Stacks: Is a synergistic effect real?

[diverho]

The common wisdom surrounding AAS's is that the most effective way to design a cycle is through the use of stacking. The side effects seem to be reduced, while the benefits are optimized.

Here is a quote from a well known source:

"It is... shown that the combination of two to three steroids in moderate dosages is much more effective... than when only one steroid is taken in a high dosage."

"With the right combinations, one will be able to obtain a synergetic [sic] effect if the athlete pays attention to selecting steroids which have different influences on the factors of strength, tissue buildup, and recovery. A stack which fulfills these requirements, for example, would be Deca-Durabolin as an anabolic basic steroid with depot character, Sustanon to promote recovery and general mass buildup, and Oxandrolone to increase body strength The stimulation of various receptor types over a limited period leads to the best results."


This is an appealing approach to AAS administration, however is it real?

With the stacks that seem to be widely recommended, it's difficult to ascertain whether or not improved results are due to a particular combination of AAS's or due to the fact that there's just a greater amount of anabolics introduced into the body.

For example, a common dosage for Sustanon is 500 mg/w. And a common dosage for Deca is 400 mg/w. However, in most recommended stacks, those dosages are retained, i.e. a dosage of 500 mg/w of Sust and 400 mg/w of Deca. How can we tell that there is, in effect, a synergy between these two compounds? Are the improved results of the stack due to a synergy, or due to the fact that there is just a greater amount of anabolic substance in the body?

What if we halved the Sust and halved the Deca? I never see any recommendations for 250 mg/w of Sust combined with 200 mg/w of Deca. If there is a synergy, shouldn't this lead to better results than just 500 mg/w of Sust or 400 mg/w Deca, while simultaneously reduncing unwanted side effects? Has anyone tried this? What was observed? Or, equivalently, how does 500 mg/w of Sust and 400 mg/w of Deca compare with 1000 mg/w of Sust or 800 mg/w of Deca?

Thoughts/comments/advice/pointers?

-Diver

 

[Nimrod25]

A synergistic effect can be achieved by stacking AAS of different classes that will work through both AR and Non-AR mediated mechanisms. Such as a deca/dbol stack. Now steroids that work through both methods such as Test should be included as the base of any cycle.

 

[serge]

stacking is very important. Testosterone should be the base of any stack, cutting or bulking. After you decide what you are going to do (bulk or cut) you will choose appropriete items to complement your testosterone base. Bulking items are dboll, anadrol, tren, deca, gh, insulin (insulin and gh can also be used while cutting); cutting: winstrol, anavar, tren, eq, primo. While more androgenic drugs will promote overall size development, items in higher anabolic properties will add to the quality of the muscle mass. As one "guru" once said, "No proffesional physic will ever survive on only one or two drugs"

 

[Andy13]

I think "stacking" should be more focused around side effects than gains.

There is only one documented way that an AAS increases muscle protein anabolism. That's through the AR. There is no evidense that suggest that non-AR anabolsim exists. However, very respected gurus (no, REAL gurus like B Roberts) believe that non-ar anabolism exists although it is not documented.

Lets say both types of anabolism exist. Then the only benefit is stacking for GAINS would be an AR binder and a nonAR binder.

It really doesn't make sence to "stack" two AR binders and think it's going to be synergistic. The same for two non-AR binders.



Andy

 

[MadCow1]

I always received better gains from 2 drugs split than one drug overloaded (even if they both targeted the same receptor although not to the same degree). This assumes 2 drugs at 200mg weekly vs. a single at 400mg weekly.

Sometimes when I read the board I think "stacking" is really an excuse to use tons of shit at one time and never face the fact that you are using 1000mg+ on your first cycle.

 

[serge]

while it is true that you dont need much more then 500-750mg of gear on the first cycle, as your muscle mass progresses you will have to up the dose to continue making progress