Anabolic Steroids
Ultimate Research Guide
Vol. 1
DISCLAIMER: Information contained within the Ultimate Research
Guide is for entertainment purposes only. Although medical journals,
textbooks, scientific articles, and information gathered from thousands
of athletes were used to compile this book, we do not advise anyone to
apply this information on themselves or other people. This information
is strictly to show how others have used these drugs and should not be
misinterpreted as medical advice. Neither the authors nor the
publisher assumes any liability for the information presented in this
book. We urge readers to consult with a physician and educate
themselves on the laws of these drugs before using or obtaining them.
Published by:
Anabolic Information, LLC
7 Marina Dr.
Montgomery, TX 77356
www.AnabolicBooks.com
ISBN: 1-59975-100-3
Copyright© 2005 Anabolic Information, LLC
No portion may be reproduced without the express written consent of the author.
Table of Contents
Preface & Dedication 7
Chapter 1 - Why Anabolic Steroids 8
Chapter 2 - How to read this book 10
Chapter 3 - An Introduction to your endocrine system 12
Chapter 4 - How anabolic steroids work 16
Chapter 5 - The game as it’s played 25
Chapter 6 - Injection techniques 31
Chapter 7 - Design your own cycles & Samples 34
Chapter 8 - Remove steroids in 5 days 39
Chapter 9 - Drug profiles 42
Testosterone Derived Steroids 46
Anabolicum vaster 48
Andriol 51
Androderm & Androgel 55
Andropen 275 59
Deposterona 62
Dianabol 64
Drive 68
Equilon 100 70
Equipoise 72
Halotestin 76
Megagrisevit – Mono 80
Methandriol 83
Methyltestosterone 87
Myagen 90
Omnadren 92
Oral Turinabol 96
Spectriol 104
Sten 106
Sustanon 250 109
Test 400 112
Testolent 113
Testosterone Cyclohexylpropionate 115
Testosterone Cypionate 118
Testosterone Enanthate 122
Testosterone Propionate 126
Testosterone Suspension 130
Testoviron 133
19-Nortestosterone Derived Steroids 137
Anabolic DN 138
Anadur 140
Cheque Drops 143
Deca Durabolin 146
Diandrol 151
Durabolan 153
Dynabolan 156
Laurabolan 159
Nandrolone & Methandriol Blend 162
Nilevar 166
Methyltrienolone 170
Orabolin 173
Parabolan 175
Sanabolicum 179
Trenbolone Acetate 182
Trenbolone Enanthate 187
Tri-Trenabol 189
Dihydrotestosterone Derived Steroids 192
Anadrol 193
Anavar 198
Andractim 203
Masteron 205
Masteron Enanthate 209
Miotolan 211
Primobolan 214
Proviron 218
Winstrol 221
Chapter 10 – Ancillary Compounds 224
Arimidex 232
Aromasin 234
Clomid 237
Cialis 239
Cyclofenil 240
EPO 241
Esiclene 243
Falsodex 245
Fareston 246
Femara 247
Finasteride 249
HCG 252
Ketotifen 255
Kynoselen 256
Nolvadex 258
PSGAG 260
Teslac 261
Chapter 11 - Sympathomimetics (Fat Burners) 264
Albuterol 271
Caffine 272
Cimaterol 273
Clenbuterol 275
DNP 282
Ephedrine 287
Yohimbine 288
Chapter 12 - Thyroid Drugs 289
Cytomel 292
Synthroid 295
Triacana 296
Chapter 13 - HGH/IGF/Insulin 300
Human Growth Hormone 301
IGF-1 306
Insulin 310
Chapter 14 – Nutrition 316
Chapter 15 – Legal Interview 326
All Drug Profiles in Alphabetical Order
Albuterol 271
Anabolic DN 138
Anabolicum vaster 48
Anadrol 193
Anadur 140
Anavar 198
Andractim 203
Andriol 51
Androderm & Androgel 55
Andropen 275 59
Arimidex 232
Aromasin 234
Caffine 272
Cheque Drops 143
Cialis 239
Cimaterol 273
Clenbuterol 275
Clomid 237
Cyclofenil 240
Cytomel 292
Deca Durabolin 146
Deposterona 62
Dianabol 64
Diandrol 151
DNP 282
Drive 68
Durabolan 153
Dynabolan 156
Ephedrine 287
EPO 241
Equilon 100 70
Equipoise 72
Esiclene 243
Falsodex 245
Fareston 246
Femara 247
Finasteride 249
Halotestin 76
HCG 252
Human Growth Hormone 301
IGF-1 306
Insulin 310
Ketotifen 255
Kynoselen 256
Laurabolan 159
Masteron 205
Masteron Enanthate 209
Megagrisevit – Mono 80
Methandriol 83
Methyltestosterone 87
Methyltrienolone 170
Miotolan 211
Myagen 90
Nandrolone & Methandriol Blend 162
Nilevar 166
Nolvadex 258
Omnadren 92
Orabolin 173
Oral Turinabol 96
Parabolan 175
Primobolan 214
Proviron 218
PSGAG 260
Sanabolicum 179
Spectriol 104
Sten 106
Sustanon 250 109
Synthroid 295
Teslac 261
Test 400 112
Testolent 113
Testosterone Cyclohexylpropionate 115
Testosterone Cypionate 118
Testosterone Enanthate 122
Testosterone Propionate 126
Testosterone Suspension 130
Testoviron 133
Trenbolone Acetate 182
Trenbolone Enanthate 209
Triacana 296
Tri-Trenabol 189
Winstrol 221
Yohimbine 288
Steroid Listings by Generic Name 336
Steroid Listings by Trade Name 363
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
Preface & Dedication
“If I have seen further than other men, it is because I’ve stood on the
shoulders of giants.”
~Albert Einstein
“Oh no—another steroid book! We don’t need another one of those!” That’s
probably what a lot of people were thinking when this book hit the shelves. It’s what
I was thinking every time another book on Anabolic/Androgenic Steroids hit the
marketplace. And for the most part, I was correct!
So what makes this one different? For starters, it’s not written by a “Guru”; I’m not
trying to sell you on my personality. It’s not written by an “Oracle”; I’m not trying to
give you tons of mystical information, without explanation. I’ve spent a good portion
of my life in pursuit of knowledge…and, to some degree I suppose I have been
successful. I simply wish to share some of that knowledge with you, if you’ll let me.
This book has been a collaborative effort, with writers and researchers from
Steroid.com helping out in many ways. Some of the profiles herein have been
partially researched or written by them, and not entirely by me. All of them have
been exhaustively checked and double-checked in an effort to bring you the highest
standard of work. I have also been greatly helped by the staff and members of
various anabolic steroid discussion boards around the internet, but none more so
than the ones I have cultivated personal and in some cases, intimate, relationships
with the staff. To many of them I owe a debt I can never hope to repay.
I would also be remiss in my duties as an author if I didn’t inform you that much of
the groundwork for this project was predicated by those who came before me in the
field. In particular, I am deeply indebted to Dan Duchaine for his pioneering work in
the field of Anabolics as we know it today, as well as to Karl Hoffman for elevating
the quality of current Anabolic Steroid paradigms to levels heretofore unthinkable.
Both of them will be missed by many, myself especially.
I am of course indebted deeply to Brian Clapp, who believed in me enough to
produce and publish the work you now hold in your hands.
I am going to reserve my final dedication here for something a bit different; I had
originally thought to make a dedication at this point to my family, and friends who
are so dear to me, that I could scarcely imagine completing a project of this
magnitude without their continued love and friendship. That final dedication,
however, I am going to reserve, as disused, and leave unstated. The simple fact of
the matter is that dedicating a book to them would be redundant, as I endeavor each
day to live a life which will make them proud, and in some way justify the friendship
and love they’ve shown me for the past twenty seven years…this book, therefore,
will not be dedicated to those who I have already dedicated my entire life to. At
best, it can be seen as only a small part of a life that is hopefully lived in such a way
as to thank them for being a part of it. It is only as a result of their friendship and
love that, were I given a chance to live my life over again, exactly the same way, I
would gladly take it.
7
Chapter 1
Why Anabolic Steroids?
“There comes a time in a man’s life where, if there are no windows or
doors, he must walk through a wall.”
~Bernard Malamud
If you’re like me, you learned about the Declaration of Independence when you were
in grade school—if not, that’s the thing that says, “All men are created equal.” You
then went out into the schoolyard for recess, and for some reason, maybe you
couldn’t run as fast as some of your classmates. Perhaps you couldn’t jump as high,
or throw a ball as far. All men created equal? Bah! What a load of garbage!
Let’s talk a bit about genetics, ok?
There have been a ton of studies on genetics, and basically, current research from
the Bouchard Labs strongly suggests that up to 50% of the variance in athletic
performance, potential, and adaptation to training is genetic. In other areas such as
height, the genetic contribution to inter-individual variance is around 80%. Basically,
the Bouchards have suggested that athletes are born, and if they aren’t, then they
are certainly born with more potential to react favorably to training. How about
gaining or losing weight? Are you always struggling to gain weight? Are you always
struggling to lose it? Bouchard's work in this area states that there is familial
aggregation of Body-Mass-Index (BM) and other body composition characteristics
such as body fat percentage, metabolism of adipose (fat) tissue, etc. Bouchard’s
work claims that genetic heritability is responsible for between 25 to 40% of these
traits.
Wanna be even more depressed? Check out your fingers and which is longer, the
index finger or the ring finger? The ring finger in males is usually longer than the
index finger; however, the fingers are about the same length in females. This
suggests the role of testosterone in early pre-childhood development (Manning,
2000). The more testosterone you produced as a fetus the longer your ring finger
got, so the smaller the index/ring finger ratio.
Who cares? Men with smaller finger ratios are considerably better athletes. NO! I’m
not kidding. They are more likely to become athletes and to reach much higher
levels in most sports (Manning & Taylor, 2001). Professional football (soccer)
players tend to have lower finger ratios than non-athletes. Starting players have
lower ratios than reserve or youth team players. Footballers who have represented
their country have lower finger ratios than those who haven’t. Men with lower finger
ratios even run faster 800 m and 1500 m races! And that’s all clearly genetics.
Remember that kid in the schoolyard who was taller than you, and was always
picked first for basketball games? Clearly he has the genetics to be taller than you.
But wait, it gets worse: if he has the right genetics, you can train just as hard as
8
him, but he’ll receive a more favorable response from it! Add in some favorable
muscle tie-ins, connective tissues, the right muscle belly length, and some decent
fast twitch fiber recruitment, and that kid will pretty much beat you at any sport.
And those are all simply genetic traits. You can work as hard as him and lose. Even
worse, you can work harder than him and still lose.
Ok, so if you are one of the genetic elite, then that’s all great for you. If you were
the kid who was always picked first for dodgeball in gym class then that’s all well and
good for you. If you are like me, however, one of the genetically average, keep
reading because there may be a solution.
When testing for anabolic steroids wasn’t done in certain elite level track events, (a
brief period in the 80’s) the results for the women’s events began to catch up with
the men’s results. When testing was resumed, it began to fall off and the gap began
to widen once again. Women simply don’t have the same hormones, fast twitch
muscle make up and overall structure that make men more successful in those
events. And, being a woman is certainly genetic (my apologies to Ru Paul). Since
they were all elite level athletes, it can safely be assumed that their training and diet
regimens were optimal. So, how did women begin to bridge that gap? Steroids and
other performance enhancing drugs, it has been speculated, were the “X-Factor” in
helping women track athletes catch up with their male counterparts.
Take away the genetic advantage, and what will you have left to decide who wins
athletic events? You will have training, diet, and most importantly, the will to
succeed. I’d much rather see athletes compete on an even genetic ground (even if it
is “evened up” by performance enhancing drugs); a ground where the deciding factor
will be heart and guts, not genetics. So, this is my effort to level the playing field and
to show you how to “supplement” your genetics. Performance enhancing drugs
won’t win athletic events for someone, but they’ll help to remove the inequality and
accidental nature of a genetic disadvantage. What will be left if we take genetics out
of the picture?
Determination.
Heart.
Guts.
And isn’t that what should decide athletic contests?
9
Chapter 2
How to read this book
I assume you already know how to read (you’re reading right now, right?) and I
want you to consider reading this book in a different way than you would read
something by Dan Brown (the “DaVinci Code” guy) or even by William Llewellyn (The
“Anabolics” guy). I will assume that you have some kind of athletic goals in your
life; they may be related to bodybuilding, athletics, looking good at the beach, or
whatever. I want you to take a sec and consider what they are specifically. Getting
ripped is not a specific goal, but gaining 10lbs of muscle and losing 5lbs of fat is a
goal. Presumably, you’ve bought this book in an effort to learn how to tweak your
body chemistry here or there and to help you achieve your goals.
I’ve written this book with you in mind. All of the information in this book is the
most up to date information I could find in medical libraries, online, and in clinical
studies. Where there is information “missing” on a particular compound, it is
generally unable to be found. Many of the steroids mentioned here in this book (Oral
Turinabol for example) have been totally discontinued by pharmaceutical companies
for decades. As a result, the current Merck Manual doesn’t even list it as existing. It
is, therefore, very difficult to find information on a product that the largest
pharmaceutical companies in the world and every doctor and scientist you speak to
assures you doesn’t exist anymore. For another example, try finding out information
on the Polish company that makes Omnadren without speaking Polish, or knowing
that the original company who made it has changed their name. Try finding
information on Furazabol, which is made exclusively by a Japanese company, without
speaking Japanese. Ever try researching Parabolan (made by the French company
“Negma”) without being able to read or speak that language? Sorry if I’m being
redundant, but I want to assure you, my reader, that I have gone to every possible
length to make this the most complete book on Anabolics available, without learning
another language. I’ve also chosen to include a lot of “redundant” information in
profiles, which you will find in several of them, as well as elsewhere in the book.
Why? Because I want you to be able to read one profile (if you should so choose)
and walk away with a complete understanding of that drug. If that makes parts of
the next profile you read seem redundant, then so be it. You will not find a more
complete steroid book anywhere, even if you should only choose to read bits and
pieces.
As well as the information I have found in medical libraries and such, I’ve also
spoken with literally thousands of bodybuilders and athletes, both in person and
online, via e-mails and anabolic message boards. I have been fortunate enough to
be involved with several very good message boards, the largest being Steroid.com,
which is actually the most visited anabolics website in the world having 3million or so
hits per year. Through that site, I was able to speak with many athletes and
bodybuilders who I otherwise wouldn’t have had access to. They have shared their
stories and experiences with me, and that has all been factored into this book.
This book is made (of course) to be read from start to finish; by doing so you will
gain the most complete understanding of the subject matter at hand. But, if you
10
choose to read only bits and pieces of it, then you will have the most thorough
understanding of those bits and pieces.
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
11
Chapter 3
An Introduction to your Endocrine System
If you’re anything like me, you’ve already read half of the steroid profiles and picked
out a cycle from the sample cycles page. You’ve probably avoided reading this
chapter for as long as possible. In my case, when I bought my first “big” steroid
book, that’s what I did. I put off reading this section for, I dunno, five years?
Well, maybe not that long, but to be honest, this usually isn’t the most interesting
part of your typical steroid book. I will assure you that this isn’t your typical steroid
book, and that this chapter won’t put you to sleep. I’m not trying to give you a
thirty-page explanation of how every little thing in your body works, but rather, a
quick overview of the hormones responsible for muscle growth, and their functions in
your body. This’ll help you understand how anabolic steroids function to assist you
in building muscle and strength.
So, our deal will be that I’ll make it quick, if you promise to read this entire chapter.
I own several really big books on this subject, and I have no desire to bore you with
their entire content or to have to re-read them to do so. Ok, let’s get to it.
Your endocrine system is a system (duh) of cells, tissue, organs, and parts of the
nervous system which all act together within your body to maintain homeostasis (the
status quo). What we’re gonna do is figure out how to tweak this system to grow
some more muscle and gain some more strength.
Hormones: A hormone is simply a substance secreted by a cell that has an effect on
another cell. They can stimulate changes in target cells even when they are only
present in miniscule amounts.
Testosterone: This is the primary male sex hormone. Settle in, this is going to be a
long explanation, but possibly the most important one. Testosterone is
manufactured in the Leydigs cells in the testes, at about 2.5-11mgs/day for the
average male. You know those dudes with full beards in Junior High School? Yeah,
they are probably producing somewhere around the upper limit. The testosterone
molecule floats around in your body eliciting various changes including the building
of muscle, and development of male sexual characteristics. Remember those
receptors I told you about earlier? Yeah, well testosterone “parks” in those spaces
and delivers it’s message (“Build more muscle”), then “unparks” and drives around
the lot looking for another spot to park in and deliver it’s message. In normal males
2% of testosterone is unbound to protein (free), 54% is bound to albumin and other
proteins, and 44% is bound to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG).
Prolactin: This is a protein that promotes milk production in the female body, and
even worse, if you screw up, in the male body. Prolactin causes a decrease in
Luteinizing Hormone, and this lowers testosterone (see below).
Follicle Stimulating Hormone: This hormone (commonly referred to as FSH) is a
gonadotropin, which is responsible for egg-cell-containing follicles in the female
ovaries, and it also stimulates follicular cells to secrete estrogen. In males, it helps
12
stimulate the production of sperm cells in the testes during puberty. It also may tell
the testes to secrete testosterone, but certainly influences the number of leydigs
cells, which we secrete testosterone. . Finally, FSH stimulates the production of
Androgen Binding Protein in the Sertoli cells.
Luteinizing Hormone: This stuff (usually called LH, in shorthand) promotes the
secretion of sex hormones. We’re hoping to keep it high (or not let it get too low) so
it keeps telling out testes to secrete testosterone. Both LH as well as testosterone is
secreted in pulses between eight and fourteen times per day, testosterone being
preceded by LH by approximately an hour. Testosterone is, of course, controlled via
a negative feedback loop, thus a higher level of testosterone in your body causes a
decrease in LH.
Estrogen: This is the primary female sexual hormone. Men don’t want much of it
floating around, as it is responsible for some nasty side effects like water retention,
gynocomastia, acne, etc. It also may aid in growth by helping production of IGF and
GH and may even enhance immune function. It can also increase the amount of
androgen receptors in the body. We certainly want some of it around, but not too
much, as it can also lower testosterone levels.
Steroids: These are compounds whose molecules contain fairly complex rings of
Carbon and Hydrogen atoms. Steroid hormones include (but are not limited to)
testosterone and estrogen, and we will be primarily concerned with those two
although we will examine many other hormones. Sometimes we use the term
“steroid” to mean anabolic steroid, which is only one possible type. Steroid hormones
(like testosterone) are soluble in the lipids that make up cell walls. This means they
can get into a cell and mess around with the receptors in the nucleus, which is
exactly what we want.
Receptor: This is a thing in the cell that is basically like a parking spot. When a
steroid hormone comes in, it’s like parking a car in that spot. The steroid hormone
then tells the cell to do something. If the hormone is testosterone, it may tell the
cell to “build more muscle!” If the hormone is estrogen, it may say, “Watch
Desperate Housewives!” Well, not really, but you get the idea.
Androgen Receptor: This is the parking spot “reserved” for steroids like
testosterone and such, in other words, androgens.
Prostaglandins: Some of these regulate cellular responses to hormones and
stimulate the secretion of a variety of hormones.
Negative Feedback System (or loop): This is the system by which your body
recognizes an abundance of a particular hormone and consequently stops producing
it. In simple terms, if you are injecting testosterone, your body will sense this and
stop producing its own.
Pituitary Gland: The anterior lobe of this secretes a variety of hormones such as
growth hormone, thyroid- stimulating hormone, prolactin, follicle-stimulating
hormone, and luteinizing hormone. You want to keep this thing healthy and happy.
Growth Hormone: Growth Hormone (GH) is a protein that stimulates your body’s
cells to undergo more rapid cell division. It enhances the movement of amino acids
through cell membranes and causes an increase in the rate in which they convert
13
molecules to proteins and decrease the rate they use carbohydrates and increase the
rate they use fats. It is secreted in rhythmic pulses, especially while you’re asleep
and has an important anabolic effect on the body.
Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone: This stuff is the hormone that releases
growth hormone. Clever name, huh? Whenever it’s released, a pulse of GH is also
released.
Insulin: Insulin is a protein secreted by the pancreas that acts on the liver to
stimulate the formation of glycogen from glucose and inhibits the conversion of non
carbohydrates into glucose.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor: Insulin-like growth factor is released from the liver in
response to GH. It has an important anabolic effect on the body.
Glucagon: This is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas and regulates blood
sugar levels. Unlike insulin, glucagon is released when blood sugar levels are low. It
causes the release of glucose from glycogen.
Thryoid Stimulating Hormone: This is a protein bound to a carbohydrate. Yum!
No…just kidding…it is a protein bound to a carbohydrate, but what it does is control
the secretion of hormones from the thyroid gland.
Hypothalamus: This releases gonadotropin- releasing hormone, and also controls
most secretions of the pituitary gland, which leads me to the. ...
Pituitary Gland: This is where the Philosopher Rene’ Descartes thought the soul
lived. Actually, it’s much more important because it controls the secretion of LH and
FSH, and thus, the production of testosterone! It also controls secretion of GH and
thyroid stimulating hormone.
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular-Axis: This is usually called the HPTA, and as
you can guess, it basically regulates all of the hormones that stimulate the
production of testosterone as well as GH and other goodies. Needless to say,
keeping your HPTA in good working order is very important.
Aromatization: This is the process by which testosterone converts to estrogen, via
the aromatase enzyme. This occurs in various tissues, such as skeletal muscle and
adipose tissues. Also, you’ll experience less of this if you have less adipose tissue
(less fat on a cycle means fewer sides, believe it or not).
Dihydrotestosterone: This stuff, also called DHT, is made from testosterone in
your body via interaction with the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which adds 2
hydrogen atoms to testosterone. It has a variety of effects in the human body, and
is responsible for certain unwanted side effects such as hair loss. DHT interacts
strongly with the central nervous system, and has both anabolic as well as
androgenic effects.
14
Ok, so let’s take a look at all of that stuff in action:
That was by no means a comprehensive list of the hormones in your body, or their
functions, and of course it’s not everything that each and every hormone does or can
do under special circumstances. But it’s good enough for our purposes here, and
knowing what those hormones do will help you know what the various steroids we’re
going to discuss will do in your body. That doesn’t mean you can’t read this book
out of order, or read the profiles first. Actually, quite the contrary, I’ve written this
book so that you can read just one anabolic steroid profile (if you want) and walk
away with a complete knowledge of how it works and what it does. Actually, while I
prefer you read the whole book, you can read it out of order, mix and match
chapters, etc. and still walk away with a wealth of knowledge about every single item
you read. But at least now you have a basic understanding (actually, I prefer to call
it a “working understanding”) of the primary hormones we’ll be discussing in this
book. And now that you know whats going on in your body, we can talk about what
steroids are and how they exert their effects.
15
Chapter 4
How Anabolic Steroids Work
Anabolic steroids are drugs that resemble androgenic hormones like testosterone, or
derivations thereof. The defining characteristic, structurally, of all steroids is their
four-ring structure. Your body produces various steroids from Cholesterol (yes, the
icky stuff doctors tell you to avoid), which undergoes modifications and can
eventually become testosterone (if you’re lucky). This chapter will help you
understand what they do in your body, how they exert their effects, and how they
are metabolized.
Ok, so remember that four-ring structure I was talking about? This is called the
Steran Nucleus, and for our purposes there are four rings (A, B, C, and D), and 19
positions on the structure:
C
16
Figure A represents your basic testosterone; Figure B shows you which rings are A,
B, C, D respectively; and Figure C shows you the 19 positions on the rings. Why is
this important? Well, you can add carbon bonds, add beta groups, etc, and that
produces different steroids. Typically, the A-ring and D-ring are modified to produce
different steroids (with different effects). This is because the A and D rings generally
undergo the most drastic metabolation in the body, so modifying them produces
more bang for the buck, generally speaking. The B-Ring metabolism is most
pronounced when A-ring metabolism is in some way hampered. The changes the B
ring typically undergoe are 6b-hydroxylation and 6, 7-dehydrogenation. These
changes are, in fact, not very drastic. C-ring metabolism is even more modest, being
a simple 12-hydroxylation. If you didn’t catch those last few parts, don’t worry,
because they aren’t super-important. Let’s talk about A and D ring metabolism for a
second, ok? These are where we need to focus our energies, because understanding
them is very important, while B and C ring metabolism is generally very limited, and
won’t really be a concern to us at all, in any applicable context. First, A-ring
metabolism…
In the A-ring we see 5alpha and 5beta reduction taking place:
And of course, 5alpha Reduction (5a-Reduction) is what turns testosterone into DHT.
This is the initial step in metabolism of testosterone and many of its analogues, and
basically just reduces the C4, 5 double bond—that’s the little line on the bottom of
the first ring that’s missing in the lower left version of that pic above, where the
hydrogen (“H”) has “appeared”. As you can see, 5beta-reduction is very similar,
though not of prime concern to us here. After this reduction, typically the 3-keto
group is transformed. Stability and instability of the 3-keto group is important to
androgen binding, and the more stable the 3-keto group is, the more avidly a
compound can bind to the Androgen Receptor and/or increase anabolic/androgenic
activity (even doing so, in certain cases, independently of each other). Certain
modifications to steroids can enhance the stability of the 3-keto group, such as 2
methylation or adding a 2-hydroxymethelyne group (the first modification is seen
with Masteron and the second with Anadrol). On the other hand, Ethylestrenol lacks
a 3-keto group totally, and is probably the weakest steroid available. Let’s take a
look at the removal of the 3-keto group:
17
Of course, the above example focused on testosterone, and if you add a double bond
between the one and two carbon atoms of testosterone, you’ve made Boldenone
(Equipoise). As you can see here, Boldenone is metabolized slightly differently since
the 1-2 double bonds slows metabolism (hepatic breakdown, aromatization, etc…)
down:
Add a 17-alpha-methyl group to that Boldenone we just spoke of, and you have
Methandrostenolone (D-bol), which is broken down similarly, although it is orally
active in the body due to the 17a-methly group:
(Boldenone, or Eq-No ester shown)
(Methandrostenolone or Dianabol)
(Note that Dianabol and Equipoise are the same EXACT compound with exception to
the methylation you see at the 17th position for the Dianabol).
18
There are, of course, other actions that happen (or simply can happen) in the A
Ring, but we need not concern ourselves with them here. It is suffice to say that
they are not of interest to us, again, generally speaking.
Now, let’s finally look at D-Ring metabolism…
The D-ring (the weird little one on the end with fewer sides than the other rings) is
metabolized into testosterone’s main metabolites. This occurs by oxidation of 17b
hydroxy groups into 17keto steroids, which are shown less intricately in the first
chart in this chapter. In some cases, they can even be converted back to the
original configuration by the same enzyme (17b-HDS).
Hydroxylation can also occur at other positions, as can epemirization, or oxidation,
within the D-ring. And remember, the D-ring is where we can methylation them to
survive oral ingestion.
All of that was the first phase of anabolic steroid metabolism, which determines the
primary effects they will have in the body. Phase II metabolism has more to do with
metabolites, their degradation, and the eventual elimination of them and the steroid
from the body, and as such is beyond the scope of our discussion here -well…. really,
its just beyond the scope of our interest, more or less, because it’s not going to help
us understand the anabolic actions of steroids any better. The preceding information
should help you later in this book, when I mention that this (or that) steroid has a
particular modification to help it do something (or other). I know that once I started
understanding a little of what I am presenting here to you, I found it a lot easier to
comprehend what was going on when I looked at a steran nucleus or chemical name
for a particular steroid.
19
Synthetic anabolic steroids are based on the principal male hormone testosterone,
modified in one of three ways:
a. Alkylation of the 17-carbon (makes them survive oral ingestion)
b. Esterification of the 17-OH group (alters active life and half life)
c.
Modification of the steroid nucleus (changes their properties)
Pretty simple huh? But despite the number of synthetic AAS that have been
developed by these little modifications here and there, their modes of action are still
poorly understood.
As you know, male hormones, primarily testosterone, are responsible for the
developmental changes that occur in boys during puberty and later in adolescence.
Male hormones have both androgenic and anabolic effects. Androgenic effects are
changes in primary and secondary sexual characteristics, like enlargement of the
penis and testes, voice changes, hair growth on the face, increased nervous system
efficiency, and increased aggressiveness. The anabolic effects of androgens (again,
like testosterone) include increasing and limiting muscle protein synthesis by
increasing transport of amino acid across cell membranes. It is also an anti-catabolic
and inhibits cortisol by competing for receptor sites, as well as reducing cortisol
secretion and the signals, which precede cortisol secretion. In addition to these
anabolic effects, Testosterone increases the secretion of the other anabolic hormones
in the “super family”, such as growth hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factors from
the liver, and finally, it produces an enhanced rate of erythropoietin synthesis. All of
these effects are, of course beneficial to athletes, and explain how steroids exert
their performance enhancing effects.
These effects are mediated, at least partially by stimulation of receptor molecules in
muscle cells (which we generally call androgen receptors), which activate specific
genes to produce proteins. Binding affinity to the androgen receptor has been used
to explain the differences in potencies and effects of the natural and synthetic
androgens we talk about, but that isn’t the full story. There are, of course, other
effects that steroids exert, and we call those “non-receptor-mediated” effects. These
are effects that happen indirectly, and not as a result of androgen receptor
stimulation. Stimulation of the androgen receptor produces both anabolic and anti
catabolic effects, such as the retention of more nitrogen and the reduction of cortisol,
respectively. Remember, Cortisol causes muscle breakdown.
Sounds great, right? It’s everything we want and more! It’s not all roses, however,
because Anabolic steroid use decreases testosterone secretion. This happens
because your body operates on a negative-feedback-loop in regards to testosterone.
This means we’re going to attempt a balancing act regarding our natural hormones
and the ones we put into our body. If you read this book carefully, you’ll learn how
to use (or simply research) anabolic steroids to produce a heightened state of
athletic ability, strength, speed, and of course, increased muscle mass. Then you’ll
learn how to stop using steroids and not lose everything you’ve gained. Those are,
at least, my humble goals for you.
So let’s get back to the first thing I told you about, which is how steroids are made.
As you saw, simple modifications to the four-ring steran nucleus of testosterone can
produce major changes in the hormone. From those simple changes to testosterone,
scientists have identified the other two major families all anabolic/androgenic
20
steroids are derived from: 19-nor-Testosterone (sometimes called 19-nor’s) and
dihydroTestosterone (called DHT).
19-nor-Testosterone is simply testosterone that lacks a carbon atom in the 19th
position, and Dihydrotestosterone is Testosterone that has had 2 hydrogen atoms
added to it.
Testosterone
Dihydrotestosterone
19-nor-Testosterone
In general, 19-nor derived steroids exhibit a high anabolic effect and a low anabolic
effect with not much aromatization, while DHT-derived steroids usually have a very
nice balance of androgenic and anabolic effects and not much aromatization.
Of course, there are also other things you can do to steroids like methylate them
(this makes them able to survive oral administration) or add an ester to them (this is
a large fatty chain on a steroid that your body needs to work to break down, thus
increasing the active life of the steroid). Adding an ester to a product doesn’t change
its anabolic: androgenic ratio, but methylating it may. Esters do not alter the
anabolic or androgenic properties because an ester is simply a chain composed
primarily of carbon and hydrogen atoms, typically attached to the base steroid
hormone at the 17th carbon position (called the beta position). Attaching an ester to
a base compound slows the release of the base steroid from the site of injection.
Slowing the release of the base steroid is a great benefit to medicine, especially
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because suspended or free testosterone (or
other steroid hormones) would only remain active in the body for a very short period
of time. This is basically what is seen with testosterone suspension or Winstrol depot.
If you are on HRT, you could take a shot of Testosterone Cypionate (testosterone
with a long ester added) once a week, as opposed to taking testosterone suspension
once or twice a day. Adding an ester also temporarily deactivates the steroid
molecule. With an ester chain blocking the 17th beta position, binding to the
21
androgen receptor is not possible, so the steroid is inactive. Now, in order for the
base compound to become active, the ester must first be removed. This occurs once
the compound has filtered into blood circulation, where your esterase enzymes
cleave off the ester. This restores the necessary hydroxyl (OH) group at the 17th
beta position, which enables the drug to attach to the receptor. Now the steroid is
free to do all the good stuff we want it to do. This is why people often say, “test is
test,” regardless of the ester; regardless of the ester, anabolic and androgenic
properties of the base compound retain their respective integrity.
You may, at this point be asking yourself how these anabolic to androgenic ratio’s
are arrived at. Well, this is kind of weird, but basically, male rats were given a dose
of testosterone, sacrificed (killed to you and me), and then had an untrained muscle
(the levator ani), and a part of the prostate (the ventral prostate) weighed. Those
weights were given a score of 100 each (because 100 is an easy number to work
with). When you want to know the anabolic: androgenic ratio of a new steroid, you
simply administer it to a group of rodents with the same dose of testosterone used in
the original group of rats I just told you about. You then weigh the levator ani and
ventral prostate. The weights that are relative to testosterone (and it’s 100 score)
are the anabolic: androgenic ratio of the new steroid. Of course, that’s not 100%
relevant or applicable to humans.
By tweaking and refining steroids, scientists were able to create some very
interesting compounds that have some profoundly beneficial effects to us as
athletes. And now you know (roughly) how it’s done, and how steroids work.
I think it would be prudent to take a second to show you how they are named so
that you can tie that in with some of the effects we’ve just discussed and to later
(further on in the book) understand the profiles more fully. A lot of what we know
about a steroid, or at least part of that, is "coded" in its name [the part written like
this at the start of my profiles]. If you look in the name of a steroid, and it's
something like this:
2-oxy androstane 17b-ol 2-one
(the chemical name for Anavar)
See the bold part? That means it's a DHT-derivative, with regards to its base carbon
structure.
If it said:
norandrostene 17b-ol 3-one
(Nandrolone)
Then you know the norandrostene part means it's derived from Nandrolone (likewise,
generally, if you see 19-nor or something like that)
And finally, if you see the words testosterone—duh—or androstene in the name of
the structure, then you know it's derived from testosterone.
Therefore, we have a steroid like Boldenone (Eq) again and we can figure out a few
things about it.
Look at the name:
22
BOLDENONE -or-
(17b-ol 1, 4-androstadiene-3-one,) -or-
Equipoise
And what we see is that it starts with "BOL" and the chemical name begins with 17b
ol, hence, "BOL."
See what I'm talking about?
17b-ol 1,4-androstadiene-3-one
Next we see "DEN" (because the word is Bol-Den-One if you break it apart). Looking
in the middle of Boldenone's chemical name we find something similar:
17b-ol 1,4-androstadiene, 3-one
And finally we have "ONE" at the end of Boldenone, and clearly, the chemical name
also has "One" at the very end:
17b-ol 1,4-androstadiene-3-one
So, what does all of this tell us? Well, since it starts with 17b-ol we know that its
got something going on at the 17beta position, which is an "ol" and is a Hydroxy
(oxygen and hydrogen) group. This is where our estrification (added ester) at the
17-beta-position goes. Now, we also have the middle part, androstadiene, which
indicates that this steroid has a double carbon bond on the base of a testosterone's
steran nucleus or a di- bond on androstene. In this particular case, the double
carbon bond at this position slows aromatization. Eq, as we know, aromatizes to a
far lesser degree than testosterone because of this modification. Remember from the
beginning of my explanation on all of this that androstene indicates testosterone as a
base
structure.
Add it all up and we have Boldenone. This is called Equipoise and its name comes
from the Latin root of the word Equine, and as you already know, Equipoise (Eq) was
developed to give to horses.
Now, if we look at Eq (boldenone) and compare it to Dianabol,
(methandrostenolone), we can see how similar they are.
Equipoise:
(17b-ol 1,4-androstadiene-3-one )
And now Dianabol (difference noted in black/bold):
(17a-methyl-17b-ol 1,4-androstadiene-3-one )
As you can see, the only difference between Dianabol and Eq is the 17a-Methyl
group, which is why Dianabol is called a Methylated steroid; it has been 17-alpha
alkylated to survive oral ingestion.
23
And this, my friends, should tell us a few things. We can tell a lot from just the
names I've used in my profiles. When you compare the minor difference in names
with the major differences in effects concerning Dianabol vs. Eq) we discover that
names aren't everything.
Now, let’s talk about the anabolic: androgenic ratio's...
To determine that ratio, testosterone was given to male winstar mice, and then they
were sacrificed, (killed). Their levator ani (a leg muscle which was immobilized
during the 21 days) and their ventral prostate were weighed.
The weight of that untrained muscle is the anabolic rating for testosterone, and the
weight of the ventral prostate is the androgenic rating. Now, other steroids are
administered to these rodents, and the weight of their levator ani and ventral
prostate, relative to the weights of those rodents from the testosterone group, are
that steroid's anabolic: androgenic rating. Testosterone, therefore, has a rating of
100:100, while Trenbolone has a rating of 500:500. This is the same ratio and is
relative to itself, but it is 5 xs as anabolic as testosterone and 5 xs as anabolic.
Again, all of the information in this chapter isn't a perfect way to give us the exact
effects a given compound will have in our bodies. However, its a start and it will
allow you to have an easier time assimilating all of the information contained in the
profiles.
24
Chapter 5
The game as it’s played…
(The state of the Anabolic Steroid Game today)
Let’s have a talk about anabolic steroids as they are bought and sold today. A
couple of decades ago there was a raging debate between Human Grade vs.
Veterinary Grade steroids. Now there is a third contender in the ring, and it’s a free
for all! That third contender is the UnderGround Lab (UGL for short). Let’s talk
about all three of these very worthy contenders and then I’ll give you my thoughts
on each. I will also tell you how I choose to spend my hard earned money, given
these choices.
The easiest of these three to identify is Human Grade gear. Major pharmaceutical
companies like Organon and Upjohn for use by human beings produce these.
Simple, huh?
The second category is veterinary grade steroids. This is a touchy category in recent
years and is increasingly a grey area. See, generally, you would assume
“veterinary” meant for animals, right? And two decades ago, you would have been
correct. If you purchased a bottle of Ganabol, it was certainly intended to end up
being shot into some horse’s butt somewhere or another. Generally, animal steroids
came as low(er) dosed preparations, which was good because, generally, animals
require much lower doses than Mr. Olympia Competitors. Then Ttokkyo came out
with a 300mg/ml 10cc bottle of Nandrolone Decanoate with a huge mastiff (dog) on
the bottle with the slogan “Keep your pets healthy and strong” (wink wink, nudge
nudge). Now there are a lot of “Vet” companies making interesting products which
are clearly intended for human use. The deal is that generally most countries have
much less strict guidelines for vet products as opposed to human grade
pharmaceuticals. As a result, now we have a million “Vet” companies making some
cool stuff for us. Do we consider that veterinary grade? Yeah, for the purposes of
this chapter, if there’s a picture of a dog (or cat, or llama, or whatever) on the box or
bottle we’ll consider it Veterinary Grade, regardless of the intentions of the products
manufacturer.
Now, finally and most interestingly (to me) is the UnderGround Lab. This business is
just booming, and to help keep up with it, and maybe even make some sense of it, I
usually separate them into three categories (three generations, actually).
First generation underground Labs (such as International Pharmaceuticals aka IP)
are the ones who actually buy their raw steroid powders and oils directly from Raw
Pharmaceutical Supply houses. In this category are luminaries such as Dpharm,
(who may or may not be in business anymore) M-Labs, and Stark Labs. Although
British Dragon and British Dispensary are legitimately registered pharmaceutical
companies, I consider them to be in this category as well. Why? Walk into a
hospital anywhere in the world, and you won’t find their products there. The same
25
goes for BodyResearch. They are, for all intents and purposes, just another first
generation UGLab.
Second Generation Underground Labs are ones who don’t obtain their powders
directly from the source. Instead, they go through a middleman, and believe it or
not, that is often simply a first generation Lab. Clearly, they are going to have to
charge considerably more for their products, as compared to first generation Labs.
And of course, there are even third generation UGLabs. As you may have guessed,
these guys are the very bottom of the food chain and often charge a lot for their
products because their raw materials have passed through quite a few hands.
Having been involved in the game for quite some time now, I’ve seen a lot of Labs
come and go. I was involved with the original anabolic steroid message boards, (we
had around 10,000 members almost half a decade ago) and I was there when
powders just started becoming available to the average guy. At that time, Dpharm
was operating under another name and selling human grade anabolics and powders.
He contacted me and gave me some Eq powder (it’s actually an oil at room
temperature) for me to make into an injectable form for myself, and in return, I gave
him some ideas on what a good product line for an emerging underground Lab may
contain. Since then, I know he was looking to get out of the business and may have
done so by the time this book is printed. He was a gentleman in all of my dealings
with him, as were most UGLabs and steroid dealers (called “sources” in current
jargon).
Such is the story of many of the first generation UGLabs who have been around for a
while. The smart ones invest their money and get out of the business.
I also have had the opportunity to watch a very small underground Lab, Stark Labs,
develop from the ground floor to the very well run private Lab it is today. Stark Labs
started out as a member, and later a moderator, on a board I was staffed on. He
then left the staff to pursue his venture as an Underground Lab (this was necessary,
for illegal activities are not tolerated by any Internet discussion boards that I would
be a part of). Anyway, Stark left the staff at that board to pursue this venture, and I
was one of his first customers. I bought and tested many of his products, and they
all came out to contain exactly what they were supposed to and at the proper dose.
Early on, he had some problems with his injectables “crashing” (coming out of
solution) or in the case of his Testosterone Suspension, (made with Propelyne Glycol,
not just an aqueous suspension) it actually became SOLID (!) at room temperature.
Anyway, all that was necessary was to reheat them, but that’s the type of products
you’ll see from a new underground Lab; slightly inconsistent formulas and occasional
problems like this are not uncommon. Stark Labs overcame those issues in later
batches, of course, and produced many fine products.
Unfortunately, I have also been exposed to the dirty side of the Underground Lab
game also. I’ve seen and heard some stories that would make you sick; I don’t need
to repeat all of them here, but I know of a Lab whose products gave one guy an
abscess, while the discussion board that Lab called home (and the staff and owner of
that board) all denied culpability for that Lab’s products being unsafe. I’ve heard of
Labs that threaten people for saying that their products aren’t great, and even some
Labs that give their customers fake or doctored Lab reports on their goods. Others
have tried to pass off one drug (Tren) as being a much more expensive one
(Masteron). At least their customers got something though; some products could
26
contain nothing! But, I still feel your chance of finding a good product (at a good
price) from a reputable Underground Lab is high.
Clearly, there are both good and bad Underground Labs out there, and finding a
good one is all part of the game. You then have to hope that Lab doesn’t get busted
or retire to start a legit business with their drug money!
Remember Dan Duchaine? Well, he used to run a mail order steroid business, and
his old business partner (the co-author of the first Underground Steroid Handbook)
took that money and invested it into a supplement company. That company is now
one of the largest in the world and it was all built from selling amps of Deca and Test
in the 80’s! You’d be surprised (shocked?) at how many supplement companies got
their start from being steroid dealers.
This next part is probably the most shocking thing I’m going to tell you in the entire
book:
I prefer using underground Labs to human grade gear (i.e. I would use Stark Labs
over a major “legit” pharmaceutical company). Why? Several reasons, actually.
There are far fewer counterfeits and/or bootlegs made of them as compared to legit
human grade steroids. It’s much more profitable to counterfeit an amp of Primobolan
and sell it for $12-15 per milliliter than to try to make a fake vial of (say) Stark
Primobolan and sell all ten milliliters for $100. Then economics just aren’t there to
justify faking a UG Product over (say) an Organon one.
In addition, the owners of the first generation Underground Labs have very good
quality control and very sterile conditions to produce their steroids under. You know
why? They use them! Yeah, that’s right, every UGLab owner is basically an AAS
user himself and uses his own products. To my thinking, that’s the best quality
control in the world, and the best endorsement. In addition, you can find some cool
stuff available only from Underground Labs, like long estered Masteron or
Trenbolone. On the next pages, you’ll see the Lab tests I had done on Stark Labs
Trenbolone Enanthate as well as other products. It tested out very well, but as noted
on the Lab report, they had nothing to compare it to, as no Trenbolone Enanthate
existed to get base scores from before underground Labs started producing it. In
addition, with underground Labs, you’ll find some highly concentrated (milligram per
milliliter) gear available, and that brings me to a very interesting point:
You’re going to get better results from taking a more highly concentrated steroid as
opposed to a less concentrated one, even if the milligram amounts are the same.
That’s right, if one guy takes (for example) a 100mg shot of Deca which is 25mgs/ml
(i.e. he takes a 4ml shot equaling 100 total mgs) and another takes that same
milligram amount as one ml (i.e. he takes a 1ml 100mg/ml shot), the second guy is
going to have a higher blood plasma level of Nandrolone (1). Why is this, when they
both took 100mgs total? To be honest, I don’t know why this is, but that’s what the
Minto et. al. study has shown us. This could explain why the 200mg/ml
Drostanolone Enanthate (Masteron Enanthate) I used gave me the better results
than the 100mg/ml Drostanolone Propionate (Masteron) I used, even though the
longer ester prevents a higher peak blood plasma level of a given hormone.*
27
Let’s review those two points:
1. More highly concentrated steroids provide higher blood plasma levels of the
base hormone even when total milligram amounts are the same.
2. Longer esters provide significantly lower blood plasma levels of the base
hormone even when total milligram amounts are the same.
This is another reason why I prefer underground Labs. You can get virtually any
product from them and in any concentration and ester. Clearly, I prefer short esters
and high concentrations when it comes to steroids because they will always,
milligram for milligram provide higher blood plasma levels of the base hormone and
ergo better results.
The trick is finding a reputable underground Lab, and getting on their customer list.
You’re on your own for that one.
However, if you are inclined to buy Human or Vet grade steroids, I have some tips
for you to help spot counterfeits. This is by no means an all-inclusive list, but rather,
some easy to remember tips for your next round of purchases. Here’s what to look
at:
• Uneven levels of liquid- Take a look at two amps from the same manufacturer
side by side. Is the level of oil in them even? If not, at least one is a fake.
• Weird Labels- Does the Label look shoddy on either the box or the vial/bottle
you are buying? Do you think a multimillion (or billion) dollar company would
produce something that looks like a kid with an I-Mac Label maker made it?
If the Label is weird, then the product is probably fake.
• Uneven Labels- Ever see an uneven Label on a legitimate product of any
kind? From a bottle of Jack Daniels to a bottle of Cola, have you ever seen an
uneven Label on one? No, right? Well the same goes for pharmaceuticals.
• Expiration Dates- These should be stamped onto both the box as well as the
product inside, and not printed in the same ink as the rest of the Label. And
they should match, of course.
• Hologram- Look closely…is it a hologram or a silver sticker? If it’s just a silver
sticker, you have yourself a fake.
• Go with your gut instinct- Is there something dodgy about the store you are
buying your products at? Is the source acting shady? Always walk away.
Incidentally, you may notice that we have neglected to include a bunch of glossy
pictures in the back of this book to help you distinguish real steroids from fakes.
Well, this is because at this stage of the game, the fakes are as good as the real
product. A decent graphic designer with any one of a dozen programs can simply
remove a Label from a legit product, scan it, and begin producing his own counterfeit
products. And they’d be perfect. These days, even home computers with the right
printers and programs can generate watermarks, holograms, and perfect forgeries of
virtually any product. A quick trip to the local office supply store can then provide
you with a stamp to put on the date, and you’re in business as a counterfeit steroid
producer.
Finally, you can go to sites like www.Steroid.com, which has a forum where
members post pictures of both real and counterfeit steroids. This way, you can
compare what you’ve been popping into your ass cheeks to a real-time picture of
what’s currently available. This can provide you with some insight as to what is real
and what is fake. You need to be careful, however, as to what discussion boards you
28
frequent. I can tell you that the vast majority (99%) of them produce very little in
the way of worthwhile information, and most have at least one or two UGLabs or
sources on their staff. In most cases, anabolic steroid discussion boards, as well as
the staff on them are very average. If this book is in your hands, there are very few
boards that are going to offer you anything at all over what you are currently
reading. A great many anabolic steroid discussion boards often have a vested
interest, as many of those discussion boards are owned by a dealer or Lab who uses
it to sell their products indiscriminately, or the owner and staff get freebies from a
certain Lab privately and sing that Lab’s praises publicly. This is true of the vast
majority of anabolic steroid discussion boards on the Internet, in one-way or
another. I have been very fortunate to never have been (knowingly at least)
involved with situations like that. If you frequent Internet anabolic steroid discussion
boards, and you ever see a board or staff defend a source tooth and nail, or tell you
a particular Lab is the best thing since Organon…for no reason? The reason is free
product under the table. You can bet on it.
Anyway, if you are still interested in Human/Vet products, and don’t want to buy
fakes, you can also go take a look at the actual sites run by the makers of various
steroids and compare the lot #’s, expiration dates, and pictures to your stash.
Here’s some website addresses to look at:
Bratis:
http://www.bratisLabs.com/
Brovel:
http://www.brovel.com.mx
Denkall:
http://www.ausvetdenkall.com/
ICN:
http://www.icnpharm.com/
Jurox:
http://www.veterinaria.com.mx/
Organon:
http://www.organon.com/
Quality Vet:
http://www.qualityvet.com.mx
Serono:
http://serono.com/
Ttokkyo:
http://www.ttokkyo.com.mx/
Upjohn:
http://www.upjohn.com/
29
Powerline:
www.powerlinemex.com
Animal Power:
http://www.animalpower.com.mx
Tornel:
www.tornel.com
British Dragon:
http://www.britishdragon.com/
Pharmacia El-Ramoz:
http://www.pharmacia-elramoz.com/
Kexing:
http://fitropin.com
Gen-Sci:
http://www.gensci-china.com/green/english/english.htm
Genetech:
http://www.gene.com
That list it by no means exhaustive, but it could save you a few dollars (or Pesos) by
helping you avoid buying fake gear.
Before ending this chapter, I’d like to caution you against going online simply
anywhere to look for pictures of fake vs. real steroids. Most Internet web sites and
bulletin boards allow anyone who registers to post pictures of “real” and “fake”
steroids. Thus, as you can expect, people who sell fake steroids simply register and
post their pictures as “real” steroids, and nobody is the wiser. Caveat Emptor.
Reference:
1. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Nandrolone Esters in Oil Vehicle: Effects
of Ester, Injection Site and Injection Volume Charles F. Minto, Christopher Howe, Susan
Wishart, Ann J. Conway and David J. Handelsman
30
Chapter 6
Injection Technique
Ok, so you have your bottle(s) of injectable steroid and your needles. Now you’re
ready to give yourself that first shot. I’ll assume you’re like me and you’ve spent
hours staring at the needles and bottles before working up the courage to give
yourself that first shot. When I started out in this game, like many others, I read the
Underground Steroid Handbook and got the advice to do glute shots “high and to the
side” and that’s about it. Well…that was, and still is good advice. If you are a visual
learner (like me), here’s a better idea:
Go grab yourself a porn-mag (no really). Take a look at a pic of someone naked,
facing away from you and standing up straight (you may need to search for that
one…). Now draw a line down one of their ass cheeks, vertically, right down the
middle. That’s your sciatic nerve; stay away from it. Now draw a line across the
middle, this time horizontally, right through the middle of the cheek. See the
upper/outer most past of those 4 parts you just separated the ass cheek into?
That’s where you are aiming when you do an injection in your glute.
If you are nervous, you can practice holding the needle like a dart, and pushing it
into an orange. Apparently the surface tension of the orange makes it very similar
to human skin, so nursing students often use oranges to practice.
So here’s what you want to do for a glute shot (1):
1. Sterilize the area you are going to inject. You can use an alcohol pad, but I
usually just take a shower with anti-bacterial soap, and shoot when I get out.
Remember, your skin also softens up a bit in the shower, and this makes for
an easier shot.
2. If you are using a multi-use vial, clean the top off with an alcohol swab. If you
are using an amp, crack it open.
3. Take the needle out of the package. If you are using oil based steroids, then
you need a 22 or 23 gauge needle. Water based steroids will usually go
through a 25ga. and higher needle depending on the compound. Usually, I
just buy a couple of hundred 23ga.x1” needles with 3cc syringe casings
(that’s the part that holds the liquid). If you are doing deltoids, triceps,
biceps, etc. injections (i.e. small muscles) then you can use anywhere from a
25ga.x5/8th” needle to a 23ga.x1” needle. Glute and quad shots usually
require a 1.5” needle, of the same gauges discussed earlier. As long as the
needle is open enough to let the liquid get through, and long enough to get
past your fat and skin into the muscle, then you’re fine.
4. Pull air into the needle and inject it into the vial. This creates pressure in the
vial, making it easier to draw the steroid out with.
5. Now draw the solution into the syringe by pulling on the stopper while the
needle is facing up.
31
6. Pull the needle out of the vial when you have the desired amount of steroid in
the syringe.
7. Hold the needle upright and tap the sides until the air bubbles are at the top,
and then push them out by tapping the plunger a bit.
8. Now you can either change the needle, or use the same one to inject yourself.
I just use the same one, but if you are drawing from 2-3 vials, then you
might want to replace it at the end before you inject yourself.
9. Stretch the skin on the area of your glute you are going to inject: [with your
thumb and forefinger,]
10. Holding the needle like a dart, push it (in one motion) all the way into your
muscle.
11. Draw back slightly on the plunger, and make sure it doesn’t fill with blood. If
it does, you are in the wrong spot, and you need to start over in another
muscle.
12. Push the plunger in until the syringe is empty.
13. Pull the needle out and put on a Band-Aid. You can massage the area a little
if you want, as this can decrease soreness the next day. Trust me.
If you are shooting elsewhere than the glute, pretty much aim for center mass and
avoid visible veins but follow the same basic procedure that I just shared with you. I
don’t recommend shooting more than 3mls of anything into a given injection at any
given time.
If you are using a particularly thick steroid (and by that I mean the oil is viscous)
then you may want to hold the syringe part horizontal under hot tap water for a
minute. This will heat the oil slightly and let it flow more smoothly. Just remember
to keep the cap on the needle while you run it under water.
Personally, I’ve injected in my glutes, biceps, quadriceps, triceps, traps, and
deltoids. I’ve considered calves, but it seems a bit too awkward, and I’ve considered
pecs, but it seems a bit too “Pulp Fiction”.
I provided information on glute shots because it’s the easiest to explain and because
when you shoot “X”mgs of a given steroid into a large muscle, you will get a higher
blood plasma level than shooting in smaller muscles, even when the amount and
concentration of the steroid is the same (1). The lesson here is that for maximum
results, you will always shoot in the largest muscle possible. But you still can’t shoot
in the same spot more than once per week because you will develop too much scar
tissue. Remember to rotate injection sites if you are doing shots every day or every
other day.
Now, we need to discuss what it’s going to look and feel like if you get an infection.
First of all, you’re going to feel a kind of soreness that’s different from a typical
injection. It’s going to be more of a sharp pain, as opposed to a dull pain. The next
thing is that it’s going to be discolored around the injection area and, will have a
clearly defined border. I’m not talking about a little red area here. It’s more like a
very large blister at first with some kind of fluid inside it. Gross, but wait, it gets
better. During the final stage there is a very viscous fluid inside the border, and a
very dark discoloration. By this time, it will be a very large protruding bulge that
possibly needs to be drained. This final discoloration will be very dark and you’ll
definitely, at this point, know that something has gone terribly wrong.
32
I need to add that you may want to search the Internet for pictures of this, on
medical websites, but you should be forewarned that they typically show pictures of
very easily diagnosed infections and abscesses. What this means is that you’ll be
looking at a very large and absurd picture, which may look quite different from your
own infection/abscess, if that’s actually what you have.
Reference:
1. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Nandrolone Esters in Oil Vehicle: Effects
of Ester, Injection Site and Injection Volume Charles F. Minto, Christopher Howe, Susan
Wishart, Ann J. Conway and David J. Handelsman
Completely Cleanse Steroids From Your
Body in Just 5 Days!
http://www.SteroidCleanse.com
33
Chapter 7
Designing your own Cycle & Sample Cycles
It is, of course, my hope that you will be able to read this book and design a cycle
for yourself custom tailored to your personal goals. But in this chapter, I’ll give you
my thoughts on bulking and cutting cycles, and how to design them. I will be frank
and say that both of them depend greatly on training and diet, but that bulking
cycles are very dose-dependant and cutting cycles are compound-dependant. What
the hell do I mean? Well, quite simply, steroids follow a dose respondent curve in
terms of muscle gained per mg of steroid. The more you use, the more weight you
gain. Thus, creating a bulking cycle is reasonably simple. In general, I tend to stick
with 2 compounds (test and deca, perhaps) and use moderate to high doses of each.
Cutting cycles are another animal altogether. Instead of simply relying on large
amounts of drugs, you need to remember that when you are in a calorie restricted
state, your sensitivity to exogenous androgens is going to be greater
(Neuroendocrinol 1994; 6: 397-402). Therefore, your selection of compounds needs
to be given greater care than when you are simply trying to gain maximum weight.
Remember, they are going to have a pronounced effect in the absence of libitum
calories. To figure out how to design a cutting cycle, I've been looking around at
various cutting cycles, interviewing athletes and bodybuilders, asking people what
they've gotten their best results from, and keeping track of what compounds and
dosages have been used. My main concern was what type of cycle has been
producing the best results for people, and what similarities do the most prouctive
cutting cycles share. The more I researched, the more I found out that there were
trends within cutting cycles among experienced users. Some will not be surprising to
you, and some will be pretty obvious.
One of the most obvious trends I've noted has been the use of shorter esters in
cutting cycles and longer esters in bulking cycles. Anecdotally, shorter estered drugs
seem to be less likely to cause bloating. This means Testosterone Propionate would
be preferable to Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate and Nandrolone
PhenylPropionate would be preferable to the standard Deca (Nandrolone Decanoate).
Test Enth or Cyp would of course be fine for a bulking cycle though.
This should come as no surprise to most people.
What I have to say next is probably going to be a major surprise to you.
The most productive cutting cycles I've read about on the 'net ALL followed a simple
structure. Here's the pattern or structure:
Every single highly successful cutting cycle I’ve ever looked at contained
Testosterone. Some also contained another testosterone based compound as well. Eq
is a popular addition here.
Every single one contained a 19-nor-testosterone based compound as well. The
34
Nandrolone branch of the 19-nor family is well known for being very anabolic and not
incredibly androgenic, while the Trenbolone branch is very androgenic. Also, it has
the strongest androgen binding affinity of any commonly used injectable. I feel that
a proper cutting cycle will contain some compounds that bind very strongly to the
Androgen Receptor, and perhaps some others which have several non-receptor
mediated mechanisms of action.
And finally, every really good cutting cycle I looked at contained a DHT based
compound as well. Generally Winstrol and/or Masteron were used.
So, what we have here are all 3 major families of Anabolic/Androgenic Steroids. They
are represented (Testosterone, 19-nor-Testosterone, and DiHydroTestosterone) in
99% of all HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE cutting cycles and are Testosterone 1a-nor
Testosterone, and DiHy6dro Testosterone. Remember, A/A steroids will all fall into
one of the 3 categories I have mentioned.
I can tell you that I'd almost always include Trenbolone with Winstrol in a cutting
cycle. Tren binds very strongly to the anabolic receptor, and Winnie binds rather
poorly...by combining them, we may have some additional synergy.
NPP
(Nandrolone Phenylpropionate) also has a reasonable bind to the AR, so it may be
substituted for Tren. It probably should not used alongside it with any appreciable
synergy. And of course, using either of those without Testosterone would kill your
sex life.
I'm also noticing that most of the magic is easily achieved with doses under 2grams
(total) with regards to cutting cycles. I know that personally, if I were to do a cutting
cycle, I'd run around 400-500mgs or so each of a DHT, 19-nor, and Test based
compound. Price would factor into things, I'm sure, as would availability.
I’ve noticed that cutting cycles require far less milligrams of AAS per kg of
bodyweight. This creates some pretty amazing results but I never really knew why.
Then I was researching androgen efficacy in feed restricted animals (what, you don’t
have hobbies?) and found that feed restriction can encourage enhanced androgen
receptiveness (McManus et. al.). This means the steroids you use will produce
greater results when you are under caloric restriction, and thus, your cutting cycles
will actually be more effective (in a milligrams vs/ results gained) than your bulking
cycles.
Bulking cycles use much higher doses, of course. At the stage in my life, I usually
use testosterone propionate + one other compound for my cycles.
I'm sure many readers want to know about including GH or Clen (or Letrozole) into
this discussion, but it's simply beyond the scope of what I'm doing in this chapter. I
think that those are good compounds and are certainly worth including if you have
access to them and (in the case of GH) the funds but they simply aren't necessary
(unless you need the Letrozole to combat gyno, or simply like to use Clen, which is
now fairly cheap). Perhaps with higher doses, they become more necessary, but I
feel that their inclusion is really on a case by case basis.
There it is, how I would design a cycle for optimal results using optimal compounds
and dosages. As a last word, I'd like to remind everyone that diet and training will be
part of your cycle-puzzle, and that the dugs mentioned above will make things
35
easier. However, keep in mind that they certainly will not make you ripped or huge
on thier own.
Combine those 3 families of steroids and different receptor binding abilities and you
will have a very potent cycle. Use high(ish) doses and you have a very nice bulking
cycle. Now that you have an understanding of how I design my own cycles, I’ll leave
you to design your own. But, I have some sample cycles you may wish to try.
Beginner’s Cycle
This is your basic Beginners Cycle, comprised entirely of testosterone. Not only will
you get more muscular on this cycle, but you will learn how your body reacts to
endogenous amounts of testosterone.
Week
Testosterone (Enanthate or Cypionate)
1 500mgs
2 500mgs
3 500mgs
4 500mgs
5 500mgs
6 500mgs
7 500mgs
8 500mgs
9 500mgs
10 500mgs
11 500mgs
12 500mgs
Beginner’s Cycle (with Kick Start)
This is the same cycle as the one above, but I’ve included Dianabol at a low(ish)
does at the beginning, so you’ll start seeing results almost immediately.
Week
Testosterone (Enan or Cyp)
1 500mgs
Dianabol
20mgs/day
2 500mgs
3 500mgs
20mgs/day
20mgs/day
20mgs/day
4 500mgs
5 500mgs
6 500mgs
7 500mgs
8 500mgs
9 500mgs
10 500mgs
11 500mgs
12 500mgs
36
Intermediate Bulking Cycle
This cycle is for those who have done two previous cycles (hopefully the ones
above). For those looking to add more weight, Deca would be the appropriate choice
here. For those looking to add more lean weight, Eq would be more appropriate.
Week
Testosterone (Enan or Cyp) Deca-Durabolin -or- Equipoise
Dianabol
1 500mgs
400mgs
2 500mgs
20mgs/day
400mgs
3 500mgs
20mgs/day
400mgs
4 500mgs
20mgs/day
400mgs
5 500mgs
20mgs/day
6 500mgs
400mgs
400mgs
7 500mgs
8 500mgs
400mgs
400mgs
9 500mgs
10 500mgs
400mgs
400mgs
11 500mgs
12 500mgs
400mgs
400mgs
13 500mgs
Intermediate Cutting Cycle
This cycle is for those who have a decent amount of mass already, and wish to refine
it.
Weight gains will be minimal, but with a proper diet and training (Cardio and
Weights), single digit body fat levels should be attainable if you are not too sloppy.
Many will disagree with the inclusion of a 17aa like Winstrol for this long, and
certainly you can do ½ of the cycle with Winstrol, and ½ with Tren, or mix and
match. I’ve done it both ways and either works fine.
Week Testosterone Propionate
Winstrol
(injectable) -or- Trenbolone
Acetate
1 100mgs/Every Other Day
(EOD)
Anavar
100mgs/Every
Other Day (EOD)
2 100mgs/EOD
100mgs/EOD
40mgs/day
3 100mgs/EOD
40mgs/day
100mgs/EOD
4 100mgs/EOD
40mgs/day
5 100mgs/EOD
100mgs/EOD
100mgs/EOD
6 100mgs/EOD
7 100mgs/EOD
100mgs/EOD
100mgs/EOD
8 100mgs/EOD
9 100mgs/EOD
100mgs/EOD
100mgs/EOD
10 100mgs/EOD
11 100mgs/EOD
100mgs/EOD
100mgs/EOD
12 100mgs/EOD
100mgs/EOD
37
Advanced Bulking Cycle
Keep some Letrozole or Arimidex on hand for this cycle, if gynocomastia symptoms
develop. This is a very potent bulking cycle, and should be good for a 20lb+ gain
even in advanced users.
Week Testosterone (Cyp or Enan) Deca-Durabolin Anadrol50
1 750mgs 500mgs 50mgs/day
2 750mgs 500mgs 50mgs/day
3 750mgs 500mgs 50mgs/day
4 750mgs 500mgs 50mgs/day
5 750mgs 500mgs 50mgs/day
6 750mgs 500mgs 50mgs/day
7 750mgs 500mgs
8 750mgs 500mgs
9 750mgs 500mgs
10 750mgs 500mgs
11 750mgs 500mgs
12 750mgs 500mgs
Advanced Cutting Cycle
As with the cycle above, keep some Letrozole or Arimidex on hand, and use it if gyno
symptoms begin…this cycle is what I consider to be the “perfect” cutting cycle. If you
start no higher than 15%bodyfat, and you keep your diet and training in check, you
will easily get into single digits.
Week Testosterone
Propionate
Trenbolone Winstrol
(oral)
Clenbuterol
1 75mgs/Every
other Day
75mgs/Every
other Day
25mgs/day 60mcgs/day
2 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD 25mgs/day 60mcgs/day
3 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD 25mgs/day 60mcgs/day
+50mgs of Benadryl
4 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD 25mgs/day 60mcgs/day
5 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD 25mgs/day 60mcgs/day+
50mgs of Benadryl
6 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD - 60mcgs/day
7 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD - 60mcgs/day
8 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD 25mgs/day 60mcgs/day
9 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD 25mgs/day 60mcgs/day+50mgs
of Benadryl
10 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD 25mgs/day 60mcgs/day
11 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD 25mgs/day 60mcgs/day
12 75mgs/EOD 75mgs/EOD 25mgs/day 60mcgs/day+50mgs
of Benadryl
38
Chapter 8
Remove Steroids in 5 Days
*The product discussed below did show to beat steroid drug testing, but we
are not in any way promoting this product to be used to purposely beat
mandatory or random drug testing for sports or work.
This is going to be one of the shortest chapters in the book, but it will also be one of
the most important! Anabolic Steroids can be very toxic to the body and if taken
incorrectly or for a long period of time, they can cause some very serious side
effects. In the past, if you took steroids and decided that you made a terrible
mistake by doing so, or if you just finished up a long cycle and wanted to remove
these drugs, you had to let them run through your system and wait for your body to
cleanse them out naturally. This process can take up to 18 months or longer and
during that time, these steroids can continue to do damage to your body. Well… You
don’t have to wait any more!
We found a product call the “Steroid Cleanse” by Dynamic Sports Nutrition, Inc.
(http://www.SteroidCleanse.com) that claimed to completely remove steroids from
your body in only 5 days! Those were some big claims considering that removing
steroids other than naturally has never proven to work, so we bought a few bottles
to test them out. We took several known steroid users and had them drug tested to
see what exactly they had in their system. It would take a few days to receive the
results back so we had our subjects continue with the cleanse without knowing
exactly what drugs were in their system. After our test subjects gave their urine at a
local licensed drug testing facility, we instructed them to immediately stop taking
any steroids or drugs they were using and to follow the instructions on the “Steroid
Cleanse” bottles to the letter. The cleanse is a 5 day process that requires a clean
diet, water or green tea, exercise, and a toilet within 100 yards at any given time.
Our test subjects reported no signs of negative reactions to this product other than
frequent trips to the bathroom (which is necessary for most cleansing type
products).
After we had received the results back from the first drug test, it was clear that they
were indeed on several types of popular anabolic steroids. The drugs that were
found to be present were:
Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca-Durabolin), Testosterone (they were using
Testosterone Cypionate, Propionate, and Enanthate), Drostanolone (Masteron),
Methandrostenolone (Dianabol), Oxandrolone (Anavar), and Stanolzolol (Winstrol)
were all present.
The steroids listed above are commonly used in many athletes and was a perfect
control group to see if this “Steroid Cleanse” really did work. After our test subjects
completed the 5 day cleanse, they returned back to the licensed drug testing facility
where they gave their last, hopefully cleansed urine samples.
39
Several days after giving the final urine samples, the drug testing facility called us to
let us know the drug tests were in and that we could come pick them up. What we
found out was absolutely amazing! Every single steroid was removed from our
test subjects except for one drug, Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca-Durabolin), which
the company claimed may not be cleansed to begin with. (A small list of drugs that
may not be cleansed can be found at www.steroidcleanse.com)
These tests proved to us that the impossible was now 100% possible. We have found
a product that will actually remove these toxins from your body in only 5 days! That
is shocking in itself, but we are wondering how this will affect the sports industry
now that this product does actually exist? We recommend anyone who wants to
remove steroids and other drugs from your system to use the “Steroid Cleanse”.
To view the exact same test results we saw, please visit the “Steroid Cleanse”
website. We have forwarded our test results to them and have asked them to post
them for everyone to see. Please note the last part of the social security number for
identification purposes, as well as the date of collection on both the before and after
tests.
Completely Cleanse Steroids From Your
Body in Just 5 Days!
http://www.SteroidCleanse.com
40
DRUG
PROFILES
41
Chapter 9
Drug Profiles
This is obviously going to be the longest chapter of the book, and the most
exhaustively researched one. It contains profiles on every major (and minor)
pharmaceutical compound in use for bodybuilding, sports, and athletics today. It
contains literally hundreds of references and works cited, and I believe this to be the
most complete collection of this type of information in the world.
As I said previously, you may, perhaps find some of this information repetitious. If
you read the profile on Equipoise and the profile on Methandriol, then I suspect you
will find the profile on Drive (a rare Australian blend of Equipoise and Methandriol) to
be repetitious. Be that as it may, I have spared no effort to include profiles on drugs
such as Drive, even though the compounds which make it up are addressed
elsewhere. You will not learn what percentage of Drive is made up by Methandriol
land what percentage of it is Equipoise simply by reading the profiles on those two
respective drugs. You will not learn how many milligrams of each per milliliter are in
Drive by simply reading the profiles on the drugs which make it up. And if you want
to have the most complete understanding of steroids and ancillary compounds
possible, then you need to know those things. I want you to walk away from reading
this book with the most complete knowledge possible, and that has required effort
on my part…and now requires effort on yours.
Alot of what we know about a steroid, or at least part of that, is "coded" in it's name
[the part written like this at the start of my profiles]. If you look in the name of a
steroid, and it's something like this:
2-oxy androstane 17b-ol 2-one
(Which is the chemical name for Anavar)
See the bold part? That means it's a DHT-derivative, with regards to it's base carbon
structure.
If it said:
norandrostene 17b-ol 3-one
(Nandrolone)
Then you know the norandrostene part means it's derived from Nandrolone (or if
you generally see 19-nor or something like that)
and finally, if you see:
42
the word testosterone (duh) or androstene in the name of the structure, then you
know it's derived from testosterone.
Therefore, we have a steroid like Boldenone (Eq), we can figure out a few things
about it.
Look at the name:
BOLDENONE -or-
(17b-ol 1,4-androstadiene-3-one, ) -or-
Equipoise
And what we see is that it starts with "BOL" and the chemical name begins with 17b
ol...hence "BOL."
See what I'm talking about:
17b-ol 1,4-androstadiene-3-one
Next we see "DEN" ( because the word is Bol-Den-One if you break it apart).
Looking in the middle of Boldenone's chemical name, we find:
17b-ol1,4-androstadiene, 3-one
And finally we have "ONE" at the end of Boldenone, and clearly, the chemical name
also has "One" at the very end:
17b-ol1,4-androstadiene-3-one
SO what does all of this tell us? Well, since it starts with 17b-ol we know that it's
got something going on at the 17beta position, which is an "ol" which is a Hydroxy
(oxygen and hydrogen) group. This is where our estrification (added ester) at the
17-beta-position goes. Now, we also have the middle part, androstadiene, which
indicates that this steroid has double carbon bond on the base of a testosterone's
steran nucleus or a di- bond on androstene. In this particular case, the double
carbon bond at this position slows aromatization. Eq, as we know, aromatizes to a
far lesser degree than testosterone, because of this modification. Remember that
androstene, from the beginning of my explanation on all of this, indicates
testosterone as a base structure.
Add it all up, and we have Boldenone, which is called Equipoise, from the Latin root
of the word Equine, meaning that it has to do with horses...and as you already knew,
Equipoise (Eq) was developed to give to horses.
Now, if we look at Eq (boldenone) and compare it to Dianabol (methandrostenolone),
we see how similar they are.
43
Equipoise:
(17b-ol 1,4-androstadiene-3-one, )
And now Dianabol (difference noted in black/bold):
(17a-methyl-17b-ol 1,4-androstadiene-3-one, )
As you can see, the only difference between Dianabol and Eq is the 17a-Methyl
group, which is why Dianabol is called a Methylated steroid; it has been 17-alpha
alkylated to survive oral ingestion.
And this, my friends, should tell us a few things, the first being that we can tell alot
from just the names I've used in my profiles...and the second (when you compare
the minor difference in names but the major differences in effects concerning
Dianabol vs. Eq) is that...names aren't everything.
Now, lets talk about the anabolic:androgenic ratio's...
To determine that ratio, testosterone was given to male winstar mice, and then they
were sacrificed (killed), and their levator ani (a leg muscle which was immobilized
during the 21 days) is weighed, as well as their ventral prostate.
The weight of that (untrained) muscle is the anabolic rating for testosterone , and
the weight of the ventral prostate is the androgenic rating. Now other steroids are
administered to these rodents, and the weight of their levator ani and ventral
prostate, relative to the weights of those rodents from the testosterone group, are
that steroid's anabolic:androgenic rating. Testosterone, therefore, has a rating of
100:100, while Trenbolone has a rating of 500:500 (which is the same ratio, relative
to itself, but is 5x as anabolic as testosterone and 5x as anabolic).
Again, this isn't a perfect way to give us the exact effects a given compound will
have in our bodies...but it's a start. Now, start reading profiles!
44
Testosterone
Derived Steroids
45
Testosterone Derived Steroids
As you know, some steroids are derived directly from testosterone, this includes all
of the Testosterones (Methyltestosterone, Testosterone Cypionate, Testosterone
Propionate, etc…) as well as Boldenone, Methandrostenolone, and Fluoxymesterone,
and many more. Below is a partial list of some traits and effects that most, if not all,
Testosterone Derived Steroids have attributed to them
• Excellent Anabolic Properties
• Increased nitrogen retention
• Improved sense of well-being
• Improved Confidence
• Significantly Increased Libido
• Possible improvement of erectile dysfunction
• Conversion to Estrogen (aromatization)
• Possible increased LDL cholesterol
• Possible decreased HDL cholesterol
• Increased aggression
• Increased ability to recover from workouts
• Decreased Cortisol (a catabolic hormone)
• Increased Creatine Phosphate production and utilization
• Increased Lypolysis (fat burning)
• Improved Insulin sensitivity
• Increased Metabolism
• Increased Bone Density
46
• Increased production of red blood cells
• Conversion to DHT
• Increased growth of body hair
• Possible development of male sexual characteristics in women
• Increased acne
• Inhibition of HPTA
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
47
Anabolicum Vister
(Boldenone shown with Undeclynate Ester)
(Qunibolone)
[1,4-androstadiene-3-one,17b-ol (+ ester 17beta-(1-Cyclopenten-1-yloxy) ]
Molecular Formula (of Base): C19H26O2
Molecular Formula (of Ester):N/A
Molecular Weight (of Base): 286.4132
Molecular Weight (of Ester): 352.5156
Melting Point:N/A
Manufacturer: Parke Davis (Discontinued)
Effective Dose(men): 100-200mgs/day
Effective Dose (women): 50-100mgs/day
Active Life: less than 8-12 hours
Detection Time:2-3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio: 100:50
Unfortunately, Anabolicum Vister (Quinbolone) wasn’t very popular in the United
States, and most of the research on it was written in Italian. Why is that important?
Well, most of the research on it is written in Italian. I’m one of those guys who
doesn’t even like to read the menu out loud at an Italian restaurant I usually have to
point at the item I want to avoid looking too stupid.
Anabolicum Vister is yet another attempt at creating a steroid with the basic idea of
altering the Methandrostenolone/Boldenone structure. As we already know,
Equipoise (Boldenone) is basically a non-17alpha alkylated version of Dianabol, with
an Undeclynate ester added. What we’re looking at in Anabolicum Vister
(Quinbolone) is basically Eq or Boldenone but with a cyclopentenyl ester at the 17
alpha position to increase its lipophillicity, in lieu of the undeclynate ester found in
Eq. It’s yet another attempt at a non-toxic oral anabolic like Andriol, and it used a
similar delivery system. It was sealed in an oil-filled capsule, so that the oil could be
absorbed by the lymphatic system just like it is with Andriol and thus it could by
pass the liver and avoid being broken down that way, which is how most oral
steroids (the 17-alpha-alklyated ones) are. Your lymphatic system is a bunch of
veins and arteries that can only absorb water, the idea behind Anabolicum Vister
takes advantage of this state of affairs.
Anyway, as you may have heard, using the lymphatic system as a delivery vehicle
for steroids is very problematic. Blood levels are all over the place (6)(9), and in
some people it seemed as if most of the time it didn't metabolize properly at all.
Therefore, as with Andriol, effective doses of this steroid are necessarily high.
Originally, each capsule had 10 mg of quinbolone, and you needed to take 10-20caps
48
mg to get any kind of decent anabolic effect (9)(5)(4). Remember, we’re talking
about oral EQ here, so you’re better off with just shooting some nice Stark brand Eq
(or Ganabol, or whatever you happen to like). While you won’t get any benefits with
Anabolicum Vister over regular Eq, it will basically do all of the same things Eq will.
This stuff will help you lose a bit of fat (4)(5), will increase strength and muscle (5),
and also (as Eq is noted for) increase red blood cell production (2). The kicker, for
me, is that this drug was given a new name, Quinbolone, while it’s basically just
boldenone cyclopentenyl. That’s just idiotic.
As we already know from the properties of the Boldenone base, this is a particularly
safe steroid. Anabolicum Vister is not liver toxic (8), and has little or no interaction
with the 5AR enzyme (6), so it doesn't really form much of the more androgenic
metabolite Dihydroboldenone. We also know that it has only half the ability to
interact with aromatase as testosterone, so it won’t convert too much estrogen.
Unlike it’s brother, Methandrostenolone (dbol), it doesn't have the structural
alteration of the 17-alpha-methyl group that makes it form a more potent estrogen
(6).
What we have here (although it has been discontinued) is basically oral Eq, which
requires too many caps per day to be cost effective over injectable Eq, but
nonetheless may be an interesting drug if a underground lab starts producing some.
The original company that made it has, sadly, stopped doing so.
References:
1. [Quinbolone in the therapy of anemia in uremic patients during periodic hemodialytic
treatment]Clin Ter. 1980 Jul 15;94(1):57-65. Italian.
2. [Erythropoietic action of an oral non-17-alkylated anabolic steroid]
Clin Ter. 1979 Nov 15;91(3):267-78. Italian.
3. [Pituitary activity and quinbolone]
Minerva Med. 1977 Jun 30;68(32):2245-8. Italian.
4. [Controlled studies of the comparative effects of an anabolic steroid (quinbolone) and
cobamamide on weight gain, skinfold thickness and secondary sex characters in a group
of children of both sexes. Preliminary note]
Minerva Pediatr. 1972 Jul 14; 24(25):1040-50. Italian.
5. [Human pharmacological study of quinbolone. Clinical and Laboratory investigations
of the effects of anabolic treatment in aged women]
G Gerontol. 1972 Apr; 20(4):361-78. Italian
6. Metabolism of 1-dehydroandrostanes in man. I. Metabolism of 17 -hydroxyandrosta-1,
4-dien-3-one, 17 -cyclopent-1'-enyloxyandrosta-1, 4-dien-3-one (quinbolone) and
androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (1).
Steroids. 1971 Jul; 18(1):39-50.
7. [The action of quinbolone on nitrogen metabolism in humans]
G Clin Med. 1967 Jun;48(6):632-44. Italian.
8. [Considerations on the use of a new non 17-alpha-alkylated anabolic steroid, active
orally: quinbolone. Study of liver function]
Rass Fisiopatol Clin Ter. 1965 May-Jun;37(3):165-77.
49
9. [Clinical study of a new anabolic preparation: Quinbolone]
Gazz Med Ital. 1965 Dec;124(12):360-6. Italian.
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50
Andriol
(Testosterone shown with Undecanoate ester)
(Testosterone + Undecanoate ester)
[Androsta-4-en-3-one, 17b-ol]
Formula: C19 H28 O2
Molecular weight of base: 288.429
Molecular weight of ester: 186.2936
Melting Point: 155
Manufacturer: Organon
Effective dose: 600mgs
Active Life: less than 8-12 hours
Detection Time: 4-5 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio: 100:100
Andriol is testosterone with the undecanoate ester attached, and produced in oral
form. It represents the first real attempt to create an oral testosterone since
Methyltestosterone. I can only assume that the scientists responsible for this wanted
to create a viable alternative to both injectable testosterones (which, at least for
Hormone Replacement Therapy, is inconvenient), as well as other oral forms of
testosterone (which have traditionally been very harsh on the liver). What they came
up with has proven to be a very odd steroid in many ways.
To create Andriol, the scientists involved had to come up with a solution to the
problems facing methyltestosterone, namely the fact that it is harsh on the liver and
needs to be taken in very high doses to produce decent results. What they did was
put 40mgs of Testosterone Undecanoate in oleic acid (an oil), and encapsulate it.
Now they use castor oil and propylene glycol laurate instead of oleic acid, but that
only increases the shelf life, and doesn’t do anything else. For some of the aspiring
chemists reading this, you may be asking yourself the obvious question. And the
answer is yes, you can take almost any estrified drug (Nandrolone Decanoate, for
example), and dissolve it in castor oil and propelyne glycol laurate, and create your
own “Deca Caps” or whatever. The problem is that you’d need to be able to make
sealed gel caps, not just the typical 2-part capsules most people throw steroid
powder in. Anyway, I’m digressing; lets get back to Andriol. After you put some
testosterone undecanoate in caster oil and propelyne glycol laurate, you’ll have a
testosterone which is highly fat-soluble due to the (very large) undecanoate ester
51
attached to it, and able to be absorbed through your small intestine via the
lymphatic system. What this means is that it avoids the “first pass” through the liver,
a process which could destroy much of the active steroid, and place an undue
amount of stress on the liver. It also displayed a rapid absorption and turnover in
one study (11), which may account for its ability to not cause unwanted side effects.
It’s not bad for your blood pressure (13), and also has no adverse effects on the
prostate and may even improve blood pressure (12)! Thus, Andriol is remarkably
light on all side effects, especially those related to liver toxicity and estrogenic sides.
In this study, done with women, it even displayed no ability to lower LH and FSH
(Leutenizing Hormone and Follicle Stimulating Hormone, respectively), which are the
hormones that tell your body to make more testosterone (11). I doubt Andriol could
be properly regarded as liver toxic or too damaging to your HPTA (Hypothalamus
Pituitary-Testicular-Axis, the thing that governs your body’s production of
testosterone, among other things), at any kind of reasonable (or even excessive)
dose. Actually, one study noted no adverse reactions or effects at all with the use of
Andriol (10). As for your lipid profile and cholesterol, it has even been shown to have
beneficial effects on them (14)!
So, putting some Testosterone Undecanoate in Gel Caps is what the scientists at
Organon have done with their Andriol product, and it all looks good so far, right? The
active steroid totally bypasses your liver and hence doesn’t get damaged by or
damage your liver, and gets a bunch of Testosterone into your body. Great! But
what happens next? Well, after the lymphatic system has brought the testosterone
undecanoate into circulation in your body, the undecanoate ester begins to be
removed. This would leave you with (roughly) 25mgs of testosterone in your blood
stream, as the decanoate ester takes up a lot of “space” and the cap only contains a
total of 40mgs of testosterone undecanoate (roughly 15mgs of which are ester). The
end results from Andriol would be very similar to the end result of injecting almost
any form of testosterone (4), once your body removes the ester. But remember,
you’d never inject 25mgs of testosterone suspension and call it a day, but that’s
exactly what you are doing when you take only one Andriol cap.
So now you have 25mgs of testosterone floating around in your body. That’s not
much, so if you’re realistically considering using this product, you’ll need to take
quite a few caps of it. And there’s one of the first problems we encounter with this
drug. You see, the method of administration of this drug provides us with a nice
liver-safe product, but this stuff will peak your testosterone levels within around 2
hours after administration, and will only remain (at least slightly) elevated for 10 or
so hours (1). Ideally, you’d be taking a capsule every 2 hours, which is inconvenient
to say the least. Let’s be generous and say you can simply take one every 4 hours.
Problem solved? Not really, because we’re going to need to take at least 2 caps with
each dose if we want to see any sort of anabolic effect, and if we’re taking it every 4
hours (assuming we’re awake for 16hrs every day), then we’ll be taking around 8
caps per day. Now we’ve shifted the problem away from the effort needed to take an
effective does to being a problem with economics. The problem with this type of dose
is going to be cost. Andriol is pretty expensive to be taking in the amount of 8 caps
per day, and I have never seen it made by anyone except for Organon, which means
we won’t find it on any UnderGround Labs product lists. That means we need to pay
whatever price Organon is asking, and they are asking a lot. You can easily run a
cycle with several anabolic compounds for the price of a cycle of just Andriol.
So that’s our major obstacle, the expense of taking Andriol in what would be an
effective dose is prohibitive to most people. One study noted that Andriol therapy,
52
when compared with traditional Testosterone injections is roughly 7-8x more
expensive (5).
Cost notwithstanding; let’s see what kind of results we can expect from Andriol
(besides the catabolic effect it will have on your wallet). Although it has a reputation
for being very mild, you’ll still see some results from Andriol. One study using a very
low dose on adolescent boys still showed a reasonable gain in Fat Free Mass (3) even
though the boys were not training. Another study focusing on the elderly, improved
their quality of life considerably (as androgens often do) (6), and also had beneficial
effects on erectile dysfunction (7). This is certainly promising, but in a world where
first time-ste In fact, it may even be a useful adjunct with Viagra for this purpose
(8). However, in a world where first time steroid users expect upwards of 20lbs per
cycle, I would suspect many will be disappointed with the 5lbs or so a cycle of
Andriol will produce. Granted, that’s a conservative estimate, but I can’t really be
confident predicting much more muscle is to be expected from Andriol. Taking a
large amount of Andriol is actually pretty safe (except for your bank account), and
there was even a 3 month study done in Korea, where a pretty small dose of Andriol
( 160 mg daily for 3 weeks then half that dose for the remainder of the study)
resulted in a very nice rise in testosterone. Serum total testosterone increased from
2.13 +/- 1.20 ng/ml at baseline to 6.04 +/- 3.08 ng/ml (p = 0.005) after 12 weeks.
In addition, free testosterone was (barely) significantly changed from 8.60 +/- 2.25
pg/ml to 11.40 +/- 3.81 pg/ml (p = 0.13) (10). However, there were no significant
changes in liver function tests, red blood cell count or lipid profiles, nor were there
any significant adverse reactions that would have led to the cessation of the
administration of oral testosterone. So the scientists at Organon have succeeded in
making a nice, safe, moderately effective, orally available treatment for low
androgen levels. But can we (athletes and bodybuilders) use it also?
Truthfully, I can’t be confident predicting more than a 5lbs gain with the use of
Andriol, because this product has a very odd property, and that is the widely varying
effects it has on test subjects. In one study I read, four test subjects were each
given Andriol, and one had a huge surge in testosterone levels going up to
60.1nmol/L and the other only had a 11.5nmol/L level (5)! The remaining 2 test
subjects fell in between those levels. I am speculating that the differences
experienced by the test subjects were primarily due to the variances inherent in the
lymphatic system. But to make matters even more inconsistent, there is no evidence
that those variances wouldn’t occur within the same person taking Andriol (i.e. you
get a huge surge in testosterone one day, and a very minor one the next day). This
may be associated with whether this stuff is taken with food or not. Since it operates
via association with your small intestine and lymphatic pathways, taking it with food
greatly enhances its bioavailability (9). This may be a case of “problem solved,” but
I’m hesitant to close the books on andriol’s absorbtion problems so quickly. For now,
we’ll just say you are spending your money much more wisely if you take your
andriol with meals.
Despite all of its problems, if I had the money to run 10-15 caps of Andriol/day and if
I were looking for a stand-alone oral compound to safely run for a full cycle, (of
perhaps 12 weeks) then I have to admit, Andriol would be my #1 choice.
Testosterone undecanoate may also offer a viable alternative for androgen treatment
in women.
53
References:
1. Which Androgen Replacement Therapy for Women? Journal of Clin Endocrinol and
Metab. 83 1998 3920-24
2. A new oral testosterone undecanoate formulation.
World J Urol. 2003 Nov;21(5):311-5. Epub 2003 Oct 25. Review.
3. Effects of oral testosterone undecanoate on growth, body composition, strength and
energy expenditure of adolescent boys.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1992 Sep;37(3):207-13.
4. Recovery of free androgens in the rat prostate in vivo and in vitro after treatment with
orally active testosterone undecanoate (TU).
Horm Metab Res. 1980 Oct;12(10):541-5
5. Which Testosterone Replacement therapy? Clin Endocrinol (oxf) 21 198497-107
6. Effect of oral testosterone undecanoate on visuospatial cognition, mood and quality of
life in elderly men with low-normal gonadal status.
Maturitas. 2005 Feb 14;50(2):124-33.
7. Effect of 12 month oral testosterone on testosterone deficiency symptoms in
symptomatic elderly males with low-normal gonadal status.
Age Ageing. 2005 Mar;34(2):125-30. Epub 2004 Dec 13.
8. Oral testosterone undecanoate reverses erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes
mellitus in patients failing on sildenafil citrate therapy alone.
Aging Male. 2003 Jun;6(2):94-9.
9. Important effect of food on the bioavailability of oral testosterone undecanoate.
Pharmacotherapy. 2003 Mar;23(3):319-25.
10. Oral testosterone replacement in Korean patients with PADAM.
Aging Male. 2002 Mar;5(1):52-6.
11. Administration of testosterone undecanoate in postmenopausal women: effects on
androgens, estradiol, and gonadotrophins.
Menopause. 2000 Jul-Aug;7(4):251-6.
12. Effects of androgen supplementation therapy on partial androgen deficiency in the
aging male: a preliminary study.
Aging Male. 2002 Mar;5(1):47-51.
13. Effects of androgen supplementation therapy on partial androgen deficiency in the
aging male: a preliminary study.
Aging Male. 2002 Mar;5(1):47-51.
14. Therapeutic effect of andriol on serum lipids and apolipoproteins in elderly male
coronary heart disease patients.
Chin Med Sci J. 1992 Sep;7(3):137-41.
54
Androderm & Androgel
(Transdermal Testosterone)
Transdermal Testosterone has been marketed heavily in the Hormone Replacement
Therapy Market for the last decade. For over 50 years, testosterone therapy has
been used for the treatment of hypogonadism. In recent years, there has been an
increase in the use of testosterone therapy for men with late-onset hypogonadism,
sometimes referred to as andropause. Testosterone therapy in older and
hypogonadic men can significantly improve their sense of well-being, and lead to
increases in muscle and bone mass, upper body strength, virility, and libido (5). Oral
delivery of unmodified testosterone is not really a viable option, due to its rapid first
pass metabolism, possible liver toxicity, and its relatively short half-life. Thus,
injectable testosterone was used for a very long time as an effective hormone
replacement method. Roughly a decade ago, alternatives to injectable and oral
testosterone were developed. Originally, these alternative methods of application for
testosterone meant shaving an area of the skin’s surface (*usually the scrotum, no,
really) and attaching a testosterone patch with low, dry heat like a hairdryer, which
basically hot-glued the testosterone patch to the scrotum. I can’t see, for the life of
me, the logic employed by the doctor who thought this method was preferable to
weekly or twice-monthly injections. Luckily, this painful procedure progressed to the
point where its at now, you can simply apply a self sticking patch or rub some
testosterone gel anywhere on your body, and get the same effect. Recently, the
BALCO scandal featured many references to the gel method. I think, for an adequate
understanding of these types of products, we’re going to have to take a look at both
the drug (testosterone) as well as the method of administration (transdermal
delivery), and see how they work together, and how they compare with testosterone
injections.
When some (nonscrotal) transdermal testosterone preparations were examined, they
showed that the plasma concentration of TS increased very rapidly, and reached the
peak level within 3-6 hours of the application of the experimental patch.(2) This is
comparable with some of the better oral products out there. In my experience, an
athlete would usually swallow a pill rather than have a patch hanging on them for a
day.
Basically, you can expect all of the benefits of injectable testosterone with the
transdermals (if the mg doses were the same…which they are not). What we’re
dealing with here is Androderm, which is a patch containing 12.2mgs of testosterone
and androgel, which gives you about the same (you only get 10% of the total drug
55
contained in the preparation....thus a hundred mgs of test in a gel form, would yield
a 10mg amount in your body).
Here’s a chart comparing a transdermal with an injectable, both using testosterone:
Steady-state pharmacokinetic profiles of T, BT, DHT, and E2 profiles during nightly
applications of TTD systems (n = 27; , left panels) and biweekly IM injections of T
enanthate (n = 29; X, right panels) measured at week 16. Dashed lines denote
upper and lower limits of normal range based on morning serum samples (T, 306
1031 ng/dL; BT, 92–420 ng/dL; DHT, 28–85 ng/dL; E2, 0.9–3.6 ng/dL). Error bars
denote ± SD.(1)
Not so great, huh? A mere 100mg shot of injectable testosterone provides much
higher peak plasma concentrations of testosterone, even though the transdermal
testosterone was more stable, with regards to blood plasma levels. So what are the
advantages of transdermal application? Clearly, it provides a very stable blood level
of the compound administered. I know it seems like I’m killing you with charts, but
take a look at this one:
56
Serum T concentrations (mean ± SE) before (day 0) and after transdermal T
applications on days 1, 30, 90, and 180. Time 0 h was 0800 h, when blood sampling
usually began. On day 90, the dose in the subjects applying T gel 50 or 100 was up-
or down-titrated if their preapplication serum T levels were below or above the
normal adult male range, respectively. In this and subsequent figures the dotted
lines denote the adult male normal range, and the dashed lines and open symbols
represent subjects whose T gel dose were adjusted.
So it’s consistent, but who cares? The levels of testosterone it gives us are just
enough to provide a slight boost, at a high (financial) cost. Wouldn’t it be great if we
could get this stuff dosed more highly? Or maybe even with Clen, so we could apply
it directly to fatty areas? Or with Tren? That would be great, huh? It would even
have potential for first time needle-phobic steroid users to use items which were
formerly only available as an injectable! Women could use a Tren product without
leaving needle marks! In fact, with a little creativity, underground Labs could even
make transdermal products which would never get caught by customs (perhaps
disguised as stickers or whatever).
Anyway, I guess that's not in the cards. Let’s move on.
One particularly successful transdermal testosterone delivery method involves the
combination of DuroTak 87-2510 as an adhesive polymer. This is combined with 3%
dodecylamine and 10% span 80. This, combined with testosterone creates a nice
transdermal delivery system (4). Another experimental transdermal testosterone
preparation contains occlusion, octisalate (OS), and propylene glycol (PG), called
Solugel (which is a proprietary hydrogel containing PG 25% w/w) and Tegaderm (a
semipermeable film dressing) on the permeation of TES was assessed. Occlusion had
no effect on the permeation of TES, however, OS increased the flux of TES 2.9-fold.
The concentration of PG which produced optimal TES flux was 20% v/v, and this
concentration resulted in a 1.9-fold increase in TES permeation. By combining OS,
PG, and occlusion, transdermal testosterone permeation through the skin was
increased 8.7-fold, which was a synergistic enhancement, obviously…meaning the
sum of the parts was far more than their individual totals (3). Why did I bother
57
telling you all of the ingredients, which can easily be found at a chemical supply
house, and bought legally? Not so, you could make your own transdermal
preparations of testosterone (or Tren, or clen, or whatever)…that would be illegal.
Even though you now know the ingredients, and could just make a gel with them
and some testosterone (or tren, from Finaplex pellets), and create your own
transdermal drug delivery product. That would be wrong…
References:
1. jcem.endojournals.org/content/vol84/issue10
1. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a novel nonscrotal matrix-type transdermal delivery
system of testosterone.
Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2005 Mar;31(3):257-61.
2. Synergistic enhancement of testosterone transdermal delivery.
J Control Release. 2005 Apr 18;103(3):577-85.
3. The current status of therapy for symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism with
transdermal testosterone gel.
Eur Urol. 2005 Feb;47(2):137-46.
4. Effects of androgen substitution on lipid profile in the adult and aging hypogonadal
male.
Eur J Endocrinol. 2004 Oct;151(4):415-24. Review.
5. [Gruenewald, Matsumoto. J Am Geriatr Soc 2003;51:101; Morales. Aging Male 2004;
in press].
58
Andropen 275
(Testosterone shown without esters)
(Testosterone + 5 esters)
[4-androstene-3-one,17beta-ol ]
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Formula of Acetate ester: C2 H4 O2
Formula of Propionate ester: C3H6O2
Formula of Phenylpropionate ester:C9 H10 O2
Formula of Cypionate ester: C8 H14 O2
Formula of Decanoate ester: C10 H20 O2
Molecular Weight of base: 288.429
Molecular Weight of Acetate ester: 60.0524
Molecular Weight of Propionate ester: 74.0792
Molecular Weight of Phenylpropionate ester: 150.174
Molecular Weight of Cypionate ester: 132.1184
Molecular Weight of Decanoate ester: 172.2668
Manufacturer: British Dragon
Effective dose (injectable): (Men) 550mgs-1,100mgs+/week
Active Life: 14 days
Detection Time: 3 months (projected)
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio:100:100
Andropen is a five-ester blend of testosterone produced by British Dragon, and is
clearly an attempt to profit off of the popularity of Sustanon. Actually, if you are
inclined to use blended products such as this (and personally, I’m not anymore),
then I think you’ll find this to be a product far superior to Sustanon.
Andropen contains 20mgs of Testosterone Acetate, 75mgs of Testosterone
Cypionate, 90mgs of Testosterone Decanoate, and 40mgs each of Testosterone
Propionate and Phenylpropionate in a 20ml bottle. I am very impressed with the fact
that this product appears to be designed specifically for bodybuilders and athletes,
and certainly if I wanted to create a long, medium, and short estered testosterone
product, it would be something like this one. Also, due to that fact, I think I’d
recommend shooting it EOD, or E3D or so….giving you a very decent and relatively
stable level of hormone in your body. A few years back, I made a testosterone blend
for my own use out of powders, which was essentially a five estered testosterone
(the same esters as Sust + 100mgs of test with the Cypionate ester per milliliter).
Anyway, now it seems that every Underground Lab is involved with this type of
thing. It’s not uncommon to see a price list with several “custom blends” or “house
blends” of various estered testosterones (or sometimes Trenbolones, or whatever).
59
Testosterone is a relatively cheap drug (the cheapest, actually, in terms of
anabolics), and that’s why it’s not actually a bad choice for blended products. In
terms of “bang for the buck”, it’s a great choice, as it can do just about everything.
It induces changes in both the shape as well as size as muscle fibers (1). It can
change the appearance and the number of muscle fibers (1), which is definitely a
good thing for the cosmetic athlete (read: bodybuilder). Testosterone has the
profound ability to protect your muscle from catabolic (muscle wasting)
glucocorticoid hormones(2), although not as well as Tren or other such (more
expensive) drugs. Glucocorticoid hormones send a message to muscle cells to
release stored protein, while Testosterone sends a message to muscle cells to store
more contractile protein (called actin and myosin). In this way, these two hormones
are at war with each other to cause anabolic vs. catabolic effects. Usually they are at
a stalemate (which is why you don’t gain weight constantly, nor lose it). When you
add in some Testosterone (such as Andropen275), you shift the scales in favor of
anabolism, and away from catabolism. In addition to this, Testosterone has the
ability to increase erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) in your kidneys(3), and a
higher Red Blood Cell (RBC) count is highly sought after by many athletes because it
may improve endurance via better oxygenated blood. More RBCs can also improve
recovery from strenuous physical activity, and seems to give the muscles a more
“full” look when bodyfat levels are reasonably low. Agression levels often rise
dramatically with the use of exogenous testosterone (9), and due to some of the
short esters in Andropen275, I’d expect this effect to become realized within the first
day of injection.
All of these great benefits are to be had with the use of test enth alone, but
realistically, it will be part of a cycle containing one or more other drugs. People who
are bulking will probably choose Deca or Eq (possibly with Dbol as well) and those
who are cutting will probably steer towards Eq and perhaps Trenbolone. Very often
users will shoot this drug once or twice a week, but blood levels are still above
baseline with this drug at around day eight (10).Common wisdom holds that the
testosterone portion of any such cycle should be equal to or greater than any other
injectable drug(s) portion (on a mg basis). I believe that you can get away with less,
but in general, this is a good guideline.
The real advantage to this product, in my opinion, over Sustanon is in it’s
practicality. As you know, I’m not a huge fan of multi-estered products, because it
seems that this gives the manufacturer carte blanche to charge whatever they want.
Well, this product costs roughly $150, for a 20ml, multi use vial. When compared to
buying Sustanon by the amp, you could be paying up to $50 more for the same
amount of testosterone. If you are looking for a product of this nature, this is one
that I would actually recommend.
This product should provide less of the watery “bloated look” that an equal amount
of (for example) testosterone cypionate would give, but more than you’d get with
testosterone propionate. This makes it a possible choice for use in either a bulking or
cutting cycle, or the ever popular “lean mass” cycle we’re seeing lately, on
Steroid.com. Of course, the usual side effects experienced with any testosterone use
would be expected with this product: Acne, water-retention, gyno, etc… And so
would all of the positive effects we use testosterone for: muscle gain, fat loss,
strength gain, etc…
60
Really, as I’ve said numerous times, the one principal drawback to using blends of
testosterone tends to be their high cost as compared with single ester tests. If this
product could be had cheaply, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
References:
1. Anat Histol Embryol. 2003 Apr;32(2):70-9.
2. J Lab Clin Med. 1995 Mar;125(3):326-33.
3. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003;9(4):248-51
4. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Apr;88(4):1478-85
5. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Feb;89(2):718-26.
6. Am J Physiol. 1998 Jun;274(6 Pt 1):C1645-52.
7. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11;1244(1):117-20.
8. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Dec;281(6):E1172-81.
9. Health Psychol. 1990;9(6):774-91.
10. Fertility and Sterility 33.
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
61
Deposterona
(Testosterone shown without esters)
(Testosterone + 3 esters)
[17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one ]
Formula (base): C27 H40 O3
Formula Esters
Acetate: C2 H4 O2
Valerate; C5 H10 O2
Undecanoate: C11 H22 O2
Molecular Weight(base): 288.429
Molecular Weight Esters
Acetate: 60.0524
Valerate:102.13
Undecanoate: 186.2936
Melting Point (base): 155°C
Manufacturer: Ft. Dodge
Effective Dose (Men): 400-600mgs/week
Active life: 15-16 days
Detection Time: Up to 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 100:100
This is actually a very interesting compound as far as testosterone blends go. It’s
produced by Ft.Dodge, which has a good reputation for quality. I think I’m going to
go against the grain here (shocking, huh?) and say that this is the only testosterone
I would have absolutely no problem recommending to women. A quick look at its
low concentration will show us why:
Testosterone Acetate: 12mgs
Testosterone Valerate: 12mgs
Testosterone Undecanoate: 36mgs
(For a total of 60mgs of testosterone per ml)
So what we basically have here is a blend of short and long esters, in a very low
concentration. I’ll go out on a limb and say that your average athlete won’t be
thrilled with shooting a bottle of this stuff per week. See, it comes packaged as a
10ml vial, in boxes of 12, and you can even buy a case of a “dozen dozen” (a dozen
boxes with a dozen 10ml vials each) aka a gross (144 bottles). This is a great buy,
as you’re getting it for way less than a grand, and its quite a bit of testosterone. The
62
problem is that you need to shoot a bottle per week to get a nice dose of it, but it’s
not too bad if you are using something like Tren A or Masteron with it (and need to
shoot frequently anyway).
A novel use of this may be for a 1x a week (or even every other week) injection for
female athletes daring enough to try testosterone, or even for use in diluting painful
underground gear. I can imagine that using this with Andropen275 or T400 may be
a very viable route for those wishing to ease the pain of those shots and perhaps
create some kind of Frankenstein’s monster blend of testosterone esters within your
syringe.
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63
Dianabol
(Methandrostenolone)
[17a-methyl-17b-hydroxy-1,4-androstadien-3-one]
Formula: C20H28O2
Molecular Weight: 300.44
Melting Point: N/A
Manufacturer: Ciba (originally)
Release Date: 1956
Effective dose: 25-50mgs (as low as 10 and as high as 100 have been reported)
Active Life: 6-8hours
Detection Time: up to 6 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio (Range): 90-210:40-60
Dianabol (Methandrostenolone)
This was more or less the second Anabolic Steroid ever produced. The first, as we all
know was Testosterone, which was produced in the early 1900’s and experimented
with by Nazi’s in WW2, in an attempt to produce a better soldier. Russian athletes in
the 1953 World Championships as well as the Olympic games then used testosterone
with great success. After that, John Zeigler, who was a doctor working with the US
Weightlifting Team, began a cooperative project with Ciba to develop an equalizer for
US atheletes. Flash forward to 1956 and enter Dianabol; the original trade name for
Ciba’s Methandrostenolone... but called “Dbol” by athletes. The original package
insert said that 10mgs/day was enough to provide full androgen replacement for a
man, and Dr.Zeigler recommended that athletes take 5-10mgs/day. Incidentally, this
is also the dose that Bodybuilders were reputed to take from then until roughly the
1970’s. Yeah, this was allegedly Arnold’s dose, Zane’s dose, etc. simply stacked with
some testosterone. (For any trivia buffs out there, Dan Duchaine’s mail order steroid
business operated under the name “The John Zeigler Fan Club”).
Enough with the history lesson, lets get into what this stuff is, and what it does.
Well, first off, it’s usually found in pill form, though it can be found as an injectable
also (Under the Trade name: Reforvit-B, which is 25mgs of methandrostenolone
mixed with B-vitamins). It is a 17aa steroid, which means it has been altered at the
17th Carbon position to survive its’ first pass through your liver, and make it into
your blood stream. It’ll raise your blood pressure (4) and is hepatoxic (Liver-Toxic),
so be careful with it. Although I have known people to take up to 100mgs/day of this
stuff and not suffer any ill-effects, one study looked at that exact dose, and the
64
people involved didn’t suffer any intolerable side effects (7). Lets examine this
particular study a bit further, though:
In this study, done in the early 80’s, a very high dose of Dbol (100mgs/day for 6
weeks) decreased plasma testosterone to about 40% of it’s normal value, plasma GH
went up about a third, LH dropped to about 80% of it’s original value, and FSH went
down about a third also (these are all approximate numbers, for the sake of brevity,
but you get the idea). Bodyfat did not go up significantly and Fat Free Mass went up
anywhere between 2-7kgs (3.3kgs average gain). The researchers concluded that
Dbol increases Fat Free Mass as well as strength and performance. I can only agree,
finding this to be the case when I did my first cycle (which was 6 weeks of dbol alone
at 25mgs/day). I gained roughly 25lbs and kept nearly ½ of it. Since then, Dbol has
always had a special place in my heart.
As with many other 17aa steroids, Dbol is also a very weak binder to the Androgen
Receptor, so most of it’s effects are thought to be non-receptor mediated, and are
attributable to other mechanisms (i.e. protein synthesis as inticated by the
production of muscle tissue with very high levels of nitrogen, etc. which was
indicated in the 100mg/day study). In fact, much of its anabolic effect may be from
GH secretion following administration. When Dbol was administered to rats whose
pituitary glands had been removed, it actually demonstrated zero anabolic effects
(6). Therefore, GH secretion must be a large part of its anabolic activity. Also, it has
only had a modest aromatase activity so estrogen doesn’t cause water gain on Dbol,
rather (maybe) GH does. This structure also means it only has a modest aromatase
activity (2).
When Steroid.com members were polled on their results from Dianabol, an
overwhelming majority of them were happy with the result gained from Dianabol and
only 10% were dissatisfied. Dianabol has been, and will continue to be, one the
most popular oral steroids for gaining mass and strength.
How strong is Dbol? Well, on an mg for mg basis, most people agree that it's
stronger than A50. The reason most people don't get the same gains off of Dbol is
that almost nobody takes equivalent doses (I mean, I've heard of people taking
150mgs of A50, but not Dbol, although the Dbol would probably provide more solid
gains and be less toxic, I suspect).
So how do we incorporate this stuff into our AAS regimen? Clearly, the inclusion of
Dbol at any point in a cycle would contribute to gains; however, I’d speculate that
Dbol is most regularly used for 2 reasons:
1. At the start of a cycle to “Kick Start” gains
2. As a “Bridge” between cycles to maintain gains
Let’s examine these two uses.
In order to kick start a cycle, usually what you do is incorporate a fast acting oral like
dianabol (or anadrol) and combine it with long acting injectables (such as Deca or Eq
with some Testosterone). The reasoning here is that the oral (Dbol in this case) will
give almost immediate results, while the injectable takes time to produce results.
The end result is that you start seeing results within the first week of your cycle and
continue up until the end with the injectables. This entails taking anywhere from 25
50mgs of dbol (although as little as 20mgs or as much as 100mgs have been
65
reported) for 3-6 weeks at the start of a cycle (average time for a “Kick Start” is 4
weeks, though) and then ceasing their use as the injectables start to produce
results.
In order to successfully bridge between cycles, (and this means using a low dose of
AAS, in this case dbol) you need to recover your natural hormonal levels to pre-cycle
levels or to within acceptable parameters, and then you start your next cycle. The
idea here is that you won’t lose any gains, but rather a low dose of an AAS will help
you maintain them. Typically, you’d use around 10mgs/day of dbol and combine it
with an aggressive Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT) course of Nolvadex (and/or Clomid)
and HCG. This would give you full androgen replacement from the Dbol and a shot at
recovering your natural hormonal levels via the other stuff you are taking.
Remember, the 100mg/day dose of dbol in the study we looked at earlier did not
suppress Test, LH, or FSH to a degree that would make recovery impossible; And it
certainly can not with 1/10th that dose in conjunction with an aggressive PCT.
All in all, this is a very good drug, and a potent tool for quick gains or retaining gains
when used properly and safely.
Here’s how your body metabolizes Methandrostenolone:
References:
1. 1 Serakovskii S, Mats'koviak I., Effect of methanedienone (methandrostenolone) on
energy processes and carbohydrate metabolism in rat liver cells, Farmakol Toksikol 1981
Mar-Apr;44(2):213-7
2. Brain Res. 1998 May 11;792(2):271-6.
3.Chemfinder. Copyright 2004 CambridgeSoft Corporation. Cambridge, MA, USA.
66
4. Br Med J. 1975 May 31;2(5969):471-3.
5. www.Steroid.com
6. Steinetz BG, Giannina T, Butler M, Popick FEndocrinology 1972 May;90(5):1396-8
7. Clin Sci (Lond). 1981 Apr;60(4):457-61
8. Steroids. 1984 Dec;44(6):485-95.
9. Vrach Delo. 1983 Nov;(11):34-6. Russian
10. Acta Med Acad Sci Hung. 1975;32(1):27-34
11. 4 Nesterin MF, Budik VM, Narodetskaia RV, Solov'eva GI, Stoianova VG., Effect of
methandrostenolone on liver morphology and enzymatic activity, Farmakol Toksikol
1980 Sep-Oct;43(5):597-601
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
67
Drive
(Methandriol and Boldenone shown without esters)
(Methandriol + Boldenone Undeclynate)
(aka Methylandrostenediol)
[17a-Methyl-5-androstene-3B,17B-diol]
Formula: C20 H32 O2
Molecular Weight: 304.4716
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose (Men): 30-50mg orally (daily)/ 300-500mg injectable (weekly)
Effective Dose (Women):
Active life: 2-3 days
Detection Time: 6 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 30-60/20-60
Boldenone Undeclynate
(1,4-androstadiene-3-one,17b-ol)
Formula (base):C19 H26 O2
Molecular Weight(base): 286.4132
Molecular Weight (ester): 186.2936
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 15 days
Detection Time: Up to 5 months
Anabolic/ Androgenic ratio: 100:50
Drive is a steroid that got a lot of press time about a decade ago when
MuscleMedia2000 printed their now infamous interview with “Bodybuilder X.”
In that article, BodybuilderX referred to Drive as a steroid that increases the
effectiveness of any other steroids used in a cycle. This isn’t really true, and Drive is
simply a combination of Boldenone and Methandriol. Let’s review Equipoise first.
First of all, it slows aromatization, (conversion into estrogen) and the best estimate
is that it does so at roughly half the rate of testosterone. Athletes almost never
report estrogenic side effects with Eq, even when the dose is up to a gram per week.
In women, virilization (development of male sexual characteristics) is not common
and is actually almost never seen with this compound when reasonable doses are
used by female athletes. This is one of the few injectable compounds that could be
68
successfully be used by female athletes and bodybuilders and isn’t often faked.
Primo, Anavar, etc…are usually faked on the black market.
The 5-AR enzyme converts a small amount of Boldenone into Dihydroboldenone
(DHB) which is a very potent androgen. A rare, yet beneficial occurance taook place
because DHB (sold under the name 1-Testosterone for awhile) turned out to be a
very effective anabolic while it was legally available on the market. As I said before,
such a small amount of it is converted that it’s really of no concern or benefit to most
athletes taking Eq.
One of the most pronounced effects in Eq is its ability to raise your RBC’s (red blood
cells). This is very typical of anabolics; however, Eq would appear to do it to a
slightly greater degree than mostIt’s probably the most versatile injectable
compound, next to testosterone.
Athletes taking Eq often report a slow and constant buildup of quality muscle, due to
the very long ester attached to the Boldenone; Undeclynate is a longer ester than
the decanoate ester by one carbon. The accumulation of muscle from Eq to actually
occur at a slightly slower rate than that found with Deca (nandrolone decanoate).
This leads me to advise that if you are considering the use of Eq, you should consider
using it for no less than 12 weeks. Since Eq is the prime muscle builder in this
compound, you are looking at a very large dose of Drive in order to get a sufficient
level of it. There are 25mgs of Boldenone and 30mgs of Methandriol per milligram of
Drive. Can you say “2 bottles per week”?
Methandriol (MAD), as you know from it’s profile, is 5-androstenediol (5AD) that has
had its chemical structure modified by adding a methyl group so the compound can
resist being broken-down by the liver when taken orally. It has an anabolic (muscle
building) effect of 20-60 (compared testosterone which has an anabolic rating of
100), so not much muscle gain can be expected from MAD use. It is also slightly
androgenic, again when compared to testosterone which has an androgenic effect of
100 MAD only rates 30-60. Methandriol low androgenic properties may be a blessing
and a curse, on one hand with its low androgenic effects the drug can be used
without worries by prone individuals who suffer from prostate problems, hair loss
and acne. It may also be used by female bodybuilders who wish to avoid the
virilizing side effects of androgens once they stick to a reasonable dosage and cycle
duration. On the other hand the benefits of using an androgenic steroid are lost,
there is a direct correlation between drugs androgenic levels and strength gains,
highly androgenic steroids also tend to aid in fat loss by binding strongly to the
androgen receptor (A.R). So not much muscle or strength gain from this one. So
what the hell is it good for? Allegedly it is very synergistic with other drugs, notably,
Nandrolone and Boldenone. Is it? Who knows… But Methandriol has been shown to
have an affinity for glucocorticoid-binding sites so this may result in an anti-catabolic
(muscle destroying) effect by inhibiting the muscle wasting effects of glucocorticoid
hormones also the parent hormone of methandriol, 5-androstenediol (5AD) has been
shown to promote favorable immune function . MAD is said to process a unique trait
that no other steroid has, the ability to sensitize the androgen receptor (A.R) to
other hormones or the ability to “unblock” the AR, but that’s highly doubtful.
Due to the very low doses of actual steroid hormone in Drive, its place in a cycle is
very negligible and I can’t really recommend it too highly.
69
Equilon 100
(Boldenone shown without ester)
(Boldenone + 4 esters)
(1, 4-androstadiene-3-one, 17b-ol)
Formula (base): C19H26O2
Formula (esters)
Acetate: C2 H4 O2
Propionate C2H6O2
Cyclopentylpropionate: C8 H14 O2
Undeclynate: C11H20O2
Molecular Weight (base): 286.4132
Molecular Weight (esters):
Acetate: 60.0524
Propionate: 74.0792
Cyclopentylpropionate: 132.1184
Undeclynate: 186.2936
Manufacturer: WDV Pharma
Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 15 days
Detection Time: Up to 5 months
Anabolic/ Androgenic ratio: 100:50
Basically what we’re looking at here is the Equipoise (Boldenone) version of
Sustanon. It’s got 4 esters, 2 of which are long-acting and 2 of which are slow
acting:
Acetate: 10mgs
Propionate: 30mgs
Cyclopentylpropionate (Cypionate) 20mgs
Undeclynate: 40mgs
Now, a multi-estered product (even Eq) is pretty much a forgone conclusion because
a steroid saavy chemist learned of the popularity among athletes of Sustanon, and
figured out that Eq (Boldenone) is a likely candidate for such a multi-estered blend.
The odd thing about this product is the presentation. It comes in 6ml vials! This is
the kind of thing that always leaves me speechless and scratching my head
wondering why someone would do something like this. I mean, 10mls is usually the
industry standard, and it gives us nice round numbers to work with when planning
70
our cycles. The only thing I can think of is that generally, 400-600mgs (and usually
the latter) is the recommended dose for athletes. This product has 600mgs per
bottle, so at the optimal dose a bottle will last an average male athlete or
bodybuilder a week. Now I’m waiting for a 7ml bottle of something with a
propionate ester, specifically made to last a week with everyday injections.
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71
Equipoise
(Boldenone shown without ester)
Boldenone Undeclynate
(1,4-androstadiene-3-one,17b-ol)
Molecular Weight(base): 286.4132
Molecular Weight (ester): 186.2936
Formula (base): C19H26O2
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 15 days
Detection Time: Up to 5 months
Anabolic/ Androgenic ratio: 100:50
This particular compound was actually created while attempting to make a product
which would be be a long acting injectable D-bol (methandrostenolone). What was
actually created was a product that acts nothing like D-bol in the real world, despite
its similarity to it chemically. Think of Equipoise, chemically at least, as being
Dianabol without the 17-alpha-methyl group (that’s the thing which makes D-bol
able to be ingested orally and not be destroyed by your liver). However, having had
first hand experience with both Equipoise (Eq) and D-bol, I can tell you that the
results from each are vastly different.
To make Equipoise, a double bond was added between carbon atoms 1 and 2 of the
Steran Nucleus of Testosterone. What does this mean? Well, first of all, since Eq was
created by one simple modification in the testosterone molecule, you could rightly
suspect that it shares many similarities with it. Eq is just as anabolic as testosterone
(as you can tell by its anabolic rating above) but is only half as androgenic. Those
ratings can be quite deceiving though; I don’t know anyone who would claim that
you can gain as much weight on Eq as you can gain on an equal amount of
testosterone (even though strength gains from the two compounds are very similar).
It’s not very common to compare Eq to testosterone; however, a far more common
comparison is between Eq and Deca. I suspect this because when Dan Duchaine
introduced this compound to the steroid using community, he made an immediate
comparison to Deca, speculating that it would act similarly to Deca, yet be a stronger
version. Eq doesn’t act much like deca at all; Deca is actually a progestin and a 19
nor derived steroid whereas Eq is more closely related to testosterone (being only
one double bond differrent). Duchaine later rescinded his original statement on Eq
72
and said that it was disappointing as a mass builder when compared with Deca, but a
far better drug than for both strength gains and vascularity. Unfortunately, the myth
that Eq’s action is similar to Deca’s has persisted for nearly 2 decades after he
revised his opinion. This is most evident on Internet message boards today, where
many will advise against including both of them in a cycle because “they act the
same way.”
The 1-2 double bonds that Eq has are responsible for many of its characteristics.
First of all, it acts to slow aromatization (conversion into estrogen). The best
estimate is that it does so at roughly half the rate of testosterone (1). This is the
best number I’ve found in studies. Athletes almost never report estrogenic side
effects with Eq, even when the dose is up to one gram per week. Side effects caused
by estrogen include oily skin, acne and gynocomastia. As I have said, those are
usually not found from Eq. Virilization (development of male sexual characteristics in
women) is almost never seen with this compound when reasonable doses are used
by female athletes. This is one of the few injectable compounds that could be
successfully be used by female athletes and bodybuilders and isn’t often faked.
That double bond is also responsible for Eq’s resistance for being changed by the 5-
5-Alpha-reductase enzyme (2)(3). This enzyme converts a small amount of
boldenone into dihydroboldenone, which is a very potent androgen (7 xs as anabolic
as testosterone) (4). As I said though, such a small amount of it is converted that
it’s really of no concern to most athletes taking Eq. This factor, plus its low
aromatisation rate, means that athletes don't need to consider using ancillaries with
Eq.
Athletes taking Eq often report a slow and constant buildup of quality muscle, and
certainly, this has been my experience with the drug. I would speculate that this
slow buildup of muscle is due to the very long ester attached to the boldenone;
Undeclynate is a longer ester than the decanoate ester by one carbon. Thus, we
could expect the accumulation of muscle from Eq to actually occur at a slightly
slower rate than that found with Deca (nandrolone decanoate). This leads me to
advise you that if you are considering the use of Eq, you should consider using it for
no less than 12 weeks. Eq, like Deca, is also detectable in your system for a long
time (although its detection time is substantially less than Deca’s).
Strangely, shorter estered versions of boldenone are available as well. Anecdotally,
many people (and manufacturers) claim that this produces less water retention, but
water retention from Eq is virtually unheard of. Therefore, I consider this to be a
silly idea.
An informal poll I took on Steroid.com (as well as with my friends) seems to put the
ideal dose of Eq at 600mgs/week. Most people I asked about their experience with
Eq seemed to think that using over 600mgs/week produced no additional results, but
the jump from 400mgs/week to 600mgs/week produced noticeable additional gains,
and thus was warranted. I have personally found very nice results from 400mgs
600mgs/week myself.
One of the most pronounced effects in Eq is its ability to raise your RBC’s (red blood
cells). This is very typical of anabolics; however, Eq appears to do it with a slightly
greater degree than most. One of the other effects most Eq users report is an
increased appetite. I can say that this is true for me. Also, this factor makes it
impossible for me to diet on it. Because of its ability to increase appetite, many will
73
include Eq in a mass cycle, and it’s for the quality of muscle gained on it that many
will include it in a cutting cycle. It’s probably the most versatile injectable compound
next to testosterone. People even use a low dosed version of Eq to blend with
irritating injectable drugs such as testosterone suspension or propionate. I'm
thinking of the old Ganabol version that was dosed at 50mgs/ml, here. It's not that
Eq is especially good to cut other steroids with. It was the low dose and cost of
ganabol that made it ideal to cut with when sterile oil wasn't available or desireable.
This low dosed version was also very popular with women who were comfortable
shooting 1cc of this stuff every few days or every week.
Eq will cause a suppression of your hormones, such as endogenous testosterone, so I
would also recommend using injectable testosterone in any cycle containing it.
Failure to do so could result in possible sexual dysfunction and other sides.
Finally, one of the best parts of Eq is its low price and high availability. Eq is
produced by most Underground Labs at very reasonable prices. You shouldn’t be
paying more than $50 for a 10cc bottle dosed at 200mgs/ml, and that price is true of
Mexican veterinary products and underground labs alike.
I’d have to say that due to its incredible versatility, availability, and low price, Eq is
going to be a staple in many cycles for a long time.
Here’s how your body metabolizes boldenone:
References:
1.Endocrinology 71 (1962) 920-25
2. Metabolism of boldenone in man: gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric
identification of urinary excreted metabolites and determination of excretion rates. Biol
Mass Spectrom. 1992 Jan;21(1):3-16.
3. Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of boldenone urinary metabolites in
man. Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1991;26(5):362-6. Chinese. Erratum in: Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao
74
1991;26(9):687.
4.Counsel et al., "Anabolic Agents. Derivatives of 5alpha-Androst-1-ene", J. Org. Chem.,
27 (1962), 248-25
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
75
Halotestin
(Fluoxymesterone)
[9-alpha-fluoro-11-beta-hydroxy-17-alpha-methyl-4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol]
Formula: C20 H29 FO3
Molecular Weight: 336.4457
Melting Point: 240C
Manufacturer: Upjohn, Various
Date Released: 1957
Effective Dose: 10-40mgs/day
Active life: 6-8 hours
Detection Time: 2 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 1,900/850
Halotestin. This stuff is legendary among powerlifters and strength athletes. The
mere word conjures up images of little mint colored pills that turn Dr. Jeckyl instantly
into Mr.Hyde. Since I’m generally Mr.Hyde 24/7, this isn’t of much concern to me,
but let’s sees what else Ha lotestin can do for us.
If you’re anything like me, the first thing you’ll notice is Ha lotestin’s absurd Anabolic
and Androgenic rating. This stuff is 19 xs as anabolic as testosterone and 8.5 xs as
androgenic! Whoa! I have to admit, those numbers are a bit deceiving, and through
personal experience, I can say that Halotestin will not put anywhere near as much
muscle on you as testosterone. Let’s take a closer look at Halo, see what kind of
realistic effects we can expect from it, and what kind of side-effects we’ll be dealing
with.
Firstly, I have to admit that I love this stuff, and generally its use in athletics and
powerlifting is far more pronounced than it’s use in bodybuilding. Here, it is basically
a one-trick-wonder used in the final weeks before a contest to harden up an already
lean physique and gives the user some added aggression during the final calorie
depleted workouts before a contest. Halo has no estrogenic activity, and thus will not
cause any kind of water retention or most of the bad effects associated with
estrogen. It is, however, hepatoxic (liver toxic) (13) and I recommend keeping doses
at or around 40mgs/day for a maximum of 4-6 weeks. If you are using it for its
pronounced effect on aggression, you can simply use 10mgs prior to a workout. I
personally prefer 10mgs upon rising and 10mgs prior to a workout during the most
intense weeks of a bulking or cutting cycle. This (as you will see later) can be used
with minimum HPTA inhibition.
76
It also has a volumizing effect on the physique, and for those who have a low a
bodyfat percentage, this will immediately cause a more contest ready appearance.
This is due, at least in part, to Halo’s ability to increase mean hematocrit with
hemoglobin levels as well as red cell mass (4)(5)(6). Halo also appears to act
through cells already committed to respond to erythropoietin (11). This is good news
for athletes, of course. As you can see, Halo has quite a profound effect on red blood
cell production. This action is clearly one of the most obvious mechanisms and its
effects increase stremgnth and energy levels. It also points to the possibility of
using it for athletics and sports where a high VO2 max is needed for activities such
as Rugby, Mixed Martial Arts, etc…
It also exerts its effects on strength and fat loss by regulating fatty acid oxidation in
the liver and fast-twitch muscle mitochondria (2). Oddly, for a drug that exerts such
a nice anabolic effect and promotes such good strength gains, it has a pretty low
Androgen Receptor Binding affinity (14). I suppose in this respect, it can be
compared to Winstrol (Stanozolol).
As far as strength and agression goes, Halo is a great drug. It is especially useful on
a cutting or strength cycle. Its use for mass and weight gain have been pretty
disappointing for most users.
Fluoxymesterone administration is (unfortunately) accompanied by a reduction in
thyroid binding globulin which causes associated decreases in T3, while the free T4
index remains totally unaltered, thus, implying that thyroid function was unchanged.
Remember, many anabolic steroids (notably Trenbolone) lower your T3 levels. In
addition, during fluoxymesterone administration there was a reduction in
testosterone, gonadotropins and LH response to LHRH. Basal TSH did not vary, but
there was a reduction in the peak and integrated TSH response to TRH. PRL levels
tend to remain unchanged during fluoxymesterone use (8). Halo is of course
suppressive to your HPTA, but I’ve found that in some studies where measurements
were made of serum FSH, LH, testosterone, up to 20mgs per day of Halo did not
suppress them measurably (9). This could possibly indicate the use of up to
20mgs/day of Ha lotestin without being in any great danger of suppressing
endogenous hormones.
Halo is a testosterone derived steroid, and has an 11-beta group attached to it to
inhibit aromatization. Although it is particularly prone to being 5-alpha-reduced and
may cause DHT related side effects such as acne and hairloss. It is metabolized
primarily by 6 beta-hydroxylation, 4-ene-reduction, 3-keto-reduction, and 11
hydroxy-oxidation. We know this by the indentification of 4 particular metabolites
and the tentative identification of at least 3 other metabolites. Detection of Halo in
urine is possible for at least 5 days after a single 10 mg oral dose to previously
untreated adult males. This occurs by monitoring the presence of 2 metabolites,
since the parent drug is not detectable more than 1 day after the dose (12).
However, the moral-compass of the athletic world, the IOC, has developed a test for
fluoxymesterone metabolites that will detect them for up to 2 months after cessation
of use. This item is not in high demand in bodybuilding except for as a pre-contest
drug and would more likely be found circulating in Athletic and Powerlifting circles
where it is more commonly used in a cycle.
77
Here’s how your body metabolizes Fluoxymesterone:
References:
1. Treatment with anabolic steroids increases the activity of the mitochondrial outer
carnitine palmitoyltransferase in rat liver and fast-twitch muscle.
Biochem Pharmacol. 1991 Mar 1;41(5):833-5.
2. Effects of synthetic androgen fluoxymesterone on triglyceride secretion rates in the
rat.Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1975 Jun;149(2):452-4.
3. Metabolism of anabolic steroids in humans: synthesis of 6 beta-hydroxy metabolites of
4-chloro-1,2-dehydro-17 alpha-methyltestosterone, fluoxymesterone, and metandienone.
Steroids. 1995 Apr;60(4):353-66.
4. Influence of fluoxymesterone on in vitro erythropoiesis affected by leukemic cells.Exp
Hematol. 1984 Mar;12(3):171-6.
5. [Erythropoietin in serum and urine in healthy persons and patients with chronic renal
disease upon hypoxic stimulation and hypoxic stimulation after pretreatment with
fluoxymesterone (author's transl)]
6. Fluoxymesterone therapy in anemia of patients on maintenance hemodialysis:
comparison between patients with kidneys and anephric patients.
J Dial. 1977;1(4):357-66
7. Combination hormonal therapy with tamoxifen plus fluoxymesterone versus tamoxifen
alone in postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer. An updated
analysis.Cancer. 1991 Feb 15;67(4):886-91.
8. Effect of non aromatizable androgens on LHRH and TRH responses in primary
testicular failure.Horm Metab Res. 1984 Sep;16(9):492-7.
9. The effect of synthetic androgens on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in boys
with constitutionally delayed growth.
J Pediatr. 1979 Apr;94(4):657-62.
10. The effect of synthetic androgens on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in boys
with constitutionally delayed growth.
J Pediatr. 1979 Apr;94(4):657-62.
78
11. Steroids and hematopoiesis. II. The effect of steroids on in vitro erythroid colony
growth: evidence for different target cells for different classes of steroids.
J Cell Physiol. 1976 Jun;88(2):135-43.
12. Testing for fluoxymesterone (Ha lotestin) administration to man: identification of
urinary metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
J Steroid Biochem. 1990 Aug 28;36(6):659-66.
13. Toxic effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids in primary rat hepatic cell cultures.
J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods. 1995 Aug;33(4):187-95.
14. Relative binding affinity of anabolic-androgenic steroids: comparison of the binding
to the androgen receptors in skeletal muscle and in prostate, as well as to sex hormone
binding globulin.Endocrinology. 1984 Jun;114(6):2100-6.
15. The relationship of androgen to the thyrotropin and prolactin responses to
thyrotropin-releasinhormonein hypogonadal and normal men.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1981 Feb;52(2):173-6.
Completely Cleanse Steroids From Your
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79
Megagrisevit-Mono
(Clostebol Acetate)
[4-chloro-androst-4-en-3-one, 17b-ol]
Molecular Formula: C21 H29Cl O3
Molecular Weight): 322.8741
Melting Point: N/A
Manufacturer: N/A
Effective Dose: (injectable) 100mgs/day, (oral) 100-200mgs/day
Active Life: (injectable) 2-3 days, (oral) 4-6 hours
Detection Time: 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio: 46:25
Clostebol is basically testosterone with an added 4-chloro group in the A-ring. What
does that mean? All it means is that it cannot properly interact with the 5-Alpha
Reductase enzyme to be 5-alpha reduced to dihydrotestosterone. Thus, hair loss and
acne caused by DHT is not possible. Aromatization is also not possible, so estrogenic
side effects aren’t likely either. On paper this looks great and it basically has a
similar anabolic: androgenic ratio to other steroids like Masteron. But I have to say
that since it isn’t DHT-Derived like Masteron is, it’s probably not going to have some
of the cool precontest physique hardening properties of Masteron and other similar
compounds. To be perfectly frank, Clostebol is just a pretty weak testosterone
derived steroid. I wish I could say that it has more to offer, but really, it doesn’t.
Megagrisevit Mono (the brand name for Clostebol Acetate) is presented in a 10 ml
per 1.5 ml vial. This means you’ll need to fill up on many oily injections, which you
are going to have problems finding injection sites for. You know what else? The
short ester found on this stuff will mean that you have to basically load up on tons of
this stuff at least every other day. Women may be able to get by with a bit less,
possibly 1.5mls every other day. There is an oral form of clostebol acetate that is
under the same name of Megagrisevit Mono, but I can’t see that form being
extremely effective either. I think you’ll need to take 100-200mgs of it daily.
Remember, it isn’t 17-alpha-alkylated, so it’ll be destroyed by your liver in pretty
short order. I’ve heard many reports on Steroid.com that a few people have had
access to this drug and liked it, but I’ve not been able to confirm this with anyone
reputable. My advice is that this drug has been discontinued for a good reason and
should be avoided by most serious athletes and bodybuilders.
80
As a side note, I’m not really too thrilled with the addition of an Acetate ester to
improve oral absorbtion. When we look at Trenbolone Acetate (oral) vs/ Trenbolone
Acetate (Injectable), on the chart below, we can see that the injectable is around
100 xs as effective for increasing Labc weight, which can be farily accurately used as
a measure of anabolism:
(SC= injection; oral = oral)
That’s a pretty hefty difference in that area, and it is more than enough to get me
wondering about the effects of oral acetate ingestion vs/ intramuscular
administration. I have to say, again, I’m not thrilled with going the oral route, simply
because there’s an acetate ester attached.
One of the most interesting things I found when researching this compound is that
an athlete had tested positive for it by having sex with a woman who had used a
Brazilian compound known as Trofodermin, which is produced by Searle. This
product is indicated for cervicitis, postoperative vaginitis, and ulcerative vaginitis, and
the recommended dose is 5g 1-2x a day. And, of course, it is to be administered
intravaginally. As a result, the athlete who tested positive for Clostebol claimed to
have had sex with a woman who had been using this product. Then tests (all in the
name of science) were performed where two couples had intercourse following the
vaginal application of Trofodermin, and the men were tested via urinalysis for
Clostebol (before and after intercourse). It was then determined that Clostebol can
indeed be absorbed through the penis following vaginal administration of a Clostebol
containing compound. Whoever said that anti-doping research is no fun?
Well, in any case, the subjects involved had fun, although I suppose they weren’t
Olympic athletes. I suppose it would suck to be in the control group for that study,
huh?
81
Anyway, here’s how your body metabolizes Clostebol:
References:
1. Clinical Chemistry. 2004;50:456-457. 2004 American Association for Clinical
Chemistry, Inc.
82
Methandriol
(Methylandrostenediol)
[17a-Methyl-5-androstene-3B, 17B-diol.]
Formula: C20 H32 O2
Molecular Weight: 304.4716
Molecular Weight:: 304.4716
Molecular Weight (ester): N/A
Formula (base): C20 H32 O2
Formula (ester): N/A
Melting Point (base):
Melting Point (ester): N/A
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose (Men):30-50mg orally (daily)/ 300-500mg injectable (weekly)
Effective Dose (Women): ?
Active life: 2-3 days
Detection Time: 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 30-60/20-60
Methandriol is the brand name for the anabolic steroid methylandrostenediol.
Methandriol (or MAD as I like to call it) seems to be one of the more rare and exotic
anabolic steroids. It is actually 5-androstenediol (5AD) that has had its chemical
structure is modified by adding a methyl group so the compound can resist being
broken-down by the liver when taken orally. This results in better utilization by the
body and is called 17-alpha alkylation (17AA). The first aspect that will be addressed
is the one that most interests bodybuilders, the muscle building potential of the
drug. With an anabolic (muscle building) effect of 20-60, (compared testosterone
which has an anabolic rating of 100) not much muscle gain can be expected from
MAD use. It is also slightly androgenic when compared to testosterone which has an
androgenic effect of 100 MAD only rates 30-60. Methandriol low androgenic
properties may be a blessing and a curse. On one-hand with its low androgenic
effects, the drug can be used without worries by individuals who suffer from prostate
problems, hair loss and acne. It may also be used by female bodybuilders who wish
to avoid the masculinizing side effects of androgens once they stick to a reasonable
dosage and cycle duration. On the other hand the benefits of using an androgenic
steroid are lost. There is a direct correlation between a drugs androgenic levels and
strength gains. Highly androgenic steroids also tend to aid in fat loss by binding
strongly to the androgen receptor (A.R). So, there is not much muscle or strength
83
gain from this one. So what the hell is it good for? Glad you asked. Methandriol has
been shown to have an affinity for glucocorticoid-binding sites (2) so this may result
in an anti-catabolic (muscle destroying) effect by inhibiting the muscle wasting
effects of glucocorticoid hormones (3). Also the parent hormone of methandriol, 5
androstenediol (5AD) has been shown to promote favorable immune function (4).
MAD is said to process a unique trait that no other steroid has, the ability to sensitize
the androgen receptor (A.R) to other hormones or the ability to unblock the AR. I do
not know how it started, but this statement is untrue and very misleading. First, the
A.R does not get “clogged up.” In fact, all androgens increase the number of A.R in
muscle tissue (5) so there is no need to use any specific steroid for this purpose. So
far the report on methandriol does not look as good as other anabolic steroids
because there are little muscle and strength gains. However, it may boost immune
function and activate other non-A.R dependant mechanisms of muscle growth.
Adverse androgenic sides are also not a major concern.
Methandriols parent hormone 5AD has been shown to be a steroid with “potent
estrogenic properties” (6). Since methylation makes a hormone more bio-available
and thus “stronger”, I am lead to believe that methandriol’s estrogenic activity is
even more potent than 5AD. This alone is bad news for any Steriod.com members
interested in adding this drug to a cycle. Excessive estrogenic activity can lead to
breast tissue growth in men (gynecomastia), fat gain, water retention, loss of sex
drive, and sluggish natural testosterone production. Worse still is that 5AD itself
activates the estrogen receptor (E.R.) (6). This would make aromatize inhibitors like
letrozole (femera) and anastrozole (arimidex) a bit less effective in combating MAD
estrogenic sides because it does not have to be exposed to the aromatize enzyme to
do any harm. More evidence that supports MAD has direct estrogenic properties is its
use in veterinary injectables. Commonly used for promoting weight gain in animals
(7), studies indicate combining anabolic steroids with female sex hormones
(estrogen, progesterone) promote better weight gain than when alone (8). This is
especially true when female sex hormones are stacked with the non-aromatizing
nandrolone derivative trenbolone (9). MAD estrogenic properties would make it
useful in this regard. This is the REAL reason MAD is added to other anabolic
veterinary preparations, not because it sensitizes the A.R. Most of the profiles on
methandriol says it gives “massive strength gains”; however, looking at the
evidence, it would seem the only “massive strength gains” from MAD could stem
from the increased amount of water retention inside the muscles, which would result
in a rebound effect when the muscles are compressed during the lowering of a
weight similar to the action of a benching shirt. Believe or not estrogen is a muscle
building hormone as well, causing growth by attaching to the estrogen receptor on
muscles (10). These are minor benefits, however, and they are not worth the
potential adverse sides. A common trait from using MAD is elevated blood pressure
(11). This could be from the water retention due to high estrogenic activity or other
actions in the body (11). There is no evidence that methandriol negatively effects
cholesterol, so your cardio vascular heath would be the least of your worries if you
chose to use methandriol.
Now that we know the properties of this drug, we can design cycles to take
advantage of MAD. Doses for MAD range from 30mg to 50mg per day and can be
taken orally or by injection. Being a water based suspension, the active life of the
drug would be measured in hours; thus, methandriol must be injected at least
everyday to keep steady blood levels of the active hormone. If you are to ever come
across this drug in its water based form and did not want to inject it, don’t worry.
Remember, it’s a 17AA compound so, yes, YOU CAN DRINK METHANDRIOL. The
84
same thing applies to the drug (oral administration) in tab form, if you were ever to
find it. Being a 17AA steroid, it puts some strain on the liver when orally consumed.
Steroid.com members are advised to limit the drugs intake to several weeks. It is
obvious that MAD is too weak to be used without stacking it with other steroids, and
it is very common to find it included in various exotic steroid preparations. Keep in
mind, MAD itself has an estrogenic action, so the appropriate precautions must be
taken to combat this. Methandriol first must be stacked with testosterone, preferably
a short ester one (see testosterone propionate). Testosterone will combat the libido
lowering effects of MAD, as stated before; estrogenic hormones like MAD seem to
work best when combined with trenbolone, so this would be the second anabolic of
choice. Now you are going to need something to deal with methandriol’s estrogenic
action. Letrozole would be my first choice because it not only block the aromatize
enzyme, but it reduces the concentrations of estrogen receptors as well (12), leaving
MAD with less to bind to. Tamoxifen (novice) would also be a good addition to the
letrozole, binding to what ever estrogen receptors are left. However, ancillary usage
could negate many of methandriol’s benefits because they are seemingly estrogen
dependant!! Now the previously mentioned cycle looks like a cutting cycle. I did not
design it to be one, it’s just that combining MAD with other highly aromatizing
steroids or “bulking” drugs like dianabol, anadrol and long ester testosterones, is
asking for trouble. The level of water retention to follow would surely result in high
blood pressure (not to mention the potential estrogenic side effects). I cannot
recommend MAD be used with other bulking agents. In fact, I do not recommend
that methandriol be used at all!
Methandriol is a rare find in the hands of Steroid.com members. It is an obscure
anabolic that is reported to have special properties it simply does not have. Highly
estrogenic and barely anabolic, it is extremely doubtful this steroid will ever catch on
in the Steroid.com bodybuilding community.
Here’s how your body metabolizes Methandriol:
85
References:
1. J Reprod Fertil Suppl. 1982;32:213-8.
2. Endocrinology. 1994 Mar;134(3):1401-8.
3. Endocr Pract. 1999;5(5):277-81.
4. Int J Immunopharmacol. 2000 Jan;22(1):1-14.
5. J Appl. Physiol.94 1153-61 2003
6. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Sep;86(3-5):423-32.
7. Veterinary Drug List.
8. J Anim Sci. 1999 Dec;77(12):3133-9
9. J Anim Sci. 1997 May;75(5):1256-65.
10. J Anim Sci. 1985 Jan;60(1):294-300.
11. Endocrinology. 1978 Jul;103(1):1-5.
12. Curr Med Res Opin. 2001;16(4):276-84
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
86
Methyltestosterone
(Methyltestosterone)
[17alpha-methyl-4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol]
Formula: C20 H30 O2
Molecular Weight: 302.4558
Melting Point: 162-167
Manufacturer: Most Major Pharmaceutical Companies
Effective dose: (Men)25-100mgs/day; (Women) N/A
Active Life: 6-8 hours
Detection Time: 4-6 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio (Range): 94-130/115-150
To understand the history of Methyltestosterone, we need to go back to the 1930’s,
when the structure of the hormones estrone, testosterone, and progesterone were
revealed and understood more completely and their ability to be synthesized from
cholesterol was noted. It was a logical step for researchers to realize that a very
simple chemical modification of the natural hormone would produce an orally active
compound. By the early 1950’s, injectable testosterone, progesterone, and the
subject of this profile, Methyltestosterone, occupied almost 25% of Ciba’s
pharmaceutical turnover (1). Despite the elevations in liver function that oral
testosterone preparations can cause, (and Methyltestosterone is no exception to this)
these drugs still constitute approximately a third of all testosterone prescriptions
filled in the United States (2).
Here, we’re primarily concerned with the use of Methyltestosterone as it applies to
athletes and bodybuilders. As with other Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS), a
quick look at the structure of Methyltestosterone will give us some clues as to how it
will function once in the human body. We can see that it is 17-alpha-methyl altered,
so the hormone can survive its first pass through the liver, and be effective as an
oral agent rather than being destroyed by the liver. Unfortunately, this alteration
also puts stress on the liver and contributes to the hepatoxicity (liver toxicity) of this
compound, which is quite profound with this drug (3). Luckily, it doesn’t have
adverse effects on cholesterol, and can even lower plasma viscosity (4). And, since
this is just testosterone that has been altered to be orally available, some users
actually let the tablet dissolve under their tongue for increased absorbtion. We can
expect many of the same results and side effects that we would with any other
testosterone form such as development of male sexual characteristics in women.
Hence, they should avoid using this compound at any dose, and in men,
aromatization, or conversion to estrogen, is found. This can contribute to hair loss,
87
acne, oily skin, water-retention, gynocomastia, hair growth on the body, and other
side effects. It’s also worth noting that this compound converts to
DiHydroTestosterone, which can cause prostate enlargement and hair loss. Taking
endogenous hormones (AAS) will affect your natural testosterone levels as well as
many interrelated hormones and processes. MethylTestosterone is no exception to
this rule, and taking it will result in significant decreases in plasma levels of
gonadotropins, gonadal steroids, sex hormone binding globulin, free T3 and T4, and
thyroid binding globulin (5). Inclusion of Arimidex at .5mgs/day to help lower
estrogen levels or a similar ancillary, such as Finasteride (1mg/day to help combat
DHT) would be warranted with the use of Methyltest. Also, when considering the
possible side effects and hormonal effects Methyltest can have on a user, proper Post
Cycle Therapy (Nolvadex at 20mgs/day and 500 iu/day of HCG for 3 weeks) is
necessary.
I think that the effect you’ll typically get from Methyltest is most comparable to that
of the short (or no) ester testosterones (i.e. suspension or propionate). Ergo, I
believe you will get a bit stronger but probably will not be impressed with weight
gains unless intolerably high doses are used. A quick survey of the results gained by
members of Steroid.com reveal that none of them were impressed with either weight
or strength gains from Methyl testosterone, but some liked the drug. Hence, I
recommend that you choose a different compound if you are simply trying to get
bigger. Methyltest won’t impress anyone with its ability to add weight to an athlete.
The members of Steroid.com who liked Methyltest generally cited effects such as
increased strength and aggression while using it, especially when it was taken before
workouts. Herein lies the most effective and common use for Methyltest in a cycle.
It is effective for rapid increases in strength and aggression when a dose is taken
prior to a workout or athletic event. Twenty-five mgs taken an hour before working
out or competing should be sufficient for this purpose, while I’d recommend 2-4x
that dose if it’s being used as the primary oral in a cycle. Someone on a cycle may
want to consider the inclusion of this drug into their regimen to make their workouts
more productive, and thus get maximum results from their workouts. This would
allow the other anabolics in their cycle to be more efficient. Powerlifters also love
this drug and it is often used prior to competitions as well as prior ot workouts.
Again, in terms of cost/benefit ratio (side effects vs. results), Methyltest is most
effective for use prior to a weight training workout or athletic competition, (or
possibly to increase aggression in the weight room on a low calorie diet) and not as a
weight gain or strength gain drug. Using Methyltest 3-4x a week before workouts
will help you derive more benefits from those workouts (and this will be especially
important on a cycle) while minimizing possible issues with liver toxicity. Trying to
use this compound multiple times per day and every day of the week (as would be
necessary if this were the primary oral in your cycle) would not produce acceptable
results (in my mind, anyway) when compared with the risks taken.
There are better orals than Methyltest for both size and strength, but perhaps none
are as good at increasing aggression. You can use this drug in conjunction with any
type of cycle as a pre-workout boost. If this drug is used as the main oral in a cycle,
then the use of Methyltest should be limited to 50mgs/day for no more than 6
weeks. After cessation, a long break from all liver-stressing compounds should be
taken (i.e. oral AAS, Alcohol, etc…).
Availability of this drug is reasonably high, as most major pharmaceutical companies
produce it, as do a few UnderGround Labs. It’s reasonably priced since the demand
88
for it isn’t very high. I wouldn’t be able to justify paying more than a quarter
(25cents, American) per tab for this stuff, and it could be found for under that based
on availability, demand, and results.
Here’s how Methyltestosterone is metabolized in your body:
References:
1. Karl Huesler & Jaroslav Calvoda, Pharmaceuticals Division, Ciba-Geigy
2. Westaby, D., Ogle, S.J., Paradinas, F.J., et al Lancet, August 6:261, 1977
3. Lancet, August 6:261, 1977
4. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2002 Aug; 57(2):209-14.
5. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2003 Apr; 28(3):317-31
89
Myagen
(Bolasterone or Dimethyltestosterone)
[7-ALPHA, 17-ALPHA-DIMETHYLTESTOSTERONE]
Molecular Formula: C21H3202
Molecular Weight: 316.4826
Melting Point: 162-167
Manufacturer: N/A
Release Date: N/A
Effective Dose: 50-100mgs
Active Life: 6hours
Detection Time: 4-6 weeks
Androgenic/ Anabolic Ratio: 300:575
Basically, what we have here is DiMethyltestosterone or Methyltestosterone with an
added methyl group (hence “dimethyl”) at the C7 position. I think any further
comparison to Methyltestosterone (except perhaps with regards to hepatoxicity)
wouldn’t really be warranted.
It needs to be noted that a lot of what I’m going to tell you about this drug is
basically speculation for now, although I suspect that since we’ve seen the
reemergence of several drugs which wear gone for decades (Mitolan, OT, etc…), this
one isn’t far behind. Why would this stuff reappear on the market? Well, by taking a
look at its androgenic/anabolic ratio, you should see why. It’s 3x as androgenic as
testosterone and almost 6x as anabolic! This makes it one of the most powerful oral
anabolic steroids ever made.
While writing this book, I contacted several underground Labs to see if they could
produce this drug, for me to test out on myself (as I have done with several
experimental compounds already). Unfortunately, nobody seemed to know where to
get this stuff from, and nobody I’ve spoken to has ever used it.
So, as it stands, we can look at this drug on paper and speculate that it would be a
very useful anabolic compound, it’s going to remain on paper until some resourceful
underground decides to produce it.
This is how Bolasterone is metabolized in your body:
90
References:
1. CLINICAL EVALUATION OF A NEW ANABOLIC AGENT 7-ALPHA,17
ALPHA-DIMETHYLTESTOSTERONE (BOLASTERONE). Clin Pharmacol Ther.
1963 Nov-Dec;30:734-9.
91
Omnadren
(Testosteone shown, plus testosterone with Propionate, Phenylpropinoate,
Isocaproate, and Caproate esters)
(Testosterone + 4 esters)
[4-androsten-3-one-17beta-ol]
Formula (of Base): C19 H28 O2
Formula (esters)
Propionate:C3 H6 O2
Phenylpropionate:C9 H10 O2
Isocaproate:C6 H12 O2
Caproate:C16 H12 O2
Molecular Weight (of Base): 288.429
Molecular Weight (esters)
Propionate: 362.5082
Phenylpropionate: 438.6058
Isocaproate: 404.5886
Caproate:116.16
Melting Point: 154-155C
Manufacturer: Jelfa
Effective dose: 250-1,000mgs/week
Active Life: 10 days
Detection Time: 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio: 100:100
1 milliliter of Omnadren 250 contains:
30mg testosterone propionate
60mg testosterone phenylpropionate
60mg testosterone isocaproate
100mg testosterone caproate
Omnadren 250 is a combination of the 4 separate test esters listed above. Older
versions of the drug, list the final two esters as ‘isohexanoate’ and ‘hexanoate.’
However, it should be noted that hexanoate is simply another word for caproate, so
92
the drug’s esters have not actually been modified. Most commonly, people will
correlate Omnadren 250 with its cousin Sustanon 250, since they are both a blend of
4 test esters. The only difference between the two lies in the last and most
concentrated-ester. Whilst Omnadren contains the caproate ester, Sustanon
contains the decanoate ester in the same concentration. Really, except for price,
there’s no difference between them, and price-wise, you’re going to be paying ½ as
much for Omnadren as you would for Sustanon (or $3-4usd/amp). This is a very
nice price, and for that reason, I typically advise people to purchase Omnadren over
Sustanon if their source carries it.
It is also not uncommon to hear people refer to Omnadren as a superior version
of testosterone since it boasts 4 esters instead of 1 (or none). This should be taken
with a grain of salt. All testosterones produce very similar effects, while the ester
simply delays the release of the compound into the body, which has two immediate
consequences. The first being less important: injection frequency. This has recently
become a hotly debated issue. On one side, there are those who advocate injections
only once or twice a week. Their arguments are supported frequently with cycle
results that have yielded ‘good gains.’ On the other side, perhaps the more scientific
side, are those who advocate injections at least every-other-day (EOD) or everyday
(ED). One only has to glance at the ester constitution in Omnadren to understand
why this is so. Such small concentrations of the shorter esters (propionate and
phenylpropionate) are rendered practically useless when Omnadren is injected once
or twice a week. Furthermore, when injecting only a few times a week the “peaks
and valleys” of concentration in the blood are not desirable. We want our blood
concentration of the drugs to be as high as they can be –relative to dose- as long as
they can be. Obviously, this is not the case when fast acting esters are introduced
and subsequently dissipated before another injection is given.
The longest ester in Omnadren (caproate) is slightly faster acting than the longest
ester in Sustanon (decanoate), and users will notice an increase in their testosterone
levels sooner with Omnadren than with Sustanon. This has a few consequences that
we shall examine now. First of all, since testosterone aromatizes (converts) to
estrogen, a buildup of this female hormone will occur more rapidly. Estrogen
increase follows the inevitability of increased water retention. This is significant for 3
reasons.
First, the user’s strength will increase. Secondly, the user’s size will
increase, and finally, definition in the muscles will begin to dissipate. As a result,
Omnadren is typically used more for bulking than cutting. The extent of these
effects are highly dictated by the user’s diet and training habits; although, it is also
easily controlled with the proper use of anti-estrogen drugs such as Nolvadex,
Armidex, Proviron, and a myriad of others.
As I previously stated, testosterone is a highly anabolic and androgenic hormone,
and it has an anabolic (muscle building) rating of 100, making it a good drug to use
if one is in pursuit of more size and strength. And if you aren’t in pursuit of more
size and strength, then why would you be reading this, right? Well, let’s get on with
it and look at exactly what makes testosterone a good mass builder. First,
testosterone promotes nitrogen retention in the muscle (6). The more nitrogen the
muscle holds the more protein the muscle stores. Testosterone can also increase the
levels of the highly anabolic hormone, IGF-1, in muscle tissue (7)(9). Even the
aromatized part of testosterone that turns into estrogen may increase levels of IGF,
and it may also increase sensitivity to it. Testosterone’s actions come mostly from its
binding to the androgen receptor to promote A.R dependant mechanisms for both
muscle gain and fat loss (5). Thankfully, it also significantly increases the
93
concentrations of the A. R in cells critical for muscle repair and growth and A.R in
muscle (8). Testosterone induces changes in shape; size and also can change the
appearance and the number of muscle fibers (7). Androgens like the testosterone(s)
found in Omnadren can protect your hard earned muscle from the catabolic
hormones (8), whether those hormones occur from exercise or other stress.
There are strong androgenic side effects, which are pronounced with Omnadren (as
with all testosterones). Oily skin, acne, increased body/facial hair, and, depending on
the individual, an increase in aggressiveness can occur. Omnadren can also be hard
on the hairline. This is partly due to the conversion of the testosterone into
dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Test is converted to DHT via the 5-alpha reductase
enzyme. DHT is more potent than test at the androgen receptor (the double bond is
removed from the carbon4-carbon5 bond and replaced with a hydrogen atom on
each) and is responsible for some growth. It can also cause some negative side
effects as well. Because of this bond, Testosterone is actually much more anabolic.
For example: DHT formation in the scalp is suspected of causing/expediting male
pattern baldness. To possibly combat this, one can use finasteride (Proscar®). This
drug will inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT, but many users will report
that since DHT is more potent at the androgen receptor than test, gains in muscle
mass, as well as strength, will diminish. On the other hand, a lack of DHT caused by
blocking 5-AR can sometimes cause gynocomastia (4)(5).
Typically, cycles that contain Omnadren 250 will be around 12-16 weeks. The idea is
that it will take at least 2 weeks for the compound to become fully ‘active’ in the
body, and most users will report an additional 1-3 weeks until the effects of
Omnadren are truly felt. As a result, gains from Omnadren are not typically noticed
for about 1 month after the first injection. What most people mean by this is that,
although the actual drug is already active, gains aren’t realized immediately. The
majority of users will supplement a fast acting oral drug such as Dianabol or Anadrol
in the first 4 weeks of a cycle, which is thought of as a ‘kickstart’ until the effects of
the Omnadren are fully felt. As mentioned above, a typical weekly dose of
Omnadren can range from 500mg-1000mg per week. Those who are new to steroids
and cycling should generally start with a minimal dose to better judge how their own
bodies will react to the synthetic testosterone. I suggest that beginners stick with 2
amps per week if they’re inclined to use this preparation.
Omnadren has always been manufactured by Polfa©, who have changed their name
to Jelfa©. The company is based in Poland, and as one might obviously conclude, the
availability and price of Omnadren 250 is different in many places. Often, fake
Sustanon in the 80’s would actually turn out to be Omnadren, which was much less
highly prized (nonsensically).
References:
1. Hypothalamic sites of action for testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estrogen in the
regulation of luteinizing hormone secretion in male sheep. Endocrinology. 1997 Sep;
138(9):3686-94.
2. Inhibition of LH Secretion by Localized Administration of Estrogen, but not
Dihydrotestosterone, Is Enhanced in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus during Feed
Restriction in the Young Wether. Biol Reprod. 2005 Jun 22; [Epub ahead of print]
3. Crystalline dihydrotestosterone implants in the lateral septum of male rats. A positive
94
effect on LH and FSH. Endocr Res. 2001 Feb-May; 27(1-2):35-40.
4. Significant role of 5 alpha-reductase on feedback effects of androgen in rat anterior
pituitary cells demonstrated with a nonsteroidal 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor ONO-3805. J
Androl. 1994 Nov-Dec; 15(6):521-7.
5. Case report: finasteride-induced gynecomastia in a 62-year-old man. Am J Med Sci.
1995 Jun; 309(6):322-5.
6. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Feb; 82(2):407-13.
7. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar; 282(3):E601-7.
8. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
9. Comparison of effects of the rise in serum testosterone by raloxifene and oral
testosterone on serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding
protein-3. Maturitas. 2005 Jul 16; 51(3):286-93.
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95
Oral-Turinabol
(4-chlorodehydromethyltestosterone)
[4-chloro-17b-hydroxy-17a-methyl-androst-1,4-dien-3-one]
Formula:C20 H27 O2 Cl
Molecular Weight:334.8854
Manufacturer: Underground Labs only
Effective Dose (Men): 10-40mgs/day
Effective Dose (Women): 5-15mgs/day
Active life: 16 hours
Detection Time: 6 weeks
Anabolic/ Androgenic ratio: >100:>0
Oral Turinabol was first developed by scientists in East Germany for their Olympic
and national-level athletes to use. This, plus the eventual removal of it from the
market caused OT to become a very “sexy” drug for athletes to try to obtain. The
East Germans studied this drug pretty extensively for many years and some of the
success of this now defunct country was attributed to this drug. It made its first
appearance to athletes in East Germany as little blue “Vitamins” their coaches gave
to them. This drug has been discontinued by all of the major pharmaceutical houses,
and is only found through certain underground labs. Although some UnderGround
Labs have access to this item and it appears on their price-lists, it’s still rare enough.
I believe it was first produced in the last half decade by a certain cat in Thailand. It’s
my speculation that it’s on the cusp of either becoming very popular, to the point
where every Underground Lab will start carrying their own version of it, or it will
disappear again and only be carried by a select few, if any, suppliers.
The easiest way to explain this drug is that it is a derivative of Dianabol. Though it is
a derivative of our old friend Diana, it’s still quite different. Remember, Equipoise is
estrified Dianabol, and really has nothing in common with it in terms of real-world
effects. Let’s examine OT in relation to D-bol for now. The first similarity between the
two is that they have been 17-alpha-alkylated (a carbon atom was added at the 17th
position) to survive the first pass through the liver. This, of course, increases
hepatoxicity (liver toxicity). OT has a much lower level of androgenic activity
compared to dianabol, but has a better balance/ratio of anabolic and androgenic
effects. It has a rating of a 0 (according to the Vida reference) for androgenic
properties and a 53 for anabolic properties based on a score of 100 each for
testosterone. This promotes more of a "hard" look, or what competition bodybuilders
often call “quality” muscle. You do not get the same "puffy" look as you would on d
96
bol, and many people have thus compared the results they’ve gotten from OT to
Anavar. Actually, though, this stuff is simply dianabol with a 4-chloro alteration, the
same alteration found in Clostebol.
Due to this 4-chloro substitution in the A-Ring of its Steran Nucleus, this drug cannot
be aromatized (3). This is, as you know, quite beneficial and is one of the reasons
Oral Turinabol has been called a "gentle d-bol.” You will probably not get any typical
estrogenic side effects like water retention, acne, gyno, etc. with any dose of this
drug. I read a couple of studies examining male athletes over a period of six weeks
who were given 10 mg OT/day and did not show any indication of health-threatening
effects. It has been recommended that men should take between 20-40mg every-
day and women a 5mg everyday, and I generally think that it is not very strong (as
compared to many other orals) and wouldn't drop below the 40mg mark if I were to
use it personally. It may perhaps be used in low(er) doses if it is simply being used
for its ability to reduce SHBG's binding (1) to other steroids. In this respect, it may
have synergy with other drugs since it has the ability to reduce SHBG and free up
more testosterone for use in the body.
The only negative thing I have heard about this drug is that in high doses (10+mg)
virilization has been seen in women (14) and there has been at least one case of
testicular tumors, and one case of a guy who suffered adverse effects from 5 years
of high-dose use of OT (2)(4). It should be noted that the former East Germans did
many experiments with this drug in high doses though, and found it to be a very
suitable compound for their athletes. Many of the women suffered virilization at
higher dosages, though. During the 68-72 Olympic cycles, the East German Sports
OT program made its biggest impact. It was around this time that the East German
weightlifters were taking over 10g/year of OT, and their leading male sprinter was
taking under 730mgs/year of OT (14). I think this tells me that for real weight gains
and huge gains in the weight room, you’re going to need bank-breaking doses of this
stuff. On the bright side, if you are an athlete looking to get faster, a little bit of OT
will get you there pretty easily and with minimal (if any) side effects. I think that its
inability to cause negative side effects and its ability to produce a favorable increase
in lean body mass, thus, causing a favorable increase in strength/speed makes this
substance popular. An athlete’s strength: bodyweight ratio is what turned the East
German coaches and scientists on. It must be noted that, at the time, this stuff was
mostly undetectable and that was certainly a sought after trait by the East Germans
who were looking to circumvent the drug testing procedures of the IOC. Now, of
course, OT is detectable once it’s administered to man because three major
metabolites are formed: 6 beta-hydroxy-turinabol, 6 betas, 12-dihydroxy-turinabol,
and 6 beta, 16-dihydroxy-turinabol (5)(8)(9). All of those metabolites are now
detectable by drug screeners. In much smaller quantities at least another three
metabolites are excreted, one of which could be identified as 17 epi-turinabol (5),
and is easily detected by modern drug tests. No measurable amounts of OT itself
are detected in any of the urine samples investigated in sport’s doping procedures,
but the presence of the metabolites is enough to warrant a positive result and a
failed test. Keeping all of this in mind, it is still important to note that the rate of
metabolism and urinary excretion or Oral-Turinabol is reasonably fast (5), even
though it is technically eliminated biphastically (in two stages) by the body with a
terminal 16hr ½ life (1). I thank the sports-doping-party-poopers (The NCAA and
IOC). OT is notorious for increasing the time it will take for your blood to clot
because it has spontaneous fibrinolytic properties. “Fibrinolytic effects” means that
the destruction of fibrin (an insoluble fibrous protein produced in the liver from the
soluble protein) is happening in your body. Fibrinogen is important during the blood
97
clotting process. It is a soluble protein in the blood that is converted to insoluble
fibrin by the action of the enzyme thrombin in response to tissue damage. (6)(7)
Thus, you will bleed for longer than usual when on this stuff. Combine that with the
fact that steroids raise your hematocrit and you’ll be spending your entire morning
trying to stop the bleeding if you cut yourself shaving. Well, that’s probably an
exaggeration, but not by much.
I’ve already told you that this stuff is a potent lean tissue builder, and good for
cutting. But that’s mostly of interest for bodybuilders. Now, with regards to athletics,
what kind of results can we expect? Well, I was digging through the old East
German literature, and found that they reported that their world class strength
athletes were making some pretty remarkable improvements on OT over a 4 year
Olympic training period: Male Shot-putters were adding 2.5-4m to their shot throws,
10-12m on their Discus throw, and 6-10m to their Hammer throws. Female athletes
gained even more. Let’s take a look at a chart representing the improvements made
by one particular female strength athlete (she held the World Record for the shot
put, at the time of her beginning OT administration) over the period of July 18 1968
through October 13 1972. During this time, she was taking OT and she improved
her throw from under 18m to over 20m (yes, this is a 2m+ improvement to a world
record holding throw in one Olympic Cycle). She was taking roughly 5-15mgs/day of
OT in the beginning, but worked up to 35mgs/day before she was done with her
Olympic cycle. Her throws even while “off” OT even improved a bit, leading to
speculation that there are a lot of permanent gains to be had with OT. Anyway, here
are the charts representing her intake of OT, as well as her improvements over her 4
year over her 4 year Olympic training regimen:
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Effects of an androgenic-anabolic steroid, Oral-Turinabol, on the shot-put
performance (in meters, y-axis) of a female athlete (code identification 1/68 in a,
1/69 in b, and 1/72 in c) directly photographed from the secret scientific report of
Bauersfeld et al. (13), is one of the numerous examples documented and is chosen
here because of its historic importanc. It is the first documented case of androgenic
doping of a woman (for a detailed account, see ref. (11)). (a) 1968. The rectangle
from July 28 to October 13 shows the period of drug administration, and the
numbers above each date show the number of tablets taken per week (here, 14, or
10 mg per day). The curve presents the results of the specific competitions, showing
the increase of strength and performance in a fully trained woman. At the time of the
first drug application in 1968, the athlete had been well trained for almost 14 years.
Under the influence of the drug, however, she gained unprecedented muscle
strength and improved her records dramatically within a few weeks. (b) 1969. The
steroid was given in three cycles and at various dosages, from 7 to 21 tablets per
week (i.e., 5–15 mg daily). Without the drug, she could not reach 18 m, but when
taking the drug, she improved her world record once more, to 20.10 m. (c) 1972.
She took even more of the androgenic hormone, with daily dosages of up to 7 tablets
per day (35 mg), in four cycles, for a total androgenic load of 1450 mg for the year.
This led to her top performances in the winter indoor season (left curve) as well as in
the summer (right curve) and another personal best (20.22 m). Note the much lower
performance at times off the drug or after only short periods of androgenization.
Also, after 4 years of systematic androgenization, her basic strength level when not
taking the drug had also increased by ~1 m, indicative of a residual effect/
(14).
Did all of this work for anyone else? Well, as I told you, virtually everyone who was
involved with the East German Olympic Training program was on some kind of
steroids, but OT was by far the most popular. They had access to some pretty wierd
stuff, too, like intranasal testosterone, etc…
So, back to OT, it is notable from my readings on this compound that women saw
much more positive effects from OT did than men (this is generally true of all
steroids). Women also showed more side effects and generally found the side effects
to be more severe and unbearable than their male counterparts. Unfortunately, they
sometimes tended to use higher dosages than the men did; often up to 2 xs as high.
Let’s take a look at their typical yearly doses:
Some documented dosages of androgenic-anabolic steroid (Oral-Turinabol)1 taken
by female GDR medal winners (track and field) in Olympic Games, World
Championships, and European Championships (2):
Annual dosage of OT in mgs followed by events
3680 Shot-put
3190 Discus
2900 Shot-put
2615 Shot-put
2590 Shot-put
1670 Sprint
1560 Hurdles
1480 Hurdles
1474 Sprint
1460 Sprint
99
1450 Shot-put
1405 Sprint
1380 Heptathlon
1375 Sprint
1340 Heptathlon
1255 Discus
1230 Heptathlon
1230 Hurdles
1185 Javelin
1.Additional injections of testosterone esters have not been considered here.
2. At least 12 of the drug-receiving competitors listed in this table set world records.
In keeping with Journal policy regarding confidentiality of patients and subjects, the
names of subjects have been omitted.
Shocked? Don’t be. This was during the cold war, and victory in the Olympics was
seen as a victory for a certain way of life and a certain ideology; defeat was
unthinkable and unacceptable. Is the recent reappearance of Oral-Turinabol on the
black market going to change athletics or bodybuilding dramatically? No, I doubt it.
A combination of price ($1/10mgs average) and availability may cause this stuff to
remain an understated tool at our disposal. It is, however, a viable tool in a lean
mass cycle, cutting cycle, or any athlete’s drug intake routine.
As a final reference, I'll give you an example (direct from the East German State
Doping Program's reports) on how they used OT throughout the year, and with
various other drugs (like Test Prop, for example):
100
Anabolic and special preparation for the top competition of the year during the
immediate preparation period in the Olympic cycle 1980/84. The example examines
some selected long jumpers (W) and a high jumper (H) in combination with the
results of competitions during this time. Example (from hundreds of evaluations)
showing typical administration patterns of orally taken synthetic anabolic-androgenic
steroids (Oral-Turinabol, periods of application denoted by rectangles) and injections
of testosterone esters [arrows, 10 mg of testosterone propionate (TP); triangles, 25
mg of TP; circles, 100 mg of testosterone enanthate plus 1500 IU of hCG], here
given to high (H) and long (W, Weitsprung) jumpers during the last 10 weeks before
a major international competition in 1981–1984 [immediate preparation period
(UWV), in weeks, is indicated on the x-axis; WS, competition series preceding the
UWV; the competition results (in meters) are shown immediately above the specific
drug application symbols].(14)
Here’s how Oral Turinabol is metabolized in your body:
101
References:
1. [The pharmacokinetics of Oral-Turinabol in humans] Pharmazie. 1991 Sep;
46(9):650-4. German.
2. Department of Urology, Universitaetsklinikum "Carl Gustav Carus," Technical
University of Dresden,Dresden, Germany
3. Influence of 1-double bond and 11 beta-hydroxy groups on stereospecific microbial
reductions of 4-en-3-oxo-steroids.
J Steroid Biochem. 1986 Oct; 25(4):561-6.
4. Intratesticular leiomyosarcoma in a young man after high dose doping with Oral
Turinabol: a case report. Cancer. 1999 Oct 15; 86(8):1571-5.
5. GC and capillary column GC/MS determination of synthetic anabolic steroids. II. 4
chloro-methandienone (oral turinabol) and its metabolites. J Chromatogr Sci. 1983 Sep;
21(9):405-10.
6. [Activation of the fibrinolytic system with dehydrochlormethyltestosterone]
Folia Haematol Int Mag Klin Morphol Blutforsch. 1984; 111(4):556-62. German.
7. [Modification of hypofibrinolytic states by dehydrochlormethyltestosterone]
Folia Haematol Int Mag Klin Morphol Blutforsch. 1984; 111(4):563-6. German.
8. [Application of microbial enzymes in studies of steroid metabolism (author's transl)]
Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung. 1975;22(4):397-402. Review. German.
9. [Application of microbial enzymes in studies of steroid metabolism (author's transl)]
Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung. 1975;22(4):397-402. Review. German.
102
10. [ON THE PHARMACOLOGY OF "ORAL TURINABOL".] Dtsch Gesundheitsw.
1965 Apr 15; 20:690-1. German. No abstract available.
11. Berendonk B. Doping. Von der Forschung zum Betrug. Reinbek bei Hamburg:
Rowohlt Taschenbuchverlag. 1992:448pp
12. [4-CHLORO-DELTA-1-METHYLTESTOSTERONE (ORAL TURINABOL), A
NEW EFFECTIVE ORAL ANABOLIC STEROID.] Dtsch Gesundheitsw. 1965 Apr 15;
20:670-4. German. No abstract available.
13. Bauersfeld K-H. Olek J. Meibner H. Hannemann D. Spenke J. Analyse des Einsatzes
u. M. in den leichtathletischen Wurf/Stob-disziplinen und Versuch trainingsmethodischer
Abteilungen und Verallgemeinerungen. Science Center of the DVfl 1973:41pp.
14. Clinical Chemistry 43:7. 1262-1279 (1997)
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
103
Spectriol
(Testosterone and Nandrolone shown, followed by Methandriol)
(Testosterone + Nandrolone + Methandriol)
[17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one + 19-nor-androst-4-en-3-one-17beta-ol + 4 chloro
testosterone]
Testosterone base + cypionate ester. + Propionate ester+ Hexahydrabenzoate ester
Formula: C27 H40 O3.
Molecular Weight: 412.6112
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Melting Point (base): 155C
Effective Dose (Men): 200-2000mg+ week.
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: 12 days.
Detection Time: Up to 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 100/100.
Nandrolone base + phenylpropionate ester
Formula (base): C18 H26 O2
Formula (ester): C9 H10 O2
Molecular Weight (base):274.4022
Melting Point (base): 122-124°C
Active life: 15 days
Detection Time: Up to 18 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 37:125
Methylandrostenediol dipropionate
Formula: C20 H32 O2
104
Formula (base): C20 H32 O2
Formula (ester): C3 H6 O2
Molecular Weight: 304.4716
Molecular Weight (base): 304.4716
Molecular Weight (ester): 74.0792
Melting Point (ester):21.5C
Effective Dose (Men):350mg week.
Effective Dose (Women): 25mg per day.
Active life: 3 days
Detection Time: 2 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 30-60/20-60
Spectriol has the dubious distinction of having three totally separate compounds in it,
one having 3 totally different esters, and all three are in an mg/ml concentration that
is too low to do a damn thing! This product is made by RWR in Australia. They have
made a name for themselves by producing interesting and unique blends of different
compounds, esters, and combinations of both.
Let’s see how Spectriol breaks down, per ml:
Methandriol Dipropionate: 20mgs
Nandrolone Phenylpropionate: 15mgs
Testosterone Propionate: 10mgs
Testosterone Cypionate: 10mgs
Testosterone Hexahydrobenzoate: 10mgs
And all of this comes in a 10ml multi use vial. Unfortunately, this equates to 30mgs
of testosterone, 15 mgs of Nandrolone, and 20mgs of Methandriol per ml. You’ll
need a minimum of a bottle (or 2) per week of this stuff. Realistically, that’s 20mls of
oil in your body every week and a lot of sore injection sites that can’t be kept up for
very long. Lets look at it this way: if you shoot this stuff yourself, rotating 4-6
injection sites, you’ll still be shooting it into areas that may not have recovered from
the last shot you put in there. I just don’t think too many people will keep that up for
too long.
This stuff may be useful for women, perhaps shooting one ml per week.
105
Sten
(Testosterone shown, plus testosterone with propionate and Cypionate ester, and
DHEA)
(Testosterone Cypionate &Propionate + DHEA)
[17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one/17-(1-oxopropoxy)-(17beta)-androst-4-en-3-one
+ 3beta-Hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one]
Testosterone base + cypionate ester. + Propionate ester
Molecular Weight: 412.6112
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Melting Point (base): 155C
Effective Dose (Men): 200-2000mg+ week.
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: 12 days.
Detection Time: Up to 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 100/100.
Molecular Weight (DHEA): 412.6112
Formula (DHEA): C27 H40 O3,
Melting Point (DHEA) 90, 149 - 151 °C
Manufacturer: Atlantis, MX 120mg/2ml
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Average Active Life: +/- 1-1.5 weeks
(2ml of Sten contains 25 mg testosterone propionate, 75mg testosterone
Cypionate, and 20mg DHEA)
Sten, yet another blended steroid, is similar to Testoviron, but it has different dosing
with the addition of DHEA. Specifically, this blend is made up of testosterone
propionate and testosterone cypionate, as well as a steroid called
dehydroepiandrosterone, or better known as DHEA. DHEA is a hormone produced by
the adrenal cortex as well as the brain. Some of this hormone is actually converted
to testosterone in males and estrodiol in women (1).
The function of DHEA in the body is not clearly understood. For starters, unlike
testosterone, there is no receptor for DHEA or its close relative DHEAS. It is also non
anabolic receptor mediated, meaning its action has nothing to do with the anabolic
receptors in your body. Let’s figure out exactly what it does and how it is beneficial
to us. For starters, Dehydroepiandrosterone is well known to decrease body fat
significantly (3)(4). It has been shown to reduce both abdominal fat as well as
106
visceral fat (5). This makes Sten a very exciting drug, as it contains a steroidal fat
burner as well as a short and long acting testosterone.
Obviously, Sten also contains testosterone, so it would be appropriate to have a brief
review of that compound as well. Testosterone is known to cause strength and
muscle growth. The most obvious mechanism by which testosterone induces muscle
growth is that it promotes nitrogen retention in the muscle (6) and the more
nitrogen the muscle holds, the more protein the muscle stores. Testosterone can also
increase the levels of another anabolic hormone, IGF-1, in muscle tissue (7). This
hormone is the mediator of Growth Hormone and also (as the name implies) causes
muscle growth. Testosterone can help protect your hard earned muscle from the
catabolic (muscle wasting) glucocorticoid hormones (11), thus inhibiting the actions
of them. Testosterone has the ability to increase red-blood cell production (12), and
a higher RBC count may improve endurance by highly oxygenating the blood going
to your muscles. More highly oxygenated blood in your muscles will improve
recovery from strenuous physical activity.
Sten would be used very similar to a Sustanon-type blend. Sten is not nearly as
common as it was 5 years ago, but it can still be found in some parts, especially
Mexico. Male users would want to take a dosage range of 200-400mg/wk for an
effective range. Intermediate users would use a dosage of 400-800mg/wk, while
advanced users could go as high as 1000mg/wk. This compound should not be
recommended to women even in low doses; although the more adventerous women
I know have tried 1/2 an amp/week of it. Remember ladies, testosterone has very
strong virilizing properties in women such as deepened voice, increased body hair,
acne, and clitoral hypertrophy.
The testosterone contained in Sten can be converted to other unwanted by-products
also. The 5-alpha-reductase enzyme can convert the testosterone into
dihydrotestosterone, or as its better known, DHT. DHT is responsible for mens’
hairloss and for prostate hypertrophy. Anti-DHT drugs such as Finasteride can be
taken to block this conversion and offset most of the possible side effects. Some men
will be much more genetically prone for hair loss, which will greatly magnify the
effects of DHT.
A second by-product produced by exogenous testosterone administration is, of
course, estrogen. The aromatase enzyme can convert testosterone into estrogen.
The rate in which it converts will vary depending on the dose and will vary from
person to person. The top symptoms include bloating, gynecomastia, elevated blood
pressure, acne, and increase in cholesterol levels. To combat this, the use of anti
estrogen compounds is highly recommended.
Users of this compound report great gains with testosterone in general. It can be
used in cycles planned to gain mass or lose fat. Gains usually come quickly and are
maintained well with proper post cycle preventions.
Testosterone is usually considered the base compound of any cycle. After all, it is
the primary anabolic hormone in the male body. For this reason, Sten can be stacked
with any other compound desired. The most popular combinations are with Dianabol,
Equipoise, Deca, or Trenbolone.
Sten contains only natural hormones. Partly for this reason, the drugs contained in
107
Sten are only detectable for approximately 3 months. This makes Sten a good choice
for those who are only seasonally tested.
Although a blend of esters, the longest active life is reported to be just around 2-3
weeks. The length of this life is attributed to the testosterone cypionate contained in
Sten. Ideally, Sten should be injected at least every third day in order to properly
utilize the testosterone propionate in it while giving stable levels of testosterone in
the blood.
I have to admit, this is really the only blended testosterone product I will reccomend,
and this is for several reasons, really. For starters, there are absolutely zero known
fakes of this product. The second reason is that it's absurdly cheap When I was last
in Mexico, it was less than $3USD for a box of 2 amps (2mls each), each amp
containing 25mgs of testosterone propionate, 75mgs of Cypionate, and 20mgs of
DHEA. This means you get 200mgs of testosterone, plus 40mgs of the fat-burning
DHEA, for half the price of an amp of Sustanon.
As a final note, I never smuggled a hundred amps of Sten from Mexico back into the
U.S. of A. in an industrial sized suntan lotion bottle.
References:
1. Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2003 Jun;1(2):111-9.
2. Endocr Res. 2004 Nov;30(4):667-71
3. Effect of DHEA on endocrine functions of adipose tissue, the involvement of
PPARgamma.Biochem Pharmacol. 2005 May 16; [Epub ahead of print]
4. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on hormonal, metabolic
and behavioral status in patients with hypoadrenalism. J Endocrinol Invest. 2004
Sep;27(8):736-41.
5.Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men: a
randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004 Nov 10; 292(18):2243-8.
6. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Feb; 82(2):407-13.
7. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar; 282(3):E601-7.
8. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
9. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2004 Oct; 5(5):459-70.
10. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Oct; 89(10):5245-55.
11. Anat Histol Embryol. 2003 Apr; 32(2):70-9.
12. J Lab Clin Med. 1995 Mar; 125(3):326-33.
13. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003; 9(4):248-51
14. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Apr; 88(4):1478-85
108
Sustanon 250
(Testosterone shown, plus Testosterone with Propionate, Phenylpropionate, Isocaproate, and
Decanoate esters)
17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one
Testosterone base + 4 different esters
Propionate, Phenylpropionate, Isocaproate, Decanoate
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Molecular Weight, Esters:
Propionate: 362.5082
Phenylpropionate: 438.6058
Isocaproate: 404.5886
Decanoate: 460.6958
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Melting Point (base): 155
Manufacturer: Organon
Effective Dose (Men): 500-2000mg/ week
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: Up to 3 weeks
Detection Time: 3+ months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio:100/100
This product was developed by Organon as an ideal HRT (Hormone Replacement
Therapy) solution, and it was thought at the time that the different esters would be
able to provide a constant release of Testosterone over a months time. Sustanon is a
blend of different estered testosterones (4 of them): testosterone propionate - 30
mg, testosterone phenylpropionate - 60 mg, testosterone isocaproate - 60mg, and
testosterone decanoate -100 mg.
This drug was highly sought after as a “superior” version of testosterone in the late
80’s and through the mid 90’s. No doubt this is partly due to the very nice write-up
Dan Duchaine gave it in his newsletters. However, let’s keep in mind that this drug
was designed for convenience, not athletics or bodybuilding. The advantage to this
drug, according to the manufacturer, is that it can be injected once a month, and the
109
different esters would provide different timed releases over that month, and the
patient would therefore only need to visit the doctor once a month for his shot. For
athletes or bodybuilders (who routinely use between half a gram and a gram of
testosterone per week), this product is really no better than any other form of
injectable testosterone.
Lately, it seems that this product has fallen out of favor with Steroid.com members,
as many feel that the inclusion of the Propionate and phenylpropionate estered forms
of testosterone in this blend would necessitate shooting every other day. This stems
from the fact that testosterone propionate would be shot every other day at least,
and testosterone phenylpropionate would generally be shot every third day.
Sustanon will do exactly what other forms of testosterone will do:
Testosterone will cause both muscle growth as well as fat loss. It sends a message to
muscle cells to store more contractile protein (called actin and myosin), thus making
your muscles grow. It also protects your muscles from catabolic (muscle wasting)
glucocorticoid hormones (1). Thus it is often said that testosterone is not only
anabolic, but it is strongly catabolic. Not only does it cause an increase in size of the
muscle fibres (hyperfascia) but it also can change the appearance and the actual
number of muscle fibres (Hyperplasia) (2). Testosterone has the ability to increase
erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) in your kidneys (4), and a higher Red
Blood Cell (RBC) count may improve endurance by producing more highly
oxygenated blood. More RBCs can also improve recovery from strenuous physical
activity. Agression levels often rise dramatically with the use of any exogenous
testosterone (3). Testosterone improves muscle contraction by increasing the
number of motor neutrons in muscle (5) and improves neuromuscular transmission
(6). It also promotes glycogen synthesis (7)
Since Sustanon is simply a form of (well actually 4 forms of) testosterone, we also
know that administration of this compound will produce a dose respondant curve
(10). A what? Yeah, basically, a "dose respondant curve" is the fancy way of saying
"the more you take, the bigger you get." This is true of Sustanon as well as for
every form of testosterone, up to a point.
Unfortunately, Sustanon will also do all of the bad things that any form of
testosterone is known for: It will convert to the female hormone estrogen (via a
mechanism known as aromatization) by the (you guessed it) aromatize enzyme.
Excessive estrogen can lead to unwanted side effects, such as acne, the growth of
breast tissue (gynecomastia), fat gain and reduced fat breakdown, loss of sex drive,
testicular shrinkage and water retention. Water retention can increase blood
pressure weakening blood vessels over time. Unfortunately, this isn’t all it does: it
can also interact with the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme. This interaction converts the
testosterone to Dihydro-testosterone (DHT), a more androgenic form of the parent
hormone. DHT has a high binding affinity to the tissues of the scalp resulting in hair
loss in loss in users who suffer from male pattern baldness. DHT can affect the
prostate as well, making it larger. This swelling can cause the gland to press against
the bladder causing urinary problems. Drugs called 5alpha-reductase inhibitors can
prevent these symptoms without blocking testosterone’s anabolic effects (8). Higher
dosages of test can also negatively impact cholesterol, lowering HDL (9).
Testosterone is probably the safest steroid around, but it can’t be taken lightly, and
Sustanon is no different.
110
The principal drawback to Sustanon is its cost. It can cost between $5 and $12 an
ampule. Compared with Omnadren, Testoviron, or even Sten (other testosterone
products featuring various blends of Testosterone), the cost makes it prohibitive. An
equal amount of one of the aforementioned products can be had for less than half
the average cost of an amp of Sustanon. Sustanon, therefore, is no better or worse
than any other form of testosterone...if the price is right.
References:
1. J Lab Clin Med. 1995 Mar;125(3):326-33.
2. Anat Histol Embryol. 2003 Apr; 32(2):70-9.
3. Health Psychol. 1990; 9(6):774-91.
4. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003; 9(4):248-51
5. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
6. J Appl Physiol. 2001 Mar; 90(3):850-6.
7. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1999 Apr; 77(4):300-4.
8. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jan; 288(1):E222-E227. Epub 2004 Sep 14.
9. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Dec 21
10.14. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Dec; 281(6):E1172-81.
111
Test 400
(Testosterone shown, plus Testosterone with Propionate, Cypionate and Enanthate esters)
(Testosterone + 3 esters)
[17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one]
Testosterone base +enanthate+ cypionate ester. + propionate este
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Formula (ester)
Propionate: C3H6O2
Cypionate: C8 H14 O2
Enanthate: C7 H12 O
Molecular Weight: 412.6112
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Molecular Weight (ester)
Propionate: 74.0792
Cypionate: 132.1184
Enanthate: 130.1864
Melting Point (base): 155C
Effective Dose (Men): 200-2000mg+ week.
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: 8 day
Detection Time: Up to 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 100/100
Denkall produces this particular testosterone blend, and it has the highest
concentration (and pain) of any of the mass-produced testosterone blends. It comes
in with the following characteristics per ml:
Testosterone Propionate: 25mgs
Testosterone Cypionate: 187mgs
Testosterone Enanthate: 188mgs
This came out a few years ago, and was received very well by the average smuggler.
You see, since it was available in Mexico for a reasonable price, and had 4 grams of
testosterone per bottle, you could actually bring back double the amount (mg-wise)
of testosterone in the same space. Really, this product is a smuggler’s dream, and it
flooded the streets of Venice and other steroid hot-spots soon after it hit the market.
I suppose the good thing about this product is that you can get a whopping dose of
testosterone in a few milliliters of product. Other than that, it’s very painful to inject
and not really anything special over any other form of testosterone.
112
Testolent
(Testosterone shown with phenylpropionate ester)
(Testosterone Phenylpropionate)
[4-androstene-3-one, 17beta-ol]
(Testosterone Base + Phenylpropionate Ester)
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Formula (ester): C9 H10 O2
Molecular Weight(base): 288.429
Molecular Weight (ester): 150.174
Melting Point (base): 155
Melting Point (ester): 20°C
Manufacturer: Organon
Effective Dose (Men): 350-1,000mgs/week
Active life: 5 days
Detection Time: Up to 6 weeks
Anabolic: Androgenic ratio: 100:100
This is a pretty rare version of testosterone, as it has the phenylpropionate ester
attached. This ester is much more commonly attached to the nandrolone base
compound, giving us Durabolin (often called NPP, which is short for Nandrolone
Phenylpropionate). Here, the ester is attached to the testosterone base compound,
giving a short/medium estered product, which results in an active life of 4-5 days.
Clearly, you’d get best results shooting this compound every fourth day, or twice a
week. Other than the ester, there’s not much to say about Testosterone
Phenylpropionate (TPP), which hasn’t been said already about testosterone in
general. Here’s a refresher course on it, nevertheless.
You may experience less water retention with TPP when compared with other, longer
acting versions of test, probably somewhere between that experienced with
testosterone propionate and cypionate. Anyway, testosterone promotes nitrogen
retention in the muscle (1), which is highly desirable because the more nitrogen the
muscle holds the more protein the muscle stores, and the bigger the muscle gets.
And that’s why we’re jabbing ourselves with a needle full of TPP, right? Testosterone
also has the ability to increase the levels of the highly anabolic hormone, IGF-1, in
muscle tissue (2). IGF-1 is highly anabolic and can promote muscle growth, and is
thought to mediate the effects of Growth Hormone (GH). IGF-1 is also one of the few
hormones positively correlated with both muscle cell hyperplasia and hyperphasia,
113
and this means it both creates more muscle fibers as well as bigger pure mass, IGF
1, GH, and testosterone would be a very nice combination for muscle growth.
Testosterone also has the ability to increase the activity of satellite cells (3). These
cells play a very active role in repairing damaged muscle, and remember, exercise is
perceived by your muscles as a form of damage. Testosterone also binds to the
androgen receptor (A.R.) to promote all of the A.R dependant mechanisms for
muscle gain and fat loss (4), although it has many important effects independent of
this mechanism. Some of those AR-independent effects are Testosterone’s ability to
protect your hard earned muscle from the catabolic (muscle wasting) glucocorticoid
hormones (6), and increase red blood cell production (7). Glucocorticoid hormones
eat away muscle and a higher RBC count may improve endurance via better
oxygenated blood.
Testosterone, once in the body, can be converted to both estrogen (via a process
known as aromatization) as well as DHT. Estrogen is the main culprit for many side
effects such as gyno, water retention, etc. DHT is often blamed for hair loss and
prostate enlargement. Unfortunately, reducing estrogen will often reduce some of
your gains, and reducing DHT will do the same, but doing so is preferable to going
bald, or having prostate problems and/or unsightly acne.
I suppose you can use this stuff in conjunction with Nandrolone Phenylpropionate
and you’d have a pretty cool cutting cycle with minimal water retention and the
added benefit of having your injection frequency being exact, since both compounds
you would have the same active life. Other than that, TPP has its place in a cycle as
any testosterone would, and is no better or worse than others.
References:
1. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Feb; 82(2):407-13.
2. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar; 282(3):E601-7.
3. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
4. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2004 Oct; 5(5):459-70.
5. Metabolism. 1991 Apr; 40(4):368-77.
6. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar; 282(3):E601-7.
7. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
114
Testosterone Cyclohexylpropionate
(Testosterone shown without ester)
(Testosteronebase + cyclohexylpropionate ester)
[17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one]
Formula (base): C27 H40 O3
Formula (ester): C9 H16 O2
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Molecular Weight (ester): 156.222
Melting Point (base): 155
Manufacturer: Theramex
Effective Dose: 400-1000mgs/week
Active life: 13.5days
Detection Time: 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 100:100
Basically, what we have here is a French testosterone preparation. This means it
comes in all sorts of weird dosing schemes, which are actually not too weird once
you understand why they exist. See, this stuff comes in 296mgs, 148mgs, and
37mgs ampules, of one milliliter each. Why the weird dosing? Well, actually, it’s
much less weird than you think. Those amps provide a very sensible 200mgs,
100mgs, and 25mgs respectively with this particular ester, combined with
testosterone, at those available doses. As we all know, esters delay the release of a
hormone, and Test-CHP has 9 carbons, which hints that it is a long acting ester
comparable cypionate (8 carbons) or decanoate (10 carbons) with an active life of
about 13.5 days. Obviously, this is a very long acting version of testosterone, and
anecdotally, the longer esters, tend to produce more water retention. Therefore, this
stuff would be good for bulking, therefore, and not really for cutting.
Testosterone, even with this absurdly long ester, is the hormone responsible for the
different physical and mental (sexual) characteristics males tend to have in
abundance (and females less so). It promotes sex drive, fat loss, helps with gaining
and maintaining lean muscle mass and bone density and may even protect against
heart disease (1). All other anabolic steroids are actually the testosterone molecule
that has been altered in one way or another to change the properties of the
hormone. But lets get back to testosterone. Test-CHP (or any form of testosterone)
will bind to the A.R on fat cells resulting in fat breakdown and also prevents new fat
formation (15). Testosterone CHP will also promote nitrogen retention in the
muscle(2), which is good, as the more nitrogen the muscle holds the more protein
the muscle stores, and the bigger the muscle gets. Testosterone has the ability to
increase red blood cell production (9), and a higher RBC count may improve
115
endurance via providing more highly oxygenated blood to working muscles. More
RBCs can also improve your recovery from strenuous physical activity, and has a
“volumizing” effect on your muscles. Testosterone’s anabolic/androgenic effects are
dose-dependant, the higher the dose the higher the muscle building effect (10),
regardless of ester. Testosterone can also increase the levels of another hormone
(one of the super family of anabolic hormones), IGF-1, in muscle tissue (3).
Testosterone also has the profound ability to increase the activity of satellite cells
(4), which play a very active role in repairing damaged muscle. Testosterone binds
to the androgen receptor tightly to promote A.R dependant mechanisms for muscle
gain and fat loss (5), and it also significantly increases the concentrations of the A. R
in cells critical for muscle repair and growth and A.R in muscle (4)(6). Testosterone
induces changes in both shape and size of muscle cells, and also can change the
appearance and the number of your muscle fibers (7). Testosterone-CHP
administration will also protect your hard earned muscle from the catabolic (muscle
wasting) glucocorticoid hormones (8). Testosterone greatly improves muscle
contraction by increasing the number of motor neutrons in muscle (4) and also
improves neuromuscular transmission (12). This is of special interest to strength
athletes and sprinters.
Test-CHP will also promotes glycogen synthesis (13)
providing more fuel for intense workouts thus having a positive effect on endurance
and strength. Finally, Testosterone-CHP will promote aggressive and dominant
behavior (14), even though it is a still basically a French version of testosterone.
Testosterone-CHP use does have some unwanted side effects. It will convert to the
hormone estrogen (via aromatization) by the now-infamous aromatize enzyme. This
can lead to breast tissue growth in men (gynecomastia), increased fat gain and
reduced fat breakdown, possible loss of sex drive, almost certain testicular shrinkage
and finally water retention. Water retention with this product (because of its ester)
will probably be very pronounced, and can increase blood pressure weakening blood
vessels over a period of time. Testosterone can also interact with the 5 alpha
reductase enzyme, which converts the testosterone to Dihydro-testosterone (DHT), a
more androgenic form of the parent hormone. This new compound has a high
binding affinity to the tissues of the scalp resulting in hair loss in loss in users who
suffer from male pattern baldness. DHT can affect the prostate as well, making it
swell. This swelling can cause the gland to press against the bladder causing urinary
problems, especially urinary difficulty.
Although Steroid.com has nearly 40K members, I haven’t found any who have used
this particular version of test, possibly because it was discontinued in 1991. If it
were still on the market, or a UG began producing it, then it would be a good buy for
those who are squeamish about needles, since once a week injections would be more
than sufficient. Until then, though, it’s of note purely as an academic object.
References:
1. Heart. 2004 Aug; 90(8):871-6.
2. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Feb; 82(2):407-13.
3. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar; 282(3):E601-7.
4. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
5. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2004 Oct; 5(5):459-70.
6. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Oct; 89(10):5245-55.
116
7. Anat Histol Embryol. 2003 Apr; 32(2):70-9.
8. J Lab Clin Med. 1995 Mar; 125(3):326-33.
9. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003; 9(4):248-51
10. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Apr; 88(4):1478-85
11. steriod.com/forums
12. J Appl Physiol. 2001 Mar; 90(3):850-6.
13. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1999 Apr; 77(4):300-4.
14. Health Psychol. 1990; 9(6):774-91.
15. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11; 1244(1):117-20.
16. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jan; 288(1):E222-E227. Epub 2004 Sep 14.
17. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Dec 21
18. Sports Med. 2004; 34(12):809-24.
19. Heart. 2004 Aug; 90(8):871-6.
20. Pol J Pharmacol. 2004 Sep-Oct; 56(5):509-18.
21. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Feb 5; 99(3):1140-5. Epub 2002 Jan 22.
Completely Cleanse Steroids From Your
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117
Testosterone Cypionate
(Testosterone shown with Cypionate ester)
(Testosterone base + cypionate ester)
[17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one]
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Formula (ester): C8 H14 O2
Molecular Weight: 412.6112
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Molecular Weight (ester): 132.1184
Melting Point (base): 155
Melting Point (ester): 98 - 104 C
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose (Men): 300-2000mg+ week
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: 15-16 days
Detection Time: 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio:100/100
Testosterone is the hormone that makes men, well, men! Since it’s basically the
most commonly used form of testosterone in America at this time, let’s take a look
at testosterone cypionate, and examine the pros and cons of its ability to improve
performance in athletics and bodybuilding,
Testosterone is the hormone responsible for many different physical and mental
characteristics in males. It promotes sex drive, fat loss, helps with gaining and
maintaining lean muscle mass and bone density, and may even protect against heart
disease (1). All other steroids are actually the testosterone molecule altered soas to
change the properties of the hormone. This would make testosterone the "father" of
all other steroids employed by athletes today. In fact, testosterone is the standard
for the anabolic/androgenic ratio we use—it’s a “perfect” 100 score, against which we
measure all other steroids.
As I previously stated, testosterone is a highly anabolic and androgenic hormone, it
has an anabolic (muscle building) rating of 100, making it a good drug to use if one
is in pursuit of more size and strength. And if you aren’t in pursuit of more size and
strength, then why would you be reading this, right? Well, let’s get on with it and
look at exactly what makes testosterone a good mass builder. First, testosterone
118
promotes nitrogen retention in the muscle (2). The more nitrogen the muscle holds
the more protein the muscle stores. Testosterone can also increase the levels of
another anabolic hormone, IGF-1, in muscle tissue (3). Testosterone also has the
amazing ability to increase the activity of satellite cells (4). These cells play a very
active role in repairing damaged muscle. Testosterone also binds to the androgen
receptor to promote A.R dependant mechanisms for muscle gain and fat loss, (5) it
also significantly increases the concentrations of the A. R in cells critical for muscle
repair and growth and A.R in muscle (4)(6). Testosterone induces changes in shape
and size, and also can change the appearance and the number of muscle fibres (7).
Androgens like testosterone can protect your hard earned muscle from the catabolic
(muscle wasting) glucocorticoid hormones (8), thus inhibiting their action. In
addition, Testosterone has the ability to increase red blood cell production (9), and a
higher RBC count may improve endurance via better oxygenated blood. More RBCs
can also improve recovery from strenuous physical activity. As you may have
suspected, testosterone’s anabolic/androgenic effects are dose dependant; the
higher the dose the higher the muscle building effect (10).
Steroid.com members report massive strength gains while using testosterone (11).
Testosterone improves muscle contraction by increasing the number of motor
neutrons in muscle (4) and improves neuromuscular transmission (12). It also
promotes glycogen synthesis (13) providing more fuel for intense workouts thus
increasing endurance and strength. Also note that the water retention from
testosterone use will cause the muscle to spring back when compressed during the
lowering of a weight. Testosterone promotes aggressive and dominant behavior
(14); this explains the boost of confidence that gives athletes the mental edge they
need to move the heavy iron.
Testosterone is also good at promoting fat loss. Having an anti-estrogenic effect, it
creates an ideal fat loss environment. Test binds to the A.R on fat cells resulting in
fat break-down, and also prevents new fat formation (15). Another indirect action of
fat loss that test produces is the nutrient portioning effect it has on muscle and fat.
Since the body is building muscle at an accelerated rate, more of the food you eat is
shuttled to muscle tissue and away from fat.
Is there anything testosterone can't do?
Testosterone use does have some unwanted side effects that Steroid.com members
should be aware of. Testosterone can convert to the female hormone estrogen (via
aromatization) by the aromatize enzyme. Excessive estrogen can lead to some nasty
side effects: breast tissue growth in men (gynecomastia), fat gain and reduced fat
breakdown, loss of sex drive, testicular shrinkage and water retention. Water
retention can increase blood pressure weakening blood vessels over a period of time.
A class of drugs, called aromatize inhibitors, to stop the testosterone from converting
to estrogencan easily stop the estrogenic side effects. The use of HCG during a
testosterone cycle can prevent the testicular shrinkage. Testosterone can also
interact with the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme. This action converts the testosterone to
Dihydro-testosterone (DHT), a more androgenic form of the parent hormone. DHT
has a high binding affinity to the tissues of the scalp resulting in hair loss in loss in
users who suffer from male pattern baldness. DHT can affect the prostate as well,
making it swell. This swelling can cause the gland to press against the bladder
causing urinary problems. Drugs called 5alpha-reductase inhibitors can prevent these
symptoms without blocking testosterone’s anabolic effects (16). Higher dosages of
119
test can also negatively impact cholesterol, lowering HDL (17). Constantly ignoring
this can lead to a series of serious health problems down the road.
Testosterone levels decrease as we age, with levels dramatically falling at 50-60
years of age (18). Low test levels lead to loss of muscle mass and stregth, gains in
fat, and loss of sex drive (18). So, it is a good idea to replace testosterone with an
outside source. Supplementing testosterone in older adults with sub-optimal levels
may prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive diseases, protect
nerves, and regenerate motor units; improve mood, memory, appetite, sex drive,
and bone mass; and may decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke (19)(20)(21)
(22). This shows that test replacement significantly improves the quality of life and
may be a good option for middle-aged men. Caution should be taken when using
higher dosages because of an increased risk of adverse side effects (23).
Testosterone cypionate is an injectable oil, which contains testosterone with the
cypionate ester attached to the testosterone molecule. The ester denotes the release
pattern of the test after it is injected into the body. This particular ester gives the
testosterone an active life of 15-16 days, although blood levels of this drug fall
sharply five days after post-administration, testosterone levels are still above
baseline after a week (24). Stable blood levels can be achieved with injections once
per week. Steriod.com members often administer the drug twice weekly or every
three to five days. On a funny note, many steroid users believe that test cyp is more,
or less powerful, than the other popular injectable testosterone enanthate. The truth
is that they are almost identical in release patterns, so there is virtually no difference
between the two. However, as far back as the printing of the first Underground
Steroid Handbook, there has been speculation that Cyp has more “kick” than Enth.
Testosterone is highly versatile and should be considered the “base” of
anabolic/androgenic steroid cycles because of its muscle building potential as well as
for the fact that it prevents the loss of sex drive that sometime affects those who
neglect to use it with other HPTA suppressive anabolics, (especially the 19-nor
family). Test can be used for any body-building goal whether it’s fat loss or muscle
gain. An excellent drug for beginners, it’s also cheap, making it a top-notch choice
for anyone interested in utilizing anabolics to reach their bodybuilding or athletic
goals. With regards to this particular version of testosterone, you should be paying
no more than $75 for a 10cc bottle of it, dosed at 200mgs/ml. Of course, as usual,
prices fluctuate, but I’d recommend sticking with a reputable underground Lab,
rather then Organon, UpJohn, or one of the many other expensive (and often
counterfeited) companies.
References:
1. Heart. 2004 Aug; 90(8):871-6.
2. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Feb; 82(2):407-13.
3. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar; 282(3):E601-7.
4. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
5. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2004 Oct; 5(5):459-70.
6. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Oct; 89(10):5245-55.
7. Anat Histol Embryol. 2003 Apr; 32(2):70-9.
120
8. J Lab Clin Med. 1995 Mar; 125(3):326-33.
9. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003; 9(4):248-51
10. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Apr; 88(4):1478-85
11. steriod.com/forums
12. J Appl Physiol. 2001 Mar; 90(3):850-6.
13. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1999 Apr; 77(4):300-4.
14. Health Psychol. 1990; 9(6):774-91.
15. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11; 1244(1):117-20.
16. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jan; 288(1):E222-E227. Epub 2004 Sep 14.
17. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Dec 21
18. Sports Med. 2004; 34(12):809-24.
19. Heart. 2004 Aug; 90(8):871-6.
20. Pol J Pharmacol. 2004 Sep-Oct; 56(5):509-18.
21. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Feb 5; 99(3):1140-5. Epub 2002 Jan 22.
22. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2001 May; 56(5):M266-72.
23. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Feb; 90(2):678-88. Epub 2004 Nov 23.
24. Fertility and Sterility 33. (1980) 201-3
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
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Testosterone Enanthate
(Testosterone shown with Enanthate ester)
(Testosterone base + Enanthate ester)
[17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one]
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Formula (ester):C7 H12 O
Molecular Weight: 412.6112
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Molecular Weight (ester): 130.1864
Melting Point (base): 155
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose (Men): 300-2000mg+ week
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: 8 days
Detection Time: 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio:100/100.
Testosterone Enanthate is probably the most commonly used form of testosterone by
both athletes and bodybuilders. Although I don’t have any hard statistics on this, I’d
be willing to bet that this form of testosterone is the most commonly used form of
testosterone on the black market today. It’s very effective for building muscle and
strength, losing fat, and is cheap and readily available.
To understand exactly how Testosterone Enanthate (a.k.a. “test enth” or just “enth”)
builds muscle and burns fat, we’ll take a look at androgens and what they do in the
body. You see, hormones are substances secreted by one cell, which has an effect on
the functions of another cell. Testosterone is manufactured in the Leydig’s cells of
the testes (in men). The adult male produces between 2.5 and 11mgs of Test per
day.
Testosterone induces changes in shape and size, and also can change the
appearance and the number of muscle fibres (7). Androgens like testosterone can
protect your hard earned muscle from the catabolic (muscle wasting) glucocorticoid
hormones (8), thus inhibiting their ability to send a message to muscle cells to
release stored protein. Remember, Testosterone sends a message to muscle cells to
store more contractile protein (called actin and myosin); glucocorticoid hormones
send the opposite message. In addition, Testosterone has the ability to increase
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erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) in your kidneys (9), and a higher Red
Blood Cell (RBC) count may improve endurance via better oxygenated blood. More
RBCs can also improve recovery from strenuous physical activity. Agression levels
often rise dramatically with the use of exogenous testosterone (15).
All of these great benefits are to be had with the use of test enth alone, but
realistically, it will be part of a cycle containing one or more drugs. People who are
bulking will probably choose Deca or Eq (possibly with Dbol as well) and those who
are cutting will probably steer towards Eq and perhaps Trenbolone. Very often users
will shoot this drug once or twice a week, but blood levels are still above baseline
with this drug at around day eight (16). Common wisdom holds that the
testosterone portion of any such cycle should be equal to or greater than any other
injectable drug(s) portion (on a mg basis). I believe that you can get away with
less, but in general, this is a good guideline.
As you may have suspected, Testosterones' anabolic/androgenic effects are dose
dependant, the higher the dose, the higher the muscle building effect (10). Lets take
a look at exactly what kind of results we can expect from administration of
Testosterone Enanthate:
Effects of 20 wk of GnRH agonist plus TE administration on relative changes (mean ±
SEM) in total LBM (A), appendicular LBM (B), and trunk LBM (C) (percent change
from baseline) measured by DEXA. P values are results for ANOVA: *, P < 0.05 vs.
all other dose groups for the multiple comparison tests using Student-Newman
Keuls; a, P < 0.05 vs. zero change (11).
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These charts show that the subjects in this test made a roughly 15% gain in Lean
Body Mass from 20 weeks of 600mgs/week of testosterone Enanthate. That’s pretty
impressive, but I feel the following set of charts are more so:
Change in fat-free mass (A), fat mass (B), leg press strength (C), thigh muscle
volume (D), quadriceps muscle volume (E), sexual function (F), insulin-like growth
factor I (G), and prostate-specific antigen (H). Data are means ± SE. *Significant
differences from all other groups (P < 0.05); significant difference from 25-, 50-, and
125-mg doses (P < 0.05); +significant difference from 25- and 50-mg doses (P <
0.05); and significant difference from 25-mg dose (P < 0.05)(14).
Now this is very interesting. You’ll note that the most fat was lost by the group in
this study who used the highest dose (600mgs/week), and the most fat free mass,
strength, and muscle volume was gained when compared to any of the lower doses
studied (14). Basically, the more testosterone you use (and this holds true for almost
all steroids), the more you’ll gain! I know that the last statement will ruffle some
feathers in the “less is more” club, but that’s too bad: more test = more muscle,
more strength, more size, and less fat.
Did the men in this study experience side effects at the 600mg dose? Well, HDL
cholesterol was lowered (but not total cholesterol or triglyceride levels), and two
men got acne. Not exactly cause for a Senate Investigation, huh? (14). Of course,
the usual nasty side effects you can get from any form of injectable testosterone are
possible with testosterone enanthate (acne, hairloss, prostate enlargement, and
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shutting down your body’s own natural hormonal system, etc.), but they are very
overstated or controllable in many instances.
A large percentage of those side effects occur from the body’s ability to turn
testosterone into estrogen via a metabolic pathway mediated by the aromatase
enzyme. This process, known as aromatization causes a portion of testosterone to be
converted to estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors (Arimidex and Letroaole, for example)
can combat this effectively, and are usually necessary with doses over ½ a gram per
week.
Now that I’ve told you all about this drug, let’s talk about cost. You should be paying
no more than $75 for a 10cc bottle of it, dosed at 200-250mgs/ml. This drug is
relatively cheap to produce, the raw materials are very inexpensive, and should be
reasonably cheap, especially since this drug should be a consideration for inclusion in
any cycle. Of course, as usual prices fluctuate, but I’d recommend sticking with a
reputable underground Lab, rather then Organon, UpJohn, or one of the many other
expensive (and often counterfeited) companies.
References:
1. Am J Physiol. 1998 Nov;275(5 Pt 1):E864-712
2. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Feb; 82(2):407-13
3. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar; 282(3):E601-7.
4. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
5. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2004 Oct; 5(5):459-70.
6. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Oct; 89(10):5245-55.
7. Anat Histol Embryol. 2003 Apr; 32(2):70-9.
8. J Lab Clin Med. 1995 Mar; 125(3):326-33.
9. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003; 9(4):248-51
10. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Apr; 88(4):1478-85
11. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Feb; 89(2):718-26.
12. Am J Physiol. 1998 Jun; 274(6 Pt 1):C1645-52.
13. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11; 1244(1):117-20.
14. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Dec; 281(6):E1172-81.
15. Health Psychol. 1990; 9(6):774-91.
16. Fertility and Sterility 33.
125
Testosterone Propionate
(Testosterone shown with Propionate ester)
(Testosterone + Propionate ester)
[4-androstene-3-one, 17beta-ol]
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Formula (ester): C3 H6 O2
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Molecular Weight (ester): 74.0792
Melting Point (base): 155
Melting Point (ester): 21C
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose (Men): 350-2000mg+ week.
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 2-3 days
Detection Time: 2-3 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 100/100
As we all know, Testosterone was the first steroid to be synthesized. Now, it remains
the gold standard of all steroids. First, we’ll discuss Testosterone in general, then
we’ll examine exactly what the propionate ester is and how it works (together,
testosterone propionate is often referred to as just “prop” or “test prop”).
Testosterone’s anabolic/androgenic ratio is 1:1. It is as much anabolic as it is
androgenic. Actually, testosterone is the steroid on which all anabolic/androgenic
ratios are based. If a steroid is 2:1, then compared with testosterone's ratio, it is
twice anabolic as it is androgenic. Hence, we see from testosterone's ratio, it is both
anabolic as well as androgenic.
So how exactly does testosterone build muscle? Well, Testosterone promotes
nitrogen retention in the muscle (6), the more nitrogen the muscle holds, the more
protein the muscle stores and the bigger the muscle gets. Testosterone can also
increase the levels of another anabolic hormone, IGF-1, in muscle tissue (7). By
itself IGF-1 is highly anabolic and can promote muscle growth. It is responsible for
much of the anabolic activity of Growth Hormone (GH). IGF-1 is also one of the few
hormones positively correlated with both muscle cell hyperplasia and hyperphasia
(this means it both creates more muscle fibers as well as bigger fibers). All of this
leads me to speculate that for pure mass, IGF-1, GH, and Testosterone would be a
very effective combination. Testosterone also has the amazing ability to increase the
126
activity of satellite cells (8). These cells play a very active role in repairing damaged
muscle. Testosterone also binds to the androgen receptor (A.R.) to promote all of the
A.R dependant mechanisms for muscle gain and fat loss (9), but as we’ve seen, this
isn’t the only mechanism that promotes growth.
Testosterone has a profound ability to protect your hard earned muscle from the
catabolic (muscle wasting) glucocorticoid hormones (11), and increases red blood
cell production (12). As you may know, a higher RBC count may also improve
endurance via better oxygenated blood. The former trait increases nitrogen retention
and muscle building while the latter can improve recovery from strenuous physical
activity, as well as increase endurance and tolerance to strenuous exercise.
Testosterone occurs naturally in both the male and female body, and as far as
testing for it, typical tests don't work (i.e. testing for metabolites). Testosterone can
be tested on a testosterone/epitestosterone ratio, a failing result usually being
anything over 6 to 1, but there are other more effective tests currently in use and
being developed by the usual party-poopers in the IOC and FDA. If you are using
low doses of this drug and stop taking it 36-48 hours before a Test/EpiTest analysis,
you can still pass!
Testosterone, once in the body, can be converted to both estrogen (via a process
known as aromatization) as well as DHT. Estrogen is the main culprit for many side
effects such as gyno, water retention, etc., while DHT is often blamed for hair loss
and prostate enlargement. Naturally there are ways to combat this, such as using an
anti-estrogenic compound along with testosterone, or even an estrogen blocker. DHT
can be combated (on the scalp, to prevent hair loss) with compounds such as
Ketoconazole shampoo (sold under the trade name Nizoral) as well as Finasteride
(sold as Proscar in the 5mg version and as Propecia as 1mg tablets). Interestingly,
this shampoo can also be used topically to combat acne on the face (or even the
back if you’re really flexible). Both of these methods for preventing hair loss and
acne are reasonably effective. However, if you are not prone to hair loss, they may
be wholly unnecessary. Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) is carried by the X
chromosome, so if your mother’s family boasts men with full heads of hair, then you
are probably safe (unless those full heads of hair are all mullets). Naturally, as with
most other steroids, your lipid profile and blood pressure are going to suffer a bit
while on testosterone. This, of course is nothing that can’t be controlled by watching
your diet and doing your cardio, at least for the duration of the typical cycle (which
for arguments sake, I’ll assume is +/- 12 weeks). Let’s be totally honest here, even
a modest amount of exercise will improve your blood pressure and lipid profile (10),
and if you aren’t exercising, then why are you taking steroids?
To combat the aromatization of testosterone, you can simply take an aromatase
inhibitor such as Arimidex. This and other Anti-estrogenic compounds are generally
considered a must with testosterone doses over ½ a gram per week (500mgs).
Amother side effect (as if acne and going bald aren’t enough) is increased
aggression. This is a hotly debated issue in steroid-culture. Generally the consensus
is that if you are prone to being a jerk, you'll be a bigger jerk, if you aren't, then
your temper will not get much worse (this is supported by research as well). Also,
high levels of testing are generally associated with aggression and anti-social
behavior in males with lower intelligence (1)(2). Guess what? Dumb people
shouldn't use steroids at all, especially testosterone!
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For many, the increased aggression found from increased testosterone levels is often
a bonus, in the weight room as well as on the playing field. Let’s not get started on
its benefits in the bedroom!
Testosterone is also a relatively safe steroid to use, with some studies showing no
adverse effects from 20weeks at 600mgs/week (3)! Personally, I have used up to 2
grams per week of various testosterones but now I prefer to keep my dose of it
around ½ a gram.
Testosterone is usually attached to an ester (i.e. when you buy testosterone propionate, the
subject of this profile, you are buying testosterone with a propionate ester attached). The ester
determines how long it takes your body to dispose of the steroid in question, and propionate is
the shortest ester available with a testosterone base (of course, testosterone suspension has no
ester). There are enzymes, called esterases, in your body that have the function of removing the
ester from steroids and leaving you with just the steroid molecule with the ester cleaved off. The
heaviness of the ester chain, determines how long it takes the esterase to remove it. And that
amount of time determines how long the drug stays active in your body. Great, right? Not really;
the ester takes up "room" in the injection. Check out this chart:
Chemical = Formula = Molecular Weight = Mg of Testosterone
Testosterone (no ester) = C19 H28 O2 = 288.4mg = 100mg
Propionate = C3 H4 O = 56.1mg = 83.72mg
Cypionate = C8 H4 O = 124.2mg = 69.90mg
Here, we’re comparing testosterone with no ester (suspension) to Test Propionate
and Cypionate (basically the longest vs. shortest esters available with testosterone).
So you see, the longer the ester on the testosterone, the longer the steroid is active
in your body, and the less actual test you get. This is because for every 100mgs of
testosterone cypionate you inject, only 69.90mgs of it is actually testosterone—the
rest is the cypionate ester, which must be removed. On the other hand, with the
propionate ester, you’ll get 83.72mgs of testosterone! The advantage to longer
esters is that they need to be injected less frequently (test prop needs to be injected
every other day while you can shoot test cyp once a week). The disadvantage to long
estered steroids is that they contain less actual steroid. Anecdotally, most people
from Steroid.com and other discussion boards who have tried differing esters on
their various cycles agree: Testosterone Propionate causes the least side effects and
the least bloating. For this reason, it’s often the testosterone of choice in cutting
cycles. On a personal note, it’s the only form of testosterone I ever use, and it’s the
only one most women will use, due to the previously mentioned factors (as well as
it’s ability to clear your body quickly upon cessation in the case of side effects).
Testosterone levels when you’re using injectable testosterone propionate begin to
decline sharply after the second day of use (5). Obviously this is not the drug of
choice for those who are squeamish about injections; you’ll be shooting this stuff
every other day at least.
Also, as with most steroids, injected testosterone will inhibit your natural test levels
and HPTA (Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis). A mere Hundred mgs of
test/week takes about 5-6 weeks to shut the HPTA, and 250-500mgs shuts you
down by week 2 (4).
Realistically, every cycle should contain testosterone. Go back and read that
sentence again. A beginner’s dose of testosterone (i.e. someone on their first or
second cycle of AAS) would be in the 250-500mgs range. I wouldn't recommend
128
much less than 400mgs of test per cycle for anybody, beginner or not. And guess
what? The more you use the more results you get.
Frequently, the more side
effects, too (3).
What stacks well with testosterone propionate? Everything! Many people’s favorites
are Eq (boldenone undeclyenate) or Deca (nandrolone decanoate), but anything will
stack well with test prop. Tren (Trenbolone Acetate), Masteron, and/or Winstrol are
also favorites for many on a cutting cycle, myself included. It’s important to
remember that since test prop has such a short ester, most people stack it with
other short estered drugs. They need to endure frequent injections for the test prop
to be effective, so they may as well be using other drugs requiring the same dosing
protocol.
Finally, it’s worth noting that sometimes a phenomenon strategy known as
"frontloading" is employed with testosterone propionate. This is where double or
triple the intended dose for the cycle is injected for the first two weeks; the user
then switches to a longer ester. The reasoning behind this is presumably to get the
blood levels of the drug up quickly in the hopes of seeing rapid results.
Of all testosterones available on the market today, Testosterone Propionate is the
most expensive. This is both because it is in high demand (due to it’s ability to avoid
bloating the user as other testosterone’s tend to do) and because the actual chemical
is expensive compared to other tests. Expect to pay roughly $40-60 for a 10-20ml
bottle dosed at 100mgs/ml, when buying from a reputable underground lab, expect
to pay at least double that amount if you are buying human grade ampules or bottles
from a major pharmaceutical company.
References:
1. Pope, H.G, Kouri, E.M., & Hudson, J.I. (2000). Effects of supraphysiologic doses of
testosterone on mood and aggression in normal men: A randomized controlled trial. Archives of
General Psychiatry, 57, 133-140
2. Chance, S.E., Brown, R.T., Dabbs, J.M., & Casey, R. (2000). Testosterone, intelligence and
behavior disorders among young boys. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 437-445
3. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2003 Jan 7; [epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links
"Development of Models to Predict Anabolic Response to Testosterone Administration in
Healthy Young Men."
4. J Investig Med. 1997 Oct; 45(8):441-7
5. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1986 Dec; 63(6):1361-4.
6 .J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Feb; 82(2):407-13.
7. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar; 282(3):E601-7.
8. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
9. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2004 Oct; 5(5):459-70.
10. Metabolism. 1991 Apr; 40(4):368-77.
11. J Lab Clin Med. 1995 Mar; 125(3):326-33.
12. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003; 9(4):248-51. Effect of androgen on erythropoientin in patients
with hypogonadism] [Article in Chinese]
129
Testosterone Suspension
(Testosterone)
[17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one]
Formula: C27 H40 O3
Molecular Weight: 288.429
Melting Point: 155
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose (Men): 350-1000mg/week
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life:+/-1 day
Detection Time: +/-1day
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio:100/100
Testosterone Suspension is an injectable hormone in a water base that was
developed and used for decades and is actually the first anabolic, androgenic steroid
used. For the purpose of building mass, Testosterone Suspension has never been
surpassed since it was first developed in the 1930's. Many underground Labs also
suspend this product in propylene glycol or oil as well (which makes for a very
painful injection). It has no ester attached; therefore no ester is calculated into the
weight. This is extremely beneficial to the user since 100mg of testosterone
suspension will yield 100mg of testosterone. This is unlike the other esterfied
testosterones such as testosterone enanthate, which only yields 72mg of actual
testosterone per 100mg of total weight. Testosterone suspension rises the storing of
glycogen in the muscle cells and because it is dissolved in water it becomes effective
immediately. Making it different from other esterfied hormones, it only keeps
sustained and elevated testosterone levels for 2-3 days due to its micro-crystal
design. This forces the user to inject on a daily basis, with better results coming from
twice-three times a day use due to its short active-life with the effective dose
ranging from 350-1000mg per week (50-140mg/day). One should practice site
rotation and should practice injecting in the same spot only once per week at most.
It should be noted that test suspension is usually a very painful shot, so it is often
cut with something else, such as B-12, or other steroids. And yes, you can mix a
water-based steroid with an oil based steroid in the same syringe. It looks like a lava
lamp. There's no problem with injecting a mixture like this.
Note that due to the water base (not an issue if using a product suspending in
propylene glycol or oil) the testosterone will most likely settle to the bottom of the
vial and shaking the vial is needed in order to insure even dosing. This is true for all
water based steroid suspensions.
130
As was noted before, testosterone can be considered one of the most powerful mass
builders and testosterone suspension can be considered one of the most powerful of
the testosterones simply due to the fact that it has no attached ester. This means
that you are getting 100mgs of Test per 100mgs you inject. Suspension is the only
version of Testosterone that can boast that claim. A growing reason why many
athletes are choosing to use testosterone suspension instead of enanthate or other
forms (besides the fact that it has a higher amount of pure testosterone resulting in
greater results) is that it may be responsible for localized growth at the injection site,
like winstrol. Most athletes will only use this form of testosterone in a bulking cycle
because it usually is accompanied by high water retention, severe bloat, adipose
storage, and gynomastia. This product also has a high level of aromitization into
estrogen and coverts to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) as well. Of course, adding
endogenous testosterone to your body will result in the shutting down of your own
exogenous testosterone levels, as well as the hormones secreted which cause
testosterone to be secreted by your testes.
Many times testosterone is not used by women because male secondary sex
characteristics may start to appear in female users. However, testosterone
suspension will allow women to site-inject and help problem areas common in
women such as calves and inner thighs, and can be used in small enough doses,
clearing the system quickly if sides develop. This advantage also means that one can
pass a drug test a couple of days after the last injection. This is a great advantage to
athletes who will be tested and still want the benefits of a mass drug which can not
be tested for easily, many other forms of testosterone (such as Cyp or Enanth) can
take 3 months to become undetectable.
One should be very happy with the results of the cycle, as long as the diet and
training regimen are good. As I previously stated, testosterone is a highly anabolic
and androgenic hormone, it has an anabolic (muscle building) rating of 100. This
makes it a good drug to use if one is in pursuit of more size and strength. And if you
aren’t in pursuit of more size and strength, why would you be reading this, right?
Well, let’s get on with it and look at exactly what makes testosterone a good mass
builder. First, testosterone promotes nitrogen retention in the muscle (2), the more
nitrogen the muscle holds the more protein the muscle stores. Testosterone can also
increase the levels of another anabolic hormone, IGF-1, in muscle tissue (3).
Testosterone also has the amazing ability to increase the activity of satellite cells (4).
These cells play a very active role in repairing damaged muscle. Testosterone also
binds to the androgen receptor to promote A.R dependant mechanisms for both
muscle gain as well as fat loss (5). Testosterone significantly increases the
concentrations of the A. R in cells which are critical for muscle repair and growth.(4,
6). Testosterone induces changes in shape and size of your muscle fibres, and can
change the actual appearance and the number of muscle fibres (7). Also, a note to
both bodybuilders and athletes, many anabolic/androgenic steroids (like testosterone
susprnsion, in this case) can also protect your hard earned muscle from the catabolic
(muscle wasting) glucocorticoid hormones (8) that your body employs to maintain
homeostasis. In addition, Testosterone has the added ability to increase red blood
cell production (9), and a higher RBC count may improve endurance via better
oxygenated blood. More RBCs can also improve recovery from strenuous physical
activity, and this has obvious benefits for the hard training bodybuilder or athlete. As
with 99% of other steroids, Testosterones' anabolic/androgenic effects are dose
dependant, the higher the dose the higher the muscle building effect (10).
Testosterone suspension is best run for at least 8 weeks and depending on the
131
experience of the user one may choose to run much longer. Since this hormone is
primarily used by more advanced users, other drugs are usually incorporated into
the cycle. One should opt. for other mass drugs such as dianabol and deca
durabolin, since the goal of this cycle will most likely and should be for mass. The
user should expect to see rapid muscle growth, water retention, and possibly extra
fat deposits. Some athletes will also choose to inject Suspension before a workout or
competition (this would increase aggression, and would be especially important for
MMA competitors or those in a sport where aggression is a benefit). I’ve used it for
this purpose and found it to be very useful. Many other athletes will also use it solely
for this purpose; every day (painful) shots are not much fun for a typical 12 week
cycle. It is for this reason that most people who use this drug employ it pre-workout
and/or competition, and not much more often. A mere 100mgs pre-workout or
competition is sufficient and would benefit competitive athletes enough to justify its
inclusion in an in-season-cycle.
Lastly, you should be paying roughly $50 for a 10cc bottle of 100mgs/ml from any
reputable underground lab.
References:
1. Heart. 2004 Aug; 90(8):871-6.
2. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Feb; 82(2):407-13.
3. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar; 282(3):E601-7.
4. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
5. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2004 Oct; 5(5):459-70.
6. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Oct; 89(10):5245-55.
7. Anat Histol Embryol. 2003 Apr; 32(2):70-9.
8. J Lab Clin Med. 1995 Mar; 125(3):326-33.
9. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003; 9(4):248-51
10. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Apr; 88(4):1478-85
132
Testoviron
(Testosterone shown + Teststerone with Propionate and Enanthate ester)
(Testosterone Propionate + Testosterone Enanthate)
[17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one]
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Formula(Enanthate ester):C7 H12 O
Molecular Weight: 412.6112
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Molecular Weight (Enanthate ester): 130.1864
Molecular Weight (Propionate ester): 74.0792
Formula (Propionate Ester): C3H6O2
Melting Point (base): 155
Manufacturer: Schering
Effective Dose (Men): 300-2000mg+ week
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: 8 days
Detection Time: 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio:100/100.
Testoviron is a blend of two different products, namely testosterone with the
propionate (short) ester attached, and testosterone with the Enanthate (long) ester
attached. Confusingly, Schering, who produces this product, also has a pure
testosterone Enanthate product of the same name. Testosterone is usually attached
to an ester (i.e. when you buy testosterone propionate, or Enanthate the
components of this particular drug, you are buying testosterone with a propionate
ester attached and testosterone with an Enanthate ester attached, both in the same
milliliter of drug). These esters determines how long it takes your body to dispose of
the testosterone, and propionate is the shortest ester commonly available with a
testosterone base (of course, testosterone suspension has no ester), whereas
Enanthate is the longest, generally available with a testosterone base. Within your
body, there are enzymes called esterases, which have the function of removing the
ester from steroids. This leaves you with just the steroid molecule with the ester
cleaved off. The heaviness of the ester chain, determines how long it takes the
esterase to remove it. With this product, you have testosterone with a heavy chain
(which will take your esterases awhile to remove) as well as with a short chain
(which your esterases will quickly remove).
What happens when those esters are removed?
133
Well, then the Testosterone you injected induces changes in shape as well as in the
size of your muscle fibers. It can also change the appearance and the number of
those (7). Testosterone is also noted for its ability to protect your hard earned
muscle from catabolic (muscle wasting) glucocorticoid hormones (8), inhibiting their
ability to send a message to muscle cells to release their stored protein.
Concomittantly, Testosterone sends a message to muscle cells to store more
contractile protein (called actin and myosin); glucocorticoid hormones send the
opposite message. In addition, Testosterone has the ability to increase erythropoiesis
(red blood cell production) in your kidneys (9), and as we all know, a higher Red
Blood Cell (RBC) count would most likely improve endurance via bringing more
highly oxygenated blood to your muscles. Having more RBCs can also improve
recovery from strenuous physical activity. It should be noted that agression levels
often rise dramatically with the use of exogenous testosterone (15).
All of these great benefits are to be had with the use of either testosterone
Enanthate or propionate alone. Realistically, Testoviron will be part of a cycle
containing one or more other drugs. People who are bulking will probably choose to
use another drug like Deca or Eq (possibly with Dbol as well) and those who are
cutting will probably steer towards Eq and perhaps Trenbolone. Very often users will
shoot this drug three or four times a week, but blood levels of testosterone from the
testosterone Enanthate component would still above baseline with this drug at
around day eight (16), even though we know the other component would peak and
fall much more rapidly.
The advantage to longer esters is they need to be injected less frequently (test prop
needs to be injected every other day while you can shoot test cyp once a week). The
disadvantage to long estered steroids is they contain less actual steroid. However,
most people from Steroid.com and other discussion boards who have tried differing
esters on their various cycles agree: Testosterone Propionate causes the least side
effects and bloating, while Enanthate causes the most. Also, any injected
testosterone will inhibit your natural test levels and HPTA (Hypothalamic Pituitary
Testicular Axis). A hundred mgs of test/week takes about 5-6 weeks to shut the
HPTA, and 250-500mgs shuts you down by week 2 (4).
What stacks well with Testoviron? Well, since it’s a testosterone with both a short
and long acting component, I suppose the answer is everything and nothing. Since it
has a short ester in it, you would have to inject it every other day, so you may as
well run another short acting drug with it (Trenbolone Acetate, or whatever).
However, since its got a long acting component to it, you may consider using a
longer acting drug with it (Deca or Eq, perhaps); the downfall here is that you don’t
get the full benefit of shooting test prop alone (less water retention, etc…). You still
have to shoot as frequently as if you were only using prop. The testosterone
Enanthate is long acting, but you’re still going to be shooting this compound every
other day to make use of the propionate component. The advantage of testosterone
Enanthate (reduced shooting frequency) is negated. Many people’s favorite’s are Eq
(boldenone undeclyenate) or Deca (nandrolone decanoate), but anything will stack
well with testoviron. Tren (Trenbolone Acetate), Masteron, and/or Winstrol are also
favorites for many on a cutting cycle. It’s important to note that a product to fight
water-retention and other estrogenic sides would be warranted if Testoviron were
used for a cutting cycle.
Finally, it’s worth noting that sometimes a strategy known as "frontloading" is
employed with products like this one, since it contains both testosterone propionate,
134
and Enanthate. This is where double or triple the intended dose for the cycle is
injected for the first two weeks, and the propionate ester gives a very quick rise in
blood plasma levels of testosterone, and then the Enanthate ester is relied on for a
more even blood level in the ensuing weeks. The reasoning behind this is
presumably to get the blood levels of the drug up quickly in the hopes of seeing
results more quickly, and then have the blood levels even out and stay constant.
Of all testosterones available on the market today, blended ester products like this
one are the most unjustifiably expensive. This is both because they are in high
demand, as well as more rare than single estered products. You can only find
Testoviron in the Dominican Republic and Italy (135mg versions available in both
countries). Expect to pay up to $5-7 for an amp of this stuff and if your source is
asking for more, expect to walk away. When the price of testosterone is so low, I
can’t justify purchasing a blended product for any more than you would purchase a
single estered test.
References:
1. Pope, H.G, Kouri, E.M., & Hudson, J.I. (2000). Effects of supraphysiologic doses of
testosterone on mood and aggression in normal men: A randomized controlled trial.
Archives of General Psychiatry, 57, 133-140.
2. Chance, S.E., Brown, R.T., Dabbs, J.M., & Casey, R. (2000). Testosterone,
intelligence and behavior disorders among young boys. Personality and Individual
Differences, 28, 437-445
3. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2003 Jan 7; [epub ahead of print] Related Articles,
Links "Development of Models to Predict Anabolic Response to Testosterone
Administration in Healthy Young Men."
4. J Investig Med. 1997 Oct; 45(8):441-7
5. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1986 Dec; 63(6):1361-4.
6. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Feb; 82(2):407-13.
7. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar; 282(3):E601-7.
8. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May; 7(3):271-7.
9. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2004 Oct; 5(5):459-70.
10. Metabolism. 1991 Apr; 40(4):368-77.
11. J Lab Clin Med. 1995 Mar; 125(3):326-33.
12. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003; 9(4):248-51. Effect of androgen on erythropoientin in
patients with hypogonadism] [Article in Chinese] 1.Am J Physiol. 1998 Nov; 275(5 Pt
1):E864-712
13. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11; 1244(1):117-20.
14. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Dec; 281(6):E1172-81.
15. Health Psychol. 1990; 9(6):774-91.
16. Fertility and Sterility 33.
135
19-nortestosterone
Derived Steroids
136
19-nortestosterone Derived Steroids
As you know, some steroids are derived directly from 19-nortestoserone this includes
Nandrolone, Trenbolone,Nilevar, and many more. related compounds. Below is a
partial list of some traits and effects that most, if not all, 19-nor-testosterone
Derived Steroids have attributed to them
• Very favorable anabolic:androgenic ratio
• Minimal water retention
• High quality gains have been reported
• High strength gains reported
• Generally regarded as very safe
• Low side effects
• Excellent ability to retain gains post-cycle
• Low/No reduction to DHT
• (Nandrolones) Cause favorable actions to blood lipids
• (Nandrolones) Improve immune function
• (Nandrolones) Only convert to estrogen at 1/5th the rate of testosterone
• Increased Creatine Phosphate metabolism
• Increased insulin sensitivity
• Positive effects on joints and favorable on collagen/bone-mineral content
• Known to have progestenic activity
• Inhibition of HPTA at very low doses
• Difficult recovery of HPTA post-cycle
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Anabolic DN
(Nandrolone shown without Cypionate ester)
(Nandrolone Base + Cypionate Ester)
[19-nor-androst-4-en-3-one-17beta-ol]
Formula (base): C18 H26 O2
Formula (ester): C8 H14 O2
Molecular Weight(base): 274.4022
Molecular Weight (ester): 132.1184
Melting Point (base): 122-124°C
Melting Point (ester): 98 - 104 C
Manufacturer: SYD Group
Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week (2mg/lb of Bodyweight)
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 8 days
Detection Time: Up to 18 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 125:37
This is an underused product, for one reason or another. It’s currently produced by
SYD Group who had some very inconsistent lab reports posted on the ‘net, with
regards to their product line. It was also produced previously by Jurox, under the
name Dynabol. It’s also under used, I think, because it’s an obscure buy for most
people outside of Australia, where those aforementioned companies reside. Let’s
have a look at Nandrolone, then we’ll discuss the addition of the Cypionate ester in
opposition to the much more commonly used Decanoate ester (the ester used with
Deca-Durabolin). First of all, Nandrolone doesn’t produce many estrogenic or
androgenic side effects. This is because it has a very low rate of aromitization
(conversion to estrogen via the aromatase enzyme); roughly equal to 20% the rate
of Testosterone. Nandrolone is a very nice anabolic, in my estimation (even though I
don’t use it anymore), and a 100mg/E2W (every 2 weeks) injection of it has been
shown to provide a “significant increase in weight” (3). I’d never recommend that
low a dose for an athlete, but it’s evidence of Deca’s strong anabolic properties. All of
the Nandrolones are very nice anabolics, causing high-quality (albeit slow) gains in
muscle. This could be due to its moderately strong binding to the Androgen Receptor
(stronger than testosterone, actually), or possibly its many positive non-Androgen
Receptor mediated effects. One such non-receptor mediated effect is nitrogen
retention, which is a major factor in muscle growth. Even with low-doses of
Nandrolone (65 mg/week), Nandrolone produces significant nitrogen retention (5).
Nandrolone is also well known to impove collagen synthesis (1), and increases bone
mineral content (2). For these purposes, studies on Nandrolone use very low doses
and were generally far too low to promote muscle growth.
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In another study of HIV+ men (4) we can see that Nandrolone (200mgs on week 1,
400 on week 2 and 600mgs for weeks 3-12) actually caused NO negative side effects
in total or LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, or insulin sensitivity. In addition, there was
a reduction of HDL cholesterol (8-10 points) in both groups. Also, in these studies
with HIV+ subjects, Nandrolone improved immune function (5).
Judging from Steroid.com members’ feedback, as well as my own personal
experience, long-estered Nandrolones are known for producing quality weight gains,
but have to be used for 12 weeks at a minimum. This shouldn’t cause any problems,
since they are very mild drugs in terms of side-effects, and I don’t think they would
cause many adverse effects over this period of time. Nandrolone Cypionate has a
very long active life, of roughly 8 days or so, slightly less than the far more common
Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca). This would mean we want to shoot it 1-2xs a week,
along with our other compounds because we’d probably be running Testosterone
Cypionate with it.
Many members of Steroid.com also complain of water-retention with this the use of
longer-estered Nandrolones, and again, I’m inclined to agree. Letrozole seems to be
a preferred choice to combat this and it’s been my favorite for this use, on cycles of
12-16 weeks. This water retention would seem to make something like Anabolic DN
more suitable for bulking rather than cutting, although it can be succesfully used for
either with a proper diet and use of ancillary compounds.
So where are we? How would I use this stuff personally? Well, I'd be comfortable
recommending this compound for either a bulking or cutting cycle, and I think its
real utility would be that you can use it along with Testosterone Cypionate and inject
them on the same day because they’d have the same active life.
References:
1. Metabolism. 1990 Nov;39(11):1167-9.
2. Effects of nandrolone decanoate on bone mineral content. R, Righi GA, Turchetti V,
Vattimo A
3. AIDS. 1996 Jun;10(7):745-52.
4. Sattler et al J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 283: e1214-22
5. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1999 Feb 1;20(2):137-46.).
139
Anadur
(Nandrolone shown with Hexyloxyphenylpropionate ester)
Nandrolone base + Hexyloxyphenylpropionate ester
Formula (base): C18 H26 O2
Molecular Weight(base):274.4022
Melting Point (base): 122-124°C
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week (2mg/lb of Bodyweight)
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 15 days
Detection Time: Up to 18 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 125:37
Anadur is steroid that is very closely related to Deca Durabolin. The base compound
in both drugs is 19-nor-testosterone, which is more commonly known as nandrolone.
The base compound is similar to testosterone except the absence of a carbon-atom
in the 19th position. The significance of a 19-nor-testosterone compound is that the
conversion to estrogen is very low, and while the bond strength with the anabolic
receptor (AR) is higher. The difference between this drug and that of Deca Durabolin
is that Anadur contains the Hexyloxyphenylpropionate ester. This particular ester is
very large, making this steroid very slow acting, and may be the slowest acting of all
the nandrolone compounds. The downside to this large ester is that on a mass to
mass basis, there is less nandrolone hormone than compared to Deca Durabolin.
Anadur is used in a very similar fashion to Deca Durabolin and is mostly for those
looking for gradual gains with lower side effects. Anadur is not a commonly found
steroid but still exists in some parts of the world, as listed later on. Nandrolone in
general is more anabolic than testosterone and has a very low androgenic
expression. It is reported to have an anabolic to androgenic ratio of 37:125.
Typically, males would take a dosage range of 200-600mg/wk, with higher doses
sometimes found in more advanced users. This compound normally would not be
recommended for women due to the virilization effects this compound may cause
such as increased body hair, deepened voice, acne, and clitoral hypertrophy.
However, some female members at Anabolic Review have used it at ultra low doses
of 25-50mg/wk with success.
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This steroid can be affected by Anadur’s chemical structure, the 5-alpha-reductace
enzyme producing dihydronandrolone (DHN). DHN is a compound similar to that of
DHT, however, unlike DHT, DHN is a much weaker drug and has a much lower
affinity for binding to the AR. Furthermore, the rate at which nandrolone is
converted to DHN will be much lower than testosterone. Because DHN is a weaker
compound, those with concerns for the prostate and hair loss can still take Anadur
with little side effects. Most members report no hair loss while using nandrolone
products.
Also, again, based on structure, Anadur can be converted to estrogenic compounds
via the aromatase enzyme. Although some estrogen is produced, both the amount
and the rate of Anadur are much lower than testosterone, approximately less than
20% than that of testosterone. Although estrogen is low, the use of anti-estrogen
compounds is highly recommended.
While the levels of estrogen and DHN production are low, there is a third mechanism
that Anadur can convert. Nandrolone has been shown to have agonistic effects and
a high affinity when binding with the progesterone receptor and acts as a progestin
throughout the body. Ideally, one would want an anti-progesterone compound;
however, there are no widely available products at this time.
Since Anadur has a high affinity toward the androgen receptorand has a lower
androgenic expression, it is usually not recommended that it be taken without
testosterone. Without a high androgenic expression and having a strong bond to the
AR, side effects of low testosterone are possible such as the infamous “Deca-Dick”
(impotence), lethargy, and low sex drive. Furthermore, because of the three
conversion products listed above, this compound is generally very suppressive to the
body and can make it difficult to restart natural testosterone production during post
cycle therapy. Most Anabolic Review members report loss of libido and retention of
gains after a nandrolone only cycle, and the addition of testosterone combats these
problems. By adding testosterone, the balance of androgenic expression is raised in
the body due to more competition and more binding with the AR. Remember,
nandrolone binds very heavily to the AR and shows little androgenic expression.
Hence, an androgenic compound is needed to counteract this.
Users of nandrolone report a soothing sensation in their joints. This is most likely
attributed to the mild water retention caused by nandrolone. For this reason, Anadur
would most likely not be found in high concentrations of a cycle for those looking to
lose fat, and is more suitable for those looking to gain mass. Also, because of the
different aromatizing products (estrogen, progesterone, and DHN), some Anabolic
Review members report gains of fat when strict diets are not followed. Gains usually
come steadily and are quality gains that are easy to hold with proper post cycle
therapy.
Anadur is a good steroid to be stacked with a few other steroids, and as mentioned
above, testosterone is highly recommended. Other compounds commonly stacked
with Anadur or other nandrolone compounds are Equipoise, Dianabol, Winstrol, and
Anavar.
When ending a cycle containing Anadur, most of the Anabolic Review members run
testosterone for a couple weeks longer than the nandrolone. Since nandrolone is so
suppressive, this gives the body time to clear the AR; binding with nandrolone so
that it can prepare for testosterone. The Anabolic Review members report that this
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helps recovery very much by doing so. For post cycle therapy, most follow the typical
regimen of Clomid and/or Nolvadex. Others like to add HCG prior to ending the cycle.
Since Anadur is a nandrolone, it is to be expected that some of the metabolites
produced will stay in the body for up to 18 months, making Anadur and all
nandrolone compounds a very poor choice for athletes who are drug tested.
Given the large fatty ester on Anadur, the active life is reported to be around four
weeks long. This also allows for very few injections as low as one injection per week
for Anadur, although due to the relatively low concentrations either high volumes or
more frequent injections are required. It is possible to only inject weekly, but the
volume required would be 6-8ml which would not be advised with one injection.
References:
1. Comparison of the receptor binding properties of nandrolone and testosterone under in
vitro and in vivo conditions.Bergink EW, Janssen PS, Turpijn EW, van der Vies J.
2. Metabolism and receptor binding of nandrolone and testosterone under in vitro and in
vivo conditions.
Bergink EW, Geelen JA, Turpijn EW.
3. New iodinated progestins as potential ligands for progesterone receptor imaging in
breast cancer. Part 2: In vivo pharmacological characterization.
4. Rijks LJ, van den Bos JC, van Doremalen PA, Boer GJ, de Bruin K, Janssen AG, van
Royen EA. E-17 alpha-(2-[125I]iodovinyl)-19-nortestosterone: the synthesis of a
gamma-emitting ligand for the progesterone receptor.
5. Hochberg RB, Hoyte RM, Rosner W
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Cheque Drops
(Mibolerone)
[7-alpha, 17-alpha-dimethyl-19Nor-androst-4-en-3-one,17b-ol
17-hydroxy-7,17-dimethyl-estr-4-en-3-one
17beta-Hydroxy-7alpha,17-dimethylestr-4-en-3-one]
Molecular Formula: C20 H30 O2
Molecular Weight: 302.455
Melting Point: N/A
Manufacturer: Upjohn
Release Date: (Has been released and re-released numerous times)
Effective Dose: 200-400mcg
Active Life: 2-4hours
Detection Time: Immediate (only)
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio:: 590:250
Mibolerone was initially used as a veterinary product used to keep female dogs under
control while they were in heat. It did so by shutting down the cycling of their
ovaries. With proper timing, breeders are able to regulate the heat cycles of their
bitches. Eventually, athletes began to utilize the product in order to boost aggression
before events. It was even rumored that Mike Tyson was on Cheque Drops during
the infamous ear biting incident during his bout with Holyfield. However, the late
great guru Dan Duchaine discovered the application of Cheque Drops in modern
bodybuilding far before that. The drops went in and out of production several times,
before making a recent insurgence due to the piqued interest in the product thanks
to the growing popularity of ultimate fighting circles.
Cheque Drops are extremely potent, certainly one of the most potent androgens
known to man. According to the manufacturer, “When compared to testosterone, it is
5.9 times more potent as an anabolic agent and 2.5 times more potent as an
androgen.” The most probable usage of Cheque Drops is for administration to
athletes 30 to 40 minutes prior to an event that requires extreme aggression and
adrenaline. To adapt the drug to bodybuilding purposes requires a much more
complicated dosing regimen. Due to its toxicity, Cheque Drops should not be used
longer than two weeks at a time, and at low dosages. However, for an anabolic
effect, Cheque Drops should be used at 5mg (5,000mcg) a day or more. However,
that would possibly lead to prompt physical illness. In order to find a medium that is
possible for the modern bodybuilder, it is important to remember a few key aspects
of the compound. Keep in mind that the dosages appropriate are only used to
increase aggression, which can subsequently increase strength. The actual anabolic
effect at these low doses is limited. Furthermore, long term use (beyond two weeks)
143
will lead to testosterone suppression and liver damage. Using the drops sparingly
(1-2 drops at a concentration of 200-250mcg 30 minutes prior to a workout for no
more than 2 weeks at a time) will provide a boost in training and aggression. Many
users report breaking personal lift records when utilizing the compound. If the drops
are used short term, testosterone levels should bounce back rather quickly.
However, due to the risk of suppression, it is best to use the drops while on an
anabolic stack in order to ensure elevated test levels. The drops are only used as a
supplement to lifting, and they can be used when bulking or cutting. I would never
recommend using this stuff without other compounds; however…the increased
aggression without the increased performance provided by other compounds may be
dangerous. They do not aromatize (convert to estrogen), so if used in the context
above, Nolvadex, Armidex, or other such agents are not necessary, nor is the use of
Clomid. It is highly progestenic, but in the doses we’re talking about, that won’t be a
concern either. Unfortunately, this stuff blocks LH secretion, which will wreak havoc
with your natural hormone production with prolonged use.
The half-life of the compound is very short (about 4 hours), so along with its
immediate impact on the body, it leaves quickly as well. The drug has had enough of
an impact, however, to be included in most all banned substance lists in most
athletic organizations, so precaution should still be utilized. Several metabolites of
this compound may still be detectable however (1), if you are tested immediately.
While it is sometimes touted as the most androgenic compound on the planet, it
might subsequently be the most toxic as well. A 19 nor-androgen it can possibly
cause progesterone related gynocomastia (you don’t want that) if used out of the
recommended dosage and time frame. A 17AA compound, it can also severely affect
liver function. Precaution MUST be used when dealing with Mibolerone. Side effects
include but are not limited to, increased aggression, hypertension, insomnia, and
severe liver damage.
Female athletes should avoid this compound at all costs. Remember, it’s used to
regulate ovulation in bitches (ok, that was a gratuitous use of that word again).
Side effects include, but are not limited to: severe acne, deepened voice, depression
of menstruation and clitoral enlargement,and…err…vaginal secretion (if that’s an
issue). If taken by a pregnant female athlete, it would have possible effects on the
fetus, as well as alter serum lipids. Remember, this stuff is used to control bitches in
heat (and no, that wasn’t slang; it’s really used to control female dogs that are
ovulating).
For those that are naturally aggressive, this compound will elevate aggression to
dangerous levels. It may affect some users more severely than others, and should
the athlete still be experiencing elevated aggression levels after the estimated time
of physical exertion, they may displace aggression on others. Cheque Drops should
not be stacked heavily with other 17AA compounds. Let’s be honest, though, this
stuff is powerful, but not deadly. The LD50 (the dose at which 50% of the Lab rats
died) is 1,600,000mcg/kg! You’d need to take bottles and bottles of this stuff per
day to replicate anything nearing that dose.
Cheque Drops are manufactured by Upjohn, and are available in a 100 mcg per cc,
55-cc bottles. There are 3 Chinese manufacturers of Mibolerone powder, which offer
the crystalline form for anywhere between 200-350 dollars/gram. Several
underground Labs have also began to produce Cheque Drops, such as Supra, with a
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concentration of 200mcg/ml, but the prices remain high, and the availability low.
Currently, Supra is the leader in Cheque drop production for athletes today.
Reference:
1. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2000 Apr;23(2):57-66
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145
Deca-Durabolin
(Nandrolone shown with Decanoate ester)
(Nandrolone Base + Decanoate Ester)
[19-nor-androst-4-en-3-one-17beta-ol]
Formula (base): C18 H26 O2
Formula (ester):C10 H20 O2
Molecular Weight(base):274.4022
Molecular Weight (ester):172.2668
Melting Point (base): 122-124°C
Melting Point (ester):31 - 32 C
Manufacturer: Organon
Release Date (in USA): 1962
Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week (2mg/lb of Bodyweight)
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 15 days
Detection Time: Up to 18 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 125:37
Deca-Durabolin (“Deca”) is actually the brand name for Organon’s version of the
compound Nandrolone Decanoate. This is a 19-Nor compound (some would say that
it is the 19-nor compound), and as such, it shares basically the same characteristics
with all of them. One thing that is unique about Deca above nearly all steroids is the
mystique it has had for the last quarter of a century. On a personal level, I've
included Deca in cycles at doses ranging from 100mgs/week to 2,000mgs per week.
Suffice to say, I have my fair share of experience with this compound. This drug was
regarded very highly by Dan Duchaine in his Underground Steroid Handbooks, as
well as many of his later writings. For many, this was, and is, the final word on Deca.
Let’s dive into some of the reasons that Deca’s mystique may be well deserved.
First of all, Deca (and Nandrolone in general) doesn’t produce many estrogenic or
androgenic side effects. This is because Deca has a very low rate of aromitization
(conversion to estrogen via the aromatase enzyme). Its rate is roughly equal to
20% the rate of Testosterone.
Also, I’ve read in many places that Deca stores water in connective tissue, thus
alleviating joint pain. I have no idea what “storing water in the joints” means. I have
no idea how to really quantify that statement, or where it started. However, in one
146
study of postmenapusal women, Deca impoved collagen synthesis (1), and in
another study, it increased bone mineral content (2). Both of these studies used
VERY low doses, which were far too low to promote muscle growth. In my
estimation, based on these 2 studies, an athlete attempting to use Deca only for
these two effects (increasing bone mineral content and collagen synthesis) should be
using 100mgs every week. That’s actually a higher dose than those two studies used
successfully. Even at ½ of this dose, in HIV+ patients who have experienced
significant wasting, a 100mg/E2W (every 2 weeks) injection of Deca resulted in a
“significant increase in weight” (5). I’d never recommend that low of a dose for an
athlete, but it’s evidence of Deca’s strong anabolic properties. Deca is a very nice
anabolic, causing nice (albeit slow) gain in quality muscle. This could be due to its
moderately strong binding to the Androgen Receptor, or its many positive non
Androgen-Receptor mediated effects. One such effect is nitrogen retention, which is
a major factor in muscle growth and lean mass gains. In one study, with low-doses
(65 mg/week) and high-doses of Deca (200 mg/week), both low-doses and high
doses resulted in significant nitrogen retention (33-52 g nitrogen/14 days,
representing gains of 0.5 to 0.9 kg lean tissue/week), and body weight increased by
4.9 +/- 1.2 kg, including 3.1 +/- 0.5 kg lean body mass, and treadmill exercise
performance (cardiovascular fitness) also improved (7). The higher doses in this
study produced more gains. Steroid.com members who have posted their results
with Deca confirm this in many posts and threads, with their average
reccomendation being to take 400-600mgs/week for muscle gain.
Deca also has a very long active life. We can see from the chart below that a 100mg
shot (represented by the circles) produced relatively active and stable plasma
nandrolone levels almost until day 10, hence, once a week shots are all that’s
necessary for stable levels of nandrolond decanoate (as a side note, the nandrolone
phenylpropionate used in this study was active, and only experienced a severe drop
off around day 5—shooting NPP every 4th day is the way to go). You’ll also note that
higher blood plasma levels of Nandrolone are found with Gluteal injections as
opposed to Deltoid injections (this is true for all oil-based steroids, I suspect).
In another study of HIV+ men (6) we can see that Ddeca (200mgs on week 1, 400
on week 2 and 600mgs for weeks 3-12) caused no negative side effects in total or
LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, or insulin sensitivity and there was a reduction of HDL
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cholesterol(8-10 points) in both groups. Also, in most studies with HIV+ subjects,
Deca also improved immune function.
So what do we know so far about this compound? So far, we know that Deca is a
very safe drug for long term use, will help with joint problems, could improve
immune function, and is highly (!) anabolic and not very androgenic. That’s the
good news (and there’s a lot of it)…now for the bad news. Judging from Steroid.com
members’ feedback, as well as my own personal experience, Deca is known for
producing quality weight gains, but it has to be used for 12 weeks at a minimum.
This shouldn’t cause any problems, since it is a very mild drug in terms of side
effects. Many members of Steroid.com also complain of water-retention with this
drug, and I’m inclined to agree. Letrozole seems to be a preferred choice to combat
this, and it’s my favorite for this use. This water retention would seem to make Deca
more suitable for bulking rather than cutting; although, it can be succesfully used for
either.
Now for the worst news: unfortunately, Deca is a progestin (as are all nandrolones),
and it happens to stimulate the progesterone receptor 20% as well as progesterone
itself (3). This opens the door for many possible unwanted side effects (water
retention, acne, etc…). It must be noted that most of those are rare, though. This
also may be the major reason why Deca is such a suppressive drug when it comes to
your natural testosterone levels. We can see from the chart below that a single
measly 100mg injection of Deca caused a total (100%) reduction of natural
testosterone levels, and it took roughly a month to return those testosterone levels
to baseline! All from 100mgs of Deca!
The moral of this story? Always use testosterone with your Deca! I suggest 200mgs
minimum to avoid impotence and sexual dysfunction. For an anabolic effect from
that of Testosterone, I recommend at least double that, with an equal amount of
Deca (minimum). I’d also recommend taking an anti-progesteronic drug with deca
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(or at least having it on hand): Cabergoline and Bromocriptine are both good
choices.
So where are we? Well, I'd be comfortable recomending Deca for a bulking cycle with
a dosage of up to 600mgs/week for an extended duration (12-16 weeks), or up to
400mgs/week in a cutting cycle (again, for 12-16 weeks), as long as something to
combat water retention was present. Whatever purpose you decide to use Deca for,
you still need to include Testosterone in your cycle and have some anti-progesteronic
drugs on hand (see paragraph above), just in case.
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT), though beyond the scope of this profile, needs to be
discussed. Due to the highly suppressive nature of Deca, I will speculate that
testosterone in a deca-inclusive cycle must run for at least 2 additional weeks upon
cessation of Deca. We remember from the chart above that baseline testosterone
levels took roughly a month to return. Hence, a nice long estered testosterone
should run for an additional 2 weeks. This is to prevent having a lag in time when
the Deca is not producing an anabolic effect, yet is still suppressing your natural
testosterone levels. I'd also suggest that a particularly agressive PCT be run after
your cycle; nolvadex, HCG, and perhaps clomid should all be utilized in an effort to
restore your natural hormone levels as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Buying this product as a human-grade pharmaceutical from a dealer who stocks the
Organon brand will be an expensive proposition. You could end up paying well over
$10usd per amp or 2ml vial, not to mention that this product is (in my estimation)
probably the most faked steroid in the world. Buying veterinary grade will lower the
cost, with an average price of $75 for a ten milliliter bottle. There are also many
underground labs who produce this drug and usually 10-20mls of a 200mg/ml
concentration will never run over $100.
Here’s how Nandrolone is metabolized in your body:
References:
1. Metabolism. 1990 Nov; 39(11):1167-9
2. Effects of nandrolone decanoate on bone mineral content R, Righi GA, Turchetti V,
Vattimo A.).
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3. Cancer Res 1978 Nov; 38(11 Pt 2):4186-98
4 (Charts) from Minto et al
5. AIDS. 1996 Jun; 10(7):745-52
6. Sattler et al. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 283: e1214-22
7. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1999 Feb 1; 20(2):137-46.
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
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Diandrol
(Nandrolone shown + w/ Phenylpropionate ester and Decanoate ester)
(Nandrolone Base + 2 esters)
[19-nor-androst-4-en-3-one-17beta-ol]
Formula (base): C18 H26 O2
Formula (esters)
Phenylpropionate: C9 H10 O2
Decanoate:C10 H20 O2
Molecular Weight(base):274.4022
Molecular Weight (esters)
Phenylpropionate: 150.174
Decanoate:172.2668
Phenylpropionate: C9 H10 O2
Melting Point (base): 122-124°C
Manufacturer: Xelox
Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week (2mg/lb of Bodyweight)
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 15 days
Detection Time: Up to 18 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 37:125
This is an interesting product, simply because it combines the two most popular
Nandrolone preparations, namely, Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca) and Nandrolone
Phenypropionate (Durabolin). I guess from a marketing point of view, it’s a good
idea, because a lot of people like both of those versions of Nandrolone. Let’s take a
look at what we’re dealing with here, in terms of concentration:
Nandrolone Phenylpropionate: 40mgs
Nandrolone Decanoate: 60mgs
(100mgs/ml, presented in a 2ml vial)
So basically, we have a nice little combination of slow and fast acting Nandrolone in
a reasonable concentration. If you are inclined to use blends, and you can find this
one cheaply; I’d say it’s a decent buy. It’s produced in the Phillippines and Labeled
for export only, so the various economic factors involved tend to make this a cheap
product, price-wise. If I were to speculate, I’d say that labeling it for “export only”
was a way to export a loophole and get this stuff from the manufacturer onto the
black market and into athlete’s bodies with minimum interference from the local and
federal authorities of that country.
151
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152
Durabolin
(Nandrolone shown with Phenylpropionate ester)
(Nandrolone Base + Phenylpropionate Ester)
Formula (base): C18 H26 O2
Formula (ester): C9 H10 O2
Molecular Weight(base):274.4022
Molecular Weight (ester): 150.174
Melting Point (base): 122-124°C
Melting Point (ester): 20°C
Manufacturer: Organon
Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week (2mg/lb of Bodyweight)
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 5 days
Detection Time: Up to 12 months
Anabolic: Androgenic ratio: 37:125
Effective Dose (Men): 300-600mgs/week
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Nandrolone is a modification of testosterone (carbon atom removed from the 19th
position). With an Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 37:125 it is highly anabolic (muscle
building) and moderately androgenic (male characteristics). Due to nandrolone’s
chemical structure, it only aromatizes (converts to estrogen) slightly, at about 20%
the rate of testosterone when it interacts with the aromatase enzyme. Ergo,
estrogenic effects are not a major concern with its use. Of note, however, is that
nandrolone is a progestin with a binding affinity of 20% to the progesterone receptor
(15) (PgR), so side effects are still possible, though rare. The development of breast
tissue in males (gynecomastia) has been reported by some Steroid.com users.
Besides being one of the most popular anabolic steroid used in bodybuilding cycles,
nandrolone is also (medically) used to treat severe debility or disease states, and
refractory anemias (1). It promotes tissue building processes, reverses catabolism
(muscle destruction) and stimulates erythropoiesis (red blood cell production). This
makes it a very useful drug to treat wasting disorders such as advanced H.I.V. (2)
(16), and also, makes it highly sought after by bodybuilders and athletes.
Nandrolone is most commonly found with a cypionate, laurate, decanoate or
plenylpropionate ester. Briefly explained, the ester determines how much of the
given hormone is released over a period of time. Longer esters such as decanoate
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peak slowly and can keep stable blood plasma levels up to ten days. Shorter esters,
such as the phenylpropionate, peak more rapidly but the half-live is shorter. Shorter
esters usually release much more active hormones per mg than longer esters, and of
course, allow the drug’s effects to leave your system more quickly. Surprisingly, NPP
(Durabolin) and ND (Deca) release almost the same amount of active nandrolone per
100mgs: 69% and 65% respectively; this does not correlate exactly though because
blood levels of nandrolone are much higher (about doubled) post NPP usage
compared to the same 100mg dose of ND (see chart). NPP also has more distinct
advantages over ND. One of the most common complaints about adding ND (Deca)
to a cycle is the water retention that accompanies its use (3). Gains from NPP are
reported to be “clean” with minimal water retention and fat gain. While ND is usually
used in “bulking” cycles, NPP is used in “cutting” cycles, although either drug can be
used in either regard. Being an oil based anabolic it is injected intramuscularly (into
the muscle); many users inject it ED or EOD, however, NPP can be administered E4D
without problems.
NPP and nandrolone in general have a number of benefits for athletes; they increase
levels of serotonergic amines in the brain. These chemicals contribute to aggressive
behavior. This could help athletes train harder and improve speed and power (4).
Nandrolone also increases levels of IGF-1 in muscle tissues (5). This may be another
reason why nandrolone is highly anabolic. NPP also benefits the athlete by increasing
the number of androgen receptors (AR). One study showed that when nandrolone
was given to rats at a dosage of 6mg/kg of bodyweight and was combined with
muscle functional overload (muscle functional overload gives a similar effect to
resistance training) it had a 1,300% (!) increase in AR protein concentrations (6).
There is a direct link to muscle growth and AR levels. NPP also seems to be a
promising fat loss agent. Men who were given the drug had reduced levels of
subcutaneous (under skin), adipose (fat) tissue, and visceral (gut) however, fat loss
was not as good (7). The fat loss effect seems though to be dose dependant. In one
study, NPP at a daily dose of 1, 4, or 10mg per kg of bodyweight, the 10mg dose
had the greatest effect on fatloss (8). NPP is used to treat anemia by stimulating red
blood cell production (1). An increase in RBC count can improve endurance during
exercise via better lactic acid clearing and oxygen delivery. The blood is also better
enabled to carry nutrients to muscle tissue to aid in repair. Administration also
increases the rate of muscle glycogen repletion after exercise, helping the athlete to
dramatically recover after strenuous physical exercise (9). Athletes who require a
high level of endurance in their chosen sport can benefit from the use of NPP (15). A
favorite with bodybuilders who suffer with sore joints, NPP can also improve collagen
synthesis (10), which may improve joint function and alleviate joint pains. Many
members of Steroid.com swear by nandrolone’s ability to allow them to train in
comfort.
Many nandrolone lovers claim that it is one of the safest anabolic steroids, if not the
safest. It does have side effects that can be bothersome to hypersensitive individuals
such as acne, excitation, insomnia, nausea, diarrhea and bladder irritability (1). More
serious (and common) side effects include testicular atrophy (shrunken balls),
impotence (Deca dick) and gynecomastia (bitch tits) (1). Nandrolone use has been
shown to be safe and easy on the lipid profile, often improving HDL Cholesterol (16)
Impotence can be offset by stacking the nandrolone with a higher testosterone.
Nandrolone also causes the “shut down” (total stoppage) of endogenous (natural)
testosterone production. Thus an exogenous (outside) source must be provided. The
increased prolactin levels from the use of a progestinic steroid contribute to HPTA
shut down and testicular atrophy, which can be treated with a combination HCG (a
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female hormone that acts like LH when introduced into the male body) and
bromocriptine (a dopamine receptor agonist that, among other things, can lower
prolactin levels) (1)(11).
NPP can be highly useful in either “bulking” or “cutting” cycles, and it would seem
that diet and dosages are the determining factors of whether a cycle with this drug
will be one or the other. Due to its highly anabolic nature, coupled with low
androgenic properties, it can be incorporated into a mass cycle that is usually
stacked with testosterone and a powerful oral like, possibly, oxymetholone (Anadrol)
or methandrostenolone (Dianabol). NPP can thus be part of a classic bulking cycle.
For a cutting cycle NPP is usually be combined with other short-estered injectable
anabolic steroids (testosterone propionate and boldenone acetate come to mind as
likely choices) and one of the DHT derived orals such as stanozolol (winstrol) or
oxandrolone (Anavar). NPP is said to produce good mass and strength gains in both
cutting and bulking cycle phases (3). When one is planning a cutting cycle one must
take caution if combining the 19-nor-testosterone derivative trenbolone with
nandrolone. Trenbolone Acetate, although a powerful drug for lean muscle gains,
strength, and fat loss, is also a strong progestin with a binding affinity to the PgR of
60% (3x that of nandrolone). The elevated prolactin can worsen HPTA insult, often
causing the user to spend more money on preventative measures. The combo may
also result in a difficult PCT protocol to regain natural testosterone production. So
far, few Steroid.com members have had any first- hand experience with NPP because
it is limited to the few who know which UGLabs sells this particular form of
nandrolone. This increases the popularity of “home brewing” since the powder
comes out of China at very affordable prices. It is only a matter of time before NPP
(or Durabolin) takes a special place in the arsenal of Steroid.com members in their
quest for more muscle.
References:
1. Nursing2003 drug handbook.
2. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Dec; 283(6): E1214-22.
3. Steriod.com/steroid forums.
4. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Jan; 35(1): 32-8.
5. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Feb; 282(2): E483-90
6. J Appl. Physiol.94 1153-61 2003
7. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1995 Sep; 19(9): 614-24.
8. Ann Nutr Metab. 1991; 35(3): 141-7.
9. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med. 2001 Aug; 48(6): 343-52
10. Metabolism. 1990 Nov; 39(11): 1167-9.)
11. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1988 Mar; 29(3): 489-93.
12. Cancer Res. 2003 Oct 1; 63(19): 6523-31.)
13. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2004 Dec; 5(12): 2549-58.
14. Cancer Res 1978 Nov; 38(11 Pt 2): 4186-98
15. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995 Oct;27(10):1385-9.
16. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Dec; 283(6):E1214-22. Epub 2002 Aug 27.
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Dynabolan
(Nandrolone shown with Undecanoate ester)
(Nandrolone + Undecanoate ester)
[Nandrolone: 19-Nor-4-androstene-3-one, 17b-ol]
Formula (of base): C18H26O2
Formula (of ester): C11 H22 O2
Molecular Weight (Nandrolone w/o ester): 274.4022
Melting Point (of base): 122-124°C
Manufacturer: Farmasister (Italy), Theramex (France-Discontinued)
Release Date: 1992
Effective Dose: 200-600mgs/wk (men); 40-80mgs/wk (women)
Active life: 8-10 days
Detection Time: Up to 18 months
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio: 125:37
For readers who are getting used to my (lack of?) style with regards to writing
anabolic profiles, it will come as no surprise that the first thing we’ll need to do in
examining Dynabolan (Nandrolone Undecanoate) is have a quick look at its
structure. First, we can see that this is a 19-nor steroid. In fact, this is just another
type of Nandrolone, which means that it will share many, if not all, of its traits with
“Deca” (Nandrolone Decanoate, trade name: Deca-Durabolin). As we know,
Nandrolone is similar to testosterone, with the exception of the alteration of the 19th
carbon atom. And the “Undecanoate” part of this drug’s name (that’s the ester, or
the thing that slows its release into your bloodstream) provides a slightly longer
release time than Deca has. If I were to suggest that everyone take one thing away
from this profile, it’s that this drug is more or less a slightly longer acting version of
Deca, which means you need to employ it for a extended length of time to see
results (12 week cycles are recommended when using this compound). Also, this
long release time and the ubiquitous nature of Nandrolone’s metabolites make it
unsuitable for drug-tested athletes.
Before we go into all of the wonderful characteristics of this drug, let’s discuss some
of its less-than-wonderful aspects. Most side effects common with most AASs are
also common with this drug: possible virilization (development of male sexual
characteristics in women), gynocomastia, water retention, acne, hairloss, and
possibly even sexual dysfunction. Being a nandrolone, Dynabolan is also going to
have the ability to stimulate the progesterone receptor 20%, as well as progesterone
156
does (1)(2). This stimulation of the progesterone receptor is primarily responsible for
the suppressive effects that this drug will have on the body’s natural endocrine
system. Progesterone (and synthetic progestins, like nandrolone) can reduce
luteinizing hormone production. This hormone is secreted from the pituitary and
stimulates testicular testosterone production. Anabolic/androgenic steroids (AAS)
can also suppress this hormone’s pituitary borne production by interfering with the
Gonadatropin Releasing Hormone signal sent from the hypothalamus to the pituitary;
this, in turn, also stimulates lutenizing hormone secretion. So, it should be clear that
this compound, through various mechanisms, will act to halt the production of
testosterone, as well as other important hormones, in your body. The now infamous
“Minto” studies on nandrolone have shown us that even a single 100mg injection of
Nandrolone (although Undecanoate was not used, both a short as well as long ester
Nandrolone product were used) will shut down endogenous (natural) testosterone
production for a week and will not return to baseline values until roughly 3 weeks
later (3). Dynabolan will also aromatize (convert to estrogen) at a reasonably low
rate, much lower than that of testosterone. Given the estrogenic/progesteronic side
effects that this drug will cause, use of an anti-progesteronic drug (such as
Bromocriptine at 2.5mgs/day) as well as perhaps some Letrozole (1mg/day) should
be warranted. Regarding Nandrolone, most veterans of Steroid.com recommended
the concurrent use of exogenous (injectable) testosterone to avoid the possible
sexual dysfunction associated with Nandrolone. In general though, it’s difficult to
imagine someone getting any side effects if dosages are kept at 400mgs/week or
less (women would do well to keep dosages at or under 1/4 of that).
Now, if all of that didn’t scare you off or put you to sleep, we can get into the good
parts of this drug. It binds well to the Androgen Receptor (AR), which has been
positively correlated with enhanced fat-burning (4). This property makes it a great
addition to a cutting cycle; although, it can also be used with great success in a
bulking cycle as well. And, since this is a Nandrolone (albeit not with the ester we
are used to seeing it with), we can probably expect to reap all of the benefits that
nandrolones have been shown to have on bone mineral content and collagen (5).
When using nandrolone, little nagging injuries seem to go away for many athletes,
and Steroid.com members consistently report that their joints feel better when using
it.
Dynabolan is also, being a nandrolone, very easy on the liver, although if
someone has a pre-existing liver condition, it should be avoided. Also, lipid profiles
(your HDL/LDL cholesterol) won’t suffer, and could possibly improve a bit with use of
this drug.
Weight and strength gain with this drug is moderate and users report more of a
“kick” than they usually get with regular Deca. Besides, binding well to the AR, this
drug also operates via several non-androgens receptor mediated mechanisms, such
as increasing protein synthesis and increasing creatine phosphate synthesis. This is
also one of the few drugs that won’t negatively impact your lipid profile (cholesterol).
Most users report that weight gains are of a high quality with this drug and represent
a favorable change in body composition. This would be especially true if it were
stacked with testosterone and proper ancillaries.
Hypothetically, if I were to use this compound to bulk up, I’d use 400mgs/week with
500mgs of a long-estered testosterone (Cypionate or Enanthenate), and the
ancillaries I’ve previously mentioned. If I were to use it in a cutting cycle, I’d use a
short estered testosterone (most likely Propionate) at that same dose
(500mgs/week), as well as Oxandrolone at 50mgs/day, and I wouldn’t forget the
ancillaries. I’d also consider this drug to be appropriate for use in a 12-16 weeklong
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cycle. Due to the highly suppressive nature of this drug, a very aggressive post
cycle therapy would be necessary, and I’d recommend taking Clomid at 100mgs/day
as well as Nolvadex at 30mgs/day for a month and HCG at 500iu/day for 3 weeks.
I’d also caution anyone who is going to use this drug to avoid stacking it with a
trenbolone product. Combining 2 steroids, which stimulate the progesterone
receptor, isn’t a great idea.
And that leaves us with the final question: Is this stuff actually available? The
answer is yes and no. Actual Dynabolan is very hard to obtain although it is still in
production, and fakes would be an issue, as would cost. On the other hand,
nandrolone undecanoate (not the brand-name product “Dynabolan”) is made by
several underground labs (Dpharm, for example, produces it), and is relatively
cheap. Expect to pay slightly more than you would for nandrolone with the
decanoate ester; anything under $50 for a 10ml bottle of 100mg/ml strength is a fair
black market price.
References:
1. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1997 May; 19(4): 215-22
2. Cancer Res 1978 Nov; 38(11 Pt 2): 4186-98
3. The Journal of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics, Vol 281, No. 1; 93-102,
1997
4. Xu X, et al. "The effects of androgens on the regulation of lipolysis in adipose
precursor cells." Endocrinology 1990 Feb; 126(2): 1229
5. Effects of nandrolone decanoate on bone mineral content R, Righi GA, Turchetti V,
Vattimo A. and Metabolism. 1990 Nov; 39(11): 1167-9
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Laurabolin
(Nandrolone shown with Laurate ester)
(Nandrolone + Laurate ester)
[ 17beta-Hydroxyestra-4-en-3-one]
Formula (base): C18 H26 O2
Formula (ester): C12 H24 O2
Molecular Weight (base): 274.4022
Melting Point: 44-46C
Manufacturer: Various
Effective Dose: (men) 200-400mg/week (women) 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 10 days
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio: 125:37
Laurabolin is an oil based injectable steroid, which was allegedly intended for
veterinary use in animals such as cats, dogs, pigs, lambs and horses. I found very
little information while searching in various medical journals for the use of Laurabolin
in any of those animals. This, plus the fact that this steroid is primarily available in
Mexico, leads me to believe that it is basically made for humans making the trip into
Mexico from the US. I mean, I can't imagine a doctor prescribing steroids for
someone's cat. Unfortunately, as with many useful steroids, Laurabolin was never
approved or even marketed toward humans in the USA.
Let’s take a look at Laurabolin and see what we’re dealing with: this compound is a
19-nor-testosterone based steroid, specifically a nandrolone, which means that
nearly anything that is true of Deca-Durabolin (or any other nandrolone) will be true
of Laurabolin. Of course, here we're talking about all of the things you’re probably
familiar with regarding Deca: the positive effects on joints, collagen, and bone
mineral content (1)(2), and the unfortunate progestinic effects that nandrolones
have (remember, nandrolone is a progestin). Progestins have the ability to wreak
havoc with your natural hormone levels, as well as amplifying many of estrogen’s
effects (5). Fortunately, nandrolone is not subject to much aromatization so it will
be amplifying the estrogen (most likely) engendered by other steroids in your
system. Don't forget to have on hand an anti-progestenic ancillary drug. Personally,
if I were going to run any form of nandrolone, I’d be using Letrozole at .25mg/day.
While it’s true that Letrozole can cause some problems with blood lipids, I think that
when you consider the positive effects that nandrolone has on them (6), you’ll find
159
that they can both run together safely and actually provide many complimentary
actions. Letrozole will also help you with any possible estrogenic and progesteronic
effects from Laurabolin (more on this later). Also, in a cycle containing Laurabolin,
adding in some form of injectable testosterone is going to probably be necessary for
most people. This is to replace the endogenous testosterone levels that Laurabolin’s
progestenic properties will have depleted. A good rule is to use roughly equal
amounts of both compounds.
Laurabolin will help you recover more quickly from exercise (3) via replenishing
muscle glycogen, increasing protein synthesis, etc. The only true difference is the
duration of its effectiveness. Laurabolin can remain effective many days after the
injection, but realistically, only slightly more than Deca. Nandrolone’s structure is
very similar to that of testosterone. The only difference is it lacks a carbon atom at
the 19th position. This causes it to have much lower androgenic properties than
testosterone. The primary reason for low androgenic side effects associated with
nandrolone is that although it is altered by 5a-reductase enzyme just like
testosterone, the altered product is dihydronandrolone, which is much weaker in
action then dihydrotestosterone. What do all of these big words mean to you? Well,
none of them are particularly important. They’re just geek-speak for stating that
nandrolone generally produces less side effects than testosterone. Unfortunately,
the main place where nandrolone causes more side effects than testosterone is in its
ability to shut down and inhibit your HPTA. This is despite much lower tendency for
estrogen conversion, since the rate at which the nandrolone converts to estrogen is
estimated at a mere 20% of testosterone’s conversion. The primary disadvantage of
Laurabolin over Deca-Durabolin is it’s generally found in a very low concentration
level of 25-50mg per cc/ml. This in turn forces the athlete to take multiple and
voluminous injections, making it quite a bit less desirable than Deca. However the
price of Laurabolin is generally much lower than that of Deca-Durabolin, somewhat
making up for the voluminous and frequent injections. Unfortunately, while the price
of is lower than that of Deca, the water retention experienced is the same, if not
more. This is possibly due to the longer ester. Using Letrozole (which I
recommended previously to help with progestenic/estrogenic side effects) will
combat this, but I still think that Laurabolin must be relegated to use in bulking
cycles.
Laurabolin has a strong anabolic action (rated more highly than testosterone, for
anabolic properties) and this is coupled with minimal androgenic properties.
Remember, nandrolone was synthesized to provide fewer side effects than
testosterone and more anabolic effects by allowing enhanced cellular protein
synthesis, thus allowing the prevention of protein loss through the urea and
promoting lean tissue build up. In animals, this compound has also been used to
correct metabolic deficiencies, malnutrition, anemia, and slow maturation (8). It
will, again, like all nandrolones, increase your bodymass, FFM, and strength (7). A
few other important characteristics of Laurabolin include maintenance of proper
levels of calcium & phosphorous and the production of red blood cells (8). This
compound is unlikely to be counterfeited, due to its low demand in the nandrolone
market place, where Deca and NPP are the reigning champs. Also, Laurabolin is
mostly available in Mexico where it is sold in very low concentrations, whereas Deca
and NPP are available from several uderground labs, as well as major pharmaceutical
houses.
The gains with this compound are much slower than with testosterone; however,
they are of higher quality and are easier to maintain once the use of Laurabolin has
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been discontinued. And of course, as with any nandrolone, proper post cycle therapy
regimen should be incorporated at the end of cycles consisting of Laurabolin.
The average doses for male athletes are in the range of 200-400mg per week (which
would entail putting more oil in your body than there is in your average Indy 500
car). Female athletes can also find this item useful as it has low androgenic
properties and high anabolic properties, that will limit virilizing effects (effects which
make a woman take on male characteristics). The average dose for a female athlete
would be in the range of 50-100mg per week. Laurabolin is a good choice for female
athletes, as it is usually sold in a very low concentration (Mg/Ml), is rarely
counterfeited, and is not in high demand, thus, making it cheap (you should never
pay more than $2-4 per ml). Sadly, this drug will never really be very useful for
men, except perhaps for its effects on bone mineral content and collagen, which can
be taken at 50mgs/week. This is because it is only available in low dosed
concentrations.
References:
1. Metabolism. 1990 Nov; 39(11): 1167-9.
2. Effects of nandrolone decanoate on bone mineral content (R, Righi GA, Turchetti V,
Vattimo A.)
3. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med. 2001 Aug; 48(6): 343-52.
4. Eur J Endocrinol. 2004 Apr; 150(4): 511-5
5. Cancer Res 1978 Nov; 38(11 Pt 2): 4186-98
6. Sattler et al. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 283: e1214
7. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1999 Feb 1; 20(2): 137-46
8. Package insert from Laurabolin
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Nandrolone + Methandriol Blends
(Nandrolone Phenylpropionate)
(Methandriol Dipropionate)
Nandrolone phenylpropionate + Methylandrostenediol Dipropionate (methandriol)
blend
(Trade name: Libriol, Tribolin, and Anabolic NA)
Nandrolone base + phenylpropionate ester (or Decanoate or Cypionate ester,
respectively)
Formula (base): C18 H26 O2
Formula (ester): C9 H10 O2
Molecular Weight(base):274.4022
Melting Point (base): 122-124°C
Manufacturer: RWR
Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week (2mg/lb of Bodyweight)
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 15 days
Detection Time: Up to 18 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 125:37
Methylandrostenediol dipropionate
Formula: C20 H32 O2
Molecular Weight: 304.4716
Molecular Weight (base): 304.4716
Molecular Weight (ester): 74.0792
Formula (base): C20 H32 O2
Formula (ester): C3 H6 O2
Melting Point (ester):21.5C
Manufacturer: RWR
Effective Dose (Men):350mg week.
Effective Dose (Women): 25mg per day.
Active life: 3 days
Detection Time: 2 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 30-60/20-60
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Libriol and Tribolan are trade names for another exotic anabolic preparation coming
out of an Australian company, RWR, which is shrouded in mystery. Anabolic NA is
Syd Group’s entry into this bizarre combination of steroids. They all seem to be of
popular demand in bodybuilding circles primarily because of this mystique. I will
look at the pros and cons of this obscure drug and if it qualifies to be in the muscle
building, fat-melting cycles of our future.
Libriol is an injectable veterinary product containing short esters of the drugs
nandrolone and methandriol. Anabolic NA has the rare Nandrolone Cypionate, and
Tribolan contains the very long estered Nandrolone Decanoate. Steroid.com
members should immediately recognize the first drug, nandrolone. A steroid derived
from modifying the testosterone molecule, Nandrolone is one of the most popular
drugs in the world and with good reason; it is a versatile steroid that can be used in
“bulking” or “cutting” cycles. Nandrolone has many benefits for athletes coupled
with an unbeaten safety record. It has an anabolic (muscle building) rating of 125,
making it an excellent drug for adding lean muscle. Neither is it very androgenic
(leading to the development of male characteristics), with an androgenic ratio of only
37. Nandrolone aids the hardcore athlete in various ways: it promotes nitrogen
retention in the muscle cell (1), which in turn promotes the muscle cell to synthesize
and store more protein; it increases levels of the highly anabolic hormone IGF-1 in
muscle tissue (2); and it leads to a significant increase in the amount of androgen
receptors in muscle (3). Nandrolone has been proven to improve endurance (4),
increase the number of red blood cells (5) and speed the rate of glycogen
replenishment after strenuous physical activity (6). One trait Steriod.com members
love about nandrolone is its ability to reduce joint pain and soreness (7)—this is
because the drug increases the rate of collagen synthesis and increase bone mineral
content (8)(9). Shown to be a good drug for fat loss (10), nandrolone can reduce
the amount of fat under the skin and around the abdominal area (10). The amount
lost, however, is dependant on dose, with higher dosages having the greatest overall
effect (11). Nandrolone also has positive effects on the brain. It increases chemicals
in the brain that promote aggressive behavior, which can improve both speed and
power (12). Nandrolone aromatizes (convents to estrogen) slightly, but only at
about 20% the rate of testosterone, so estrogenic side effects such as breast tissue
growth in men (gynecomastia), fat gain and water retention are not major issues.
Steriod.com members who use nandrolone seldom complain of androgenic side
effects such as prostate enlargement, loss of hair and acne. Those who are worried
about their cardio vascular health can use nandrolone without fear; studies have
shown that it does not negatively affect cholesterol (13). The ester of nandrolone
contained in Libriol is the phenylpropionate ester, which provides a rapid, high
concentration of hormone in the blood steadily for up to four days.
Nandrolone is a good drug, but it is not perfect. With its chemical structure it acts
directly on the receptor of the female sex hormone—progesterone—with a binding
rate of 20% of the actual hormone (14). Despite its low aromatizing rate, this can
lead to breast growth in gyno-prone individuals. There is no need for panic though,
because the drugs letrozole (femera) or fulvestrant can easily combat this (15)
reaction. Elevated prolactin levels are also a side effect of nandrolone usage, but
there are readily available drugs like bromocriptine and cabergoline that activate the
dopamine receptor to lower prolactin levels (5). Shrunken balls (testicular atrophy)
may be a problem from elevated prolactin as well; HCG (female hormone that acts
like LH when introduced into the male body) used during the cycle can possibly
remedy or prevent the condition (16). Probably the worst effect nandrolone has is
on natural testosterone production: a single 100mg dose of nandrolone causes
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complete nullificaton of testosterone levels, which remained suppressed for a month
before returning to normal (see chart). This can cause impotence and loss of sex
drive, better known as the dreaded “Deca dick.” The best solution to this problem is
to always use testosterone with nandrolone.
The second drug in these combination steroids is methylandrostenediol dipropionate.
It is a very weak steroid with an anabolic/androgenic ratio of 30-60/20-60. No large
amount of strength or muscle gain should be credited to methandriol, but it does
have a few benefits that are worth mentioning. Studies show the parent hormone
5AD to promote a favorable immune system (17). This would probably prevent
those who are over-trained from getting sick. Methandriol also has a binding affinity
to the sites of the muscle destroying (catabolic) glucocorticoid hormones (18)—
blocking them from doing harm, which makes methandriol anti-catabolic. Most other
profiles would tell you that methandriol somehow amplifies the muscle building
potential of other steroids by “unblocking” the androgen receptor and for this reason
it should be stacked with other anabolics. This statement is total garbage and should
be disregarded by all Steroid.com members. Androgen receptors do not become
“blocked” or “clogged up”; secondly, androgens themselves increase the numbers of
androgen receptors (3), so methandriol would not be needed to do this.
So far the news on methandriol does not look good but wait, it gets worse.
Methandriol’s parent hormone 5AD has been shown to be a steroid with “potent
estrogenic properties” (19). Since methandriol is more potent than 5AD, its
estrogenic effects should cause any Steroid.com member using it grave concern.
Excessive estrogenic activity can lead to gynecomastia, fat gain, water retention,
loss of sex drive, and sluggish natural testosterone production. The bad news does
not end there; methandriol itself binds to the estrogen receptor, needing no chemical
change to exert its nasty side effects. Estrogen combined with an androgen promotes
weight gain in animals better than either alone (20) however, and this is the real
reason the highly estrogenic methandriol is added to other steroids, not because it
“unblocks” the A.R. The “massive strength gains” allegedly from methandriol use
would most likely result from the great deal of water retention inside the muscles,
which would rebound when compressed during the lowering of a weight, similar to
the action of a benching shirt. In addition, methandriol has also been shown to
increase blood pressure (21). In fact, the only good thing about methandriol would
be that it has not been shown to affect lipids, so clogged up blood vessels would be
one of many sides you would not have to worry about on it. Methandriol carries di
propionate esters which are actually two propionate esters attached to the hormone.
So how could you use them in a cycle? Let’s take Libriol as an example; your first
problem would be the weak concentrations of hormone per ml, with 30 mg of
nandrolone phenylpropionate and 40 mg of methandriol dipropionate per ml to get
the recommended 400-600mg of nandrolone per week. This would mean injecting
14-20 cc per week. Adding the other injectables recommended will amount in a
good deal of injection volume. This would also give you a whopping 560-800mg of
the highly estrogenic methandriol. You face the same problem with Tribolan, since it
contains 40mgs of MAD and 35 of nandrolone decanoate. Anabolic NA is not much
better, having only 45mgs of MAD and 30mgs of Nandrolone Cypionate Per ml. If
you are determined (or stupid) enough to use Libriol (or any of these combination
compounds), stacking it with testosterone propionate and the anti-estrogen letrozole
would be the best course of action to control the massive amount of bloat to follow. I
think you’ll be using about a bottle (10mls) every week if you want a real anabolic
effect from Nandrolone/Methandriol. I strongly advise against using them with
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highly aromatizing drugs like dianabol and anadrol, and with longer acting
testosterone like enanthate or cypionate. I fear the sides would be too much for the
average athlete. To be honest, I would not touch Libriol with a ten-foot pole.
References:
1. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1999 Feb 1;20(2):137-46.
2. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Feb; 282(2):E483-90
3. J Appl. Physiol.94 1153-61 2003
4. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995 Oct;27(10):1385-9.
5. Drug hand book. 2003
6. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med. 2001 Aug; 48(6):343-52
7. Steriod.com forums.
8. Metabolism. 1990 Nov;39(11):1167-9
9. Am J Ther. 1998 Mar;5(2):89-95.
10. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1995 Sep; 19(9):614-24.
11. Ann Nutr Metab. 1991; 35(3):141-7.
12. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Jan; 35(1):32-8.
13. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Dec; 283(6):E1214-2.
14. Cancer Res 1978 Nov; 38(11 Pt 2):4186-98
15. Curr Med Res Opin. 2001;16(4):276-84
16. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1988 Mar; 29(3):489-93.
17. Int J Immunopharmacol. 2000 Jan;22(1):1-14.
18. Endocrinology. 1994 Mar;134(3):1401-8.
19. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Sep;86(3-5):423-32.
20. J Anim Sci. 1999 Dec;77(12):3133-9
21. Endocrinology. 1978 Jul;103(1):1-5.
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Nilevar
(Norethandrolone)
[17-alpha-ethyl-19-nor-4-androstene-3-one, 17b-ol]
Formula: C20 H30 O2
Molecular Weight: 302.4558
Melting Point: 130-136
Manufacturer: Searle
Release Date (in USA): 1956
Effective Dose: 20-40mgs/day
Active life: 12-16 hours
Detection Time: 5 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio (range): 100-200/22-55
Nilevar was one of the first oral steroids available in the United States. It was
essentially Searle’s answer to Ciba’s Dianabol (methandrostenolone), which was
released that same year. In fact, with respect to Nilevar’s effects on weight gain,
anabolism, and water-retention, it is frequently compared to Dianabol. Seven years
prior to the release of Nilevar, the Mayo Clinic heralded the dramatic effectiveness of
cortisone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This in turn stimulated
tremendous interest in all facets of steroid chemistry, endocrinology, and related
fields. G.D. Searle & Co. promptly initiated a major effort in steroid research, with
the objective of discovering better steroidal compounds than were previously
available, and new steroids that could be used for conditions for which no other
compounds were available. This effort resulted in the introduction of
norethandrolone, marketed in 1956 as Nilevar, the first anabolic agent with a
favorable separation between protein building and virilization (which is the
development of androgynous characteristics) (1). Paradoxically, in men, only weak
androgenic effects are found (possibly because it is deactivated by 5-alpha
reductase, which we don’t need to delve into—just remember that in men, only mild
androgenic effects are generally seen), though in women virilization is very common
(for women this would mean developing male physiological characteristics: a
deepening of the voice, the growth of extra body hair, and a tendency to leave the
toilet seat up). I wouldn’t recommend this drug for use by female athletes, not only
due to these side-effects but also due to some issues with infertility, which are also
possible in females, though probably not with males (5)(6). The anabolic effect of
this drug is moderate, and this is probably due to its moderately strong binding to
the androgen receptor (this makes it quite different from Dianabol, which has a poor
binding to the androgen receptor) as well as it’s ability to stimulate protein synthesis
(which it has in common with Dianabol) and stop protein catabolism (7). Nilevar was
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Searle's first unique entry into the world of AAS, and it was this drug that eventually
led to the research and develpoment of the much less androgenic and estrogenic/
progesteronic oxandrolone (Anavar) a decade later, and the resulting decline in
popularity and use of Nilevar.
As you will see, though, Nilevar still has it's own niche and purpose in athletics and
bodybuilding, and can be an important part of either a cutting or bulking stack, but
I'm getting ahead of myself, and we need to understand a few basics about Nilevar
first.
A quick look at the molecular structure of this drug tells us that it is a 19-nor steroid,
which means that it could/should possess some of the same characteristics as
nandrolone, which is why it is often referred to as “Oral Deca”. Although this is a
gross oversimplification of this drug, it’s the easiest place to start when describing
this compound. Norethandrolone, shares many characteristics with the injectable
nandrolones; it aromatizes and it is also a progestin. This means that it can convert
to estrogen (since it aromatizes) and also fits into and stimulates the progesterone
receptor (being a progestin). Unfortunately, progestins fall into the category of being
severely gonadotrophin suppressive compounds (3), and it also means that most
ancillaries aren't going to have 100% of their desired effect. Nolvadex, especially,
won't help and could actually hurt you by increasing progesterone receptors (4). The
19-nor structure of this compound, very much like injectable nandrolone, indicates
that this drug can shut down your natural testosterone production and HPTA (which
is the term used to describe a whole host of interdependent hormones and processes
within your endocrine system). It does all of this while also causing side effects such
as gyno, acne, and water retention (the dreaded "smooth look"). If I were going to
use Nilevar, I’d strongly consider having anti-progesteronic compounds on hand
(preferably Bromocriptine which I’d take at a dose of 2.5mgs/day, and perhaps some
Letrozole, which I'd use at .5mg/day to fight water retention and estrogen) as well
as the typical ancillaries used with other AAS, as those generally only fight/eliminate
the process that causes AAS to convert to estrogen or fight/eliminate the estrogen
itself.
Sadly, we're fighting side effects from both estrogen and progesterone when we use
Nilevar. On the positive side of being a 19-nor compound, it must be noted that you
also can reap many of the positive effects of other such compounds including a
relatively strong bind to the androgen receptor, which is positively correlated with
lypolysis (fat-burning). (2). Although at first glance, I’d say that you should consider
Nilevar as a “bulking” type of drug, I’m speculating that if you use something to keep
the water-retention to a minimum while using this compound (for this purpose, I've
already reccomended Femera), it can successfully be used in a cutting cycle. Users
who experience joint pains may find similar relief with Nilevar as they would with
Deca. Sadly, though, as Nilevar is an oral steroid, it can’t be used for the same
length of time as Deca, so it’s use for joint relief is probably contraindicated by
possible issues with hepatoxicity (Liver Toxicity) stemming from its being 17 alpha
alkylated. On the bright side, since it is orally active and not estrified like the
injectable 19-nor drugs (like Deca), its metabolites will most likely clear your body in
much less time than with the injectables, the most common estimate being roughly 5
weeks. I’ll also speculate that a novel use for this drug may be in the middle/end
portion of a heavy bulking or powerlifting cycle (which doesn’t include another 19
nor compound), when Nilevar can be used for a month or so when the heaviest
lifting is involved, and the joint relief (and obviously the anabolic effect) it provides
could allow the athlete to lift heavier than would normally be possible. There are
167
many other orals on the market which can be used for anabolism, cutting, bulking,
and all related effects, but none that will provide the joint relief that it should/can.
For that reason, Nilevar will always have a purpose in heavy cycles, if it can be
obtained.
Before we consider putting it in our next stack, it should be noted that this
compound is rarely (if ever, anymore) counterfeited, and even more rarely seen on
the black market. It’s not in high demand, and in fact has been taken off the shelves
in the USA (and is primarily marketed in France, but also in Australia and
Switzerland). Taking it off the American shelves certainly doesn’t mean it’s not
useful. Allegedly, Arthur Jones was very fond of putting his athletes on it (instead of
the more popular Dianabol), and Bill Pearl almost certainly used it as his main
bulking agent for an entire cycle (10mgs/day) before a Mr. Universe win, and I
wouldn’t be surprised if Casey Viator and the Mentzer brothers dabbled in Nilevar.
Based on what these guys looked like, I’d venture a guess that this drug was (and
possibly still is) most commonly used for bulking, and by the larger powerlifters and
other athletes not worried about staying in a particular weight class. Your best bet
for finding this stuff is through a source who has a “connection” at a local pharmacy,
and you’ll probably be looking at a price of .20-.40 cents per 10mg tablet (it only
comes in 10mg tablets). As I said, it’s not exactly readily available, so that could
create a bit of a seller’s market. On the other hand, since it’s not in high demand it
could be a buyer’s market. In either case, I wouldn’t be thrilled with paying more
than .25 cents per tab.
So let’s see where that leaves us in terms of designing a cycle using Nilevar?
We’d want to have a form of testosterone in our cycle, regardless of whether we’re
going to use Nilevar to bulk up or to get cut. Remember, Nilevar will probably reduce
your natural testosterone levels to nothing. So let’s say, to start off, we’re looking at
using injectable testosterone at roughly 400-500mgs/week, to make sure that we
replace the testosterone that we’re not going to produce naturally. In a bulking cycle
we’d use a long ester testosterone (testosterone cypionate or testosterone
enanthenate), while in a cutting cycle we’d probably want to consider the use of a
shorter ester (testosterone propionate is the most popular for cutting cycles, as
anecdotally, it seems to produce less water retention). We’re going to avoid any form
of injectable nandrolone (nandrolone decanoate, nandrolone phenyl-propionate,
etc…) as well as any form of trenbolone, in this cycle, as we don’t want to stack 2
progestins together (and nandrolone and trenbolone, are both progestins). So that
leaves us with a host of other drugs we can stack with our Nilevar and testosterone.
I’d suggest using Equipoise (boldenone undeclyenate) on a bulking cycle, at 400
600mgs. This will serve the dual purpose of keeping your red blood count high
(which is important for anabolism) as well as keeping your appetite high. In a cutting
cycle, I’d suggest the use of Masteron (drostanolone), at 400-500mgs/week,
probably injected with the same frequency as your testosterone propionate. Now, I’d
probably suggest keeping Bromocriptine on hand, and using it if you start to hold too
much water or develop gynocomastia. I’d say that 1.25mgs-2.5mgs/day is enough
and will prevent progesteronic side effects (as well as stimulate fat burning), and this
recommendation is regardless of whether you choose to use Nilevar in a bulking or
cutting cycle. We’re not going to use any other orals in this cycle, either, as we’ve
already discussed Nilevar’s hepatoxic properties, and we don’t want to stress our
livers unnecessarily. Unlike most orals, I’d suggest using Nilevar at 20-40mgs/day in
the middle of either cycle, as opposed to the beginning, so that the bulk of your
heavy lifting is done while you reap the benefits of the joint protection Nilevar
provides.
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Proper post cycle therapy needs to be followed after any cyclecontaining Nilevar, and
personally I would use: 500IU/day of HCG for 3 weeks and 20mgs of Nolvadex for 4
6 weeks starting one week after cessation of the cycle. Remember that both of
these cycles should include Bromocriptine’s use at 1.25-2.5mgs/day to combat
progesteronic side effects, and .5-1mg/day of Femera to combat water retention and
estrogenic side effects.
Here’s how Norethandrolone is metabolized in your body:
References:
1. Steroids. 1992 Dec; 57(12):624-30
2. Xu X, et al. "The effects of androgens on the regulation of lipolysis in adipose
precursor cells." Endocrinology 1990 Feb;126(2):1229
3. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2003 Apr;58(4):506-12
4. Gynecol Oncol. 1999 Mar;72(3):331-6.
5. J Reprod Fertil. 1966 Dec;12(3):489-99
6. Contraception. 1975 Feb;11(2):193-207
7. Lancet. 1958 Oct 25;2(7052):885-6
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Methyltrienolone
(Methyltrienolone)
[17beta-Hydroxy-17-methylestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one]
Formula: C19H2402
Molecular Weight: 284.38
Melting Point: 170C
Manufacturer: Negma (never released), Underground Labs
Effective dose: 500-750mcgs/day
Active Life: 4-6hours
Detection Time: Unknown (Probably up to 6 weeks)
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio (Range, estimated):12,000-30,000/6,000-7,000
Methyltrienolone (MT) is a very potent, reasonably toxic, non-aromatizing steroid.
Ok. Let’s go over those three points again.
First of all, MT is potent. It binds so strongly to the AR (androgen receptor) that it is
often used in studies on other androgens to measure how strongly they bind. In
other words, this stuff binds onto the AR receptor so strongly that it is pretty much
the benchmark for that quality. If you’ve read my profile on trenbolone acetate (TA),
you’ll note that I said TA is the most potent injectable weapon in our arsenal with
regards to ability to bind to the androgen receptor. That’s still true, because this
particular compound is not in our arsenal, and it’s simply the oral version of TA (i.e.
it is trenbolone which has undergone modification to become orally active, via the
addition of a 17-alph-methyl group).
So why is it important that this stuff binds so tightly to the AR? Well, androgen
receptors are found in both fat cells and muscle cells (8); they act on the AR in
muscle cells to promote growth, and in the fat cells to affect fat burning (9)(6). The
stronger the androgen binds to the AR, the higher the lipolytic (fat burning) effect on
adipose (fat) tissue (9)(5). Unfortunately, that strong binding doesn’t also
automatically mean that it will elicit the strongest possible anabolic response, nor
that the weakest bind will elicit a weak anabolic response. Anadrol has the weakest
bind to the AR possible (too low to be measured), and it produces a profound
anabolic response, for example. Don’t be fooled by the anabolic/androgenic ratio of
this (or any steroid) either. The anabolic/androgenic ratio of MT would suggest that it
produces 5x the anabolic and androgenic effect of testosterone (which has a score of
100 and 100 respectively). If one were able to get a bottle of this stuff, I believe it
would be best used as part of a cutting cycle, stacked with some injectables
(testosterone, etc…), but certainly no other orals. It’s just too toxic. Negma (the
French company who brought Parabolan to the market, and then discontinued it)
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never pushed MT to gain approval as a commercially released item, since their
original studies showed it to be highly toxic.
But, remember, AR’s are found in muscle tissue as well. When a muscle’s AR is
stimulated, it can induce hypertrophy. When an adipose tissue’s AR is stimulated,
through various related mechanisms, fat is lost. This is a gross oversimplification.
Whatever. All we need to know is that when you have a steroid that binds to the AR,
it builds muscle and burns fat, and a steroid that binds very tightly to the AR will
stimulate a lot of muscle synthesis and burn a lot of fat. A good example of this is
Trenbolone. And since I mentioned Trenbolone, it’s worth further mentioning that
MT is basically a 17aa (oral) version of (injectable) Trenbolone. AR binding and AR
stimulation is not the only mechanism which stimulates anabolism, however. It’s
important to note that dbol has a very low AR binding ability and A50 has an AR
binding ability that is too low to even measure! Both are very potent oral steroids,
though. So while it’s important, AR binding/stimulation is not the end all and be all of
anabolism.
Methyltrienolone is, of course, a 19Nor compound (as is Trenbolone). It will effect
your sexual drive and performance in a similar way to both Tren and nandrolone,
meaning that temporary impotence and/or a lack of libido is highly possible (aka
Tren-Dick or Deca Dick) (10). Also, it is a progestin, and still binds almost as well to
the progesterone receptor (PgR) (3). As we know, progestins amplify estrogenic
effects of aromatizing drugs. Although MT doesn’t aromatize, you will still need to
worry about its ability to cause side-effects by amplifying the estrogenic issues
caused by the other compounds you may be taking.
How toxic is this stuff? Well, it was never commercially marketed for use in humans,
and has been relegated to Steroid-Purgatory, to be used only in studies. I’d probably
rate it on around the same level as taking high(ish) doses of halotestin or
methyltestosterone. I’d also probably recommend that people keep doses of this
product very low, much lower than reccomended doses typical of the other 2
compounds I just mentioned (i.e. 500-750mcgs/day…for not much longer than 3-4
weeks). I have had the fortune to discuss this product with the owner of an
underground lab. He had given out several samples of this stuff to athletes he knew,
and they all kept records and got regular bloodwork done. People who were in the
2mg/day range developed highly elevated liver enzymes and jaundice (yellowing of
the eyes and skin). They all recovered, and through trial and error, a 500-750mcg
dose was found to be (relatively) safe, and (roughly) as effective as 150-225mgs of
Trenbolone Acetate. For women, a possible side effect of MT is virilization
(development of male sexual characteristics), which is profound with this stuff (11),
so it is entirely off limits for women to use.
With this stuff, you may want to take milk thistle (320mgs/day), ALA (500mgs per
meal) and try some Pygeum Africanum (Permixon, the liposterolic extract of
Serenoa). This stuff will protect your prostate: in one study, it inhibited competitively
the binding of methyltrienolone to the cytosolic receptor of the rat prostate. You’ll
still need to get blood work done, avoid other orals (this includes drinking, or
anything else which could tax your liver), and monitor your health closely. This isn’t
a drug for novices, clearly, and is probably only useful for pre-contest bodybuilders.
I’ve only seen MT available from one underground lab, and it came in a 50ml bottle,
which was 1mg/ml, and was priced at $100. This translates to roughly 100 doses, at
a reasonable cost of fifty-cents per dose. And since you would never want to run
171
this particular drug for longer than 3-4 weeks at a time (maybe it would have use in
the last few weeks before a bodybuilding competition, but not much else), you’ll get
to use one bottle in 4 different cycles. That makes it no less dangerous, just
reasonably cheap.
References:
1. Endocrinology. 1984 Jun;114(6):2100-6.Relative binding affinity of anabolic
androgenic steroids: comparison of the binding to the androgen receptors in skeletal
muscle and in prostate, as well as to sex hormone-binding globulin.
2. Bonne C, Raynaud JP. Methyltrienolone, a specific ligand for cellular androgen
receptors. Steroids 1975 Aug;26(2):227-32
3. Dube JY, Tremblay RR, Chapdelaine P. Binding of methyltrienolone to various
androgen-dependent and androgen-responsive tissues in four animal species. Horm Res
1976;7(6):333-40
4. Tremblay RR, Dube JY, Ho-Kim MA, Lesage R. Determination of rat muscles
androgen-receptor complexes with methyltrienolone. Steroids 1977 Feb;29(2):185-95
5. APMIS. 2000 Dec;108(12):838-46.5. APMIS. 2000 Dec;108(12):838-46.
6. (Xu X, et al. "The effects of androgens on the regulation of lipolysis in adipose
precursor cells." Endocrinology 1990 Feb;126(2):1229 ).
7. J Anim Sci. 1992 Nov;70(11):3381-90.
8. Am J Physiol. 1998 Jun;274(6 Pt 1):C1645-52.
9. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11;1244(1):117-20.
10. Baum MJ, Kingsbury PA, Erskine MS. Failure of the synthetic androgen 17 beta
hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-estra-4,9,11-triene-3-one (methyltrienolone, R1881) to
duplicate the activational effect of testosterone on mating in castrated male rats. J
Endocrinol 1987 Apr;113(1):15-20
11. Biochem Pharmacol. 1984 Apr 15;33(8):1235-41.Changes in the activities of
microsomal enzymes involved in hepatic steroid metabolism in the rat after
administration of androgenic, estrogenic, progestational, anabolic and catatoxic steroids.
172
Orabolin
(Ethylestranol)
[19-Nor-17alpha-pregn-4-en-17-ol]
Formula:C20H22O
Molecular Weight:288.46
Melting Point: 76-78C
Manufacturer: Various, discontinued
Effective Dose (Men): 40mgs(?)
Effective Dose (Women): 10mgs(?)
Active life: 8-12 hours
Detection Time: 6 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio (range):20-400:200-400
What we’re looking at here is yet another steroid that has been off the market for so
long that I haven’t been able to actually find someone who’s used it. It’s a 19Nor
steroid, meaning it’s been derived from nandrolone. We know that 19nor compounds
all bind well to the androgen receptor, and that this is part of the reason that it
imparts such a strong anabolic effect. It has very good androgen binding properties,
giving it good enough anabolic effect, but is actually androgenically reduced in
androgen responsive tissues like prostate and skin. There are few actual studies that
really examine this compound in any depth, and basically the ones I’ve read actually
seem to suggest that ethylestronol simply exerts it’s anabolic effect by making a 3
keto group and essentially converting to norethandrolone (1). I think this is why it
has such a distressingly broad anabolic/androgenic range. There is also a 17-alpha
ethyl group to contend with, and that gives this compound a degree of hepatoxicity
that makes the cost/benefit ratio very poor for athletes, and thus it’s rarely found on
the black market. The weirdest thing about Orabolin is that it comes as some kind of
bizarre paste for oral administration—I really don’t know why this stuff was ever
brought to the market, but the fact that it comes as an oral paste is just very
bizarre.
Here’s how ethylestranol is metabolized in your body:
173
Reference:
1. Metabolism of anabolic steroid drugs in man and the marmoset monkey (Callithrix
jacchus)--I. Nilevar and Orabolin. J Steroid Biochem. 1977 Oct;8(10):1057-63.
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
174
Parabolan
(Trenbolone shown without HexaHydroBencylCarbonate ester)
(Trenbolone Base + HexaHydroBencylCarbonate Ester)
[17beta-Hydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one]
Formula (base): C18 H22 O2
Formula (ester): C2 H4 O2
Molecular Weight: 312.4078
Molecular Weight (base): 270.3706
Molecular Weight (ester): 130.1864
Melting Point (base): 183-186C
Manufacturer: (originally) Negma, Various Underground Labs
Effective Dose (Men): 300-500mgs/week
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: 5-7 days
Detection Time: 4-5 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 500:500
Parabolan is one of those drugs which appeared briefly (Negma eventually pulled it
off the market) and made a huge impact very quickly. Dan Duchaine was the first
person to write about this compound in his Underground Steroid Handbook Update
Newsletter. In his write up, he speculated that you wouldn’t want to go over 2 amps
per week of the original Negma product (each amp was 76mgs, and if you are
wondering why that’s so, it’s because each amp gave the user precisely 50mgs of
trenbolone, once your body’s esterases cleave off the HexaHydroBencyl Carbonate
ester ). Unfortunately, not many people really got a chance to experiment with the
original Parabolan, as it was pulled off the market very quickly by Negma
(discontinued in 1997). That created a very odd situation where the product was
used very successfully by a few people for a very short time, then was basically
unavailable after that. This basically created a bit of a cult following for the drug.
Decades passed, and counterfeits stormed the market until Duchaine (again) wrote
an article on extracting the trenbolone from Finaplex pellets, and then sterilizing
them, in order to create your own trenbolone acetate. Although this wasn’t
Parabolan, it soon curtailed the counterfeit craze for Parabolan. Tren was Tren, in
most people’s eyes, regardless of the ester. “Fina kits” (a kit which enabled the user
to make his own Tren) then flooded the market, utilizing a loophole whereby the
pellets and kit were both legal to buy, although clearly making and using an
injectable steroid in your kitchen is illegal. Flashing forward a few years, trenbolone
acetate became available by many underground labs, then trenbolone enanthate
became available, and now, even Parabolan (which is trenbolone base + a
HexaHydroBencyl Carbonate ester) is easily obtained from most major underground
175
labs. A visit to Steroid.com or any of the major discussion boards will testify that
Parabolan’s cult following still hasn’t diminished. Let’s see why…
Parabolan is neither affected by aromatase or 5alpha-reductase. This means it
becomes neither weaker nor stronger in androgen responsive target tissues, a trait
usually shared by DHT (DyhydroTestosterone) derived steroids; since Parabolan is of
course a trenbolone, it is not actually DHT derived but rather is derived from 19-Nor
testosterone. Parabolan has no estrogenic activity (it may actually reduce serum
estradiol levels in the body), is a very strong anabolic and androgenic compound (5x
stronger than testosterone in both categories!) and binds well to the androgen
receptor. Actually, binding "well" to the androgen receptor is quite an
understatement. There's no injectable AAS in our arsenal that binds to the androgen
receptor (AR) as well as trenbolone does. This is probably a major reason that
Parabolan was so sought after for use as a precontest agent. Androgen receptors
are found in fat cells as well as muscle cells (8), and we all know that they act on the
AR in muscle cells to promote growth, but the androgens act directly on the AR in fat
cells to affect fat burning (9)(6). The stronger the androgen binds to the AR, the
higher the lipolytic (fat burning) effect on adipose (fat) tissue (9)(5). As if that’s not
enough good news, some steroids even increase the numbers of AR in muscle and
fat (9)(10), leading me to speculate that this fat losing effect would be amplified with
the concurrent use of other compounds, such as injectable testosterone.
Another mechanism whereby Parabolan causes muscle accumulation and fat loss is
it’s ability as a nutrient partitioning agent (7). Basically, what this means is that
while using Tren, more of the food you eat will become muscle and less (if any) will
become fat. Really, as you can see, most of Parabolan’s cult reputation is well
deserved, and—as if that’s not enough—Parabolan noticeably increases the level of
the IGF-1 within muscle tissue (2), which in itself is an extremely anabolic hormone.
It’s worth noting that not only does it increase the levels of IGF-1 in muscle over two
fold (2), it also causes muscle satellite cells (cells that repair damaged muscle) to be
more sensitive to IGF-1 and other growth factors (3). This leads me to speculate
that Parabolan (or any version of Tren) would be synergistic within a cycle containing
any form of injectable IGF-1.
Parabolan also happens to bind quite strongly to the glucocorticoid receptor as well,
and this in turn imparts a nice anti-catabolic effect. This, in part, may help to explain
why low(ish) doses of it seem to work nicely, as well as why it aids fat loss. You see,
glucocorticoid hormones send a message to muscle cells to release stored protein
(this is called catabolism), which is exactly the opposite of what we want.
This drug stacks well with mostly everything, especially testosterone (actually, if you
want to avoid sexual dysfunction, stacking it with test is necessary). I have also
found it to be a great addition to a stack containing Eq as well, unfortunately the
insomnia the Parabolan gives me added to the appetite the Eq gives me makes
midnight snacking almost inevitable. Parabolan is most often used in cutting stacks
when "quality muscle" gain is favored over bloat and water retention. Really, I think
Parabolan (or any Tren) is a great "cutting " anabolic, although it has been used
successfully by many in both Cutting and Bulking cycles.
It’’s not all good news, though…
Some users of Para report sexual dysfunction (Tren-Dick) and symptoms of gyno
(probably progesterone related, as Trenbolone acts on progesterone receptor but not
176
the estrogen receptor). As you know, Trenbolone is unfortunately, a progestin: it
binds to the receptor of the female sex hormone progesterone (with about 60% of
the actual strength progesterone) (4). In hyper-sensitive Steroid.com members this
lead to bloat and breast growth when combined with an estrogenic or aromatizable
product, but probably not without one (14); worse still, trenbolone’s active
metabolite (17beta-trenbolone) has a binding affinity to the progesterone receptor
(PgR) that is actually greater than progesterone itself (5). No need to panic though:
the aromatase inhibitor Lertrozole can also lower progesterone levels and combat
any progestenic sides. I would strongly consider its inclusion at .25-.5mgs/day in a
cycle containing Parabolan.
Ironically, even though Para is an excellent cutting drug, it will lower your thyroid
level (11). Doing this, by means of the body’s negative-feedback-loop, also raises
prolactin. Ergo, I recommend taking T3 (25mcgs/day) along with your Tren to avoid
suffering from increased levels of prolactin and the host of unwanted side effects this
could cause. For these reasons, many people avoid stacking Tren with Deca
(nandrolone decanoate), which is also a progestin (4).
Mental changes are a notorious side effect of any type of trenbolone use (12), and
Para is no exception to this rule. Androgens increase chemicals in the brain that
promote aggressive behavior (13), which can be beneficial for some athletes wanting
to improve speed and power, but perhaps detrimental to those trying to hold a job
as a social worker. Luckily, I am not generally known for being an ambassador of
goodwill, so this side effect goes largely unnoticed in me.
For me, the worst effect of any sort of Tren is "Tren cough" which I get for the first 2
weeks of a cycle including this compound. Tren Enanthate does not have this effect
on me, but Parabolan sometimes does; Tren Acetate gives me a crippling Tren-cough
for the first week or so that I’m on it. Also, any kind of Tren gives me a bit of
insomnia, which is common for many users. The most noticeable side effect of
Parabolan for me is that it increases my sweating dramatically, even giving me
vicious "night sweats" that go nicely with my insomnia. Walking up a flight of stairs
can also cause me to break out in beads of sweat when I’m on this product. Also, it
needs to be noted that many people experience a reduced cardiovascular capacity
when using Para (12), and I fall into this category as well. Still, its incredible effects
on my strength and appearance mean that it'll fall into my cycles for off seasons and
in the winter (when sweating won't be as much of a problem).
References:
1. Br J Nutr. 1978 Nov;40(3):563-72.
2. J Cell Physiol. 2004 Nov;201(2):181-9.
3. Endocrinology. 1989 May;124(5):2110-7.
4. Cancer Res 1978 Nov; 38(11 Pt 2):4186-98
5. APMIS. 2000 Dec;108(12):838-46.
6. (Xu X, et al. "The effects of androgens on the regulation of lipolysis in adipose
precursor cells." Endocrinology 1990 Feb;126(2):1229 ).
7. J Anim Sci. 1992 Nov;70(11):3381-90.
8. Am J Physiol. 1998 Jun;274(6 Pt 1):C1645-52.
177
9. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11;1244(1):117-20.
10. J Appl. Physiol.94 1153-61 2003
11. Res Vet Sci 1981 Jan;30(1):7-13
12. Steroid.com forums.
13. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Jan; 35(1):32-8
14. Progesterone is not essential to the differentiative potential of mammary epithelium in
the male mouse. Freeman, Topper. Endocrinology. 1978 Jul;103(1):186-92
15. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2002 Nov 15;105(2):161-5.
16. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1995 Sep;80(9):2658-60.
Completely Cleanse Steroids From Your
Body in Just 5 Days!
http://www.SteroidCleanse.com
178
Sanabolicum
(Nandrolone shown with CycloHexylPropionate ester)
(Nandrolone + CycloHexylPropionate Ester)
(17b-Hydroxy-19 -nor -4 -androsten-3-one-17–phenylpropionate)
Formula (base): C18 H26 O2
Formula (ester): C9 H16 O2
Molecular Weight: 412.6112
Molecular Weight (base): 274.4022
Molecular Weight (ester): 156.222
Melting Point (base): 122-124°C
Manufacturer: Nile (Egypt), and others
Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week (2mg/lb of Bodyweight)
Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
Active life: 13.5
Detection Time: Up to 18 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 125:37
Sanabolicum, or nandrolone CycloHexylPropionate is a rarely found version of the
anabolic androgenic steroid nandrolone, with a CycloHexylPropionate ester.
Nandrolone probably the most talked about anabolic steroid on the planet. It is a
drug derived from the hormone testosterone, with a slight modification taking the
form of a carbon atom removed from the 19th position of the molecule. For this
reason, it is also called a 19-nor testosterone compound. The modification makes
nandrolone more anabolic (muscle building) and less androgenic (producing of male
characteristics) than its parent hormone. Testosterone, the standard for that ratio,
has an anabolic/androgenic ratio of 100:100 (arbitrarily determined as a
benchmark). Nandrolone’s anabolic/androgenic ratio is 37:125.
Nandrolone’s popularity partly stems from its versatility; it can be used to reach
virtually any bodybuilding or athletic goal, and has an outstanding safety record
among its users. The medical industry uses nandrolone to treat anemia, debility,
disease and severe wasting disorders. It is commonly administered to H.I.V positive
patents to reverse muscle break down (catabolism) and improve immune function
(1)(2). It has numerous benefits for the hard training athlete and very few side
effects. First off, nandrolone is an excellent drug for building muscle via different
179
mechanisms of action, some less understood that others. Nandrolone promotes
nitrogen retention in the muscle cell (3), which in turn promotes the muscle cell to
synthesize and store more protein. The drug also increases the levels of the highly
anabolic hormone IGF-1 inside muscle tissue (4). Nandrolone also significantly
increase the levels of androgen receptors in muscle (5). Athletes who participate in
regular strenuous physical activity will appreciate the effects of nandrolone, proven
to significantly improve endurance (6). It can also dramatically improve recovery by
increasing the number of red blood cells (1), which in turn will help in the removal of
lactic acid and improve oxygen delivery to working muscles; it will also speed the
rate of glycogen replenishment after exercise (7). One thing that puts nandrolone
above all other steroids taken by athletes is its ability to improve joint function and
reduce joint pain by improving collagen synthesis and bone mineral content (8)(9).
In fact, a common saying by Steroid.com’s nandrolone fans is “I feel like I’m 20
again!” when on cycle. Muscle building and “lubed” joints are not the only positives
of nandrolone use; it seems to be a good fat loss agent (10), and the amount of fat
loss and from where, is dose dependant, with higher dosages producing overall
better results (11). The good stuff does not end there, as nandrolone does not only
affect your body but your mind as well by increasing chemicals in the brain such as
seratonin and norepinephedrine; this will help an athlete train harder and improve
speed and power, while at the same time is probably responsible for the enhanced
feeling of “well being” many Deca users report (12).
Nandrolone has a safety record that cannot be beat, although it still has some
drawbacks, since its chemical structure aromatizes (converts to the female hormone
estrogen via the aromatize enzyme) slightly, at about 20% the rate of testosterone.
Thus, adverse estrogenic side effects such as breast tissue growth (gynecomastia or
bitch tits) and fat gain are not a major concern. With its low androgenic properties,
prostate and hair loss problems are not commonly reported by Steroid.com
members. One thing that must be mentioned is the notion that nandrolone
aromatizes into the female hormone progesterone. This is not entirely true.
Nandrolone, being a progestin, directly acts on the progesterone receptor (PgR)
without needing to change chemically. Fortunately, the binding rate to the receptor is
fairly low (about 20% of the actual progesterone hormone itself) (13). If you are
prone to progestinic sides there are various drugs to available to combat them.
Fulvestrant or Letrozole can be taken to reduce the number of progesterone and
estrogen receptors (14), and with less receptors to attach to, these hormones will
not be able to exert their actions on the body. Letrozole also has the added benefit of
reducing estrogen levels to nothing—which would certainly cut down on sides—as
without estrogen present, most of the ill-effects of any aromatizing (or even
progestenic) steroids aren’t really possible. The use of a progestin also raises the
level of another female sex hormone, prolactin. Bromocriptine and cabergoline are
drugs that activate the dopamine receptor to lower prolactin levels. Shrunken balls
(testicular atrophy) may be a problem from elevated prolactin as well; HCG (a
female hormone that acts like LH when introduced into the male body) used during
the cycle can best remedy the condition (15). The heart conscious bodybuilder need
not worry about cholesterol if choosing to use nandrolone—in a study, H.I.V+ men
given nandrolone had no negative affects on lipid profile (16).
Sanabolicum, nandrolone CycloHexylPropionate (mouthful huh? We’ll use N-CHP
from now on) is indeed a rare and unusual find anywhere in the athletic world. To
figure out how to use it in a cycle, now the ester itself must be analyzed. As we all
know, esters delay the release of a hormone, and N-CHP has 9 carbons. This hints
that it is a long acting ester comparable to cypionate, (8 carbons) or decanoate, (10
180
carbons) with an active life of about 13.5 days. I would compare its effects to
nandrolone decanoate, aka, Deca-Durabolin thus dosage amount and frequency
should be near the same. Thus, once per week injections can keep blood levels
stable. Most Steroid.com members however inject 2 times per week, or every 3rd
day.
Now that we know the potential usage for anabolism, let us look at how it can be
incorporated into a cycle of a Steroid.com member. Since it is similar to Deca, slow,
high quality muscle gains can be expected along with significant water retention. So,
our first choice would be to use Sanabolicum in a “bulking” cycle, stacked with a
testosterone, of course, and another “bulk” promoting drug like Dianabol or Anadrol.
That’s a formidable stack, and great gains in size and strength can be realized.
Nandrolone, being a compound that promotes fat loss, can also be used in a
“cutting” cycle without problems stacked with testosterone and a low or non
aromatizing oral like stanozolol, (Winstrol, Winny) oxandrolone, (Anavar, Var) or
oral-turinabol (OT). Lean muscle gains with reduced body fat can be attained. It
must be noted that you should avoid combining anabolic steroids with progestin
attributes, e.g. Fina (aka Tren)+Deca, as this will only prove bothersome when you
are shelling out cash on drugs to fight the sides. It's common practice to run
testosterone one week longer than nandrolone to "line up" timing for post cycle
therapy. This is to be recommended with Sanabolicum, as it is going to have a
residual effect when it’s not producing an anabolic effect yet it will still suppressing
your natural testosterone levels. It’s recommended that testosterone be run about 2
weeks longer than the Sanabolicum to combat this. Due to extremely low availability
and a similar drug easily available, sanabolicum may never catch on as the anabolic
of choice for nandrolone lovers.
References:
1. Drug hand book. 2003
2. Int J Cardiol. 2002 Sep;85(1):151-9.
3. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1999 Feb 1;20(2):137-46.
4. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Feb; 282(2):E483-90
5. J Appl. Physiol.94 1153-61 2003
6. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995 Oct;27(10):1385-9.
7. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med. 2001 Aug; 48(6):343-52
8. Metabolism. 1990 Nov;39(11):1167-9
9. Am J Ther. 1998 Mar;5(2):89-95.
10. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1995 Sep; 19(9):614-24.
11. Ann Nutr Metab. 1991; 35(3):141-7.
12. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Jan; 35(1):32-8.
13. Cancer Res 1978 Nov; 38(11 Pt 2):4186-98
14. Curr Med Res Opin. 2001;16(4):276-84
15. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1988 Mar; 29(3):489-93.
16. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Dec; 283(6):E1214-20
181
Trenbolone Acetate
(Trenbolone shown with Acetate Ester)
(Trenbolone Base + Acetate Ester)
[17beta-Hydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one]
Formula (base): C18 H22 O2
Formula (ester): C2 H4 O2
Molecular Weight: 312.4078
Molecular Weight (base): 270.3706
Molecular Weight (ester):60.0524
Melting Point (base): 183-186C
Melting Point (ester):16.6C
Manufacturer: Cattle implants, British Dragon, Various
Release Date (United States): 1987
Effective Dose (Men):50-150mg ED
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: 2-3 days
Detection Time: 5 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 500/500
The drug trenbolone is, without a doubt, the most powerful injectable anabolic
steroid used by Steriod.com members to gain muscle. However the full properties of
the drug are not always fully understood. This profile will separate fact from fiction
and help Steroid.com members decide if trenbolone is right for them.
Trenbolone is similar to the highly popular steroid nandrolone, in that they are both
19-nor steroids, meaning that a testosterone molecule has been altered at the 19th
position to give us a new compound. Unlike nandrolone however, trenbolone is an
excellent mass and hardening drug with the majority of gains being muscle fiber,
with minimal water retention (1). It has an unbelievable anabolic (muscle building)
score of 500. When you compare that to testosterone, which itself is a powerful
mass builder but has an anabolic score of 100, you can begin to fathom the muscle
building potential of trenbolone. What makes trenbolone so anabolic? Numerous
factors come into play. Trenbolone greatly increases the level of the extremely
anabolic hormone IGF-1 within muscle tissue (2). And, it’s worth noting that not only
does it increase the levels of IGF-1 in muscle over two fold, it also causes muscle
satellite cells (cells that repair damaged muscle) to be more sensitive to IGF-1 and
other growth factors (3). The amount of DNA per muscle cell may also be
significantly increased (3).
182
Trenbolone also has a very strong binding affinity to the androgen receptor (AR),
binding much more strongly than testosterone (4). This is important because the
stronger a steroid binds to the androgen receptor, the better that steroid works at
activating AR dependant mechanisms of muscle growth. There is also strong
supporting evidence that compounds binding very tightly to the androgen receptor
also aid in fat loss. Think of the receptors as locks and androgens as different keys,
with some keys (androgens) opening (binding) the locks (receptors) much better
than others. This is not to say that AR-binding is the final word on a steroid’s
effectiveness. Anadrol doesn’t have any measurable binding to the AR, and we all
know how potent Anadrol is for mass-building.
Trenbolone increases nitrogen retention in muscle tissue (5). This is of note because
nitrogen retention is a strong indicator of how anabolic a substance is. However,
trenbolone’s incredible mass building effects do not end there. Trenbolone has the
ability to bind with the receptors of the catabolic (muscle destroying) glucocorticoid
hormones (6) giving it anti-catabolic properties as well. This has the effect of
inhibiting the catabolic (muscle destroying) hormone cortisol (7).
Yet another amazing trait of trenbolone that must be noted is its ability to improve
feed efficiency and mineral absorption in animals given the drug (8). To help you
understand what this means for you, feed efficiency is a measurement of how much
of an animal’s diet is converted into meat, and the more food it takes to produce this
meat, the lower the efficiency. Conversely, the less food it takes to produce meat,
the higher the efficiency—well you get the idea. Animals given trenbolone gained
high quality weight without having their diets adjusted, thus improving feed
efficiency. Finding new compounds that can improve feed efficiency is a billion dollar
industry, and has spawned many nutritional advances in the bodybuilding world over
the last few decades (CLA, Whey Protein, and HMB are compounds which spring to
mind as having first been introduced by the livestock industry). What does this
translate to for the hard training athlete? The food you eat will be better utilized for
building lean muscle, and vitamins and minerals are also better absorbed, which may
keep you healthier during cycle.
Trenbolone is also a highly androgenic hormone, when compared with testosterone,
which has an androgenic ratio of 100; trenbolone’s androgenic ratio is an astonishing
500. Highly androgenic steroids are appreciated for the effects they have on strength
as well as changing the estrogen/androgen ratio, thus reducing water under the skin.
As if the report on trenbolone were not good enough, it gets better; trenbolone is
extraordinarily good as a fat loss agent. One reason for this is its powerful effect on
nutrient partitioning (9). It is a little known fact that androgen receptors are found in
fat cells as well as muscle cells (10). Androgens act directly on the AR in fat cells to
affect fat burning (11). The stronger the androgen binds to the AR, the higher the
lipolytic (fat burning) effect on adipose tissue (fat) (11). Since some steroids even
increase the numbers of AR in muscle and fat (11)(12), this lypotropic (fat losing)
effect would be amplified with the concurrent use of other compounds, such as
testosterone.
Trenbolone promotes red blood cell production and increases the rate of glycogen
replenishment, significantly improving recovery (13). Like almost all steroids,
trenbolone’s effects are dose dependant with higher dosages having the greatest
effects on body composition and strength. Mental changes are a notorious side effect
of trenbolone use (15); androgens increase chemicals in the brain that promote
183
aggressive behavior (16), which can be beneficial for some athletes wanting to
improve speed and power.
Trenbolone’s chemical structure makes it resistant enzymes that aromatize
(conversion to estrogen), thus absolutely no percentage of trenbolone will convert to
estrogen. Trenbolone administration would not promote estrogenic side effects such
as breast tissue growth in men (gynecomastia, bitch tits) accelerated fat gain,
decline in fat break down and water retention. Trenbolone is also resistant to the 5-
alpha-reductase enzyme; this enzyme reduces some steroid hormones into a more
androgenic form. In trenbolone’s case however this does not matter, trenbolone
boasts an androgenic ratio of 500, it can easily cause adverse androgenic side
effects. In any Steroid.com members who are prone to cases of hair loss, prostate
enlargement, oily skin and acne have been reported. Unfortunately trenbolone’s
potential negative side effects do not end there. Trenbolone is also a noted
progestin: it binds to the receptor of the female sex hormone progesterone (with
about 60% of the actual strength progesterone) (17). In sentitive Steroid.com
members, this can lead to bloat and breast growth or worse still, trenbolones active
metabolite17beta. Trenbolone has a binding affinity to the progesterone receptor
(PgR) that is actually greater than progesterone itself (18). No need to panic
though, the anti-estrogens Letrzole or Fulvestrant can lower progesterone levels, and
combat any progestenic sides. The use of a 19-nor compound like trenbolone also
increases prolactin. Bromocriptine or cabergoline are often recommended to lower
prolatin levels (20). Testicular atrophy (shrunken balls) may also occur; HCG used
intermittently throughout a cycle can prevent this (21). It is also wise for Tren users
to closely monitor their cholesterol levels, kidney function, and liver enzymes as Tren
has the potential to negatively affect all of those functions. Trenbolone, being a
powerful progestin, will also shut down natural testosterone production—even a
relatively small dose will keep the testosterone level suppressed for an extended
period of time. This can lower libido and cause erectile dysfunction (fina dick). It is
essential that you always stack trenbolone with testosterone.
The acetate ester is a very short-chain ester attached to the trenbolone molecule. It
has an active life of 2-3 days but to keep blood levels of trenbolone elevated and
steady, daily injections are often recommended. The acetate ester provides a rapid
and high concentration of the hormone, which is beneficial to those seeking quick
gains. When coupled with a rapid clearing time, the acetate ester can be
discontinued on the onset of adverse side effects.
Now that the properties of trenbolone acetate have been explained, we can better
understand how to use it in order to maximize its advantages. Evidence suggests
that trenbolone stacked with estrogen promotes more weight gain that trenbolone
alone (22). Now I’m not telling you to go pop some birth control with your
trenbolone, but the addition of aromatizing orals such as Dianabol and a long estered
testosterone such as cypionate or enanthate would produce great gains in a bulking
cycle. For a cutting cycle, trenbolone is the best choice you have; trenbolone’s
powerful effect on nutrient shuttling allows a user to restrict calories and remain in a
state of positive nitrogen balance (remember what that means?). The cortisol
reducing effect, and its binding to the glucocorticoid receptor will greatly reduce the
catabolic effects of harsh dieting and excessive amounts of cardio, not to mention
that trenbolone itself may burn fat (due to its strong AR-binding). A good choice to
stack with Tren in a cutting cycle is Winstrol. Winstrol has a low binding affinity to
the AR and thus will act in your body in vastly different ways than the Tren (i.e. in
non-receptor mediated action). In addition, Winstrol is a DHT-based drug and Tren is
184
a 19-nor. Throw in some Testosterone (prop), and you’ll have a cutting cycle which
takes advantage of all 3 major families of Anabolic Steroids (Testosterone, 19-nor,
and DHT), as well as vastly different AR-binding affinities and mechanisms of action.
Ironically, even though Tren is an excellent contest prep drug, it lowers your thyroid
level (this, by means of the body’s negative-feedback-loop, also raises prolactin). I
recommend taking T3 (25mcgs/day) along with your Tren.
Also, this drug is a poor choice for athletes who rely on cardiovascular fitness to play
a sport. Tren, anecdotally at least, reduces many athletes’ ability to sustain high
levels of endurance. Unfortunately, this makes Tren a poor choice for many.
As of now the main source of trenbolone is from implants for cattle being converted
into an injectable or transdermal compound, from powder, and of course
underground labs. “Home brewing” powder or cattle implants seems to be the
preferred method of obtaining injectable trenbolone acetate, because the user would
have much more control over the potency and sterility of the drug. Trenbolone is
much more expensive than other anabolic steroids ranging from 15 U.S dollars per
gram of powder or 150 U.S for a single 10 ml bottle. The cost of trenbolone should
not matter—it is worth every penny.
Here’s how Trenbolone is Metabolized in your body:
References:
1. Br J Nutr. 1978 Nov;40(3):563-72.
2. J Cell Physiol. 2004 Nov;201(2):181-9.
3. Endocrinology. 1989 May;124(5):2110-7.
4. Toxicol Sci. 2002 Dec;70(2):202-11.15
5. J Anim Sci. 1994 Feb;72(2):515-22.
6. APMIS. 2001 Jan;109(1):1-8.
7. J Anim Sci. 1990 Sep;68(9):2682-9.
8. APMIS. 2001 Jan;109(1):1-8.
9. J Anim Sci. 1992 Nov;70(11):3381-90.
10. Am J Physiol. 1998 Jun;274(6 Pt 1):C1645-52.
11. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11;1244(1):117-20.
12. J Appl. Physiol.94 1153-61 2003
13. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med. 2001 Aug; 48(6):343-52
185
14. Toxicol Sci. 2002 Dec;70(2):202-11.15
15. Steroid.com forums.
16. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Jan; 35(1):32-8
17. Cancer Res 1978 Nov; 38(11 Pt 2):4186-98
18. APMIS. 2000 Dec;108(12):838-46.
19. Curr Med Res Opin. 2001;16(4):276-84
20. 2003 drug handbook.
21. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1988 Mar; 29(3):489-93.
22. J Anim Sci. 1997 May;75(5):1256-65.
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
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186
Trenbolone Enanthate
(Trenbolone without Ester shown)
(Trenbolone Base + Enanthate Ester)
[17beta-Hydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one]
Formula (base): C18 H22 O2
Formula (ester): C7 H12 O
Molecular Weight (base): 270.3706
Molecular Weight (ester): 130.1864
Melting Point (base): 183-186C
Manufacturer: Stark, Dpharm, Various
Effective Dose (Men): 300-600mgs/wk
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: 8 days
Detection Time: 5 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 500/500
Trenbolone enanthate was the steroid produced by underground labs to take the
place of Parabolan, and its obscure ester. Tren enanthate basically is the longest
acting version of tren we have available on the market right now, and it actually
offers a couple of advantages over the traditional Tren A that’s been available for the
last couple of years as either an UG Product, or from converting Finaplex Pellets into
an injectable.
I had the opportunity to be one of the first athletes in the world to try this product,
from the UG “Stark Labs.” It was so new, in fact, that when I sent it away for
testing, the lab told me that they had nothing to really compare it to, and that they
were simply estimating potency and legitimacy based on the respective values for
the Trenbolone molecule and the Enanthate ester.
I’m not going to go into the various merits of trenbolone, but I would like to discuss
some unique properties the Enanthate version has. For one reason or another, this
stuff doesn’t give me tren cough, and I am particularly susceptible to this side-effect
of Tren, which basically cripples me for the first week I use it. Regardless of whether
I use home-brewed Tren, UG lab Tren, or Vet-Grade, I was basically crippled for the
first week of use. I can’t tell you why, exactly, this was, and can only speculate that
it was due to a rise in prostaglandins. Tren enanthate didn’t have this effect on me,
however. Yeah, that’s right. I know that the ester attached to a steroid doesn’t
dictate any of its properties, but in this particular case, I believe that the enanthate
ester provided less of a sharp rise in prostaglandin levels and allowed my body to not
187
develop the dreaded “tren-cough” that usually side-lines me when I start a cycle
including Tren.
There is a method of prostaglandin production whereby prostaglandins made from
one pathway in particular happen to dictate some muscle constriction as well as
platlet aggregation, while the other method of production dictates bronchial
constriction, and this could possibly be the means by which Tren Acetate causes that
vicious cough. The reason why—though this is speculation—the enanthate version
doesn’t cause this rapid rise in prostaglandins is because of its more steady release,
and my body’s ability to gradually acclimatize itself to this. If you look at the graphs
in the Minto studies (in the Deca profile), you’ll see that the rise and rapid peak in
blood plasma levels afforded by short esters are profoundly higher than those
provided with longer esters, and it’s my belief that the enanthate ester provides a
lower peak level and less rapid rise in prostaglandin levels, especially the ones which
dictate that second form of prostaglandin release which causes bronchial
constriction. I feel that this bronchial constriction never really leaves you while you
use any form of Tren, and this is what causes the shortness of breath experienced by
many athletes on Tren.
Anyway, clearly the long estered Tren is a viable compound for those who wish to
make minimal injections, and still use a nice lean-mass providing, non-aromatizing
anabolic.
Completely Cleanse Steroids From Your
Body in Just 5 Days!
http://www.SteroidCleanse.com
188
Tri-Trenabol
(Trenbolone without Esters Shown)
(Trenbolone Base + Acetate, Hexahydrobenzylcarbonate, & Enanthate esters)
[17beta-Hydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one]
Formula (base): C18 H22 O2
Formula, esters
Acetate: C2 H4 O2
Hexahydrobenzylcarbonate: C2H4O2
Enanthate: C7 H12 O
Molecular Weight (base): 270.3706
Molecular Weight, esters
Acetate: 60.0524
Hexahydrobenzylcarbonate: 130.1864
Enanthate: 130.1864
Melting Point (base): 183-186C
Manufacturer: British Dragon
Effective Dose (Men):50-150mg ED
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: 8 days
Detection Time: up to 5 months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 500/500
Tri-Trenabol is British Dragon's trenbolone blend. It's been formulated with three
different esters: trenabolone accetate, trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate, and
trenbolone enanthate (for details on each specific trenbolone ester, see: Trenbolone
Acetate, Parabolan, and Trenabol 200). The acetate ester allows Tri-Trenabol to
display a rapid elevation of blood plasma levels of trenbolone. The other two esters
(hexahydryobenzyclcarbonate and enanthate), which release at differing but slower
rates, prolong the blood plasma levels of trenbolone.
Here’s how it breaks down:
Trenbolone Acetate: 50mgs
Trenbolone Hexahydrobenzylcarbonate: 50mgs
Trenbolone Enanthate: 50mgs
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Regardless of the ester, trenbolone is a very potent androgen with strong anabolic
activity. It can be used for mass development or it can be used for cutting (which is
more common) and is well suited for either. Due to its progestenal nature,
testosterone must always be stacked with it, altough trenbolone does not convert to
estrogen.
Tri-Trenabol would probably be used for cutting, and one would probably stack it
with an anabolic such as Winstrol or Primobolan (and testosterone, as previously
discussed). Bulking with this product is also highly possible, and with the addition of
compounds like Dianabol and Testosterone, quality muscle mass would be quickly
accrued.
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
190
Dihydrotestosterone
Derived Steroids
191
Dihydrotestosterone Derived Steroids
As you know, some steroids are derived directly from Dihydrotestosterone; these
incluse Oxandrolone, Methenolone, Drostanolone, Stanozolol, Oxymetholone, and
Mesterolone. Below is a partial list of some traits and effects that most, if not all,
dihydrotestosterone derived steroids have attributed to them:
• Does not convert to estrogen (structurally incapable)
• Is not able to be 5-Alpha-Reduced
• Has a nice balance of androgenic and anabolic properties
• Generally considered very safe in terms of side effects
• Possibly the less suppressive than other derivations (either test or 19-nor)
• Possible anti-estrogenic effects
• Possible anti-progestenic effects
• Can cause hairloss
• Can cause acne
• Possibly able to cause joint problems
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Anadrol 50
(Oxymetholone)
[17 beta-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethylene-17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstan-3-one]
Molecular Formula: C21 H32 O3
Molecular Weight: 332.482
Melting Point: 178-180C
Manufacturer: Syntex (Originally)
Release Date: 1960
Effective Dose: 100mgs (optimal)
Active Life: <16hours
Detection Time: up to 8 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio: 320:45
Anadrol (commonly called by athletes “A50” or “A-bombs”) was initially developed as
a compound to help people with anemia, and has since been used very successfully
to aid people who are suffering from many other diseases where weight loss is a
concern. Thus, it is clearly an effective agent for promoting weight gain, increasing
appetite, gaining strength, and increasing red Blood cell count. And, as with most
Anabolic/Androgenic Steroids (AAS), it has its downsides as well. Anadrol will inhibit
your body’s natural production of hormones (testosterone, etc), will negatively affect
your blood lipid profile, can cause water retention, is notorious for causing headaches
and is also highly liver toxic (in fact, it has the worst reputation for hepatoxicity out
of all steroids). Paradoxically, although one of the benefits touted by its original
manufacturer (Syntex) is that it can be used to stimulate weight gain through
increasing appetite, taking too much may actually inhibit your appetite!
I think, in order to gain a complete understanding of this compound, we need to take
a look at its advantages contrasted with its disadvantages. Anadrol is a DHT-derived
compound, and is a 17-Alpha-Alkylated steroid, meaning that it has been altered at
the 17th carbon position to survive oral ingestion. Most oral steroids are 17aa, and
this helps them make it through your liver in a useful form. Sounds great, right?
Let’s 17alpha-alkylate everything! Well…as you can imagine, there’s a down side.
This 17aa alteration, which makes it possible for Anadrol to survive its first pass
through your liver, also makes it very taxing on your liver. How taxing is A50 and
how much weight can you gain from its use? Well, there was a 30 week study done
on A50 and, as you can expect, a reasonable amount of side effects were noted. The
fact that A50 causes some side effects has really never been in debate. But how
effective was the drug? Well, first it should be mentioned that this study was done on
people with AIDS related wasting, and they actually gained weight (8+kg) while the
control group lost weight and had increased mortality rates (1). I suppose, if you’re
in a study because you have a wasting disease which is also a terminal illness, you
193
don’t want to end up in the control group. Anyway, weight gain in this study peaked
at 19-20 weeks, though, so the last 10 weeks weren’t very productive in this
respect. Clearly, you wouldn’t want to run Anadrol for 20 weeks, given its toxicity,
but after that, any effect in terms of weight and strength gains would be negligible
anyway. The sheer fact that this study lasted so long (30 weeks) should make it
apparent that sides can be kept under control and the drug can be used safely.
People are commonly told to limit their intake of A50 to 4 weeks or less. I’m a bit
less conservative and think you can easily run A50 for 6 weeks or more. From
personal experience, however, I can tell you that gains from Anadrol are quite
dramatic for the first 3 weeks, and then quickly level off. Unfortunately, I find that
the side effects experienced from Anadrol (which include, for me, a headache,
bloating, elevated blood pressure, and a general “unwell” feeling) remain for the
entire duration of use, but I find, as usual, side effects for this drug are pretty much
half legend and half truth.
Since Anadrol is derived from DHT, it can’t actually convert to estrogen (via the
aromatase enzyme), and it’s not a progestin or a compound with progestenic
activity, so the estrogenic side effects it produces are of a very mysterious nature. It
has been speculated that perhaps it can stimulate the estrogen receptor without
actually being converted to estrogen, that’s about as plausible an explanation as I’ve
heard. However, things really get strange when Oxymetholone is used in studies to
alter the female reproductive/menstrual cycle; in those cases, it has lowered plasma
progesterone levels (7)! One would expect that an AI (aromatase inhibitor) wouldn’t
be of much use with this drug, but many have found that Letrozole (which has, in
some cases, been shown to reduce estrogen in the body to an undetectable amount)
(6) can greatly reduce or even eliminate many of the more noticeable side effects of
Anadrol, such as the bloating.
As I’ve stated, however, the sides from this drug are certainly no joke, but are easily
preventable and controlLable. One study even showed very few sides for subjects
using up to 100mgs of Oxymetholone (2). In the original UnderGround Steroid
HandBook, Dan Duchaine states that he used it at doses up to 150mgs/day. Clearly,
Anadrol’s hepatoxicity has been a bit exaggerated, in some circles. Be that as it may,
my suggestion is still to limit Anadrol’s use to 6 weeks, at a maximum even if just to
err on the side of caution. Of course, I have personally run this drug for much
longer.
How should we use Anadrol? I’d probably be willing to include Anadrol in a cycle
including injectable steroids, but not other 17aa compounds. I’d make any 6-week
run of this compound begin at the start of a cycle, as a form of “jumpstart” towards
seeing gains quickly. The quick gains you will get from Anadrol (up to a pound per
day for the first 2 weeks are not uncommon in Steroid.com members) are also just
as quick to disappear upon cessation of use, unless you are simply using it as a
kickstarter, while waiting for your other compounds to kick-in. I’ll go out on a limb
here and say that utilizing Anadrol as a “Jumpstart” is the most popular use of this
drug for athletes and bodybuilders today. I’ll also say that this drug is immensely
popular with strength athletes who don’t have to worry about weight classes (field
athletes and strongmen), and with powerlifters in the heavier weight brackets. It’s
also important to note that in one study by Schroder et. al (2), Anadrol showed that
it has the ability to lower serum SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin, which binds
to your free test and makes it no longer useful for anabolism, among other things)
concentrations by 54.9 ± 25.8 and 45 ± 16.2 nmol/l in the 50- and 100-mg
treatment groups. This means there will be more free test circulating around your
194
body when you take this drug. Clearly, this would produce some synergy when
stacked with other steroids. Given the large amounts of weight and strength which
can be gained in a relatively short time span on this drug, I’m sure this comes as no
surprise to many.
Another important and often understated characteristic of this compound is that
Oxymetholone doesn’t bind well to the androgen receptor (Relative Binding Affinity =
too low to be determined) (3); its rate is the lowest I’ve ever read about. Basically,
what this tells me is that there are a lot of non-receptor mediated effects from this
steroid, making it a very potent addition to ANY BULKING stack, because it won’t be
competing for the receptor sites with the other steroids you’re using. It’s also, as
you may have guessed, a very poor choice for a cutting stack.
How much should you use? Well, this is actually one of the most interesting facts
about Anadrol. You see, most steroids produce what we call a “dose respondent
curve” which is a fancy way of saying, “the more you use, the more you gain.”
Anadrol is one of the few steroids where the dose respondent curve flattens out very
quickly. When you take 50mgs of Anadrol, you’ll make some very good gains. When
you take 100mgs of Anadrol, you’ll make even more gains. However, it has been
found that 100mgs/day is as effective for weight gain as 150mgs/day but produces
fewer side effects and is less toxic (4). The jump from 50mgs to 100mgs constitutes
an acceptable rise in benefit vs. cost, but this is not the case as dosages get over
100mgs. Now, let’s see how 50mgs and 100mgs of Oxymetholone actually effect
strength, when compared with each other:
Relative (%) changes in strength are shown for the groups receiving placebo (filled
bars), 50 mg/day oxymetholone (open bars), and 100 mg/day oxymetholone (gray
bars). Nos. above bars represent relative change (%) from baseline to week 12 for
the 1-repetition maximum tests of strength. Error bars represent ± 1 SE from the
mean. * Significant difference from placebo, P < 0.05; significant difference from
placebo by Wilcoxon test, P < 0.02. See text for additional statistical analyses.
As you can see, in this study, doubling the dose of Anadrol nearly doubled the
strength gains of the test subjects. Now, when we look at changes in body
composition from Oxymetholone (chart below) we can see that although the guys
taking the 100mgs (vs. the 50mgs group) had more fat lost and more lean body
195
mass gained, it wasn’t as dramatic as the differences in strength gains between the
two groups:
Changes in body composition are shown for the groups receiving placebo (filled
bars), 50 mg of oxymetholone per day (open bars), and 100 mg per day (gray bars).
Numbers above the bars represent the mean absolute changes and the error bars
are ± 1 SE. For total lean body mass (LBM) and total fat, differences among the 3
groups were significantly (P < 0.0001, one-way ANOVA) different from placebo, P
0.001.
Although I am usually not inclined to posit speculations on why a particular drug
does or doesn’t do something, in this case I will. I’m guessing that the higher doses
of Anadrol cause enough appetite suppression (at least anecdotally) to make eating
rather difficult. It can also increase insulin resistance and glucose intolerance (5).
This has the effect of making macronutrient absorption more inefficient, and could
also be a factor in reducing gains when the dosage goes over 100mgs/day.
Unfortunately, Anadrol also has a reasonably profound effect on your body’s natural
hormonal system, on par with most other oral steroids, but not as bad as most
injectables, and it’s certainly not as harsh on your lipid profile as many anabolics are
(2). As an interesting side note, some of the medical literature on this compound
suggests a dose of 1-5mgs per kg of bodyweight. I’ll pause a second here for you to
figure out how absurdly high of a dose that would translate to for the average
bodybuilder!
This steroid is very available on the black market in the form of capsules, tablets
(some are even 75mgs!), liquid, and even paper. Prices will vary, and be indicative
of many different factors including the form in which you buy the compound (paper
will usually be the most expensive, and liquid the least), and where you live. In any
case, you shouldn’t be paying more than $2.50-3.00 per 50mgs.
Here’s how Oxymetholone is metabolized in your body:
196
References:
1. Br J Nutr. 1996 Jan;75(1):129-38.
2. Schroeder et al. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 284:E 120-28
3. Endocrinology. 1984 Jun;114(6):2100-6.
4. HIV Clin Trials. 2003 May-Jun;4(3):150-63.
5. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1981 Nov;53(5):905-8
6. Epilepsy Behav. 2004 Apr;5(2):260-3
7. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1973 Sep 1;117(1):121-5.
Charts from reference 2:
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 284: E120-E128, 2003. First published September 24,
2002; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00363.2002
0193-1849/03
197
Anavar
(Oxandrolone)
[17b-hydroxy-17a-methyl-2-oxa-5a-androstane-3-one]
Formula: C19 H30 O3
Molecular Weight: 306.4442
Melting Point: 235 – 238 Celcius
Manufacturer: BTG, SPA, Originally Searle (1964)
Effective dose: (Men)20-100mgs/day (or .125mg/kg~bdywt); (Women) 2.5
20mgs.day
Active Life: 8-12 hours
Detection Time: 3 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio (Range): 322-630:24
Anavar (oxandrolone) is not very toxic, not very androgenic, mildly anabolic, and
pretty mild on the body’s HPTA (Hypothalamic-Testicular-Pituitary-Axis). Those are
its 4 major points, and I’d like to examine each one a bit further; as usual, gym
rumors and Internet conjecture have made this steroid the subject of many
misconceptions.
First of all, and this will come as no surprise to many people, Anavar is quite mild on
your liver. It’s probably the mildest oral steroid available today. Dosages of up to
80mgs/day are easily tolerated by most men, and most side effects often found with
other steroids are not common with ‘var (1). For this reason, Anavar is frequently
the steroid of choice for many top-level female bodybuilders and other athletes.
It’s a very mild steroid in every sense of the word. It binds reasonably well to the
AR, but pretty high doses are still needed and I would never suggest doing less than
20mgs/day. In fact, 20-80mgs are needed to start halting AIDS related wasting (1)
and recovering weight for burn victims (2), so that’s the range I’d recommend for
dasging this compound. Personally, I’d use 100mgs/day if I were ever going to try
this stuff. Any less than this amount (20-100mgs) would be a waste. For women,
however, I think 2.5-10mgs/day would suffice. Virilation is not a concern with this
compound, as it is only very mildly androgenic (3). Water retention is also virtually
nil with it.
Although Anavar is an oral steroid, and has been alpha-alkylated to survive oral
ingestion and the first pass through the liver; it’s still relatively mild in that respect
too. The unique chemical configuration of oxandrolone both confers a resistance to
liver metabolism as well as noticable anabolic activity. It would also appear that
Anavar appears not to exhibit the serious hepatotoxic effects (jaundice, cholestatic
198
hepatitis, peliosis hepatis, hyperplasias and neoplasms) typically attributed to the
C17alpha-alkylated AASs (17). Anavar has even been used successfully in some
studies to heal cutaneous wounds (7), or to improve respiratory function (18). Both
of these novel properties could make it a good choice for in-season use for boxers,
mixed Martial Arts competitors, and other such athletes.
Now here’s some interesting stuff for anyone interested primarily in the fat burning
properties of this stuff: Anavar may be what we’d call a “fat-burning steroid.”
Abdominal and visceral fat were both reduced in one study when subjects in the
low/normal natural testosterone range used it (4). In another study, appendicular,
total, and trunk fat were all reduced with a relatively small dose of 20mgs/day (8)
and no excercise. In addition, weight gained with ‘var may be nearly permanent too.
It might not be much, but you’ll stand a good chance of keeping most of it. In one
study, subjects maintained their weight (re)gains from Anavar for at least 6 months
after cessation (2)! Concomitantly, in another study, twelve weeks after
discontinuing oxandrolone, 83% of the reductions in total, trunk, and extremity fat
were also sustained (8)! If you’re regaining weight, Anavar will give you nearly
permanent gains, and if you are trying to lose fat (and you keep your diet in check),
the fat lost with Anavar basically looks to be nearly permanent. Check this chart
out:
Absolute change in total fat mass (A) and trunk fat (B) by dual-energy X-ray
absorptiometry from baseline to study week 12 (solid bars) and from baseline to
study week 24 (open bars) in the placebo (n = 12) and the oxandrolone (n = 20)
study groups. Values are means ± SE. *Significant decrease from baseline, P <
199
0.001. Significant difference between study groups for change in fat mass from 0 to
12 wk, P < 0.001. (15)(8)
Keep in mind this is all without any post cycle therapy, and without any change in
diet or training! And although many of the studies done on oxandrolone use elderly
men or young boys as the test subjects, some evidence suggests that many of the
effects of oxandrolone are not age dependant (11). If you are following the typical
“time on = time off” protocol, this means you can lose a bunch of fat during your
time on, then keep most (if not all) of it off until your next cycle. That makes it a
great drug for athletes who are drug tested and need to be clean for their season,
yet need to keep off the fat/weight they lost on their cycle off; I’m thinking about
wrestlers and other weight-class athletes. Anavar is also the clear choice for a
“spring-cutting” cycle, to look great at the beach—you can use it up until the
summer starts, and then keep the fat off during the entire beach season!
Anavar is great for strength and cutting purposes, but not for bulking or a lot of
weight gain. In other words, what I'm saying is that everything you gain will be solid.
Personally I am leaning towards a theory that purports that the more solid your
gains are, the more you’ll keep (percentage-wise). It makes sense, when you think
about it; people make a lot of weight gains on the highly water-retentive steroids
(Dbol, A50, long estered testosteones, etc…), but lose the greatest percentage of
their gains afterwards. The same seems to be opposite for the steroids which cause
less (or no) water retention (Anavar, Primo, Winstrol, etc).
So why else may you keep such a high proportion of what you gained on ‘var? Well,
I think it may be due to it’s relatively light impact on the HPTA, which brings me to
my final point: Anavar will not totally shut down your HPTA, especially at lower doses
(unlike testosterone, which will eventually do this even at a 100mg dose, or Deca
which will do it with a single 100mg dose). This could be due, at least partly, to the
fact that Anavar doesn’t aromatize (convert to estrogen). Serum testosterone, SHBG
(Sex Hormone Binding Globulin), and LH (Leutinizing Hormone) will be slightly
suppressed with low doses of Anavar, but less than with other compounds. FSH
(Follicle Stimulating Hormone), IGF1 (Insulin Like Growth Factor 1) and GH (Growth
Hormone) will not be suppressed with a low dose of Anavar and LH will even
experience a “rebound” effect when you stop using it (3). If your endocrine system
and HPTA are funtioning normally, you should be able to use Anavar with minimal
insult to it, and can even keep most of your values within the normal range (5).
Thus, Anavar may even be ideal for use in bridges between cycles, (at very low
doses under 10mgs perhaps), or as previously mentioned, for cutting/strength cycles
at 50-100mgs.
Its relatively high cost is its only major drawback, and tablets can typically sell in
Mexico or on the black market for up to a dollar (US) per 10mgs. Many black market
dealers or underground labs, however, offer capsules, liquid form or, in some cases,
even their own brand of tabs for substantially less money than the legit
pharmaceutical versions, or even veterinary versions found overseas.
200
Here’s how Oxandrolone is Metabolized in your body:
References:
1. Proj Inf Perspect. 1997 Nov;(23):19.
2. Burns. 2003 Dec;29(8):793-7
3. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1993 Apr;38(4):393-8.
4. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1995 Sep;19(9):614-24
5. jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/84/8/2705
6. Segal S, Cooper J, Bolognia J., Treatment of lipodermatosclerosis with oxandrolone in
a patient with stanozolol-induced hepatotoxicity., J Am Acad Dermatol 2000
Sep;43(3):558-9
7. Demling RH., Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, enhances the healing of a cutaneous
wound in the rat., Wound Repair Regen 2000 Mar-Apr;8(2):97-102
8. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Oct;89(10):4863-72.
9. Demling RH, Orgill DP., The anticatabolic and wound healing effects of the
testosterone analog oxandrolone after severe burn injury., J Crit Care 2000 Mar;15(1):12
7
10. Hart DW, Wolf SE, Ramzy PI, Chinkes DL, Beauford RB, Ferrando AA, Wolfe RR,
Herndon DN., Anabolic effects of oxandrolone after severe burn., Ann Surg 2001
Apr;233(4):556-64
11. Demling RH, DeSanti L., The rate of restoration of body weight after burn injury,
using the anabolic agent oxandrolone, is not age dependent., Burns 2001 Feb;27(1):46-51
12. Demling RH, DeSanti L., Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, significantly increases
the rate of weight gain in the recovery phase after major burns., J Trauma 1997
Jul;43(1):47-51
13. Papadimitriou A, Preece MA, Rolland-Cachera MF, Stanhope R., The anabolic
steroid oxandrolone increases muscle mass in prepubertal boys with constitutional delay
of growth., J
201
14. Doeker B, Muller-Michaels J, Andler W, Induction of early puberty in a boy after
treatment with oxandrolone? Horm Res 1998;50(1):46-8
15. J Appl Physiol 96: 1055-1062, 2004. First published October 24, 2003;
doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00808.20038750-7587/04
16. James JS., Wasting syndrome: oral oxandrolone re-released in U.S., AIDS Treat
News 1995 Dec 22;(no 237):3-4
17. Drugs. 2004;64(7):725-50.
18. Mt Sinai J Med. 1999 May;66(3):201-5.
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202
Andractim
(Topical Dihydrotestosterone)
Although DHT is much more potent than testosterone in terms of both anabolic and
androgenic effects, it has several possibly nasty side effects, as well as several
problems and a couple of possible advantages inherent with its form of
administration (topical). First, though, a brief discussion of DHT is probably in order,
so bear with me.
For starters, pure DHT is a very poor choice for anabolism of any sort. I know we
can all look at its anabolic/androgenic rating and say that it’s a very good anabolic
steroid, but in actuality, what happens to DHT in the body is far different than what
we’d want, but first I’ll give you the good news about. DHT is a non-aromatizing
androgen, which as you know means it doesn’t convert to estrogen at all. This is
important because estrogen is suppressive of LH production (1), which is of course
going to be an aggravating factor in lowering your endogenous testosterone
production. In addition to not converting to that nasty test-suppressive-estrogen,
DHT will not inhibit LH production or testosterone production (1)(2)(3). DHT may
even have a suppressive effect on estrogen, in some cases. This would certainly
account for its ability to actually have a positive effect (again, in some cases) on LH
and testosterone.
This is all very good news, but unfortunately, there’s a catch. Your body reduces
DHT to inactive metabolites by way of the 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
enzyme before a lot of it can reach the androgen receptors in skeletal tissue. This
means that while it reaches your scalp and prostate relatively intact, it doesn’t make
it to your muscles that way. This is why we see so many different alterations of DHT
available on the market, from Anadrol 50 to Anavar, with so many different uses.
Andractim has the most unique use, though, I think.
Andractim has been used with some success to reduce gyno in males. It’s possible
that a lowering of circulating DHT-levels can cause Gyno (5)(6), and certainly
androgen therapy with DHT derivatives has been found useful for treatment of gyno,
so it’s very logical that a topical DHT would be a good bet to address anabolic/
androgenic steroid induced gyno. Here’s the creepy part: You’ll need to rub it on
your nipples several times per day.
Obviously this is problematic for someone with a job, who can’t be going to the
restroom and rubbing his nipples a couple of times every day. Unless rubbing his
nipples is part of his job; anyway….
203
Andractim is a topical gel, which comes in a tube, containing 80x 25mg doses of
DHT. The absorbtion rate is going to be similar to testosterone gel, or roughly 10%,
so you’re applying 2.5mgs of pure DHT to your nips every time you use this stuff.
I’d say you want to be doing this 2x per day with an equal amount per nipple, using
25-5mgs of gel each time.
References:
1. Hypothalamic sites of action for testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estrogen in the
regulation of luteinizing hormone secretion in male sheep. Endocrinology. 1997
Sep;138(9):3686-94.
2. Inhibition of LH Secretion by Localized Administration of Estrogen, but not
Dihydrotestosterone, Is Enhanced in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus During Feed
Restriction in the Young Wether. Biol Reprod. 2005 Jun 22; [Epub ahead of print]
3. Crystalline dihydrotestosterone implants in the lateral septum of male rats. A positive
effect on LH and FSH. Endocr Res. 2001 Feb-May;27(1-2):35-40.
4. Significant role of 5 alpha-reductase on feedback effects of androgen in rat anterior
pituitary cells demonstrated with a nonsteroidal 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor ONO-3805. J
Androl. 1994 Nov-Dec;15(6):521-7.
5. Case report: finasteride-induced gynecomastia in a 62-year-old man. Am J Med Sci.
1995 Jun;309(6):322-5.
6. Male pseudohermaphroditism due to 5 alpha reductase deficiency associated with
gynecomastia. Rev Hosp Clin Fac Med Sao Paulo. 1987 Mar-Apr;42(2):66-8.
204
Masteron
(Drostanolone shown with Propionate ester)
(Drostanolone Propionate)
[17beta-Hydroxy-2alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-3-one propionate]
Formula: C23 H36 O3
Molecular Weight: 360.5356
Melting Point:N/A
Manufacturer:Syntex, Various Underground Labs
Effective Dose (men):350mgs/week (*100mgs Every other day) to 500mgs/week
Effective Dose (women): 25-50mgs Every other Day to Every Third Day
Active Life:2-3 days
Detection time: 3 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio:62:25
Masteron is, to be honest, my favorite Anabolic/Androgenic Steroid (AAS). For many
years, this compound was unavailable to the average athlete; it was frequently
counterfeited, often very expensive, and almost never available on the black market.
The most common form of this product, as manufactured by major pharmaceutical
houses, is 50mg/ml ampules with either 1-2mls per amp (or vial). Needless to say,
these products used to be the only game in town, and since this drug was a
particularly sought-after compound for bodybuilding contest preparation, its price
made it prohibitive for all but the highest-level bodybuilders.
Masteron is a derivative of DHT (as you can tell from it's chemical name: 2a-methyl
dihydro-testosterone propionate), but what they fail to tell you is less obvioius is that
DHT and its derivatives are commonly used in treatment of certain forms of breast
cancer (see the etymology here: MASTectomy, gynocoMASTia, MASTeron…get it?).
Masteron is not clinically used for weight gain (as is common with most steroids), so
this makes it a very unique steroid from that perspective. Unfortunately, for that
reason much of the information on Masteron available in medical journals doesn’t
focus on weight or strength gain or even fat loss. Most information on Masteron
focuses on it’s use in treating certain forms of breast cancer, and it does this
reasonably well (4)(5). To give you an idea, Masteron + Tamoxifen actually fared
better than chemotherapy for immediate objective responses from patients (8). So?
What does this tell us? Well, this makes it a very exciting drug for a lot of reasons.
Clearly it won’t aromatize at all, nor will it have progesteronic sides—remember,
Nolvadex (and most ancillaries) are used to reduce estrogen for breast cancer
patients, so a drug used to treat breast cancer obviously wouldn’t convert to
estrogen. In addition, Masteron may in fact interact with the aromatase enzymes to
inhibit aromatization of other steroids into estrogen, and may additionally interact
205
with estrogen (as a “blocker” of sorts) at the receptor site (4)(5). This is how it helps
to combat breast cancer, obviously, but this could also be part of the reason that
Masteron is considered a “cutting” or “Pre-contest” drug. Masteron may actually be
very useful for combating estrogenic/progesteronic side effects. Yes, you read that
right: if you include Masteron in your cycle, you may not need other “ancillary” drugs
like Arimidex or Letrozole. Therefore, much like Proviron, Masteron could be used as
an anti-side-effect-drug (remember, most ancillary drugs we use to combat
estrogenic sides, like Nolvadex, Letroxole, and Arimidex were originally developed to
combat breast cancer). Along a similar line, being a DHT (DiHydroTestosterone)
derivative, it’s got a very nice ability to add muscle hardness to an already lean
physique. Masteron has a deceivingly low anabolic/androgenic ratio, but since DHT
is 5x as androgenic as testosterone and has a 3-4x higher affinity to receptor sites,
Masteron provides a lot of “bang for the Buck” when examined on a Mg for Mg basis.
In my experience, as well as that of many others, Masteron is a stronger androgen
than it appears on paper, and this could cause increased aggression. As we know,
higher androgens also produce that “hard” look prized by competitive BB’ers, and as
we all know, androgens also promote lypolysis (fat loss). The effects of Masteron, in
that regard are consistent with the documented effects of (somewhat heavier)
androgens to decrease lipoprotein lipase and upregulate-adrenergic receptors on
adipocytes, which would inhibit the accumulation of lipid (fat) and enhance the efflux
of lipid from these cells in response to catecholamines (1)(2)(3). So, like I said
previously, don’t let Masteron’s deceptively low anabolic:androgenic ratio fool you.
It helps eliminate fat as well (if not better) than much more highly scored androgens,
in part due to its being a derivative of DHT. This reduction in fat and rise in
aggression (making workouts more effective) could be beneficial for people
competing in a sport or who are on a reduced calorie diet. Sounds pretty good,
right?
Unfortunately, being a DHT derivative means that it can have certain undesirable
sides as well (acne, hairloss, prostate enlargement, etc.; you may want to consider
using Finasteride with this drug). Water retention (and increased danger of high
blood pressure) with this compound is virtually nil, and liver toxicity is not much of
an issue either. Really, you can take heaps of this stuff; the maximum theraputic
dose is pretty high: 167mgs/kg-bdywt/day. So that's 167mgs per day, every day of
the week for a 220lb person—and that's not considered excessive by the FDA, which
hasn't been very traditionally liberal on dosing protocols. So clearly, up to that dose
is very safe for almost anyone. DHT has a bad reputation for causing prostate
hypertrophy, acne, and hairloss, but most people I’ve talked to find that reputation
to be mostly undeserved at least in the case of Masteron.
Remember that year that the Chinese National Swimming Team (women’s) kicked
everyone’s ass? Or the year that the German National Swimming Team (again, I’m
talking about women) took all those Gold medals? They were all using a form of
DHT or a derivative, possibly Masteron. The German Women had very deep voices,
which leads me to believe that Masteron’s virilizing effects on women could be very
bad (there was a famous/funny interview during which the interviewer implied that
they all had deep voices, and one of them replied “Ve came here to svim… not to
sing.”). Anyway, Masteron is a great drug for any type of athlete, but possibly not
for women (at least not at high doses, perhaps 50mgs/E3D is appropriate). Sorry
girls: you can have a go with this drug, but keep the doses low.
Stacking Masteron? Well, I’d say that your best bet is with test, of course, but
206
really, due to Masteron’s reasonable binding to the androgen receptors and its high
androgenic properties, almost any cutting drug (Tren, Anavar, etc.) could be
efficientlty included with it in a cycle. I have a feeling that due to stanozolol’s
(Winstrol) non-AR mediated effects, and it’s ability to reduce SHBG, a stack including
both of these drugs would be very synergistic.
However, don’t forget the
testosterone, as Masteron will reduce your own natural testosterone levels (9), and
since you are going to have to inject Masteron every other day at least (100mgs EOD
is the lowest dose of this stuff I’d consider using), you might as well stack it with
testosterone propionate, and possibly injectable Winstrol (and/or maybe Tren
Acetate if you’re inclined to use a lot of compounds in the same cycle, and I know I
am). Eq is another popular choice to stack with Masteron.
I’d say that optimum effects of this stuff are found with 4-500mgs/week (based on
conversations I've had with people who have used Masteron, as well as my own
results). I happen to have a friend who has gone up to 600mgs/week with Masteron
and didn’t feel that it provided significantly better results than 400-500mgs per
week. I think, for maximum cost effectiveness, 400mgs per week is ideal. It’s also
important to remember to spread those shots out on an every other day basis, as
the Masteron I’m talking about here is the propionate version, and as such, requires
more frequent dosing. Of course I know there is a version of Masteron with an
enanthenate ester dosed at 200mg/ml being produced by a very good underground
lab (I personally used the “alpha” version, as a sort of human guinea pig almost a
year ago), but that’s not the version of Masteron I’m talking about in this profile. In
addition, there is another form of Masteron out there: drostanolone (base)—yeah,
that’s right, Masteron without an ester. It’s called Dromostan and it’s made by the
Xelox company. I’ve never tried this version, and don’t know anyone who has, but
it’s my suspicion that it would be a very potent product, but would need to be
injected every day.
If you are looking for this drug from a major pharmaceutical company, I’d caution
you to reconsider that route, and go with an underground lab instead. There are
many very reputable underground labs operating out there, with no known
counterfits. On the other hand, genuine Masteron is one of the most difficult drugs to
find on the black market if you’re looking for a “Human-grade” product made by a
major pharmaceutical house. In addition, UGLabs commonly offer this product for a
very reasonable $50-75 for a 10ml bottle dosed at 100mg/ml. Trying to find the
Syntex (or comparable Human-Grade) version of this product will bring a mg for mg
cost of 2-5x that amount.
To recap: Masteron is derived from DHT; could be used as an anti-estrogenic drug;
doesn’t convert to estrogen and actually works to reduce it in your body; can
possibly cause hairloss and other DHT-related sides; is great for all types of athletes
and BB’ers, but not women in high doses; stacks well with almost anything; is very
androgenic; is awesome for losing fat and getting “hard”; and should be used at
around 400-500mgs/week. It’s no surprise that it’s the favorite steroid of many
people, myself included.
207
Here’s how drostanolone is metabolized by your body:
References:
1. Marin P, Oden B, and Bjorntorp P. Assimilation and mobilization of triglycerides in
subcutaneous abdominal and femoral adipose tissue in vivo in men: effects of androgens.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 80: 239-243, 1995
2. Rebuffe-Scrive M, Marin P, and Bjorntpor P. Effect of testosterone on abdominal
adipose tissue in men. Int J Obes 15: 791-795, 1991.
3. Xu XF, De Pergola G, and Bjorntorp P.Testosterone increases lipolysis and the number
of beta-adrenoceptors in male rat adipocytes. Endocrinology 128: 379-382, 1991.
4. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol. 1983 Sep;19(9):1231-7.
5. Cancer Res. 1982 Nov;42(11):4408-12.
6. Gan No Rinsho. 1986 Apr;32(4):345-8. Japanese.
7. Khirurgiia (Sofiia). 1987;40(6):80-6. Bulgarian.
8. Sem Hop. 1982 Sep 23;58(34):1919-23.
9. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1965 Apr;25:476-9.
208
Masteron Enanthate
(*Shown Without Enanthate Ester)
(Drostanolone Enanthate)
[17beta-Hydroxy-2alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-3-one Enanthate]
Molecular Weight: 360.5356
Formula: C23H36O2
Melting Point:N/A
Manufacturer: Dpharm, others
Effective Dose (men):400-600mgs/week
Effective Dose (women): 100mgs/week
Active Life: 8 days
Detection time: up to 3 months
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio: 62:25
This is a compound very near and dear to my heart, as I was actually one of the first
people in the world to ever use it! I was contacted by the owner of Dpharm after
writing my original article on Masteron, and asked a bunch of questions concerning
making this drug with the enanthate ester. It seems that another lab had tried to
produce this drug and people were getting sick from it. The attempt to get it right is
really a very cool example of an underground lab pushing the frontier of developing
anabolic steroids beyond those of the major pharmaceutical houses.
So of course, I told him to send me a bunch of the prototype and I’d shoot it, and
we’d see if I got ill. It wasn’t much of a plan, in retrospect, but it’s what we did.
Anyway, I get this stuff in my mailbox a few days later—it’s virtually clear, and in an
unLabeled vial. Well, I shot ½ a cc into each biceps, to see if it made me sore, then
I tried a cc in each delt. Everything seemed ok. It was supposed to be 220mgs/ml,
but the Lab reports said it was only around 90% pure.
So as you may have guessed, I’m still alive. It didn’t get me sick or anything, leading
me and the owner of the Lab to speculate that the other Lab had some unrelated
purity issues, and the Dpharm version didn’t share them.
Anyway, I gave him my feedback on the product, and another fine anabolic steroid
entered the black market!
209
It’s dosed at 200mgs/ml, and comes in a 10ml multi use vial, with (of course) the
enanthate ester instead of Masteron’s traditional propionate ester. Though this
particular compound acts just like the one with the propionate ester, in almost all
respects. Let’s see how it differs.
Now,we know a couple of things from the Minto et. al studies (see the profile for
Deca-Durabolin); the first is that higher mg/ml steroids give higher blood plasma
levels of a given steroid, and we also know that shorter esters do this as well. So
why would anyone make a nice cutting steroid like Masteron (drostanolone
propionate) into a longer estered version? In this case, the higher concentration
(200mgs/ml) and longer ester (enanthate) allow us to do several interesting things
with this compound. One I’ve heard of is people running a gram per week of it, and
that would only require two 2.5ml shots! Another thing I’ve seen is people using this
with a long estered Tren and Test (along with an ancillary compound like Letro) and
having a great cutting cycle that only requires a 1-2 day a week injection schedule.
210
Miotolan
(Furazabol)
[17-alpha-methyl-5-alpha-androsta-2,3-furazan,17b-ol]
Molecular Weight: 330.4692
Molecular Formula: C20H30N2O2
Melting Point: N/A
Manufacturer:Various Underground Labs
Release Date: 1989
Effective Dose: 1-2mg/kg of Bodyweight
Active Life:+/- 4 hours
Detection Time: 3 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio: 270-330:73-94
Furazabol was originally manufactured in Japan in tabs of 1 mg strength. Dan
Duchaine was very unimpressed with this drug, noting that he rarely saw any very
large Japanese bodybuilders. I’m inclined to agree, but let’s take a look at it, since it
has become quite popular ever since its reappearance on many underground labs’
price lists.
Finding out information on this stuff was agonizing, since most of it is in Japanese,
and no athletes really use it. Anyway, with respect to its half-life and active life (and
detection time), I’m pretty much estimating from what I’ve seen in studies. One
study said that the half-lives of unchanged Furazabol in two human subjects were
1.87 and 1.29 h respectively, and the recovered amount in 48 h was averaged to
24% (33% for one, 15% for the other, respectively) (4). Unfortunately for tested
athletes, Furazabol is metabolized in the body into 16-hydroxyfurazabol and then
excreted in urine. The presence of this compound in urine can be monitored with a
very simple, standard procedure (4) for urine screening, and this is incorporated into
the general dope testing protocol for anabolic steroids employed by the IOC and
other such no-fun-agencies.
The really interesting thing about this stuff (to me, anyway) is that it’s a DHT
derived steroid, with a decent anabolic rating that lowers cholesterol! It is often
compared with Winstrol, for many good reasons: strucrurally, it is a DHT molecule
with a 17-alpha-methyl group (making it both liver-toxic and orally available, as you
know). Additionally, it has no 3-keto group, which is needed for a strong androgenic
binding ability, so this lack probably impairs its overall androgenic rating. As with
Winstrol, it’s not estrogenic in any way, doesn’t aromatize, and you’ll only have to
worry about DHT-sides from it (acne, hairloss, etc.), and possible liver problems.
However, while Winny really KILLS your cholesterol values, furazabol actually
improves them! In one study, the administration of furazabol at the daily dose of
211
0.04, 0.2 or 1 mg/subject (in this case, rats) for 3 months, there were substantial
increases noted in the plasminogen (a substance found in body fluids and blood
plasma that, when activated, becomes plasmin—an enzyme found in plasma that
catalyzes the breakdown of blood-clotting agents) activator activity in blood.
Furthermore, in the rats’ lung tissue there was an expected decrease in plasma
fibrinogen level. This will, of course, serve to increase your blood-clotting time
considerably. There was also a decrease in plasma cholesterol levels with
administration of Furazabol (8), which certainly means it’s a reasonably safe oral.
One month after cessation of the furazabol treatment, these altered parameters
tended to return to normal (8), as is very common with similar side effects from
most anabolic steroids (notably, this is very similar to Winny, once again).
This steroid is quite confusing to me, as it was found to be a good treatment for
hyperlipemia (it lowers cholesterol), and this was without affecting proteinuria (the
prevention of excretion of amino acids) (12). Generally, steroids affect proteinuria
positively, as you’d expect (and want) them to. This stuff is DHT-derived, and it also
appears to have a relatively low androgen binding ability, which makes the lack of
effect it had on proteinuria when compared with it’s anabolic rating even more
confusing. It should be noted that doses used in this study were oddly high for a
product which comes in 1mg presentation: 1.1 mg/kg/day. That means a 200 lb
bodybuilder would be using about 100 mg/day. I think a reasonable anabolic effect
would be had with furazabol roughly 50-100mgs/day. This may also be a decent
steroid for use in a cycle if one were worried about cholesterol. You’d get an
anabolic effect (remember, its anabolic rating is roughly the same as Winstrol’s);
thus you could build muscle and lower cholesterol with just one pill. Well, actually
about a hundred pills, since it comes in 1mg form. Why make a pill in 1mg form if
you need to take 100/day? I just don’t understand.
Furazabol is not estrogenic in any way. It’s structure and its lack of estrogenic action
make it an appropriate precontest drug, as I can’t imagine anything gained with it
being less than high-quality muscle. There is only a slim chance of androgenic risk,
so this may be a nice drug for women as well as men, although certainly not worth
consideration for the latter as a stand-alone anabolic. The most unfortunate part
about this drug is it’s current availability (low) and cost (high).
As a quick recap, let’s just keep in mind that this stuff is essentially Winstrol that
helps your cholesterol instead of harming it. I looked at the steran nucleus of both
Winstrol and Miotolan (a likely candidate because, as I said, it also lowers
cholesterol). They are both DHT-derived, which I knew off-hand, and this made me
more curious about subbing Miotolan for the Winny. Anyway, they are DHT-Derived
with a 17-alpha-methyl group (making them methylated, or 17aa, for oral
availability). Neither have a 3-keto group; both having instead 2 nitrogen atoms and
2 double bonds—a very weird looking structure—which also makes them both very
weak binders to the AR, perfect for stacking with the strong-binding-Tren. The
difference (that I could see) between the two is that in lieu of the 2,3-pyrazol group
found in the stanozolol structure, furazabol has a 2,3-furazan group (hence the
name). Think of it as Winny, when you can’t use Winny.
212
References:
1. Improvement in steroid screening for doping control with special emphasis on
stanozolol. J Chromatogr A. 2003 Jan 24;985(1-2):375-86. provement in steroid
screening for doping control with special emphasis on
2. Excretion study of furazabol, an anabolic steroid, in human urine. J Chromatogr B
Biomed Appl. 1996 Dec 6;687(1):79-83.
3. 17-Epimerization of 17 alpha-methyl anabolic steroids in humans: metabolism and
synthesis of 17 alpha-hydroxy-17 beta-methyl steroids. Steroids. 1992 Nov;57(11):537
50.
4. Urinary excretion of furazabol metabolite. J Anal Toxicol. 1990 Mar-Apr;14(2):120-2.
5. Inhibitory effect and interaction of stanozolol with pig testicular cytochrome P-450 (17
alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase). Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1989 Jul;37(7):1855-8.
6. Changes in the cytoplasmic androgen receptor of rat ventral prostate after
administration of androgens, antiandrogens and anabolic steroids. Endocrinol Jpn. 1980
Aug;27(4):483-93.
7. Pharmacological studies on experimental nephritic rats. (4) Improvement of
hyperlipemic models in rats utilizing anti-rat kidney rabbit serum and effects of anti
hyperlipemic agents on serum lipid levels. Jpn J Pharmacol. 1978 Oct;28(5):729-38.
8. Enhancement of fibrinolytic and thrombolytic potential in the rat by treatment with an
anabolic steroid, furazabol. Thromb Haemost. 1976 Nov 30;36(2):451-64
9. Enhancement of fibrinolytic and thrombolytic potential in the rat by an anabolic
steroid, furazabol.Thromb Res. 1976 May;8(2 suppl):107-14.
10. Some non-hormonal properties of 17 -hydroxy-17 -methyl-5 -androstano(2,3
c)furazan (furazabol). Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1973 Jan;21(1):21-4.
11. [Influences of testosterone, progesterone and furazabol, an anabolic steroid, on the
cholesterol-shifting response to estrone] Yakugaku Zasshi. 1972 Mar;92(3):316-21.
Japanese
12. Suzuki Y, Honda Y, Ito M. Pharmacological studies on experimental nephritic rats.
(4) Improvement of hyperlipemic models in rats utilizing anti-rat kidney rabbit serum and
effects of anti-hyperlipemic agents on serum lipid levels. Jpn J Pharmacol 1978
Oct;28(5):729-38
13. Kim T, Suh JW, Ryu JC, Chung BC, Park J. Excretion study of furazabol, an anabolic
steroid, in human urine. J Chromatogr B Biomed Appl 1996 Dec 6;687(1):79-83
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Primobolan
(Methenolone)
(+ acetate)
(Injectable version is Methenolone + Enanthate Ester)
(Oral Version is + Acetate Ester)
(Injectable Version is + Enanthate Ester)
[17beta-Hydroxy-1-methyl-5alpha-androst-1-en-3-one]
Formula: C20H30O2
Molecular weight of base: 302.4558
Molecular weight of Acetate ester: 60.0524
Molecular weight of Enanthate ester: 130.1864
Melting Point: N/A
Manufacturer: Schering
(+Enanthate)
Effective dose(oral): (Men)50-100mgs/day; (Women) 10-25mgs/day
Effective dose (injectable): (Men) 350-600mgs/week; (Women) 100mgs/week
Active Life: 10-14 days (injectable); 4-6hrs (oral)
Detection Time: 4-5 weeks
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio (Range): 88:44-57
Primobolan is one of those anabolic steroids with a cult following not unlike the old
original version of Masteron. Actually, as you can easily see from it’s anabolic/
androgenic ratio, it’s a pretty weak steroid—but actually stronger(!) than Masteron in
both regards. I don’t know anyone who has run both compounds at the same dose.
We are probably justified in speculating that you’d probably get similar results from
either of them, when you consider the fact that you are getting quite a bit less actual
drug and more ester when you choose injectable Primobolan (which has the very
long enanthate ester attached to it) over Masteron (which has the very short
propionate ester attached to it).
I happen to be one of the few people who have used drostanolone enanthate
(Masteron with the enanthate ester attached) as well as methenolone enanthate
(injectable Primobolan). I can tell you that the results from these two compounds,
when ester and mg potency are the same, are in fact very similar.
Let’s flesh out some of the various general effects of Primobolan, before we get into
the differences between the oral and injectable versions. One study performed on
sheep involved administering 100mgs of Methenolone, and electronically stimulating
their lats (electronic stimulation was used because they kept falling off the chin-up
bars). Anyway, when compared with the control group, the group receiving the drug
gained significantly more muscle mass as well as strength (1)(2). It also has a
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relatively high affinity for binding to the AR, actually binding better than testosterone
(3). This ability to strongly bind to the AR may be why Primobolan is such a good
“fat burner.” Strong AR binding has been positively correlated with lypolysis (fat
burning) (8).
In addition, as this steroid can actually aid in reducing breast tumors, no ancillary
products need be considered for use with Primobolan, and like Masteron, it may
actually be a useful ancillary agent in it’s own right. Also, just like Masteron,
Primobolan has no propensity to aromatize (convert to estrogen).
Although nobody would ever suggest to use Primobolan as a bulking agent, it’s been
studied as an agent to halt wasting and possibly reverse many of the adverse effects
of anemia. It is a shocking failure in both areas, according to some of the case
studies I’ve read (5)(6), and this should come to no surprise to anyone. Anadrol
reigns supreme in this area, and nobody in the athletic community would ever
compare those two drugs. However, Michael Mooney and many other respected
doctors who work with AIDS patients have found sufficient evidence to claim that
Primobolan is an immune enhancer and as such is very useful for AIDS patients.
AIDS patients aren’t really in need of bulking drugs, so an immune enhancer like
Primo which will add small, quality gains in muscle is perfect for them. And since we
aren’t even going to vaguely consider the use of Primobolan as a bulking agent,
clearly this leaves us with considering it primarily for use in gaining and maintaining
lean tissue. It’s a great choice for this purpose, and many competitors have used it
very successfully to retain muscle while on a reduced-calorie diet. The reason Primo
is so useful for this purpose is that one of it’s primary functions is to help your body
retain nitrogen (7) at a greatly enhanced rate. The greater your nitrogen retention,
the more muscle you will build. In the case of using primo as a pre-contest drug,
this nitrogen retention will help you retain muscle and ensure that your dieting
preferentially favors fat loss over muscle loss.
Primobolan is a very unique steroid, as it is one of the few that comes in both an oral
as well as an injectable version. I suppose Winstrol does also, but Primobolan
actually has a different ester on the oral (acetate) and injectable (enanthate)
versions. The oral version is one of the more interesting oral compounds I’ve looked
into. For starters, it’s one of the few compounds available to athletes and
bodybuilders taht is both oral as well as non-17-alpha-alkylation. This alteration is
(as I’m sure you remember from other stuff I’ve written) what generally makes oral
steroids survive their first pass through your liver, but also makes them hepatoxic
(liver–toxic). Well, oral Primo doesn’t have this feature, so it is very mild on your
liver (actually it basically isn’t liver toxic at all), but also is largely destroyed by it,
since 17 beta estrification and 1 alkylation is the method used to make this stuff
orally available. You’ll need to take a lot of this stuff for it to be effective:
100mgs/day of the oral version is a safe estimate for reasonable gains. Women can
get away with less, perhaps 25mgs/day. Even though the acetate ester has a 2-3
day active life, your liver will do some damage to oral primo, so every day dosing will
still be necessary.
When men were given a 30-45mg dose of the oral version of Primo, they
experienced a 15-65% decrease in gonadotropin levels (9). Remember, I said
100mgs is a good dose for gains—well, you’ll also reduce your gonadotropin levels
considerably. I have personally never understood why people recommend either oral
or injectable Primobolan as a possible bridging compound for this reason. Maybe at
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a too-low-to-do-anything dose of 10mgs it could be used as a bridge. And forget
about using injectable Primo to bridge.
Hey, speaking about injectable Primo…
I’ve used this stuff at 200mgs/week and wasn’t very impressed with it. Generally, I
think injectable primo needs to be used at a dose of at least 350mgs/week (100mgs/
every other day), and preferably at a dose of 400-600mgs/week. I happen to like
running it with testosterone propionate, but for convenience I would imagine most
people would run it with testosterone enanthate, to keep dosing times the same
(shooting it twice per week, in most cases).
The unfortunate truth about injectable Primo is that it’s a very expensive chemical to
obtain, and that price is reflected in the cost to the average consumer. Ten dollars
per 1ml/100mg ampule is not unheard of, and I’ve seen it go for more. This is, of
course, absurd. As if that’s not enough, this is also one of the most commonly
counterfitted steroids on the black market. I recommend buying Primobolan (either
the oral or injectable) from a respected underground lab instead of trying to play a
game of “spot the fake steroid” in Mexico or Europe. The underground versions
should cost between $5-7 for 100mgs of methenolone and I wouldn’t really consider
paying more for it.
Here’s how your body metabolizes methenolone:
References:
1. Anabolic steroids (metenolone) improve muscle performance and hemodynamic
characteristics in cardiomyoplasty. Ann Thorac Surg. 1995 Apr;59(4):961-9; discussion
969-70.
2. Effect of an anabolic steroid (Metenolon) on contractile performance of the chronically
stimulated latissimus dorsi in sheep. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 1994;8(4):214-9.
3. Relative binding affinity of anabolic-androgenic steroids: comparison of the binding to
the androgen receptors in skeletal muscle and in prostate, as well as to sex hormone
binding globulin. Endocrinology. 1984 Jun;114(6):2100-6.
216
4. [Anabolic therapy in metastatic breast cancer] Med Klin. 1981 Nov 20;76(24):689-91.
German.
5. Partial remission and severe adverse effect caused by metenolone acetate in a male
patient with aplastic anem Eur J Haematol. 1995 Jul;55(1):57-8.
6. Fatal outcome of a patient with severe aplastic anemia after treatment with metenolone
acetate. Ann Hematol. 1993 Jul;67(1):41-3.
7. Metabolic effects of anabolic steroids. Wien Med Wochenschr. 1993;143(14-15):368
75.
8. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11;1244(1):117-20.
9. Comparative Studies about the influence of MetenoloneAcetate and Mesterolone on
hypophysis and male gonads. Arzneimittelforshung. 1970 20(4) 545-7
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
217
Proviron
(Mesterolone)
[1 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one]
Molecular Formula: C20H32O2
Molecular Weight: 304.4716
Melting Point: N/A
Manufacturer: Schering
Release Date: 1960
Effective Dose: 25-200mgs/day
Active Life: up to 12 hours
Detection Time: 5-6weeks
Androgenic: Anabolic Ratio:30-40/100-150
Proviron (mesterolone) is basically an orally active DHT (dihydrotestosterone)
preparation. For comparision, we can think of some other orally prepared DHT
compounds like Winstrol, Anavar, etc. Those both act very similarly in mechanism to
Proviron, but a more accurate way to think of this compound is as something like
“Oral Masteron.” As I’m sure you noticed, their anabolic/androgenic ratio is very
similar. Remember, DHT is 3 to 4 times as androgenic as testosterone and is, of
course, incapable of forming estrogen. Also, Proviron is quite unique in that a simple
look at its 4-ring structure will show us that it is not going to be too liver toxic, since
it is not c17-Alpha-Alkylated, as many orals are. This modification (lacking in
Proviron) makes drugs more liver toxic. Proviron has a 1-metyhl group added,
instead--looks pretty great on paper, right? Well, as usual, things tend to look better
on paper than they do in the body. Your body has a negative feedback loop which
prevents it from having too much DHT floating around (if you’ve been paying
attention up to now, you already know this). An excess of DHT will eventually be
changed into another (largely not anabolic) compound.
So let’s go back to the comparison with being some sort of “Oral Masteron.”
Basically Proviron is 5-alpha reduced and not capable of forming estrogen. More
importantly, however, it has a very high affinity for binding to the aromatase enzyme
(the enzyme responsible for converting all that good testosterone in your body into
all that nasty estrogen). That means if you choose to take Proviron with testosterone
(and I know you wouldn’t even be doing a cycle without including some form of
testosterone) and/or any aromatizable steroid, it should actually serve to prevent
estrogen build up by the aforementioned binding to the aromatase enzyme, which
prevents aromatase from doing its dirty work and making a bunch of estrogen out of
the other steroids you are taking. It should also be noted that Proviron also binds
very well to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin, a hormone responsible for
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reducing the amount of circulating free testosterone in your body) (1). As a matter
of fact, in the last study I read, it bound to SHBG better than any other drug studied.
Also, I’d like to note that Proviron bound to the anabolic receptor better than any
oral anabolic (except for the insanely toxic methyltrienolone), better than
testosterone, but not as well as Nandrolone (1). Unfortunately, as we know, DHT
also has a high affinity for binding to receptors in the scalp and prostate, causing
some possible nasty side effects, like male pattern baldness and prostate
enlargement. It’s important to remember that DHT and DHT derived compounds are
used quite successfully to treat gynocomastia, and in this area, Proviron is no
different.
Let’s delve into some of the positive points of this drug before we go any farther.
androgen receptors are found in fat cells as well as muscle cells (5), and while they
act on the AR in muscle cells to promote growth, they also act directly on the AR in
fat cells to affect fat burning (9)(3). The stronger the androgen binds to the AR, the
higher the lipolytic (fat burning) effect on adipose (fat) tissue (6)(2). As if that’s not
enough good news, some steroids (notably, testosterone) even increase the numbers
of ARs in muscle and fat (9)(7). Thus, if you are taking a simple stack of proviron
and testosterone, you’ll have more of the Test you shoot as free testosterone floating
around building muscle (compliments of the Proviron) and more androgen receptors
to be bound to (compliments of your testosterone) by your Proviron, thus causing
more fat loss. Testosterone and Proviron is a very nice synergistic stack, pretty
nearly an “ideal” stack of an oral and injectable, because both drugs will actually act
to enhance each other.
So what we have here is a steroid that can basically make other steroids more
effective by preventing their conversion into estrogen, as well as increasing the
amount of circulating free testosterone in your body. This of course all provides a
more hardened and quality look to muscles. Proviron is very much a “synergistic”
drug in this respect, and its inclusion in any cycle would definitely make all of the
other steroids perform better, and provide better gains. This is all compounded by
the fact that Proviron is a very lipolytic (fat-burning) drug.
Now, as if all of this weren’t enough, let’s talk about how Proviron affects your HPTA
(hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular-axis), the thing that regulates the male hormonal
system. When a reasonable dose of this stuff is given (100-150mgs/day), it had no
depressing effect on low or normal serum FSH and LH levels (6). Follicle Stimulating
Hormone (FSH) and Leutenizing Hormone (LH) are two hormones that send a signal
to your testes to produce testosterone. Thus, by not suppressing those hormones,
your normal testosterone levels will remain intact. This points to a novel use for this
compound during post-cycyle-therapy: a non-suppressive “bridge” between cycles.
In fact, in yet another study, administration of Proviron (basically the same dose as
in the last study) produced no changes in steroids, thyroid hormones, gonadotropins
or PRL (prolactin levels—you want those to remain low) (8).
Unfortunately, this stuff is not too hot on it’s own. It’s a good drug for inclusion in a
cycle containing testosterone and other armoatizable steroids, and it’s a good drug
for a possible “bridge” between cycles. Alone, however, as an androgenic or anabolic
agent its effects have been very weak in both studies (9), as well as in the
experience of everyone I spoke to about it. This may be due to the addition of the 1
methyl-group to DHT, which makes this stuff orally active. Whatever the case, as a
stand-alone anabolic or androgenic compound, it’s not too impressive.
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This drug is a rare find on the black market, and many underground labs do not
produce it, but if you can find it, I’d say that you shouldn’t be paying more than .50
cents for each 50mg tab.
Here’s how your body metabolizes Mesterolone:
References:
1. Relative binding affinity of anabolic-androgenic steroids: comparison of the binding to
the androgen receptors in skeletal muscle and in prostate, as well as to sex hormone
binding globulin.Endocrinology. 1984 Jun;114(6):2100-6.
2. APMIS. 2000 Dec;108(12):838-46.
3. (Xu X, et al. "The effects of androgens on the regulation of lipolysis in adipose
precursor cells." Endocrinology 1990 Feb;126(2):1229 ).
4. J Anim Sci. 1992 Nov;70(11):3381-90.
5. Am J Physiol. 1998 Jun;274(6 Pt 1):C1645-52.
6. The effect of mesterolone on sperm count, on serum follicle stimulating hormone,
luteinizing hormone, plasma testosterone and outcome in idiopathic oligospermic men.Int
J Gynaecol Obstet. 1988 Feb;26(1):121-8.
7. J Appl. Physiol.94 1153-61 2003
8. Effect of non aromatizable androgens on LHRH and TRH responses in primary
testicular failure.Horm Metab Res. 1984 Sep;16(9):492-7.
9. [Androgen substitution in the andrological disease picture] Andrologia. 1983 May
Jun;15(3):283-6. German.
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Winstrol
Stanozolol
[17beta-Hydroxy-17-methyl-5alpha-androstano[3,2-c]pyrazole]
Molecular Formula: C22H36N2O
Molecular Weight: 344.5392
Melting Point:N/A
Manufacturer: (Originally) Sterling
Release Date:1962
Effective Dose(men): 50-100mgs/day
Effective Dose (women): 2.5-10mgs/day
Active Life:8hours
Detection Time:3 weeks (oral) to 9 weeks (injectable)
Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio:320:30
Stanozolol is a very commonly used anabolic steroid for cutting cycles. While many
people will attempt to use Dianabol or even Anadrol for cutting cycles, I’ve really
never heard of anyone using stanozolol for anything except a cutting cycle. It’s a bit
of a one-trick-pony in this respect. Let me repeat that: stanozolol is a cutting drug.
Not many people will argue for its use in a bulking cycle. It’s certainly not a very
effective compound for treating anemia (1) and thus, one could rightly assume that
it’s role in bulking cycles is very limited.
One novel use for Winstrol in any cycle (perhaps even bulking) would be to use it at
a very limited dose, in order to lower SHBG (2). One of the properties of Winstrol is
it’s profound ability to lower SHBG much more than other steroids. A dose of
.2mg/kg lowered SHBG significantly, which would, in turn, raise the amount of free
testosterone circulating in the body. As with 99% of steroids, however, it’s important
to note that suppression of your natural hormonal levels will occur (though perhaps
not to the extent that it will with many other steroids) (10). As with running virtually
any compound, testosterone supplementation (i.e. running Test in a cycle containing
Winstrol) is warranted to avoid possible sexual dysfunction.
Adding it to a heavy bulking cycle could be problematic, as stanozolol is a 17aa
compound, meaning that it’s been altered to endure the first pass through your liver
without being destroyed. This makes it an orally active compound, so many people
choose to take the pills which are available from both legitimate pharmaceutical
companies as well as underground labs. Unfortunately, since it’s 17aa, it is also liver
toxic; in fact, stanozolol has one of the worst hepatoxicity (mg for mg) of any
steroid. This is the reason adding it to a bulking cycle could be problematic;
generally a bulking cycle will be very heavy, dosage wise as well as toxicity-wise. It
also has undesirable results on Cholesterol, and a mere 6mgs/day of stanozolol can
221
lower HDL by 33% and raise LDL by 29% (3). Cardiac Hypertrophy, even at lower
doses could be a concern with Winstrol as well (4), thus many people limit their
intake of stanozolol to precontest or summer-cutting types of cycles. It’s generally
accepted that due to the toxicity issues of stanozolol, its use should be limited to 6
weeks. As with anything though, many people have run it for up to 12 weeks with no
problems. I ran Winstrol for about 3 months (12 weeks) at a dose of 100mgs every
other day (along with Test Prop at 125mgs, every other day) and I suffered no ill
effects. My joints felt fine, and I can say that the only thing that was undesirable
about that cycle was the injection pain. Generally, people report a "dry" and less
lubricated feeling in their joints when on this drug (fluid retention is nil with
stanozolol), and also a "dry" overall look as regards contest prep. This could be due
to a sort of "reverse-osmotic" effect; of course this is speculation, but people do look
"dryer" on Winnie, and some even look dryer in the site they inject (more on this
later). There are many conflicting reports on tendon strength and stanozolol, even in
medical journals. Some reports state that it weakens tendons, others that it
strengthens them (and some speculation on the Internet among many “guru’s” is
that it strengthens them unevenly, leading to possible injury). For this reason, it
may be best for athletes in explosive or high-impact sports to stay away from this
drug. It has certainly been shown to be beneficial in some bone ailments induced by
glucocorticoid induced stress (5). It also has collagen producing properties (11), but
with all of the anecdotal problems athletes repoert suffered with their joints while on
stanozolol, I simply can not recommend it with confidence to strength/speed
athletes. I can say that personally, it was an effective compound for me and did not
cause joint duress, but I can do without the discomfort of the shots, and have found
other DHT based compounds to be far more effective (Masteron springs to mind).
As previously stated, this compound is unique, as it is available in both an oral form
as well as an injectable form. Both forms contain the exact same compound, but
injecting this compound (and yes, you can drink the injectable version, and no you
shouldn’t) is superior to ingesting it orally in terms of nitrogen retention (6), and
thus one would also imagine, for overall anabolism. Injecting it also has the
advantage of avoiding the “first pass” through your liver, and thus places your liver
under less stress.
Stanozolol is also one of the few compounds that women can take safely, as it’s
anabolic: androgenic ratio is quite skewed towards anabolism. It’s generally accepted
that women can tolerate around 5-10mgs a day of this compound. Men, on the other
hand can dose themselves in the .5-1.5mg/kg range. I find 100mgs injected every
other day to be sufficient, but of course, even with the injectable form, every day
dosing is optimal. I tend to favor DHT based compounds, and have enjoyed great
success with a Winstrol/Masteron/testosterone cycle, but I suspect that replacing the
Masteron in that cycle with trenbolone would prove more beneficial for most
bodybuilders seeking to get ripped.
Although the anabolic ratio of this product is very high as compared to its androgenic
actions, not many people report huge weight gains off of stanozolol. Also,
interestingly, it has a relatively weak AR binding ability (7), which is quite unusual
for a “cutting” steroid. Many of the effects of this drug, as relates to building muscle,
are probably from its very high protein synthesizing ability (6)(8). In addition, since
this compound is derived from DHT, it tends to promote a very nice, “quality” look to
the user’s muscles, with little or no water retention. Winstrol does not aromatize at
any rate and has even been speculated to have anti-progestenic properties (in at
least some cases, where it may “block” that receptor) (9). If one were to run
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ancillary compounds with stanozolol, perhaps tamoxifen would be appropriate for it’s
beneficial effects on blood lipids, but an anti-estrogen (in it’s classic sense) would be
unwarranted; proper post cycle therapy is still needed, though.
Most underground labs produce Winstrol at very reasonable prices, in both an oral as
well as injectable form. Unfortunately, production value differs vastly due to the
varying size of the stanozolol powder used to make the injectable version; the finer
the powder, the smaller gauge needle it will fit through, and the easier the injection
will be. Of course the opposite is also true. In any case, you should be paying under
$100 for a 10ml bottle of 100mg/ml concentration, and roughly the same for 100 or
so 10mg tablets.
Here’s how Stanozolol is metabolized by your body:
References:
1.Trop Doct. 2004 Jul;34(3):149-52.
2. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1989 Jun;68(6):1195-200
3. JAMA. 1989 Feb 24;261(8):1165-8.
4. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 Jan;93(1):43-8. Epub 2005 Jan 25.
5. Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao. 2003 Nov;23(11):1117-20.
6. Can J Vet Res. 2000 Oct;64(4):246-8.
7. Endocrinology. 1984 Jun;114(6):2100-6.
8. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1997 Sep 15;211(6):719-22
9. Agents Actions. 1994 Mar;41(1-2):37-43.
10. Chemical Muscle Enhancement
11. J Invest Dermatol. 1998 Dec;111(6):1193-7.
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Chapter 10
Ancillary Compounds
This is a category of products pioneered by Dan Duchaine. He first thought of using
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) to help prevent gyno, and later, the use of Clomid to restore
endogenous testosterone production after a cycle. The story behind the tamoxifen
discovery, in typical Duchaine fashion is that he found a lonely (gay) doctor and a
male bodybuilder who was willing to be examined for prostate and testicular cancer
in return for a ‘script for some Nolvadex. No, I’m not kidding. Anyway, I didn't know
much about anti-estrogens and their ilk before I started researching them a couple
of years ago, and I'll admit another thing: I didn't care. I knew that 10mgs of
Nolvadex per day was all I ever needed to not get gyno, though 150 mgs/day of
Clomid seemed to work the same for me. Cytadren (remember that stuff?) worked
for me also, at 250mgs/day, but it seemed to make me more prone to joint pain and
problems. HCG worked best for me when I shot 500i.u. every other day post cycle
for about 3 weeks. Arimidex was too expensive. AND THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO
KNOW!
Now nobody uses Cytadren anymore. We have affordable Arimidex (anastrozole) in
liquid form. We have Letrozole. People were using Cialis to maintain sexual ability
after cycles, and there was this stuff called “Kynoselen” that became very popular for
athletes looking to maintain a little extra edge during their off-time. Finally, some
people were even injecting something called “Adequan” to help their joints out on a
cycle. The whole category of ancillary compounds has been expanded to include not
only anti-estrogens but other similarly useful compounds, like EPO and others, all of
which provide us with more options to achieve our goals, without necessarily taking
more steroids.
But I had a lot of work to do to catch up….
In the long run, I wasn't that interested in what all this other stuff did because I
already knew what worked for me. Well, keep reading and you'll find out why I was
wrong, what my new plan is for during a cycle and post-cycle recovery and some
other interesting stuff about not getting any side effects from ‘roids. I was, of
course, wrong in my initial estimation of this class of drugs.
So, first things first. Some steroids convert to estrogen. As you know, this is through
the aromatase enzyme, and the process is called (duh) aromatization. When this
happens you can get side effects associated with having too much estrogen,
including bloating, gynocomastia, acne, and so on. Some steroids on the other hand,
have progesteronic activity (Deca, for example actually fits into the progesterone
receptor with 20% the efficiency of actual progesterone!) (1). The symptoms (acne,
etc...) are the more or less the same for progesteronic and estrogenic effects. Note
that I didn't say that these other steroids convert to progesterone, but rather that
they have progesteronic effects. That's because the steroid is able to act on the
progesterone receptor without conversion to another substance. Hence, on my old
bulking cycle of 600mgs per week of Deca and 750mgs per week of Test, anti
estrogens would only help with the aromatization of the test and not the
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progesteronic activity of the Deca, which would amplify the estrogen’s effects!.
Know what else? Here are a bunch of other compounds that don't aromatize
significantly (that’s good news), and hence don't need any amount of anti-estrogens:
methenolone, stanozolol, dromostanolone, oxandrolone, mesterolone, stenbolone,
and trenbolone (though it acts on the progesterone receptor with 60% the efficiency
of progesterone itself, according to the last study I cited). Taking a big dose of any
of these? Anti -estrogens might not help much if at all, per se, but keeping estrogen
levels low is still a good idea. Remember, estrogen still has a role to play, in ways we
don't fully understand yet, and progesterone will only amplify those effects. Not only
that, if you take progesteronic gear and use Nolvadex, you may be at an increased
risk for progesteronic sides, as Nolvadex may increase progesterone receptors (2).
What can you do?
Well, the easy answer is to take bromocriptine (Parlodel) at 2.5 to 5mg every day.
Bromocriptine is one of those drugs that the life-extension crowd was very big on a
few years ago. It is an anti-parkinsons medication that causes higher levels of the
neurotransmitter dopamine, with side effects being an increased sex drive, possible
curbing of appetite, possible stimulation of CNS, and fat loss. It's also indicated for
some forms of male hypogonadism (yeah, so it may increase Test levels on its
own!). However, what we're interested in here is that it can be used to lower
prolactin and progesterone, as can Cabergoline (if you can find it). Anyway, back to
Bromo...it sounds almost perfect, right? Well, unfortunately, bromocriptine is also
used to treat acromegaly (too much GH produced by the pituitary), and ergo may
lower GH levels in your body if they are too high! Fortunately, the dosage needed to
halt overproduction of GH in your body is 10-20mgs/day, so we're safe with our
amount necessary to stop from growing breasts from too much Deca, and yes, all
the cool fat burning, sex drive, and nootropic "side effects" happen at 2.5-5mgs/ day
doses. Another effective method for avoid certain sides from progesteronic drugs
(like Tren, for example) is taking 25mcg of T3 or maybe 50-100mcgs of T4. And
yeah, I have the research to back that statement up, but it involves another page of
reading about TRH, TSH, the negative feedback loop involved with low levels of T4
stimulating TRH, blah blah blah. Trust me, you don't care about the reasons why this
works, just that it does. If you're doing Tren, take some T3 and you'll get increased
fat-burning, no gyno, and more maybe even anabolism. So if I were cutting up,
Tren, T3 (25mcgs), and Bromo would all be part of my stack, and I'd expect to get
really cut really fast (of course, there's other cool drugs I'd add into that mix: Clen,
Test, etc, but this is about ancillaries, not a cutting cycle).
Another idea to reduce progesterone is to take RU486 (yeah, the pregnancy drug).
This drug has anti-progesteronic effects, and in women 600mgs totally blocks
progesterone. Don't even think about taking this dose, however. I'd recommend
taking around 50 mgs a day and working your way up. Remember, cortisol is also
decreased with RU486, so sore joints may be a problem. Considering this, Bromo's
cool secondary effects, and price, I'd consider bromocriptine a better choice.
So what ster
oids do aro
matiz
e? Here some off
ender
s: test
oste
rone,
methandrostenolone, fluoxymesterone, (only in high enough doses). I'm sure you
see a pattern and you get the idea. And Deca, even it aromatizes, besides its being a
progestin, though not much.
You still with me?
225
Okay, so what are some drugs that inhibit aromatization? Cytadren
(aminoglutethimide), at 250-500mgs per day will do the trick, as will Arimidex at .5
1mg per day (more about Arimidex later, and remember, this is all dependant on
what doses of aromatizing drugs you're taking). Cytadren also limits the conversion
of Test to DHT, which may help eliminate any hair loss during a cycle, but may
reduce its effectiveness also. Finasteride (Propecia = 1mg tabs, Proscar = 5mg tabs)
has similar effects with regards to halting some of DHT's negative effects. Cytadren
may also (very) slightly inhibit Test production, so that kinda turns me off to it
especially when other drugs actually increase Test production and will prevent side
effects more effectively. Unfortunately, Cytadren has a really short ½ life, and it
ideally should be taken 2-3x a day. That plus its cortisol inhibiting effects (and the
sore joints you get from that) don't make it really ideal for me. On the bright side,
Cytadren may (theoretically) improve blood lipid profiles. Finasteride, can be
compared with Cytadren, as it also has the added benefit of eliminating some 5-AR
(5-Alpha Reductase), which can cause both male pattern baldness as well as acne.
Reducing 5-AR will reverse 5-AR inspired hypertrophy of the sebaceous glands and
cause a reduction in acne (3), as well as help with hair loss caused by the conversion
(via 5-AR) of testosterone to DHT (4). I would never take this stuff without another
ancillary, as it can also (rarely) cause gyno.
What else can we do to avoid side effects? Well, we can block the receptors that the
estrogen attaches itself to, thus causing the side effects. Clomid (clomiphene citrate)
and Nolvadex (tamoxifen) will do this. As these drugs are selective in their activity,
they are estrogenic to certain receptors (blood lipid profiles are favorably enhanced
by the estrogenic action of these drugs), and antiestrogenic to others (they are anti
estrogenic in terms of their action on breast tissue, for example; yes I know that
Nolvadex is actually a weak estrogen that blocks out the competing stronger
estrogens with regards to attaching to the receptors in breast tissue—I’m trying to
keep things relatively simple, though). Generally Nolvadex is cheaper than Clomid,
and thus more often used. Personally, I've found Clomid attenuates testicular
atrophy during a cycle to a greater degree. So besides competing with estrogen at
the receptor, these drugs both increase serum test levels, and both drugs may also
alter blood lipid profiles. With regards to Clomid and Nolvadex, I’ve found that
20mgs of tamoxifen is equal to 150mgs of Clomid for purposes of testosterone
elevation, FSH and LH, but tamoxifen did not decrease the LH response to LHRH (5).
Thus, I'd recommend Nolvadex over Clomid for most purposes.
As Nolvadex isn't actually an anti-aromatase, but rather a competitor for the
receptor site, and seeing as it increases test levels so much, I'd say that it's actually
a better post-cycle drug than Clomid (which wreaks havoc on my eyesight, due to its
occular toxicity; Nolvadex has some of that property, but in my experience doesn't
mess with my eyesight as much). At least I know that it's what I'll be using post
cycle, even despite its effects on IGF-1. It's important to remember that IGF levels
play an important role in breast cancer (which is what many of our ancillary drugs
were developed for), so many of them will decrease IGF levels, as that could be
desirable for breast cancer survival.
Cyclofenil (remember that drug?) will do just about everything with regards to
halting estrogen's binding to receptors that the other two drugs I just discussed will
do, but helps LH production to a greater degree. Lowering your LH (in addition to
having an adverse effect on the general recovery of your entire hormonal system)
will also contribute to estrogenic-type effects. Raising LH = Good. Lowering LH =
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Bad. Most people take a tab or 2 per day of this stuff, in any case. There's better
stuff on the market, though.
How about Aromasin? Well, it’s totally different than everything else we've looked at
so far. Aromasin (exemestane) it is an aromatase inactivator; it actually makes
estrogen receptors useless. Instead of just inhibiting production (as an anti
aromatase would do) it cuts off production totally. Aromasin can also cause
androgenic sides (8)(9)(10). Aromasin can effectively prevent about 90-95% of
estrogen conversion. Oddly, this compound can actually increase IGF levels (14).
Worth noting is that Aromasin may possibly be less harsh on blood lipids, having no
effect in one study (11) that I looked at. No effect is still not as good as Nolvadex, on
the other hand, which may actually improve HDL & LDL in some cases (12), and
which I’ve also found to help my immune system. Aromasin has also been shown to
have an undesirable effect on blood lipids in some cases…many of these compounds
are simply inconsistent on blood lipid profiles, when comparing different studies.
We’ll discuss the implications of all of these ancillary compounds in just a bit, and
figure out where these pieces fit into our puzzle of creating a perfect cycle and post
cycle regimen. Just bear with me.
I think, at this point I’ll differentiate between the two types of aromatase inhibitors:
or AIs are classified into two types—type I, suicidal or noncompetitive inhibitors, and
and type II—known as competitive inhibitors (16)(17). We just looked at one of the
Type I’s (exemestane). Basically, to further explain, Type I inhibitors are steroidal
compounds, and type II inhibitors totally nonsteroidal drugs. This explains the
possible androgenic side effects found with exemestane and (as you’ll see) the lack
of them with Letrozole and Arimidex. Both type I & II mimic normal substrates
(essentially androgens), competing with the particular substrate for access to the
binding site on the actual enzyme. After this initial binding, the next step is where
things differ for the two types of AI’s. Once a noncompetitive inhibitor has bound, the
enzyme initiates a sequence of hydroxylation, but in this case, hydroxylation
produces an unbreakable covalent bond between the inhibitor and the enzyme
protein. This is important because now, enzyme activity is permanently blocked;
even if all unattached inhibitor is removed. Enzyme activity can now only be restored
by new enzyme synthesis. Nice, huh? Now, on the other hand, competitive inhibitors,
called type II AI’s, reversibly bind to the active enzyme site, and either no enzyme
activity is triggered, or the enzyme is somehow triggered without effect. The type II
inhibitor can actually disassociate from the binding site, eventually allowing renewed
competition between the inhibitor and the substrate for binding to the site. Clearly,
this indicates that the effectiveness of competitive aromatase inhibitors depends on
the relative concentrations and affinities of both the inhibitor and the substrate. We
can safely, therefore, conclude that continued aromatase inhibitory activity requires
constant presence of the type II inhibitor.
Let’s talk about Arimidex (anastrozole), now, which is a type-II AI. From the
research I've done, this seems to be one of the best ancillaries around and I'll tell
you why. First off, 'dex is an aromatase inhibitor (an AI—remember what that is?).
1mg per day of this stuff (9) was shown to decrease estrogen by 50% and increase
testosterone levels by 58%. LH and FSH also went up slightly. Anastrozole also
raises IGF1 and shows a trend towards increasing IGF2 (13). By the way, literature
provided by the original maker of Arimidex states that stable blood plasma
concentrations of the compound are achieved after 7 consecutive 1mg daily doses.
All of that plus the usual blood lipid changes we've seen with most of the ancillaries
227
we've looked at! Anyway, that's a pretty hefty decrease in estrogen, even at
.5mg/day.
Now onto Femara (AKA Letrozole, another type II AI), which is more effective than
Arimidex in its ability to pass thru the cell membrane of lipid (fat) cells and inhibit
the activity of aromatase—Arimidex is over 80% effective at inhibiting estrogen (18);
Femara is much closer to 95-97% (19). Levels of estrogen are totally undetectable in
most patients taking Letrozole, and it has even been used to increase testosterone to
normal levels (from sub-normal ones) and increase LH, FSH and SHBG (6). Other
than that, both of these drugs stop the process of aromatization, rather than just
blocking (competing for, if you prefer) the receptors as Clomid and Nolvadex do. An
effective dose of Letrozole is .25-2.5 mg/day (I use .25mgs/day), but be forewarned,
it can kill your sex drive, and could decrease IGF levels. On the other hand, I've seen
studies where it increases IGF levels. Also worth noting is that there's a rebound
effect when you come off Letrozole. Its effects on serum lipids (cholesterol, both HDL
and LDL) are, in the words of one study I read: "inconsistent.” Compared with
Aromasin and Arimidex, in non-cellular systems, Letrozole is 2-5 times more potent
than anastrozole and exemestane in its inhibition of the aromatase enzyme and its
activity, and in cellular systems it is 10-20x more potent! Letrozole (2.5mg daily)
also achieved a much greater suppression of the plasma concentrations of both
estrone and estrone sulphate (estrogens) than anastrozole (1mg daily), and a
greater inhibition of in vivo aromatization (sorry for the geek-speak—it’s over for
now.) (7). I've used Letrozole, and it cleared up my minor gyno lumps to the point
that they are totally gone now, but prolonged use lowered my immune system too
much (due to a lack of estrogen).
Interestingly, it would seem that .5mgs-10mgs of Arimidex is nearly the same thing
(effects-wise), as is .5mgs-2.5mgs of Letrozole (15). This tells me that we can save
some money on them and just take minimal doses, around .5mgs of either.
For my money, if I wanna stop aromatization during a cycle, I’ll typically use
Arimidex or Letrozole at 5mg/day. Arimidex is a nicer choice for long cycles, since it
seems to not cause problems with cholesterol like Letrozole can. They are perfect
during-cycle ancillaries. Incidentally, you need to take anastrozole for a week to get
a steady level of it in your blood (same thing goes for exemestane), whereas you
need to take Letrozole for 60 days to get a steady blood plasma level. Though
anastrozole has a ½ life of 41-48 hours, and exemestane has a ½ life of 27 hours,
Letrozole has a whopping 2-4 day (!) ½ life (8). Thankfully you can take Arimidex or
Letrozole and they’ll reach maximum inhibitory effects on estrogen within 2-4 days
after taking the first dose (15).
Finally, what about using HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)? For starters, it
increases (stimulates) endogenous (natural) testosterone production by mimicking
LH, which stimulates the Leydigs cells to produce testosterone. It's ideal for post
cycle, when you want to raise testosterone levels by as many mechanisms as
possible, and while you are also taking other drugs to fight estrogen. I've found
personally that 500i.u. every other day or even every day, post-cycle works best for
me. Incidentally, this is the PDR (and Dan Duchaine's) recommendation. In one
study I looked at, 6000IU of HCG elevated Test levels for 6 days. That's why a lot of
people recommend taking it every 3-5 days. We’d have more stable blood levels,
though, if we shot it more frequently. Remember, its non-estrified and a water-based
injectable, after all. In that same study I read, 1500iu of HCG shot test levels up
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between 250 and 300%. Again, though, I'd be more comfortable with the more
stable and slow increase. Also, keep in mind that HCG can suppress FSH and LH
production and has been anecdotally linked to gyno. Thus, it (in combination with
Nolvadex) is ideal for post cycle recovery when gyno is not as much of an issue (due
to the Nolvadex and the cessation of other compounds), but restoring natural Test
levels is. Also, if you are interested in getting a greater testosterone response out of
the HCG you use, I’d recommend taking it vitamin E (no, I’m not joking). Current
research indicates that responsiveness of plasma testosterone levels to HCG is
significantly higher during vitamin E administration than without supplemental
vitamin E (24). My advice? You should be taking at least 400iu of vitamin E year
round, but on the weeks you take HCG (and during PCT) you should bump that dose
to 1000iu. Your testosterone levels will thank you.
So let's review:
During a cycle (because I ALWAYS use Test in my cycles), I think it's a good idea to
use Arimidex at .5mgs per day, or Letrozole at .25-.5mgs/day to take care of
aromatization, thus preventing side effects related to estrogen. If I'm using gear that
has progesteronic side effects, I'm gonna avoid Nolvadex, and I'm gonna have to
throw in some bromocriptine at 2.5-5mgs every day, especially when I'm using lots
of Tren (and perhaps trying to get cut), because I'd want those added "side effects"
we already discussed from the Bromo. I'd thrown in that T3 as well. I may (possibly)
use a small dose of HCG during a cycle too, perhaps at 500iu every other week, just
to try to avoid a little of the inhibition, and maybe make recovery easier.
Now, it becomes really interesting when we try to connect the dots and figure out
how to actually combine these compounds for PCT.
When I'm all done with the cycle, can’t I just use Arimidex at .5-1mg/day (or Letro),
and Nolvadex (at 10-20mgs/day for a month)? Maybe I can just throw in some HCG?
Well, actually, if I use HCG for post cycle, it may slightly inhibit recovery by
desensitizing your HPTA response to certain hormones. In addition, if I use Nolvadex
with Arimidex or Letrozole, the Nolvadex will actually greatly decrease their blood
plasma levels (20)!
Ok, so once I started trying to connect these dots, I had a major problem to solve.
Most of the PCT drugs available to us have interactions with others, which could
render them less useful. This was odd, because my old HCG/Nolvadex protocol
seemed to work for me. What I found when I researched this combination is that It
can be argued that HCG's suppressive effect on endogenous testosterone is (mostly?
totally?) due to to HCG actually blocking the conversion of 17 alpha
hydroxyprogesterone (17 OHP) into testosterone. Nolvadex stops this blocking-action
of HCG from taking place (22). In fact, any suppression of gonadotropins via HCG is
almost totally stopped with concurrent administration of Nolvadex (23)! Ok, so we
can take my old standard (circa 2000-01) PCT, but can we add to it? We know that
the Nolvadex doesn’t work well with Arimidex and Letrozole, as it lowers their blood
plasma levels, and type I aromatase inhibitors are reversible and require constant
blood plasma levels to maintain their effect. I think you know where I’m going with
this: I asked myself, is it possible that we could use a type II AI (exemestane)?
Well, as you already know, although type II AI’s like Letro and Arimidex need to be
present in the blood to maintain their inhibitory effects on the aromatase enzyme,
with a type I AI (like exemestane) enzyme activity is permanently blocked, meaning
229
even if all unattached inhibitor is removed, enzyme activity can only be restored by
new enzyme synthesis. Hence, even if Nolvadex lowered the blood plasma levels of
exemestane, it’ll have done its job on the aromatase enzyme, and lowered estrogen
levels already. Remember, estrogen has an inhibitory effect on your natural
testosterone levels, and it’s thought that aromatization is a large part of HPTA
inhibition and its negative feedback loop. Does the research support Nolvadex and
exemestane combination? Yes! Using those two together doesn’t reduce
exemestane’s effectiveness (21)! And, the androgenic effects of this particular AI will
be appreciated after a cycle to increase aggression when exogenous hormone levels
are suddenly removed. Also, it won’t have any deleterious effects on your joints or
bones, which Letrozole and Arimidex have the potential to engender (25).
So that’s it—we use Exemestane/HCG/Nolvadex for PCT, and .5mgs of Arimidex or
Letrozole during a cycle! It was quick, it was a little dirty, and it was straight to the
point. I’m hoping you continue on to read the profiles on the following pages, but if
you don’t at least you have a cursory knowledge of most of them after reading this.
Before I leave you, I’ll give you a chart of how I run my own Post-Cycle-Therapy,
and how I feel it should be run, according to my research:
Week Nolvadex Exemestane HCG
1 20mgs/day 20mgs/day 500iu/day
2 20mgs/day 20mgs/day 500iu/day
3 20mgs/day 20mgs/day 500iu/day
4 20mgs/day 20mgs/day
References:
1. Cancer Res 1978 Nov;38(11 Pt 2):4186-98
2. Gynecol Oncol. 1999 Mar;72(3):331-6
3. Skin Pharmacol. 1997;10(5-6):288-97
4. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2004 Apr;5(4):933-40
5. Fertil Steril. 1978 Mar;29(3):320-7
6. Epilepsy Behav. 2004 Apr;5(2):260-3
7. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Oct;87(1):35-45
8. Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Jan;9(1 Pt 2):468S-72S.
9. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 Jul;85(7):2370-7
10. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1997 Nov-Dec;63(4-6):261-7
11. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Dec;88(12):5951-6.
12. Br J Cancer. 2004 Aug 2;91(3):476-81.
13. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2002 Apr;80(4-5):411-8
14. Anticancer Res. 2003 Jul-Aug;23(4):3485-91
15. Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics of the Newer Generation Aromatase Inhibitors.
Buzdar.
16. Buzdar A., Howell A. Advances in aromatase inhibition: clinical efficacy and
tolerability in the treatment of breast cancer. Clin. Cancer Res., 7: 2620-2635, 2001.
17. Goss P. E., Strasser K. Aromatase inhibitors in the treatment and prevention of breast
cancer. J. Clin. Oncol., 19: 881-894, 2001.
230
18. Geisler J., King N., Dowsett M., Ottestad L., Lundgren S., Walton P., Kormeset P.
O., Lonning P. E. Influence of anastrozole (Arimidex), a selective, non-steroidal
aromatase inhibitor, on in vivo aromatisation and plasma oestrogen levels in
postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Br. J. Cancer, 74: 1286-1291, 1996.
19. Geisler J., Anker G., Dowsett M., Lonning P. E. Letrozole suppresses plasma
estrogen levels in postmenopausal breast cancer patients more completely than
anastrozole. Proc. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol., 19: 102a 2000.
20. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2001 Dec;79(1-5):85-91.
21. Inhibitory effect of combined treatment with the aromatase inhibitor exemestane and
tamoxifen on DMBA-induced mammary tumors in rats.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1993 Mar;44(4-6):677-80.
22. Andrologia 1991 Mar-Apr;23(2):109-14
23. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1980 Nov;51(5):1026-9
24. Effect of vitamin E on function of pituitary-gonadal axis in male rats and human
subjects. Umeda F, Kato K, Muta K, Ibayashi H.
25. Clinical Cancer Research Vol. 10, 372S-379S, January 2004
231
Arimidex
(Anastrozole)
Arimidex is what we call an aromatase inhibitor (AI). In medicine it’s used to halt
the progression of breast cancer in women. It works by blocking the aromatase
enzyme, which is responsible for the production of estrogen. In athletics and
bodybuilding, it is used as an ancillary compound to be added to a cycle of anabolic
steroids. In this respect it is also used for its estrogen reducing properties, but it has
the additional benefit of increasing teststerone levels, as we'll see.
Many anabolic steroids aromatize (convert to estrogen via the aromatase enzyme),
and this is responsible for many of the unwanted side effects found with anabolic
steroid use (acne, gynocomastia, water-retention, etc.). In one study, both .5mg and
1mg doses of Arimidex were shown to decrease estrogen by roughly 50%. The
1mg/day dose also increased testosterone levels by 58% (1). In that same study, in
both groups, LH and FSH also went up slightly. Take a look:
Changes in testosterone and E2 concentrations in normal young men (15–22 yr old)
before (filled bars) and after 10 days of oral anastrozole at 0.5 and 1 mg (1).
This would seem to suggest that for use during a cycle, a dose of .5mgs/day would
be sufficient to combat estrogen-related side effects. It is, however, important to
remember that some estrogen is necessary to obtain optimal muscle growth. The
232
lower estrogen levels provided by 'dex seems, anecdotally at least, to produce a
more "hard" and "quality" look for bodybuilders who have experimented with it's use
in either a cutting or bulking cycle.
I’d like to point out that the elevation in testosterone provided by Arimidex is so
large that it can be used as a “form” of testosterone replacement therapy for
hypogonadal men (2). Clearly, this suggests its use in a post-cycle-therapy (as well
as its previously discussed use within a cycle) to regain natural testosterone levels
and full HPTA (Hypothalamic-Testicular-Pituitary-Axis) function.
Literature provided by the original maker of anastrozole (Arimidex, produced by
Zeneca Pharmaceuticals) states that stable blood plasma concentrations of the
compound are achieved after a mere 7 consecutive 1mg daily doses. Also, Arimidex
is just over 80% effective at inhibiting aromatase (3). Thus, if you want to take it for
the entire duration of a cycle of anabolic steroids, you can simply start taking it on
the same day you begin your cycle. Those are some pretty good numbers, huh?
But can you use it for the entire duration of a cycle? Is it dangerous? Well, certainly
reducing estrogen levels in your body is good from a body building point of view as it
reduces water-retention and the potential for gynocomastia (if there’s no estrogen in
your body, you can’t get gyno, regardless of how much progesterone is floating
around) (5). Luckily this stuff is very mild on blood lipids (cholesterol) and doesn’t
affect them adversely (2), at least in the studies I’ve seen. As previously mentioned,
those lowered estrogen levels could possibly (eventually) adversely affect your
cholesterol and possibly even your immune function. I am, however, very
comfortable recommending Arimidex for relatively long-term use. This should be the
ancillary compound of choice for those on long and heavy cycles, especially since it
also doesn’t inhibit IGF (insulin-like-growth-factor, an important component of
anabolism) like some other ancillary compounds (4).
Although prices will vary, this is one of the compounds I will caution the reader from
buying in its legitimate pharmaceutical form. The price (up to $5/tab) is absurd when
considering its availability from underground labs, as well as in the form used for
medical research, at less than 1/3rd of that. I’ve used both the tabs from an
underground lab, as well as the liquid version from research-sites, and found the
results from both to be exactly the same.
References:
1. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 Jul;85(7):2370-7, "Estrogen Suppression in Males"
2. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2005 Feb;62(2):228-35.
3. Arimidex package insert
4. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2002 Apr;80(4-5):411-8.
5. Progesterone is not essential to the differentiative potential of mammary epithelium in
the male mouse. Freeman, Topper. Endocrinology. 1978 Jul;103(1):186-92
233
Aromasin
(Exemestane)
Aromasin (Exemestane)is a steroidal suicide aromatase inhibitor, which means that it
lowers estrogen production in the body by blocking the aromatase enzyme, the
enzyme responsible for estrogen synthesization (1)(2)(3).
This stuff was developed to fight breast cancer in post-menopausal women, who
need a particularly aggressive therapy, and for whom first line defenses such as
SERMS (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators, like tamoxifan) have not worked.
This should be our first clue in inferring that this stuff is pretty strong, or at least
stronger than some of the other compounds which are used to fight breast cancer.
Aromasin averages an 85% rate of estrogen suppression (4), so it’s clearly a very
effective agent for bodybuilders and other athletes wanting to avoid estrogen related
side effects such as gyno, acne, or water-retention brought on by aromatizing
steroids. Specifically, exemestane dose this by selectively inhibiting aromatase
activity in a time-dependent and irreversible manner (hence the “suicidal” portion of
its name, I guess) (7).
As with most of the compounds in this class, it also causes a reasonable rise in
testosterone levels (6), and as you may have guessed, this rise in testosterone
means that exemestane can also cause androgenic sides (8)(9)(10). As you can see
from the chart below, exemestane is very effective at both lowering estrogen
(estradiol) and raising testosterone:
234
Estrogen and androgen plasma levels after 10 d of daily exemestane (25 or 50 mg)
in healthy young males (mean ± SD; n = 9–11). To convert to Systeme
International units: estradiol, picomoles per liter (x3.671); estrone, picomoles per
liter (x3.699); androstenedione, nanomoles per liter (*0.003492); and testosterone,
nanomoles per liter (x0.03467) (13).
So we can see from that chart that 25mgs is a very effective dose, right? As an
added benefit, exemestane not only increases testosterone and lowers estrogen but
it also increases IGF levels (11). Additionally worthy note is that Aromasin may
possibly be less harsh on blood lipids (14) than some of the other (similar)
compounds we use (other AIs) in the world of bodybuilding or athletics. It also has,
at best, no effect on IGF, and, at worst, lowers (13) it. AIs are very tricky with
regards to inconsistencies in IGF levels. Unfortunately, you need to take exemestane
for a week to reach steady blood plasma levels, and exemestane has a ½ life of 27
hours (12.).
The ability of exemestane to lower estrogen levels by the aforementioned 85%
makes it a very nice choice for use in any cycle where aromatizing steroids are used.
In addition, since it’s not too harsh at all on blood lipid profiles, it’s a very good
choice for longer cycles. Its ability to raise both testosterone levels also seem to
suggest that it would be a very nice addition to a post cycle therapy (PCT).
Also, as previously mentioned, exemestane is the only currently available aromatase
inhibitor that can be run concurrently (and effectively) with Nolvadex (which usually
lowers blood plasma levels of AIs), making it perfect for PCT:
235
References:
1. A predictive model for exemestane pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics
incorporating the effect of food and formulation.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2005
Mar;59(3):355-64.
2. Exemestane for breast cancer prevention: a feasible strategy?Clin Cancer Res. 2005
Jan 15;11(2 Pt 2):918s-24s.
3. Endocrinology and hormone therapy in breast cancer: Aromatase inhibitors versus
antioestrogens, Anthony Howell1 and Mitch Dowsett2 1CRUK Department of Medical
Oncology, University of Manchester, Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK 2Academic
Department of Biochemistry, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK Breast Cancer Res
2004, 6:269-274 doi:10.1186/bcr945 Published 6 October 2004
4. Eur. J. Cancer. 2000, May;36(8):976-82
5. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 1995;36(3):287-97.
6. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Dec;88(12):5951-6.
7. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi. 2003 Oct;122(4):345-54.
8. Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Jan;9(1 Pt 2):468S-72S.
9. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 Jul;85(7):2370-7
10. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1997 Nov-Dec;63(4-6):261-7
236
Clomid
(Clomiphine
Citrate)
Clomid is a drug given to women for use as a fertility aid. It is a SERM (Selective
Estrogen Receptor Modulator) which acts by actually binding to the estrogen receptor
and thereby blocking estrogen from doing the same. Clearly, this is advantageous
when it binds to breast tissue, and prevents estrogen from binding there to cause
gynocomastia (although it is not nearly as effective as Nolvadex for this purpose). It
also opposes the negative feedback loop that the body has with regards to estrogen
and the HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular-axis), and this in turn stimulates LH
(leutenizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). LH and FSH, in turn
stimulate the release of testosterone. Clearly this is advantageous to bodybuilders
and athletes coming off of a cycle, and beginning their post cycle therapy. What we
have in Clomid is essentially a drug that acts as a preventative measure against
gynocomastia, as well as a drug that acts to raise endogenous (natural) testosterone
levels. Usually, it is compared with another SERM, Nolvadex, for those reasons.
Clomid, however, is much weaker than Nolvadex in a mg for mg comparison, with
roughly 150mgs of Clomid being equal to 20mgs of Nolvadex (1). It should be
noted, however, that 150mgs of clomid will still raise testosterone levels to
approximately 150% of baseline value (1). You don’t have to use 150mgs, however;
my research shows that doses as low as 50mgs will show improvements and
elevations in testosterone levels (4). In fact, my original post cycle therapy regime
(as suggested by Dan Duchaine in the original Underground Steroid Handbook) was
100mgs per day for a week and 50mgs/day for a week. Don’t laugh…for the late
90’s, when most anabolic steroid users didn’t even know how to use Clomid, it was
considered a “state of the art” PCT. I suspect that Duchaine originally introduced
this compound to the steroid using community.
Clomid, just like Nolvadex, is very safe for long term treatment of lowered
testosterone levels (2), with some studies showing its safety and efficacy for up to
four months. And post cycle, when steroid users are suffering form lowered
testosterone levels, Clomid is most effective.
I used to run Clomid for about 3 weeks post cycle, at 100-150mgs. Any more than
that, and I experience emotional side effects (no, really) due to the excess amount
of circulating estrogen I have in my body. All of that extra estrogen tends to make
me moody, and it gets hard to squeeze workouts and cardio in-between reruns of
Sex and the City (ok, I’m exaggerating).
A problem arose during a very aggressive Clomid PCT routine once. I was taking
pretty high doses (150mgs/day) of clomid for an extended time (over a month) and
was having vision issues. When I looked into the subject more closely, this was a
common occurrence with Steroid.com members. Upon further investigation, I found
out the optic neuropathy (a fancy way of saying “vision problems”) was actually very
common with Clomid use (5)(6). Since I already wear contact lenses, I’ve had to
remove Clomid from my PCT routine.
Clomid has fallen out of favor as late for post cycle routines, but if you aren’t prone
to vision problems or emotional issues, then it is just as good as Nolvadex for raising
testosterone when appropriate doses are used. I recommend 150mgs/day for ten
237
days, and decreasing the dose by 50mgs every ten days until you’re finished at day
30. Many of the bodybuilders and athletes I've spoken to have used it in a similar
fashion and found that it restores their testosterone levels to normal.
This drug is widely available from many research supply companies, generally in
liquid form, as well as from most underground labs who produce their own version in
capsules. In either case, you shouldn't be paying more than $1 per 50-100mgs
(generally this is 2 caps or 1-2mls of the liquid stuff).
References:
1. Fertil Steril. 1978 Mar;29(3):320-7.
2. Int J Impot Res. 2003 Jun;15(3):156-65.
3. Understanding sex biases in immunity: effects of estrogen on the differentiation and
function of antigen-presenting cells. Immunol Res. 2005;31(2):91-106.
4. The effects of normal aging on the response of the pituitary-gonadal axis to chronic
clomiphene administration in men. J Androl 1991 Jul-Aug;12(4):258-63
5. Optic neuropathy associated with clomiphene citrate therapy. Fertil Steril. 1994
Feb;61(2):390-1
6. Visual disturbance secondary to clomiphene citrate. Arch Ophthalmol. 1995
Apr;113(4):482-4
238
Cialis
(Tadalafil Citrate)
Cialis (tadalifil) is the second-generation Viagra, more or less. While the little blue
pill may work to give you an erection for 6-8 hours, Cialis is good for 36-48 hours.
This obviously makes it much more practical. Why are we talking about this? I
doubt anyone using endogenous testosterone would need to consider the use of such
a compound, but this drug can still have some uses during post cycle therapy. A lot
of men find that once they go off steroids and begin post cycle therapy (PCT), they
suffer reduced libido as well as erectile dysfunction. Cialis may be useful for helping
this, at least during PCT.
The efficacy and safety of tadalafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction was
assessed in a 6-month study. Men with mild, moderate or severe ED were given
tadalafil (20 mg) as needed or placebo (“any minute now, baby, no, really”).
Tadalafil significantly improved erectile function compared with placebo (which only
succeeded in embarrassing the men who took it and tried to get laid). At the end of
the study, sexual intercourse attempts success rate for those using Cialis was 73.5%
(this only refers to the ability to achieve erection and have intercourse, not the
actual success rate of those attempting to get laid on a given night) (1).
Of particular interest to those considering the use of Cialis is that lack of sexual
activity due to erectile dysfunction actually decreases testosterone levels through a
central effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (2). Cialis was given to men for a
month, and at the end, they had considerably higher testosterone levels, because
they got laid more (2). It is unlikely that the drug has a different direct effect on the
pituitary-testis axis.
This stuff is actually very safe, and was even given 3x a week to men (1) for an
extended length of time, was well tolerated, had very few sides, and was very
effective (1). Thus, it could be another potential compound for inclusion in PCT.
Tadalafil (20 mg) significantly improves erectile function, could increase
testosterone, and is well tolerated (3)—certainly something to think about after your
next cycle.
References:
1. A 6-month study of the efficacy and safety of tadalafil in the treatment of erectile
dysfunction: a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study
in Australian men. Int J Clin Pract. 2005 Feb;59(2):143-9.
2. Type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor treatments for erectile dysfunction increase
testosterone levels. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2004 Sep;61(3):382-6.
3. Efficacy and treatment satisfaction with on-demand tadalafil (Cialis) in men
with erectile dysfunction. Eur Urol. 2004 Sep;46(3):362-9; discussion 369.
239
Cyclofenil
(Cyclofenil)
This is the least popular of the three Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM)
being used in athletics today. I actually used this stuff about half a decade ago, when
it was just as easy to get as Clomid, and was a bit cheaper. As we already know,
SERMs cause ovulation in women and (more importantly to us) increase testosterone
and other beneficial hormones. This drug actually works by simulating the effects of
testosterone via inhibiting the negative feedback loop caused by estrogen, with
regards to testosterone production. This in turn causes the increased secretion of
gonadotropin releasing hormone, which increases output of luteinizing hormone
which (finally!) increases secretion of testosterone from your testes.
So what we have here is a compound which, being a SERM, will prevent gyno by
binding to the estrogen receptor in breast tissue and thus preventing stronger
estrogens from binding to those tissues. This should be familiar territory if you
remember your facts on Clomid and Nolvadex.
The results indicate that cyclofenil, paradoxically, has two opposing actions on the
hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis; one of them is estrogen-like, in that it depresses
serum FSH levels and competitively binds to breast tissue (this is good, remember),
and the other action is antiestrogen-like, in that it depresses serum PRL levels and
raises LH levels (4). Overproduction of prolactin, as you recall, will suppress
testosterone, and could induce lactation (gross!) in male breast tissue.
From the reading I’ve done on this compound, I think 400-600mgs/day would be an
appropriate dose for use in post cycle therapy, or during a cycle (4). Dan Duchaine
estimated roughly the same, saying that twice as much is necessary when compared
to Clomid, twice as often. Due to its relative expense and unavailability when
compared to other SERMs, such as Nolvadex and Clomid, I can’t see this stuff
making its way into many people’s ancillary regimen.
References:
1. Effect of cyclofenil on hormonal dynamics, follicular development and cervical mucus
in normal and oligomenorrhoeic women. Hum Reprod. 1992 Jan;7(1):39-43.
2. [Cyclofenil-induced acute hepatitis. A retrospective diagnosis of a case during acute
hepatitis B] Recenti Prog Med. 1991 Apr;82(4):236-9. Italian.
3. [Induction of ovulation in 1985] J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris).
1985;14(7):899-913. Review
4. Plasma FSH, LH and prolactin levels in postmenopausal women undergoing cyclofenil
treatment. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1982;61(6):487-90.
240
EPO
(Erythropoietin)
EPO is a glycoprotein that regulates red cell (RBC) production. In the human, EPO is
produced by the kidneys of the adult and by hepatocytes in the fetus. Roughly a
century ago, two researchers, Carnot and Deflandre, figured out that a humoral
factor, which they called "hemopoietine," regulates red blood cell production. This
eventually made it possible to synthesize and eventually clone the gene for EPO and
to develop recombinant EPO for use in clinical anemias. EPO binds to an erythroid
progenitor cell surface receptor to regulate several functions in your body, such as
bone marrow erythroid cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival.
EPO, as a performance enhancing drug, gained notoriety in 1998 when a bunch of
cyclists in the Tour de France got caught posessing it.
EPO, when taken exogenously, increases RBC in the blood. This will basically raise
your energy levels (1), and thus will improve recovery, etc. Anadrol was developed
for a very similar purpose as EPO, and I suspect that a lot of the muscle enhancing
effects/potency of A50 (increased muscle fullness, etc.) can be attributed to many of
the same mechanisms which are at work in it. It’s worth noting that EPO also
increases protein synthesis, just like A50. Primarily, though, its effect is to increase
RBCs.
Having more RBCs, and thus having more oxygen delivered to muscle tissues, is
directly associated with a substantial improvement in athletic performance, i.e
speed, endurance, strength, etc.(2). EPO is associated with improved bodyweight,
excercise capacity, oxygen uptake, respiration, whole body metabolism and energy
efficiency (3). In addition, cognitive function (learning, etc.) is also improved with
EPO (4).
Ok, so how much do you take? I'd say you'll need to get about 8,000-10,000IU/wk
for 2 weeks. Thats it. You take it all at once over 2 weeks (maybe a little over
1,000IU or so per day for 14 days) and you’re done. Then, sometime in week 3,
you'll start feeling the results, which will last for 3-6 months! Yeah, you read that
right.
Watch your BP, and don't let it get out of hand, because that could mean your
hematocrit is getting too high—from interaction with various athletes, I think that we
generally want hematocrit around 50 just over. Also remember to keep well hydrated
to avoid any possible issues with clotting, and keep some aspirin on hand just in case
you find that you need to thin your blood out a bit.
Currently, there is no 100% reliable test for EPO doping, although Lance Armstrong
will be accused of using it nonetheless, for the rest of his life, foundlessly.
Sorry…that was a little aside…
Recently, a new EPO-related molecule has been synthesized called "novel
erythropoiesis stimulating protein” (NESP), which contains a higher content of
carbohydrate and provides a new antianemia agent with a longer circulating plasma
half-life in vivo than native EPO. I suspect that it would be even more potent, and
this may become the doping drug of the future for endurance athletes.
241
References:
1. Cancer. 2003 Sep 1;98(5):1072-9
2. Sports Med. 2003;33(3):187-212
3. Semin Oncol. 2002 Jun;29(3 Suppl 8):69-74
4. Clin Breast Cancer. 2002 Dec;3 Suppl 3:S116-20
5. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003 Jan;228(1):1-14
Completely Cleanse Steroids From Your
Body in Just 5 Days!
http://www.SteroidCleanse.com
242
Esiclene
(Formebolone)
Although technically Esiclene (formebolone) is a steroid, not many bodybuilders use
it for any sort of muscle building property. Formebolone is yet another form of
methandrostenolone (Dianabol). It’s basically the same structure, with an
attachment of a 2-carboxaldehyde group and an 11-hydroxyl group. The 11
hydroxyl-group keeps the steroid from aromatizing (converting to estrogen), and
from what I can see, the 2-carboxaldehyde group keeps it from being highly
androgenic or anabolic. Another thing that is actually more important for our
purposes here though, is that the 2-carboxaldehyde group makes formebolone very
irritating to inject. That’s exactly what made the injectable version of this drug very
popular with competitive bodybuilders, especially after Bill Phillips wrote about it.
Basically, it’s a very weak steroid, with no real anabolic/androgenic activity, in a vial
at only 2 mg/ml, and it hurts like hell to inject. There’s also no virilization (3)
possible, and it’s 17-alpha-alkylated and thus toxic to the liver. No anabolic effects, it
hurts to inject, and is liver toxic…sign me up! I have, however, decided to make its
profile quite different from the other anabolic steroid profiles, because its use is not
as an anabolic at all.
It’s no wonder that this drug is only popular with bodybuilders, and not athletes. It’s
purely a cosmetic enhancer for all intents and purposes. Maybe I’m being too hard
on formebolone though. Let’s take a look at it from an anabolic point of view.
Medically, formebolone was mostly used on kids with growth deficiency. It’s basically
a mild and non-aromatizing methandrostenolone, which at first sounds great. There
is an absence of an estrogenic component which could potentially stunt growth, and
it was found that ultimate height was not affected by the increases in bone age
caused by formebolone treatment. A very mild anabolic effect was all that was noted
(1). Unfortunately, another study only indicated that same very mild anabolic activity
(2). Also, unfortunately, formebolone can increase nitrogen retention only slightly
(3).
Anyway, you can clearly see why Formebolone is really a bit of one-trick-pony. It’s
really only injected by precontest bodybuilders into lagging body parts prior to a
competition, to take advantage of the localized swelling it causes. Swelling caused by
formebolone should subside in 3-4 days, roughly the same as with injectable
Winstrol or testosterone suspension, after which the injected muscle will return to its
original size.
This also comes in oral form, but I can only imagine that it won’t really do much, as
injectable versions of given steroids are often much more effective. In this case, the
oral version doesn’t offer us the one thing the injectable version is used for, which is
irritation at the injection site.
References:
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1. Cuatrecasas Membrado JM, Bosch Banyeres JM. Study of non-hypophysiary growth
retardation treated with formebolone. An Esp Pediatr 1985 Jan;22(1):27-32
2. Esposito R, Pluvio M, Giordano D. Anabolic agents in kidney disease: the effect of
formebolone on protein synthesis in patients with renal insufficiency or nephrosis. Curr
Med Res Opin 1975;3(1):43-5
3. Cerutti S, Forlani A, Galimberti E. Anticatabolic action of formebolone in the castrated
rat treated with dexamethasone. Arzneimittelforschung 1976;26(9):1673-7
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
244
Falsodex
(Fulvestrant)
Falsodex is an estrogen receptor antagonist, which has no agonist effects at all.
What it does is downregulate estrogen receptors (kinda like how Clen downregulates
beta receptors, so you get decreased effects from the stuff). Basically, it binds to the
Estrogen Receptor more strongly than tamoxifen, but still has no estrogen agonist
effects. Here's the interesting part: the resultant downregulation of your estrogen
receptors from the use of Falsodex results in decreased expression of the
progesterone receptor as well! Tamoxifen, as we all know, can increase the sides
from progesteronic drugs because of an increase in progesterone receptor
expression. So you can take this stuff as both an anti-estrogen and an anti
progestin! No more buying Arimidex or whatever, and Bromocriptine! Sweet, huh?
The stuff is administered via an IM injection of 250mgs once per month! And at that
dose, it has most if not all of the same estrogen lowering effects of 1mg/day of Arim
or 2.5mgs per day of Letrozole, but has the added benefits of lowering progesterone
receptor expression.
I haven’t seen this anywhere on the black market, and actually can claim to be the
first person to mention it on the Internet, generating quite a bit of interest but still,
cost remains high, and availability low.
References:
1.Br J Cancer. 2004 Mar;90 Suppl 1:S15-8
2.Drugs. 2004;64(6):633-48
3.J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2001 Dec;79(1-5):209-12
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Fareston
(Toremifene citrate)
This is yet another SERM, which means it will display both estrogen antagonist/
agonist properties in the body. This puts it in the same category as Nolvadex and
Clomid, the two most popular drugs in this category. This is, however very different,
and you’ll soon see why…
Some scientists at a party were bored one day, so they hooked up some time-lapse
video to breast cancer cell cultures treated with with toremifene (the chemical in
Fareston). Ok, the part about them being bored one day is made up, but they really
did hook up time-lapse photography to breast cancer cell cultures treated with
Fareston. Anyway, they observed this for 3 days, and it caused approximately 60%
of the cells to exhibit morphologic characteristics typical of cells undergoing
apoptosis or programmed death. The significance of this to you and me is that this
is roughly the same thing that would happen to your gyno if you were taking
Fareston. Anyway, the number of mitoses gradually decreased to zero over only a 3-
to 4-day period. So this stuff causes growth inhibition of estrogen-sensitive breast
cancer cells by inducing some cells to die and by inhibiting other cells from entering
mitosis (i.e. from replicating) (1). This stuff will KILL your gyno, from everything
I’ve read (which also means that I’ve had to read into everything I’ve read, if you
kinda follow me). Now where was I? Oh yeah…kill, that’s right. This is certainly
good news for someone who wants to get rid of gyno, but since it also prevents the
cells from replicating, it will stop gyno from progressing as well as kill existing gyno.
Also of note is that it will reduce prolactin (2), and as you probably guessed, this
may raise your Testosterone levels, since prolactin can not only cause lactation, but
it also has an inhibitory effect on your Test levels. The unfortunate part about this
potentially exciting new compound is that it will also raise sex hormone binding
globulin (SHBG), which will in turn lower circulating levels of testosterone in your
body (3).
Perhaps this drug, if it can be found, may be used successfully to treat existing gyno,
or as an adjunct during a cycle, but certainly not for an effective post cycle therapy.
References:
1. Apoptosis in toremifene-induced growth inhibition of human breast cancer cells in
vivo and in vitro.J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993 Sep 1;85(17):1412-8.
2. Hormonal effects of toremifene in breast cancer patients. J Steroid Biochem. 1990 Jun
22;36(3):243-7.
3. Influence of toremifene on the endocrine regulation in breast cancer patients.
Eur J Cancer. 1994;30A(2):154-8.
246
Femara
(Letrozole)
Letrozole is the chemical name of Novartis’ selective third generation aromatase
inhibitor (AI). This drug was developed to fight breast cancer by inhibiting
aromatization. It is usually used as a part of an aggressive treatment in post
menopausal women to fight and reverse the spread of breast cancer after other
treatments (such as tamoxifen therapy) has failed. It’s probably the most efficient
product on the market for this purpose currently (5). It is very similar in structure
and action to it’s predecessor Arimidex.
Letrozole also does quite a few things which would be of interest to both
bodybuilders and athletes. First, it has been shown to reduce estrogen levels by 98%
or greater (1). In at least one documented incidence, Letrozole reduced estrogen in
the test subject to undetectable levels, and increased LH, FSH and SHBG (4).
Clearly this is all of interest to bodybuilders, as less estrogen in the body means less
chance of certain side effects such as water-retention, gynocomastia, and acne. This
makes Letrozole an appropriate choice for even the heaviest bulking or cutting cycles
including harsh androgens. Also, if you are a competitive bodybuilder, letrozole is a
must have product for contest prep; no other Ancillary compound will produce a dry
and tight look like Letro will.
An effective dose of Letrozole is .25-.5mg/day (I use .25mgs/day), but be
forewarned, if you go over that amount, it can kill your sex drive. Also worth noting
is that there's a rebound effect on your estrogen when you come off letrozol.
Maximum inhibition of the aromatase enzyme has been found to happen at doses as
low as 100mcg (2)!
Letrozole's effects on serum lipids (cholesterol, both HDL and LDL) are, in the words
of one researcher: "inconsistent." Clearly, however, you’ll eventually suffer an
impaired lipid profile and immune system if you keep your estrogen levels too low for
too long. Your sex drive will also probably suffer from extraordinarily low levels of
estrogen present.
As previously mentioned, letrozole can be used to raise LH and FSH (which are
hormones that signal your testes to produce more testosterone). It also, of course,
will raise your testosterone levels (6) via this mechanism. Again, this is of interest to
athletes and bodybuilders for obvious reasons. Letrozole can be used for post cycle
therapy (PCT) to raise test levels, but for various reasons, tamoxifen may be a better
choice. Still, I have successfully used letrozole for this purpose.
How good is this compared with Aromasin and Arimidex, its two other main rivals?
Well, in non-cellular systems, letrozole is 2-5 times more potent than anastrozole
and exemestane in its inhibition of the aromatase enzyme and activity, and in
cellular systems it is 10-20x more potent! It also lasts quite a long time in your
body, but takes awhile to get going--letrozole has a whopping 2-4 day (!) ½ life, and
you need to take Letrozole for 60 days to get a steady blood plasma level (8).
247
Those are impressive numbers, but here’s one of the most interesting things about
Letrozole: it may reduce/eliminate/reverse existing gynocomastia!
In a study conducted on mice (no, I know it’s not perfect), gyno-like-changes in the
mammary gland were totally destroyed! Here’s a direct quote from that study:
“Our results also indicate aromatase overexpression-induced changes in mammary
glands can be abrogated [destroyed] with very low concentrations of the aromatase
inhibitor, letrozole.” (7)
In addition, I’ve used Letro to get rid of my own gyno, as has a friend of mine, and
we both used it at a dose of 2.5mgs/day, tapering down to .25mgs/day, and then
finally off—the gyno never returned in both our cases.
I’d say that this stuff is pretty great, considering its availability and cost (when you
consider the fact that .25mgs/day is more than enough protection from estrogen
related sides on most cycles) not to mention it’s overall utility for a variety of
functions (destroying gyno, preventing estrogenic sides, and for PCT).
References:
1. Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Apr 15;11(8):2809-21.
2. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1995 Sep;80(9):2658-60.
3. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2002 Nov 15;105(2):161-5
4. Epilepsy Behav. 2004 Apr;5(2):260-3
5. Semin Oncol. 2004 Dec;31(6 Suppl 12):3-8.
6. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2005 May;7(3):211-5.
7. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2001 Dec;79(1-5):27-34. Aromatase overexpression
transgenic mice model: cell type specific expression and use of letrozole to abrogate
mammary hyperplasia without affecting normal physiology.
8. (Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Jan;9(1 Pt 2):468S-72S.)
248
Finasteride
Finasteride was available for years as Proscar (5mg tabs), but only recently became
available as Propecia (1mg tabs). It is in a class of chemicals known as 5alpha
reductase inhibitors. It is based on the progesterone skeleton (4) and has a high
inhibitory activity for the enzyme 5alpha-reductase (5-AR). 5-AR, as you may recall,
is the enzyme responsible for converting certain steroids into 5-Alpha–Reduced
versions of themselves (such as turning testosterone into dihydrotestosterone).
Finasteride and similar compounds are used for the treatment of androgen
dependent diseases such androgenic alopecia (hair loss), benign prostatic
hyperplasia (prostate enlargement) and prostate cancer. Dihydrotestosterone is a
5alpha-reduced metabolite of testosterone and has been implicated as a causative
factor for the onset and progression of these problems. This was discovered when
males who are genetically deficient of the enzyme steroid 5alpha-reductase were
shown to have much lower incidences of these problems (1)(2). Of course, these
problems can be a major annoyance, and nothing to toy around with, but by using
finasteride you risk reducing your gains on a given cycle, and can even suppress
reproductive function (3). I’m not a big fan of this, as you could guess. However, if
you are worried about your hairline, or have incidences of prostate issues in your
family, then 1mg/day of Finasteride may be the answer you’ve been looking for.
It needs to be noted that there are actually 2 different 5-AR enzymes, and
Finasteride specifically blocks the type-II variety. The type-II 5-AR enzyme is the
one responsible primarily for hairloss and prostate enlargement, while type-I is often
the culprit behind acne and hirsutism. In either case, type-II is responsible for
around 2/3rds of the circulating DHT in your body, so it’s no surprise that Finasteride
typically reduces your total DHT levels by around 65%.
There is also some novel information about this compound regarding the conversion
of testosterone into DHT via the 5-Alpha-reducatase enzyme. It’s come to my
attention that the actual conversion process of testosterone into DHT via this enzyme
may act in some way to inhibit luteinizing hormone release (and ergo would inhibit
your HPTA and natural testosterone production). Check this out:
249
Basically, this chart above shows the baseline level of LH in male sheep given a 5
Alpha-Reductase inhibitor (such as Finasteride), then one showing the LH levels in
sheep given testosterone propionate, and finally a chart showing LH levels of sheep
given testosterone propionate + the inhibitor (graph 3).(5) You’ll note that although
using the inhibitor alone produced no discernable effects on LH, when administered
with testosterone, it seems to have allowed LH pulsality to continue nearly
unaffected. This may indicate that you can use Finasteride on a cycle (1mg/day) and
250
possibly keep your LH levels normal (and thus your HPTA), ergo making recovery
much easier. This is, of course only my speculation.
Reference:
1. Steroidal antiandrogens and 5alpha-reductase inhibitors. Curr Med Chem.
2005;12(8):927-43.
2. New 5alpha-reductase inhibitors: in vitro and in vivo effects. Steroids. 2005
Mar;70(3):217-24.
3. [Effect of selective 5alpha-reductase inhibitor or/and testosterone undecanoate on the
reproductive function of male rats]
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2005 Jan;11(1):38-41. Chinese.
4. New aromatic esters of progesterone as antiandrogens.
J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2004 Apr;19(2):99-105.
5. Biology of Reproduction 50, 1244-50 (1994)
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251
HCG
(Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)
Scientists first recognized a specific hormone now called Human Chorionic
Gonadotropin (HCG) in the 1920’s (1). HCG is no doubt one of the most misused,
misunderstood and underutilized tools in bodybuilding pharmacology we have
available. HCG is not a steroid, but a naturally occurring peptide hormone, produced
by the embryo in the early stages of pregnancy and later by the trophoblast (part of
the placenta) to help control a pregnant woman’s hormones. This makes the uterine
lining ready for implantation of the fertilized egg. HCG is a glycoprotein composed of
237 amino acids and has a mass of 36.7kDa. HCG basically “acts” as leutenizing
hormone (LH) in your body. LH is a Gonadotropin. These were first extracted from
the human, more precisely—the pituitary glands, in 1958. A gonadotropin is any
substance that stimulates the gonads (ovary, testes). It is heterodimeric (initiates
prophase of mitosis) with an alpha subunit identical to LH, FSH (follicle stimulating
hormone) and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). LH is produced in the pituitary
cells and is made up of a beta chain of 115 amino acids and an alpha chain of 89
amino acids. In the testes, the LH binds to receptors on the Lydig cells, which, in
turn, stimulate the synthesis and secretion of testosterone. Like LH, FSH is also a
gonadotropin. It consists of a beta chain of 115 amino acids and an alpha chain of 89
amino acids, the same as LH. Production and release of FSH is controlled by GnRH
(gonadotropin releasing hormone). FSH stimulates testicular growth and supports
the function of sertoli cells, which are needed for sustaining maturing sperm cells.
TSH is also known as a thyrotropin and is secreted by cells in the anterior pituitary
glands. TSH is comprised of a beta chain of 112 amino acids and an alpha chain of
89 amino acids. The alpha chain is the same as that found in the two other pituitary
hormones, LH and FSH, and HCG as well. TSH is produced when the hypothalamus
releases TRH (thyrotropin releasing hormone). TRH then causes the pituitary gland
to release TSH. TSH makes the thyroid gland produce triiodothyronin (T3) and
thyroxine (T4), which controls the body’s metabolism.
HCG is clinically used to induce ovulation and treat ovarian disorders in women, as
well stimulate the testes in hypogonadal (underproduction of testosterone) men. It
is also used in the treatment of undescended testicles in young males. HCG offers no
potential performance enhancement in female athletes, but does prove to be very
useful in male athletes especially those that use AAS. As stated above, HCG in males
is similar to LH, because LH binds to receptors on Leydig cells stimulating synthesis
and secretion of testosterone. The use of HCG would be an added bonus to ASS
users even if there is a lack of endogenous LH. Since HCG increases the body’s
natural testosterone levels, its use during long or extremely high dosed cycles can be
most beneficial were the effects on the hypothalamus causes a depressed signal to
the testicles. The result of the depressed signal leads to what is known as testicular
atrophy (shrunken balls). The use of HCG will send an artificial signal to the testes
(again, as if it were actually LH), thus preventing (to some degree) atrophy. It not
only helps to maintain testicular size and condition but it will also help in restoring
testicles back to their original size. At a time when below normal androgen levels
(due to ASS use) could become costly, restarting natural testosterone production as
quickly as possible is of a special concern in males at the end of a cycle. The price
paid by bodybuilders for failing to raise natural Test levels is the loss of most if not
252
all the hard earned muscle gained; the main cause is cortisol. Cortisol sends a
message to the muscles that is opposite to that of testosterone. If cortisol is not
dealt with (because of an extremely low testosterone level), it will quickly strip away
the new and hard earned muscle you have just obtained.
Some users find that they have better gains and quicker recovery while using HCG
during a cycle of AAS. This first claim is more than likely due to the fact that the
body has a high level of natural testosterone as well as that provided by the use of
AAS, and the second may be somewhat justifiable, as stimulating the testes to
secrete testosterone intermittently may aid recovery. Perhaps this is due to the
maintenance of a higher level of Inter-Testicular-Testosterone (ITT) provided by the
intermittent use of HCG, which should greatly aid recovery of the hypothalamic
testicular-pituitary-axis. An average dose of HCG during a cycle is between 500 to
1000iu every week to every other week while on a cycle. In one study I reviewed, a
single injection of 6000IU of HCG elevated Test levels for 6 days. That's why a lot of
people recommend taking it every 3-5 days. We'd have more stable blood levels,
though, if we shot it more frequently. Remember, it's non-estrified and a water
based injectable, after all. In that same study I just spoke of, 1500IU of HCG shot
Test levels up between 250 and 300%. Taking it all at once however will cause an
increase in estrogen levels caused by the aromatization of normal testosterone; the
result may be a case of gynecomastia for the user.
As regards HCG's use of post cycle therapy (PCT), smaller and more frequent doses
after a cycle of AAS would give the best results with the least amount of side effects.
A dose of 250iu to 500iu everyday (ed) for 2 to 3 weeks is plenty and should vary
little from person to person. The Physician’s Desk Reference recommends 500iu/day,
as did the late, great, Dan Duchaine. The smaller doses are sufficient enough to
begin reversal of testicular atrophy, and used in conjunction with nolvade will help
the already present problem of recovery without raising the levels of estrogen too
high and increasing the risk of gynecomastia in the user. Lower doses of 250iu to
500iu also avoid the further risk of downregulating LH receptors in the testes. The
old saying “more is better” definitely does not apply to the use of HCG. You don’t
want to finish PCT after using too much HCG only to find out your back at the
beginning again. Your best bet is to start at 250iu or 500iu ed for 5 or 6 days, and if
you don’t notice anything happening (nuts dropping and getting bigger) up the dose
slightly. Small doses like 500iu two days a week aren’t going to cut it like some
people think. The only thing small doses of HCG may be useful (sublingually) for is
reducing symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (7). Yeah, that’s right, you can
probably reduce some symptoms of an enlarged prostate with the use of small doses
of HCG.
As stated above, the cycles of HCG should be in the 2 to 3 week range with a least
one month off in between, you could stretch your cycle out to four weeks without
any major concern if you are using lower doses. One should, however, take care
when using HCG as prolonged use could repress the body’s natural production of
gonadotropins permanently, but this is mostly just pure speculation as has yet to be
reported—nor has there been a case of an overdose. To be on the safe side, shorter
cycles of HCG seem to be that of the norm. Most users cycle HCG near the end of a
steroid cycle; you should start your HCG therapy on the last week of yours. For best
results, you should also run nolva while you run HCG as taking HCG by itself will do
little to nothing and gyno, even though rare, may also flair up. Once the HCG cycle is
finished you continue with your usual Clomid or Nolvadex (preferably the latter) for
PCT as it is more effective when used in conjunction HCG. With an AAS cycle of 6 to
253
10 weeks, HCG may not be necessary unless extreme doses of AAS were used, when
there is an existing problem of testicular atrophy, or when you are running a heavy
oral only cycle. AAS cycles of 12 or more weeks should have HCG as a part of post
cycle plan.
Since HCG is used to stimulate testosterone production, side effects can be the same
as those associated with AAS, although gyno may be more common. Possible side
effects of HCG use are water and sodium retention following higher doses. This is
usually a result of higher androgen production. It may cause gyno (again, if doses
are too high). Any athletes worried about failing urine tests because of low levels of
epitestosterone may find that using a dose of 500iu of HCG will increase
epitestosterone levels. However, the problem with HCG is that it is also banned by
the IOC and can also be detected in a urine test; the half life of HCG is
approximately 4 to 5 days. Another possible downside to HCG is that it to can be
suppressive to natural testosterone because it takes the place of LH. LH is
manufactured in the pituitary because of the response of GnRH (gonadotropin
releasing hormone), which in turn is secreted by the hypothalamus. Because the
HCG mimics LH and is being supplied exogenously, the hypothalamus will be given a
signal to still stop producing GnRH, so no natural LH will be produced. This is why it
should always be used with a compound such as Nolvadex. Let me explain: HCG's
suppressive effect on endogenous testosterone is (mostly? totally?) due to to HCG
actually blocking the conversion of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17 OHP) into to
testosterone. Nolvadex stops this blocking-action of HCG from taking place.
So although HCG is essential after long or heavy cycles, it should not be used
without an ancillary such as (specifically) Nolva. Also HCG therapy should be
discontinued at least 2 weeks prior to stopping the use of Nolva, or it may suppress
natural testosterone itself. This should not be a problem if you are running it towards
the end of your cycle of AAS and before PCT.
The average price of HCG is between 10$ to 40$ per 5000iu with solvent; it comes in
doses of 100, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 5000, 10000, 20000—
all iu (international units).
HCG is readily available and can be found in almost all the places where you may
find AAS. If you have a good source you should have no problems in obtaining this
product. There are currently only a few fakes of HCG around, mostly few and far
between. Since the powder of HCG is similar to the powder of somatropin, often
cheaper HCG is sold and marketed as the more expensive HGH (human growth
hormone) on the black market.
References:
(All references for the claims made about HCG are found in the introduction to this
chapter)
254
Ketotifen
(Ketotifen)
Ketotifen was made popular by its ability to inhibit the down regulation of beta
receptors caused by drugs like clenbuterol. Clenbuterol, albuterol, and ephedrine
used to be cycled on and off because they desensitize the various receptors they act
on to produce their lipolytic effect. Ketotifen would therefore allow the use of these
fat burning drugs for much longer periods. If you’ve read my writings on clenbuterol,
you already know that Benadryl (the anti-histimine) can also be used for this same
purpose, and is 10x cheaper and infinitely more available to most people. So why
am I bothering to write about Ketotifen at all?
Ketotifen, in medical circles, is also recognized for its ability to lower levels of the
cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which is a catabolic hormone, and
this is a property that Benadryl does not have, to my knowledge. TNF-alpha lowers
both testosterone and IGF-1 levels (3)(4), and strenuous exercise elevates TNF
alpha levels (5). TNF-alpha has also been shown to increase insulin resistance,,
which we certainly don’t want.
Ketotifen is used by people suffering from wasting diseases partially caused by TNF
alpha. I think, however, its ability to lower TNF-alpha is going to be overshadowed
by anabolic effects produced by anabolic steroids. In one study involving AIDS
patients, combining ketotifen and oxymetholone (Anadrol 50) showed that the
ketotifen didn’t add much to the oxymetholone induced weight gain (1). Hence, you
are reading this profile in the “Ancilliaries” portion of this book, and not the “Fat
Burning” part, even though Kktotifen is typically used as part of a fat burning cycle
including Clen. Benadryl is simply too much cheaper and readily available to use
ketotifen in it’s place with Clen. However, for post cycle therapy, ketotifen and its
ability to lower TNF-alpha, is a very valuable tool. You see, hypogonadism (low
testosterone) often accompanies elevated TNF-alpha levels (6), and after a cycle of
anabolic steroids, you are going to be in a hypogonadal state, with elevated TNF
alpha. Thus, taking ketotifen with your PCT is probably a very good idea. I
recommend 1-3mgs/day before bed because this stuff will make you pretty drowsy.
References:
1. Oxymetholone promotes weight gain in patients with advanced human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection.Br J Nutr. 1996 Jan;75(1):129-38.2.
Smart T. GMHC Treat Issues. 1995 May;9(5):7-8, 12.
3. Mauduit C, et.al Endocrinology 1998 Jun;139(6):2863-8
4. Lang CH et.al Growth Horm IGF Res 2001 Aug;11(4):250-60
5. Pedersen BK et. al. Exerc Immunol Rev 2001;7:18-31
6. Malkin CJ et.al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Jul;89(7):3313-8.
255
Kynoselen
Kynoselen was one of those weird quasi-legal, grey market drugs that used in horse
racing that its way into the anabolic arsenal of many athletes and bodybuilders. I
will be frank and say that its effects are generally more profound in those who are
already reasonably lean and muscular. I’ve noticed, through my research, that the
biggest mitigating factor in this stuff’s use is that its not doing mych (cosmetically)
for those whose bodyfat is too far over 12%. Over 15% and I’d go so far as to say
kynoselen is a waste. Its fat burning properties are felt proportionately with how lean
you already are. It will help with vascularity if you’re lean also. Women seem to be
much bigger proponents of this stuff than men, generally, but that’s probably
because they tend to aim for comparatively less gains than men, and thus are much
more satisfied with a few lean pounds or a few solid strength increases. Again, on a
lean 125lb female, 5lbs of lean mass is very noticeable—much more so than on a
male twice that size.
Lets unpack a bottle of Kynoselen and see what’s in it:
• AMP (adenosine monophosphate) is what I’d consider to be the primary active
ingredient of Kynoselen. This is a source of phosphorous. It combines with 2
phosphate atoms to become ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which provides an
immediate source of cellular energy. AMP aids lipolysis (1), or fat-burning,
and it’s probably the inclusion of this ingredient that makes Kynoselen’s
effects in this area the most profound. It also has the ability to convert to
ATP, or adenosine tri-phosphate. ATP is the primary carrier of energy within
cells, and most cells die quickly in the absence of it. ATP in turn powers
muscles. This is probably why users of Kynoselen report an increase in
“energy levels.”
• Magnesium aspartate has a major role in muscle contraction (5)(6), and this
is why it’s in high demand with many strength athletes. When Dan Duchaine
made his supplement recommendations nearly a decade ago in Muscle Media,
this was on the list. Magnesium also activates enzymes necessary for the
metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids, which leads to protein
synthesis.
• Heptaminol is also included in this preparation. It aids in dilation of coronary
blood vessels and could thereby act as a sort of transport aid for oxygenated
blood (4). I’m sure this is partly why it’s given to race horses as a kind of
“wellness tonic.”
• Cyanocobalamin (vitamin b-12) has been included in Kynoselen, and
bodybuilders and other athletes have known about this substance’s role in
increasing energy and appetite stimulation. A deficiency in this vitamin leads
to anemia, so it’s always a good idea to include it in your diet. The injectable
version is also very popular.
• Selenium is an anti-oxidant, and has been used as a protective agent in spinal
cord injuries. I would imagine that keeping racehorses free from injury would
be very important to their owners; hence its inclusion in this preparation.
256
• Potassium aspartate: Mainly, we know that potassium keeps you from
cramping, and again, since we are examining a compound given to
racehorses, it’s logical to assume that a smart breeder/owner would like to
prevent his horse from cramping when millions of dollars are on the line in a
race. Potassium also assists in many cardiac functions, and will probably act
synergistically with magnesium to aid in muscle contractions (7).
Looking over the ingredients of Kynoselen, it’s easy to see why it’s used for horse
racing, and I think its similar use in athletics is pretty obvious. Sprinters and
strength athletes would greatly benefit from its various energy producing substrates,
as well as the ingredients added to increase contractile strength in skeletal muscle. I
have heard about some pretty decent increases in strength from the sole use of this
compound, and certainly it has found its way into many powerlifters’ cycles.
For bodybuilders, its benefits are pretty different. It seems to be most widely used
for PCT, when it can be used in conjunction with our SERMs and AI’s to hold onto
gains by increasing our ability to continue using the weights that got us to the size
we were while on anabolics.
Kynoselen comes as a 100ml multi-use vial. Typically, athletes and bodybuilders pay
$50-$75 for it, and inject between 1-3mls per day. The only complaint I’ve heard
about it is that it’s painful to inject it, so I would recommend injecting it with an
equal amount of b-12. If I were to use it personally, I’d use Syntheselen, which is
actually an injectable product containing all of the above ingredients, but
manufactured to human grade standards.
References:
1. Extracellular cyclic AMP-adenosine pathway in isolated adipocytes and adipose tissue.
Obes Res. 2005 Jun;13(6):974-81.
2. Effect of prolonged anaerobiosis on 125I-insulin binding to rat soleus muscle:
permissive effect of ATP. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, Dec 1978; 235: 606 -
613.
3. Decreased fatty acid synthesis due to mitochondrial uncoupling in adipose tissue.
FASEB J. 2000 Sep;14(12):1793-800.
4. [Heptaminol hydrochloride as an epithelium transporter]
Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1990 Jul;68(7):791-9. French.
5. CaATP as a substrate to investigate the myosin lever arm hypothesis of force
generation. Biophys J. 2000 Mar;78(3):1474-81.
6. Effects of osmolality and ionic strength on the mechanism of Ca2+ release in skinned
skeletal muscle fibres of the toad.J Physiol. 1993 May;464:629-48.
7. Decreased muscle strength and contents of Mg and Na,K-pumps in chronic alcoholics
occur independently of liver cirrhosis.J Intern Med. 2003 Mar;253(3):359-66.
257
Nolvadex
(Tamoxifen Citrate)
This drug is used as a first line defense against breast cancer. In the late 80’s, Dan
Duchaine speculated that it could also be used by bodybuilders to halt the
development of another type of tumor in the mammary gland—gynocomastia. He
introduced this find to the steroid-using-community in his “Contest Prep” issue of the
UnderGround Steroid Handbook Update Newsletter (the contest prep-issue was
actually 3 issues in one, for those who had a subscription to the newsletter).
Nolvadex is commonly referred to in quite a few ways: as a SERM (Selective
Estrogen Receptor Modulator), as an anti-estrogen (that is actually incorrect, as we
will later see), and finally as a triphenylethylene. I happen to stick with calling
Nolvadex a SERM, because out of my three options, it happens to be correct (as we
know that calling it an anti-estrogen is incorrect), and pronouncable (as we know
that I have no idea how to say "triphenylethylene"). Selective estrogen receptor
modulators (SERMs) act as either estrogen receptor agonists or antagonists in a
tissue-selective manner. Let’s see what that means to us.
Nolvadex actually has quite a few applications for the athlete using steroids. First
and foremost, its most common use is for the prevention of gynocomastia. Nolvadex
does this by actually competing for the receptor site in breast tissue, and binding to
it. Thus, we can safely say that the effect of tamoxifen is through estrogen receptor
blockage of breast tissue (1), especially since total body estradiol increases with its
use. Clearly, if you are on a cycle including steroids that convert to estrogen, you
may want to consider Nolvadex as a good choice to run along side them. Nolvadex,
however, is not the most potent ancillary compound we can use on a cycle, but it is
probably the safest considering it doesn’t actually reduce estrogen in your body;
keeping some estrogen floating around can have many benefits on muscle growth,
as well. Estrogen is also important for a properly functioning immune system. Not
only that, but your lipid profile (both HDL and LDL) should also show marked
improvement with administration of tamoxifen (4). Many bodybuilders actually use
this stuff during their cycles for the health benefits it provides. If, however, you are
preparing for a bodybuilding contest, you need to use something that will suck most
(if not all) of the estrogen out of your body. I am speculating that you may be able
to use Nolvadex for the majority of a contest prep cycle, to keep yourself relatively
healthy, and then switch over to letrozol for the last 8 weeks.
Nolvadex also has some other interesting features for steroid users. In hypogonadic
and infertile men given nolvadex, increases in the serum levels of LH, FSH, and—
most importantly—testosterone were all observed (2)(3). The best (rough) estimate
I can give you from my research is that 20mgs of Nolvadex will raise your
testosterone levels about 150% (5), and this would of course greatly aid post cycle
recovery. What this means to us is that if you take nolvadex after a cycle when you
are trying to raise your levels of testosterone, LH, and FSH back to normal, it will
greatly aid recovery. In fact, if I were limited to just one compound to aid me in post
cycle recovery, nolvadex would be my choice. If you want a comparison, it would
require 150mgs of Clomid to accomplish that type of elevation in testosterone, but
nolvadex also significantly increased the LH (Leutenizing Hormone) response to LHRL
(5), after 6 weeks.
258
Some of the more harsh ancillary compounds available today will give you a more
“dry” look that nolvadex can’t, but nolvadex is simply safer to use in long (over 16
week) cycles.
Unfortunately, nolvadex isn’t perfect. Anecdotally, it has been linked to reduced
gains in some bodybuilders. This isn’t due, as previously thought, to its reducing
estrogen levels (which it doesn’t), but rather to it’s ability to possibly reduce IGF
(Insulin-like-Growth-Factor) levels, which are important for muscle growth (6)(7).
This lowering of IGF levels is probably due to lowering of GH at the pituitary.
Personally, I’ve had many successful cycles with nolvadex as well as without, but I
can certainly testify to its effectiveness in preventing gynocomastia. Back in the late
90’s I purchased 30 tabs of 10mg Nolvadex for $30, and recently I have found it for
much less on various Internet sites. It’s well worth the money.
References:
1. Klin Padiatr. 1987 Nov-Dec;199(6):389-91.
2. Stimulation of calcitonin secretory capacity by increased serum levels of testosterone
in men treated with tamoxifen. Int J Androl. 1987 Dec;10(6):747-51.
3. Hormonal changes in tamoxifen treated men with idiopathic oligozoospermia Exp Clin
Endocrinol. 1988 Dec;92(2):211-6.
4. 2 Bruning PF, Bronfer JMG, Hart AAM, Jong-Bakker M, tamoxifen, serum
lipoproteins and cardiovascular risk, Br. J. Cancer 1988 Oct, 58 (4) 497-9
5. Fertil Steril. 1978 Mar;29(3):320-7.
6. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993 Jun;76(6):1407-12.
7. Eur J Cancer. 1992;28A(4-5):788-93
259
PSGAG
Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (Adequan), manufactured by Luitpold
Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Got sore joints? This stuff might be the answer for you. Don’t get me wrong, there’s
tons of stuff out there that’s pretty good (ibuprofen, naproxin, etc.) and could relieve
some pain and inflammation. I’d recommend trying all of the NSAIDS available OTC
before you start shooting up. With that said, here’s the deal on PSGAG:
This is a water-based injectable and is used for treating animals (dogs and horses)
who have degenerative-type or joint problems. From the research I’ve seen, this
drug is much better at treating degenerative type joint problems in animals (hip
dysplasia, tendonitis, arthritis, etc.) than it is at treating traumatic injuries. It does,
however, work for both. Basically, in every measured area that’s relevant to treating
a joint problem (range of motion, flexion, increase in synovial fluid, etc.), this drug
has been shown to display improvements in test subjects. Get it? When this drug
was given to test animals, all of them showed improvement in their joint-related
problems.
Now, check this out: As a side effect IM administration of 500mgs E4D for 12 weeks
of PSGAG, the mean test subject showed roughly a 13.5% increase in bodyweight!
Yeah, you read that correctly. Not only does this stuff help heal joint injuries, it may
be anabolic! This may be due to the fact that it elevates both white blood-cell count
as well as the polymorphonuclear cells. Also of note is that it elevates lymphocytes.
So how much of this stuff should a 200lb bodybuilder take? Well, ideally, I’d say
125mgs, IM, every 4 days. This should be done for at least 28 days, and possibly for
as long as twice that.
How much will it cost? Well, a 5ml, 100mg/ml bottle is going to set you back about
$50. If you’re taking it as I recommend, then each bottle (vial) will last you 16 days,
so you’ll need at least 2-5 bottles. Its also sold similarly priced in the ever
inconvenient 5ml amps.
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Teslac
(Testolactone)
[17 alpha-oxa-D-homo-1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione ]
Molecular Formula: C19 H24 O3
Molecular Weight: 300.3968
Melting Point: N/A
Manufacturer: Shering
Release Date: 1970
Effective Dose: 250mg/.day
Active Life: up to 24hours
Detection Time: 4-6 weeks
Androgenic: Anabolic Ratio:N/A
Teslac is one of the very first drugs approved by the FDA to fight estrogen
dependant breast cancer, back in 1970. It does this by possibly inhibiting the
aromatase enzyme in what appears to be both a noncompetitive and an irreversible
manner.
I have to admit, when I first went to research this compound, I had thought I was
researching a useless old Anti-Estrogen. Anyway, I took a quick look at its chemical
structure, and realized that it was actually an anabolic steroid, but still decided to put
it in this chapter. Oddly, its D-ring (usually pictured as the upper-right hand ring in
models) is a weird 6 members lactone ring, instead of the usual 5 ring one that
testosterone has. So, now I know it’s an anabolic steroid, but what kind? And what
would it do? Primarily, it’s an Anabolic Steroid whose claim to fame is being used
primarily for it’s antiestrogenic effects (much like Proviron), and I think that it’s been
wrongly assumed to be simply an antiestrogen by many athletes. This is not the
case, and as you’ll soon see, there’s really no reason why this stuff has been pushed
out of use by bodybuilders and athletes for the last decade.
The first study I looked at (1) showed that Teslac increases testosterone (by 47%)
and it’s precursor androstenedione (70%) levels in the body. In the second study I
looked at, it raised testosterone levels in men up to 290ng/dl (almost enough to
bring you from 0 Test to the lowest end of normal/acceptable range), as well as
raising LH (leutenizing hormone) levels, and even FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)
levels slightly (2). So as you can see, not only is this stuff not suppressive of your
natural hormones, it actually stimulates your body to produce more testosterone as
well as the hormones that produce it (2). It has been shown to reduce aromatization
by 90-95%, with regards to decrease in the overall rate, in some instances (7). In
another study, aromatase inhibition by testolactone, at a dose of 500 mg twice daily
(so a total of 1,000mgs/day) for 4 weeks lowered circulating estradiol (E2) levels by
roughly 1/3rd and enhanced the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone and
testosterone by approximately the same amount (1/3rd each) (6). Basically, we’re
looking at pretty decent reductions in both aromatization, as well as reduction in
total estrogen floating around your body.
So far, we have seen that, in different studies it has been shown to increase LH as
well as FSH, respectively. In addition it raises testosterone levels and lowers
estrogen levels in all of the studies we’ve examined. Raising FSH, LH, and
testosterone while lowering estrogen is a pretty good deal considering most steroids
lower endogenous (natural) production of the first three, and raise estrogen.
261
In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that if you don’t want to do any shots (injections)
during your post cycle therapy (PCT), Teslac may be perfect for you, since it will
raise LH as well as HCG in most cases! And it has the added benefit of not
desensitizing your Leydig cells as much as HCG has the potential to do. Another
important benefit of using Teslac over HCG during your PCT is that HCG actually may
raise estrogen levels and/or act as an estrogen in certain tissues (8) (9), while we
know that Teslac lowers estrogen levels and acts as (of course) an androgen.
This means, of course, if you are one of those people who inclined to bridge (use a
low dose of an anabolic compound between higher dose cycles), then this is perfect
for you. In addition, you’ll be able to use Teslac during a cycle as an ancillary
compound that will eliminate aromatasation.
Possibly the most exciting thing I read about Teslac is that it has been PROVEN (!) to
be an effective and safe treatment for gynocomastia (3) (development of breasts in
male mammary glands, often ineloquently referred to as “bitch tits” in gym-speak).
So yeah, if you get a bit of gyno on a cycle, you may want to include Teslac in your
PCT for both the (very good) reasons I revealed above, as well as it’s potential to
treat your gyno.
The only prohibitive thing about Teslac is cost. Currently, I don’t know of any online
pharmacies that carry it, nor UG labs. It generally sells for anywhere between a
dollar and $5 for a 250mg tab. If there’s anything preventing this stuff from
becoming the “must have” drug for PCT overnight, it’s cost.
References:
1. Vigersky RA, Glass AR. Effects of delta 1-testolactone on the pituitary-testicular axis
in oligospermic men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1981 May;52(5):897-902
2. Reversal of the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism of obese men by administration of
the aromatase inhibitor testolactone.Metabolism. 2003 Sep;52(9):1126-8.
3. Acta Endocrinol Suppl (Copenh). 1986;279:218-26
4.Vigersky RA, Mozingo D, Eil C, Purohit V, Bruton J. The antiandrogenic effects of
delta 1-testolactone (Teslac) in vivo in rats and in vitro in human cultured fibroblasts, rat
mammary carcinoma cells, and rat prostate cytosol. Endocrinology 1982 Jan;110(1):214
9
5. Martikainen H, Ruokonen A, Ronnberg L, Vihko R. Short-term effects of testolactone
on human testicular steroid production and on the response to human chorionic
gonadotropin. Fertil Steril 1985 May;43(5):793-8
6. Effect of aromatase inhibition by delta 1-testolactone on basal and luteinizing
hormone-releasing hormone-stimulated pituitary and gonadal hormonal function in
oligospermic men.. Fertil Steril. 1985 May;43(5):787-92.
7. The effects of the aromatase inhibitor delta 1-testolactone on gonadotropin release and
steroid metabolism in polycystic ovarian disease.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1985
Apr;60(4):773-8
8. Pituitary-testicular responsiveness in male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
J Clin Invest. 1974 Feb;53(2):408-15.
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9. Winter JS, Taraska S, Faiman C. The hormonal response to HCG stimulation in male
children and adolescents. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1972 Feb;34(2):348–353
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
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Chapter 11
Sympathomimetics
(And other Fat-Burners)
Ok—first things first: a sympathomimetic is simply a drug that stimulates the
sympathetic nervous system. Basically, what I’m going to tell you about here are
stimulants and their effects on fat-burning, and their use as pre-workout enhancers.
Lets get to it!
There are two types of adrenergic receptors, alpha and beta, as well as various sub
types of each. The first we’ll talk about is the alpha adrenoreceptors.
The most well known adrenoreceptors are the ever-popular beta receptors. Beta
receptors are embedded in the cell's outer phospholipid membrane. These can be
divided into subtypes 1, 2, & 3, while their less popular cousins, the alpha receptors
are broken into subtypes 1 & 2. Alpha receptors are activated at lower catecholamine
levels than are the beta receptors. A catecholamine is an organic compound (an
amine, obviously) that affects the sympathetic nervous system. Dopamine,
norepinephrine and epinephrine are all catecholamines.
Activation of the alpha2 receptor inhibits the release of norepinepherine. This is of
course a “fight or flight” hormone. Ever get nervous? If you’re like most people, you
got physically agitated, started sweating, and lose your appetite. That’s your “fight
or flight” hormones at work. It is the differences in regional distribution of alpha2
and the beta receptors that is responsible for a large part of the gender differences
in body fat storage.
Males have a noticeably greater alpha2 density in abdominals as compared to
women—which contributes to our increased adipose storage there—but the main
difference is caused by higher lower-body alpha2 activity in women, as well as by
beta receptors, which are more highly expressed in males. Women experience the
lipid storing phenomenon in their butt/hips because women have a 3 quarter higher
alpha2 binding in lower body adipose than men, and have a pronounced decreased
energy expenditure in gluteal obesity versus abdominal adipose. Men have this
phenomenon in their abdominals, as we’ve already covered. Ever wonder why men
and women carry fat differently? This is why.
Adipose (fat) tissue has very poor vascularity (blood flow). Take a look at the fat on
the next steak you have; it’s white—very little other. That means there’s not much
blood in it. When triglycerides are broken down into free fatty acids (and glycerol)
during lipolysis, your body has to then get them out of the area, or they’ll just be
reincorporated into the existing fat that’s still there. Sucks, right? Well, when you
stimulate your beta receptors, it causes vasodilation, thus increasing blood flow. As
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I’m sure you can guess, that will aid in transport of fatty acids out of the area, as
well as their break down. Alone, beta receptor stimulation will not increase
vasodilation enough to get rid of 100% of the free fatty acids released during
lipolysis.
Enter alpha receptor activation. Alpha receptor deactivation causes a
decrease in blood flow, while antagonism of the alpha receptors increases blood flow,
and thus increases the mobilization and disposal of these fatty acids. Clearly,
combining alpha and beta stimulation would be ideal in a fat burning stack of drugs
or supplements.
Now that we have a decent understanding of alpha receptors and what they’re
about, let’s briefly talk about Beta Receptors. Beta receptor stimulation can increase
your body temperature a bit by increasing heat production in the mitochondria,
increase your basal metabolic rate, and decrease your appetite. This only in part
explains how beta agonists directly stimulate fat cells and increase lypolysis (fat
loss).
Although it’s counterintuitive, let’s first go over the actions of beta-3
adrenoreceptors. These beta receptors are the black sheep of the beta receptor
family, so much so that they were previously called the “atypical” beta-AR. The
mechanism of beta-3 action is still, at this point, poorly understood. From what is
currently understood about them, the beta-3’s stimulate uncoupling protein 1, 2, &
3, which greatly influences mitochondrial uncoupling, leading to increased heat
production and energy expenditure. This mechanism is how DNP works, although to
a much (much!) greater degree than any beta-activator ever studied (including those
which stimulate the beta-3’s). Beta-3 stimulation also increases mobilization of fatty
acids from triglyceride stores. All of this would be great, but currently the only beta
3 action we can see is from carry-over effects gleaned from other traditional beta-1
& 2 agonists like ephedrine and clenbuterol. There are no currently available beta-3
agonists in circulation. In addition the preliminary studies on beta-3 agents in
rodents were very misleading, since beta-3 receptor activation in rats and humans is
very different. For practicality’s sake, I’m going to cut the beta-3 discussion a little
bit short, since we don’t know too much about it, and can’t really get anything to
take advantage of the little knowledge we do have on it.
Both beta 1 & 2 receptors have the ability to increase energy expenditure when they
are stimulated, though the differences (and similarities) between them can be
discerned from the following: In humans, both Beta-1 adrenergic stimulation and
Beta-2 adrenergic stimulation also increase energy expenditure. However, in contrast
to rodents, this type of adrenergic-stimulated thermogenesis in humans is mainly
located in skeletal muscle. For rodents, the major site of thermogenesis is actually
brown adipose tissue, as opposed to skeletal muscle, where it occurs for humans.
Besides increasing energy expenditure, both beta-1 & 2 adrenergic stimulations also
increase adipose tissue lipolysis. It has also been pretty reasonably proven that the
increased lipolysis is responsible for a large percentage part of the increase in energy
expenditure after the beta-1 adrenergic stimulation. In contrast (and this is possibly
their biggest difference), beta-2-adrenergic receptors are mainly localized in skeletal
muscle and not in adipocytes; it can be reasonably concluded that stimulation of
beta-2 receptors may actually exert a more direct effect on energy expenditure than
beta-1’s do. This may even be the primary difference in the “how does this happen?”
difference between the very similar effects of beta-1 & 2 agonists. In fact, in all of
the following charts, you’ll see this effect in the “SAL+ACL” portions of the charts,
which is where a beta-2 agonist (salbutamol noted as “SAL” in all the charts) was
combined with a compound to inhibit fat oxidation (thus showing salbuterol’s true
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effects on energy expenditure absent of increased lipolysis), compared with energy
expenditure of a beta-1 agonist (dobutamine, noted as “DOB” in all the charts).
In the chart below, beta-1 stimulation (DOB) resulted in a 0.58 ± 0.20 kJ/min (P <
0.05) increase in energy expenditure, whereas the beta-2 stimulation (SAL) showed
a 0.72 ± 0.12 (P < 0.001) and 0.62 ± 0.12 (P < 0.001) kJ/min increase. And, as I
previously stated, the SAL+ACL group’s energy expenditure was similar to the SAL
group, telling us that energy expenditure with beta-2 agonists is not dependant on
fat oxidation. Thus, beta-1 & 2 receptor stimulation produce different energy
expenditure through different means. Here’s that chart (and a few more after it):
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Fig. 1. Energy expenditure during Beta-adrenergic stimulation. Values are means ± S
dobutamine (DOB) (indicated by dark circle), salbutamol (SAL)
(triangle)SAL+acipimox (ACI) (open circle).
(Basically the same chart, but maybe easier to understand…)
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In addition, Beta-1 stimulants may oxidize more fat than beta-2’s though less
glucose (shown in the next two charts respectively):
Solid bar, DOB (beta-1); gray bar, SAL; hatched bar (beta-2), SAL+ACI. *P < 0.05
vs. baseline; #P < 0.05 vs. SAL and SAL+ACI.
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Now Plasma Free fatty acids, comparing beta-1 & 2 stimulation (it’s very similar, as I
already explained):
Plasma free fatty acids (FFA) during beta 1 or 2 adrenergic stimulation. Values are
means ± SE.
It becomes interesting, because you can combine the information on beta 1, 2, & 3
receptors you’ve just read with the information you have on alpha 1 & 2 receptors
discussed at the start of this chapter, and you’ll have enough information to proceed
into the following profiles on various compounds which stimulate those receptors.
And after you’ve read all of the following profiles, you’ll have the information on what
your adreno-receptors do, and what compounds you can use to stimulate them to
take advantage of that information and affect your physique for the stage or beach,
and/or your performance on the field.
Let’s go over what all of this means, in the simplest terms. Yeah, I know, this is the
part I could have said in the beginning, but I’d rather explain it first, rather than just
issuing semi-profound declarations with no support.
Here’s what we just went over, regarding stimulation of the various adrenoreceptors,
as relates to our goals in particular:
Alpha-2 Receptors: inhibit the release of norepinepherine.
Beta-1 Receptors: increase adipose tissue lipolysis and energy expenditure. It has
also been pretty reasonably proven that the increased lipolysis is responsible for a
large percentage part of the increase in energy expenditure after the beta-1
adrenergic stimulation.
Beta-2 Receptors: Increases adipose tissue lipolysis and energy expenditure. These
receptors are mainly localized in skeletal muscle and not in adipocytes; it can be
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reasonably concluded that stimulation of beta-2 receptors may actually exert a direct
effect on energy expenditure, which is not dependant on fat oxidation.
Beta-3 Receptors: stimulate uncoupling protein 1, 2, and 3, which greatly influences
mitochondrial uncoupling, leading to increased heat production and energy
expenditure. Beta-3 stimulation also increases mobilization of fatty acids from
triglyceride stores.
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Albuterol
(Salbutamol)
This stuff is clenbuterol’s shorter acting brother. Essentially, it has all of the effects
of clenbuterol, but actually may be better for athletes. See, where Clen has a very
long lasting effect in the body, Albuterol actually has a comparatively short active
and half-life. Since we know that we can expect all of the fun fat-burning effects Clen
has, when using Albuterol, let’s take a look at some of the more interesting effects
it’s had on strength.
In one study, subjects performed 9 wk of isokinetic knee extensions twice weekly.
Albuterol was given to one group, and placebo to the other, for 6 wks; groups
received 16 mg.d-1 of either treatment, they were strength trained, and the results
recorded. Anyway, making a long story short, the Albuterol group at both midtesting
and post-testing had higher scores than the non-Albuterol group. These results give
clear indications that even theraptic doses of Albuterol administered with resistance
exercise may augment strength gains above and beyond those experienced without
Albuterol (2).
Anecdotally, clenbuterol and ephedrine have both shown themselves capable of
temporarily increasing strength, and I would bet most beta-agonists have this effect,
but I don’t think has been shown as conclusively as it has been with Albuterol.
There’ve also been more than a few complaints of Clen causing athletes to lose their
wind, especially those whose sports require a higher Vo2 max than most. Albuterol,
perhaps due to its short half-life, may not have this deleterious effect (1) and
therefore may actually be a more effective choice for athletes, though not
bodybuilders, who can benefit from Clen’s long-lasting lipolytic effect.
References:
1. Effect of salbutamol on muscle strength and endurance performance in nonasthmatic
men. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000 Jul;32(7):1300-6.
2. The effects of Albuterol and isokinetic exercise on the quadriceps muscle group.Med
Sci Sports Exerc. 1995 Nov;27(11):1471-6
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Caffeine
Yeah, caffeine….the stuff that you get at Starbucks. Caffeine (1,3,7
trimethylxanthine) is yet another sympathomimetic, and a member of the xanthine
family. Luckily for us, most of the United States (and the world) is addicted to the
stuff, so the FDA will probably leave us alone on this issue. Also, it’s over 99% orally
bioavailable, so a cup of black coffee is still socially acceptable, and basically is as
good of a delivery method as a pill is.
Caffeine will raise your body temperature a bit, and also increase your ability to
focus and concentrate on simple tasks. It’s got both (slight) strength
(neuromuscular) enhancing effects as well as endurance enhancing abilities. Those
effects are noticeable enough that caffeine, in large doses, has been banned by both
the IOC and NCAA. Of course, take too much, and you’ll just be jittery and anxious.
Tolerance, therefore, needs to be assessed by the individual (you) ingesting it.
Performance decreases seem to occur past 500mgs in a serving, though they
following a bell curve. Let’s go over that a bit more.
There is an inverted-U shaped curve (like a glass with the open side on the table,
instead of sitting properly). Ergo, more isn’t always better. Anxiety seems to set in
at doses of 1,000mgs/day, and performance can suffer after 500mgs/day. 1
2mgs/kg of bodyweight seems to be optimal for strength, endurance, and cognitive
ability enhancement, not to mention being within the acceptable range for stacking
with ephedrine in a 1:10 (E:C) ratio.
Still, caffeine is a cheap and legal stimulant that will enhance performance…unless,
like me, you ingest it via the Energy-Drink you mix with your Vodka….
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Cimaterol
(Cimaterol)
Cimaterol is a stimulant, a fat burner, and similar to clenbuterol in many ways—and
different in some very important ones. Both Clen and cimaterol are beta-adrenergic
agonists, and thus are both anabolic as well as thermogenic (1)(5). Also, both
stimulate your adrenal glands, increase your body temperature, raise your heart
rate, etc., i.e. they mimic the “Fight or Flight” response quite well. Cimaterol,
however, may stimulate the beta-1, 2, and 3 receptors while Clen only stimulates
the beta 2 and 3 receptors. This may cause increased fat burning by cimaterol when
compared with clenbuterol. Also, a far greater portion of brown adipose tissue is
burned with the use of Cim over Clen, as far as I can tell.
Cimaterol stimulates both lypolisis (burning fat, the release of free fatty acids and
glycerol) as well as inhibit lypogenesis (gaining fat, the incorporation of 14C into
fatty acids from [14C] glucose) and may even do both more effectively than Clen,
possibly making it a more potent fat burner. In addition, it stimulates protein
synthesis and thus could increase fat free mass via this mechanism (1) while at the
same time burning fat. After a couple of weeks, however, the anabolic effects might
lessen, as one study showed that weight gain (with fat loss, ergo a PURE muscle gain
concurrent with fat loss) halted after 14 days (3). Energy metabolism has been
shown to be greatly increased as well (4). Cimaterol also stimulates blood flow and
causes acute mobilization of nitrogen (alanine), significantly increases amino acid
uptake in muscles, and mobilizes lactic acid out of muscles (2). Thus, it may not
have the athletic performance (endurance and possibly speed) decreasing effects of
Clen (which I’ve written about and alluded to previously, so I won’t get into that
here—it’s beyond the scope of this article). This is pure speculation on my part, and
Cim may still have some of the performance decreasing effects of Clen, but as other
beta-andrenergic-agonists like ephedrine don’t, I see no reason to think Cim does
(as I haven’t read any studies which indicate it does). In any case, a lot of the
studies I’ve read and compared with those on clenbuterol seem to indicate that
cimaterol is actually more potent for fat burning than Clen is.
Ok, so now you know what I have to say about cimaterol, let’s see what some other
people have said. Here's what Dan Duchaine had to say about cimaterol:
"Until some new synthetic beta-3 agonist is commercially available, the beta agonist
of choice is still clenbuterol (although the STRONGER cimaterol is available as a
research chemical in the U.S.)."
Doug Kalman, author of Fat Attack, has written about cimaterol and said:
"Though it's yet to be tested in humans, animal studies have determined that
Cimaterol is a more powerful beta-agonist than clenbuterol, promotes protein
retention and accretion, and has shown powerful anti-catabolic properties in cases of
cancer or burns."
So not only is this stuff a great fat-burner, it's anti-catabolic.
Looks promising, huh? Unfortunately, it downregulates the beta receptors just as
Clen does (3), so a 3 week on/1 week off type of schedule may be appropriate, as
273
would the addition of ketotifen after every 3 weeks (and not going off the cimaterol;
so in 4 weeks on cimaterol, every 4th week you’d be adding in 2-3 mgs of ketotifen
every night before you go to bed). You could also use 50mgs of benadryl instead of
the ketotifen, in the same manner.
As with any new drug, caution should be taken with this stuff.
A dose of 0.15 milligram/kilogram administered subcutaneously is the standard dose
in a lot of human studies, so I'd be comfortable trying that dose myself, but I'd
prefer a tablet (which are also available). That’s a fraction of any sort of dangerous
dose, as you can see.
LD50:
1973 mg/kg (male)
and 1745 mg/kg (female)
References:
1. Domest Anim endocrinol. 1990 Oct;7(4): 477-84.
2. J Anim Sci. 1998 Apr; 76(4): 988-98.
3. J Anim Sci. 1992 Jan; 70(1): 115-22.
4. Am J Physiol. 1988 Dec; 255(6 Pt 2): R952-60
5. Reprod Nutr Dev. 1988; 28(1):61-84
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Clenbuterol
Clenbuterol (Clen) is a selective beta-2 agonist/antagonist and a bronchodilator.
What this means, is that it stimulates your beta-2 receptors. Of great importance is
that clenbuterol is a selective beta-2 agonist (because it works selectively on the
beta-2-andrenergic-receptors). The thing is, clenbuterol is selective—like hitting a
tack (the tack being your beta-2 receptors) with a small hammer (the hammer being
the Clen): thus, it hits the beta-2 receptors selectively. Sorry if that seems
repetitious, but it’s very important to understand that fact before we move on. Since
clenbuterol has very little beta-1 stimulating ability, it has the ability to reduce
certain kinds of airway obstruction without much in the way of cardiovascular effect
(more about that later), and this is why it is used as an asthma medication.
So what exactly dose a stimulant like Clen (or Ephedrine) do when it stimulates
those Beta Receptors? Well, it serves to increase your body temperature a bit by
increasing heat production in the mitochondria, increase your basal metabolic rate,
and decrease your appetite (1). This partly explains how Beta-2 agonists directly
stimulate fat cells and increase lypolysis (fat-loss) (1)(13). However, because it is a
beta-2 agent, Clen can decrease insulin sensitivity (2), unfortunately.
Clen is a very effective repartitioning agent, and this is what it’s most often used for
in athletic circles. It will increase your ratio of fat free mass (FFM) to fat mass, by
decreasing your fat and possibly increasing your FFM (3). Let’s quantify that a bit:
In one study, horses given a semi-reasonable dose of Clen (slightly over 1mcg/lb x2
a day) and excercised for 20mins, 3x a week (I suppose they were Mentzer disciples)
had significant decreases in % fat (-17.6%) and fat mass (-19.5%) at week 2, which
was similar to Clen given to horses who didn’t excercise; in contrast, the excercised
group had a different FFM response, which significantly increased (+4.4%) at week 6
(3). Week 6! Here’s a chart illustrating the changes in % of body fat experienced in
the various test groups, followed by a chart showing the increase in Fat Free Mass
experienced by the same groups:
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Changes in percent body fat (%fat) over time in clenbuterol and exercise (ClenEx;
A), clenbuterol only (Clen; B), exercise only (Ex; C), and control (Con; D) groups.
Means with different letters (a and b) are significantly different.
Changes in fat free mass (FFM) over time in ClenEx (A), Clen (B), Ex (C), and Con
(D). Means with different letters (a-c) are significantly different.
I think those charts should clearly illustrate the repartitioning effects of Clen, even
though it is known that it’s effects on animals are typically much more dramatic than
in humans. There’s still no doubt about it, in my mind, Clen will help you lose fat
and gain muscle.
276
So Let’s re-examine that first point I made: Clen vs. Clen+excercise produce roughly
the same results for the first 2 weeks! This tells me that the 2 weeks on and 2
weeks off schedule for Clen dosing is far from optimal, and if you want the quasi
anabolic effect from the Clen, it’ll take more than 2 weeks on (6 weeks apparently).
In addition, since Clen alone is similar to Clen+excercise for those first 2 weeks, why
would anyone ever use a 2 on/2 off protocol? Keep in mind that animal responses to
beta-agonist/antagonists differ a bit from ours, but I’m sure that you get the idea
that 2 on/2 off is not a great dosing protocol. If I were using Clen, I’d be using it for
6-12 weeks at a time if I expected to get maximum results from it, but certainly the
most dramatic effects on fat loss appear to be in weeks 1-2. The reasons for the
further increase in FFM around week 6 despite no changes in % fat or fat mass are
not easily explained. It might be that clenbuterol can increases FFM through another
nonreceptor-mediated pathway, which would be very good for us, since the anabolic
effects would also be applicable in humans, despite the fact that animals often
respond more dramatically to beta-agonist/antagonists, due to receptor properties.
However, clenbuterol is highly lipophylic and can also enter muscle tissue (12), so
that could indicate a possible mechanism of work. Maybe that would explain the
significant increase in FFM of 13 kg in at 8 wks in the study? Certainly, muscle
protein synthesis (MPS) must be a part of it, since Clen will increase MPS in your
body (17), but it has even been speculated that the growth-promoting effect of
clenbuterol may be specific to muscle and that the drug may act in a not-yet
understood manner which circumvents (!) the physiological mechanisms responsible
for the control of muscle growth (13). This may mean that clenbuterol can help blast
you past “sticking points” in your training by circumventing the usual mechanisms by
which anabolism is experienced! Perhaps related to this is that both muscle
composition and fibre size has been shown to increase with administration of Clen
(14).
In any case, Clearly the results you want to reproduce for yourself are those to be
gained by Clen + exercise, for 6 weeks or more. This type of dramatic anabolic effect
hasn’t been confirmed in human studies (8), but the anabolic effects of Clen in
animal (specifically equine and rodent) studies are clearly quite astounding.
Now that I told you how great Clen is, I’ll tell you how to take it. Clen has a biphastic
elimination, which means that it is technically reduced in your body in 2 different
stages. This isn’t particularly important, as a recent study has shown that for most
intents and purposes, Clen concentrations in the body decline with a ½ life
(approximately) equivalent to 7-9.2hours and again up to as much as 35 hours later
(4)(5). If you’re really interested, though, Clen technically declines biphastically at
10 and then 36 hours. But really, in our little world, where we use ½ life to tell us
when to take our next dose, who the hell is going to take Clen, then a dose 10 hours
later, then a dose 36 hours later? We’ll stick with the earlier 7-9 hour ½ life for
dosing purposes, and take our clen every 3.5-4.5 hours that we’re awake, stopping
early enough to still be able to get to bed. Clen can, in some people, cause insomnia
(and as with all stimulants, can cause anxiety). Recently, it’s become popular to take
a whopping dose of Clen in the morning, and that’s it for the day. There’s nothing
wrong with this, I guess, but I’d rather not go through that kind of roller-coaster of
sweating and shaking until it wore off.
Based on it’s rate of elimination from the body, and how much is usually needed to
be effective for athletes, my recommendations are the same for both men and
women. You’ll need to take 20mcgs upon rising, and then repeat that same dose
again later in the day, and then once again in that day (if you find you can tolerate
277
the effects). So you’ll start with 20mcgs, and then repeat that dose 2 more times
that same day if you can tolerate it (classic stimulant side effects will determine this:
hand shaking, sweating, etc.). You can then start increasing the dose gradually.
Personally, I wouldn’t work my way up to more than 200mcg/day. 60-120mcg/day is
an average dose, but keep your blood pressure at (or under) 140/90, while on Clen,
just to be safe. If you go over that, lower the dose. You’ll also want to know your
body temperature, upon rising, for the week before you start taking your Clen, and
then monitor it (again, as soon as you wake up) throughout your regimen. When it
returns to the level it was at before you began taking the drug, you’ll need to start
taking your benadryl or ketotifen, as the decrease in body temperature back to
original levels indicates the thermogenic effect is beginning to decline.
Clenbuterol can also cause a downregulation in testicular androgen receptors and in
pulmonary, cardiac and central nervous system beta-adrenergic receptors (6),
possibly making steroids less effective (if there is androgen receptor downregulation
elsewhere as well, then it's highly probable) while you are on it. It definitely makes
Clen less effective if you keep taking it as time goes on. To counteract this, you can
take some ketotifen every 3rd or 4th week that you remain on Clen. It’s a
prescription anti-histimine, so it’ll make you drowsy (take before bedtime).
Basically, the way this works is to reduce beta-2 receptor activity, and restore
receptor function (15).
Another option, if you are worried about receptor downgrade, is taking benadryl, at
around 50-100mgs/night before bed (every 3rd week or so, for that week).
Benadryl is sold as an anti-histimine in the United States, and/or a sleep aid
elsewhere in the world. However, beta receptors are embedded in the cell's outer
phospholipid membrane. The stability of the membrane has a lot to do with the
proper function of the receptors. Methylation of the phospholipids is stimulated by
the binding of beta agonists to their receptors. Methylated phospholipids are foreign
to the body, and when the body recognizes tham as foreign, it breaks them down
with phospholipase A2. This changes the structure of the outer membrane, which
results in desensitizaton of the beta receptors. On the other hand, agents that inhibit
phospholipase A2 slow desensitization. Cationic ampiphylic drugs are known for
their ability to inhibit phospholipase A2. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a cationic
ampiphylic drug, ergo benadryl slows desensitization of beta receptors (i.e. upgrades
them) by inhibiting phospholipase A2, which is the enzyme that breaks down
methylated phospholipids. This action, in turn, keeps the phospholipid membrane
stable, and thus keeps the receptors functioning properly (7). This will allow you to
use Clen for much longer with the same effects. Also, since benadryl is an anti
histamine, and histamines have a direct effect on beta-adrenoreceptors (not just
beta-2’s but all of them), using an anti-histamine will have a direct effect on
reducing beta-receptor stimulation (16), thus upregulating your beta-receptors.
Since we’re speaking about beta-receptors and upregulation here, let me address the
claim that you can use ephedrine (or the ECA stack), alternating with Clen, in order
to avoid receptor downgrade. I’m not sure where this rumor came from, but it is
totally incorrect.
To dispel this myth, let’s examine ephedrine for a second. Remember when I said
that using clenbuterol to stimulate the beta-2 receptors is like hitting a tack with a
hammer? Well, ephedrine is like a sledge-hammer; it hits the beta-2's and
everything around them. Thats because it's not selective, but rather it stimulates
other receptors to a significant degree as well.
278
Anyway, one of those receptors that ephedrine hits is the beta-2 (yeah, the same
one as Clen). As you can see from the graph below (ephedrine is represented by the
the solid circles), it reduced beta-2-AndrenergicReceptor (what we call, in laymen’s
terms, the "beta-2 receptor") levels to 32% of the control level after 24 hours. Read
this again:
Ephedrine, in this study, reduces Beta-2 receptor levels to 32% of control after 24
hours.
(See, the solid circles in this graph represent ephedrine)
Granted, it's not perfect; it's not in vivo, etc., but there's no denying that ephedrine
will downregulate beta-2 receptors. For this reason you will not be able to use it on
the weeks in between your Clen to upgrade your receptors.
Also, bear in mind that Clen isn’t great for your heart, and can cause some issues
there (enlargement of ventricles, etc.). Most studies showing Clen to cause heart
problems are with animals, and even though the dosing is almost similar to what
humans take (in some studies it’s within the range of what would be double of a
large human dose). It’s important to remember that animals have more beta-2
receptors and they cause certain event chains that human beta-2 receptors may not.
Clen causes cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac necrosis (cell death) to some degree, in
some cases. Again though, many studies showing the more significant, possibly
irreversible, heart problems are with mg dosing. We humans take Clen in mcg
279
doses. If we want to duplicate those “theraputic” levels of Clen seen in the more
conservative studies, we’d still be taking just over 1mcg/lb of bodyweight twice a
day. I’d suggest a bit less than half of that dose, however, even if just to avoid
cardiac complications.
Performance issues with Clen also vary. Some studies show reduced exercise
(cardiovascular) performance (9), while some show that Clen can alleviate exercise
induced asthma (10)! Clearly, this compound will have different effects on different
people, and I suspect that a lot of it is sports specific. Many bodybuilders claim that
Clen makes it difficult for them to do cardio, yet I can play a full game of rugby on it.
You need to figure out how it affects you, and tailor your dose personally.
Finally, this brings me to the issue of cramps while on Clen. I don’t get them. My
friends don’t get them. Most of us are athletes who use Clen during the season as
well as the off season, and one of my friends even claims that it gives him more
“wind” (cardiovascular stamina). Take on enough water every day and you should be
fine. If you’re really concerned, you can take some extra minerals and taurine, since
Clen depletes taurine (11) as do most if not all beta-agonists. I don’t take anything
more than my usual vitamins and minerals.
1st Graph Reference:
ASPET Journals, Vol. 58, Issue 2, 421-430, August 2000
Kinetic Analysis of Agonist-Induced Down-Regulation of the 2-Adrenergic Receptor in
BEAS-2B Cells Reveals High- and Low-Affinity Components Bruce R. Williams, Roger
Barber, and Richard B. Clark
2nd set of Graph references:
J Appl Physiol 91: 2064-2070, 2001; 8750-7587/01
Chronic administration of therapeutic levels of clenbuterol acts as a repartitioning
agent Charles F. Kearns1, Kenneth H. McKeever1, Karyn Malinowski1, Maggie B.
Struck1, and Takashi Abe2
Other References:
1. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1994 Jun;18(6):429-33.
2. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Jul;283(1):E146-53
3. J Appl Physiol. 2001 Nov;91(5):2064-70
4. J Anal Toxicol. 2001 May-Jun;25(4):280-7.
5. J Pharmacobiodyn. 1985 May;8(5):385-91.
6. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2004 Apr;88(3-4):94-100
7. Prog Clin Biol Res. 1981;63:383-8
8. Ann Pharmacother. 1995 Jan;29(1):75-7
9. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002 Dec;34(12):1976-85.
10. Respiration. 1987;51(3):205-13.
280
11. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1996;403:233-45
12. Food Addit Contam 13: 259-274, 1996
13. Biochem J. 1989 Jul 1;261(1):1-10.
14. Biosci Rep. 1987 Feb;7(2):143-9.
15. Z Erkr Atmungsorgane. 1990;175(3):141-6
16. Comp Biochem Physiol C. 1989;92(1):143-8.
17. Biosci Rep. 1984 Jan;4(1):83-91.
Research Anabolic Steroids
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281
DNP
(2,4-dinitrophenol)
DNP was first introduced to the bodybuilding world by Dan Duchaine. In the late 90s,
the body building magazine Muscle Media 2000 was offering this special deal to
anyone who subscribed. If you subscribed, you got a bunch of audio cassettes
containing interviews with 10 bodybuilding experts. Those cassettes included
interviews with noted bodybuilding experts, and I’m sure they were very interesting.
I only listened to two of them, and the other eight collected dust in a drawer
somewhere in my bedroom, I’m sure. But one of the two I listened to had an
interview with Dan Duchaine, which ended with him promising to tell the
bodybuilders about a new substance which would revolutionize the bodybuilding
world. Fast-forward a year, and there was a question in MM2K asking him to let the
cat out of the bag.
What he did was tell us about DNP. Since then, we have a lot more experience with
it, due to feedback from bodybuilders, and figured out the optimal doses and such
from trial and error. The first thing that I will tell you about DNP is the first thing Mr.
Duchaine said about it:
DNP is dangerous.
If you screw up using it, you may go blind, or end up in the hospital on an ice bed
receiving ice-water enemas as the doctors frantically try to make the temperature of
your yellow and sweaty body go back down. I’m not joking. On the positive side,
very few people have died from DNP, although it remains a distinct possibility. Some
DNP related fatalities have been reported (14)(23).
Outside the bodybuilding world, DNP is used to make certain dyes—break open a
capsule and you’ll see that the distinct color you get on your hands is nearly
impossible to wash off. It can also be used as a fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide.
Before that, in the early part of the 1900’s it was used as an explosive.
Clearly, this is stuff you don’t want to take lightly.
DNP works by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation, which increases the body’s
temperature and metabolic rate (1). Synthesis of fatty acid in adipose tissue requires
cooperation of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic enzymes. Mitochondria release energy
from food molecules and transform energy into useable form via the production of
ATP. ATP is the primary carrier of energy within your cells, and most cells die quickly
in the absence of it. ATP in turn powers your muscles. What does DNP have to do
with all this? DNP depletes your muscle’s ATP (4), thus requiring your mitochondria
to convert more energy from food molecules, and thus create more ATP to replace
what was lost. This makes your body use more energy to do anything, from walking
the dog to benching 315lbs. In addition, since cellular levels of all these metabolites
depend on the efficiency of mitochondrial energy conversion, a mitochondrial proton
leak via uncoupling proteins (UCPs) could modulate Fatty Acid synthesis (8).
Paradoxically, DNP inhibits muscle contraction, even though it accelerates the
ATPase activity activity of isolated myosin (13). ATPase is the enzyme that causes
ATP molecules to release the energy they store, and myosin is a protein that (along
with actin) is responsible for both muscular contraction and relaxation.
282
All of this tells me that your body will need to create more energy than usual to keep
up with the demands DNP is placing on it. In addition, it will have to use more of the
food you take in to produce that much-needed energy, and less of that food to
create and store fat. In fact, you’ll start using stored fat as energy to attenuate the
energy deficit DNP creates. I’ve seen studies on animals where a +60% increase in
metabolic rate is achieved with DNP use (9), although I feel that in humans, the rate
may actually be higher. My speculation is that proper DNP use in humans can net a
40-80% rise in BMR (basal metabolic rate). This is all from hypermetabolism, or the
increase in metabolism, or your body’s need to use more energy to perform tasks.
So what happens when your body requires more energy to do today the same things
it did yesterday? You lose more fat today than you did yesterday, in this case a lot
more. What else? You get tired more quickly as your body struggles to convert food
into energy. Your endurance will suffer. Your staying power in the last few reps of a
set will vanish. Your ability to complete the same amount of sets as you did
yesterday, with the same intensity and weights, will suffer. But that won’t seem like
much of a big deal to you at the time, because you probably won’t get much of a
“pump” at all from the workouts you are completing because DNP reduces the
amount of available glycogen in your muscles (4)(5)(6). DNP will also increase your
rate of ventilation, as your lungs try to get oxygen into your muscles (16). Your
blood will be moving a bit slower than usual, as DNP will increase its viscosity
(thickness). Basically, it will increase your body’s need for oxygen as well as your
blood viscosity (3), and it nearly doubles the rate of oxygen consumption in muscles
(11). Thus, your body will have to work much harder to oxygenate your blood, and
then transport it to working muscles. Cardiac output will then increase proportion to
this new rate of oxygen consumption (15).
If you are an athlete, you’ll play like garbage on DNP because of all that stuff I just
mentioned. For these reasons, I see it as very useful for a bodybuilder (who only has
aesthetics to be worried about, not functional ability or performance), but not very
useful for an athlete. If (and this is a big if), you are badly out of shape and fat
before you have training camp for your sport’s preseason, then I suppose you can
try to use this stuff to lose some fast weight. But in all honesty, a 20 day cycle of
DNP no less than a month away from training camp is all I’d risk. You’ll lose some
weight, and only have to keep it off for a month until training camp starts. I really
want to stress, though, that this stuff is an exceptionally poor choice for use by an
athlete. And remember that part I told you about earlier—DNP inhibiting muscle
contraction? Yeah, that’ll make you weaker, also.
Speaking about getting weaker, DNP will lower thyroid (T3) and thyroid stimulating
hormone levels (7). Lower thyroid levels are positively correlated with lethargy
(tiredness) and muscle weakness. So it’s as fair to say that just as DNP makes you
lose fat via several mechanisms, it will make you feel like garbage through several
mechanisms. Don’t get me wrong, not everyone feels like total garbage on DNP, but
it’s by far the most common side effect I’ve heard of. Err…Next to bad breath. No,
really. Oh, and I almost forgot, yellow(ish?) sweat and body odor that’s brutal. Then
there’s this weird taste in your mouth. On the bright side, we’re talking about fat loss
of almost a half a kilogram per day (1lb/day), when DNP is properly used.
One of the most worrying side effects of DNP use is its ability to cause vision
problems (19)(20). Realistically, you should be alright if you keep your doses and
duration of use reasonable.
283
A lot of the side effects (at least the more dangerous ones, including the ones
associated with vision problems) need to be addressed before I tell you how much
DNP you can use, and for how long. First of all, you will want to make sure you are
taking in enough carbs. Yeah, that’s right, a ketogenic diet (that’s a diet with no
carbs, essentially) is too dangerous to consider with DNP use. In fact, I recommend
taking in a good amount of carbs after your workouts, at least 1-2g/kg of
bodyweight. Glucose metabolism is enhanced in less than a week (21), and I’m wary
of depriving your body of carbs while using DNP. All of these extra carbs are going to
make you sweat more, as your body literally burns them up. I’d still say you can
take in as many carbs as you want, and you’ll want a lot (carb-cravings are a side
effect of DNP use).
The other thing you want to use is pyruvate, which at the very least will have
ocularprotective properties (yes, I made that word up, and it means something that
protects your eyes) (22). Pyruvate will also have some other cool effects on your
body’s energy production ability, but here, we’re primarily concerned with not
developing cataracts or floaters in our vision.
Thankfully, DNP is not particularly hard on your heart, blood pressure, or liver. The
only reason you’ll experience increases in cardiac output is as a response to the
increased ventilation DNP will cause while you are exerting any kind of muscular
force, and even then it isn’t particularly dangerous (3)(6)(11)(15). Most DNP users
feel this effect only vaguely, certainly nothing compared to what would be
experienced with use of ephedrine or maybe even caffeine. So we’re really only
dealing with the lowering of thyroid values and the possible eyesight problems. Oh,
and that pesky “death” thing.
So far, we know we need to keep some carbs in our body, and take some pyruvate.
I can only assume you will also be taking a multivitamin/mineral while using DNP,
just to keep all of your bases covered. There’s also some good reasons to take an
energy supplement with DNP, since it will sap energy out of you. I recommend
something in the morning, and pre-workout, as a minimal insurance against feeling
too tired all the time. Also, you want to take some T3 with your DNP, because of
DNP’s aforementioned ability to lower conversion of T4 into T3. 50-100mcgs/day
should suffice. Taurine and potassium are popular additions to a DNP cycle for many
experienced users. They may not help, but if cramping becomes an issue, then they
could. You’d never even consider using DNP and not taking in enough water, right?
I’d suggest water intake be kept obscenely high, and as close to two gallons per day
as you can get.
So now that you know all about DNP, and how to avoid most of the negative side
effects, I’ll tell you how much to take. From my research, I’d say 2mgs/kg-5mgs/kg
is optimal. If I were going to use this stuff personally, I’d stay on the low end of that,
but I am aware that the “Underground Standard” is 600mgs/day. That’s still a
reasonably safe dose, for most. I’ll also say that were I to personally use DNP, I
would limit it’s use to less than 3 weeks….20 days is the longest I’m comfortable
recommending.
Even at a high(ish) dose, this stuff is very cheap. The underground lab most popular
for this stuff sells it for around a dollar per 200mg pill, so you’re looking at $20-60 to
lose 10-20lbs of fat. It’s a bargain, by any standard, if you do it properly and safely.
284
References:
1.Effects of salicylate and 2,4-dinitrophenol on respiration and metabolism
J Appl Physiol, Oct 1982; 53: 925 - 929.
2. Role of peripheral tissue receptors in stimulation of ventilation by 2,4-dinitrophenol.
Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 47, Issue 5 1066-1073, 1979
3. Regional hemodynamic responses to hypoxia and hypermetabolism in polycythemic
dogs. Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 67, Issue 1 96-102, 1989
4. Effect of prolonged anaerobiosis on 125I-insulin binding to rat soleus muscle:
permissive effect of ATP. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, Dec 1978; 235: 606 -
613.
5.Effect of prolonged anaerobiosis on 125I-insulin binding to rat soleus muscle:
permissive effect of ATP Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, Dec 1978; 235: 606 - 613.
6. Studies on the Effects of 2:4 Dinitrophenol on Liverless and Diabetic Dogs
Am J Physiol -- Legacy Content, Sep 1951; 167: 224 - 232.
7. Dnitrophenol--a dangerous doping agent. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2002 May
30;122(14):1363-4. Norwegian.
8. Decreased fatty acid synthesis due to mitochondrial uncoupling in adipose tissue.
FASEB J. 2000 Sep;14(12):1793-800.
9. The effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol on the metabolic rate of bobwhite quail.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1993 Dec;123(2):226-33.
10. The mitochondrial uncoupling agent 2,4-dinitrophenol improves mitochondrial
function, attenuates oxidative damage, and increases white matter sparing in the contused
spinal cord. J Neurotrauma. 2004 Oct;21(10):1396-404.
11. The mitochondrial uncoupling agent 2,4-dinitrophenol improves mitochondrial
function, attenuates oxidative damage, and increases white matter sparing in the contused
spinal cord.J Neurotrauma. 2004 Oct;21(10):1396-404.
12. Mitochondrial coupling in vivo in mouse skeletal muscle.
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2004 Feb;286(2):C457-63. Epub 2003 Oct 1.
13. Probing actomyosin interactions with 2,4-dinitrophenol.Biochim Biophys Acta. 2005
May 15;1748(2):165-73. Epub 2005 Jan 19.
14. Dying to be thin: a dinitrophenol related fatality.
Vet Hum Toxicol. 2004 Oct;46(5):251-4.
15. Regulation of cardiac output during 2,4-dinitrophenol-induced tissue
hypermetabolism in the dog.Clin Sci Mol Med. 1977 Jul;53(1):17-25.
16. Role of tissue hypermetabolism in stimulation of ventilation by dinitrophenol.
J Appl Physiol. 1977 Jul;43(1):72-4.
17. Comparison of cardiac output responses to 2,4-dinitrophenol-induced
hypermetabolism and muscular work.J Clin Invest. 1973 Sep;52(9):2283-92.
18. Mitochondrial uncoupling as a target for drug development for the treatment of
obesity.Obes Rev. 2001 Nov;2(4):255-65.
19. Energy substrate requirements for survival of rat retinal cells in culture: the
importance of glucose and monocarboxylates.J Neurochem. 2005 May;93(3):686-97.
285
20. 2,4-Dinitrophenol pharmacologically promotes retinal detachment in rabbits.
Retina. 2005 Apr-May;25(3):339-44.
21. Effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol on the energy metabolism of cattle embryos produced by
in vitro fertilization and culture.
Reprod Fertil Dev. 2002;14(5-6):339-43.
22. Energy substrate requirements for survival of rat retinal cells in culture: the
importance of glucose and monocarboxylates.
J Neurochem. 2005 May;93(3):686-97.
23. Tainter, M. L. et al., "A Case of Fatal Dinitrophenol Poisoning," JAMA 102, pp.
1147-1149 (1934).
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Body in Just 5 Days!
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286
Ephedrine
(Ephedrine Hydrochloride)
When I started writing this book, ephedrine was one of my favorite legal
stimulants/fatburners. Halfway through finishing, ephedrine (Ephedra, actually)
became one of my favorite outlawed fatburners; now it’s my favorite legal one again.
Who knows what it will be by the time you have this book in your hands? Tiki Barber,
running back for the NY Giants once speculated that while it was legal, 80% of the
players in the NFL used ephedrine. For my part, I’ll speculate that the number using
it will pick right back up now that it’s legal again, and that this time, NFL players will
be stocking up just in case it goes off the market again.
Ephedrine is a stimulant that belongs to the sympathomimetics family. It’s both an
alpha and beta adrenergenic, as opposed to Clen, which only works on your beta
receptors. Ephedrine releases norepinephrine, which is basically very similar to
adrenaline, your fight or flight hormone, which is an endogenous alpha agonist. First,
when you take ephedrine, your body temperature will rise. This is a good thing, as it
indicates more fuel being burned for energy. That’ll help you shed some of your
subcutaneous body fat stores, and this is basically ephedrine’s main use in athletics.
Its other use is for it’s stimulant properties. The stimulant effect of ephedrine will
increase the contractile strength of skeletal muscle; for this reason ephedrine is
commonly used by powerlifters and Olympic lifters. It also helps many people focus,
similar to caffeine, with which many choose to take their ephedrine. The touted stack
of ephedrine (25-50mg), caffeine (200-300mg) and aspirin (100mg) is shown to be
extremely synergistic for fat loss. In this combination, the ephedrine and caffeine
both act as notable thermogenic stimulants, while the added aspirin helps to inhibit
lipogenesis by extending the duration of their effect and blocking the incorporation of
acetate into fatty acids. The best synergy is when the ephedrine/caffeine ratio is
actually 1:10.
Finally, Ephedrine also seems to slow gastric emptying, which is why it is very
popular as an appetite suppressant, and was included in many diet pill preparations
until it was pulled from the market.
References:
1. [Experimental research of Ephedra sinica's influence on lipid metabolism of lipocyte]
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1999 May;24(5):302-4, 320. Chinese.
2. Direct effects of ephedrine isomers on human beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes.
Biochem Pharmacol. 1999 Sep 1;58(5):807-10.
287
Yohimbine
This a naturally occurring alpha-2 antagonist. Yohimbine promotes sympathetic
activity by central as well as peripheral mechanisms, however, in moderately high
doses does not usually raise heart rate, increase blood pressure, or induce anxiety.
When you take this stuff prior to exercise, it boosts lipolysis for the duration of, and
following, your workout; pre-exercise administration of yohimbine can also lower the
respiratory quotient during and following exercise, thus promoting fat loss. It may
also be synergistic with Caffeine.
Dan Duchaine postulated that you could inject tiny amounts of the prescription
yohimbe into lower body fat stores (where alpha receptors are abundant) to produce
localized fat loss.
Another more secondary mechanism by which yohimbine can induce lipolysis (still
via the adrenergic system) is by increasing peripheral blood flow, which would thus
burn more fat.
Reference:
1.Pre-exercise administration of yohimbine may enhance the efficacy of exercise training
as a fat loss strategy by boosting lipolysis. Med Hypotheses. 2002 Jun;58(6):491-5.
288
Chapter 12
Thyroid Drugs
(And Thyroid Function)
Before we get into the specifics of thyroid medications, I feel that it’s only
responsible to explain what your thyroid is and what it does before we start talking
about manipulating it. After you read this chapter, you will understand all about your
thyroid, and how to manipulate thyroid hormones to optimize your metabolic rate.
The first thing we’re going to have to do is get a digital thermometer so we can
check our basal body temperature when we wake up. A lot of people say they can
use a mercury one, and it’s just as good (or better) than a digital, but I don’t like the
room for human error that they allow (misreading, misjudging where the mercury
level is, etc.). It is of course, up to you, as to whether saving the $5 from buying a
mercury thermometer over a digital is worth it. But since you spent a lot more than
that on this book, I doubt it is. I will leave the choice entirely up to you as to
whether you purchase a thermometer for rectal or oral use. I monitored my morning
body temp (called basal body temperature or BBT, from here on), a few years ago
when I was messing around with thyroid hormones a lot, and found it to be a very
valuable tool to give me some kind of indicator as to how my thyroid was
functioning. I went the oral route, thank you.
Anyway, what you’ll need to do is take your temperature every morning, before you
get up out of bed, for a week without being on any medications (steroids, etc…) or
thermogenics (Clen, ephedra, etc.). This will give you a score to work with to tell
how much work you need to do in order to bring up your “average” score to
“optimal.”
So what score are you striving for? Ideally you’re looking for a score between 97.7F
and 98.3F, with the latter being “on the money” ideal. I’m willing to bet that yours is
slightly or moderately lower than that.
So what do we do? Well, we want to raise it, ideally. This is relatively easy given
the arsenal of compounds we have to work with. You could take supplemental
Synthroid, which is a T4 medication. I don’t like going this route, and I’ll tell you
why. Your body needs to convert T4 into T3. T4 is converted peripherally into T3 via
the deiodinase enzyme. The T3 could then raise your body temperature to the
hypothetical “ideal” of 98.3. And if there is something insufficient or deficient with
your T4-T3 conversion process, then you are taking a bunch of synthroid, which
won’t be turned into T3. It’s simply too haphazard for my liking to take a drug and
hope your body does what you want it to do with it. I don’t like leaving things to
chance.
So what we’re going to have to do is buy a whole bunch of tricana, or a bit of
Cytomel. I’m going to focus on Cytomel, since it’s what I use, and it’s currently very
easy to get via several different Internet pharmacies and research companies.
289
Now before you start popping Cytomel like it’s pez until your BBT reaches 98.3, I’m
going to explain a bit about your thyroid.
Your thyroid is a very vascular structure with two lobes connected by a broad
isthmus. It’s located around your larynx, on both sides and in front of your trachea.
It secretes 3 hormones, only 2 of which will be of concern right now. The first is
thyroxine (traiodothyronine) or T4; its molecule contains 4 iodine atoms. The
second is T3 also called triiodothyronine (yes, it’s the same word as for T4 with the
exception of an “i” instead of an “a”, and yes, you guessed it, there are 3 iodine
atoms in T3).
Both of these hormones regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins. They increase the rate at which cells release energy from carbs, enhance
protein synthesis, and mobilize lipids (fats).
T3 is the more physiologically active hormone, and as I already told you, T4 is
converted into T3. Eighty Percent of your body’s T3 comes from this conversion.
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (produced by the pituitary gland) controls the
secretion of T4 through release of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), which is
produced in the hypothalamus. Another hormone, T2, is then produced from T3.
T2 acts on the mitochondria directly and increases the rate of mitochondrial
respiration, with a consequent increase in ATP production (similar to what DNP
does), and has similar beneficial effects on your cells’ mitochondria (the cells’
powerhouse). If you have a low thyroid level, you will probably be tired and listless.
On the other hand, a high thyroid level can make you energetic. Now hopefully you’ll
start to understand why I recommend optimizing your thyroid level. I mean, it’s
cheap (a couple of months of thyroid meds will run you under $100), and it’s
effective. You get better macronutrient assimilation, a nice fat-burning effect and
higher energy levels. You also get a possible synergy with Clen or ephedrine if you
should choose to run them with your T3. Using T3 will upregulate the beta-2
adrenergic receptor in adipose tissue (fat). Clearly there is a synergy here between
clen, beta-drugs and T3. One research company has even begun selling them pre
mixed!
As you suspected, there’s a catch. Remember the negative feedback loop that your
body has for the HPTA? Well, it has one for thyroid hormones too. When your T3
levels go up, your TSH secretion is suppressed, so there will be a short lag time from
when you stop taking thyroid meds until your body recovers. I wouldn’t be too
concerned with this, as you can schedule it to happen during the winter months
when you’ll be covered up anyway. There have been studies where patients on
thyroid medication for 30+ years have quickly recovered their normal thyroid
function upon cessation of thyroid hormone therapy. And more recently, several
fitness competitors have gone off thyroid meds after several years on them and were
able to recover fairly quickly.
Ok, so now we know where we are (because we’ve checked BBT for the last week)
and where we want to be (98.3F), and now we even know what the thyroid gland is.
So, now can you start popping Cytomel like pez? No, not yet. What you are going
to do is start taking 20mcg of Cytomel per day for a week, and upping the dose by
10mcg/week until your BBT reaches 98.0-98.1. Try not to go over 100mcgs, though.
Then you can start adding in other thermogenics if you are trying to get cut or if you
are in a pre-contest phase, or you can simply continue adding Cytomel until your
290
BBT reaches 98.3. Without further ado, here’s the profiles on all currently available
thyroid medications!
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
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Cytomel
(Liothyrine Sodium )
This drug is a synthetic T3 hormone. As you may already know, most natural T3 is
not produced directly by your thyroid gland, but rather is converted from the T4
thyroid hormone (8).
Natural T3 is a regulator of the oxidative metabolism of energy producing substrates
(food or stored substrates like fat, muscle, and glycogen) by the mitochondria. The
mitochondria, as you will recall from your high school biology class, are usually
referred to as the "cells’ powerhouses" because they produce ATP. Taking Cytomel
(supplemental T3) greatly increases the uptake of nutrients into the mitochondria
and their oxidation rate (i.e. the rate at which they are burned for energy), by
increasing the activities of the enzymes involved in the oxidative metabolic pathway.
Everything is working harder, in other words, and more fuel is needed to supplement
this increased work rate. Therefore, as you can guess, taking supplemental Cytomel
will increase your body’s energy demands. And if you are in a hypocaloric state, you
will begin burning even more fat, primarily due to an increase in ATP. This increased
ATP causes an increase in overall metabolic activity (8)(9). This is exactly what we
want, and is why we would be taking thyroid hormones like Cytomel in the first
place. If you aren’t taking anabolic steroids with your Cytomel, however, your body
may start to eat away muscle to provide energy for you to function. Remember
mitochondria/ATP aren’t very picky, but they are very efficient. What I mean by this
is that they will use whatever is on hand to generate energy for your body to
continue functioning—fat, protein, glucose—it doesn’t matter to ATP, as long as
there’s something to give them energy. Taking this drug will increase their need to
find something to burn to create this energy. Ergo, if we aren’t taking anabolic
steroids while taking our T3, we may lose too much muscle, especially while dieting.
Thus you can see that there are many advantages to using Cytomel to optimize your
metabolic rate. It will also increase your body’s ability to synthesize protein, but
from what I’ve seen personally, it acts as a catabolic when it isn’t administered with
anabolic steroids. It is often the last thing added into a precontest diet, as it has a
reputation for getting rid of the last few percentages of body fat, the “sticky fat” as
it’s called in bodybuilding, the fat that just doesn’t want to leave you in the last few
weeks of dieting. I think this is a poor use for this drug, and that it should be the
first thing added into a diet to lose fat, as it will optimize your metabolic rate, which
should be done at the outset of a diet, not after the calorie restriction has diminished
your thyroid output and you are adding it in simply to replace what was lost.
Unfortunately, in all of the studies I’ve seen, T3 also increased growth hormone
production (5)(6). As we all know, GH is also a strongly lipolytic compound, and this
is another mechanism by which T3 may exert its effects, although I suspect this
would only be a small percentage of it’s overall effects. This being the case, it has
always been somewhat problematic to me to note that when GH and T3 are used
together, the increased nitrogen retention normally found with GH use is negated.
(7). If you were only using T3 and GH this may be a problem, but as I’ve already
stated, you are going to need some anabolic agents if you are using T3. And as you
have read previously, I recommend the veritable anabolic/lipolytic orgy of insulin,
T3, Anabolic Steroids and GH for 100% maximum results in minimal time.
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On the brighter side, and of special note to dieters, administration of T3 has been
shown to upregulate the beta 2 receptors in fat tissue. As you know clenbuterol and
similar compounds downregulate this receptor, so using T3 with your Clen will help
stave off or reverse this downregulation (1)(2)(3)(4). I would still recommend
taking your benadryl every third week, though.
Finally, I would like to address the issue of recovery of your natural thyroid function
after you stop taking Cytomel. The horror stories of people on permanent thyroid
replacement just aren’t true. I remember a few years ago, the rumor was circulating
that the current Ms.Fitness had permanently shut off her thyroid gland, and was now
fat and on thyroid hormone permanently. This is just another horror story based in
nothing but conjecture and rumor. The studies I’ve looked at have shown people
recovering their thyroid hormone relatively quickly (within months, at most) after
going off of several YEARS (!) of thyroid replacement therapy (10)(11). I speculate
that you can optimize your metabolic rate with Cytomel for 9-10 months a year, and
just normalize yourself for 2-3 months (perhaps the winter, when you are mostly
covered up), and then go right back on. Some people in the studies I read were on
T3 for 30 years and recovered their natural thyroid function in short order. I think
we can safely spend an athletic career using Cytomel 9-10 months out of the year,
and just taking those few months off to normalize ourselves. Is this aggressive? Yes.
Unsafe? No.
References:
1. Catecholamines inhibit Ca(2+)-dependent proteolysis in rat skeletal muscle through
beta(2)-adrenoceptors and cAMP. Navegantes LC, Resano NM, Migliorini RH, Kettelhut
IC Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2001 Sep;281(3):E449-54
2. Regulation of human adipocyte gene expression by thyroid hormone J Clin Endocrinol
Metab 2002 Feb;87(2):630-4 Viguerie N, Millet L, Avizou S, Vidal H, Larrouy D,
Langin D.
3. Alpha 2- and beta-adrenergic receptor binding and action in gluteal adipocytes from
patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism Metabolism 1987 Nov;36(11):1031-9
Richelsen B, Sorensen NS
4. Regulation of beta 1- and beta 3-adrenergic agonist-stimulated lipolytic response in
hyperthyroid and hypothyroid rat white adipocytes Br J Pharmacol 2000 Feb;129(3):448
56. Germack R, Starzec A, Perret GY
5. Role of thyroid hormone in the control of growth hormone gene expression Braz J Med
Biol Res 1994 May;27(5):1269-72. Volpato CB, Nunes MT.
6. Low-dose T(3) improves the bed rest model of simulated weightlessness in men and
women. Am J Physiol 1999 Aug;277(2 Pt 1):E370-9 Lovejoy JC, Smith SR, Zachwieja
JJ, Bray GA, Windhauser MM, Wickersham PJ, Veldhuis JD, Tulley R, de la Bretonne
JA.
7. Effects of long-term growth hormone (GH) and triiodothyronine (T3) administration
on functional hepatic nitrogen clearance in normal man. Wolthers T, Grofte T, Moller N,
Vilstrup H, Jorgensen JO.
J Hepatol 1996 Mar;24(3):313-9
8. Human Anatomy and Physiology, 6th Edition. John w. Hole jr.
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9. Physicians Desk Reference
10. Recovery of pituitary thyrotropic function after withdrawal of prolonged thyroid
suppression therapy. N Engl J Med 1975 Oct 2;293(14):681-4 Vagenakis AG, Braverman
LE, Azizi F, Portinay GI, Ingbar SH.
11. Patterns off recovery of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in patients taken of
chronic thyroid therapy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1975 Jul;41(1):70-80 Krugman LG,
Hershman JM, Chopra IJ, Levine GA, Pekary E, Geffner DL, Chua Teco GN
Completely Cleanse Steroids From Your
Body in Just 5 Days!
http://www.SteroidCleanse.com
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Synthroid
(Levothyroxine Sodium)
Synthroid is the less powerful of the two most popular thyroid replacement drugs on
the market. It is synthetic T4, and is actually the more prescribed thyroid medication
in America, but the lesser used of the thyroid drugs which are popular with
bodybuilders. If you have naturally low T3 levels, then you may be able to
supplement with T4, and have it convert to T3 via your body’s natural metabolic
pathways, which involves the deiodinase enzyme. However, There have been a
number of studies that have shown that during reduced caloric intake, and/or when
carbohydrate intake is reduced dramatically, levels of deiodinase decline, hindering
the conversion of T4 to the physiologically active T3(1). So, if you are dieting (which
would necessarily mean you have a reduced caloric intake and/or reduced
carbohydrate levels), then you have less deiodinase enzyme (still with me?) and
thus, that T4 you are taking in hopes of getting it to convert to T3, is not getting
converted. This is not what we want, clearly, and is why most pre-contest dieters
include Cytomel in their drug regimen instead of Synthroid. In fact, Synthroid may
be particularly bad for dieters on Cyclic Ketogenic Diets.
When you earn your living off of your body, as many fitness models, models, and
bodybuilders do, it’s just too haphazard to trust Synthroid. This is especially true if
you are not monitoring your Basal Body Temperature or (preferably) shelling out the
money for a thyroid function test every month.
As compared to Cytomel, Synthroid requires significantly higher doses to be
effective. Most bodybuilders don’t exceed 100mcgs of Cytomel during a precontest
phase of dieting, but with Synthroid the doses climb significantly higher to achieve
the same results. From interviews I’ve done with bodybuilders who have used
Synthroid, I’ve heard of it being used at up to 300mcgs/day. When you compare that
to the mere 25-100mcgs/day of Cytomel that bodybuilders are typically using, we
have another strike against Synthroid. It isn’t really economically feasible to do that
much Synthroid and remain cost effective, at least when compared with Cytomel. To
give you a fair estimate, you could run an effective dose of both Cytomel and
Clenbuterol for the same price as an effective dose of Synthroid.
My advice? Use it if you have to, but only if that’s the case, and you can’t get
Cytomel or Tricana. It works, and will eventually get you to the desired body
temperature for optimal fat burning, but it just isn’t as elegant as the less
suppressive Tricana, or the more effective Cytomel.
Reference:
1. The effect of a low-calorie diet alone and in combination with triiodothyronine therapy
on weight loss and hypophyseal thyroid function in obesity. Koppeschaar HP,
Meinders AE, Schwarz F.
Int J Obes 1983;7(2):123-31
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Triacana
(3,5,3'-triiodothyroacetic acid)
Tiratricol
Triacana is a naturally occurring thyroid product containing the substance known as
Tiratricol. Tiratricol is a metabolite of the iodiferous thyroid hormone, L
triiodthyronine (T3) (1), and is available at health-food stores, sold over the
Internet, and is quite popular in Europe. The drug is marketed under the brand
names Triax, Tri-Cuts, and Triacana.
In order to provide you with a sound understanding of Triacana, I’ll first briefly
remind you of the function of the two main hormones produced by the Thyroid gland.
The two main hormones produced by the thyroid are L-triiodthyronine (T3), and L
thyroxine (T4). T4 is the hormone which the thyroid produces the lions share of, and
is converted by a deiodinase enzyme into what is known as T3 (2).
When a person is involved in a calorie-restricted diet, the body produces less
deiodinase enzyme, and hence produces less T3. When our bodies lack the effects of
T3 (the more potent of the two hormones) our BMR decreases. An abundance of T4
is still present, however, T4 simply isn’t potent enough to maintain the high
metabolic rate we seek while trying to burn fat. When our metabolism is slower,
fewer calories are burned, and our dieting struggles to remain productive. This is all
described as the infamous “negative feedback loop.”
Now, with a bit more information, you can begin to draw the connection between fat
loss, and the use of Triacana (tiratricol).
Triacana has held a solid reputation since the 1970’s among athletes and
bodybuilders for being a strong fat-burning drug. While it can aid lipolysis, the
effects are extremely mild when compared to stronger thyroid hormones, namely T4
and T3. One exception would be Triacana’s higher thermogenic potency in brown
adipocytes (3). The misconception that many people possess regarding Tiratricol is
that the effects are harmless. Simply put, this is untrue. Tiratricol can significantly
suppress Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (4). Although the effects are mild when
compared to those caused by T3, they’re still present. Thyroid recovery generally
takes up to 6 weeks; however, extreme cases have shown to take up to 5months to
fully recover from the TSH suppression (4). Thankfully, TSH recovery is very quick
(5), and there has yet to be a documented case of the Thyroid being permanently
shut down from the use of Tiratricol.
Common dosages of this product range from 10-14 tablets per day. Generally, two
0.35 mg tablets are taken on the first day of intake and with two tablets added each
successive day until 10-14 tablets/day are taken. The half-life time of tiratricol is 5-7
hours, so Triacana should be taken 3-4 times daily (7)(8). Doing so will allow a
constant amount of the substance in the blood, so the effects are continual. There
are also many athletes who prefer to combine Triacana with Clenbuterol, or another
type of thermogenic. Popular choices include a stack of Ephedrine, Caffeine, and
Aspirin/Yohimbine. Many feel that the addition of one of these choices substantially
increases the effects of Triacana, and provide better fat loss results when combined.
Additionally, by adding a stimulant, it is easier to sustain hunger pains which can
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occur with the use of Triacana. Something of additional note, is the common
inclusion of Triacana while exogenous Growth Hormone is being administered. This is
performed in order to meet the body's increased requirement for thyroid hormone.
Additionally, Triacana is superior to T3 the treatment of thyroid hormone resistance
(9), and is often favoured for treating Hyperthyroidism (10).
Regarding duration of application, the range of opinions varies by a large amount.
Athletes have taken Triacana from one week, ranging up to many months. The
reason behind most people straying from long duration use, is the fear of their
thyroid shutting down permanently. As mentioned above, the likelihood of this
happening is slim to none, however, it is still a possibility many consider. In fact,
Triacana is often considered more TSH suppressive than the more potent T4 (11). A
suggested duration for moderate usage would be up to 12 weeks; however, there is
little evidence that running longer cycles have any different effects versus shorter
durations. Something to keep in mind, is that you shouldn’t slowly decrease dosages
in fear of a sudden rebound effect. By doing so, you only prolong the amount of time
until your thyroid can recover. Stopping abruptly allows your thyroid to begin
recovery right away.
If you’re interested in making the commitment that taking thyroid
hormones/derivatives requires, and the risks involved, Triacana isn’t your best
choice. The side effects are very similar to that of T3, yet lacking the potency by a
substantial amount. In fact, it has been observed by some that the effects were non
existent, even at a TSH-suppressive dose of 3mg split throughout the day (12).This
is a substantial reason as to why the drug’s popularity and usage by the bodybuilding
and sport communities has dropped immensely in past years, as it’s quite inferior
when compared to T3.
One hundred tablets are packaged in a box containing four push-through strips of 25
tablets each. The tablets are white and have neither an imprint nor a break
indentation. The price on the black market is usually $60 - 80 per box.
References:
1. Neth J Med. 1991 Jun;38(5-6):193-8.
2. Neuroendocrinology. 1984 Mar;38(3):254-60.
3. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2003 Sep;60(9):1957-67.
4. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2003 Mar;13(1):112-6.
5. J Clin Invest. 1984 Feb;73(2):570-5.
6. Roger PP, Servais P, Dumont JE. Exp Cell Res 1990;172:282–92.
7. Thyroid. 1996 Dec;6(6):563-70.
8. www.Steroid.com/
9. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1995 Jul;80(7):2033-40.
10. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd. 1993 Feb;141(2):100-2.
11. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993 Jul;77(1):221-8.
12. Nuklearmedizin. 1989 Dec;28(6):217-20.
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Recovering Thyroid Function
Now that I told you how to get your metabolism to the optimal level, I’ll tell you how
to quickly recover your natural thyroid function in the months following your self
imposed thyroid adjustment. There are many supplements available which will help,
but I am going to concentrate on the three which I feel will help you recover your
thyroid hormones to baseline levels. Coleus forskohlii is the first one I’ll tell you
about. Basically this stuff stimulates your thyroid gland to increase it’s output (1).
Needless to say, this is good. The second supplement of importance here is
Guggulsterones. This is the extract from the tree resin of Commiphora Mukul. In
essence, it stimulates the uptake of iodine and also the output of thyroid hormones
(1)(2)(3). As a nice added benefit, guggul lipids may have some kind of benefits to
your lipid profile.
And the final supplement I’m going to tell you about is Tyrosine (yeah, the amino
acid). Tyrosine is simply a precursor to the thyroid hormone T3 (5)(6). You want to
have this in your body when you are trying to bring your thyroid hormones back to
normal.
References:
1. J Clin Invest. 1984 Feb;73(2):570-5.
2. Thyroid stimulatory action of (Z)-guggulsterone: mechanism of action.
Planta Med. 1988 Aug;54(4):271-7.
3. The hypolipidemic natural product guggulsterone acts as an antagonist of the
bile acid receptor.Mol Endocrinol. 2002 Jul;16(7):1590-7.
4. Thyroid stimulating action of Z-guggulsterone obtained from Commiphora
mukul. Planta Med. 1984 Feb;(1):78-80.
5. [Thyroid hormone production and its regulation]
Rev Prat. 1998 Nov 15;48(18):1987-91. French.
6. Factors regulating triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in blood.
Mayo Clin Proc. 1972 Dec;47(12):944-52..
7. Iodoamino acid synthesis in thyroid lobes in vitro with excellent yield of
iodothyronines.
Acta Endocrinol (Copenh). 1979 Oct;92(2):286-94.
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GH/IGF/Insulin
299
Chapter 13
GH/IGF/Insulin
As you’ll see from the following profiles, it’s almost counterproductive to talk about
one of these compounds without entering into secondary conversation about the
others.
I’ve also decided to place these profiles directly after the ones concerning Fat
Burning, but more specifically, the ones about thyroid function and thyroid
medications, because it’s my hope that if you’ve read the book in order, you’ll find
that it’s been arranged to build a base of knowledge in a certain order, so the next
chapters are more understandable, and the previous chapters help you to grasp
more fully the ones to come.
Research Anabolic Steroids
and Related Topics at:
http://www.Steroid.com
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Human Growth Hormone
(Somatotropin)
Human growth hormone is produced in the body by the pituitary gland. Before this
happens, Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) and Somatostatin (SST) are
released by the hypothalamus, and that determines whether more or less GH is
produced by the pituitary.(1) Many factors influence the release of GH, however,
including nutrition and exercise (6)(7).
Once it is released, Growth Hormone (GH), which is also called Somatotropin (STH)
has many functions in the human body. GH is a protein that stimulates the body cells
to both increase in size, as well as undergo more rapid cell division than usual. In
addition, it enhances the movement of amino acids through cell membranes and also
increases the rate at which these cells convert these molecules into proteins. Clearly,
you can see that this would amount to an anabolic (muscle building) effect in the
human body. GH also has the ability to cause cells to decrease the normal rate at
which they utilize carbohydrates, and simultaneously increase the rate at which they
use fats.(1) Fat loss and lean mass increases with GH have been found at a dose as
low as . 0.028 iu/kg/daily for 24 weeks(4)…however, in my estimation, that would be
insufficient for a bodybuilder trying to gain muscle. Lets use .028iu/kg as a working
number; thats 2.8iu for a 100kg (220lbs) bodybuilder. That’s certainly not
unreasonable, and I would say that that dose to 2x that dose is the range most
bodybuilders and athletes are finding their best results with. Also, that length of time
used in the study I just mentioned (24 weeks) is very typical of GH use, and in
conversations with my friends who have used this compound, have told me that they
experience consistent results starting well after the 2-month-mark, and they tend to
either run this stuff for 6 months at a time, or year-round (if they have sufficient
funds). One of my friends is able to consistently retain a shredded 6-7% body fat all
year round with the assistance of GH, whether he is on steroids or off. He also has
noted that his cardio (fast walking, for an hour a day) was much easier while on GH
than when off, and certainly the research I’ve done would support his claim that
submaximal aerobic ability is improved with GH use (5) (15).
How anabolic is this stuff? Well, even endurance athletes at rest (!) were observed in
one study to be in an anabolic state (8). Yeah…so you can basically run marathons
and take this stuff, and still build some muscle. Pretty impressive, right?
Growth Hormone is usually secreted in rhythmic pulses while you are sleeping, as
two peptides, GHRH and Somatostatin (SST) are alternately released. As you can
guess, GHRH (Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone) is the one responsible for the
Release of Growth Hormone (And who said scientists have funny ways for naming
things…?).(1)
Growth hormone also has the ability to stimulate the production (or reproduction, in
the case of an injury) of cartilage. This, however, requires the presence of a
mediator substance, Somatomedin (IGF), which is released from the liver in
response to GH…and the IGF, in turn, actually promotes the growth of cartilage.(1)
Although it requires IGF to actually grow new cartilage, GH is directly able to
stimulate the elongation of bone tissue.(1), and GH has also been shown to elicit a
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positive effects on erythropoeisis (9), which is great for both anabolism as well as
endurance.
Remember the negative feedback loop I always tell you about? Well, of course, your
body has one which can stop the secretion of GH, and it involves IGF. When your
liver receives secretes IGF-1, it sends a message to both your Hypothalamus as well
as your Pituitary to stop producing GH. (1)
As you have probably guessed by now, your body produces the majority of it’s GH
during your early years, when you are experiencing growth spurts. As you get older,
however, you just produce less of this stuff, and it’s effects are much less
pronounced. This was the driving force behind the (always weird) life-extension
crowd embracing GH in the early 90’s. And, as usual,. The driving force behind the
athletic world embracing GH was Dan Duchaine, which I’m sure comes as no surprise
to many. He first wrote a teaser about it in his Underground Steroid Handbook, and
then wrote extensively about it for the next couple of decades. At that time, Grorm,
was being used. This nasty stuff was GH extracted from (are you ready?): the
pituitary of dead bodies. That’s real “Dawn of the Dead” style science, in my opinion.
I guess it’s an advance from a couple of centuries ago, when Descartes (the “I think
therefore I am” guy) declared the pituitary the part of the human body where the
soul resides. Anyway, back to the cadaver-thing…the GH extracted from the
cadavers were found to be able to (in rare cases) carry a rare brain disease. This of
course, infected the kids who received the infected GH. The use of GH from cadavers
was subsequently discontinued. Back then (the 80’s) there was also a fake version of
some purple looking GH going around (it was HCG I believe, mixed with B-12) called
“Rhesus Monkey Growth Hormone”…which is pretty funny, looking back on it. To this
day, however, if you get fake GH, it’s still probably HCG, since both come presented
as a powder and bacterioistatic water you need to use to reconstitute it (and then it
needs to be refrigerated).
Even if you are using the non-cadaver-derived stuff (and at this point, I’m 100%
sure that there’s none of the old Grorm left on shelves anywhere), it’s possible that
you experience some side effects like carpal tunnel syndrome, acromegaly (a
thickening or growth of bones, most noticeable in the feet, hands, and forehead),
and enlarged organs. Gynocomastia is also possible as a side effect of GH use, as
well as Fluid retention(16) (the later being initially pointed out to me by a female
colleague who had a pre-contest bodybuilder using GH as part of his contest prep).
Now for some really interesting stuff:
Although GH can easily produce very nice, high quality weight and muscle gains, it’s
a very poor compound for inducing strength gains(2)(3)(4). That’s very
counterintuitive, and certainly many strength athletes have experienced great results
in both strength as well as muscle size and fatloss from GH. Generally, many studies
have focused on GH vs. GH and exercise, and without the exercise LBM increases but
not usually maximum voluntary strength output. It should also be noted that most
athletes utilizing GH are using it in a “cocktail” with (at least) anabolic steroids, and
usually with IGF, thyroid meds, and other goodies such as an Aromatase Inhibitor.
Lets discuss exactly why this is.
Most people who are taking the plunge into GH use have reached a dead end with
their use of anabolics, and need to push through that wall. I’m sure you’ve heard
302
about the synergistic combination of using GH along with Anabolic Steroids, IGF,
insulin and T3 (* usually synthroid, a thyroid medication). The reason is that when
these hormones are used correctly together, they'll produce a large amount of
synergy…the insulin is able to shuttle nutrients into your muscle, the thyroid
hormone increases your fat-burning capability, the IGF will cause muscle growth as
well as helping to grow new cartilage (thus preventing injury), and the anabolic
steroids like testosterone, specifically (in addition to being anabolic) can increase
IGF-1, in muscle tissue(11), and maybe even increase your body’s ability to use it.
Also, usually, an increased amount of IGF usually tells your body to stop producing
GH…but testosterone actually blunts this part of the Negative FeedBack Loop (12)!
And the addition of an Aromatase Inhibitor will also stop conversion of testosterone
into estrogen; estrogen reduces IGF levels.(13)(14) Finally, the GH does …well
everything I just spent the last few pages telling you about!
Thus, IGF, Testosterone (and of course other steroids), Insulin, thyroid meds, and
GH will all combine to produce a pretty damned effective fat-burning and muscle
building cycle! You know what else? GH is virtually undetectable on any sort of
currently used drug-screening tests. GH, Insulin, Thyroid meds, and IGF may also be
used pretty safely by those who may be subject to drug screening tests, or as a non
HPTA suppressive “bridge” between cycles.
Finally, I’ll tell you how I’d take GH, personally. There was a study done on
continuous GH use vs. every other day injections (ED vs. EOD for the sake of
brevity), with a equal total weekly dose. Although it’s counterintuitive, every other
day injections produced better total growth in the kids in this (2 and 4 year long)
study. Take a look at these graphs:
Growth velocity of children treated with alternate day GH (the darker bars) or with a
daily GH regimen before, during, and 2 yr after stopping therapy. Values are the
mean ± SD. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01.(10)
Here’s another:
Pretreatment and cumulative 4-yr growth velocity of children treated with alternate
303
day GH ( the darker bars) or with a daily GH regimen. Values are the mean ± SD. *,
P < 0.00 (10)
Shooting GH every other day more accurately replicates the pulsile frequency of GH,
and thus gave better results for growth (height) deficient children… GH pulsatility is
necessary for proper function of the GH receptor.(10) Dosing in the EOD nature
reduces incidence of any sort of withdrawal problems associated with normal GH use,
including regression or retardation of growth after cessation of therapy.
Therefore, I feel very comfortable speculating that the use of GH in this manner,
which more closely simulates the natural secretion pattern of it, allows the GH
receptors and the rest of the body to to more efficiently recover from it, and this will
result in much more muscle growth over time (although height was examined in the
previous study). My recommendations, therefore are 2 shots per day of .028iu/kg of
bodyweight, taken every other day, for a minimum of 3months, and preferably for 2
3x that long….and preferably with the other synergistic compounds we’ve just taken
a look at.
You should be paying between $1.75-2.75 per IU of GH, and since you are going to
(necessarily) be buying it in bulk, you should be paying closer to the lower end of
that.
References:
1. Human Anatomy and Physiology, 6th Edition, John W. Hole jr.
2. J Appl Physiol 94: 2273-2281, 2003. First published February 14, 2003; doi:10.1152
3. Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 77, Issue 1 23-29,
4. EFFECTS OF RECOMBINANT GROWTH HORMONE ON VISCERAL FAT
ACCUMULATION: PILOT STUDY IN HIV-INFECTED ADOLESCENTS.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Apr 19; [Epub ahead of print]
5. Measures of submaximal aerobic performance evaluate and predict functional response
to growth hormone (GH) treatment in GH-deficient adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
1999 Dec;84(12):4570-7.
6. Hormonal responses to consecutive days of heavy-resistance exercise with or without
nutritional supplementation. J Appl Physiol, Oct 1998; 85: 1544 - 1555.
7. Hormonal and growth factor responses to heavy resistance exercise protocols
J Appl Physiol, Oct 1990; 69: 1442 – 1450
8. High dose growth hormone exerts an anabolic effect at rest and during exercise in
endurance-trained athletes.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Nov;88(11):5221-6.
9. Christ ER, Cummings MH, Westwood NB, Sawyer BM, Pearson TC, Sonksen PH,
Russell-Jones DL. The importance of growth hormone in the regulation of erythropoiesis,
red cell mass, and plasma volume in adults with growth hormone deficiency., J Clin
Endocrinol Metab 1997 Sep;82(9):2985-90
10. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 87, No.8 3573-3577
11. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar;282(3):E601-7.
12. Testosterone blunts feedback inhibition of growth hormone secretion by
experimentally elevated insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations.J Clin Endocrinol
304
Metab. 2005 Mar;90(3):1613-7. Epub 2004 Dec 7.
13. Comparison of the Metabolic Effects of Raloxifene and Oral Estrogen in
Postmenopausal and Growth Hormone-Deficient Women.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005
Apr 26; [Epub ahead of print]
14. Serum insulin-like growth factor I levels in growth hormone-deficient adults:
influence of sex steroids.Horm Res. 2004;62 Suppl 1:73-6.
15. Growth hormone enhances effects of endurance training on oxidative muscle
metabolism in elderly women. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, Nov 2000; 279: 989 -
996.
16. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 1998 May;53(3):M183-7
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IGF-1
(Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 a.k.a. somatomedin C)
IGF1 is a polypeptide hormone about the same size as insulin, or 70 amino acids; it’s
a member of the “super family.” No, this is not the same family Clark Kent belongs
to, but rather it’s a family of substances identified as growth factors. It’s a highly
anabolic hormone released primarily in the liver (but also in peripheral tissues) with
the stimulus of Growth Hormone (GH). It is responsible for much of the anabolic
activity of GH, including nitrogen retention and protein synthesis (12) as well as
muscle cell hyperplasia (increase in number of muscle cells), as well as mitogenesis
(the growth of new muscle fibers). It can also induce skeletal muscle hypertrophy by
activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway(9). In fact, IGF-1
acts on several different tissues to enhance growth via several mechanisms. It’s also
important to note that GH and IGF-1 are interrelated, they produce a host of
divergent effects (5).As you may already know, GH and IGF levels are both elevated
dramatically following exercise, and this may be a primary factor in the anabolic
effects of weight training. In fact, IGF-1 may be possibly used as an anabolic
substitute for GH (2) in many instances. IGF-1 is, therefore, necessary as well as
sufficient in muscle growth (anabolic)(1) and has been shown to also be highly anti
catabolic agent as well (2)(3). As with all anabolic substances, IGF-1's anabolic
effects are still limited only by the protein (amino acid) supply within muscle cells (6)
(7). Thus, as you may expect, IGF works much better when you are eating enough
protein.
IGF1 may be of particular interests to athletes, as it may improve their ability to
learn new skills and techniques relevant to their sport. You see, IGF is a known
neuroprotector and neuropromotor(13)(14)(15), which means new skills could be
learned more quickly with IGF use, and for the elderly, some of the cognitive effects
of aging could be staved off or possibly halted entirely with administration of IGF1.
This also has exciting implications for the medical community studying Alzheimers
and other such diseases. This is because there are IGF receptors within the brain
(16) and in motor neurons (17).
Also of note, and of special interest to both athletes and bodybuilders who are
rehabbing an injury is that IGF is vital to the proper production of connective tissue,
and exogenous IGF administration may improve collagen formation and aid in the
repair of cartilage. (19)(18). IGF is also vital to proper bone density and bone
density regulation (20). IGF administration may be highly useful for rehabilitation of
any kind of joint injury experienced by athletes and bodybuilders, and would greatly
decrease recovery time as well as increase the strength of the recovered area.
So now we have a basic idea of what IGF does and how it works, so I think we can
start looking at how well it works, and what kind of results we can expect from it.
While I was (exhaustively) researching this compound, I found a study which
provided just the type of answers we are looking for…This study examined the
injection of a compound which was responsible for directing overexpression of
insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in differentiated muscle fibers. The researchers
concluded that IGF-I expression promotes an average increase of 15% in muscle
mass and a 14% increase in strength in young adult mice. It’s nice to be able to put
some numbers on this compound, huh? But those effects are not all that the
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researchers have found. IGF also seems to prevent aging-related muscle changes in
old adult mice! These old mice experienced a 27% increase in strength as compared
with uninjected old muscles. Muscle mass and fiber type distributions were
maintained at levels similar to those in young adults. The researchers have
speculated that these effects are primarily due to stimulation of muscle regeneration
via the activation of satellite cells by IGF-I (8). Regardless of the mechanism of
action, the results from this study are pretty exciting. A 15% increase in muscle
mass, and a 14% increase in strength are no small increases. Consider this, if you
are a typical 100kg (220lb) bodybuilder, you would be a 115kg (250lb) bodybuilder
after those kinds of results from IGF-1! If you were a powerlifter who’s best bench
press effort was previously 200kgs (440lbs), then you could expect to be able to
bench press 500lbs after using IGF1! Ok, so you can’t exactly use that study on mice
to justify those numbers, but you get the idea. IGF-1 works and it works very well.
Even if we could realistically expect 7% gains in muscle mass and strength (half of
the gains experienced in the study), then this drug would be able to blast many
bodybuilders and athletes through the plateaus that experienced trainers often
endure.
So how can we use this stuff? Well first let’s talk about creating an ideal environment
for IGF1 to function. See, as you’ve already read, there is a very great
interdependence and synergy between IGF, Insulin, and GH. It has been clearly
observed in studies that when GH and IGF1 are used together, you’ll get greater
results in the accumulation of Lean Body Mass than you would by using either of
them alone (10).In addition, there is a very strong probability that testosterone
would be synergistic to GH (4), and would also increase IGF levels in muscle (11).
Let’s take a look at a chart showing what happens when you use IGF-1, IGF-1+GH,
or GH alone:
Changes in body weight, lean body mass, and fat mass 6 and 12 weeks after
therapy. Values are the mean changes and 95% Cls. * = significant differences
compared with baseline (P < 0.01). The following are the numbers of patients in
each treatment group at weeks 6 and 12: recombinant human growth hormone plus
insulin-like growth factor 1 (rhGH + rhIGF-1), 13 and 9, respectively; rhGH, 12 and
11, respectively; IGF-1, 1D and 4, respectively; placebo, 14 and 11,
respectively(10).
As that chart clearly shows, you will lose more fat and gain more muscle when you
combine GH and IGF-1 than you would using either alone. The subjects in this study,
307
over 12 weeks gained around 3kgs of lean mass, and lost around 2kgs of fat.
Clearly, when we use IGF, we are going to want to use it with GH. And we know that
GH functions best when used in conjunction with testosterone. And since we know
that GH increases insulin sensitivity, we can throw in some insulin with that GH….and
if we are using insulin and don’t want to get fat, I’d be most comfortable if I could
add in a fat burner like T3 with it.
So there we have a laundry list of items essential to get the most out of our IGF
use…but lets be honest, if you have the money to use IGF (and IGF is expensive
stuff), then you should really be including these other items to maximize it’s effects.
So how much IGF do we use? What kind do we buy? How much will it cost? Well, the
most popular type available on the Black Market right now is Lr3igf-1 (Long R3
Insulin-like Growth Factor-I or Long R3IGF-I) which is an 83 amino acid analog of
human IGF-I comprising the complete human IGF-I sequence with the substitution of
an Arg for the Glu at position 3 (hence R3…clever name, right?), as well as a 13
amino acid extension peptide at the N-terminus. Huh? Well, that all adds up to make
Long R3IGF-I significantly more potent (2-3x) than IGF-I in studies, because it has a
lower affinity to be rendered inactive by IGF binding proteins (22) (23). Yeah,
everything you’ve read about IGF-1 still holds true for this version, but it’s just a bit
more active in the body, and hence more potent. Also, it’s basically the only type you
can get your hands on at this time…nobody carries the “lesser” versions of it
anymore. SO, you’ll pay around $150.00 for 1mg (1000mcgs/mg). And how much
do you use? From the people I’ve spoken to, I’ve noticed that the magic happens
between 60mcgs and 120mcgs per day, in divided doses. In general, people who
have used less, and even up to 50mcg/day have had mediocre results. People who
have used more have suffered headaches and nausea, and generally not much more
in the way of results.
References:
1. Hormonal Responses and Adaptations to Resistance Exercise and Training.
Sports Med. 2005;35(4):339-361.
2. Clinical uses of insulin like growth factor I (IGF-I).Ann Intern Med. 1994 Apr
1;120(7):593-601.
3. PROTEIN BREAKDOWN IN MUSCLE FROM BURNED RATS IS BLOCKED BY
IGF-I AND GSK-3{beta} INHIBITORS.
Endocrinology. 2005 Mar 31; [Epub ahead of print]
4. Growth Hormone and Testosterone Interact Positively to Enhance Protein and Energy
Metabolism in Hypopituitary Men.
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Feb 22; [Epub ahead of print]
5. Are the metabolic effects of GH and IGF-I separable?
Growth Horm IGF Res. 2005 Feb;15(1):19-27.
6. Murphy MG, Plunkett LM, Gertz BJ, He W, Wittreich J, Polvino WM, Clemmons DR.
MK-677, an orally active growth hormone secretagogue, reverses diet-induced
catabolism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 83(2):320-5, 1998
7. Fryburg DA, Jahn LA, Hill SA, Oliveras DM, Barrett EJ. Insulin and insulin-like
growth factor-I enhance human skeletal muscle protein anabolism during
308
hyperaminoacidemia by different mechanisms. J Clin Invest. 96(4):1722-9, 1995
8. Viral mediated expression of insulin-like growth factor I blocks the aging-related loss
of skeletal muscle function.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Dec 22;95(26):15603-7.
9. Molecular mechanisms modulating muscle mass.
Trends Mol Med. 2003 Aug;9(8):344-50. Review.
10. Recombinant human growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1, and combination
therapy in AIDS-associated wasting. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial.
Ann Intern Med. 1996 Dec 1;125(11):865-72.
11. 3 Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar;282(3):E601-
12. Growth hormone and IGF-I therapy in the hypercatabolic patient.
Baillieres Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1996 Jul;10(3):447-63. Review.
13. IGF-I neuroprotection in the immature brain after hypoxia-ischemia, involvement of
Akt and GSK3beta?Eur J Neurosci. 2005 Mar;21(6):1489-502.
14. Interdependence of oestrogen and insulin-like growth factor-I in the brain: potential
for analysing neuroprotective mechanisms.
J Endocrinol. 2005 Apr;185(1):11-7.
15. Neuroprotective gene expression profiles in ischemic cortical cultures preconditioned
with IGF-1 or bFGF.
Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2004 Nov 24;131(1-2):33-50.
16. The role of the somatotropic system in cognition and other cerebral functions.
Semin Vasc Med. 2004 May;4(2):167-72. Review.
17. Insulin-like growth factor type 1 prevents hyperglycemia-induced uncoupling protein
3 down-regulation and oxidative stress.
J Neurosci Res. 2004 Jul 15;77(2):285-91.
18. Role of insulin like growth factor-I in repair response in immature cartilage.
Knee. 2005 Apr;12(2):113-9
19. Oxidative stress induces IGF-I receptor signaling disturbances in cultured human
dermal fibroblasts. A possible mechanism for collagen biosynthesis inhibition.
20. Age-related femoral bone loss in men: evidence for hyperparathyroidism and insulin
like growth factor-1 deficiency.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2004 Dec;59(12):1285-9.
21. Metabolic effects of growth hormone in humans. Metabolism. 1995 Oct;44(10 Suppl
4):33-6.
22. IGF-I variants which bind poorly to IGF-binding proteins show more potent and
prolonged hypoglycaemic action than native IGF-I in pigs and marmoset monkeys.J
Endocrinol. 1997 Nov;155(2):377-86.
23. In vivo actions of IGF analogues with poor affinities for IGFBPs: metabolic and
growth effects in pigs of different ages and GH responsiveness.
Prog Growth Factor Res. 1995;6(2-4):385-95. Review
309
Insulin
Insulin is one of the most powerful anabolic agents in the world. Used properly, it
can help you add weight more quickly than any other compound at your disposal.
Used improperly, insulin will kill you.
Before I delve too deeply into explaining this compound, I feel that it’s important to
stress that last part: Screw up with this stuff, and you die. You will go into a coma
and die. And I'm talking about simply taking too much of this stuff once.
Ok?
This drug needs to be treated with caution. If you aren't willing to read as much as
possible on insulin before using it, then you aren't ready to use it at all.
So first, lets talk about the insulin that’s floating around in your body right now, and
what it does, then we’ll talk about how adding exogenous insulin (insulin from
outside your body) could possibly help you.
Insulin is a protein secreted by the pancreas that acts on the liver to stimulate the
formation of glycogen from glucose and to inhibit the conversion of non
carbohydrates into glucose. Insulin also promotes facilitated diffusion of glucose
through cells with insulin receptors, and, of course, this means muscle tissue (1). As
you may expect, very high concentrations of insulin have resulted in markedly
stimulated muscle protein synthesis (2)(3)(4)(9). It does this mainly at the
translational level by enhancing peptide chain initiation (11). This property and its
consequent results are probably the things which makes it most interesting to
bodybuilders and athletes. This is because those factors combine to make ingested
protein more efficient by promoting the transport of amino acids into muscle cells.
Ergo, we can clearly say that insulin is undoubtedly anabolic in muscle tissue. It also
has an anabolic effect in bone, and thereby increases bone density as well (8).
Another mechanism by which insulin is anabolic is via increasing your body’s IGF
(Insulin-like Growth Factor) levels (6). IGF is an extremely anabolic hormone.
Another unexpected aspect of insulin use is its ability to increase both LH
(Leutenizing Hormone) and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), both of which—in
turn—stimulate testosterone production. What I’m getting at here is that insulin
stimulates gonadotropin secretion, meaning that its use may actually provide an
anabolic effect through increasing your HPTA’s ability to stimulate the production of
testosterone (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular-Axis) (11). This effect is often
manifested as virilization (development of male sexual characteristics) in women.
Insulin also increases the binding ability of anabolic steroids to the androgen
receptors (14), which would clearly suggest the strong possibility of a synergistic
effect of insulin when combined with steroids. Most people also think that insulin has
some anabolic synergy when combined with growth hormone, and certainly there is
a lot of anecdotal evidence for this as well. In addition to anecdotal research, it's
important to note that insulin is actually so anabolic that some researchers have
310
speculated that Growth Hormone’s (GH) ability to stimulate protein synthesis may
actually be, in part, due to GH’s ability to increase insulin sensitivity (12). Certainly
the complex relationship between insulin, IGF, and GH is very synergistic
(13)(15)(16)(17). Using all three of them plus anabolic steroids and a fat-burner is
the most potent muscle-building & fat -burning cycle possible. Of course, when
something seems too good to be true, it usually is…
Unfortunately, the bad news is that insulin can easily stimulate adipose (fat) storage.
Generally, though, most bodybuilders take insulin with a fat burner or two (thyroid
meds are the most popular choice), as well as anabolic steroids and sometimes even
GH and IGF, for reasons previously explained. All of this adds up to decreasing the
chance that fat is stored, and greatly increases the amount of muscle that will be
gained.
Anyway, as you probably guessed, endogenous insulin (the stuff naturally found in
your body) operates on feedback from within your body. When your glucose levels
get high, which is what happens when you eat a sugary snack, insulin is then
released from your beta cells. When glucose is low, insulin is, of course, low. In fact,
simply adding liquid glucose to a liquid amino-acid meal (thereby raising insulin
levels) will increase the absorption of the ingested amino acids by roughly 50%! (7)
Now, think about this: If a natural insulin response to ingested glucose can give you
50% better absorption of protein, how much protein absorption injecting it will give
you?
So, now that we have some kind of understanding as to what endogenous insulin
does, let’s try to figure out exactly what exogenous insulin can do (that’s the kind
you get from a bottle). Medically, of course, insulin is used to treat diabetes, thus
becoming diabetic is a real risk with improper insulin usage.
First, I’m going to give you some clinical examples of how insulin has been used as
an anti-catabolic agent. In the first study I read, insulin levels were increased 15-fold
in infants suffering extreme catabolism. This level of insulin administration produced
a 32% reduction in protein breakdown (4). In the second study, exogenous insulin
impeded muscle protein loss in burn victims (5). It’s important to note that you
MUST have enough amino acids (protein) in your body for insulin to exert an
anabolic effect. If there are not enough amino acids floating around in your body
from your last few meals, insulin will not be anabolic at all. On the other hand, If
amino acid concentrations are maintained at normal or high levels as they would be
in a typical athlete or bodybuilder’s diet, a net protein deposition in muscle will occur
(more protein deposited in your muscle = more mucle gained). This effect—insulin
depositing protein in your muscles—is primarily because of an actual stimulation of
protein synthesis and also owes to an inhibition of protein breakdown (10). The
lesson here is that even with insulin, diet is the key to it all. You need to have
enough protein in order to build muscle, regardless of how much insulin you take.
Lets quantify this a bit. What about the anabolic and anti-catabolic properties of
insulin? Can we put some solid numbers on any of this?
Sure.
From the following chart, you can see that insulin puts your protein balance into a
much more beneficial state, and concomitantly lowers protein degradation by
311
inhibition of the lysosomal pathway (this is its anti-catabolic effect) (11) and raises
protein synthesis (this is its anabolic effect).
Protein kinetics. Protein balance, degradation, and synthesis rates are shown
(measured in nmol phenylalanine • min 1 • 100 ml 1). Values represent means ± SE
for the basal (open bars) and last 30 min of the insulin infusion (filled bars) periods
with the 3 different rates of amino acid infusion (in ml • min 1 • kg 1) (* P < 0.05
and ** P < 0.01 for basal vs. infusion period).(5)
What this chart tells me is that insulin can effeciently utilize a great deal of protein
above and beyond what your body normally could, and that if you should decide to
use insulin, you should be taking in at least 2.2g/kg of bodyweight, and preferably 3
4.5g/kg of bodyweight.
So now we know how and why insulin works, and how well it works. Ok, let’s figure
out how to use it. I’ll give you two basic ideas on how to safely use insulin, as well as
a third “hybrid idea,” and a dirty little trick on how to use insulin with a cyclic
ketogenic diet, to get into ketosis earlier.
Whichever way you decide to use, remember, insulin has the ability to stimulate fat
storage, so you want to make sure you are using anabolic steroids with it, as they
will preferentially drive protein and nutrients towards being used for the
accumulation of lean body mass over adipose tissue (fat). Personally, I also like to
use a thyroid medication (Synthroid) to further insure none of my injectable insulin is
going to put any fat on me. If you've been paying attention up until now, I'm sure I
312
don't have to tell you that GH and IGF are also very potent (and expensive) additions
to any stack containing insulin. If all of that didn't whet your appetite, then consider
the fact that insulin, GH, and IGF are undetectable on drug tests! Currently, there
are speculative ways to test for them, but nothing consistent has been established. I
suspect that insulin, GH, and IGF have helped out many a top-level “natural”
bodybuilder.
So now that we know something about insulin, let’s see what kind is most
appropriate for bodybuilding or athletic purposes, as there are several types of
insulin available, and choosing the correct type is of utmost imiportance. Basically
there are 5 different types of insulin we'll look at, and from them, we'll pick the type
which will best suit our purposes of building muscle: -Humalog (Insulin lispro inj.) is the fastest acting insulin available -Humulin-R (Regular Insulin) has a short duration of effect -Humulin-N (Insulin Isophane) is intermediate length insulin -Humulin-U(Medium Zinc Suspension) is another intermediate length insulin -Humulin-U, utalente (Prolonged Zinc Suspension) is long acting insulin
(*there are also blends available of two or more of these types of insulin, in varying
ratios of long:short or anything in-between)
Of these 6 possible choices, the first would appear to be the best and safest, but that
particular type of insulin is (unfortunately) only available with a prescription, and
getting it through a typical steroid source (which usually means through the mail) is
not advisable, since you can not be sure it has been properly stored and refrigerated
throughout shipping and handling. Needless to say, attempting to forge a
prescription for this stuff is an exceptionally poor idea.
Our next best choice for injectable insulin is Humulin-R, so that's what we're going to
be using. Humulin R is available without a prescription, from any pharmacy. This
stuff has a fairly rapid onset and peak, ergo it is much easier to deal with than the
other forms of insulin available…some last very long, or have varying peaks and
spikes throughout their duration, and as such are just too difficult to monitor and
control.
The first and most obvious way to utilize insulin for its anabolic effect is to take a
little bit with each meal, possibly 1-2iu’s up to 5-6x a day (insulin is measured in
international units, not mgs as is common with anabolic steroids). This way you’d be
getting the greatest benefit of insulin possible with each meal, and the least risk of
using too much and going into shock. Of course some bodybuilders have reported
using up to 20-40iu/day, but I wouldn’t recommend this unless you are very
experienced, and have your diet in perfect order. You’ll want to take in a tiny bit of
essential fats, a decent amount of mixed carbs (i.e. carbs of varying glycemic
indexes), and at least 40g of protein with each meal, when using this method.
Clearly, you’ll also want to work up to this amount of insulin, perhaps adding 1iu per
day until you reach a level you are comfortable with. This holds true for either
method of insulin use I’m presenting.
313
The second way you can use it is to take 1iu of insulin with your post workout meal,
eventually working up to 1iu/10kgs of bodyweight. When using this method, you’ll
want a post workout shake consisting of roughly 100-200g of mixed carbs and 40-50
grams of protein...and don’t forget a small amount of essential fats with your shake.
I have used insulin this way, along with anabolic steroids and a thyroid med, and
have found it to enhance the gains from my cycle by around 15-20% as compared
with a similar cycle that did not include insulin.
The final method is to use the first method as well as the second, so you’d be taking
in 1-2ius with each regular meal and up to 1iu/10kgs of bodyweight with your post
workout meal. This would ensure maximum efficiency from each bite of food you
eat…but this way is also the most dangerous, and you need to monitor your blood
sugar. If you get tired after a shot you’ll need to get some mixed carbs into you
quickly (Gatoraid and a few granola and/or candy bars). It’s a good idea to carry
those kinds of things around with you as insurance that your blood sugar doesn’t go
too low. You also don’t want to take this stuff at night before bed, because you won’t
know if your blood sugar is going low and that's making you drowsy (meaning you
could be facing hypoglycemia, and be about to go into a coma) or you are just tired
because it’s your normal bedtime.
And as for that dirty little trick I was telling you about: A small amount of insulin
may be taken when starting a cyclic ketogenic diet, with your first meal on the day
you begin. This meal would be fats and proteins, without carbs, and only 2-4iu of
insulin would be taken. At the following meal, you can use half the dose of insulin as
you did at your first meal.The result would be that you could be in ketosis before the
end of that first day, whereas usually it would take 2 or even up to 3 days to
accomplish this. Using insulin in this manner is very dangerous, and was even called
"Death Wish Dieting" by Dan Duchaine.
Whichever method you use, remember to keep your insulin refrigerated, as it will
degrade very quickly outside of a cool environment. Don't leave this stuff out of the
fridge too long, either.
The other thing you don’t want to do is use regular needles to inject insulin. You
NEED insulin pins to accurately dose this stuff; remember, too much can be deadly,
and the syringes you would use to inject steroids are too big to measure out units of
insulin. Insulin is given via a subcutaneous injection (below the skin but above the
muscle), and regular needles are just too big to do that.
Insulin (or at least Humulin-R) is currently not a controlled substance, and you
should be able to buy it at your local drug store pretty cheaply: a 10cc multi-use vial
dosed at 100iu/cc will cost you around $50.
References:
1. Human Anatomy and Physiology, 6th Edition, John W. Hole
2. hyperinsulinemia unmasks insulin's effect to stimulate protein synthesis in human
forearm.Am. J. Physiol. 274 (Endocrinol. Metab. 37): E1067-E1074, 1999
3. Impaired anabolic response of muscle protein synthesis is associated with S6K1
314
dysregulation in elderly humans. FASEB J. 2004 Oct;18(13):1586-7. Epub 2004 Aug
19.
4. Intravenous insulin decreases protein breakdown in infants on extracorporeal
membrane oxygenation.J Pediatr Surg. 2004 Jun;39(6):839-44; discussion 839-44.
5. Extremity hyperinsulinemia stimulates muscle protein synthesis in severely injured
patients Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Apr;286(4):E529-34. Epub 2003 Dec
9.
6. Insulin: the other anabolic hormone of puberty. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 1999
Dec;88(433):84-7. Review.
7. Contribution of amino acids and insulin to protein anabolism during meal
absorption.
Diabetes. 1996 Sep;45(9):1245-52.
8. Anabolic effects of insulin on bone suggest a role for chromium picolinate in
preservation of bone density.Med Hypotheses. 1995 Sep;45(3):241-6. Review.
9. Physiologic hyperinsulinemia stimulates protein synthesis and enhances transport
of selected amino acids in human skeletal muscle. J Clin Invest. 1995
Feb;95(2):811-9.
10. Insulin action on protein metabolism.Baillieres Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993
Oct;7(4):989-1005. Review.
11. Effects of chronic hyperandrogenism and/or administered central nervous system
insulin on ovarian manifestation and gonadotropin and steroid secretion. Fertil Steril.
2005 Apr;83 Suppl 4:1319-26.
12. Metabolic effects of growth hormone in humans. Metabolism. 1995 Oct;44(10
Suppl 4):33-6.
13. Clinical uses of insulin-like growth factor I. Ann Intern Med. 1994 Apr
1;120(7):593-601.
14. Binding of methyltrienolone to androgen receptors in human skin fibroblasts is
enhanced by insulin.J Androl. 1992 May-Jun;13(3):242-8.
15. Are the metabolic effects of GH and IGF-I separable?Growth Horm IGF Res. 2005
Feb;15(1):19-27
16. IGF-1 and insulin as growth hormones.Novartis Found Symp. 2004;262:56-77;
discussion 77-83, 265-8. Review
17. Divergent effect of endogenous and exogenous sex steroids on the insulin-like
growth factor I response to growth hormone in short normal adolescents.J Clin
Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Dec;89(12):6185-92
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Chapter 14
NUTRITION
(How to eat on a cycle to gain & how to eat off a cycle to
maintain)
In truth, this should have been the first chapter, because your diet while you are on
a cycle will greatly determine your gains. Honestly, though, this book was originally
intended as a book strictly about Anabolics, but then Brian (the other person
involved with the writing of this book) contacted me and told me that he’d been
swamped with e-mails asking about the book and if it would cover diet as well.
Really, diet can be the limiting factor in how much you gain on a cycle, and how
much you keep when you go off. Dietary intake has actually been used to develop a
model for predicting race performance in IronMan Triathalons (1)(2). What the
researchers found was that if you don’t eat right, you don’t place well, and
surprisingly, that Carbs and total calorie intake were the most important factors.
Table 1: Rates of water, energy, carbohydrate and sodium
intakes of 59 Ironman triathletes during the event, and
correlations of the intakes with finish time.
Intake Correlation with
finish time
Carbohydrate (g·kg-1·h-1) 0.96 ± 0.40 -0.59 (-0.74 to -0.39)
Energy (kJ·kg-1·h-1) 16 ± 7 -0.56 (-0.71 to -0.35)
Water (ml·kg-1·h-1) 12 ± 5 -0.45 (-0.63 to -0.22)
Sodium (mg·kg-1·h-1) 4.0 ± 4.8 -0.12 (-0.36 to 0.14)
aMean ± standard deviation
bObserved value of Pearson correlation between dietary
variable and log-transformed finish time; 95% likely range of
true correlation in parentheses.* Chart From SportSci.org,
and (1)(2)
I suppose I don’t even need to tell you that the same is true for bodybuilding
contests, right? The difference between first and fifth place is usually a simple matter
of diet, in contests below the National and Olympia-Level. At the Olympia Level, it’s
a whole ‘nother ballgame, that for the average reader of this book is just not
relevant. If you don’t eat properly, and you’re training hard, you’ll have a vastly
compromised immune system (18), and you’ll get sick much more often. You can’t
make gains when you’re lying in bed, right?
So here we are, two weeks after the book has gone to the editor for final revisions,
and I’m writing the final chapter, which should actually have been the first one.
316
So to make this easy, let’s assume that you are not currently gaining nor losing
weight. What you’re going to have to do is chart your calorie intake for a week, and
figure out how much you are eating, calorie-wise. Once you’ve done that, you’ll
have a good starting point to figure out how the rest of this chapter applies to you.
Once you know that, you know that you’ll have to increase your calories to gain
weight and lower them (yuck) to lose weight. This, of course, is not rocket science,
but it requires accurate record-keeping. For me, I need around 2,800 calories every
day to maintain my weight. I personally move my caloric intake about 500 calories
either way to basically lose or gain a lb every week (given no change in energy
requirements). Of course it’s more complicated than that unless everyone reading
this book is a 210lb guy who stands 5’7”, with 8-9% body fat….but I think those
numbers will give you an idea of where to start. Try moving your calorie intake 10%
either way for a few days, and chart your results, weight-wise to find out where you
need to be personally to lose or gain the weight you desire.
Next, we need to take a look at the three primary macronutrients we’re going to be
working with (protein, carbs, and fat) and the ratios we will want to consume them
in, then some micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and other fun stuff), and finally
how to manipulate our intake of them to get the most out of our cycles, and
maintain our gains off of them.
Here’s some not-so-quick definitions of the macronutrients involved, their role in
your body, and my recommendations of the percentage of your daily caloric intake
that they should comprise respectively:
Protein is the building block of your muscle. You need to realize that anabolism in
the absence of protein is almost impossible, regardless of what exotic steroids you
are putting into your body. However, humans can synthesize only about 50% of the
necessary amino acids that make up the proteins in our bodies. If the remaining
amino acids (cleverly known as “essential amino acids”) are not consumed in
sufficient quantities, protein production will suffer. What we need to remember, as
athletes or bodybuilders interested in building muscle is that the quality of protein in
a food is vastly differing, and of utmost importance. The quality of a protein is
determined by its essential amino acid content (16). A select few foods (called
complete proteins) contain all of these essential amino acids, and they are contained
in amounts sufficient to maintain and promote protein synthesis through maintaining
a positive nitrogen balance. Let’s look at how nitrogen balance differs in people who
are undergoing strength training, with differing protein intakes:
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Comparison of nitrogen balance (protein requirements) in individuals who
are strength training with differing protein intakes.
Clearly you need to take in more (and higher quality) protein if you’re strength
training, and this would include mostly complete protein foods, optimally. Other
foods simply lack one or two amino acids, and those foods can be combined in a
meal to make sure you get all of your essential amino acids. The foods with all of the
essential amino acids are called complete protein foods, and you can probably guess
what they are. They’ve been on the athletes’ training table for the last two-thousand
years, since ancient Olympians found their benefits. They include stuff like dairy
products, eggs, meat and fish. Incomplete proteins, as you can also guess, are
foods like grains, vegetables and fruits. It is very possible to obtain sufficient
indispensable amino acids from a diet that excludes complete protein foods entirely
by combining grains, vegetables and fruits, this requires some esoteric knowledge of
which foods to combine, by looking at which have amino acids that others lack.
Vegetarians, especially those who exclude eggs and dairy products (Vegans), are
therefore at great risk for insufficient dietary protein intake. I know there aren’t
many vegetarian bodybuilders (Bill Pearl aside), but in one particular study I read,
59 to 69 year-old men, strength training produced greater muscle mass gains with a
meat-containing diet in comparison to a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet (15). However, in
younger strength and speed athletes there has been shown no clear benefit to eating
meat (7). So, eat meat for your protein if you like it, or because you want to fulfill
some kind of psychological need for a steak, or whatever, but realize it’s not
necessary. It is of note that the latter study concerned athletes who had protein
supplements like (whey powder) available to them. This data strongly suggests that
the type of protein may play an extremely important role in muscle growth when
ingested in conjunction with strength training. The ideal protein for this is, of course,
whey protein. This type of protein, especially whey protein isolates or hydrolyzed
whey peptides, has taken off in the world of strength training and bodybuilding in the
last decade. It’s widely touted by strength athletes as being the highest quality
protein commercially available. This contention is typically (and correctly) based
both on whey’s extremely high bioavailability as well as its content of glutamine,
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leucine, isoleucine and valine. Exercise reduces glutamine levels in the body, which
can cause immunosuppression (20) and when glutamine/glutamate levels dip too
low, there is a high correlation with overtraining (21). Those last three amino acids
(Leucine, isoleucine and valine) are the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), and
make up about one-third of muscle protein. When you train, you experience
decreases in all three of those highly important amino acids (18). Of great
importance is that significant decreases in plasma or serum levels of leucine occur
following both aerobic (11 - 33%) as well as anaerobic lactic (5 - 8%) and strength
exercise (30%) sessions. There is also a huge decrease in leucine level in skeletal
muscle and a concurrent reduction in glycogen stores during exhaustive aerobic
exercise. Leucine levels decrease by 1/5th during 5 weeks of speed and strength
training in power-trained athletes who were fed a relatively high daily protein intake
of 1.26 g/kg bodyweight. And this reduction still occurred! This could be due in part
to the relative low concentrations of leucine and other BCAAs in regular whole foods.
As a general rule, the leucine content of protein varies between 5 and 10%. There
are some sports nutritionists and scientists who suggest that the current
recommended dietary intake of leucine for athletes be increased from 14 to 45
grams/day for a 100kg athlete. This would mean that our hypothetical 100kg
bodybuilder has to ingest quite a bit of protein (450-900grams/day!) if it comes
mostly from poor sources. However, to avoid this type of deficiency in total protein
or in specific essential amino acids, athletes ought to consume 2.2 grams of protein
per kg of bodyweight (1g/lb), from high quality protein sources. If you are 100kgs,
and taking in 100grams of whey protein every day, and 100 grams from other
reasonably high quality sources, you’ll have no problem meeting your BCAA and total
protein requirements. Consumption of BCAAs (or roughly 30 to 35% leucine in a
protein supplement like whey) before or during endurance exercise clearly prevents
or greatly decreases the net rate of protein degradation, and in addition may
improve both mental and physical performance (17). Obviously this is of great
interest to athletes because in addition, it may even have a potentially sparing effect
on muscle glycogen degradation and depletion of muscle glycogen store (17).
Legendary strength coach Charles Poliquin recommends 20-40 grams of BCAA’s
before and after training, with perhaps a Carb/BCAA drink during training, as one of
his tricks to adding LBM quickly. This is, of course, a great idea, and can be counted
towards your daily efforts at getting in enough protein. I take some aminos before
training. Typically whey protein is used just following training, since it enters the
blood stream following ingestion faster than casein (the major milk protein), which is
well known to produce a significantly lower but more prolonged increase in blood
amino acids (14). Casein, therefore, and other proteins with a slower absorbtion
rate (albumin, etc) would be more appropriate to use prior to training, when you
want to have amino acids available for an extended amount of time. After a
workout, you want them available and in your body as quickly as possible, to begin
muscle repair. You’re going to need whey protein for that.
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Effect of a strength training session on muscle protein synthesis
Increasing exercise intensity and duration, at least with aerobic exercise (and I know
you aren’t going to skip cardio), causes an increased use of protein, apparently as an
auxiliary fuel (8)(9)(10)(11). What this means is that before you can even start
thinking about how much protein you need to start building muscle, you need to
know how much you’re using as energy, right? Well, nitrogen balance experiments (a
measure of protein excretion vs/ intake) have shown that just doing some
reasonably intense cardio results in an increased daily protein need of around 50% to
75% (1.2–1.4 vs. 0.8 g/kg)! In addition, heavy resistance (strength) exercise
appears to increase protein need by about 100%, again based on nitrogen balance
experiments. Not only does this mean that you are using more protein for fuel but,
also, isotope tracer studies have revealed that the underlying mechanism is not
simply increased fuel use. Rather, your body undergoes changes in muscle protein
synthetic rate (12) resulting from your newfound need to maintain a greater overall
muscle mass (13) caused by the gains you’ve made through your weight training.
Here’s an idea of what I’m talking about:
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Effect of increasing protein intake on protein synthesis in strength athletes
vs. controls
So let’s recap my recommendations on Protein, which are the same on a cycle as off:
Ingest 1g/lb of bodyweight of quality protein (2.2g/kg)
Take in at least half of your protein from whey, and at least half of that
needs to be in a post-workout meal
All of protein which you “count” towards your daily intake should be
“complete” proteins, containing all necessary amino acids
So, with a gram per pound of bodyweight, that means I take in 210grams of protein
every day, or 840 calories…around a third of my calories.
Although Protein is probably the easiest of the three macro-nutrients to determine
your requirements for, moderate exercise will deplete you of protein pretty quickly,
even if you have adequate carbohydrate (solid bars), but even more so when you
have an inadequate amount of carbs (open bars).
321
Nitrogen excretion increases with prolonged, moderately intense exercise
and especially so when carbohydrate stores are low (6)
It’s clear that we need to consume protein, but now it’s clear that carbohydrates also
play an important role in preserving protein. And carbs are either simple (released
into your body immediately) or complex (released slowly). Briefly, complex carbs
provide sustained energy, and simple carbs provide a quick (though temporary)
surge in energy. I’m relatively amoral concerning carbs, and I actually ingest a lot of
simple ones…but that’s always post workout. Now, remember how I said you need
to take in enough protein? Well, of course, you need to combine it with
carbohydrates in order to get the most out of the protein you ingest, and not have it
excreted excessively or used as energy during exercise due to a lack of glucose.
This excess excretion of protein will have the exact opposite of stimulating muscle
growth; it will grind new muscle growth to a halt, anabolics or not. If you are
excreting too much protein, and not getting enough in, muscle growth will not be
possible. On the other hand, it is highly possible to stimulate muscle growth (either
by minimizing degradation or possibly maximizing synthesis) via carbohydrate/amino
acid ingestion following a strength exercise session (27)(28). This combination is
probably so effective due to insulin-stimulated (22)(23) changes in muscle amino
acid uptake as well as enhanced protein synthesis (22). Unfortunately, carbs are the
first things we need to cut out when dieting, because proteins and fats are too
important. In fact, remember when I told you that essential amino acids are the key
here? Well it actually appears that the nonessential (dispensable) amino acids are
almost unnecessary (22). So you’ll need to be stocking up on whey protein, if you
want maximum results from your anabolics, and maximum retention of your gains
when you go off. Without maximizing protein synthesis, you’re leaving 5-10lbs on
the training table with every cycle, since a strength training session affects both
muscle protein degradation and synthesis (24)(25).
Carbohydrate intake immediately following exercise can easily enhance muscle
glycogen resynthesis when compared to the same exact intake several hours later
(21). So clearly, post workout, the addition of simple carbs into your whey protein
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shake will speed carbohydrate absorption and aid glycogen recompensation in your
hard-trained muscles, and it has been proven by results in countless athletes that a
carb + protein beverage immediately after exercise is superior to taking either one
alone. Personally, I take 50g of whey protein (I use Solid Muscle Whey Protein) along
with 100 grams or so of (liquid) simple carbs. When combined with simple carbs, a
mere 6 grams of essential amino acids can increase muscle protein synthesis and
insulin release by an astonishing rate. I don’t ever forgo my post-workout shake,
and I think after you see these charts, you won’t either:
Effect on indispensable amino acid intake following strength exercise on
protein synthesis.
323
Effect of indispensable amino acid intake following strength exercise on
insulin release.
In addition to your post workout shake, I recommend that you take in enough
carbohydrates to get you comfortably through your workouts and/or athletic training,
and not too much more. I take in 50% of my daily carbohydrates in my post workout
meal and shake. Why? Because that’s when they are most likely to be used for what
I want them to be used for….building muscle. Other than that, I eat relatively low
carbohydrate meals for my other 5 daily meals (10% of my daily carbohydrates at
each meal…which amounts to some veggies, or some other complex carbohydrates
at each meal).
Lets go over my carbohydrate recommendations;
Eat enough to comfortably get through your workouts and training
Complex carbs are eaten all day, except for post workout
Simple carbs should be eaten post workout, which can be up to 50% of
your daily carb intake
If you are trying to lose weight (fat), carbs are the first things to cut out of
your diet to create a caloric deficit
So basically, I have about 200+ grams of carbs every day, or around a third of my
calories.
I’ve left fats for the end of this chapter because they are just, to be simple,
agonizingly complex. I’m going to try to make this relatively painless, though. Let’s
take a look at some different types of fat first.
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You should avoide saturated fats—especially when messing around with steroids—
because of possible heart problems (29), and because they lower insulin sensitivity
(30)(31) and are highly correlated with obesity. They are to be seen as a source of
calories, but not much more, while some of the more interesting fats can actually
have ergogenic (performance enhancing) effects. On the other hand, I love saturated
fats like French fries, eggs, and cheese. No, not all at once. Well, maybe all at once
on special occasions…
After saturated fats, there are unsaturated fats, like those found in linoleic oil,
avacados and nuts. These can actually be beneficial, as they are positively correlated
with lean mass accrual and fat loss (32)(33)(34). If you are going to eat fats, you
should eschew saturated fats, and go for stuff unsaturated fats. Of course, poly and
mono unsaturated fats are simply different types of fats, with poly-unsaturated being
moderately healthier. As you can guess, a saturated fat has all of its positions
“saturated” with hydrogen, while a mono has one position lacking a hydrogen, and
the poly variety is missing more than one. Safflower oil is a very popular unsaturated
fat, and if you add it to any protein shake especially with a mix of proteins and
complex carbs, it will slow absorbtion greatly and give you a nice steady release of
protein over a couple of hours. Fish oil can also be used in that capacity, which has
the added benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids, but a fish and dutch chocolate protein
shake is, well, less than appealing to me, personally. I usually have a small salad
with all of my non-post-workout meals, and put some safflower or olive oil on it. If I
have a protein shake late in the day, it usually has non-hydrogenated (remember,
there’s a hydrogen lacking in unsaturated fats, so hydrogenation makes them
saturated by adding the missing hydrogen) peanut butter in it, or something similar,
to add the fats I need in my diet. Clearly, since protein is 1/3rd of my diet and so are
carbohydrates, fat takes up the last third.
Here’s my final recommendations on fat, for this chapter:
Avoid saturated fats
Favor unsaturated fats, especially polyunsaturated fats
Avoid hydrogenated fats
I’ve tried to make this chapter as painless as possible, since I know most of the
people reading this book will want to know what to put in their syringe, and where
and when they can start shooting it. Hopefully, even though I wrote this chapter last,
you won’t read it last…because it’s probably the most important chapter in the book.
325
Chapter 15
Legal Interview:
The Final Chapter, but not the Final Word
The following is an interview conducted with a lawyer who has been involved in
anabolic steroids for almost a decade. His identity will, however, necessarily be
hidden.
BC: Internet message boards… are they safe or unsafe?
Lawyer X: The inherent problem with internet anabolic discussion boards is that in
many cases they are people’s sole source for obtaining anabolic steroids, and this is
in stark contrast to most other controlled substances: heroin, cocaine, etc…. In
general, people look to the Internet Anabolic Steroid message boards (like
Steroid.com) to share their experiences with anabolics, and also obtain information
about the usage of anabolic steroids …typically, there will also be several other
forums where people can engage in conversation about working out, bodybuilding,
powerlifting nutrition, and related issues; those are the legitimate uses of internet
discussion boards and are totally protected under the First Amendment. Steroid.com
for example, operates solely for the exchange of information and is doing the online
steroid community a huge service, by keeping it members and anyone who views it
“safe” in terms of steroid usage, since (except for this book, and the too few like it)
there is simply so much disinformation about steroids these days. Unfortunately,
there are many, many boards nowadays, and the amount of staff required to run
that many means that people are usually engaged in running several boards, or that
they are woefully under-qualified to do so at all (in the vast majority of cases). But
in answer to your question, yes, providing information on steroids and such is totally
legal.
BC: SO did I hear you right? This kind of thing is protected the first Amendment?
It’s just freedom of speech, right?
LX: Right. The conversations that are protected by the first amendment include
training, diet, and stuff like that…but also steroid usage, dosages. In no way is
advocacy of illegal conduct protected via First Amendment speech, nor is
damaging/dangerous conduct (yelling fire in a crowded movie theatre is the most
common example they give at law school). SO yes, for the most part, typical
posting and replying that the average member engages in on Steroid.com in on the
message boards falls under the protection of free speech and can not be prosecuted.
The lesson to be learnt here is that, generally speaking, the Internet message boards
are safe for people to post and gather information. That’s a vast oversimplification,
and of course there are some message boards that violate those boundries walk a
fine line, and get much closer into clearly illegal activities and we should talk about
them for a minute.
BC: SO what can we look for? What kinds of boards are “safe”?
326
LX: Of course Steroid.com is safe. I’m sure you already knew that though. Members
there share steroid experiences, engage in steroid conversation, or discuss training
and diet tips. There is no discussion of how to obtain anabolic steroids that people
are talking about, and anything posted on that is not intended to do so. Both the
website, the owner and the staff should feel comfortable there, as should everyone
else. Possible interest to law enforcement officials is, ergo, virtually non-existent and
this kind of website that is very safe, keeps people informed, and is representing the
online community the best.
BC: What about boards with a “Classifieds” forum, where there may (or may not) be
sources of anabolic steroids advertising their wares?
LX: That’s a good question, and like many legal questions, falls into many grey
areas. Certain boards can have what is called a private classified section where
people typically engage in the sales of anabolic steroids; but if it’s not monitored and
the board, the owner, and/or the all derive no clear material benefit from the sale of
those illegal substances, then it is safe, though still rather suspect, and certainly not
in the class of the first type of board I spoke of. As I said, like most legal questions,
there is no really clear-cut answer.
BC: How about totally unsafe boards? What type of board should we avoid?
LX: Well…do you mean legally or philosophically?
BC: I suppose I meant legally, but how about you include philosophically too?
LX: I would personally avoid any kind of “invite board,” “vet board” (also called a
“private board” sometimes)… or basically anything that is not open to the public. As
a rule, which I have not really ever seen broken (and I have seen every such forum
on the internet at the time of this writing), the anabolic advice given in them is
mediocre at best. They basically exist as a gossip forum and a steroid source forum.
If you will allow me a colloquialism, Lots Of Idiots hang out in invite/vet boards, the
information in them is average at best, intellectualism is stifled, and they are
wrought with elitism of the worst kind. For the most part, they are not even a
legitimate source for information concerning anabolics. They should be shunned by
every reader of this book, even if only for the fact that they are basically populated
and staffed by steroid dealers as a rule. The first amendment does not protect this
kind of board, and they are rife with law enforcement officials making easy busts.
Also, as another general rule any kind of “open source” message board that explicitly
allows the open and uncontrolled posting of steroid price lists by steroid dealers
(sources), whether they are so-called international or domestic suppliers, is a
website that should be left alone at all costs. So my public service announcement for
the day is to shun and scorn both invite/vet/private boards as well as open-source
boards (especially when owned by a source!). Lecture over.
Finally, I’d like to add that most boards are safe, at least relatively. You should go to
one where there is no discussion of how to get anabolics, and you will probably be
alright. Another good gague, information-wise, is to check the Anabolic Steroid
Profile information and Educational information available on sites. If the information
on them is well researched and referenced, and written by a current staff member,
or person affiliated with the site, then it’s a good choice. If they are all copied from
another site, then you should simply visit the site they were originally found on. Why
327
not go directly to the original source for information? The next thing you should do
is check the temperament of the staff. Are they cursing and acting immaturely? If so
then leave. If they are condescending to members or demeaning in some way, then I
suggest you go elsewhere. Remember, anyone with $50 to spend per month can
operate a board…and these days it would seem that’s the case with most boards.
Remember, the quality of information on discussion boards is not regulated by any
agency…and there are so many now-a-days, that there are not nearly enough
knowledgable people to go around. Sadly, this is the state of affairs we are coping
with…people who mostly say “bro” and “lol” on discussion boards, and provide very
little useful or original anabolic steroid information.
BC: I have to say, you present a pretty bleak picture there, but I can’t disagree with
anything you said. I certainly agree with your comment about invite boards having
“Lots Of Idiots”, even if it’s rude. I’ve always personally wondered why people would
hang out on a board like that, which is private/vet/invite-only…Ok…moving right
along, I’m sure you’re familiar with the term “source check.” But I’d like to define it
for some of our readers, then ask you a question about it. As you know, on various
Internet discussion boards there is a Private Messaging system where you can
contact other members or staff. It has become common practice to send a message
to the staff of such boards asking if a source for anabolic steroids is legitimate or
simply a scam. This is, as you know, called a “source check.” So I guess the
question I’m asking is: are source checks legal or illegal?
LX: A source-check is when somebody gets the e-mail address of a source of
steroids and then address the moderators or veterans of a board with a question as
to that source’s validity. Generaly, the moderators or veterans of a message board
will probably know which sources are trustworthy or not. You should, however, shun
any moderator who attempts to give you the address of a source and dissuade yhou
from using the one you approach them with. Clearly, they are on the source’s payroll
99% of the time. And of course you ought to never ask for a source either openly or
privately. Now; are source checks safe? Not really. Quite frankly, if you freely give
out information to someone about getting their hands on steroids or any controlled
substance, you may get inadvertently involved in a conspiracy. Conspiracy is just a
very vague law, and you’ll probably be shocked to know that a person can actually
be convicted of conspiracy without ever committing a crime! The bizarre part about
all of this is that conspiracy involves a crime that need only be mental, because it
involves both a meeting of the minds as well as intent…but no actual physical crime!
The easy and predictable argument from the person who givesout the source check
to a person who asks, is that they are not dispensing information as such; they are
conforming or denying information that has been presented to them. Ergo, “is
JoeBloe still a good source” is a source check, and in simply answering it, no real
passage of knowledge on obtaining steroids ever happened. But if you want to
maximize your personal safety, then you ought not be engaging in the answering of
questions like the one just discussed.
BC: Recently, a lot of Internet message boards have begun using off-shore servers
(an Internet service provider which is located outside of the United States). Those
boards then typically engage in illegal activity, without fear of prosecution. Are
these types of Internet message boards safer?
LX: I don’t care where your server is, if your ASS is in the UNITED STATES! Off
shore servers are incorrectly and egregiously perceived as being safer because the
server, and ergo the information on the server, is actually offshore. They are neither
328
safer for the members, nor the owners and staff. This is a complete and utter fallacy
for the most part. If you live in New Jersey, and own LotsOfIdiots.com and you
seek out an offshore server to protect yourself from facing legal reprocussions from
operating a board in an illegal manner, your server location is basically irrelevant,
and you are totally subject to US law. Having your name hidden from “Who is”
searches or using an IP anonymizer will also not help in cases of such sheer
stupidity. And, in addition, an overseas subpoena can be sent out by the Feds,
simply requesting your hosting company give them all the information- and most
will. Most of the silly things people do to avoid persecution are just that…silly.
I suppose, in theory, an offshore server could work is if BOTH the person who owns
the website and the server is offshore and violating no current laws of their
country…then you clearly have a situation where that website is not under the
jurisdiction of US law and is also therefore immune from US interfearance as well as
prosecution. Several boards exist that fit this description, and would not hesitate to
visit them, for the most part. This situation becomes even better if board owner
actually owns the server that is located offshore as well. It is hard to believe he/she
would comply with a Federal subpoena. This would be a very good route to go, and
many board owners have done this already.
BC: I know you are familiar with the term “research chemical.” This is basically a
chemical bought and sold on the Internet, for research purposes. These chemicals
are almost always simply liquid forms of bodybuilding drugs--ancillaries, clen, etc.—
labeled “not for human consumption.” Is this legal?
LX: In this case, we tend to say they arrest the hookers* and not the Johns. The
client (the customer) has a liability that is nonexistent I believe. This may not be the
case for the research company’s liability however. If you are a the customer, you are
going to be alright, but the companies may ned to worry bit in the future.
(*clearly a terrible inside joke)
BC: Since this is a book about Anabolic Steroids, primarily, let’s talk about them?
How are they classified legally? Are they simply controlled substances? How about a
list or something?
LX: Well, they (steroids) are schedule III drugs for all classification purposes, so
let’s look at that list you asked for as well as the statute it concerns ( which now
interestingly has been updated to proscribe pro-hormons);remember those? This is
the current definition of an anabolic steroid as defined under 21 U.S.C.A.
§802(41)(A):
(41)(A) The term "anabolic steroid" means any drug or hormonal substance,
chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone (other than estrogens,
progestins, corticosteroids, and dehydroepiandrosterone), and includes
(i) androstanediol--
(I) 3<
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Anabolic steroids ultimate research guide
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