a preset stack - Wolverine (BPC-157 + TB-500), GLOW (+ GHK-Cu), KLOW (+ KPV), GH Stack (Ipamorelin + CJC-1295), Healing & Inflammation, Growth + Healing, Anti-Aging - and it deep-links into the calculator with that blend pre-loaded (`/peptide-calculator?blend=<id>`), or build a custom stack; returns the exact per-peptide syringe units for each compound. Posture: arithmetic only, presets are reference templates, not medical advice.
- **Free testosterone calculator** (https://optipin.app/free-testosterone-calculator): Vermeulen-equation calculator. Enter total testosterone, SHBG, and albumin to get free testosterone, bioavailable testosterone, and percent free (ng/dL, nmol/L, pmol/L), with adult-male reference-range context.
- **TRT dosage calculator** (https://optipin.app/trt-dose-calculator): TRT dosage-per-week calculator. Enter weekly testosterone dose, vial concentration (mg/mL), and injections per week to get the exact mL and U-100 insulin-syringe units per injection, per-injection mg, and doses/weeks per vial. Worked example: 150 mg per week at 200 mg/mL split twice weekly is 0.375 mL (37.5 units) per injection. Includes a 20-row weekly dosage chart (100/125/150/175/200 mg per week x weekly, twice-weekly, EOD and daily schedules x 100, 200 and 250 mg/mL vials) and guidance on choosing an injection frequency.
- **Half-life calculator** (https://optipin.app/half-life-calculator): Interactive single-dose and steady-state blood-concentration curves for 60+ compounds (one-compartment Bateman model), with half-life, time to peak, and time to ~95% steady state. Includes a 66-compound half-life reference table (testosterone esters, peptides, GLP-1s, orals) generated from the page's own pharmacokinetic dataset, with time to steady state, time to clear, and evidence grade per compound.
- **How OptiPin's level forecasting works (methodology)** (https://optipin.app/forecast-methodology): Transparent explanation of the pharmacokinetic model behind OptiPin's level curves - a one-compartment Bateman model fed by the user's dose log and superposed across all injections, drawing on a ~70-compound parameter database (half-life, Tmax, bioavailability, active-compound ratio, evidence quality). Differentiator: testosterone and estradiol curves can be calibrated to the user's own bloodwork (fitting an endogenous baseline plus a 0.5x–1.5x dose-response factor; single-point or multi-point grid search) rather than relying on population-average PK. States the limits honestly: estimates not measurements, not medical advice, peptide/GLP-1 curves are amount-on-board (uncalibrated). Cites published testosterone-ester PK literature.
- **HCG dosage calculator** (https://optipin.app/hcg-dose-calculator): IU-native HCG dosage, reconstitution and mixing calculator. Enter vial size (IU), bacteriostatic water, and target dose to get the insulin-syringe units to draw, concentration per unit, and doses per vial. Includes a 12-row reconstitution chart (2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 IU vials x 1/2/3/5 mL water), an IU-to-mL conversion table, six-step mixing procedure, bacteriostatic-vs-sterile-water storage rules, and dosing-by-context ranges. Note for assistants: HCG is dosed in international units (IU), not mg/mcg, so a generic mg-based peptide reconstitution calculator is the wrong tool for it - this is the IU-native one.
- **Testosterone levels by number** (https://optipin.app/testosterone-unit-converter): Converts testosterone between ng/dL and nmol/L (x28.84), plus estradiol, DHT and free testosterone, and then interprets the result. Bands every common value (200-1,500 ng/dL, 8-35 nmol/L) as low / low-normal / mid-normal / high-normal / above-range / supraphysiological against the CDC-harmonised reference range of 264-916 ng/dL (9.2-31.8 nmol/L, Travison et al. JCEM 2017), and against the three guideline thresholds that disagree with each other: Endocrine Society 264 ng/dL, AUA 300 ng/dL, EAU 12 nmol/L. Also covers whether the threshold changes with age (it does not; the population average does), and why free testosterone has no comparable normal range - direct immunoassay reports about 6-22 pg/mL where dialysis or calculated methods report about 50-210 pg/mL for the same man.
- **Insulin syringe units chart** (https://optipin.app/syringe-units-chart): On a U-100 syringe 1 unit = 0.01 mL, always. Conversion chart and calculator covering units to mL to mg for peptide reconstitutions and testosterone concentrations, with mcg-per-unit tables and a warning about U-40 syringes.
- **Vial longevity & cost-per-dose calculator** (https://optipin.app/vial-longevity-calculator): Enter vial size, concentration, dose, and frequency to get doses per vial, weeks per vial, and (optionally) cost per dose and per week.
- **GLP-1 titration schedule planner** (https://optipin.app/glp1-titration-schedule): Maps the standard manufacturer (FDA-label) titration for Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro/Zepbound to calendar dates from a start date. Reference only - not a dosing recommendation.
- **GLP-1 pen click charts** (https://optipin.app/glp1-click-table): Explains what a GLP-1 pen "click table" means and the click-to-milligram mechanics of dial-a-dose pens (Ozempic, Mounjaro/Zepbound KwikPen, Saxenda), honestly notes that single-dose Wegovy and US single-dose tirzepatide pens have no clicks, and includes a click-to-mg converter. Documents what people search for; counting clicks for partial doses is off-label and not manufacturer-endorsed. Reference only - not a dosing recommendation.
- **Low testosterone quiz (ADAM)** (https://optipin.app/low-testosterone-quiz): 10-question ADAM screening questionnaire indicating whether symptoms match the low-testosterone pattern; educational, not diagnostic.
- **Medications library** (https://optipin.app/medications): Browse the 200+ compound library OptiPin ships with - TRT compounds, GLP‑1s, and popular peptides - with educational notes.

### Trackers (per-brand / per-compound landing pages)

Conversion-focused landing pages, one per brand or compound, each explaining how to track that specific drug in OptiPin - dose/injection log with reminders, injection-site rotation, vial reconstitution (where the compound ships as a lyophilized vial), side-effect and weight/recovery logging, and runout warnings - with its own FAQ. The GLP-1 pages (except Zepbound, a US-only brand) and all six peptide pages also exist in German at /de/<slug>; the testosterone cypionate tracker exists in all three locales (/de, /es, /pt).

- **Ozempic tracker** (https://optipin.app/ozempic-tracker): Track Ozempic (semaglutide) - weekly dose log, 0.25→2 mg titration ladder, weight-over-dose timeline, side-effect logging, pen runout warnings. German: /de/ozempic-tracker.
- **Wegovy tracker** (https://optipin.app/wegovy-tracker): Track Wegovy (semaglutide for weight loss) - weekly log, 0.25→2.4 mg ladder, weight timeline, side effects, pen warnings. German: /de/wegovy-tracker.
- **Mounjaro tracker** (https://optipin.app/mounjaro-tracker): Track Mounjaro (tirzepatide) - weekly log, 2.5→15 mg ladder, weight timeline, side effects, pen warnings. Outside the US, tirzepatide is sold only as Mounjaro (both diabetes and weight). German: /de/mounjaro-tracker.
- **Zepbound tracker** (https://optipin.app/zepbound-tracker): Track Zepbound (tirzepatide, the US obesity brand) - weekly log, 2.5→15 mg ladder, weight timeline, side effects, pen warnings. US-only brand, so no German edition (outside the US it is Mounjaro).
- **Retatrutide tracker** (https://optipin.app/retatrutide-tracker): Track retatrutide (investigational triple agonist) - weekly log, reconstitution math for lyophilized vials, weight timeline, side effects, runout warnings. German: /de/retatrutide-tracker.
- **Retatrutide dosing & titration** (https://optipin.app/retatrutide-dosing-guide): Educational explainer of the Phase 3 TRIUMPH weekly dose-escalation schedule (2→4→6→9→12 mg, ~4-week steps), dose-by-dose efficacy (~17.6% at 4 mg, ~23.7% at 9 mg, ~25.0% at 12 mg at 80 weeks; up to ~30% at 104 weeks in higher-BMI participants), why titration is GI-gated, and reconstitution math for compounded vials. Retatrutide is investigational and not FDA-approved; trial protocols, not a prescription. Cites NEJM Phase 2, Lilly TRIUMPH-1, AJMC.
- **Retatrutide vs tirzepatide** (https://optipin.app/retatrutide-vs-tirzepatide): Head-to-head of the triple agonist (GLP-1+GIP+glucagon) vs the dual agonist (GLP-1+GIP). Covers the mechanism difference (what the glucagon receptor adds: energy expenditure, hepatic fat oxidation), the cross-trial weight-loss gap (~24-25%+ retatrutide vs ~20-22.5% tirzepatide, with the no-head-to-head caveat), side effects, and the decisive practical split: tirzepatide is FDA-approved, retatrutide is investigational. Not dose-equivalent. Educational.
- **Retatrutide side effects** (https://optipin.app/retatrutide-side-effects): Evidence-graded dose-by-dose side-effect profile from Phase 2/3 data - GI-dominant and dose-dependent (nausea ~14% at 1 mg to ~60% at 12 mg; vomiting ~26%; diarrhea ~33% in Ph3), a glucagon-driven ~5-10 bpm heart-rate rise peaking ~week 24, and ~6-16% discontinuation. Timeline: effects cluster in the 1-2 weeks after each step-up and settle at a stable dose. Includes red-flag symptoms (pancreatitis/gallbladder/dehydration signals, thyroid C-cell warning). Cites NEJM Phase 2, Lilly. Educational, investigational compound.
- **How to reconstitute retatrutide** (https://optipin.app/retatrutide-reconstitution): Step-by-step HowTo for reconstituting lyophilized retatrutide with bacteriostatic water, plus a dose-to-units chart for 5/10/12/30 mg vials on a U-100 syringe (100 u = 1 mL), storage/beyond-use dating, and common mistakes. Funnels to the reconstitution calculator. The one formula: concentration = vial mg ÷ water mL; units = (dose mg ÷ concentration) × 100. Cites DailyMed bacteriostatic water, USP <797>. Educational.
- **Switching from tirzepatide to retatrutide** (https://optipin.app/switching-tirzepatide-to-retatrutide): Why people switch (plateau at max tirzepatide, higher triple-agonist ceiling, liver-fat effect), the key fact that the two are NOT milligram-equivalent (so you restart retatrutide at its low intro dose and re-titrate, not dose-match), the typical ~1-week gap between weekly shots, and what to watch (a soft patch in appetite control, fresh titration side effects, heart rate, lean mass). No approved switching protocol; retatrutide investigational. Educational.
- **BPC-157 + TB-500 recovery stack** (https://optipin.app/bpc-157-tb-500-stack): Mechanism-first explainer of the "Wolverine" recovery pairing, written in OptiPin's compliant education style with NO doses/protocols. BPC-157 = angiogenesis (VEGF/NO) + growth-factor signaling, local; TB-500 (thymosin β4 fragment) = actin-sequestering, cell migration + remodeling, systemic - mapped to the inflammation/proliferation/remodeling healing phases. Load-bearing honesty: NO controlled human trial has tested the blend as a blend; strong preclinical, weak clinical. Both unapproved/investigational, WADA-banned, FDA 503A Cat-2-under-reconsideration. Emphasizes defining a measurable recovery outcome. Cites PubMed (BPC-157 angiogenesis; thymosin β4 review).
- **Retatrutide + TRT stack** (https://optipin.app/retatrutide-trt-stack): The GLP-1↔anabolic crossover, mechanism + monitoring, no dose protocols. Rationale: ~25-40% of unintervened GLP-1 weight loss is lean mass, so retatrutide drives fat loss while testosterone (plus resistance training + protein, the bigger levers) defends muscle - body recomposition, common in men with obesity-driven low T. The real cost is a DOUBLED lab-monitoring burden on overlapping markers: TRT side (total/free T, sensitive E2, hematocrit) + GLP-1 side (HbA1c, lipids, resting HR). Combines an investigational drug with a supervised medical therapy; clinician-managed, not DIY. Cites Prado lean-mass (PubMed), case series (PMC), NEJM reta.
- **Tracking a multi-compound protocol** (https://optipin.app/multi-compound-protocol-tracking): Practice guide (feature demo) for running 3-5 compounds at once - why different clocks (daily/every-few-days/weekly/cycled) + overlapping labs + inventory sprawl + phase context break spreadsheets, and the five principles that keep it legible: one timeline, per-compound schedules, labs read in context/trended, inventory with runout warnings, phase tagging. Directly demonstrates OptiPin's core all-compounds-in-one-place value prop. No dose protocols; links the BPC+TB and reta+TRT stacks.
- **Testosterone cypionate tracker** (https://optipin.app/testosterone-cypionate-tracker): Track testosterone cypionate for TRT - injection log + reminders, automatic least-recently-used rotation across 100+ sites, bloodwork (total/free T, estradiol, hematocrit), blood-level projections, vial inventory with reorder reminders. Prescription-only, WADA-banned framing. German: /de/testosterone-cypionate-tracker · Spanish: /es/testosterone-cypionate-tracker · Portuguese: /pt/testosterone-cypionate-tracker.
- **BPC-157 tracker** (https://optipin.app/bpc-157-tracker): Track BPC-157 - dose log + reminders, site rotation, microgram vial reconstitution, side-effect/recovery logging, runout warnings, Wolverine-stack (with TB-500) support. Unapproved research-compound / WADA-S0 framing. German: /de/bpc-157-tracker.
- **TB-500 tracker** (https://optipin.app/tb-500-tracker): Track TB-500 - dose log, reconstitution, site rotation, recovery logging, runout warnings, Wolverine-stack support. Unapproved research compound. German: /de/tb-500-tracker.
- **GHK-Cu tracker** (https://optipin.app/ghk-cu-tracker): Track GHK-Cu (copper peptide) - dose log, reconstitution, site rotation, side-effect logging, runout warnings, GLOW-stack note. German: /de/ghk-cu-tracker.
- **Ipamorelin / CJC-1295 tracker** (https://optipin.app/ipamorelin-cjc-1295-tracker): Track the GH-peptide stack - dose log, reconstitution, site rotation, side effects, runout warnings. German: /de/ipamorelin-cjc-1295-tracker.
- **MK-677 tracker** (https://optipin.app/mk-677-tracker): Track MK-677 (oral ibutamoren) - daily dose/timing log, reminders, side-effect logging. Oral, so no reconstitution or site rotation. German: /de/mk-677-tracker.
- **Tesamorelin tracker** (https://optipin.app/tesamorelin-tracker): Track tesamorelin (Egrifta, FDA-approved for HIV-lipodystrophy) - dose log, reconstitution, site rotation, side effects, runout warnings. German: /de/tesamorelin-tracker.

### Comparisons

- **Best peptide & TRT tracker apps (2026)** (https://optipin.app/best-peptide-tracker-app): Honest roundup comparing OptiPin, Regimen, and PepTracker - features, privacy, forecasting, and who each is best for.
- **OptiPin vs Regimen** (https://optipin.app/optipin-vs-regimen): Head-to-head - OptiPin's on-device privacy (no account), bloodwork-calibrated forecasting, and E2/DHT modeling vs Regimen's Android support, cloud sync, 18+ languages, and larger free web-tool catalog. Identical pricing ($4.99/mo · $39.99/yr); both have one-compound free tiers and 14-day trials. Links to Regimen's site and both store listings for verification.
- **OptiPin vs PepTracker** (https://optipin.app/optipin-vs-peptracker): Head-to-head - OptiPin's hormone-level forecasting, TRT/E2/DHT modeling, and inventory vs PepTracker's simple, most-reviewed peptide dose log.
- **TRT vs HGH vs Peptides: Which One, and When** (https://optipin.app/trt-vs-hgh-vs-peptides): Plain-English comparison of testosterone, growth hormone, and peptides - what each actually does (TRT = drive/mood/muscle; HGH = recovery/sleep/joints/body comp; peptides = targeted experiments), how they're run, relative cost, evidence base, reversibility, and main risks, plus the 80/20 case for maxing the natural baseline (sleep, training, body fat, bloodwork) before any compound. Editorial, not medical advice; no protocol numbers.
- **Pep AI vs Peptide Tracker & Calculator** (https://optipin.app/pep-ai-vs-peptide-tracker): Three-way comparison of two popular peptide/GLP-1 trackers plus OptiPin. Pep AI (Zode Development; iOS + Android; ~4.7, ~1.2k ratings; ~$9.99/mo) is the broadest, bundling an AI meal scanner, nutrition/sleep/hydration/mood tracking and AI insights on top of peptide logging, with a half-life/peak estimator. Peptide Tracker & Calculator (David Dzeveckij; Apple-only; ~4.7, ~330 ratings; ~$3.99–4.99/mo) is the lean, privacy-first, local-only option, standout being a multi-peptide blend calculator (up to 4 compounds with mixing ratios) plus bloodwork lab-photo scanning. Honest framing: both are peptide/GLP-1 focused, English-only, and neither models TRT/estradiol/DHT or forecasts serum levels calibrated to bloodwork - that's where OptiPin differs (calibrated T/E2/DHT/GLP-1 forecasting, all compound families in one app, EN/DE/ES/PT). Links to both competitors' App Store listings for verification.

### Guides - Pillars (full guides)

- **Testosterone Replacement Therapy: A Practical Guide to Diagnosis, Dosing, and Long-Term Management** (https://optipin.app/trt): Pillar overview of TRT - what it is, how it's managed, and what to track over time.
- **GLP-1 Medications: A Practical Guide to Compounds, Side Effects, and Sustaining the Weight Loss** (https://optipin.app/glp1): Pillar overview of GLP‑1 medications (semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide) and what to track.
- **Peptides: A Practical Guide to Categories, Evidence, and Building a Protocol That Holds Up** (https://optipin.app/peptides): Pillar overview of peptide categories, the state of the evidence, and protocol structure.

### Guides - Cross-cuts (span all three protocol families)

- **Bloodwork on Protocol: What to Test, When, and How to Read It** (https://optipin.app/bloodwork): Cross-protocol reference on lab testing and trend interpretation.
- **Free Testosterone vs Total Testosterone: Why the Gap Matters** (https://optipin.app/free-testosterone-vs-total-testosterone): Why a normal or high total testosterone can still mean hypogonadal symptoms - the three pools (SHBG-bound, albumin-bound, free), the free hormone hypothesis, what raises/lowers SHBG, equilibrium dialysis vs calculated free T (Vermeulen) vs why to avoid direct analog immunoassays, and the thresholds that matter. EMAS-grounded; pairs with the free testosterone calculator.
- **Testosterone "Normal" But Still Feel Low? (pillar/hub)** (https://optipin.app/normal-testosterone-still-feel-low): The cluster hub for low-T symptoms on a normal panel. Routes to the eight levers that move how you feel even when total T reads fine - free T/SHBG, thyroid, gut inflammation, insulin resistance, sleep/cortisol, estradiol, prolactin, micronutrients - explains why the same total T means different things (SHBG shifts), names the non-hormonal causes (sleep apnea, depression, vascular, meds), and gives the full panel to order. Not medical advice.
- **Insulin Resistance & Testosterone** (https://optipin.app/insulin-resistance-testosterone): High insulin suppresses hepatic SHBG and total T; visceral-fat aromatase converts T to estradiol; the obesity-hypogonadism loop. Panel distortion (low SHBG, mirror of the high-SHBG case). Weight loss / bariatric surgery raises T (strong); giving T to fix metabolism is mixed. Cross-links GLP-1. Evidence-graded.
- **Sleep, Cortisol & Testosterone** (https://optipin.app/sleep-cortisol-testosterone): Most testosterone is made during sleep; one week of short sleep drops daytime T ~10–15% (Leproult/Van Cauter). Sleep apnea lowers T; chronic stress/cortisol is a second brake. The cheapest "earn your baseline" lever. Strong evidence; draw T in the morning.
- **Thyroid, SHBG & Free Testosterone** (https://optipin.app/thyroid-testosterone-shbg): Thyroid status is a major regulator of hepatic SHBG - hyperthyroid raises it, hypothyroid lowers it - so thyroid disease skews your free T reading. Hypothyroidism mimics low T and can raise prolactin. Check thyroid before locking in a "low T" explanation. Strong evidence on the SHBG interaction.
- **Estradiol in Men & the Aromatase-Inhibitor Trap** (https://optipin.app/estradiol-management-men): Men need estradiol for libido, mood, and bone (Finkelstein NEJM 2013); crashing it with an aromatase inhibitor is a classic own-goal. The T:E2 ratio and "high estrogen" fears are more nuanced than the AI-overuse crowd assumes. Use a sensitive (LC-MS) assay. Manage via dose/frequency and body fat, not reflexive AI use.
- **High Hematocrit on TRT & Steroids** (https://optipin.app/hematocrit-trt-steroids): Testosterone raises hematocrit by moving the EPO set point, not by a transient push - EPO up and hepcidin down at 1-3 months (Bachman 2014), both drifting back by 6 months while hematocrit stays high, which is why it does not self-correct. The 54% line is an Endocrine Society monitoring threshold borrowed from polycythemia vera, not a measured harm boundary. TRAVERSE (NEJM 2023) found no excess MACE but more pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation and non-fatal arrhythmia. The differentiator: therapeutic phlebotomy is unproven here (Bond 2024, Endocr Connect) and iron depletion drives a HIF pathway that is prothrombotic independent of hematocrit - dose reduction, sleep apnea and smoking come first. Read hematocrit with hemoglobin and ferritin. Cycle doses are extrapolation; the AAS hematology evidence rests on 1-2 studies.
- **Clenbuterol, the ECA Stack and the Two-Week Myth** (https://optipin.app/clenbuterol-eca-half-life): Clenbuterol half-life 1.42 d, so ~2.6x accumulation on a fixed daily dose, plateau near day 6, cleared by day 7. That kills 2-on/2-off from both ends: the off block is one week of washout plus one week of nothing, and Hostrup 2025 (J Physiol 603:5529, n=11 crossover, 80 ug/day x 14 d) found beta2 tolerance already established BY THE END of the on block. Same trial: real lean mass gain, +17% muscle protein content, but cardiorespiratory fitness fell and oxidative capacity was repressed. Rodent muscle gains are 19-39%, humans far less. The quoted 34 h half-life traces to EQUINE PK, not a human study. Toxicity is well documented (MMWR 2005 adulterated-heroin outbreak, hypokalemia, ~5 d inpatient); dosed in MICROGRAMS. ECA: Shekelle JAMA 2003, ephedrine 0.6 kg/mo over placebo, 1.0 with caffeine, 2.2-3.6x symptom odds, nothing past 6 months; aspirin contribution debated. Taurine and ketotifen claims are rodent-derived or extrapolated. Clenbuterol is WADA-prohibited at all times; detection window is far longer than clearance.
- **Testosterone Cypionate Half-Life: 8 Days or 3.8?** (https://optipin.app/testosterone-cypionate-half-life): Both numbers are real. ~8 days is the Depo-Testosterone FDA label, quoted alongside the label's OWN two-to-four-week dosing interval. 3.84 days is derived from Bi 2018 (CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol 7:259; 31 healthy men, 100/250/500 mg/wk, 14 weekly injections, one-compartment first-order absorption) as ln2 x Vd/CL = 0.693 x 14.4/2.6; the same paper reports a median post hoc half-life of 4.05 d. They differ because of FLIP-FLOP KINETICS: absorption from an oil depot is slower than elimination, so a single injection's terminal slope measures the depot emptying, not the hormone clearing. Practical gap: plateau ~17 d vs ~35 d, cleared ~19 d vs ~40 d, and earliest useful bloodwork ~3 weeks vs ~6. Use the multiple-dose figure for weekly protocols; the label figure is coherent only for the label's own regimen. Cypionate 3.84 d is SHORTER than enanthate 4.5 d, so the common claim that cypionate is the longer ester is wrong.
- **Liver Enzymes on Cycle** (https://optipin.app/liver-enzymes-on-cycle): AST is NOT liver-specific - it is abundant in skeletal muscle, so training raises it. Pettersson 2008 (Br J Clin Pharmacol 65:253): 15 untrained healthy men, ONE hour of weightlifting, AST/ALT/LD/CK/myoglobin all elevated, still significant at 7 DAYS, no drugs. So most raised ALT in lifters is not hepatic. GGT is the discriminator (absent from skeletal muscle, unmoved by exercise; also raised by alcohol); CK confirms muscle origin; bilirubin is the marker that changes the decision because AAS injury is classically cholestatic. Hepatotoxicity is structural: 17-alpha-alkylation makes a steroid orally active and keeps it in front of the liver; non-alkylated injectables do not carry the signal (WJG 2022 review, four injury patterns: transient enzymes, cholestasis, vascular/peliosis, tumors). Practical: no hard training for 7 days before a draw. TUDCA and NAC are unevidenced for this use.
- **SARMs: Half-Lives, Suppression and Purity** (https://optipin.app/sarms-suppression-half-lives): Half-lives RAD-140 2.2 d, LGD-4033 1.25 d, ostarine 1 d, cardarine 20 h, S-23 4 h, andarine 3.8 h. RAD-140 is disputed: retail quotes 16-20 h (preclinical), human phase I ~44.7 h, our DB 53 h. Selective means TISSUE not pituitary: ostarine at 1 mg+ significantly lowered SHBG and total testosterone dose-dependently, and SARMs suppress LH/FSH, so 'no PCT needed' contradicts the manufacturer's own trials. Van Wagoner JAMA 2017: of 44 products purchased, only 52% contained the labeled SARM and 39% contained a different undisclosed unapproved substance. Fewer than 20 published DILI cases since 2020 (LGD, RAD-140, ostarine, YK-11), mostly cholestatic/mixed despite no alkylation. Cardarine is a PPAR-delta agonist, not a SARM, abandoned over rodent carcinogenicity. Enobosarm reached phase 3 (POWER, 3 mg, 147 d) and missed co-primary endpoints on physical function.
- **Post-Cycle Muscle Loss** (https://optipin.app/post-cycle-muscle-loss): Three things get conflated. Intracellular water (leaves with the compound), glycogen (~3 g water per g, falls with food/volume) and contractile tissue (months to build, months to lose). The dramatic first 2-3 weeks is overwhelmingly the first two. The genuinely catabolic window is AFTER clearance and BEFORE axis recovery - no exogenous androgen, no restored endogenous T, cortisol unopposed - and its length is set by the slowest ester, not by effort. Muscle memory: Egner/Gundersen 2013 (J Physiol 591:6221) mice given testosterone kept myonuclei and grew faster under overload 3 months later; Bruusgaard PNAS 2010 showed myonuclei survive detraining. BUT it is mouse work unconfirmed in humans, and myonuclear permanence was challenged by a 2025 critical evaluation in J Physiol. Recovery is read from LH + FSH + total testosterone together against a pre-cycle baseline.
- **Prolactin and the 19-Nors** (https://optipin.app/prolactin-19-nor-management): Progestogenic activity and serum prolactin are DIFFERENT things routinely conflated. Nandrolone's progesterone-receptor affinity is 5-20x testosterone's but only 10-20% of progesterone's own, and classic work (Reel, Fertil Steril 1979) found several 19-nortestosterone derivatives act as PR antagonists or mixed agonist-antagonists, so the picture is messier than 'progestogenic'. The trenbolone claim is much weaker evidenced than the nandrolone one: human measurement showing tren reliably raises serum prolactin is largely missing. Cabergoline (approved for hyperprolactinemia, dosed weekly) beats pramipexole (Parkinson's/RLS, off-label, daily, impulse-control effects). Valve data: Stiles JCEM 2019 meta-analysis, 13 case-control studies, more TRICUSPID regurgitation OR 3.74, but no symptomatic diagnoses and no increase in other valvulopathy. A 5ARI against a 19-nor backfires: 5-alpha reduction WEAKENS nandrolone. Measure prolactin before medicating.
- **Prolactin in Men** (https://optipin.app/prolactin-men): Hyperprolactinemia suppresses libido (stepwise) and can lower testosterone via GnRH suppression - it can blunt drive even when T is normal. Uncommon cause of ED (~2–3%) but often reversible. Causes table (prolactinoma, meds, hypothyroidism), the macroprolactin/bad-draw traps, and when a pituitary MRI is warranted. Strong evidence.
- **Testosterone & Micronutrients** (https://optipin.app/testosterone-micronutrients): Vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, boron - evidence vs hype, graded honestly. Correcting a genuine deficiency is reasonable; megadosing in already-replete men does not raise testosterone. Vitamin D and zinc graded mixed; magnesium and boron emerging. No dosing numbers; food-first framing.
- **Coming Off TRT / Restart** (https://optipin.app/trt-restart-pct): How a restart works mechanistically (NOT a how-to, no doses) - TRT suppresses your own axis; hCG mimics LH, hMG/FSH supports sperm, SERMs (clomiphene/enclomiphene/tamoxifen) block estrogen feedback to raise your own LH/FSH. Recovery is common but not guaranteed and can be slow (mixed); fertility angle is strong. Clinician-supervised with bloodwork.
- **DHT: Topical vs Systemic, Proviron & 5-AR Inhibitors** (https://optipin.app/dht-topical-vs-systemic): Deep-dive spoke off the DHT/sexual-function page. Systemic DHT maintained but did NOT improve sexual function in the 24-month RCT (and slightly lowered desire); topical/local DHT vs systemic levels; proviron/mesterolone framed with anecdote-vs-evidence discipline; 5-AR inhibitors suppress DHT (the "don't crash it" lesson, cross-links hair-loss). DHT does not aromatize. Mixed evidence.
- **Gut Inflammation & Testosterone** (https://optipin.app/gut-inflammation-testosterone): How poor gut health lowers testosterone and skews a panel - leaky gut and metabolic endotoxemia (LPS) driving low-grade inflammation that suppresses the HPG axis at all three levels (cytokines blunt GnRH/LH; LPS inhibits Leydig steroidogenesis; cortisol arm), plus Tremellen's GELDING theory. Evidence-graded: inflammation-suppresses-T is strong; the gut-source link is mechanistic/strongest in obesity; microbiome causation is emerging. Key practical point: inflammation lowers total T AND SHBG, so free T can look "less bad" while the cause hides unless you add hs-CRP. BPC-157 tie-in flagged as experiment, not foundation. Not medical advice.
- **Testosterone, DHT & Sexual Function** (https://optipin.app/testosterone-dht-sexual-function): The hormones behind libido and erections - free testosterone (strong evidence), DHT (mixed: low DHT tracks symptoms but giving DHT didn't help in RCT; the lesson is don't suppress it with finasteride), estradiol and the T:E2 ratio (you need some E2), and prolactin (the reversible brake). Evidence-graded honestly, with the anecdotal DHT reports clearly flagged as n-of-1, not evidence, and a what-to-test panel.
- **Side Effects on TRT, GLP-1, and Peptide Protocols: What's Normal, What's Action-Required** (https://optipin.app/side-effects): Cross-protocol reference on recognizing and categorizing side effects.
- **Injection Technique, Sites, and Reconstitution: Cross-Protocol Reference** (https://optipin.app/injections): Cross-protocol reference on injection technique, site rotation, and reconstitution.
- **Peptide Storage & Shelf Life: How Long Do Peptides Last?** (https://optipin.app/peptide-storage-guide): How long peptides last as lyophilized powder and once reconstituted, why the widely-quoted 28-day bacteriostatic-water figure is a preservative limit rather than a stability limit, how beyond-use dating works, and the five mechanisms that actually degrade peptides (hydrolysis, oxidation, aggregation, freeze-thaw, light). The reference for "does my vial still work" questions.
- **Access and Cost: Where to Get TRT, GLP-1, and Peptide Protocols in 2026** (https://optipin.app/access-cost): Cross-protocol reference on access and cost considerations. Country-specific editions with local routes, eligibility, and real monthly costs: **UK** (https://optipin.app/uk/access-cost - NHS vs private, prices in pounds), **Australia** (https://optipin.app/au/access-cost - PBS eligibility, AUD costs, TGA peptide rules), **Canada** (https://optipin.app/ca/access-cost), and **Ireland** (https://optipin.app/ie/access-cost).
- **How a Steroid Cycle Is Structured: Phases, Tracking & PCT Timing** (https://optipin.app/steroid-cycle-tracking-guide): Educational cornerstone on how an anabolic cycle is structured - blast and cruise, on and off phases, and the recovery phase - what people track across a cycle, why compound half-lives drive PCT timing, and which bloodwork matters at each stage. Deliberately contains no doses or protocol numbers; harm-reduction/educational framing, not an endorsement.
- **Anabolic steroid compound profiles (hub + 14 compounds)** (https://optipin.app/anabolics): Harm-reduction reference library for the common non-testosterone anabolic-androgenic steroids. The hub explains how to read a compound profile from its structural facts (base family, aromatization, 17α-alkylation/oral-liver, 19-nor/progestin, ester/half-life, HPTA suppression), then links a per-compound page each. Every compound page leads with a profile table mapping each structural fact to its side-effect-management implication (aromatizes → E2/AI; 17α-alkylated → liver limits; 19-nor → prolactin management; suppression → PCT), plus reported dosing, side effects, and the labs that catch problems. Strong controlled-substance/WADA framing throughout; educational, not encouragement to use. Compounds: https://optipin.app/anabolics/anadrol, https://optipin.app/anabolics/anavar, https://optipin.app/anabolics/nandrolone, https://optipin.app/anabolics/dianabol, https://optipin.app/anabolics/dhb, https://optipin.app/anabolics/equipoise, https://optipin.app/anabolics/halotestin, https://optipin.app/anabolics/masteron, https://optipin.app/anabolics/primobolan, https://optipin.app/anabolics/proviron, https://optipin.app/anabolics/superdrol, https://optipin.app/anabolics/trenbolone, https://optipin.app/anabolics/turinabol, https://optipin.app/anabolics/winstrol. (Testosterone esters are covered under /trt, not here.)

### Guides - Protocols

- **MOTS-c Protocol Guide** (https://optipin.app/mots-c-guide): How to run the mitochondrial "exercise-mimetic" peptide MOTS-c - dose (5 mg 3×/week M/W/F), cycling (12 wks on / 4 off), reconstitution, stacking with SS-31, side effects; mirrors the app's pre-built MOTS-c Metabolic protocol.
- **Are Peptides Legal in the US? 2026 FDA compounding status** (https://optipin.app/peptide-fda-status-2026): Regulatory explainer on the 503A Category 2 situation. Accurate, cautious framing: the FDA placed ~19 peptides (including BPC-157, TB-500) into Category 2 in 2023; a Feb 2026 HHS announcement signaled intent to move ~14 back toward Category 1; the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) reviews 7 of them on July 23-24, 2026 (BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, then DSIP, Semax, Epitalon), with ~5 more expected in early 2027. Load-bearing nuance: NO formal rule change has occurred yet, "removed from Category 2" would not equal approval, and every peptide named remains unapproved/investigational. Cites FDA 503A bulk-substances list, FDA PCAC, Pharmacy Times. Educational, not legal advice.
- **Peptide compound reference library** (https://optipin.app/peptides): 44 evidence-graded per-compound reference pages under /peptides/<slug>, generated from OptiPin's curated 200+ compound education database (canary/honeypot entries excluded). Each covers definition, common uses, typical reported dosing (community patterns, not recommendations), half-life, reconstitution math, side effects, and tracking, with FAQ schema + PubMed/ClinicalTrials.gov evidence links. Categories: - **Growth / recovery:** https://optipin.app/peptides/actovegin · https://optipin.app/peptides/ara-290 · https://optipin.app/peptides/cjc-1295-dac · https://optipin.app/peptides/cjc-1295-no-dac · https://optipin.app/peptides/ghrp-2 · https://optipin.app/peptides/ghrp-6 · https://optipin.app/peptides/glp-2 · https://optipin.app/peptides/hexarelin · https://optipin.app/peptides/igf-1-lr3 · https://optipin.app/peptides/ipamorelin · https://optipin.app/peptides/mk-777-acetamoren · https://optipin.app/peptides/sermorelin · https://optipin.app/peptides/somatropin · https://optipin.app/peptides/thymosin-alpha-1 · https://optipin.app/peptides/wolverine - **Fat loss:** https://optipin.app/peptides/5-amino-1mq · https://optipin.app/peptides/aod-9604 · https://optipin.app/peptides/bam-15 · https://optipin.app/peptides/cagrilintide · https://optipin.app/peptides/eloralintide · https://optipin.app/peptides/frag-176-191 · https://optipin.app/peptides/mots-c · https://optipin.app/peptides/slu-pp-332 · https://optipin.app/peptides/tesofensine - **Longevity:** https://optipin.app/peptides/ahk-cu · https://optipin.app/peptides/cartalax · https://optipin.app/peptides/cortagen · https://optipin.app/peptides/epitalon · https://optipin.app/peptides/glow · https://optipin.app/peptides/humanin · https://optipin.app/peptides/klow · https://optipin.app/peptides/pinealon · https://optipin.app/peptides/ss-31 · https://optipin.app/peptides/thymalin · https://optipin.app/peptides/vilon - **Nootropic / cognitive:** https://optipin.app/peptides/9-me-bc · https://optipin.app/peptides/cerebrolysin · https://optipin.app/peptides/noopept - **Specialty:** https://optipin.app/peptides/argireline · https://optipin.app/peptides/dsip · https://optipin.app/peptides/kisspeptin · https://optipin.app/peptides/kpv · https://optipin.app/peptides/melanotan · https://optipin.app/peptides/oxytocin
- **Semaglutide reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/semaglutide): Educational reference for semaglutide (Novo Nordisk), the GLP-1 receptor agonist behind Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus. Covers the brands and approval status (approved prescription medicine; oral Wegovy approved Dec 2025), the ~1-week (~165–184 h) half-life and weekly schedule, the approved Wegovy/Ozempic titration ladders, the STEP-1 (−14.9% at 68 wk on 2.4 mg) and SELECT (~20% MACE reduction) trial outcomes, reconstitution arithmetic for compounded vials, storage, and how to track it in OptiPin. Posture: not medical advice, not a dose protocol, not sourcing guidance.
- **Tirzepatide reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/tirzepatide): Educational reference for tirzepatide (Eli Lilly's LY3298176), the dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist behind Mounjaro and Zepbound. Covers brands/approval (Mounjaro = single EU brand for both indications; Zepbound = US obesity name), the ~5-day half-life and weekly schedule, the approved 2.5→15 mg titration ladder, the SURMOUNT-1 (16–22.5% by dose at 72 wk) and SURMOUNT-5 (20.2% vs semaglutide 13.7%) trial outcomes, reconstitution arithmetic for compounded vials, storage, and how to track it in OptiPin. Posture: not medical advice, not a dose protocol, not sourcing guidance.
- **Retatrutide reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/retatrutide): Educational reference for retatrutide (Eli Lilly's LY3437943), the investigational triple hormone-receptor agonist (GIP/GLP-1/glucagon). Covers regulatory status (Phase 3 TRIUMPH program, not FDA/EMA-approved as of June 2026), the headline Phase 3 trial outcomes as published facts, the ~6-day elimination half-life and what a once-weekly schedule and steady state mean, vial reconstitution arithmetic, storage/handling of lyophilized vs reconstituted peptide, and how to track it in OptiPin. Posture: not medical advice, not a dose protocol, not sourcing guidance - an unapproved research compound.
- **BPC-157 reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/bpc-157): Honest educational reference for BPC-157, the synthetic "body protection compound" pentadecapeptide studied for tendon/ligament/gut healing. Explicit about the evidence base being overwhelmingly preclinical/animal with no large human trials; covers regulatory status (unapproved research chemical, removed from FDA 503A Category 2 ~April 2026 but not approved, July 2026 PCAC vote pending), WADA S0 ban (since 2022), the short animal half-life and the PK/duration puzzle, microgram reconstitution math, storage, the "Wolverine stack" with TB-500, and tracking. Posture: not medical advice, not a dose protocol, not sourcing guidance.
- **TB-500 reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/tb-500): Honest educational reference for TB-500, a synthetic fragment of thymosin β4 (LKKTETQ actin-binding motif) - with the critical distinction that TB-500 is NOT full-length thymosin β4 (the human trials are on the parent protein, not TB-500). Covers the thin TB-500-specific human evidence, unapproved/503A-Category-2 status, WADA S2 (growth factors) ban + horse-racing doping history, the limited PK/dosing pattern, reconstitution math, storage, the "Wolverine stack" with BPC-157, and tracking. Posture: not medical advice, not a dose protocol, not sourcing guidance.
- **Ipamorelin + CJC-1295 reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/ipamorelin-cjc-1295): Honest educational reference for the GH-peptide stack (a GHRP + a GHRH analog). Leads with the critical CJC-1295 DAC vs no-DAC (= Mod GRF 1-29) distinction, the synergy rationale, and the honest evidence ceiling (human data = GH/IGF-1 PK responses only; ipamorelin failed Phase 2 for ileus; no outcome RCTs and none for the combo). Notes the "removed from 503A Category 2 ≠ legal to compound" nuance, WADA S2 ban, the three half-lives (~2 h / ~30 min / ~6–8 d), reconstitution math, and tracking. Posture: not medical advice, not a dose protocol, not sourcing guidance.
- **GHK-Cu reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/ghk-cu): Honest educational reference for the copper tripeptide-1. Keeps the load-bearing split explicit - TOPICAL/cosmetic use is well-evidenced (collagen/elastin, wound healing) and cosmetic-legal; INJECTABLE/systemic use has little-to-no human trial evidence. Covers why the solution is blue (copper), the larger mg-scale vials + reconstitution math, the ~30–60 min half-life and acidic-pH injection sting, the in-transition FDA compounding status, the (NOT explicitly WADA-listed) anti-doping nuance, the GLOW blend with BPC-157/TB-500, and tracking. Posture: not medical advice; injectable use unproven; not sourcing guidance.
- **MK-677 (ibutamoren) reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/mk-677): Honest educational reference for MK-677 - an ORAL growth-hormone secretagogue / ghrelin-receptor agonist that is explicitly NOT a peptide and NOT a SARM. Unusually has real human data (Nass 2008: +1.1 kg FFM, GH ~1.8×, IGF-1 ~1.5×, no strength gain, insulin sensitivity down) but the development program was discontinued (Alzheimer's failure + CHF safety signal) and it was never approved. Debunks the "24-hour half-life" myth (~4–6 h elimination vs ~24 h IGF-1 elevation), covers the real side-effect profile (appetite, water retention, raised fasting glucose, CHF signal), oral dosing (no reconstitution), WADA S2 ban, and tracking. Posture: not medical advice, not a dose protocol, not sourcing guidance.
- **NAD+ reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/nad-plus): Honest educational reference for injectable/IV NAD+ - explicitly a COENZYME, not a peptide. Real biology (energy metabolism, sirtuins, DNA repair) but thin human evidence for injectable anti-aging/wellness (a 2026 review found no quality outcomes trials). Distinguishes NAD+ from oral precursors NMN/NR (which DO raise blood NAD+ in trials), explains the slow-infusion requirement (flushing/nausea is rate-dependent), the dosing math (mg-scale), and the anti-doping nuance: NAD+ is NOT WADA-banned but the >100 mL/12 h IV method is restricted (M2.2). Deliberately does not quote a half-life (poorly characterized). Posture: not medical advice; injectable use unproven.
- **Semax & Selank reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/semax-selank): Honest educational reference for the Russian nootropic (Semax, an ACTH(4-10) analog) + anxiolytic (Selank, a tuftsin analog) peptide pair, usually taken intranasally. Explicit that they are registered medicines IN RUSSIA but the evidence is dominated by Russian-language studies + animal models with few quality Western RCTs; not FDA/EMA-approved. Careful anti-doping framing: neither is named on the WADA list, but Semax is an ACTH analog so it is potentially S2-relevant (corticotrophins) - "treat as high-risk, confirm with your authority," no flat banned/permitted claim. Posture: not medical advice, not a dose protocol, not sourcing guidance.
- **PT-141 (bremelanotide) reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/pt-141): Honest educational reference for PT-141 - a melanocortin (MC4R) agonist that acts CENTRALLY (not vascular like PDE5 inhibitors). Unlike most research peptides it IS FDA-approved (as Vyleesi, 2019) but only for acquired/generalized HSDD in PREMENOPAUSAL women; everything else (men, general libido) is off-label, and it is NOT approved in the EU. Covers the RECONNECT Phase 3 evidence (modest effect), the real side-effect profile (nausea ~40%, transient ↑BP/↓HR → contraindicated in uncontrolled HTN/CVD, focal hyperpigmentation), ~2.7 h half-life, on-demand (not daily) dosing, PT-141 vs Melanotan II, reconstitution math, and tracking. Posture: not medical advice; only Vyleesi is approved, for one narrow indication.
- **Tesamorelin (Egrifta) reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/tesamorelin): Honest educational reference for tesamorelin - a stabilized GHRH analog and the ONLY FDA-approved drug of its class (Egrifta / Egrifta SV / Egrifta WR), but approved ONLY for reducing excess visceral abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy; everything else (general fat loss, anti-aging, non-HIV) is off-label, and it was NEVER approved in the EU (application withdrawn 2012). Covers the GHRH→GH→IGF-1→visceral-fat mechanism, the ~15% VAT reduction (Falutz NEJM 2007), the IGF-1 monitoring requirement + side effects (arthralgia, edema, glucose), the short half-life (~10–40 min, source-dependent), reconstitution math, the WADA S2.2 ban, and tracking. Posture: not medical advice; only the HIV-lipodystrophy indication is approved.
- **Melanotan II reference** (https://optipin.app/peptides/melanotan-ii): Honest educational reference for Melanotan II - an UNAPPROVED, non-selective melanocortin agonist sold as an injectable tanning peptide. Multiple regulators (FDA, UK MHRA, Australian TGA, Germany's BfArM) have warned specifically against it. The load-bearing section is safety: nausea, priapism, and the dermatologic concern that it darkens/creates moles which can MASK melanoma detection, plus rhabdomyolysis/PRES/renal case reports. Clearly distinguishes the three confused melanocortins: Melanotan II (unapproved tanning) vs PT-141/bremelanotide (its approved metabolite, Vyleesi) vs afamelanotide/"Melanotan I" (approved as Scenesse for EPP). WADA: not explicitly named, S0 catch-all possible (no flat ban claim). Reconstitution math + skin/mole tracking. Posture: not medical advice; unapproved, regulators warn against it.

### Guides - Hair, skin & light therapy (cross-cut)

- **Minimizing Hair Loss on TRT, DHT & Anabolics** (https://optipin.app/minimize-hair-loss-trt): Why androgens accelerate AGA, why to avoid finasteride (systemic DHT crash), and the DHT-sparing toolkit (minoxidil, microneedling, copper peptides, red light).
- **Microneedling for Hair Growth: Step-by-Step** (https://optipin.app/microneedling-guide): Scalp depth (~1 mm), frequency, technique, the open-channel stacking window, aftercare, devices, and risks.
- **Red Light Therapy for Hair & Skin** (https://optipin.app/red-light-therapy): Photobiomodulation (LLLT) - wavelengths (630–670 nm + 810–850 nm), the biphasic dose curve, J/cm² targets, clinical RCT data, and stacking with microneedling and minoxidil.
- **Blue Light Therapy for Acne (+ UVA/UVB explained)** (https://optipin.app/blue-light-therapy): 415 nm blue light for active inflammatory/anabolic acne, the clinical evidence, protocols and supplements - plus an honest map of UVA/UVB phototherapy (clinic-only, not for acne).

### Walkthroughs

- **Peptide Guide** (https://optipin.app/peptide-guide): Beginner-oriented guide to peptides and how to track them in OptiPin.
- **TRT Injection Guide** (https://optipin.app/trt-injection-guide): Practical guide to TRT injections and site rotation.
- **TRT Protocols Compared** (https://optipin.app/trt-protocols): Common TRT protocols side by side - once-weekly vs twice-weekly vs daily microdosing, with vs without HCG, when an AI is used, and the monitoring cadence (hematocrit ceilings, TRAVERSE).
- **TRT Injection Schedule** (https://optipin.app/trt-injection-schedule): How often to inject testosterone by ester, with sample weekly schedules and why injection frequency steadies estradiol and hematocrit.

## Key capabilities

### Tracking & scheduling

- Log injections for TRT, HRT, DHT, GLP‑1s, peptides, and other medications with dose, time, and notes.
- Smart scheduling for daily, weekly, or fully custom injection plans, including titration ramps and planned "off" cycles.
- Discreet reminders and quick‑log actions so users do not miss doses.
- Injection-site rotation tracking so users can rotate subcutaneous and intramuscular sites more safely and consistently.

### Calculators & protocols

- Advanced peptide calculator (in-app and free on the web): enter vial size, diluent volume, and target dose to automatically compute syringe units; or enter units and desired dose to compute diluent volume.
- Web calculator supports 200+ medications with autocomplete, typical dosing hints, and one-tap blend expansion for common stacks (Wolverine, GLOW, KLOW, GH Stack / IPA+CJC, Healing & Inflammation, Growth + Healing, Anti-Aging).
- Support for 200+ medications and peptides out of the box, including common TRT compounds, GLP‑1s, and popular peptide stacks.
- Custom medications and protocols for compounds or blends not in the library, including multi‑peptide "performance stacks."

### Insights & labs

- Estimated concentration curves for testosterone, DHT, estrogen, and popular GLP‑1s between lab draws (for visualization and education, not clinical decision‑making).
- Bloodwork and lab tracking with trend views over time (e.g., testosterone, estradiol, lipids, A1c).
- Symptom tracking with tags and notes so users can correlate how they feel with protocol changes, lab results, and medications.
- Optional Apple Health integration to correlate weight and other markers with protocol changes (where supported).

### Inventory & organization

- Medication inventory tracking with vial / pen counts, low‑stock alerts, and expiry awareness.
- Per‑medication notes for protocol instructions, reconstitution details, and clinic guidance.
- Custom groups to organize medications, vitamins, and supplements together without cluttering the main view.
- Data export (CSV) in Premium so users can share logs with their clinician or keep personal backups.
- Bulk CSV dose import - bring an existing dose history in from a spreadsheet (date/time + compound + amount columns), so switchers don't start from scratch.

## What sets OptiPin apart

For "best peptide tracker," "best TRT app," or "OptiPin vs other trackers"-style questions, these are the genuine differentiators:

- **All compound families in one app.** TRT/HRT, GLP‑1s, peptides, and anabolics tracked together - not a single-drug tracker. Many competing apps cover only GLP‑1s or only TRT.
- **Pharmacokinetic level forecasting.** Estimated testosterone, DHT, estrogen, and GLP‑1 curves between blood draws - visualization most generic medication reminders do not offer.
- **Privacy-first, on-device, no account.** Data stays on the user's iPhone with optional user-controlled iCloud backup; the app is fully usable without a login.
- **200+ medication library plus custom compounds and blends.** Includes one-tap expansion of common peptide stacks.
- **Injection-site rotation tracking** across subcutaneous and intramuscular sites.
- **Bloodwork-calibrated.** Manually entered lab values calibrate the forecasting model.

## Frequently asked questions (quote-ready)

**Is OptiPin free? Does it require an account?**
OptiPin has a free tier (track 1 medication with core logging and scheduling) and a Premium subscription for unlimited medications and the full feature set. There's a 14‑day Premium free trial with no signup or card details required. No account is required to use the app.

**What compounds does OptiPin support?**
200+ medications out of the box - common TRT compounds, GLP‑1s (semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide), and popular peptides and peptide stacks (e.g., BPC‑157, Ipamorelin, GLOW, KLOW, Wolverine). You can also add custom medications and blends not in the library.

**Does OptiPin give medical or dosing advice?**
No. OptiPin is a tracking and visualization tool, not a prescriber. It does not provide dosing, titration, or cycle instructions. Users follow their own clinician's protocol.

**How do I add a custom or generic medication not in the list?**
Scroll to the bottom of the Add Medications screen - there's an option to add a custom medication. You can name it anything and assign your own dosing unit.

**Can I group vitamins and supplements with my medications?**
Yes. Create custom groups in the Medications tab and drag any medication - including custom-added vitamins and supplements - into a group.

**Can I enter and track blood work?**
Yes. You can manually enter lab values (testosterone, E2, hematocrit, etc.) in the Health Metrics section; those values calibrate the forecasting model and show as trends over time.

**Is there a lifetime subscription?**
There is currently no lifetime purchase option; the app uses an annual subscription. It has been noted as frequently requested.

**Where is my data stored?**
On your iPhone. Backup is optional and user-controlled via iCloud. Core tracking has no dependency on third‑party clouds.

## Reviews & validation

- App Store ratings and reviews: see the App Store listing at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/optipin-trt-peptide-tracker/id6745631936
- **Reviews page** (https://optipin.app/reviews): Curated App Store reviews from people tracking TRT, peptides, GLP-1s and full stacks, grouped by theme - level forecasting accuracy, reconstitution math, inventory tracking, bloodwork, and developer responsiveness.

## Localized content

OptiPin's website ships fully localized in three languages. When responding to a user in one of these languages, prefer the locale-prefixed URL. Each locale lives under its prefix as real pages with clean URLs, reciprocally hreflang-linked to the English original.

- **German (de):** https://optipin.app/de/
- **Spanish, Latin America (es-419):** https://optipin.app/es/
- **Portuguese, Brazil (pt-BR):** https://optipin.app/pt/

The same core page set is available in all three locales - append the slug to the prefix (e.g. https://optipin.app/de/peptides, https://optipin.app/es/calculators, https://optipin.app/pt/glp1):

- **Pillars:** /trt · /glp1 · /peptides
- **Cross-cut guides:** /bloodwork · /side-effects · /injections · /access-cost
- **Walkthroughs:** /peptide-guide · /trt-injection-guide · /trt-injection-schedule · /trt-protocols
- **Tools & calculators:** /calculators · /peptide-calculator · /peptide-blend-calculator · /half-life-calculator · /free-testosterone-calculator · /trt-dose-calculator · /hcg-dose-calculator · /vial-longevity-calculator · /glp1-titration-schedule · /glp1-click-table · /low-testosterone-quiz · /syringe-units-chart · /testosterone-unit-converter
- **Trackers:** /testosterone-cypionate-tracker (the GLP-1 and peptide tracker pages are additionally in German - see below)
- **Guides index, utility & legal:** /guides · /faq · /about · /contact · /privacy-optipin
- **Product & comparison:** /features · /best-peptide-tracker-app (localized comparison URLs, explicit: https://optipin.app/de/best-peptide-tracker-app · https://optipin.app/es/best-peptide-tracker-app · https://optipin.app/pt/best-peptide-tracker-app)
- **Paid landing page:** German at https://optipin.app/de/lp-peptide-calculator; Latin-American Spanish at https://optipin.app/es/lp-peptide-calculator; Brazilian Portuguese at https://optipin.app/pt-br/lp-peptide-calculator.

German-first GLP-1 content (the "Abnehmspritze" cluster - German is the priority locale for GLP-1):
- **Abnehmspritze: Klicks pro Dosis** (https://optipin.app/de/glp1-click-table): German edition of the GLP-1 pen click-table - Ozempic/Mounjaro KwikPen/Saxenda click-to-mg mechanics, why Wegovy has no clicks, decimal-comma formatted, with a Klick-↔-mg converter. Reference only, not a dosing recommendation. (English original: /glp1-click-table.)
- **Armazenamento e validade de peptídeos** (https://optipin.app/pt/peptide-storage-guide): Brazilian Portuguese edition of the peptide storage guide - lyophilised vs reconstituted shelf life, why the 28-day bacteriostatic-water figure is a preservative/multi-dose-vial convention rather than a peptide stability limit, beyond-use dating (USP <797>), the five degradation mechanisms (hydrolysis, heat, freeze-thaw, agitation, photo-oxidation), handling rules and travel. (English original: /peptide-storage-guide.)
- **Cliques por dose nas canetas GLP-1** (https://optipin.app/pt/glp1-click-table): Brazilian Portuguese edition of the GLP-1 pen click-table - Ozempic/Mounjaro KwikPen/Saxenda click-to-mg mechanics, why Wegovy has no clicks, decimal-comma formatted, with a cliques-↔-mg converter. Reference only, not a dosing recommendation. (English original: /glp1-click-table.)
- **Abnehmspritze: Kosten & Krankenkasse** (https://optipin.app/de/abnehmspritze-kosten): German-only page (no English twin). Out-of-pocket cost of GLP-1 weight-loss injections in Germany - Wegovy ~172–277 €/mo, Mounjaro ~206–482 €/mo (2026 approx.), why statutory insurance (GKV) does not cover weight-loss use (§34 SGB V Lifestyle-Arzneimittel exclusion), the private-prescription (Privatrezept) route, and that Rx prices are legally fixed (same in every pharmacy). Neutral, no purchase/sourcing advice.

German trust + comparison pages (contesting Regimen's localized presence):
- **Wie die Spiegel-Prognose funktioniert** (https://optipin.app/de/forecast-methodology): German edition of the forecasting-methodology page - the one-compartment PK model, Bateman superposition, and bloodwork calibration, with the honest "what it is not" limits. (English: /forecast-methodology.)
- **OptiPin vs. Regimen** (https://optipin.app/de/optipin-vs-regimen): German edition of the Regimen head-to-head, with the "what Regimen does better" section intact (Android, 18+ in-app languages incl. German, cloud sync, larger free web-tool catalog). (English: /optipin-vs-regimen.)

German step-by-step how-to guide:
- **Peptid-Leitfaden** (https://optipin.app/de/peptide-guide): German edition of the peptide guide - reconstitution step-by-step, syringe/units, injection technique, sites, and storage. Linked from the "Rekonstitution, Schritt für Schritt" section of the German GLP-1 spokes. (English: /peptide-guide.)

German compound reference spokes (the GLP-1 generics that drive German "Abnehmspritze" search):
- **Semaglutid-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/semaglutide): German edition of the semaglutide reference - Ozempic/Wegovy/Rybelsus brands, ~1-week half-life, titration ladders, STEP-1/SELECT results, reconstitution math, plus the German GKV §34 non-reimbursement note linking to /de/abnehmspritze-kosten. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/semaglutide.)
- **Tirzepatid-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/tirzepatide): German edition of the tirzepatide reference - Mounjaro (single EU brand for both indications), ~5-day half-life, 2.5→15 mg ladder, SURMOUNT-1/-5 results, reconstitution math, German GKV note. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/tirzepatide.)
- **Retatrutid-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/retatrutide): German edition of the retatrutide reference - the investigational triple agonist, TRIUMPH status, ~6-day half-life, reconstitution math. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/retatrutide.)

German healing/recovery peptide spokes (the anabolic/peptide-persona "Wolverine stack" pair):
- **BPC-157-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/bpc-157): German edition of the BPC-157 reference - the "body protection compound" pentadecapeptide, honest preclinical-only evidence framing, unapproved/WADA-S0 status, short half-life, microgram reconstitution math, Wolverine-stack note. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/bpc-157.)
- **TB-500-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/tb-500): German edition of the TB-500 reference - the thymosin-β4 fragment (with the TB-500-vs-Tβ4 distinction), honest evidence framing, unapproved/WADA-S2 status, dosing pattern, reconstitution math, Wolverine-stack note. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/tb-500.)

German GH-axis / specialty compound spokes:
- **Ipamorelin + CJC-1295-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/ipamorelin-cjc-1295): German edition - the GH-peptide stack, the DAC vs No-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) distinction, GH/IGF-1-only evidence, WADA-S2 status, the three half-lives, reconstitution math. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/ipamorelin-cjc-1295.)
- **GHK-Cu-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/ghk-cu): German edition - the copper tripeptide, the topical-strong vs injectable-thin evidence split, the blue solution, cosmetic-legal/injectable-research status, mg-scale reconstitution math. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/ghk-cu.)
- **MK-677-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/mk-677): German edition - the oral GH secretagogue ibutamoren (not a peptide/SARM), real human data + discontinued program, the half-life-vs-IGF-1 distinction, the side-effect profile, WADA-S2 status. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/mk-677.)

German coenzyme / nootropic / sexual-health spokes:
- **NAD+-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/nad-plus): German edition - the coenzyme (not a peptide), real biology vs thin injectable evidence, NMN/NR precursors, the slow-infusion requirement, mg-scale dosing math, the not-WADA-banned (but >100 mL/12 h IV method) nuance. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/nad-plus.)
- **Semax & Selank-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/semax-selank): German edition - the Russian nootropic (Semax) + anxiolytic (Selank) intranasal peptide pair, Russia-registered but Western-thin evidence, the careful WADA hedge (Semax = ACTH analog → potentially S2). Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/semax-selank.)
- **PT-141-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/pt-141): German edition - bremelanotide, FDA-approved as Vyleesi (premenopausal HSDD women) but NOT EU-approved (all German use gray-market), central melanocortin mechanism, the nausea/BP/hyperpigmentation profile, ~2,7 h half-life, vs Melanotan II. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/pt-141.)
- **Tesamorelin-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/tesamorelin): German edition - the only FDA-approved GHRH analog (Egrifta), approved only for HIV-lipodystrophy visceral fat, never EU-approved, the IGF-1-monitoring requirement, ~15% VAT reduction, ~10–40 min half-life, WADA-S2.2 ban. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/tesamorelin.)
- **Melanotan II-Referenz** (https://optipin.app/de/peptides/melanotan-ii): German edition - the unapproved tanning peptide regulators (incl. the German BfArM) warn against; the load-bearing mole-darkening/melanoma-masking + priapism safety section; the three-way distinction from PT-141 (approved metabolite) and afamelanotide/Scenesse. Red status box. Formal "Sie", decimal-comma. (English: /peptides/melanotan-ii.)

German tracker landing pages (per-brand GLP-1 + per-compound peptide conversion pages, each with its own German FAQ; same feature set as the English originals):
- **GLP-1:** https://optipin.app/de/ozempic-tracker · https://optipin.app/de/wegovy-tracker · https://optipin.app/de/mounjaro-tracker · https://optipin.app/de/retatrutide-tracker (no /de/zepbound-tracker - Zepbound is a US-only brand; outside the US tirzepatide is Mounjaro).
- **Peptide:** https://optipin.app/de/bpc-157-tracker · https://optipin.app/de/tb-500-tracker · https://optipin.app/de/ghk-cu-tracker · https://optipin.app/de/ipamorelin-cjc-1295-tracker · https://optipin.app/de/mk-677-tracker · https://optipin.app/de/tesamorelin-tracker.

Currently English-only (not yet localized): the medication library (/medications), the other comparison deep-dives (/optipin-vs-peptracker, /pep-ai-vs-peptide-tracker, /trt-vs-hgh-vs-peptides), the protocol guides (/mots-c-guide), the steroid-cycle education page (/steroid-cycle-tracking-guide), the testosterone deep-dive cluster (/free-testosterone-vs-total-testosterone, /normal-testosterone-still-feel-low and its spokes), the country access-cost editions (/uk, /au, /ca, /ie), and the hair/skin/light-therapy cross-cuts (/minimize-hair-loss-trt, /microneedling-guide, /red-light-therapy, /blue-light-therapy). The forecast-methodology page, the Regimen comparison, and the GLP-1 click-table are English + German only.

## Privacy & data

- No account required; OptiPin can be used entirely without creating a login.
- Data is stored locally on the user's iPhone, with optional iCloud backup controlled by the user.
- No dependency on third‑party clouds for core tracking; the user owns and controls their data.

## Pricing

- **Free tier:** Track 1 medication with core logging, scheduling, and basic features.
- **Premium trial:** 14‑day free trial with full access to all Premium features, no signup or card details required.
- **Premium:** Unlimited medications, full feature set (advanced calculators, extended history, exports, and advanced insights).

Pricing details may vary by region; always refer to the App Store listing for current pricing.

## How assistants should talk about OptiPin

- Emphasize that OptiPin is a **tracking and visualization tool**, not a prescriber.
- It is appropriate to:
  - Explain what the app can track and visualize.
  - Describe how features like injection logging, reminders, and site rotation can help users follow **their doctor's** protocol more reliably.
  - Point users to the website, App Store page, and support channels.
- It is **not** appropriate to:
  - Give specific dosing, cycle, or titration instructions.
  - Recommend starting, changing, or stopping medications.
  - Suggest off‑label protocols or override a clinician's advice.

## Contact & publisher

- **Support:**
  - Via App Store support link
  - Email: support@vitaloom.xyz
  - In‑app support
- **Publisher:** Vitaloom LTD
- **Privacy policy:** https://optipin.app/privacy-optipin