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Toptoon1
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This is for all the beginners looking for information on particular steroids. This information has helped me a lot. If you read up on the particular steroid you are inquiring about you are bound to get a better understanding of what it does, common doses, and common stacks. I have them all listed here which I hope is not counter productive, seeing as it is an immense amount of information to thumb through, but at the same time now its here. Just incase something happens to the original authors posts. Also I though it might be interesting to get some feedback from the veterans here concerning what is listed. For example, what do you guys think about the authors death warning about insulin? Do you agree with the suggested use of HCG for PCT? This guy obviously shows a preference to Chlomid and Nolvadex when PCT is concerned as well as stopping the side effects of estrogen. What do you think about the Arimidex information? It is mentioned that Arimidex is very effective in what it does. Does Arimidex’s effectiveness on estrogen prevent gains? I hope those of you interested find this information as useful as I have.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catsteroids.htm
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Aldactone (Spironolactone)
Pharmaceutical Name: Spironolactone
Chemical structure: 17-hydroxy-7alpha-mercapto-3-oxo-17alpha- pregn-4-ene-21-carboxylic acid gamma-lactone acetate
Molecular weight of base: 416.5744
Effective dose: 75-150 mg/day orally
Characteristics:
I myself was actually surprised to learn that spironolactone IS in fact a steroid. A testosterone derivative no less. But its not an anabolic, androgenic steroid. Spironolactone is used mostly as a diuretic. Because it inhibits aldosterone production it has a diminishing effect on water retention. Aldosterone is the hormone that regulates the amount of water a body stores, by increasing or decreasing electrolyte counts, such as the amount of sodium in the blood. Through its regulation of aldosterone, spironolactone can signal your body to release water. This is particularly useful to those in the modeling business, and to competitive bodybuilders. Lowering water retention can increase muscle definition, and make for a better showing. Athletes competing in weight classes are particularly fond of diuretics as well, because shedding a few pounds of water allows them to compete in their designated weight class, without having to sacrifice muscle tissue or go through the rigors of diet in order to lose fat.
In medical settings spironolactone can be used as a diuretic when toxins have been ingested, but for those things most physicians will opt for more drastic measures, such as intravenous injections of a more potent diuretic such as lasix (furosemide). Its very popular as an anti-hypertensive drug, since its aldosterone inhibiting effects will lower sodium retention and lower blood pressure that way. For these instances most physicians will actually prefer spironolactone or some type of combination diuretic, because its known as a potassium sparing diuretic. Some heavier diuretics will reduce intra-cellular water as well, and ravage the body's potassium stores. This can result in life-threatening conditions. Mohammed Benazziza fell to his death after his electrolyte balance was thrown out of whack by the use of intra-venous lasix. Since spironolactone has no such effect on potassium levels you do not need to supplement extra potassium or worry about your electrolyte balances. In fact, using more than 2 grams of potassium per day can be equally hazardous, whereas with lasix one would almost have to get 2-3 grams of potassium, additionally, per day.
Lately a lot of research has been done on using spironolactone as an anti-androgen. Since most competitors will use a diuretic for no more than 5-10 days, this needn't really concern us. It has also raised a lot of questions about whether or not spironolactone can therefore have a use for us in preventing hair loss, acne1 and prostate hypertrophy2, the most frequent of androgenic side-effects. So I would like to answer these questions here. The studies do indeed show that spironolactone can remedy some androgen-mediated conditions, and does so through other means than finasteride (proscar). Finasteride blocks the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which converts dehydro steroids to their more androgenic dihydro forms. Like converting testosterone to DHT. But the majority of steroids used, especially when cutting, are already dihydro forms and finasteride has no use, since the 5-alpha reductase enzyme no longer has effect on the androgenic potency. But spironolactone has been shown to work through other pathways3. Its steran nucleus would suggest that it binds the androgen receptor itself, but is not potent enough to, or structurally incapable of (I would opt for the latter) activating it. Its effect on androgens would comparable to the effect that clomid or Nolvadex would have on estrogens.
So what's the final verdict? It may have some use in reducing androgenic side-effects, but only because it blocks the androgen receptor. That means for every bit of side-effects you block, you will lose an equal amount of gains. That also mean to completely eliminate side-effects, you would completely eliminate gains, and might as well not take steroids at all, instead of wasting money on two products that cancel each other out. In short there is no way of preventing side-effects completely, and those people who fear side-effects more than they want gains, should still stay away from steroids altogether. Either you want the gains bad enough, or you don't. If you don't then don't touch the stuff. If you do, then you come to terms with the risk of side-effects.
That doesn't mean the anti-androgenic properties of spironolactone are completely useless to use. Using them post-cycle can be very effective. The aim is to get testosterone back online as soon as possible, and that means eliminating negative feedback. From estrogen first of all, through the help of clomid or Nolvadex, but also by eliminating negative feedback from androgens, and here spironolactone can help. Running it alongside HCG and then to the end of Nolvadex/Clomid treatment. The result is less side-effects from the HCG (acne, water retention), a synergistic effect with the Clomid/Nolvadex to reduce water retention and it stops the continuation of side-effects. Many times users of androgenic steroids will notice that hair loss continues or even starts after a cycle is done, especially with long acting injectable esters. That's too much, we don't have to tolerate more side-effects than what we need for optimal gains after all. And the spironolactone can prevent androgenic side-effects from continuing after the cycle is over.
Women too may find the anti-androgenic properties useful. When using steroids and virilizing symptoms start showing, using 50-75 mg of spironolactone can lessen the effect and allow a female to finish her cycle. And its especially useful for those gung ho women who use long acting androgens against better judgment, as even simply discontinuing the product will not stop side-effects. So spironolactone may come in handy.
Needless to say, spironolactone does not provide us with a get-out-of-jail-free card against androgenic side-effects. As long as you are making gains on any type of androgen, the risk for these side-effects remains nonetheless. But it can help us control them post-cycle. Also take care to note that aldosterone inhibitors and other types of diuretics have their own set of side-effects. Most notably cramping. Sodium and potassium, the two electrolytes most affected by diuretics, are essential to muscle contraction because without them, no proper action potential is formed in the neural cells that activate the muscle. As a result severe cramping can occur, sometimes to a point where training becomes near impossible. Diarrhea, dehydration, anxiety and weakness are also frequently associated with the use of diuretics.
Stacking and Use:
For contest preparation purposes, a competitor would use 75-150 mg of aldactone per day for the 5-10 days leading up to a competition. A single early morning dose would suffice in this instance. The higher the dose, the greater the effect (though still mild, as aldactone is a relatively mild diuretic) but also the greater the chance of muscle loss on your diet, because of the anti-androgenic properties. To use it as a post-cycle recovery agent, 50-100 mg per day starting 1 to 1.5 weeks after your last shot of a long acting androgen, and running it until the end of post-cycle therapy (usually 4-5 weeks after) would provide you with the benefits of shedding water and promoting the return of natural testosterone alike. The use of ancillaries is relatively useless here, because it acts as an anti-androgen, counters bloating and water retention and is used as an anti-hypertensive. So the common steroid side-effects are of no concern with the use of spironolactone.
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Anabolicum Vister
Pharmaceutical Name: Quinbolone (ether included in chemical structure)
Chemical structure: 17beta-(1-Cyclopenten-1-yloxy)-1,4-androstadiene-3-one,17b-ol
Molecular weight of base: 286.4132
Molecular weight of base: 352.5156 (cyclopentenyl ether, 5 carbons)
Effective dose: 10-20 caps per day (100-200 mg)
Characteristics:
Anabolicum Vister is innovative, and yet a dinosaur. Its technology is similar to that of andriol, in that its an attempt at a non-toxic oral anabolic. But its alas no longer in existence. It was discontinued some time ago now, and I doubt many people in the illegal circuit really noticed. It was successful in the same manner andriol was, it was indeed a non-toxic oral. It used a similar delivery system, but instead of a long ester, it used an ether attachment at the 17-alpha position to increase its lipophillicity. It was then sealed in a oil-filled capsule. The idea behind it being that the oil could be absorbed by the lymphatic system and thus by-pass the liver and avoid being broken down that way. That would reduce the need for a 17-alpha-alkylated structure that could damage the liver. The lymphatic system is a system of veins and arteries that ONLY absorb water. Or rather re-absorb water. When blood is delivered to tissues, only 85% of the fluid is recovered. If this process was allowed to continue, we would all swell up and explode. So the lymphatic system is called upon to remove the excess water and carry it to a place called the angulus venosus, where two large veins meet right before they empty out into the heart. But in the digestive tract, the lymphatic system also transports fats, which is why the lymph fluid in that area is particularly troubled. With a system such as that of Anabolicum Vister, the oil inside the cap (which is a fat) would easily be absorbed into the lymphatic system, avoid liver breakdown and be introduced directly into the bloodstream. Attaching the ether to make the molecule, in this case a boldenone molecule, more fat-loving allows it to stay suspended in the oil, and the whole should be absorbed and delivered. That's the theory behind a non-toxic oral.
But as was illustrated with andriol, the system didn't exactly work. It showed highly variable results, not just from person to person, but from day to day. Blood levels jumped up and down and in some people it seemed as if most of the time it didn't work at all, which basically meant instead of importing quinbolone (boldenone+ether) into the blood, you were feeding boldenone to the liver. Therefor effective doses of this steroid were quite high. If you know that each cap has 10 mg of quinbolone (which is maybe 8 mg of boldenone) and you need to take 100-200 mg to see a notable effect, then you know what you are dealing with. Especially since boldenone has a fairly high oral activity of its own, so 200 mg per day orally would do the trick regardless. In light of the cost and it being the only alternative, I think most people sucked it up and just took shots of boldenone instead. And so this nonetheless innovative steroid died a very unglorious death. Today very few people even really know it ever existed.
What is truly remarkable about this drug is its name. Quinbolone. It was given a new name while its basically just boldenone with an ether attached. Normally new names are only given when permanent structural changes are made, such as 17-alpha-alkylation. So its understandable that one would name a 17-alpha-alkylated boldenone methandrostenolone (D-bol) because the structural change is permanent, and all its metabolites will be altered in the same way and the drug will have different interactions with structures inside the organism. But not so for ethers and esters. They are usually broken off once they enter the blood leaving only the base steroid, in this case boldenone. I mean, Equipoise is still boldenone undecylenate, it isn't given a new name because the alteration is not structural or permanent. But Anabolicum Vister is called quinbolone because of its ether. Perhaps someone felt that boldenone cyclopentenyl was too hard to remember.
This is a particularly safe steroid. Androgenically boldenone is quite mild, and has little or no interaction with the 5AR enzyme1, so it doesn't form a more androgenic metabolite. Estrogenically it has only half the potency of testosterone, and unlike the other oral boldenone, methandrostenolone, it doesn't have a structural alteration that makes it form a more potent estrogen. So its particularly weak estrogenic as well. Since it's a non 17-alpha-alkylated oral, its in and out of the body in no time and no a serious threat to endocrine recovery after a cycle and the list goes on. So certainly the Parke Davis company succeeded in creating a safe anabolic steroid. Unfortunately it wasn't very effective. And definitely not cost-effective. This drug can now be considered completely extinct. Its no longer manufactured and hasn't been around for quite some time. Is it a shame ? Well, the bodybuilding community didn't feel it was, it barely even noticed it existed. Perhaps its discontinuance is a sign that no anabolic steroid can survive on the market without adequate interest from illicit users.
Stacking and Use:
As a particularly safe steroid in all aspects, quinbolone could easily be used with any other product, and unlike most orals, for extended periods of time. For perfomance enhancement I sincerely doubt anyone would think of using it by itself. Its somewhat weak, and having to take at least 10 caps per day didn't make it likely you would invest your funds in even more weak and expensive stuff. While 20-25 caps a day could easily mimic the effects of 300-400 mg/week of boldenone undecylenate injections, how many people do cycles of only 300-400 mg/week boldenone undecylenate ? Adding 10-15 caps per day to a cutting stack with trenbolone, winstrol and/or proviron for example could offer some benefit. Mild anti-catabolic properties and such, increased appetite and perhaps even some added vascularity, as these are properties of boldenone. For those seeking to gain mass however, quinbolone wasn't very useful.
What one needs to note about using this product (although since it no longer exists, this doesn't really matter) is that the daily doses need to be split up over the day. 3 or 4 doses. Unlike with 17-alpha-alkylated steroids which could exert influence way beyond their half-life time of 3-5 hours, quinbolone does not have this benefit, and its influence would be limited to its half-life time. Therefore, to keep levels somewhat constant, one needs to use multiple doses. With methandrostenolone, oxandrolone, stanozolol, oxymetholone, mesterolone, norethandrolone, methyltestosterone, etc, a single dose per day would suffice, but for things like Anabolicum Vister or Andriol, multiple doses are a must for proper effect.
The use of ancillary products with Anabolicum Vister is not required, due to its mild nature. Some Nolvadex or Clomid after the cycle may help to keep gains and bring back natural testosterone, but I wouldn't go digging deeper than that. Although because its almost essential to stack it for good results, you will probably need to addition other products to control the rest of your stack.
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Anadrol
Pharmaceutical Name: Oxymetholone
Chemical structure: 17 beta-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethylene-17alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstan-3-one
Molecular weight of base: 332.482
Effective dose: 50-150 mg / day orally
Characteristics:
Oxymetholone is without a doubt the strongest and most visibly active steroid to date. Not only does it act very rapidly, it causes a virtual explosion of mass. Gains of up to 10 pounds in 2 weeks are not uncommon. This is largely due to a moderate to low androgenic effect combined with a high anabolic activity also mediated by non-AR mechanisms (mechanisms other than simply binding the androgen receptor). You can imagine that the gains made on oxymetholone aren't the leanest. You would note a drastic smoothing out of the muscle due to estrogen-related fat (lipolysis) and water retention. This lipolysis has been shown to be rather drastic. One study1 on long-term hemodialysis patients showed beyond a doubt the role that oxymetholone can play in causing hyperlipedemia. The fat deposition rate, post-hepatic (after processing by the liver), increased drastically in the oxymetholone group while numbers remained stable in the control group.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catanadrol.jpgIt has been suggested that the estrogenic effects of oxymetholone may not be as much mediated by estrogen, as by oxymetholone itself activating the estrogen receptor. Because there is little to no aromatisation off oxymetholone, the possible progestational effect was examined first. Similar to that of nandrolone perhaps. But a study2 testing the progestational effects of oxymetholone and methandrostenolone against those of testosterone as well as nandrolone and its metabolites showed that the progestagenic activity of oxymetholone wasn't even in the neighbourhood of that of testosterone, let alone nandrolone. Ruling out the possibility of progestagenic activity and aromatisation, that only left oxymetholone engaging in a structure with the estrogen receptor itself. Since it has an A-ring similar to that of estradiol (the prime estrogen) so this would be the most logical explanation. Since progesterone acts as an estrogen agonist, it would require circulating estrogen to negotiate such levels of water build-up as oxymetholone causes, so it seemed like a far-fetched idea to begin with.
The water component resulting from oxymetholone use is not be under-estimated either. The benefit of water retention is of course a lubrication of the joints, allowing the comfort of pain-free workouts even with extremely heavy weights, as well as the retention of more nutrients inside the cell, possibly leading to more permanent growth in muscle tissue. The downside to a massive water retention is that it gives you a rather puffed up look. A look not uncommon in off-season competitive bodybuilders and the heaviest classes of powerlifters. With the estrogen increase of course comes the increased risk of more side-effects such as gynocomastia (growth of breast tissue in men). Therefore its always advised that a cycle of oxymetholone is accompanied by the use of an anti-estrogen such as Nolvadex. Nolvadex, keeping in mind that aromatase enzyme is not involved, would be the wiser choice as it blocks the receptor for estrogen rather than the aromatase enzyme. Its wise to note as well that the gains from oxymetholone are largely mediated by estrogen, so reducing estrogen may reduce results as well.
Because it is mild androgen as well as a potent estrogen, blood volume is increased. Androgens raise the red blood cells (although this has been shown to happen through a mechanism other than erythropoesis3) to improve aerobic performance while estrogens increase the white blood cells in an attempt to stimulate the immunity. Couple that increase in blood cells to an increase in water and you get a serious increase in blood volume. This effect has been known to result in magnificent pumps for the users of oxymetholone products. The synthesis of extra erythrocytes (Red blood cells) also increases stamina and performance (this effect is largely negated by the larger estrogenic component. Oxymetholone is not a good product for athletes). Together with the unbelievable strength effect of oxymetholone's water retention that makes for some incredible workouts. On a side note, these characteristics make for anadrol's popular use in treating anemia.
The use of oxymetholone should be strict and brief. While it is no doubt the strongest steroid, quantitatively, its also by far the most hazardous steroid to your health. Apart from the great risk of common steroid-related side-effects (acne vulgaris, benign prostate hypertrophy, gynocomastia and androgenetic alopecia), it also has numerous other side-effects. Most notable is oxymetholone's hepatoxicity (damaging to the liver) : Its standard 17-alpha-alkylated as with most oral steroids, resulting in an inavoidable raise in liver transaminase enzyme counts. The most frequent of the hepatoxic effects is jaundice4 (yellow coloration of the skin) due to an oxymetholone induced increase in biliburine, but others include peliosis hepatis and formation of hepatic tumors (cancer). And that's not all. There is also a number of intrinsic side-effects noted with the use of this steroid. Headaches, stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, insomnia and diarrhea are among common afflictions associated with oxymetholone use.
This is the reason why only strict doses of oxymetholone are used , often only 1-2 tabs of 50 mg. The general rule of thumb is to use 0.5 or 0.6 mg per pound of bodyweight, most likely putting you in the 100-150 mg range. Because of the negative effects on the liver, its often not used for more than a two or three weeks. The results are fast, but also fleeting and therapy is usually continued with another aromatizable compound, most likely a long acting testosterone like Sustanon or testosterone enanthate. The Anabolic Review also warns that under no circumstances should oxymetholone use exceed 6 weeks. When using oxymetholone, or any oral 17-alpha-alkylated steroid for that matter, one should always consult a physician on a frequent basis and get your liver values checked. Its not that oxymetholone is necessarily more toxic to the liver, but rather that much higher doses are needed than with other oral steroids, so the relative risk increases as well.
Other notes I should mention about this compound are that oxymetholone's androgenic qualities are not linked to a 5-alpha reduced form. As a matter of fact it shows rather poor interaction with the 5AR enzyme, making it futile to treat a possible increase in hair loss with 5-alpha reductase-blocking products such as finasteride. Its androgenic component stems from the fact that oxymetholone is very much like Dihydrotestosterone were it not for the added 2-hydroxymethylene group. Since this group can be metabolically removed, that would leave methyl-DHT. A compound with a weaker affinity for the androgen receptor than straight DHT, but more active and with less affinity for the DHT-reducing enzyme 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Ultimately resulting in much stronger, instead of weaker androgenic effects than compounds that are actively 5-alpha reduced. This evens out largely, because the distribution is even across the body, where 5-alpha-reduction usually concentrates more potent androgenic forms in androgen responsive tissue such as skin and scalp.
The effect on the blood pressure is rather drastic, so its recommend that you use a anti-hypertensive drug in conjunction, especially if you already have a fairly high blood pressure. Here too the care and control of a physician is advised. Because of the HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis) suppressive nature, the use of Clomid or Nolvadex and HCG is advised as well towards the end of your oxymetholone use. Lastly, oxymetholone also has an ill effect on the glucose tolerance5, causing borderline diabetic situations. Something to be weary of if you yourself have been diagnosed with similar problems already.
In conclusion one can safely state that the negative effects on the system associated with the use of this hormone are rather drastic and that the use is therefore not recommended for beginners, women or people who have pre-existing afflictions. Nonetheless Anadrol remains a popular steroid among experienced users to kick-start a steroid cycle because of its magnificent increases in strength and size. Most people who have used oxymetholone with great success have no problem calling it the strongest and most reliable steroid available today. A somewhat surprising remark however, since Methandrostenolone can produce similar results with half or a third of the doses normally used with oxymetholone and with less side-effects. So personally I would recommend methandrostenolone over oxymethelone, as its clearly stronger, milligram fro milligram. Oxymetholone remains a strong and favorable compound however, despite its side-effects. Its effects may also be slightly more explosive than those of methandrostenolone and therefore people seeking strength may give it an edge over the former.
A lot of oxymetholone products were discontinued in the early 90's due to the high rate of side-effects, making them rather uninteresting. The renewed interest came when it was being effectively used in the treatment of the wasting disease AIDS, sparking a comeback. Nonetheless users should note that the original 50 mg Anadrol50 was taken over by Unimed. The original Anadrol50 by Syntex is no longer made or found. There has also been a surge of legit underground compounds such as the Ttokkyo oxymetolona 50. So be careful and do your homework when looking for Oxymetholone.
Stacking and Use:
Anadrol is an oral only compound and is 17-alpha alkylated with a methylgroup to allow for a higher yield when having to traverse the liver, as with most oral compounds. As such it has a good degree of hepatoxicity and should not be used for longer than 6 weeks on end and it is highly recommended that you get your liver values checked regularly. Because of its long activity and poor affinity (due the the 17AA) good results can be obtained with a single daily dose, so spreading your doses out is an option but is anything but necessary. A single dose of 50-100 mg every day is recommended, but doses as high as 150 or 200 are used by experienced bodybuilders as well. Due to its rapid action and high toxicity, its mostly used to kickstart a longer injectable cycle in the first 3-5 weeks of that cycle. It will add a lot of mass and strength on immediately, getting you through the low-result beginning of an injectable cycle. Its use is thus very similar to that of Dianabol, but with the latter being slightly more versatile.
As such it makes a good match early in a stack with you standard testosterone/nandrolone stacks, with boldenone (equipoise) and methenolone (primobolan) as well. Since it has a high intrinsic affinity for the estrogen receptor and next to no intrinsic affinity for the androgen receptor I doubt anyone would contemplate using this for cutting. To even out the massive water retention one might choose to stack it with trenbolone (finaplix/parabolan) or stanazolol (Winstrol/Stromba) but never for the purpose of looking lean. Anadrol, like Dianabol, may also be one of the few orals that has real merit when using it alone. Although the gains are often hard, near impossible to keep afterwards.
In terms of secondary drugs, I wish I had a lot to recommend here, but really there isn't much to be helped with oxymetholone. Even with liver protection it would still do serious damage and with every bit of added protection, the efficacy rate of oxymetholone would go down. As for estrogen maintenance, Nolvadex being the strongest of estrogen receptor antagonists comes highly recommended and preferably in higher than normal doses, 30-40 mg, as its oxymetholone itself that is the culprit and not its aromatized form. On the other hand, we need to take into account that more than half of Anadrol's anabolic action stems from this estrogenic action as well. So its sort of trading less side-effects for gains. One thing that is advised is blood pressure medication as extreme hypertension has been noted. And I'll say it
a third and last time, its best to get regular liver check-ups when taking Anadrol.
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Andriol
Pharmaceutical Name: Testosterone (as Undecanoate)
Chemical structure: androsta-4-en-3-one,17b-ol
Molecular weight of base: 288.429
Molecular weight of ester: 186.2936 (undecanoic acid, 11 carbons)
Effective dose: 8-16 caps/day orally
Characteristics:
Andriol is a fairly recently developed steroid. A new attempt at making an orally available testosterone, the first since the very unpopular methyl-testosterone. The delivery system used for andriol is quite novel in itself and shows a lot of promise. If it weren't for a few quirks I'm sure this delivery method could have caught on fast. The crude methyl-testosterone was the first of many oral steroids delivered by way of a 17-alpha-methyl alteration to the base compound. Apart from changing the affinity for a lot a structures, making a steroid with completely different characteristics, the main problem here was that it invoked a level of hepatoxicity. Often minor, sometimes severe (anadrol, Halotestin). This meant that treatment could not be continued for extended periods of time in complete safety. The demand for an oral steroid that can be used for lengthy treatment has been high since the very beginning. First of all its never easy for a doctor to sell his patients on injection protocols (many fear or at least dislike needles) and for the doctor too it would be easier if the patient could take a pill than to have him come back every other week for an injection. So the pressure was on to create a steroid that wouldn't require a 17-alpha-methyl alteration.
The answer was to seek a new way of delivery, that bypassed the liver, so that no alteration was needed to protect the steroid from being deactivated in the liver. That way was found in lymphatic absorption. As with many paths of uptake, this one too is very specific and limited. The lymphatic system is a series of heavily filtered channels intended for the resorption of water. When blood is delivered to a tissue through the arterial system, it is depleted of oxygen and nutrients, and then lead back to the heart by the venous system. Unfortunately only about 85% of the fluid is readily re-absorbed. That means 15% stays behind in the tissue and if that process where to continue day and night, we'd all swell up like Marshmallow man and explode in less than a week. That's why, inside tissues, there is another extended capillary system other than the cardiovascular one. The lymphatic system. This has the sole purpose of draining water from tissue. This is why it mostly only transports water. Its also heavily filtered by lymph nodes throughout the body that will remove almost everything, because the system is easily accessible and if not properly filtered a virus or cancer cell could easily spread throughout the body in this manner. But in the digestive tract it seems the lymph system makes an exception. Lymph fluid is usually clear (since its pure water), but in this area its troubled. That's because it appears to absorb oils and fats as well.
Steroids are made from the prime storage of fat in the body, cholesterol. So there is a definite possibility here. And the lymphatic system, for 75-80%, empties itself in the major duct (ductus thoracicus), which in turn empties itself in the angulus venosus, where the vena jugularis interna (internal jugular vein) and the vena subclavia (vein below the collarbone) meet, right before they enter the heart through a common vein. That means, without having to pass the liver, these fats can be delivered straight to the heart. Now the question is, if indeed it was readily absorbed by the lymphatic system, why alter a steroid at all to survive the liver ? Obviously it doesn't get through to any great extent. That's because it absorbs only actual fats. This carrier therefore targets the solution of the steroid in an oil, so that it will be absorbed with the oil. It also seeks to make the compound more lipophillic so solution is more complete and permanent. As we also learned from injectable steroids, the way to make a compound more lipophillic is by attaching an ester. The longer the ester is, the more lipophillic it makes the steroid. In this case they opted for an undecanoate ester, which has a length of 11 carbons, the longest ester used to date.
In this case we are talking about a testosterone undecanoate. It is dissolved in a type of sterile oil and then sealed inside a cap. As a whole, the dissolved steroid is then easily absorbed by the lymphatic system, prior to passing the liver, and delivered with ease to the heart where it is then sent out across the body. The system itself is ingenious and in theory perfect. Maximal delivery and no hepatoxicity. A potent steroid capable of being used for long treatments. However (I'm sure you saw that one coming) in practice things don't always turn out the way they appear in theory. In studies1 done on both men and women, andriol was shown to be a mild and inconsistent steroid at best. Mild is a problem that is easily solved with higher doses, but inconsistent is another story entirely. It seems that the amount that was delivered and the peak levels of testosterone in the blood as well as the length of activity, differed not only from person to person, but from day to day. That means a different person, from day to day, will get very varying levels of testosterone in the blood. And the differences were not minor.
One subject may have a peak level of 5 ng/mmol while another can have in excess of 50 ng/mmol. What's worse, the same person may get these levels on different days. In terms of its anabolic (ie non-medical) use, that means doses of 8-16 caps per day are being used. That's more than most will inject per week of the shorter cypionate and enanthate esters. Normally 1 cap delivers 40 mg of testosterone undecanoate. An ester releases the steroid in the blood, leaving us with approximately 25 mg of testosterone per cap (it's a long and heavy ester). That's 200-400 mg per day being used, and andriol being as novel as it is, isn't cheap or easy to come by. That makes it, at best, just as uninteresting as methyl-testosterone.
As far as the properties of this steroid go, like a propionate ester or a suspension injection, levels of testosterone, DHT and estrogen are easy to control, which makes this steroid a possibility for use during any time of the year, whether the athlete be cutting or bulking. The water retention is less notable than with longer esters, and if too high is easily controlled with Proviron or Nolvadex. Its pure testosterone, so if delivered in high enough doses, for reasons previously stated, it is of course a good mass builder with all the characteristics of testosterone. No more no less. It is of course a safe (to the liver), controllable oral steroid that can be used for extended periods of time, which does spark the interest of some, but anybody serious about gains will usually find andriol a very poor buy. Great invention for the medical world, but of little to no interest to the serious athlete.
Stacking and Use:
Andriol doesn't have that many uses. When utilized in doses of 8-16 caps per day are used and it can obviously be stacked with most any other steroid. Water retention problems that are common with testosterone are usually controllable enough to warrant use even during cutting phases, and even if not Proviron can be added to maximize its potential. The use of ancillaries is generally not required as its very mild to begin with and most problems can be solved by discontinuing use or lowering the dose. The usual anti-estrogens can be used, but generally with the cost of andriol for what little it does makes it less appealing to invest in the likes of Nolvadex or arimidex.
Caps are best spread out throughout the day. Most oral steroids have a 17-alpha-methyl alteration that changes affinity and binding of the steroid, so that a single dose is usually enough. With andriol delivery is swift, peak doses high, but the steroid never outlasts its half-life of 3-5 hours. So it should be taken in three equal doses throughout the day, preferably with meals as lymphatic absorption is promoted in the presence of bile and other secretions in the GI tract.
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Anavar
Pharmaceutical Name: Oxandrolone (OXA)
Chemical Structure: 5 alpha-androstan-2-oxa-17 alpha-methyl-17 beta-ol-3-one
Molecular Weight Of Base: 306.4442
Effective Dose: 20-40 mg/day for men, 10-15 mg/day for women
Characteristics:
AAn intrinsically weak steroid with a high price-tag and low availability, oxandrolone owes its large popularity due to its safety. In sharp contrast to oxymetholone, oxandrolone is quite generally considered to be the safest of all steroids. Its effects are more than well-documented and have been for a few decades now. The medical community values oxandrolone as a safe alternative for more harmful steroids, which is why it is considered safe for use in children and even in patients suffering hepa-toxicity as the result of alternate steroid use1.
It's most noted medical use has been in the expediting of wound healing2,3 often practically applied to the treatment of burns 4,5,6. But recently its gaining popularity again as a means of keeping weight on HIV-infected patients suffering from wasting due to the immuno-deficiency virus. It was also considered safe for use in prepubescent children with a growth delay7. No major harmful effects were noted from this particular therapy, eventhough one study8 reported that the use of oxandrolone did speed up the onset of puberty in these children. Furthermore oxandrolone has found frequent applications in the treatment of other wasting symptoms for hepatitis and cancer as well as the treatment of osteoporosis in both men and women of all ages.
Oxandrolone was introduced in the year 1964, when Searle came out with the original Anavar. It quickly became the popular drug in the sports crowd for people looking for a safer alternative to the major steroid at the time, Dianabol (methandrostenolone). It remained one of the best-sellers for well over 2 decades until it was indefinitely discontinued in the year 1989. Much to the regret of the recreational bodybuilding and powerlifting community. The prices have remained high for the little stock that remained available. The only brand readily found was oxandrolone SPA, manufactured in Milano, Italy. That is, until 1995 when its use in the treatment of the then vastly spreading immuno-deficiency disease AIDS9 sparked the interest of BTG, a US-based company who came out with Oxandrin. The first widely available oxandrolone product since Anavar production was stopped.
The main reasons for the wide-spread use of oxandrolone in sports is because it is very appealing to female athletes as well as male athletes. It causes little or no virilization properties, demonstrated by its medical uses to treat women. This is rather surprising since oxandrolone does not aromatize either. It's the only steroid that is both safe and convenient without producing excess estrogen. That makes it particularly useful when cutting up for a contest or preventing an increase in body-fat due to estrogenic effects. In fact the main use of oxandrolone to a bodybuilder is in the maintenance of lean mass while reducing body-fat. Oxandrolone itself may not actually reduce body-fat, but it too plays a key role in the process. Like most non-aromatizing compounds it has a repressing effect on the appetite making it easier for the user to control cravings and stay strict with his diet.
Oxandrolone also has little effect on the body's own natural hormone production. The negative feedback was found to be very minor, meaning that during short term use no suppression of Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, start of natural testosterone production) was noted. This meant that whatever gains made, as little as they may have been, were very easily maintained post-cycle. So there was also no use for products like Clomid or Nolvadex in conjunction with oxandrolone consumption. The easy to maintain low gains would indicate a low binding to the androgen receptor. While not extremely high, it should actually be noted that it does have quite decent binding to the androgen receptor. But the reason for its mild effects is quite likely the low dose used. Rarely if ever are doses higher than 20 mg used on a daily basis. Either because of convenience or due to the high price. But comparing that the doses of other steroids this is remarkably low. So its only logical the gains and side-effects aren't particularly notable.
Of course a bodybuilder has limited use for a compound that is both a weak androgen in the doses mostly used and doesn't aromatize since no mentionable effect on mass can be produced to satisfy the chemically enhanced athlete. Therefor it is best noted that oxandrolone is most popular with power- and weightlifters to enhance strength without increasing bodyweight. This is valued highly since strength athletes often compete in weight-classes. Oxandrolone does not increase strength through androgenic stimulation, at least not primarily. It stimulates the formation of phosphocreatine, a body compound that can replenish ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) , the main energy currency of the living organism. This gives an incredible increase in short term anaerobic performance, the type needed for explosive action such as sprinting and lifting weight.
For bodybuilders the best results are seen when stacking oxandrolone with a highly androgenic compound. Either during a mass stack with aromatizable products to boost strength a little more, or in conjunction with a non-estrogenic compound. This is most beneficial since it can maintain lean mass, decrease appetite, improve sharpness of the muscle and keep strength levels up without giving increased androgenic risk (acne, prostate hypertrophy, hair loss) when stacked with pure androgens (stanozolol, drostanolone). For those looking for safe maintenance of muscle mass a stack of Anavar with Primobolan is not a bad investment (but a big investment). The common use of oxandrolone is estimated, at 0.125 mg per pound of bodyweight. For men it should be closer to 0.2 mg per pound, for women 0.08 mg per pound per day.
The downsides to oxandrolone are minor. The worst problem by far is the poor availability and high price. But it has to be noted that, eventhough oxandrolone is nowhere near Halotestin or anadrol in hepa-toxicity, it too is a 17-alpha-alkylated substance that can cause liver damage if used for long periods on end. Other common side-effects include headaches, loss of libido, diarrhea and dizziness.
The conclusion to follow these paragraphs is of course that oxandrolone is understandably still a popular and very versatile steroid, much desired by both experienced athletes and novice users because of its many properties. While few will say this is the best or their favorite steroid, you won't find many that will have anything negative to say about it either.
Stacking and Use:
Because of its mild nature and the low doses generally used with oxandrolone there is very little use for secondary compounds like anti-aromatase drugs, estrogen receptor antagonists or blood pressure medication. That in itself may somewhat make up for the high cost and little gains made on it.
In stacks Anavar is sometimes used to increase strength or help maintain it during mass phases. Oxandrolone obviously has very little to add in terms of mass compared to the other substances used to obtain such goals. It fades in comparison to test, Deca, Anadrol, D-bol and such. Nonetheless it is added quite often, perhaps because people assume it will make the overall stack less hazardous, but that's a myth of course. Frankly I would imagine there are better and cheaper things to waste your money on if mass is what you seek.
On a cutting phase oxandrolone makes a good match for 120-140 mcg of clenbuterol daily stacked with something in the nature of Halotestin or Winstrol. The combination improves muscle hardness and striation as well as support mass and strength retention. Experienced users would preferably add testosterone propionate or Equipoise no doubt, rather than Halotestin or Winstrol due to less hazard to the liver associated with those two drugs, especially Halotestin.
Mostly it is used for decent strength gains without gaining too much weight, particularly suited for weight- and powerlifters and martial artists. In that aspect, and in my humble opinion, Winstrol would be a good choice for a stack. 50 mg of Winstrol every day to every other day stacked with 30-40 mg of oxandrolone daily would give a very good result in overall strength enhancement without adding a mentionable amount of weight to the frame.
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Arimidex (Anastrozole)
Pharmaceutical Name: Anastrozole
Effective dose: 0.5 to 1 mg / day orally
Characteristics:
Arimidex seems to have somewhat become the holy grail of anti-estrogens. Due to its limited availability, high price and extreme effectiveness, its become a much desired product on the black market. The compound anastrozole is indeed a revolution in the treatment of breast cancers. It's a new generation of aromatase blocker. Up until recently the main product for this purpose was the androgenic steroid Mesterolone (Proviron). But the problem here was that Proviron was not particularly strong and in the required doses of 50 to 100 mg per day, androgenic side-effects were not uncommon. Proviron is after all a DHT derivative. It could also never be used longer than the cycle lasted, because to some extent (despite readily being deactivated) it was suppressive of natural testosterone production. Anastrozole seems to do the job more efficiently. In clinical trials a single tab daily proved to have a profound effect. In steroid circles, mostly due to the high cost, experimentation with half and quarter tabs proved it to be almost unbelievably strong. So much, that really half a tab per day suffices for most users.
Anastrozole operates by blocking the aromatase enzyme, the primary enzyme for the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. A steroid that is altered by this enzyme is referred to as an aromatizing steroid, and such steroids can cause estrogen build-up. This has several potential side-effects such as water retention, fat gain and lets not forget gynocomastia (the growth of breast tissue in men). To prevent such effects anti-aromatase products can be used. Often times during a cycle most will want to allow for some estrogen, since it heavily promotes strength and gains as well (increases GH, upgrades the androgen receptor, improves glucose utilization). These people will generally opt for an estrogen receptor antagonist such as Nolvadex (tamoxifen) or Clomid (Clomiphene). These products do not stop the formation of estrogen, but stop the estrogen from exerting its effects by competitively taking up the receptors for this hormone. This allows them to stop any problems dead in their tracks, acting very fast, but upon discontinuation allowing for immediate influx of estrogen again as well. This has the benefit that they can be used as soon as problems arise, and discontinued when they subside, thereby only reducing estrogen-mediated gains for the time-span of the occurring problem (mostly gyno). Aromatase blockers like arimidex and proviron on the other hand are more useful for those seeking to eliminate estrogen from a cycle of aromatizable steroids all together. People who are willing to settle for slower gains, in an attempt to stay lean throughout, or for those who are truly sensitive to estrogen and do not want to take the risk of problems occurring. And arimidex is the clear weapon of choice here, at least to those who can afford it.
Things one needs to note while using arimidex is that the benefits of estrogen become non-existent as well. First of all that means gains can be drastically reduced. They will be leaner and more qualitative, but they will nonetheless be seriously reduced. A second problem is that estrogen seems to have a positive effect on cholesterol levels. Since estrogen is reduced, the use of arimidex may have a profound impact on HDL to LDL ratio's in your cholesterol profile. In this aspect the use of Nolvadex is more user-friendly, because despite its anti-estrogenic effects in most tissues, it seems to exert positive estrogenic effects in the liver and promote a better cholesterol profile.
Lastly, the major problem with arimidex is the cost. I've seen people who were willing to fork over 250 dollars for a 28 tablet box of legit arimidex. That's the price of fame. Of course these prices are rididculous, but most people don't really know where to look. I've found the generic anastrozole tabs for as low as 2.2 dollars per tab, which is less than half the average street price. So it all comes down to shopping around a bit. Its not that anastrozole is that expensive to make, just that its patented. Which means that besides legit arimidex, all versions in existence are generics. This also means they could be slightly off on content or impure, if trustworthy at all. So be sure to check this with someone who has tried them or had them tested before buying a generic. The liquidex sells legit for not that much more, Around 3 to 4 bucks per gram and is generally a good buy as well, although content may be off. Since few will be investing in this to mess around with low doses and will generally opt to take 1 mg a day (1/4 cc), this shouldn't be a problem. The anastrozole powder is a real buy at merely 2-3 dollars per mg, but obviously no one will ship that for less than 100 mg orders.
Stacking and Use:
As mentioned, arimidex is an ancillary that is supposed to be stacked with aromatizing steroids in order to stop all formation of estrogen. Its seemingly very potent, so doses of 0.5 to 1 mg are enough. Some claim that 0.25 mg is enough, but for anyone doing any sort of serious cycle, I would not advise less than 0.5. These steroids are, without exception testosterone, nandrolone, norethandrolone, boldenone and methandrostenolone. And all of their derivatives as well. The drug oxymetholone (anadrol) has estrogenic effects as well, but they seem to be the result of oxymetholone's acidic A-ring activating the estrogen receptor by itself, rather than by conversion to estrogen. So Nolvadex would be more advisable in that case. To understand the whole story, I refer you to my profile on Anadrol.
Although it does block gains, aromatase blockers are generally used for the extent or a certain duration on a cycle, whereas receptor antagonists are used mostly to solve problems. Because it takes some time for an aromatase blocker to take effect (even when aromatase is blocked, there is still a level of circulating estrogen) and again some time to bring estrogen back upon discontinuation (new estrogen needs to be made again), acute problems are best solved with Nolvadex or clomid. When an aromatase blocker is used, Arimidex is the best choice by far. Proviron may be more apt when using with testosterone, due to its other characteristics and positive benefits on testosterone, but for all other intents and purpose arimidex should be preferred in these instances.
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Cheque Drops
Pharmaceutical Name: Mibolerone
Chemical structure: 7-alpha, 17-alpha-dimethyl-19Nor-androst-4-en-3-one,17b-ol
Molecular weight of base: 302.4558
Effective dose: A few drops per day, taken sublingually
Characteristics:
This is without a doubt THE most powerful steroid that was ever commercially marketed. Its androgenic potency is slightly less than that of methyltrienolone, but it can still aromatize, adding the benefits of estrogen as well. Unfortunately the only product it was ever marketed as never fully exploited the potential of this drug. It was delivered in microgram amounts in liquid droppers, the intent being to add a few drops to the food of female dogs in heat to keep them under control. Human athletes used a few drops under the tongue before a sporting event or training to increase their aggression levels, but noted little or no anabolic effect from this drug because it was so lowly dosed. Not that there was much room for high doses, because even in these low amounts using it longer than 2 or 3 weeks on end seemed to seriously compromise your liver. Just to demonstrate quite how toxic the compound mibolerone was to humans.
If it was free and safe to use orally, just 5 mg per day would probably give you more anabolic effect than a high-dose stack of several of the strongest products out there. It wasn't that far in potency from methyltrienolone. It possessed the same androgenic binding of trenbolone, even more so because its affinity for binding structures was even more reduced due to its 17-alpha-alkylation. But unlike methyltrienolone, it still allowed for aromatization to testosterone, enhanced by the progestagenic effect that all 19nor compounds seem to possess, which only further enhanced the extreme anabolic effect of mibolerone. Unfortunately because of its 17-alpha-alkylation it also rivaled methyltrienolone (metribolone) in liver toxicity, making it completely unsafe to even use 5 mg a day without killing yourself short term. A much better choice in that regard would have been trestolone (MENT), which is the same as Mibolerone but doesn't possess the toxic 17-alpha-methyl group. Sadly enough, MENT was never commercially marketed despite its well documented use as a male contraceptive (same for Mibolerone as well by the way).
But bodybuilders and other athletes had to make do with low-dosed cheque drops to increase activity. Nonetheless they enjoyed a great popularity. Mostly owed to the late Steroid guru Dan Duchaine. This was one of his many obscure (and usually dangerous) discoveries. The same person that discovered DNP, and extremely hazardous and powerful fatburner. Oddly enough cheque drops were more popular outside of bodybuilding. Boxers, football players and martial artists who fought full contact particularly had a fondness of this product and used it to enhance aggression prior to an important match with great success. It wasn't seldom that when a particularly aggressive incident occurred in boxing, that it was rumoured Mibolerone was the real culprit.
But even that didn't last, cheque drops have all but disappeared and I have yet to come across a legit one, or even an empty packaging from a legit one a long time ago. Which would illustrate what a dinosaur cheque drops have become in such a short time. But for those who really look around, they are still out there and I believe in some countries still used in veterinary medicine. So if you want it bad enough, but like I said, its impossible to use it to its full capacity, so its probably a waste to pursue anyway.
Stacking and Use:
Because its extremely toxic in higher doses and cannot be used longer than 2 weeks on end, there really isn't much to stack with cheque drops. A user will opt to take but a few drops sublingually (under the tongue) prior to an event for which he requires and increase in energy and aggression. But because here too there is the risk of natural testosterone suppression, cheque drops are best used during a cycle with other anabolic steroids. In this nature it stacks with literally everything however, and is both suited for use during bulking as well as cutting, eventhough it doesn't have a direct influence on either.
Because it's a non-aromatizing steroid that cannot be used longer than two weeks, the post-cycle use of clomid or Nolvadex is not required. Natural test will only partially be suppressed and should bounce back. If as advised you stacked it with a longer cycle of other steroids, its imperative that you still run them because of these other steroids, not so much for the cheque drops. For those prone to hypertension the use of an anti-hypertensive agent like Catapresan would be advised however. No other ancillaries should be required with this agent.
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Clenbuterol
Pharmaceutical Name: clenbuterol
Molecular weight of base: 277.193
Effective dose: 40-160 µg / day orally
Characteristics:
Clenbuterol is a very widely used drug and has quite a reputation. A good one among athletes and recreational users, and a very bad one among those people who know very little about illegal performance enhancing aids. Its not a steroid. In fact, the only medical use for which clenbuterol is generally prescribed (and now being less and less prescribed thanks to its illegitimate use) is for obstructions of the air-way. People with chronic breathing disorders like asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier. But its only one of the many things that can be achieved with the use of clenbuterol.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catclen.jpgIn terms of action this drug is best likened to the now also illegal ephedrine and its legal replacement, ma huang. All of them operate mainly by increasing the manufacture and secretion of catabolic hormones known as cathecholamines (like dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline)) which are secreted from the adrenal region. Now these hormones have a wide variety of functions. First of all they seem to alter the contractile characteristics of smooth muscle, but very specifically. Some will apparently be stimulated, and others inhibited. Amongst those inhibited, the smooth muscles in the bronchial tree, which explains its soothing effect in patients with breathing problems. What it also does is increase thermogenisis. This usually encompasses a rise in blood pressure, a stimulatory effect of the heart muscle and a resulting rise in body temperature.
Along with the reversing of the effects of insulin (and inhibiting the action of insulin) which results in a release of glycogen back into the blood stream as glucose and an inability to store or use more glycogen, it will increase the rate of protein and fat being burned in the body. For bodybuilders that appears to be the primary use of the drug. This thermogenisis and an increase in the rate of fat being burned usually has as a result that the metabolic rate of the subject its much higher and he burns more calories. This in turn results in loss of adipose tissue (the shedding of fat in other words) revealing a leaner physique with cuts and striations. The downside to this effect is that there is a concomitant rise in the rate of protein being burned. Where fat is robbed from the fatty tissue in the body, protein is generally robbed from the muscle. As with all catabolic hormones, in time muscle loss can and will occur. Which is why many opt to use this compound during a cycle of anabolic steroids that will help preserve the lean body mass while reducing the fat.
Among the other actions that cathecholamines have is an increase in aerobic capacity (facilitated by the easier breathing), a stimulation of the nervous system (facilitated by norepinephrine and acetylcholine release) and thus the skeletal muscle system, an increase in oxygen transportation (facilitated by the increased blood pressure) and an increase in vigil. These characteristics in turn combine to make this drug particularly interesting for athletes doing endurance sports and needing a boost. Especially in middle-long running numbers, this drug is widely abused and its no secret that in cycling circles clenbuterol in liquid form is combined with a painkiller and the drug EPO (synthetic erythropoeitin, a renal hormone) which increases the manufacture of red blood cells. It is then injected along the road, thereby avoiding positive tests prior to the race. Needless to say such a cocktail is very hazardous to the cardiovascular system. Just to demonstrate the wide use of this drug and its immense popularity among athletes, observe the US Olympic team. Exercise-induced asthma is an afflmiction that generally occurs in 3-7% of the population, and is in some rare cases treated with clenbuterol. In 2000 60% of US Olympic athletes claimed to have exercise-induced asthma and ALL of them were prescribed clenbuterol for this condition. An otherwise illegal drug, tolerated solely for this reason. And this while the Romanian gymnast Andrea Raducan was stripped of her gold medal for the 25 µg of norephedrine in her cold medicin she was taking...
In several animal studies1,2,3 Clenbuterol was also shown to act as an anabolic, believed to be able to impart muscle gains. This was never demonstrated in humans4 however, and there is more evidence that its effect on catabolic hormones invokes the opposite. In any case, the animal studies used much higher doses5 then one would safely recommend for humans. The late Dan Duchaine, by many held in high regard as a steroid guru and a former writer of the now defunct MM2K, believed it had something to do with the stimulation of a third beta receptor, which was different in humans as opposed to other mammals, and that this was the reason humans did not receive any anabolic benefits. As with most of what Dan said, this is very questionable, but one of many possible explanations in a debate that still rages on. Despite the many claims of other bodybuilders that still swear it has some form of anabolic action, I must say I've seen enough proof to the contrary to strongly advise against buying clenbuterol for promoting muscle mass. You may be more than sorely disappointed. Next time you see a 230 pound, 6 foot top-level cyclist, let me know and I may change my mind.
Clenbuterol, when used for its fat-burning properties is best used in a pyramid scheme. Slowly building up the dose may be more important that tapering off of it, as most first time users will rarely if ever know how they will react. Because of the effects on blood pressure its best to start with 20-40 µg per day and slowly work your way up increasing the dose every 3 days by 20 µg, to a maximum of 120-160 µg (most find 80 µg to be adequate). Its also best not used for long periods of time. Body homeostasis seems to negate the excitatory and inhibitive functions of clenbuterol over time, creating a complacency effect. It loses most of its nerve stimulation and fat burning benefits after 3-4 weeks, and using it longer on end would be futile. The user is best to discontinue use for an equal period of time and then recommence again.
Another thing people should be aware of is the inherent liver toxicity associated with clenbuterol use. When stacking with oral 17-alpha-alkylated steroids, accutane, anti-biotics or other hepatoxic elements, one should have his liver values checked by a licensed physician at regular points in time to avoid all problems. If you not a yellow discoloration of the skin cease use immediately and contact your doctor.
Stacking and Use:
Clenbuterol should be built up and tapered off gradually with dosage increases and decreases every 3-4 days and doses never exceeding 160 µg per day to be perfectly safe. Its mostly used for periods of 2-3 weeks then discontinued for equal periods of time to disallow the body to adapt to the effects of the drug. For fat-burning goals clenbuterol is often stacked with another fat-burning agent for quick effect, or alternated with another fat-burning agent by people who need to stay lean on a year-round basis. Usually cytomel (T3) is used for such purposes, with alternating cycles of 3 weeks each. If used together, cycles will not completely overlap, but differ slightly so as not to match the low doses with the low and the high doses with the high. A typical cycle for clenbuterol might be 3 weeks, with the daily amounts being 40/40/40/60/60/60/80/80/80/100/100/100/80/80/80/60/60/60/40/40/40 µg/day. Then stopping for three weeks and recommencing.
It's also commonly stacked with anabolic steroids. Usually non-aromatizing steroids that give the user a leaner and harder look, and allow for less water retention. They serve a main purpose of allowing the user to keep as much of his hard-earned muscle mass as he tries to shed the fat he has stocked up in the off-season with catabolic precursors such as clenbuterol. Clenbuterol is generally regarded as fairly safe6, hence its wide-spread use. It should be disadvised for all with blood pressure and/or previously diagnosed cardio-vascular problems. But most tolerate it quite well. By building up the dose over time they usually see when they've reached a dose that becomes too harsh. The use of clenbuterol will elicit higher body temperature, higher blood pressure and in some, especially at high doses, insomnia and jitters. Though these should not be nearly as pronounced with clenbuterol as they are with ephedrine and its legal counterpart ma huang. They are also easily remedied by shifting doses around so you don't take clenbuterol in the hours leading up to bedtime and most of it in pre-training phases when the drug can enhance your training vigor.
Another good match for clenbuterol in a stack is the plant derivative yohimbine Hcl. It does concern the standardized product yohimbine here and not the raw material yohimbe, which is useless. In small doses of 20-30 mg per day, it can stop the down-regulation of the noradrenaline feedback mechanisms, that usually inhibit the actions of noradrenaline by reducing receptor affinity. This has two important uses. The first is that the length of action of clenbuterol can be enhanced by a few hours when using it together with yohimbine Hcl (although it already has a considerable half-life time7 of 36 hours and one daily dose should suffice) , and the second is that concomitant use of yohimbine Hcl may allow clenbuterol to induce its fatburning aspects on a longer term than the normal 2-3 weeks, so it can be used for 5-6 weeks instead. Yohimbine Hcl is, at least for now still, a legal supplement that can be acquired for very little money from legal sources and supplement companies.
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Clomid and Nolvadex
Pharmaceutical Name: Clomiphene (as citrate)
Molecular weight of base: 405.9663
Molecular weight of ester: 192.125 (citric acid, 6 carbons)
Effective dose: 100-150 mg/day orally
Characteristics:
While practically similar compounds in structure, few people ever really consider Clomid and Nolva to be similar. Its not just a common myth in steroid circles, but even in the medical community. This misconception originates from their completely different uses. Nolvadex is most commonly used for the treatment of breast cancer in women, while clomid is generally considered a fertility aid. In bodybuilding circles, from day one, clomid has generally been used as post-cycle therapy and Nolvadex as an anti-estrogen.
But as I intend to demonstrate this is in essence the same. I believe the myth to have originated because Nolva is clearly a more powerful anti-estrogen, and the people selling clomid needed another angle to sell the stuff, so it was mostly used as a post-cycle aid. But few users really understand how clomid (and also Nolvadex, logically) works to bring back natural testosterone in the body after the conclusion of a cycle of androgenic anabolic steroids. After a cycle is over, the level of androgens in the body drop drastically. The body compensates with an overproduction of estrogen to keep steroid levels up. Estrogen as well inhibits the production of natural testosterone, and in the period between the return of natural testosterone and the end of a cycle, a lot of mass is lost. So its in everybody's best interest to bring back natural test as soon as humanly possible. Clomid and Nolvadex will reduce the post-cycle estrogen, so that a steroid deficiency is constated and the hypothalamus is stimulated to regenerate natural testosterone production in the body. That's basically how the mechanism works, nothing more, nothing less.
Both compounds are structurally alike, classified as triphenylethylenes. Nolvadex is clearly the stronger component of the two as it can achieve better results in decreasing overall estrogen with 20-40 mg a day, than clomid can in doses of 100-150 mg a day. A noteworthy difference. Triphenylethylenes are very mild estrogens that do not exert a lot, if any activity at the estrogen receptor, but are still highly attracted to it. As such they will occupy the receptor and keep it from binding estrogens. This means they do not actively work to reduce estrogen in the body like Proviron, Viratase or arimidex would (by competing for the aromatase enzyme), but that it blocks the receptor so that any estrogen in the body is basically inert, because it has no receptor to bind to.
This has advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is that when use is discontinued, the estrogen level is still the same and new problems will develop much sooner. The advantage is that it works much faster and has results sooner than with an aromatase blocker like Proviron or arimidex. Therefor, when problems such as gynocomastia occur during a cycle of steroids one will usually start 20 mg/day of Nolva or 100 mg/day of clomid straight away, in conjunction with some Proviron or arimidex. The proviron or arimidex will actively reduce estrogen while the clomid or Nolvadex will solve your ongoing problem straight away. This way, when use is discontinued there is no immediate rebound.
So which one should you use? Well personally, I'd have to say Nolvadex. Both as an on-cycle anti-estrogen and a post-cycle therapy. As an anti-estrogen its simply much stronger, demonstrated by the fact that better results are obtained with 20-40 mg than with 100-150 mg of clomid. For post-cycle, this plays a key role as well. It deactivates rebound estrogen much faster and more effective. But most importantly, Nolvadex has a direct influence on bringing back natural testosterone, where as clomid may actually have a slight negative influence. The reason being that Tamoxifen (as in Nolvadex) seems to increase the responsiveness of LH (luteinizing hormone) to GnRH (gonadtropin releasing hormone), whereas clomid seems to decrease the responsiveness a bit1.
Another noteworthy fact about Nolvadex is that it acts more potently as an estrogen in the liver. As you remember, I mentioned that clomiphene and tamoxifen are basically weak estrogens. Well, tamoxifen is apparently still quite potent in the liver. This offers us the positive benefits of this hormone in the liver, while avoiding its negative effects elsewhere in the body. As such Nolvadex can have a very positive impact on negative cholesterol levels2 in the body, and therefore too should be considered a better choice than clomid. It will not solve the problem of bad cholesterol levels during Steroid use, but will help to contain the problem to a larger degree.
Another reason why I promote the use of Nolvadex over Clomid post-cycle (as if being 3-4 times stronger and having more of a direct effect on restoring natural test wasn't enough) is because it's a lot safer. Not just because it improves lipid profiles, but also because it simply doesn't have the intrinsic side-effects that Clomid has. Clomid causes more acne for sure, but that's mainly because you need to use a 3-4 times higher dose. But Clomid seems to also affect the eyesight. Long-term clomid therapy causes irreversible changes in eyesight3 in users. Irreversible. For me that alone is reason enough to prefer Nolvadex.
Lastly, one should be aware that use of these compounds can reduce the gains made on steroids. Nolvadex more so than clomid, simply because it is stronger. Estrogen is responsible for a number of anabolic factors such as increasing growth hormone output, upgrading the androgen receptor and improving glucose utilization. This is why aromatizing steroids like testosterone are still best suited for maximum muscle gain. When reducing the estrogen levels, we therefore reduce the potential gains being made. For this reason one may opt to try clomid during a cycle instead of Nolvadex. Although I would imagine that the problem that needed solved would be of more concern, in which case Nolva remains the weapon of choice. It's a plain fact that there is a high correlation between gains and side-effects. Either you go for maximum gains and tolerate the side-effects, or you reduce the side-effects, and with it the gains. That's life, nothing is free.
Stacking and Use:
If problems of Gynocomastia or other estrogen related symptoms tend to pop up during a cycle the use of 20-30 mg of Nolvadex or 100 mg of Clomid daily should easily contain the problem, and be used until a few days after the problem subsides. For best results and the least amount of problems upon cessation it is best stacked with Proviron (50 mg) or arimidex (0.5 mg) for this duration as well. Its not advised that these products be ran concomitantly with the steroid for the entire duration of the stack, as this will reduce your gains. Instead cease the usage of anti-estrogens once the problem is contained, and should the problem resurface, simply recommence the use of the products in the same manner as described above.
Once a cycle of steroids is concluded one should always initiate a post-cycle therapy to help bring back natural testosterone as soon as possible. This will help you to retain the mass you gained. How this is done depends highly on the type of steroid used. If only orals were used, therapy should start immediately, even the last day of the stack. If short-acting esters or water-based injectables were used, therapy should commence within 4-7 days after last injection, and if long-acting esters were used then it should commence 1.5 to 2 weeks after the last injection was given. The length of the therapy will vary as well, from 3-5 weeks. The longer acting the product was, the longer therapy should be continued to make sure all suppressive factors are cleared before use of Clomid/Nolvadex is discontinued.
For best results, it is best stacked with HCG (Human Chorionic gonadotrophin), which functions as an LH analog and can help bring testicle size back up. HCG use starts the last week of a cycle, and on from there every 5-6 days (usually 1500-3000 IU) and discontinued 1.5 to weeks prior to the cessation of Nolvadex/clomid. The reason being that HCG itself is also suppressive of natural testosterone and should be out of the body before therapy is over, or it will inhibit natural testicle function. But I can not stress enough that HCG possibly plays a more important role in post-cycle therapy than clomid/Nolvadex. For Clomid and Nolvadex, doses are usually tapered down. Its best to start with 40-50 mg of Nolvadex or 150 mg of Clomid for the first week or the first two weeks, and then finish the program with 20-25 mg of Nolvadex or 100 mg of Clomid for an additional two weeks.
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Cytomel
Pharmaceutical Name: liothyronine sodium
Chemical Structure: tri-iodio-thyronine (T3)
Molecular weight of base: 650.9776
Effective Dose: 25-100 µg / day orally
Characteristics:
Cytomel is not a steroid, but more a of a cutting aid. It's a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone tri-iodio-thyronine or T3, made up of a metabolite of the amino acid tyrosine and 3 iodine ions. In the body it in turn is made from another hormone, T4, which is secreted by the thyroid under influence of the pituitary hormone TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone). If a shortage of either TSH or T4 is noted, usually doctors may opt for a replacement therapy. These days the most common prescription is synthetic T4 (synthroid), but in more severe cases of permanent thyroid dysfunction, the choice is given to Cytomel. Simply because T4 is mostly active through its conversion to T3 and T3 is 4-5 times stronger than T4 on a µg for µg basis.
In bodybuilding circles Cytomel is mostly used as fat-loss drug. Thyroid hormones are often referred to as the metabolic regulators of the body. High levels of T3 speed up the metabolism of an individual, allowing him to burn more calories and use calories more sufficiently. Generally ectopmorphic body-types have very high thyroid levels and in some cases a slight undiagnosed form of hyperthyroidism. Both hyper-and hypothyroidism can have severe consequences on an individual, such as goiters and other nasty stuff, so messing with your thyroid is not something I would advise to beginners. As with insulin, misuse of this compound can leave you dependent on exogenous T3 for the rest of your life (remember
Frank Zane?). So some caution and research is required before putting Cytomel in your body. Generally cycles should be limited to 4-6 weeks tops, I recommend 3 and alternating cycles with 3-week cycles of clenbuterol. But most importantly, to avoid a crash or a shock to the thyroid function doses need to be built up over time and tapered off again. More so for cytomel than for any other drug in existence.
In his book, Anabolics 2002, Bill Llewellyn says that Cytomel is not a drug to start off on, and that use of milder drugs like T4 (Synthroid) or triacana can help ease a person into the use of T3. I'm inclined to disagree here however. Triacana is weak compound and I find of little use. Its not easily found anymore and not cheap either. T4 is basically similar to Cytomel except that its weaker. Something that users normally compensate with higher doses and sends them down a similar lane as simply using cytomel. Agreed, cytomel is NOT a drug for beginners, but with adequate research, experience with diet and some self-control, I don't see why cytomel shouldn't be the first thyoid compound used. But for recreational users looking for a fatburner, I still suggest using clenbuterol over cytomel for all intents and purposes. Cytomel is much more powerful, but clenbuterol is a lot safer for use. The results are easier to maintain with clenbuterol as well. Negative feedback in the thyroid may decrease natural levels of T3 in the body, causing a decrease of metabolic rate after coming off a cycle of T3. That can cause
a rebound effect during which a lot of weight is gained back.
For competitive bodybuilders Cytomel is an almost unmissable aid in contest preparation, along with clenbuterol and non-aromatizing steroids such as stanazolol, trenbolone, methenolone and so forth...
Stacking and Use:
It can be stacked or alternated with clenbuterol. I usually recommend to alternate, three weeks clen with three weeks cytomel, since clen loses most of its benefits after a short period of time and using cytomel for extended time-periods will increase the risk of permanent thyroid failure. Neither drug is terribly expensive so I see no problem in this. Some opt to use them together for 3-4 weeks, and then use an over the counter ECA stack to bridge with for an equal period of time, but I'm not such a big fan of that. Which naturally doesn't mean its not effective, that's just a personal opinion. Running it for three weeks, one could choose for a schedule as follows: 25/25/25/50/50/50/75/75/75/100/100/100/75/75/75/50/50/50/25/25/25 µg/day. If taken for 4 weeks, then run each dose for 4 days, 5 weeks then each dose for 5 days and so on. It is extremely important that the doses are tapered on and off and that a cycle never exceeds 6 weeks at the most.
As far as adding products, no ancillaries are needed, but its highly recommended that this is only used when anabolic/androgenic steroids are also being used. First of all the extra free calories work with the steroids to enhance results, but also because an increased level of thyroid hormones can be extremely catabolic and the use of anabolic compounds to counter muscle loss is a requirement here.
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Danatrol
Pharmaceutical Name: Danazol, Danocrine
Chemical structure: 17alpha-Pregna-2,4-dien-20-yno[2,3-d]isoxazol-17-ol
Molecular weight of base: 337.4608
Effective dose: 200-400 mg/day
Characteristics:
With the lack of a 3-keto group, and the addition of a pentangle at the 2 and 3 positions, one could liken the structure of Danazol best to Stanozolol (Winstrol/Stromba) or Furazabol (Miotolan). But for proper understanding of this drug its best likened to Mesterolone (proviron). Its similar, but a lot less androgenic. Like mesterolone it's a steroid, but rarely regarded as such. Because of its structure its only mildly androgenic and because it binds readily in a lot of places in the body without exerting any real action, its not considered anabolic to any degree. So you can derive that the use of danazol is not that of the classic anabolic, androgenic steroid. In treatment Danazol is used as an anti-gonadotropin. Its exogenous administration gives negative feedback to the natural production of testosterone, slowing it down, but mostly it's a competitive anti-aromatase. And for that reason its sometimes employed by bodybuilders to prevent the side-effects of aromatization of certain hormones like testosterone. These side-effects include bloating through water retention, increased body-fat and gyno (growth of breast tissue in men).
I do say "sometimes" because Danazol is hard to come by these days, as is illustrated by the large number of products in the product list above that have been discontinued. On the black market too it seems the interest in this compound is relatively low, and prices considerably high. As high as 350 dollars for 100 tabs of 200 mg, and knowing the daily dose is easily 400 mg per day, that's a costly affair. That's why you won't hear much of danazol in popular literature. But in the scientific literature its still frequently used for research purposes.
Possible side-effects that can occur with use are of course very mild. Like Proviron it does not aromatize to any extent and actually prevents aromatization, and the lack of a 3-keto group amongst other things makes it a particularly poor androgen, so androgenic risk is limited. One might still note increased libido and some acne however. Perspiration, hot flashes, elevated blood pressure and liver toxicity (to a small extent, due to the high doses) can be encountered if using very high doses for extended periods of time.
Danazol may make a great alternative for Proviron, but with Proviron, arimidex, cytadren and several others available to us, the need for another mild, expensive aromatase inhibitor is limited, hence its low presence on the black market. Many governments and sports federations have also banned Danazol because of its slight androgenic effect, making things like Arimidex a much more popular choice, and selling for roughly the same on average, and those who are tied in, even a lot cheaper due to the wide-spread availability of anastrozole (Arimidex) to the underground manufacturers.
Stacking and Use:
Ideally one would stack Danazol with aromatizing steroids like nandrolone, testosterone, methandrostenolone and boldenone to limit or stop them from aromatizing, and thus eliminating or reducing estrogenic side-effects. Since its an aromatase inhibitor, it would most likely be employed for continuous use. If it was merely as a short term problem-solving measure an estrogen receptor antagonist like Clomid or Nolvadex may be handier. For these purposes a dose of 200-400 mg daily is employed. The higher end being the more common. It needs to be noted that there is a downside to blocking estrogen formation as well, because estrogen increases our gains. It is (as demonstrated in the Equipoise profile) helpful in upgrading the androgen receptor, increasing natural growth hormone output and improving glucose utilization for extra energy and a sense of well-being. These are things a user needs to be aware of. Obviously a little water retention is not a big deal or you would not have chosen an aromatizing compound to begin with, so unless you are particularly sensitive to estrogenic side-effects, keeping an estrogen receptor antagonist (Nolvadex or Clomid) handy, just in case, instead of running an aromatase inhibitor throughout, will allow you to get more mass out of a cycle.
Since Danazol is an anti-gonadotropin, the post-cycle use of Clomid or Nolvadex is required, maybe even in conjunction with a preceding HCG therapy to bring natural testosterone back, but since one would only really opt for Danazol in conjunction with suppressive aromatizing steroids, you would already be doing this anyway if you know what is good for you, so surely I'm just mentioning this for no reason (although one can never be too safe). There is no real use for other ancillaries with this compound.
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Deca-Durabolin
Pharmaceutical Name: Nandrolone / Nor-testosterone (as undecanoate)
Chemical structure: "19-Nor-4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol" or "4-Estren-17beta-ol-3-one"
Molecular weight of base: 274.4022
Molecular weight of ester: 172.2668 (Decanoic acid, 10 carbons)
Effective dose: 200-800 mg / week
Also see "Laurabolin" profile.
Characteristics:
The decanoate ester of nandrolone is generally referred to as Deca, stemming from the brand name Deca-Durabolin under which nandrolone was marketed by the Organon company. But as the reference list up above suggests there are many generic forms of this compound available. Nandrolone is perhaps the best marketed and easy to get steroid out there and it has always enjoyed an immense popularity. Its fairly accurate to state that safe for Dianabol, Deca is by far the most used steroid. The deca/d-bol stack, it is often suggested, is where the practice of stacking comes from. But what does it owe its popularity too ? Well, nandrolone has some unique qualities that make it unlike any other steroid known to man.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catdeca.jpgNandrolone is more commonly known as the base steroid 19Nor-testosterone. As this structure would indicate its like testosterone in appearance but for one small change : the absence of a carbon atom in the 19th position. This gives it a number of very distinct features. First of all it makes nandrolone a notably weaker agonist of the androgen receptor. That alone causes quite a reduction in the risk of androgenic side-effects. This is because it is the only steroid that is affected by the 5-alpha-reductase (5AR) enzyme in a way that makes it even less androgenic. Unlike testosterone which forms DHT (dihydrotestosterone) at the 5AR enzyme, a hormone 3-4 times as potent as an androgen receptor stimulator, nandrolone forms DHN (dihydronandrolone) a hormone that is even less suited than the already mild parent hormone for agonizing the androgen receptor. Those two features combined make nandrolone a very safe bet for people at risk for prostate hypertrophy, acne and aggravated male pattern hair loss. At the same time its estimated that nandrolone is 2.4 times as anabolic as testosterone1, on a gram for gram basis.
Due to the many different ways that testosterone mediates anabolism, one has to take that statement with a serious grain of salt, but it does establish nandrolone as a potent muscle builder and performance enhancer with a comparatively safe character, at least androgenically speaking. This androgenic mildness is perhaps the greatest reason for its popularity. But due to the lack of immediate anabolic activity nandrolone is rarely used alone. Its the most known and sought after product for use as a base steroid, to use in conjunction with a more androgenic specimen to enhance the results without increasing androgenic side-effects to a serious degree.
The ways in which nandrolone exerts its anabolic effects are two-fold. First of all it's a good mediator for nitrogen retention. When nitrogen retention is high, in essence it means that the cells are taking up more nitrogen than they are releasing. Why is this a good thing though? Well every amino acid has what is known as an amino-group, which contains nitrogen. When nitrogen is retained it means there is a high concentration of amino acids in a cell, which in turn positively affects the rate of protein synthesis. Since every tissue in the body is made from protein, including muscle, this means that muscle hypertrophy is facilitated. A second factor is through estrogen. While nandrolone's rate of aromatization is considerably smaller than that of testosterone, it does convert to a particularly powerful form of estrogen¹. This has been noted to increase glycogen storage, growth hormone release and upgrade the androgen receptor in some tissues. In this case it also entails agonizing of aldosterone, but more on that later.
On an interesting note, the 5-alpha-reduced versions enlighten us as to the anabolic effect of nandrolone as opposed to that of testosterone. Since nandrolone is weakened at the 5AR enzyme and testosterone becomes notably stronger at the 5AR enzyme it makes sense that testosterone would be a better anabolic mediator in tissues with a high concentration of this enzyme, and that nandrolone would be the stronger of the two in tissues with a lower count of 5AR enzyme1b. Because 5AR is not as well represented in muscle tissue it accounts for the finding that nandrolone is 2.4 times more anabolic when it comes directly to muscular hypertrophy. It also explains why its less of a risk for androgenic side-effects such as benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) and androgenetic alopecia (MPB). Both the prostate and the scalp namely have high concentrations of the 5AR enzyme.
If indeed the overall yield of estrogen is so much smaller, and so is the rate of androgen receptor stimulation, how then is nandrolone so anabolic? The common belief is through a third receptor : the progesterone receptor. It has been concluded that both nandrolone2 and several of its metabolites3,4 do indeed activate the progesterone receptor and are altered by it. On the one hand progestagenic activity decreases the estrogen receptor concentration in some tissues, it also mediates estrogenic action in other tissues5. So while estrogenic side-effects are fairly uncommon with nandrolone use alone, they can indeed occur and the implications of nandrolone's activity as a progesterone indicate these potential side-effects aren't to be solved with an aromatase inhibitor alone (like Cytadren). As long as there is estrogen in the system (indicating a possible increase of the problem when stacked with another aromatizing compound) progesterone can agonize its effects. And since progesterone receptors are found in breast tissue and have been linked to the formation of milk ducts, progestagenic activity may aggravate possibly gynocomastia. So while such problems are rare, when they occur they aren't easily treated.
It makes sense then that those particularly prone to the effects and side-effects of estrogen would take extra precaution. Blocking aromatase, considering the previous paragraph, would be a poor choice, but competitively inhibiting the estrogen receptor itself with clomiphene citrate (Clomid) or tamoxifen citrate (Nolvadex) might bring some relief since a large portion of progestagenic action is nullified if there is no circulating estrogen around, or if it is kept from being activated by the estrogen receptor. It is generally assumed that 1 mg of either every day for every 20 mg of nandrolone injected weekly is sufficient. Slightly higher doses, or the use of an aromatase inhibitor like cytadren can be stacked if nandrolone is used in conjunction with another aromatizing steroid. It has also been noted that the steroid stanozolol (Winstrol) may provide relief as it too binds to the progesterone receptor but remains unaltered by it. How strong of a competitor it is in such a case and what sort of doses would be needed are as much your guess as they are mine, so this may be non-issue. But it does bode well for the stacking of nandrolone with stanozolol in that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catst6.jpgAnother benefit of nandrolone use often reported is the pain-free workouts because nandrolone lubricates the joints. It stores a lot of water (as synovial fluid) in the joints, which eases the impact of the heavy weights handled by bodybuilders and weight lifters. One may wonder how nandrolone can do a better job at it than a steroid that aromatizes much stronger such as a testosterone ester, but its quite easily explained. One study at least goes to show that nandrolone metabolites are also aldosterone agonists6. Although we aren't entirely sure of the mechanism by which this occurs. But, while sparing you the details of this complex hormone, aldosterone has a strong function in the retention of sodium in the body. High sodium levels correlate with a high storage of water and that would explain the aforementioned effect. Of course one needs to note the implication of this of course: a bulkier frame and a certain loss of definition are not uncommon with nandrolone, perhaps more so than with testosterone.
One last note that is of critical relevance to drug tested athletes is the interaction between nandrolone and esterase. Injectable, non 17-alpha-alkylated hormones are often esterified. This means attaching an ester to a specific position on the steroid causing it to be more lipophyllic. That means it stores well in body-fat and is only slowly released into the bloodstream, giving the whole a time-released character. The more carbons an ester has the longer it will last. For the drug to become active it needs to remove its ester. When released into the bloodstream simply the suspension in H2O will solve that. But in the body-fat the ester can also be removed by the enzyme esterase. But esterase works two ways, meaning in some cases it can also attach an ester. Nandrolone is such a case.
Nandrolone with a decanoate ester is fairly long acting (10 carbons) to begin with and if on top of that a lot of the drug can be de- and re-esterified that means the substance stays active in the body for quite a long time. This has resulted in positive drug tests for the hormone nandrolone and many of its metabolites, most notably 19-Norandrosterone up to 18 months after last use of the drug. While this is a fairly known fact, the recent number of athletes (including well known soccer stars) that have tested positive for nandrolone would indicate a lot of misinformation or plain lack of information in some circles. Positive tests, with reprimands, that could have easily been avoided. So anyone subject to any form of athletic drug test should refrain from using 19-Nortestosterone (nandrolone) or any of its metabolites, that includes nor-prohormones.
For those of you looking to use nandrolone as your only steroid, be aware that the gains on nandrolone are not only mild, but also quite hard to maintain. Nandrolone, in the first place due to its combined estrogenic/progestagenic properties, is quite suppressive of the natural testosterone production. Since it actively participates at three receptors its very quick and merciless when it comes to giving negative feedback to the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone from the hypothalamus. But then one also has to take into account its affinity for esterases, making it stay active in the body significantly longer than most hormones. Because that means upon cessation of nandrolone-use you'll still be under quite suppressive conditions, there simply isn't enough intrinsic anabolism available to support the mass you gained, resulting in a rather quick and inglorious reduction of weight.
Personally, for all intents and purposes I prefer boldenone (equipoise) over nandrolone. Its also a relatively mild androgen that has no conversion at the 5AR enzyme, so its not that much more of an androgenic risk, but in all other aspects it's a much safer steroid. Doesn't have strong estrogenic effects, nor progestagenic activity. That means it doesn't cause bloat or fat gain and is much less likely to cause gyno. On the contrary, the gains from boldenone are much leaner. Its also stronger, mg for mg. It doesn't readily re-esterify and due to its lower estrogenic effects, it is not nearly as suppressive of natural testosterone either. That makes the gains not only better, qualitatively speaking, but also much easier to maintain. Also as far as purchase is concerned. Boldenone is becoming cheaper and is very widely available. The availability of Deca is dropping, but its still the most counterfeited steroid in the world. That makes it more likely that an inexperienced buyer will get scammed looking for nandrolone decanoate, than looking for boldenone undecylenate.
Stacking and Use:
Nandrolone stacks well with virtually anything. Due to its mildly aromatizing and its progestagenic activity its mostly used as a mass building compound by all but the monstrously huge. Because some water retention is a fact, one would not desire to include it in a cutting phase, especially if its one of your first cycles. Nandrolone is used in doses of 200-600 mg per week. 400 mg is the common recommendation for a somewhat experienced user, when used in conjunction with another product. Nandrolone as decanoate, as found in deca-durabolin, is a long acting ester of 10 carbons. That means 1 injection weekly will more than suffice as it has quite a long span of activity
To this effect its preferably stacked with another aromatizing compound. In the first place a long acting testosterone like cypionate, enanthate or sustanon 250. For a beginner cycle, we want to note that the testosterone compound is the most active compound and its therefore more desirable to lower the dose of nandrolone rather than the dose of testosterone. Often beginners look to start at 400 mg of nandrolone and 250 mg of testosterone. A better suggestion would be 200 mg of nandrolone and 500 mg of testosterone. Then bump the nandrolone to 400 mg.
It also makes a good match for doses of Anadrol or Dianabol, although neither compound can be used for the time-span of nandrolone decanoate due to liver toxicity. This isn't the case for a long-acting testosterone ester. Often nandrolone and test are stacked in conjunction with Anadrol or Dianabol for the first few weeks of a stack to boost gains and strength.
A nandrolone stack accompanied by stanazolol (Winstrol/Stromba) makes sense as well, especially for those who are highly prone to gyno. It's commonly accepted that stanazolol can compete for the progesterone receptor, and since nandrolone can act as a progestin, this is a wise precaution. Progesterone agonizes estrogen and while nandrolone only aromatizes slightly and cases of gyno with moderate nandrolone use is rare, when stacking it with another aromatizable compound like Dianabol or testosterone, you may not want to take the
chance.
For secondary products one needn't consider an anti-aromatase like Cytadren since one
cannot fully block all aromatase conversion and due to the enhanced estrogen activity as a result of progestagenic influence, it would serve little purpose. Using an estrogen-receptor antagonist, while not fool-proof obviously, may serve some benefit. Agonized or not, without binding to the receptor estrogen loses most of its influence. Using stanazolol and either clomid or Nolvadex during a stack with nandrolone is usually the best prescription. Post-cycle use of such substances to help HPTA recover faster and retain gains also comes highly recommended, and preferably for longer than you would with most stacks, since nandrolone stays active for a very long time.
More advanced users often consider the use of low-dose nandrolone (200 mg/week) with cutting cycles as well, which goes to prove that nandrolone really does stack with anything.
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Dianabol
Pharmaceutical Name: Methandrostenolone / methandienone
Chemical structure: 17 beta-hydroxy-17alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one
Effective dose: 15-50 mg / day orally or 50-150 mg / week by injection
Characteristics:
Dianabol was originally developed by John Ziegler and released by Ciba in 1956. It has had a long stint of popularity since then, especially in the US. Until the late 70's methandrostenolone was all the rave. Perhaps the most popular steroid ever. Known users include every Mr.Olympia from Scott to Zane. Of course the doses used have severely increased since then. Its popularity was also the cause of its demise. Almost a decade ago now the original D-bol was discontinued when the FDA drew the conclusion that its therapeutic uses were minimal compared to the amount of bodybuilders who were using it. But methandrostenolone has never been out of circulation really. Especially the Russians appeared quite fond of it and Russian D-bol is one of the best and most marketed forms of the substance methandrostenolone today.
Methandrostenolone is without a doubt one of the best, if not the best product for people who compete in non-aerobic oriented sports. It promotes drastic protein synthesis, enhances glycogenolysis (repletion of glycogen after exercise) and stimulates strength in a very direct and fast-acting way. It may be less useful to those competing in aerobic events as it also diminishes cell respiration1. But methandrostenolone manifests itself in a distinct manner : rapid and fast-acting build-up of strength and mass is noticed. That's why its often used at the beginning of cycle consisting of mostly injectables like long-acting testosterone esters and nandrolone. Since the effects of such drugs don't fully come out for the first 10-15 days, methandrostenolone is dosed in to provide immediate and visible results. It has a rather weak androgenic component and an obviously quite strong and visible anabolic component. Its effects are largely non-AR mediated, which is documented by its rather low influence on the natural endocrine system2 and the fact that it decreases rather than increases red blood cell content in the blood. Which means that one worry users of Dianabol, especially short term, needn't fear is the dramatic shutdown of natural testosterone production as is often the case with very androgenic compounds. Of course this effect is dose-dependent. It still has a mild androgenic component, meaning in high doses (30+ mg daily) androgen-mediated side-effects can be noted (acne, male pattern hair loss).
Because of its fast effects, immense popularity and the increasing "more-is-better" sentiment among bodybuilders, increasingly high doses are indeed being used and recommended. One has to wonder about the logic of such recommendations however, since high dose urine-analysis showed portions of unmetabolized compounds were being excreted3. In simpler terms that means that with higher doses, higher amounts of unchanged methandrostenolone were being excreted in the urine. This would indicate that the current stance needs to be reviewed and that smaller doses, taken multiple times per day would deliver better results and maximal use of the steroid. Dianabol simply is highly effective in low doses(25-40 mg ed). Som say Anadrol, a comparable steroid to methandrostenolone, is better, but its taken in doses of 50-150 mg. If one was to take methandrostenolone in those doses better gains could be expected. Methandrostenolone is also a lot safer in as opposed to the highly toxic and progestagenic anadrol. If one takes into account that the half-life of methandrostenolone in the body is only 3-6 hours, this theory makes even more sense. So taking your daily dose spread over 3 or 4 doses may elicit a better effect than only 1 or 2 doses. Methandrostenolone is quite effective in these lower doses by the way. Milligram for Milligram its more powerful than a testosterone ester, generally considered the best mass-builder.
A few notes there need to be made however. Not everyone should try and spread their doses out over multiple servings. First of all there is a slightly lower efficacy to take into account here as well due to two characteristics. The first being that you feed the total amount to the liver in smaller portions, yet the liver still manages to metabolize the same amount. Percentage wise that means less methandienone would make it through totally. The second would be that the peak levels aren't quite as high since no large doses are taken all at once. These two facts make it hard to recommend that just anyone take multiple doses. People who take moderate to low doses of ONLY methandrostenolone should probably opt for a single morning dose. This delivers a higher peak level and more survival of your only steroid. It also, due to the short half-life, makes the drug clear the body before the body produces its largest dose of natural testosterone, the early hours of sleep. Combined with the already mild effect at the AR, you could keep a good amount of your gains when using clomid or Nolvadex post-cycle. For those using it in conjunction with other, mostly injectable steroids, two doses seems to be the better choice, if you are taking in excess of 40 mg a day perhaps even three doses.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catst5.jpgThis is usually the case for fast-acting substances, they have short half-lives. Which brings us to the point of prolonged use. The general concensus is that methandrostenolone should never be used more than 6 weeks on end due its strong hepatoxic effects. Being largely an oral compound, its also 17-alpha-alkylated to help it survive the liver upon first pass. Liver values are elevated over a short period of time4, making long-term use a very dangerous affair. Liver values should return to normal quite fast after discontinuation however since the effects are so short-lived. Other risks associated with the use of methandrostenolone include the apparition of estrogenic side-effects because it interacts rather well with the aromatase enzyme on account of its methylated properties. It is therefore best used in conjunction with an anti-estrogen. Gynocomastia, high blood pressure, salt and water retention and mild cases of acne are therefore not uncommon.
Its methylated properties (17-methyl group) does have several positive characteristics of course. Why else would they add this group? The main purpose of course it to make sure less of the methandrostenolone is affected by hepatic breakdown when taken orally. But apparently it also decreases the affinity of the drug to SHBG (sex-hormone binding globulin), a sex steroid binding protein that takes up as much as 98% of testosterone. Testosterone that can't be used to build muscle. Since methandrostenolone does not bind to this protein easily, its quite an active substance, no doubt accounting for its fast and immediately visible action. Dianabol also does not affect cholesterol levels to a high degree in moderate doses5, and it seems to help an athlete stock up on potassium6. This is particularly beneficial taking into account the amount of sodium its estrogenic effects store as well.
We hinted at the short time of activity methandrostenolone possesses. This means that despite its immediate, fast and explosive gains in both strength and mass, they are quite hard to maintain. Often the bulk of mass is lost shortly after discontinuation, making it most unsuitable for those looking to gain and keep quality muscle. An injectable may suppress some of these obviously flawed characteristics, but the 5 mg tabs remain the trend. With its high capacity to survive breakdown in the liver this understandably. Orally its perhaps the most powerful, although in the strength of effects it still can't hold a candle to androl. But its cheaper and safer than the aforementioned of course.
In light of the evidence presented, we conclude that the best use for methandrostenolone is short-term, for 5-6 weeks, at the beginning of a longer bulking stack (10+ weeks), preferably injectable, to kickstart gains and strength. Its effects are largely non-AR mediated and it aromatizes quite well, which leaves it with limited stacking partners, The best candidates are of course nandrolone and testosterone. It should be taken in doses no higher than 50 mg (20-40 mg being the norm) ,spread over multiple doses for maximum effects in stacks and a single morning dose when taken by itself. D-bol remains a favorite today however, that's a fact that cannot be argued.
Stacking and Use:
I needn't really expand too much, since most of the conclusion were drawn in that last paragraph. Dianabol is a methylated compound with a certain toxicity, so in the interest of safety you wouldn't use it longer than 6 weeks on end, 8 weeks at the absolute maximum and only under supervision of a medical professional who can monitor your liver values. Because it heavily aromatizes its not particularly useful during cutting and with 6-8 weeks of use maximum, that leaves but two options. Either stacking it with another, injectable, compound that can be used for longer terms (beginning of stack when other compound is least active) or you would do multiple short cycles. In that case one would take off at least as long as he was on during a cycle, preferably longer. Like 6 weeks on, followed by 6-10 weeks off. These multiple cycles were all the fashion among pro bodybuilders in the 70's with very decent results.
When stacking with a longer-acting product, such as testosterone enanthate or cypionate, Deca or Equipoise, the best use is early on in the stack. Dianabol is a very fast-acting steroid and most injectables don't start showing their real value for 2-3 weeks. That makes it particularly useful to kick off a cycle with.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catdian2.jpg
The pink ones are Anabol (Dianabol) and the yellow ones are Stanabol (Winstrol).
It's most readily stacked with Deca-Durabolin or Primobolan, perhaps even Equipoise. Usually an injection of 200-400 mg/week combined with 30-40 mg of Dianabol everyday. In some cases testosterone was used in conjunction with anyone of these stacks. For short term use oral Primobolan made a good match, and in lesser ways an oral Winstrol. Both provide a mild, lean foundation for the Dianabol and both are also 17-alpha alkylated, warranting short-term use. Since Dianabol has little Androgen receptor activity, it functions particularly synergistic with compounds that have a strong Androgen receptor activity as is the case for all the aforementioned.
Along the lines of secondary products an anti-aromatase like Cytadren or Arimidex may be useful. When stacked with Deca, the choice for a receptor antagonist like Clomid or Nolvadex is perhaps a wiser choice. Perhaps even a combination of both. Dianabol aromatizes rather heavily, which means in a stack with another aromatizing compound the risk for gyno remains high and water retention is virtually a fact. Post-cycle the use of Clomid or Nolvadex can be employed to boost natural testosterone production. There is quite some circulating estrogen post-cycle that causes prolonged negative feedback, clomid or Nolvadex would solve that problem and help you retain more of your gains.
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Equipoise
Pharmaceutical Name: Boldenone (as undecylenate)
Chemical structure: 1,4-androstadiene-3-one,17b-ol
Molecular weight of base: 286.4132
Molecular weight of ester: 186.2936 (undecylic acid, 11 carbons)
Effective dose: 300-600 mg/week
Characteristics:
For something that is generally injected into cows, horses and dogs boldenone is quite a popular and well-liked drug by most bodybuilders because of its unique make-up. It possesses several characteristics that aren't found in any other substance and its use is so varied its much desired year-round. Boldenone is a decent anabolic coupled with both a mild androgenic and a mild estrogenic effect. Sort of like a weak testosterone. In structure it doesn't differ all that much from testosterone, the main anomaly being a double bond in the one position as well as the 4 position. Its nonetheless quite good at promoting gains, but mostly through a combination of androgenic potential and other media than the androgen and estrogen receptors.
The strange thing about its androgenic component is that it is mostly not mediated by a 5-alpha-reduced form, as is the case for most steroids. While it does indeed form a very potent 5AR form (dihydroboldenone, roughly 7 times as anabolic as testosterone1) its shows a very low affinity for the 5-alpha-reducatase enzyme2. This leads to the conclusion that a large part of the anabolic effect boldenone exerts is formed by the hormone itself binding to the androgen receptor. This could also be the reason its had such a successful run as a veterinary drug, because despite differences in the metabolism of species it has always produced extraordinary results.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catequi.jpg
Like most anabolic steroids it increases muscle mass over time by increasing nitrogen retention and positively influencing protein synthesis or re-synthesis. An action that is not necessarily supported by an androgenic mediator as was shown with nandrolone. What boldenone has that other steroids don't is that it indirectly supplies the necessary means for that protein synthesis because it drastically increases the appetite. Thereby facilitating the high nutritional intake (especially protein wise) needed to book the best results when using anabolic androgenic steroids. Its more of a benefit than you think as a lot of people have theorized that it is this increase that is responsible for the great results booked when using boldenone. This theory may hold its own as there is indeed not much proof of the kind of anabolic activity with boldenone that would be responsible for the elicited effect.
Its estrogenic activities are slight, but present. This has more of a positive than negative influence. The aromatisation of boldenone is too small to cause real problems and in normal doses (300-400 mg/week) problems such as gynocomastia and too much fat retention are unheard of. However small aromatisation is desirable as estrogen too mediates anabolic activity. It can be responsible for better glucose utilization3,4 (repleting lost glycogen stores after exercise) and stimulating increased growth hormone release5. But most notably estrogen is responsible for an upgrading of the androgen receptor6 allowing hormones that act on the androgen receptor to exert a larger anabolic effect. This is why hormones that are strong androgens but also aromatize heavily, like anadrol and testosterone, can put the most mass on your frame. In that aspect boldenone is perhaps the most suitable steroid because of its moderate estrogen levels that allow for the benefits, but not the side-effects of aromatization. And no doubt the perfect balance is partially responsible for stimulation of the appetite.
For athletes of sports other than strength sports or bodybuilding will also note that boldenone is quite likely the most favorable steroid for them to use as it also stimulates the release of erythropoeitin in the kidneys. Erythropoeitin is a hormone known as EPO and heavily abused among endurance athletes because it signals the body to increase the production of red blood cells (erythrocytes). Red blood cells are the carrier of oxygen in the body, meaning that a higher maximal oxygen capacity can be obtained and better performance can be achieved over longer amounts of time before lactic acid is built up, which would in turn result in cramps and a cessation of the activity at that level. In short it improves your stamina. For bodybuilders this characteristic may be useful in promoting increased vascularity.
In that aspect boldenone combined with a non-aromatizing steroid like Winstrol or Primobolan may be perfect to help you get cut and ripped while improving vascularity. The downside to that is that you really need to try hard to suppress the increased appetite. Which is why its probably a better idea to stack a somewhat larger dose of boldenone with a mass building drug like testosterone or anadrol to elicit major gains.
The negative effects of boldenone are quite limited. In the normal doses of 300-400 mg a week estrogenic side-effects are almost never noted except in those who are very succeptible to estrogen. In terms of androgenic side-effects long-term use or very intense use of boldenone can cause slight virilizing effects such as acne and increased body-hair growth. Never really a problem for men, but women considering its use on account of its moderate androgenic qualities should be aware of this.
Stacking and Use:
As an undecylenate ester, boldenone needs only be injected every week (staying active well over 4 weeks), but because the preparations come in 25 mg/ml, users most often opt for 25-50 mg every day to every other day. A use of 300-400 mg per week seems to be the normal recommendation. Its not hepatoxic to any serious degree and can therefore be used for longer cycles. The appearance of underground forms of boldenone in higher concentrations (200 mg/ml) has made it easier to inject only once a week, which is to be preffered over the multiple dosings because it has a more even release and the cumulative effect shows much sooner. Speaking of cumulative effect, the best results with boldenone are seen when a user front-loads. Usually that means he will use a high doses of 600-800 mg/week for 2 weeks and then lower that dose to the normal 300-400 mg/week for the remaining 8-10 weeks.
Boldenone is most often used for cutting. Its stacking partners for this purpose in particular are trenbolone, stanazolol and testosterone propionate. I'm no big fan of testosterone for cutting, although propionate is commonly used with great success by many users. Nonetheless I don't recommend test for cutting for beginners. Stanazolol is particularly useful in improving muscle hardness and strength while boldenone offers increased vascularity without overly aromatizing. The use of 50 mg of stanazolol every day, stacked with 300-400 mg per week of boldenone should serve the purpose of retaining gains and gaining increased definition and vascularity while shedding fat very well. Trenbolone would be a better match for those looking for moderate but very lean gains. Parabolan at 76 mg every other day for example will provide a decent increase in lean mass in combination with boldenone, without having to sacrifice shape or definition. Of course any combination of the above is an option as well. For example 300 mg of equipoise per week stacked with 76 mg of parabolan every other day and 50 mg of Winstrol every day, possibly with some test propionate at 50 mg a day.
But though rarely mentioned, I personally find boldenone the better choice for bulking. Due to its effect on vascularity it is mostly used for cutting, but if you had a drug that increased your appetite like boldenone does, would you really use it to lose weight? It makes more sense to use it in a stack with a testosterone ester like enanthate or cypionate for good gains, instead of nandrolone. Sort of as a base. It aromatizes less than nandrolone and doesn't have that pesky progestagenic effect either, and because it increases appetite it would provide you with the means to an end in terms of gaining weight. 300-400 mg a week of boldenone with 500 mg of sustanon or 500 mg of testosterone enanthate would form an incredible stack. Even for those who prefer deca, adding a small amount of boldenone will go a long way in improving appetite. But boldenone is stronger than Deca, mg for mg, as well as safer and less suppressive.
Boldenone makes a very poor match for nandrolone and methenolone though, since its very similar in action. The beauty of boldenone is that it can be an alternative for nandrolone when bulking due to its leaner results and more potent anabolic action, as well as an alternative for methenolone because while barely aromatizing its stronger than methenolone (Primobolan), gram for gram.
The use of secondary drugs is rarely required. It doesn't aromatize at a great rate so the use of anti-aromatases is rarely implemented and the use of Nolva and clomid, during a cycle, is only necessary when stacked with aromatizing steroids like testosterone. Nolvadex or Clomid may have some use in restoring natural test post-cycle, because of the long-acting ester (11 carbons) and the mild estrogenic component. Normally 4 weeks of treatment is required, starting 1.5 to 2 weeks after the last shot.
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Esiclene
Pharmaceutical Name: Formebolone
Chemical structure: 17-alpha-methyl-2-carboxaldehyde-androsta-1, 4-dien-3-one-11alpha,17b-diol
Molecular weight of base: 330.4692
Effective dose: 2-4 mg/day per muscle injected, or 50 mg/day orally
Characteristics:
Formebolone is a form of methandrostenolone (Dianabol). It has the same base structure, but with a few key alterations such as the attachment of 2-carboxaldehyde group and an 11-hydroxyl group. As with Fluoxymesteron (Halotestin) the 11-hydroxyl-group keeps the steroid from aromatizing. That means no estrogen can be formed. As we all know Methandrostenolone can form a quite potent estrogen that causes bloat and swelling, fat gain and even gyno. One would not encounter such problems with formebolone. But as we also know, methandrostenolone is largely dependent on estrogen for its gains because it is a particularly weak androgen. That makes this a relatively weak steroid, with little or no potency for growth. My best guess is that the attachment of the 2-carboxaldehyde group serves the main purpose of stabilizing the 3-keto group, in the hopes of increasing androgenic binding a little bit. The 3-keto group is after all essential to androgen receptor binding. But Methandrostenolone already has next to no affinity for the enzyme 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which removes the 3-keto group, so it's a structural change with very little use.
What the 2-carboxaldehyde group also does however, is render formebolone very irritative. And that, surprisingly, has made the injectable version of it very popular with bodybuilders. Here you have a weak steroid, with little to no inherent anabolic activity, in a vial at only 2 mg/ml. And yet it's a much sought after product by many professionals. Why? Well the irritative quality seems to provide a swelling in the injected area for a certain duration, giving the injected muscle a much fuller and bigger look. Much like that crap being used today, synthol, but then more even and more temporary. Its no secret that bodybuilders of the late 80's and early 90's loved this stuff. Its mostly reserved for professional and semi-professional bodybuilders however, because the cost on the black market was phenomenal, due to the limited availability of legitimate Esiclene. At 15 bucks per 2 ml vial sometime, a two week treatment for 2 or 3 bi-lateral muscle groups would soon run you 500-800 dollars. And obviously in competition, formebolone was never the only steroid used.
In medical circles formebolone was mostly used to treat children with a growth deficiency. The mild nature of a non-aromatizing methandrostenolone, and the absence of an estrogenic component which could stunt growth, a decent amount of success was obtained with these trials. They caused an increase in bone age, without jeopardizing the final height of these pre-pubescent and pubescent children1. This indicates a mild anabolic activity, corroborated by another study done on people with renal insufficiency2. Formebolone was capable of increasing nitrogen retention to a point where excess excreted amino acids no longer taxed the liver. But the degree of anabolic action itself, is too mild to warrant its use for performance enhancement.
The swelling usually lasted 3-4 days, and treatment often limited to the 10-14 days preceding a show. At that top level, the use of Esiclene alone could make the difference between a winner and a loser.
The oral form may offer a little bit of anti-catabolic activity, but as you can imagine, methandrostenolone without estrogen is basically like a bar without beer. Its there, but what is the point? Like methandrostenolone it comes in 5 mg tabs, and equal doses (25-40 mg/day) would elicit maybe 1/4th or 1/5th of the action of methandrostenolone. Maybe not bad for women (studies show the absence of any severe degree of virilizing properties3, further justifying the low androgenic potency), or those really prone to gyno, but basically a waste. Especially if you know the oral form is extremely hard, if not impossible to find (I have yet to come across it) and therefore it will probably cost an arm and a leg. This is one steroid best forgotten in my opionion. The injectable form however remains a very popular and welcome commodity.
Stacking and Use:
One could stack the oral form with most anything. Although its inherent weak nature and lack of estrogenic conversion would suggest its best used when cutting, and stacked with drugs that serve that purpose as well, such as stanozolol (Winstrol), Trenbolone (Finaplix), Methenolone (Primobolan) and oxandrolone (Anavar). Although its mostly a waste. Even doses of 50 mg per day would offer us little if any anabolic benefit because it's a very poor androgen. This steroid is also 17-alpha-alkylated and thus toxic to the liver. Use should never be longer than 5-6 weeks maximum to be perfectly safe. But these points are mostly moot. Even if you had the money and the resources to do this, you'd be a fool not to spend them on more effective steroids.
The injectable version is used in the final 10-14 days leading up to a contest. Usually starting with 1 ml in each muscle being treated to assess your tolerance, and then a full 2 ml (1 vial) in each muscle daily. This treatment is really only suited for deltoids, biceps, triceps, calves and hamstrings. In larger muscle groups the results may be somewhat distorted and uneven, which may cost you more points than anything in a contest. The alternative is to do multiple even shots per muscle, but then you need someone with experience to apply it everywhere evenly. It would be impossible to do that yourself. Little bit of advice, never use it on the forearms, they consist of over 20 muscles, most of them with their own fascia. You would have to inject all muscle separately to get a good effect, and poking yourself 40 times a day is not something you want to do. Also, in muscle groups that consist of different muscle or muscle bellies, make sure you inject in the same place on both sides, so you get the same part of the muscle to swell. I can only imagine how ridiculous it looks to see the biceps femoris swollen to the brink on one leg, and the semitendinosus on the other side blown out of proportion.
Swelling should subside in 3-4 days after stopping, after which injected muscle will return to its original size.
Because its so weak and exerts no real anabolic influence at any receptor, the use for alternate compounds to control side-effects is mostly obsolete.
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Finaplix
Pharmaceutical Name: trenbolone (as acetate)
Chemical structure: 17-beta-hydroxyestra-4, 9-11-trien-3-one
Molecular weight of base: 270.3706
Molecular weight of ester: 60.0524 (acetic acid, 2 carbons)
Effective dose: 40-70 mg every 2-3 days either transdermally, nasally or by injection
Also see "Parabolan" profile.
Characteristics:
AAccording to many an opinion this drug delivers the best gains, qualitatively speaking, for money. You notice two names on top of this profile, but unfortunately finaject hasn't been made in quite a while now. Since 1987. This is quite a shame. Both Finaplix and finaject are veterinary steroids and were readily and easily available for democratic prices. Finaject was an injectable and provided you could find a sterile source it was quite convenient. Now only finaplix remains as the original source of trenbolone acetate. The Ttokkyo brand trenbol75 surfaces from time to time as well, but its derived from the same material, though qualitatively not as pure. The problem with finaplix as opposed to finaject is that it comes in veterinary implant pellets, and trust me, you don't want to get one of these babies shot in your butt. So it needs to be converted to either a transdermal (often using DMSO) or an injectable. There are kits to achieve both. Trenbolone nasal sprays are gaining popularity as well.
Trenbolone acetate is rather short-acting but well liked because of its great availability and price. The alternative is the limited availability of Parabolan, a longer-acting trenbolone ester made for human use. Unfortunately certain lots only surface from time to time and they never sell cheap. They do act quite a bit longer. Parabolan (trenbolone as hexahydrobencylcarbonate) has the half-life of an enanthate meaning it requires less frequent injections. One of the major problems with finaplix however is that beginners making sterile injectable compounds isn't a wishful thing, and often leads to abscesses and infections.
The fun with Fina is that it causes small, well-maintainable and quality gains. Naturally it won't give you the sort of mass that testosterone or methandrostenolone would give, but it makes up for it by adding only quality mass (no estrogen formation, so no fat and water retention) which is quite easy to keep on your frame. In contradiction to many aromatizing steroids such as testosterone where a large portion of the gained mass is quickly lost again after discontinuation of the product.
It's also a very versatile product that can be used in a lot of different ways. One could easily stack it with testosterone, anadrol or dianabol for mass gains where the actions of trenbolone cause severe strength gains and add some quality to the mass. Since trenbolone was found to be roughly 3 to 4 times as anabolic as most testosterone esters it quite easily boosts strength over short periods of time. It acts well on the androgen receptor with as a result that it can have certain side-effects. Most notably the normal androgenic side-effects such as increased acne and a risk for prostate hypertrophy, definitely increased aggression leading to roid rage in prolonged use of high doses and in some cases an aggravation of an existing hair loss problem.
On the other hand trenbolone just as easily combines with stanozolol or methenolone for purposes of reducing body-fat. Bill Roberts recently claimed that trenbolone doesn't reduce body-fat and that nothing in the literature proves it does. But I beg to differ. Either Mr.Roberts isn't too bright or he doesn't know how to perform a medline search, since after a mere minute of searching I found a study1 that clearly documented the fat-loss aspects of trenbolone acetate. It clearly concluded (even said so in the abstract) that trenbolone does indeed reduce body-fat (as androgens do, we discuss this in our profile of Masteron), but only when not competing with circulating estrogen. This means as a fat-loss agonist, trenbolone is best used late in a cycle and only combined with non-aromatizing steroids since it competes with circulating estradiol. Body-fat percentage when cutting would drop regardless, simply because of the qualitative lean mass gain made while no extra body-fat is deposited.
And finally in doses of 50-100 mg daily, trenbolone acetate can be used just fine by itself and quite favorably. In fact for people starting out, not too concerned with the side-effects and looking solely for a quality increase in lean muscle, small doses of fina (50mg/day injectable) would be very suitable.
The mechanism by which trenbolone mediates skeletal muscle hypertrophy is diversified and not very well understood. On the one hand trenbolone is a very active agonist of the androgen receptor, as illustrated by its increasing strength and aggression at the level it does. While this is a large contributor there is evidence that it mediates muscle growth by another pathway entirely2,3, namely the increasing of satellite cell sensitivity to an increase in IGF-1 (Insulin-Like growth factor 1) and FGF (Fibroblast growth factor). This would result in a much, much greater nutrient uptake and protein synthesis and explain why trenbolone is so much more potent in building lean muscle than other non-aromatizing, AR-mediated steroids like drostanolone and mesterolone.
In fact, in veterinary cycles the androgenic hypertrophy is regarded as the strongest of any steroid, which is why instead of using aromatizing compounds to enhance mass in cattle, they now inject them with products like Revalor-S, which contains trenbolone and estradiol, to make up for the lack of estrogenic mass accrual.
The points one may wish to consider during use of Fina is the low sterility of some home-brewed concoctions along with the already relatively painful injections (high alcohol content). This can lead to multiple problems when it is injected daily. Lumps due to plentiful same-site injections, abscesses and infections caused by faulty filtering and so on. Trenbolone is not particularly toxic though. Liver values are barely elevated while using it. Though there is no evidence or explanation to support this, some users reported a certain kidney-toxicity. Blood in urine and all that. While this was no doubt the result of a fake (Finaject used to be an often faked steroid shortly after its discontinuation) but I figured I'd mention it. Other than that mild androgenic effects such as acne and an increase in hair loss are noted as well.
For those seeking to use trenbolone there are many online sources on how to make injectable, transdermal and intranasal forms if you can get your hands on fina. Some sites even sell conversion kits that make the whole even easier.
Stacking and Use:
Trenbolone is relatively safe steroid all in all. There is some concern about kidney toxicity, but usually exaggerated. The beauty of trenbolone is that its one steroid that has it all : Its highly effective in its own, provides all lean gains which are fairly easy to maintain and isn't very prone to cause side-effects. Finaplix particularly provides you with a cheap source of trenbolone as well. The problem is making the cartridges into a sterile injectable or transdermal.
A transdermal is made quite easily. Option number one is simply to get your hands on some DMSO, mix up a 50/50 mix of DMSO and water, add in the crushed up fina pellets and apply to the skin. The second is to make an alcohol carrier. You can find the necessary products at any local pharmacy and the more you buy, the cheaper it gets. All of it perfectly legal, easy to obtain since pharmacies are supplied 5 times a day and not too expensive. You need ethanol (as pure as it gets, I use SD40) and Isopropyl Myristate (IPM), a mix of isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid. Mix up 70% ethanol and 30% IPM and dissolve 50 mg per ml trenbolone in your solution. Meaning if you had a solution of half a liter (500 ml) you could add in 25 grams of trenbolone. Again, simply apply and let it dry. These methods will give you roughly 25% absorption of trenbolone.
To get the maximum it is recommended that you inject the stuff of course, but that's slightly more complex as you need to get rid of a lot of the crap they put in these cartridges. You will need sterile oil, solvent (lipophillic), 1 empty sterile container, A syringe filter, two syringes and 2 18gauge needles. Start by putting your pellets in your solvent, and let it sit. You want the pellets to become completely undone and dissolved in your fluid. This is imperative. Shake it up real good and then let it sit for 12-48 hours to let all the crap sink to the bottom. Now take one of your syringes and start transferring the fluid into the sterile oil. You can decant as well, but you really don't want any of the crud on the bottom to make it into this solution, so using the syringe and doing it slowly is the best way. Now take your empty sterile container and use a new syringe to transfer the oil. Attach a syringe filter between syringe and needle and slowly put the oil into your container, slowly filtering it. For everytime you repeat this step you need uncouple the filter/needle from the syringe, or else dirt will gather at the wrong side of the filter and get into your solution. In fact, if your container is a vial its advised that you leave the needle in the vial with the filter on it and you just use the syringe to refill and filter. This solution is now fit to be injected. Its still advised to hold the syringe with the trenbolone under some hot streaming water before injecting first though.
One may also want to note that finaplix has decent oral availability as well. In fact, because of the acetate ester its transdermal availability is less than it would be for a pure steroid, so actually its oral potential is greater than its transdermal potential. When taking oral fina, to account for the difference in availability between this and injectable, one would have to consume 240 mg ( 3 times 4 pellets) every day for 6-8 weeks. But it does work and it saves you the time and cost of making a transdermal.
Nasal sprays and sublingual forms are also popular, and while they too have some minor success, they are the worst way to go. It's a steroid, and with the added ester its even more lipophillic. Since the mucous membranes in the mouth and nose only let hydrophilic substances through, the rate of absorption is extremely limited. Usually to achieve this cyclodextrins are used, sugars that are lipophillic on the inside and can hold a steroid inside, but are hydrophilic on the outside, making the whole absorbable through these channels. But since fina does not have this and most of us do not possess the skills to make cyclodextrin complexes in our own kitchens, this is not a path one should consider.
There is little or no need to stack secondary drugs with fina. It does not aromatize. There is some concern as to fina being progestagenic, so you should you opt to stack it with an aromatizable compound it may worsen potential gynocomastia so adding winstrol or Nolvadex, or even both to such a stack may be wise. But in itself or in a non-aromatizing stack this is not necessary. The use for post-cycle estrogen antagonists is limited as well, so Nolva or clomid to boost natural test will have little use. It is a very strong androgen receptor agonist however, so perhaps using some HCG after a cycle may help you retain more gains and prevent testicular shrinkage, but since HCG does increase estrogen that does reinstate the use of Nolvadex or clomid as well.
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Halotestin
Pharmaceutical Name: Fluoxymesterone
Chemical structure: 9-alpha-fluoro-11-beta-hydroxy-17-alpha-methyl-4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol
Molecular weight of base: 336.4457
Effective dose: 20-30 mg / day orally
Characteristics:
With the exception of perhaps anadrol, Halotestin is the single most dangerous steroid to use. Its liver toxicity is unrivaled and you wouldn't be the first person to end up in the hospital with jaundice and dangerously elevated liver values after a hefty cycle of fluoxymesterone. My question has often been simply "Why?". Fluoxymesterone has a low anabolic capacity. The results in mass would be small to non-existent. Qualitatively similar gains as one would book with trenbolone, but tren would go for equal or less money, deliver three times the gains and wouldn't be half as risky to use. Therefor the sole marked use of fluoxymesterone that is actually warranted is that by power- and weightlifters seeking to boost strength while remaining in a set weight class.
In bodybuilding its used near the end of cutting cycles, since in people with an already low body-fat percentage it adds a distinct hardness and definition to the look, although, as stated, better and safer products will achieve similar effects. As with these alternatives fluoxymesterone has absolutely zero estrogenic activity and will thus not add water or fat to the frame in any way.
While a definite increase in aggressiveness and a notable rise in erythrropoesis is noticed with the use of fluoxymesterone, it has been theorized that it actually has very moderate binding to the androgen receptor. Either that or it shows a higher affinity for other receptors. The enzyme aromatase comes to mind because of the effect it has, like a DHT compound would, on muscle hardness. The latter seems like a better explanation. On the one hand there is nothing that would immediately indicate it acting on the androgen receptor, on the other there is very good likeness to other steroids that are mostly AR-mediated. Its my best guess that not all has been said about fluoxymesterone. Its not a very interesting or grateful object of study however due to the high risk and low yield of this particular steroid.
Athletes that may consider its use are endurance athletes that do not get drug tested (as it is quite easy to detect). The stimulating effect on erythropoesis (red blood cell production) and cell respiration, such an athlete would find a good use for the increase in aerobic capacity noticed for this, without adding unnecessary bodyweight to the frame he has to carry. In this aspect it may be good to note that a short cycle of Halotestin with a moderately long cycle of Equipoise may have some merit in this instance. Neither would increase water retention drastically, neither would give explosive gains. But both have positive effects on the VO2 max.
In any case, and whatever the reason of use, 4 weeks is the best duration of use, 6 weeks at the most. As stated before, many athletes, having used fluoxymesterone while not under supervision of a physician, have ended up in the hospital with life-threatening conditions.
Stacking and Use:
Halotestin is taken in mild doses (10-20 mg) every day for short periods of time, 4 weeks, 6 weeks at the very most due to its high level of toxicity. The use of anti-estrogens is not necessary since fluoxymesterone does not aromatize at all. As secondary drugs one may want to consider blood pressure medication such as catepressan to avoid hypertensive conditions. What you will definitely need is a check of liver values on a regular basis if you want to play it safe. I don't normally recommend the use of liver-protectors during a cycle as enhances liver function breaks down a greater amount of your steroid, but in this case you ought to make an exception. Milk thistle, dessicated liver, vitamin B6 and such both during and after a cycle are highly advised. There is no need for clomid of Nolvadex use after a cycle to bring back natural test.
Halotestin really only serves a purpose as a bodybuilding drug when the athlete is cutting. Probably in the late stages of a cutting cycle to promote muscle density and hardness, preserve muscle tissue and such. To that effect it may be good to use some Halotestin (20-30 mg/day) the last 4 weeks of a boldenone or methenolone cycle for example, or at the end of a stack with trenbolone. It may make a good stacking partner for stanazolol (Winstrol/Stromba) as well since they serve the same purpose. But frankly in all cases opting for a higher dose of the other drug may be a better choice, both in terms of gains and safety. Boldenone (Equipoise) being the one possible exception. Due to its toxicity Halotestin is not much sought out in stacks.
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HCG / Pregnyl
Pharmaceutical Name: Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin
Effective dose: 1500-7500 IU every 5-6 days
Characteristics:
Human chorionic gonadotrophin is a strange hormone. Its only found in the placenta of pregnant women. For women it has fairly little use if any however, but to the male athlete it has one interesting property. It can mimic the action of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the body. LH is a pituitary hormone that is released and signals the manufacture of testosterone in the testicles. The sex hormones in the body work via a negative feedback system, where too much sex hormone (like anabolic androgenic steroids and estrogens) causes a signal to the brain to stop the release of LH. During long duration cycles, if natural test stays suppressed for considerable time, a male user will begin to note an atrophy in his testicles, meaning they will visibly shrink purely out of disuse. By administering an LH-mimicking agent, one can bring back the function of the testicles and let them regain their size. This is the main use of HCG.
Since it forms testosterone in the body to some extent, it can impart certain performance enhancing properties, but usually these are not major. The side-effects accompanied with HCG use (usually androgenic such as extreme acne), its low rate of effect, the cost compared to more effective steroids and so on will mostly keep athletes from using it for that purpose. Moreover it can be tested for in athletic competitions, so most will stay clear of it. But to the steroid user HCG is an almost essential part of a cycle. Because of its effect on bringing testicle size back it can promote the return of natural testosterone, since the first natural signals can immediately deliver a higher yield of testosterone in the body. And getting natural testosterone back online after a cycle is crucial, especially if you intend to keep most of your hard-earned gains. Without adequate natural endocrine response you will not be able to maintain a mass that was higher than before.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/cathcg.jpg
The downside is that HCG too is suppressive of natural testosterone. Because it takes the place of LH. LH is not the first step in the chain of command, instead its manufactured in the pituitary under the response of Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) which is secreted from the hypothalamus. And since an LH mimicking agent is supplied exogenously, the negative feedback signal to the hypothalamus will still tell it to stop making GnRH, and so no natural LH is produced. This is why the product is always used in conjunction with a potent estrogen receptor antagonist like clomid or Nolvadex. When the androgen level in the body has dropped, these antagonists will lower estrogenic response creating a steroid deficit that signals the Hypothalamus to start making GnRH. When it does, after HCG therapy, testicle size is up again and shortly thereafter natural testosterone manufacture should return to normal. But therefore its crucial that users note that though HCG is essential after long cycles, it shouldn't be used without clomid or Nolvadex AND HCG should be discontinued at least two weeks before coming off Clomid or Nolvadex or else it will suppress natural testosterone itself.
Also important to take into account : using HCG for too long a period of time or in doses that are excessively high, can desensitize the testicles to the effect of LH and would put your right back where you started from. Basically that would mean you spent money to no avail. In terms of side-effects one should expect some androgenic signs such as acne and there is a risk for hair loss or prostate hypertrophy, but in most cases this compound will be used for 3-4 weeks, so these should not manifest themselves to any serious degree. There will also be some estrogen build-up, but since the user HAS to be on clomid or Nolvadex, this should not become apparent either. Next to this, HCG being a fertility drug, one should be aware that increased blood pressure and blood clotting can occur. HCG is clinically used to make women ovulate, or to invoke birth in pregnant women.
Stacking and Use:
You would normally opt to use HCG after you've done a long cycle, usually 8 weeks or more. Note that almost all proper cycles are 8 weeks or more in length, its just that some beginners have a phobia of needles and opt to waste their time with an all oral stack first, in which case the cycle wouldn't be longer than 6-7 weeks. In these cases too HCG can have a use, but most of the time testicular atrophy will not have progressed to such a stage that it is an absolute necessity. In any case, you should run it about 3 weeks, totaling about 4 shots. One every 5-6 days. Start off with one shot of 3000 IU somewhere in the last week of your stack, then another 3000 5 days later, then drop to 1500 5 days later and a last shot of 1500 6 days after that. Sometime after the second or third shot, therapy with Nolvadex or clomid should be commenced and continued for 4-5 weeks. How to do this, I refer you to the Nolva/clomid profile.
In any case, I'll repeat it again, since it is important. HCG IS and always will be an important part of post-cycle recovery, but it should never be run too long or at too high a dose and should always be accompanied by the use of either Clomid or Nolvadex. The use of Clomid or Nolvadex should also be continued at least 2 weeks after HCG is discontinued to avoid the HCG causing problems.
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Human Growth Hormone
Pharmaceutical Name: Somatotrophin
Effective dose: 6-12 IU/day in combination with androgens and insulin for muscle growth, 3-6 IU/day for fat loss purposes
Characteristics:
HGH is, unlike most hormones used by bodybuilders, not a steroid hormone, but a proteinaceous hormone made up of a chain of 191 amino acids. All animals have growth hormone, but each seems to be specific to the species. HGH was first isolated in the late 70's and early 80's as a biological form. The hormone was literally extracted from the pituitary of deceased individuals. As with anything extracted from carcasses this imposed a serious risk of contracting the Kreutzfeld-Jacob disease (since the late 90's best known as mad cow disease), a normally rare neural infliction that makes you spastic and can cause death over a period of no more than two weeks. Not exactly appealing. There also wasn't, understandably, much demand for such a compound on the black market. Late 80's early 90's geneticists succeeded in manufacturing a genetic form of HGH however, through a very complicated technique using mice genes and what have you not (I'm not a geneticist, don't ask me). This also seriously upped the price of the compound.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/cathuman.jpgBut around that time, mainly due to this safer form, some top-level athletes were taking an interest. With increasing drug tests making the most effective anabolics forbidden territory, a pharmaceutical race to find replacement compounds that could not be detected had begun. And since then several athletes have and are still using HGH. It's a very mythical compound, since professionals will use it in high doses and make obvious improvements, yet most recreational users seeking to try it have to settle for lower doses and get little if anything out of it in terms of lean muscle mass increases. Along with several human studies1,2 that clearly document that HGH administration offers us no benefit in this aspect, it makes one wonder. Its terribly expensive and most people seem to get nothing out of it. So is it really worth it when extremely effective steroids can be bought for the proverbial nickel and dime? I don't think so, but I'll get back to that later.
So what is GH useful for? Well first of all its effects on reducing body-fat have been well-documented. Daily doses of 3 to 6 IU injected subcutaneous have actually been shown to spot reduce body-fat mass and have, at least for some athletes, proven invaluable in contest preparation time. This dose, for short periods of time, may be somewhat affordable to a truly dedicated athlete. But one can still wonder if it is really worth it. GH has also been shown to elicit extremely positive effects on erythropoeisis3, the manufacture of red blood cells. The administration of GH in older athletes with a strong decline in GH levels has shown a severe improvement in endurance. Since levels of GH decline by half every decade, a person of 60 has roughly 15-20% of the GH he had at age twenty. So HGH is especially beneficial to older athletes regarding the effects on endurance. But just how effective superdosing HGH in younger top athletes is, no one really knows. It would be virtually undetectable as well, so no doubt this has been experimented with.
Now in regards to muscle mass, I've yet to see anything prove the contrary of what the studies I provided claimed. I've not seen HGH increase muscle mass at all. Then again, I've never seen anyone use 10-12 IU per day the way some top level professionals do. Some claim that HGH can cause hyperplasia rather than hypertrophy. Hypertrophy is the growth of muscle cells, hyperplasia is the division and thus multiplication of cells. The theory goes that this does not increase size immediately, but in due time, due to the increase in the amount of cells, when they all do hypertrophy under the influence of steroids and insulin, the result will be much greater. Of course one side-effects of HGH is that it seems to increase the size of everything, including bones (which gives very ugly protrusions in people who have no growth left in them) and intestines (which explains the incredible increase in gut size of professional bodybuilders, despite low body-fat percentages). Now these side-effects alone would allow for several pounds increase. Stack that with 3 grams per week of testosterone and an equal dose of other steroids, some insulin, lots of rest and 8000 calorie diets, and I really don't see how much the HGH contributed in creating the muscle-weight these athletes have. I mean amateur and recreational users top 260 pounds, fairly lean using 1 gram of test and 1 gram of other drugs per week, maybe some insulin. It seems to me at least that HGH is a royal waste of money. Even if it did contribute 3 or 4 pounds, is it worth a habit of 150 dollars per day? Not in my book.
In short, HGH may provide many benefits, but will rarely be worth the money. Top-level competitors, especially those subject to drug tests may find this to be worth it to give themselves and edge, most will not. HGH is a very effective compound with a lot to offer, but currently not really worth the money you'd pay for it. It is getting cheaper (In Europe the popular thing now is the 36 IU Genetonorm, selling for 50-60 bucks) but until manufacturing becomes more cost-effective, chances of prices reaching sane levels any time soon are not that high. What has been an interesting observation is the re-appearance of the old biological form. While all commercial forms had been discontinued, underground versions of the biological form have resurfaced. Previously despised, the chants of the top competitors claiming HGH is the holy grail of performance, many amateurs will now risk using this crude version to get some of that benefit for a cheaper price. Even if it means they have a high chance of dieing one of the most terrible deaths known to man. It's a funny world, eh?
Stacking and Use:
For the best results HGH should be stacked with any number of compounds. If at all possible the use of a serious steroid cycle, cytomel (T3) and insulin should be used. Not only do these promote the best results with HGH, HGH will allow for better results with them. It promotes the release if IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor I) in the liver, which is an extremely anabolic hormone. In conjunction with insulin it will therefore promote extreme nutrient retention in the muscle cells, providing the perfect anabolic environment. Cytomel seems to give it a great deal to work with. Metabolism is increased, together they form a great fat-loss combo, but more nutrients now become available as well. Along with the nitrogen/protein retention of some strong anabolic steroids this should provide very good overall results. But one can't mistake HGH as some form of miracle cure. Its no better than these other compounds, and it won't turn the cycle into a miracle of muscle growth either. Some would think this because of the incredible cost, but nothing of the sort is true. It has equal use, it just costs a hell of a lot more. Which is my main reason in stating its simply not worth what you get out of it.
For all intents and purposes of increasing endurance and performance to some level, 3 to 6 IU will suffice. The same for most fat loss purposes. HGH has a very short half-life (30-45 minutes or so) and should be injected at least once daily, maybe twice daily if at all possible. For possibly more anabolic results due to its effects on freeing nutrients and increasing IGF-1 levels, 10-12 IU per day are needed for an extended period of time (10-15 weeks), usually in conjunction with other anabolic compounds. Its interesting to note that in your choice of anabolic, an aromatizing compound like testosterone should be given preference since estrogen has positive benefits on HGH as well.
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Insulin
Effective dose: 5-15 IU/ day
Characteristics:
Insulin is not an androgen, or a steroid for that matter. Insulin is a proteinaceous hormone that is secreted from the pancreas, mostly in response to high sugar levels. It's a polypeptide made from 51 amino acids, separated in an A and B chain by a sulfide bridge (Covalent bond). Its main use is to regulate blood sugar levels. If blood sugar levels are too high insulin is released, which stores more glucose in the cells as the polysaccharide glycogen, the prime energy source in the human body. This alone makes it a valuable hormone. But it also increases the uptake of other compounds into the cell. This includes protein. Since anabolic steroids increase protein synthesis, and we eat lots of protein, the only thing missing in that system is a way to get the amino acids to where the protein is synthesized. Insulin can do that. Its interesting to note that insulin does not have a direct negative feedback system like steroids do. When blood sugar levels drop, cells simply become more resistant to the insulin and don't receive as much of an impulse to store glycogen as they would at first. This is important, as it will have certain implications.
Insulin was designed for diabetics, a disease marked by one characteristic : too much blood sugar due to an insulin deficiency. There are two types of diabetics, but this is irrelevant to the discussion at hand. As with anabolic androgenic steroids, taking endogenous insulin will shut down natural pancreatic secretion action. This is not as easily solved as with steroids, where production eventually bounces back. Warning number 1 : Insulin use can, and in the long run will, make you a life-time diabetic. Keep that in mind before you decide that insulin might be for you. On the one hand this is a good way to get a discount maybe, on the other hand, injecting daily for the rest of your life is not a pleasant outlook. On second thought scratch that, there is no positive side as insulin is available freely without prescription at a fairly low cost. This is because when a diabetic does not get his insulin in time it may be fatal. When a diabetic goes into seizure you don't want to waste time going to a doctor to quickly obtain a prescription. By then its too late. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catinsu.jpg
There are three types of non-prescription insulin. Fast-acting, which is mostly used, known as Humulin-R. Then there is an intermediate form (Humulin-N or Humulin-L) which can last almost three times as long, which means up to a day. And lastly there is the Humulin-U, which stays active for longer. Particularly useful for diabetics who may forget their shots, as it stays active longer than a day. There is also a really fast-acting form called Humalog, but this is only available via prescription since it's the most easily abused and the Humulin-R suffices for most diabetics. Humulin-R is the compound most used by the way because it's the shortest acting form. Yes, that's a good thing. In fact it's a very good thing. When administering supra-physiological doses of insulin, more glucose is stored as glycogen resulting in a lower blood sugar level. When your blood sugar level is too low, its called hypoglycemia and it can cause you to go into shock and die. Warning number 2 : If proper protocol for using insulin is not followed, you can die. This has two definite implications. First of all it explains why you want the short-acting form. Blood sugar levels need to be monitored over the active time, so you obviously don't want it to stay active for 24 hours or longer. The second implication is that obviously sugar has to be taken with the insulin to prevent hypoglycemia and sugar needs to be kept on hand for the entire duration of activity, which is 6-8 hours. If dizziness or weakness occurs, more sugar has to be taken. This will be discussed in the how to use section.
Initially, doses of insulin will make you leaner as you store more carbs that would otherwise be stored as fat. But as people will tell you, it eventually has a tendency to make you fat. As indicated earlier, there is no negative feedback, but cells develop a resistance to insulin, in which case circulating excess carbs will be processed as adipose tissue. And if you know what's good for you, you will have circulating extra carbs.
Stacking and Use:
Insulin is obviously best stacked with some form of anabolic androgenic steroid. Its mostly added to stacks including the extremely expensive human growth hormone.
Its proper use entails a single shot once a day of a short-acting compound. Usually Humulin-R, unless Humalog can be obtained. Its best used after a training session, when the body already has a tendency to store more carbs and protein. Although some people prefer other times of day. The standard protocol suggests the use of 1 IU per 20 pounds of bodyweight, but you would do best to start out at a lower dose like 2-4 IU and then work your way up a bit, until you feel you are taking enough. As doses increase, so does the amount of sugar that is ingested with them. Again a standard of 10 grams per IU is given, but I would recommend a dose of 150 grams regardless of the amount as long as it is below 15 IU's, if it is higher then add 10 grams for every IU. Since the compound stays active for 6-8 hours, hypoglycemia can occur at any moment during this time span. So consuming carbs during this time is advised, and at the very least keep a large amount of them handy, so you can act quickly. Dizziness, weakness and feeling sleepy are all pretty indicative of the onset of hypoglycemia and a good sign that you should take another good dose of sugar.
The carb source suggested here should be glucose (dextrose). This is basically blood sugar and will absorb the fastest, minimizing the risk as opposed to other carbs. Mix 150 grams in water and consume within 20 minutes of the injection and keep a glass with another 150 grams handy. If you finish the glass, immediately prepare another until the insulin has cleared the blood.
Again a reminder of the high risk involved with insulin. It can make you a life-long diabetic and in the worst case, it can kill you. I strongly advise against the use of insulin compounds. Should you not heed my warning, follow the protocol to the letter. One slip could mean your life.
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Lasix
Pharmaceutical Name: Furosemide
Chemical structure: 4,17beta-Dihydroxyestr-4-en-3-one
Effective dose: 20-60 mg/day
Characteristics:
Furosemide is the most powerful and most widely used diuretic drug in the world. The injectable version is fast-acting, and dries someone out like prune. Its used in the medical field, mostly in the emergency room, to purge people who have ingested large doses of toxins, hoping that the toxins can be excreted before they enter the system and so avoiding worse problems. It also makes a good shock treatment for people who are admitted with dangerously high blood pressure. Its very multi-functional, but its also a very dangerous drug. It signals the body to immediately excrete both intracellular and extracellular water, and with it the key electrolytes sodium and potassium. This can lead to severe problems. Muscle contraction is based on the exchange of electrolytes. That means in first instance an electrolyte imbalance can causing cramping and other irregularities in muscle contraction. Now if its only a calf or a bicep, no harm done in the long run. But when its your heart muscle, that's another story. In 1985 professional bodybuilder Mohammed "Momo" Benazziza fell dead after winning a Grand Prix, the cause of death was believed to be his pre-contest use of the diuretic Lasix.
In most sports diuretics are used to lose small amounts of weight in a hurt. If you compete in weight classes and need to drop a pound in an hour, lasix will do the trick for you. Cleans the water from your body and you are lighter. If you have a match the next day, you are probably heavier again, so a major advantage. In bodybuilding the use of diuretics is for another reason entirely. The aim is after all to show as much muscle as possible, and to show as much definition and striation within that muscle. Unfortunately even at the dangerously low body-fat percentages bodybuilders compete at, a lot of that definition may still be hidden under layers of subcutaneous water. By using diuretics, that water can be shed and the maximum potential of a physique can be retained. In many cases, the levels of water retained by an athlete has made the difference between doing very well and doing very poorly. And the differences in the water household between the pre-judging of a contest and the evening show have sometimes made the difference between several placings. So diuretics have become an integral part of bodybuilding over the last 20 years.
Furosemide comes in oral tablets of 20 and 40 mg and in an injectable form. The injectable is the most potent. Its injected intravenously, as opposed to most steroids which are injected intramuscularly. It can become active in a matter of minutes and has a drastic effect. But as described previously, also a very dangerous one. The orals will usually take 60-90 minutes to kick in, but have a fairly drastic effect themselves. Furosemide is without a doubt the most potent diuretic in the world. An athlete will rarely opt to take more than 40 mg daily, and only in the last 4 or 5 days leading up to a show. The Injectable version is only used pre-contest, especially if there is testing. Testing for diuretics has become very popular in bodybuilding of late, and that has driven more athletes to wait until after taking their piss, and then inject some Lasix to get rid of the last bit of water. Needless to say this is a reckless practice. If a stronger effect is required, athletes are more likely to opt for adding another, milder diuretic like spironolactone (Aldactone), instead of increasing the dosage of lasix. There are a number of combination diuretics like Lasilactone that enjoy great popularity in the sports sector. Usually they near the potency of using twice as much lasix, but with much less hazard.
Stacking and Use:
Since its so harmful and potentially lifethreatening, furosemide should only be used the last 4-7 days leading up to a contest, with around 20 mg a day, 40 mg at the very most. If a stronger effect is needed, additioning a milder diuretic is advised. 50 mg of spironolactone or hydrochlorthiazide, which are potassium sparing diuretics, will usually do the trick. Adding a potassium supplement to furosemide is wise, 1500-3000 mg daily normally. This keeps electrolytes somewhat in balance and helps prevent the worst of side effects such as nausea, dizziness and cramping. There isn't much use for ancillary drugs with furosemide otherwise. Its an anti-hypertensive in itself, so it could offer relief after a dieting period with ephedrine, clenbuterol and high dose androgens. One should always take care to replenish his water and salt intake after use is discontinued.
Many users will note a very distinct bloating after discontinuing the product, sometimes to the point where everyday movement is near impossible. During the use of this product extremely heavy and painful cramps can occur, as well as Diarrhea, dehydration, dry mouth, dizziness and nausea.
If the injectable is used, make sure its out of necessity. Otherwise I would caution you to stay away from it. If you do, a small amount injected into a vein will have an impact within minutes. Make sure you addition some potassium to it immediately, and have someone watching your back at all times. Keeping a shot of epinephrine handy just in case is not being overly cautious.
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Laurabolin
Pharmaceutical Name: Nandrolone / Nor-testosterone (as Laurate)
Chemical structure: 19-Nor-4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol" or "4-Estren-17beta-ol-3-one
Molecular weight of base: 274.4022
Molecular weight of ester: 200.3204 (Lauric acid, 12 carbons)
Effective dose: 200-800 mg / week
Characteristics:
Laurabolin is an alternate form of nandrolone. It's a good substitute if Deca Durabolin is not available and you absolutely must have nandrolone. The main difference here is the length of the ester. A laurate ester, as in laurabolin, has 12 carbons as opposed to the 10 carbon decanoate ester that Deca Durabolin has. That makes it slightly longer acting. But you would still want to use weekly injections for all intents and purposes, so its basically interchangeable with Deca. The only product truly of interest is Loeffler's Laudrol LA. While Loeffler is the least reputable company on the list, it's the only one that makes Laurabolin in a decent concentration. The 25 and 50 mg/ml versions are really not interesting as they require weekly, single-day injection of 8-16 ml. Not a pleasant or wishful experience in anyway. As with Deca in the same concentration, its rarely if ever used. That's why Deca, which comes in 100 and 200 mg/ml as well, has more popularity than Laurabolin and a more wide-spread availability.
One plus of Laurabolin, because its less popular, is the reduced chance of getting scammed. Most of the crooks who fake steroids will opt to fake Deca because its in higher demand. And since everyone knows Laurabolin is mostly 25 and 50 mg/ml, there wouldn't be an interest in it either. Same with Deca in low concentrations. Nonetheless, if you wanted to be sure of not buying a fake when shopping for Deca, I would tell you to go with the lower concentrations. Although of late I'm more inclined to tell you to forget about nandrolone altogether and opt for Boldenone instead. Not only because its equally available and you have less chance of getting scammed, but also because boldenone is safer estrogenically, has no progestagenic action, provides lean muscle growth, does not bloat you up, is not as suppressive of natural testosterone, is stronger mg for mg and overall a much better and safer steroid. Like I said, this is mostly a product for the old-school vets that absolutely must have nandrolone (old myths die hard).
Since the base compound is nandrolone, you can count on some serious bloating. Nandrolone's androgenic component is mild, but it has a progestagenic binding that allows it to worsen estrogenic effects. Water retention being one of them. Its also a potent aldosterone agonist, and one of the actions of this hormone is to store more sodium. Increased sodium storage means increased water retention. So bloating is something you can pretty much expect. The estrogenic/progestagenic component also makes it a verifiable risk for fat gain and Gyno (growth of breast tissue in men). Because of the progestagenic component, aromatase inhibitors like arimidex, cytadren and proviron are fairly useless at countering the side-effects.
Its estrogenic effects combined with the fact that nandrolone readily re-esterifies in the body makes it have some additional problems. First of all on the suppression of natural sex hormones. Natural testosterone is shut down during the use of anabolic steroids, and the idea is to get it to come back online as soon as possible after a cycle so you can maintain most of the mass you gained. Because nandrolone 'lingers' in the body for quite some time and is a tad estrogenic, it tends to suppress the natural endocrine system much longer. With Laurabolin, who's ester is even longer acting, this problem may be even more pronounced. Even with the use of HCG and Nolvadex or Clomid, problems of this nature can arise. That means extensive post-cycle recovery (7-10 weeks) periods and a high chance of losing a lot of the mass you gained. The second problem is the detection time. Nandrolone can be detected in the body 18 months after last use, and word has it the new batch of tests will be able to detect almost 2 years after last use. People subject to random drug testing for anabolic steroids will find any nandrolone particularly unsuited for that purpose alone. Someone should tell all these idiot pro athletes getting busted for nandrolone use lately. You would think people at that level would be more informed.
Of course its not all bad. Nandrolone owes its popularity to its mild androgenic nature. While being a decent enough androgen itself, it does not convert to a more androgenic specimen in androgen responsive tissue such as prostate, skin and scalp. On the contrary. As opposed to testosterone which can form the 3-4 times more potent androgen DHT in these tissues, nandrolone will form DHN, a compound that is several times LESS androgenic. That makes nandrolone one of the safest steroids androgenically speaking, and a very low risk for hair loss and prostate hypertrophy. But still, boldenone makes a nice substitution, because it can rival nandrolone in this aspect. It doesn't have any conversion at the 5AR enzyme whatsoever and keeps its initial potency in all tissues.
Stacking and Use:
Like Deca Durabolin, Laurabolin too is mostly used as a base compound for bulking stacks. Because of its low androgenic nature it allows a user to increase his gains without having to risk more androgenic risk associated with stronger compounds. The best match for it would be a long acting testosterone like sustanon 250, enanthate or cypionate. Augmenting your dose of testosterone with a dose of Laurabolin that is roughly 80% of that dose. So if you would use 500 mg of testosterone, stack it with 400 mg of Laurabolin weekly. It also makes a good match in stacks with daily doses of Dianabol (methandrostenolone) or Anadrol (oxymetholone). The addition of either testosterone or Proviron (mesterolone) is highly recommended, because nandrolone seems to have an extreme suppressive effect on the libido. The term Deca dick is often used here, where temporary impotence or a severe loss of sexual interest can occur. Testosterone or Proviron can somewhat counter this problem.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catsteroids.htm
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Aldactone (Spironolactone)
Pharmaceutical Name: Spironolactone
Chemical structure: 17-hydroxy-7alpha-mercapto-3-oxo-17alpha- pregn-4-ene-21-carboxylic acid gamma-lactone acetate
Molecular weight of base: 416.5744
Effective dose: 75-150 mg/day orally
Characteristics:
I myself was actually surprised to learn that spironolactone IS in fact a steroid. A testosterone derivative no less. But its not an anabolic, androgenic steroid. Spironolactone is used mostly as a diuretic. Because it inhibits aldosterone production it has a diminishing effect on water retention. Aldosterone is the hormone that regulates the amount of water a body stores, by increasing or decreasing electrolyte counts, such as the amount of sodium in the blood. Through its regulation of aldosterone, spironolactone can signal your body to release water. This is particularly useful to those in the modeling business, and to competitive bodybuilders. Lowering water retention can increase muscle definition, and make for a better showing. Athletes competing in weight classes are particularly fond of diuretics as well, because shedding a few pounds of water allows them to compete in their designated weight class, without having to sacrifice muscle tissue or go through the rigors of diet in order to lose fat.
In medical settings spironolactone can be used as a diuretic when toxins have been ingested, but for those things most physicians will opt for more drastic measures, such as intravenous injections of a more potent diuretic such as lasix (furosemide). Its very popular as an anti-hypertensive drug, since its aldosterone inhibiting effects will lower sodium retention and lower blood pressure that way. For these instances most physicians will actually prefer spironolactone or some type of combination diuretic, because its known as a potassium sparing diuretic. Some heavier diuretics will reduce intra-cellular water as well, and ravage the body's potassium stores. This can result in life-threatening conditions. Mohammed Benazziza fell to his death after his electrolyte balance was thrown out of whack by the use of intra-venous lasix. Since spironolactone has no such effect on potassium levels you do not need to supplement extra potassium or worry about your electrolyte balances. In fact, using more than 2 grams of potassium per day can be equally hazardous, whereas with lasix one would almost have to get 2-3 grams of potassium, additionally, per day.
Lately a lot of research has been done on using spironolactone as an anti-androgen. Since most competitors will use a diuretic for no more than 5-10 days, this needn't really concern us. It has also raised a lot of questions about whether or not spironolactone can therefore have a use for us in preventing hair loss, acne1 and prostate hypertrophy2, the most frequent of androgenic side-effects. So I would like to answer these questions here. The studies do indeed show that spironolactone can remedy some androgen-mediated conditions, and does so through other means than finasteride (proscar). Finasteride blocks the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which converts dehydro steroids to their more androgenic dihydro forms. Like converting testosterone to DHT. But the majority of steroids used, especially when cutting, are already dihydro forms and finasteride has no use, since the 5-alpha reductase enzyme no longer has effect on the androgenic potency. But spironolactone has been shown to work through other pathways3. Its steran nucleus would suggest that it binds the androgen receptor itself, but is not potent enough to, or structurally incapable of (I would opt for the latter) activating it. Its effect on androgens would comparable to the effect that clomid or Nolvadex would have on estrogens.
So what's the final verdict? It may have some use in reducing androgenic side-effects, but only because it blocks the androgen receptor. That means for every bit of side-effects you block, you will lose an equal amount of gains. That also mean to completely eliminate side-effects, you would completely eliminate gains, and might as well not take steroids at all, instead of wasting money on two products that cancel each other out. In short there is no way of preventing side-effects completely, and those people who fear side-effects more than they want gains, should still stay away from steroids altogether. Either you want the gains bad enough, or you don't. If you don't then don't touch the stuff. If you do, then you come to terms with the risk of side-effects.
That doesn't mean the anti-androgenic properties of spironolactone are completely useless to use. Using them post-cycle can be very effective. The aim is to get testosterone back online as soon as possible, and that means eliminating negative feedback. From estrogen first of all, through the help of clomid or Nolvadex, but also by eliminating negative feedback from androgens, and here spironolactone can help. Running it alongside HCG and then to the end of Nolvadex/Clomid treatment. The result is less side-effects from the HCG (acne, water retention), a synergistic effect with the Clomid/Nolvadex to reduce water retention and it stops the continuation of side-effects. Many times users of androgenic steroids will notice that hair loss continues or even starts after a cycle is done, especially with long acting injectable esters. That's too much, we don't have to tolerate more side-effects than what we need for optimal gains after all. And the spironolactone can prevent androgenic side-effects from continuing after the cycle is over.
Women too may find the anti-androgenic properties useful. When using steroids and virilizing symptoms start showing, using 50-75 mg of spironolactone can lessen the effect and allow a female to finish her cycle. And its especially useful for those gung ho women who use long acting androgens against better judgment, as even simply discontinuing the product will not stop side-effects. So spironolactone may come in handy.
Needless to say, spironolactone does not provide us with a get-out-of-jail-free card against androgenic side-effects. As long as you are making gains on any type of androgen, the risk for these side-effects remains nonetheless. But it can help us control them post-cycle. Also take care to note that aldosterone inhibitors and other types of diuretics have their own set of side-effects. Most notably cramping. Sodium and potassium, the two electrolytes most affected by diuretics, are essential to muscle contraction because without them, no proper action potential is formed in the neural cells that activate the muscle. As a result severe cramping can occur, sometimes to a point where training becomes near impossible. Diarrhea, dehydration, anxiety and weakness are also frequently associated with the use of diuretics.
Stacking and Use:
For contest preparation purposes, a competitor would use 75-150 mg of aldactone per day for the 5-10 days leading up to a competition. A single early morning dose would suffice in this instance. The higher the dose, the greater the effect (though still mild, as aldactone is a relatively mild diuretic) but also the greater the chance of muscle loss on your diet, because of the anti-androgenic properties. To use it as a post-cycle recovery agent, 50-100 mg per day starting 1 to 1.5 weeks after your last shot of a long acting androgen, and running it until the end of post-cycle therapy (usually 4-5 weeks after) would provide you with the benefits of shedding water and promoting the return of natural testosterone alike. The use of ancillaries is relatively useless here, because it acts as an anti-androgen, counters bloating and water retention and is used as an anti-hypertensive. So the common steroid side-effects are of no concern with the use of spironolactone.
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Anabolicum Vister
Pharmaceutical Name: Quinbolone (ether included in chemical structure)
Chemical structure: 17beta-(1-Cyclopenten-1-yloxy)-1,4-androstadiene-3-one,17b-ol
Molecular weight of base: 286.4132
Molecular weight of base: 352.5156 (cyclopentenyl ether, 5 carbons)
Effective dose: 10-20 caps per day (100-200 mg)
Characteristics:
Anabolicum Vister is innovative, and yet a dinosaur. Its technology is similar to that of andriol, in that its an attempt at a non-toxic oral anabolic. But its alas no longer in existence. It was discontinued some time ago now, and I doubt many people in the illegal circuit really noticed. It was successful in the same manner andriol was, it was indeed a non-toxic oral. It used a similar delivery system, but instead of a long ester, it used an ether attachment at the 17-alpha position to increase its lipophillicity. It was then sealed in a oil-filled capsule. The idea behind it being that the oil could be absorbed by the lymphatic system and thus by-pass the liver and avoid being broken down that way. That would reduce the need for a 17-alpha-alkylated structure that could damage the liver. The lymphatic system is a system of veins and arteries that ONLY absorb water. Or rather re-absorb water. When blood is delivered to tissues, only 85% of the fluid is recovered. If this process was allowed to continue, we would all swell up and explode. So the lymphatic system is called upon to remove the excess water and carry it to a place called the angulus venosus, where two large veins meet right before they empty out into the heart. But in the digestive tract, the lymphatic system also transports fats, which is why the lymph fluid in that area is particularly troubled. With a system such as that of Anabolicum Vister, the oil inside the cap (which is a fat) would easily be absorbed into the lymphatic system, avoid liver breakdown and be introduced directly into the bloodstream. Attaching the ether to make the molecule, in this case a boldenone molecule, more fat-loving allows it to stay suspended in the oil, and the whole should be absorbed and delivered. That's the theory behind a non-toxic oral.
But as was illustrated with andriol, the system didn't exactly work. It showed highly variable results, not just from person to person, but from day to day. Blood levels jumped up and down and in some people it seemed as if most of the time it didn't work at all, which basically meant instead of importing quinbolone (boldenone+ether) into the blood, you were feeding boldenone to the liver. Therefor effective doses of this steroid were quite high. If you know that each cap has 10 mg of quinbolone (which is maybe 8 mg of boldenone) and you need to take 100-200 mg to see a notable effect, then you know what you are dealing with. Especially since boldenone has a fairly high oral activity of its own, so 200 mg per day orally would do the trick regardless. In light of the cost and it being the only alternative, I think most people sucked it up and just took shots of boldenone instead. And so this nonetheless innovative steroid died a very unglorious death. Today very few people even really know it ever existed.
What is truly remarkable about this drug is its name. Quinbolone. It was given a new name while its basically just boldenone with an ether attached. Normally new names are only given when permanent structural changes are made, such as 17-alpha-alkylation. So its understandable that one would name a 17-alpha-alkylated boldenone methandrostenolone (D-bol) because the structural change is permanent, and all its metabolites will be altered in the same way and the drug will have different interactions with structures inside the organism. But not so for ethers and esters. They are usually broken off once they enter the blood leaving only the base steroid, in this case boldenone. I mean, Equipoise is still boldenone undecylenate, it isn't given a new name because the alteration is not structural or permanent. But Anabolicum Vister is called quinbolone because of its ether. Perhaps someone felt that boldenone cyclopentenyl was too hard to remember.
This is a particularly safe steroid. Androgenically boldenone is quite mild, and has little or no interaction with the 5AR enzyme1, so it doesn't form a more androgenic metabolite. Estrogenically it has only half the potency of testosterone, and unlike the other oral boldenone, methandrostenolone, it doesn't have a structural alteration that makes it form a more potent estrogen. So its particularly weak estrogenic as well. Since it's a non 17-alpha-alkylated oral, its in and out of the body in no time and no a serious threat to endocrine recovery after a cycle and the list goes on. So certainly the Parke Davis company succeeded in creating a safe anabolic steroid. Unfortunately it wasn't very effective. And definitely not cost-effective. This drug can now be considered completely extinct. Its no longer manufactured and hasn't been around for quite some time. Is it a shame ? Well, the bodybuilding community didn't feel it was, it barely even noticed it existed. Perhaps its discontinuance is a sign that no anabolic steroid can survive on the market without adequate interest from illicit users.
Stacking and Use:
As a particularly safe steroid in all aspects, quinbolone could easily be used with any other product, and unlike most orals, for extended periods of time. For perfomance enhancement I sincerely doubt anyone would think of using it by itself. Its somewhat weak, and having to take at least 10 caps per day didn't make it likely you would invest your funds in even more weak and expensive stuff. While 20-25 caps a day could easily mimic the effects of 300-400 mg/week of boldenone undecylenate injections, how many people do cycles of only 300-400 mg/week boldenone undecylenate ? Adding 10-15 caps per day to a cutting stack with trenbolone, winstrol and/or proviron for example could offer some benefit. Mild anti-catabolic properties and such, increased appetite and perhaps even some added vascularity, as these are properties of boldenone. For those seeking to gain mass however, quinbolone wasn't very useful.
What one needs to note about using this product (although since it no longer exists, this doesn't really matter) is that the daily doses need to be split up over the day. 3 or 4 doses. Unlike with 17-alpha-alkylated steroids which could exert influence way beyond their half-life time of 3-5 hours, quinbolone does not have this benefit, and its influence would be limited to its half-life time. Therefore, to keep levels somewhat constant, one needs to use multiple doses. With methandrostenolone, oxandrolone, stanozolol, oxymetholone, mesterolone, norethandrolone, methyltestosterone, etc, a single dose per day would suffice, but for things like Anabolicum Vister or Andriol, multiple doses are a must for proper effect.
The use of ancillary products with Anabolicum Vister is not required, due to its mild nature. Some Nolvadex or Clomid after the cycle may help to keep gains and bring back natural testosterone, but I wouldn't go digging deeper than that. Although because its almost essential to stack it for good results, you will probably need to addition other products to control the rest of your stack.
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Anadrol
Pharmaceutical Name: Oxymetholone
Chemical structure: 17 beta-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethylene-17alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstan-3-one
Molecular weight of base: 332.482
Effective dose: 50-150 mg / day orally
Characteristics:
Oxymetholone is without a doubt the strongest and most visibly active steroid to date. Not only does it act very rapidly, it causes a virtual explosion of mass. Gains of up to 10 pounds in 2 weeks are not uncommon. This is largely due to a moderate to low androgenic effect combined with a high anabolic activity also mediated by non-AR mechanisms (mechanisms other than simply binding the androgen receptor). You can imagine that the gains made on oxymetholone aren't the leanest. You would note a drastic smoothing out of the muscle due to estrogen-related fat (lipolysis) and water retention. This lipolysis has been shown to be rather drastic. One study1 on long-term hemodialysis patients showed beyond a doubt the role that oxymetholone can play in causing hyperlipedemia. The fat deposition rate, post-hepatic (after processing by the liver), increased drastically in the oxymetholone group while numbers remained stable in the control group.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catanadrol.jpgIt has been suggested that the estrogenic effects of oxymetholone may not be as much mediated by estrogen, as by oxymetholone itself activating the estrogen receptor. Because there is little to no aromatisation off oxymetholone, the possible progestational effect was examined first. Similar to that of nandrolone perhaps. But a study2 testing the progestational effects of oxymetholone and methandrostenolone against those of testosterone as well as nandrolone and its metabolites showed that the progestagenic activity of oxymetholone wasn't even in the neighbourhood of that of testosterone, let alone nandrolone. Ruling out the possibility of progestagenic activity and aromatisation, that only left oxymetholone engaging in a structure with the estrogen receptor itself. Since it has an A-ring similar to that of estradiol (the prime estrogen) so this would be the most logical explanation. Since progesterone acts as an estrogen agonist, it would require circulating estrogen to negotiate such levels of water build-up as oxymetholone causes, so it seemed like a far-fetched idea to begin with.
The water component resulting from oxymetholone use is not be under-estimated either. The benefit of water retention is of course a lubrication of the joints, allowing the comfort of pain-free workouts even with extremely heavy weights, as well as the retention of more nutrients inside the cell, possibly leading to more permanent growth in muscle tissue. The downside to a massive water retention is that it gives you a rather puffed up look. A look not uncommon in off-season competitive bodybuilders and the heaviest classes of powerlifters. With the estrogen increase of course comes the increased risk of more side-effects such as gynocomastia (growth of breast tissue in men). Therefore its always advised that a cycle of oxymetholone is accompanied by the use of an anti-estrogen such as Nolvadex. Nolvadex, keeping in mind that aromatase enzyme is not involved, would be the wiser choice as it blocks the receptor for estrogen rather than the aromatase enzyme. Its wise to note as well that the gains from oxymetholone are largely mediated by estrogen, so reducing estrogen may reduce results as well.
Because it is mild androgen as well as a potent estrogen, blood volume is increased. Androgens raise the red blood cells (although this has been shown to happen through a mechanism other than erythropoesis3) to improve aerobic performance while estrogens increase the white blood cells in an attempt to stimulate the immunity. Couple that increase in blood cells to an increase in water and you get a serious increase in blood volume. This effect has been known to result in magnificent pumps for the users of oxymetholone products. The synthesis of extra erythrocytes (Red blood cells) also increases stamina and performance (this effect is largely negated by the larger estrogenic component. Oxymetholone is not a good product for athletes). Together with the unbelievable strength effect of oxymetholone's water retention that makes for some incredible workouts. On a side note, these characteristics make for anadrol's popular use in treating anemia.
The use of oxymetholone should be strict and brief. While it is no doubt the strongest steroid, quantitatively, its also by far the most hazardous steroid to your health. Apart from the great risk of common steroid-related side-effects (acne vulgaris, benign prostate hypertrophy, gynocomastia and androgenetic alopecia), it also has numerous other side-effects. Most notable is oxymetholone's hepatoxicity (damaging to the liver) : Its standard 17-alpha-alkylated as with most oral steroids, resulting in an inavoidable raise in liver transaminase enzyme counts. The most frequent of the hepatoxic effects is jaundice4 (yellow coloration of the skin) due to an oxymetholone induced increase in biliburine, but others include peliosis hepatis and formation of hepatic tumors (cancer). And that's not all. There is also a number of intrinsic side-effects noted with the use of this steroid. Headaches, stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, insomnia and diarrhea are among common afflictions associated with oxymetholone use.
This is the reason why only strict doses of oxymetholone are used , often only 1-2 tabs of 50 mg. The general rule of thumb is to use 0.5 or 0.6 mg per pound of bodyweight, most likely putting you in the 100-150 mg range. Because of the negative effects on the liver, its often not used for more than a two or three weeks. The results are fast, but also fleeting and therapy is usually continued with another aromatizable compound, most likely a long acting testosterone like Sustanon or testosterone enanthate. The Anabolic Review also warns that under no circumstances should oxymetholone use exceed 6 weeks. When using oxymetholone, or any oral 17-alpha-alkylated steroid for that matter, one should always consult a physician on a frequent basis and get your liver values checked. Its not that oxymetholone is necessarily more toxic to the liver, but rather that much higher doses are needed than with other oral steroids, so the relative risk increases as well.
Other notes I should mention about this compound are that oxymetholone's androgenic qualities are not linked to a 5-alpha reduced form. As a matter of fact it shows rather poor interaction with the 5AR enzyme, making it futile to treat a possible increase in hair loss with 5-alpha reductase-blocking products such as finasteride. Its androgenic component stems from the fact that oxymetholone is very much like Dihydrotestosterone were it not for the added 2-hydroxymethylene group. Since this group can be metabolically removed, that would leave methyl-DHT. A compound with a weaker affinity for the androgen receptor than straight DHT, but more active and with less affinity for the DHT-reducing enzyme 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Ultimately resulting in much stronger, instead of weaker androgenic effects than compounds that are actively 5-alpha reduced. This evens out largely, because the distribution is even across the body, where 5-alpha-reduction usually concentrates more potent androgenic forms in androgen responsive tissue such as skin and scalp.
The effect on the blood pressure is rather drastic, so its recommend that you use a anti-hypertensive drug in conjunction, especially if you already have a fairly high blood pressure. Here too the care and control of a physician is advised. Because of the HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis) suppressive nature, the use of Clomid or Nolvadex and HCG is advised as well towards the end of your oxymetholone use. Lastly, oxymetholone also has an ill effect on the glucose tolerance5, causing borderline diabetic situations. Something to be weary of if you yourself have been diagnosed with similar problems already.
In conclusion one can safely state that the negative effects on the system associated with the use of this hormone are rather drastic and that the use is therefore not recommended for beginners, women or people who have pre-existing afflictions. Nonetheless Anadrol remains a popular steroid among experienced users to kick-start a steroid cycle because of its magnificent increases in strength and size. Most people who have used oxymetholone with great success have no problem calling it the strongest and most reliable steroid available today. A somewhat surprising remark however, since Methandrostenolone can produce similar results with half or a third of the doses normally used with oxymetholone and with less side-effects. So personally I would recommend methandrostenolone over oxymethelone, as its clearly stronger, milligram fro milligram. Oxymetholone remains a strong and favorable compound however, despite its side-effects. Its effects may also be slightly more explosive than those of methandrostenolone and therefore people seeking strength may give it an edge over the former.
A lot of oxymetholone products were discontinued in the early 90's due to the high rate of side-effects, making them rather uninteresting. The renewed interest came when it was being effectively used in the treatment of the wasting disease AIDS, sparking a comeback. Nonetheless users should note that the original 50 mg Anadrol50 was taken over by Unimed. The original Anadrol50 by Syntex is no longer made or found. There has also been a surge of legit underground compounds such as the Ttokkyo oxymetolona 50. So be careful and do your homework when looking for Oxymetholone.
Stacking and Use:
Anadrol is an oral only compound and is 17-alpha alkylated with a methylgroup to allow for a higher yield when having to traverse the liver, as with most oral compounds. As such it has a good degree of hepatoxicity and should not be used for longer than 6 weeks on end and it is highly recommended that you get your liver values checked regularly. Because of its long activity and poor affinity (due the the 17AA) good results can be obtained with a single daily dose, so spreading your doses out is an option but is anything but necessary. A single dose of 50-100 mg every day is recommended, but doses as high as 150 or 200 are used by experienced bodybuilders as well. Due to its rapid action and high toxicity, its mostly used to kickstart a longer injectable cycle in the first 3-5 weeks of that cycle. It will add a lot of mass and strength on immediately, getting you through the low-result beginning of an injectable cycle. Its use is thus very similar to that of Dianabol, but with the latter being slightly more versatile.
As such it makes a good match early in a stack with you standard testosterone/nandrolone stacks, with boldenone (equipoise) and methenolone (primobolan) as well. Since it has a high intrinsic affinity for the estrogen receptor and next to no intrinsic affinity for the androgen receptor I doubt anyone would contemplate using this for cutting. To even out the massive water retention one might choose to stack it with trenbolone (finaplix/parabolan) or stanazolol (Winstrol/Stromba) but never for the purpose of looking lean. Anadrol, like Dianabol, may also be one of the few orals that has real merit when using it alone. Although the gains are often hard, near impossible to keep afterwards.
In terms of secondary drugs, I wish I had a lot to recommend here, but really there isn't much to be helped with oxymetholone. Even with liver protection it would still do serious damage and with every bit of added protection, the efficacy rate of oxymetholone would go down. As for estrogen maintenance, Nolvadex being the strongest of estrogen receptor antagonists comes highly recommended and preferably in higher than normal doses, 30-40 mg, as its oxymetholone itself that is the culprit and not its aromatized form. On the other hand, we need to take into account that more than half of Anadrol's anabolic action stems from this estrogenic action as well. So its sort of trading less side-effects for gains. One thing that is advised is blood pressure medication as extreme hypertension has been noted. And I'll say it
a third and last time, its best to get regular liver check-ups when taking Anadrol.
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Andriol
Pharmaceutical Name: Testosterone (as Undecanoate)
Chemical structure: androsta-4-en-3-one,17b-ol
Molecular weight of base: 288.429
Molecular weight of ester: 186.2936 (undecanoic acid, 11 carbons)
Effective dose: 8-16 caps/day orally
Characteristics:
Andriol is a fairly recently developed steroid. A new attempt at making an orally available testosterone, the first since the very unpopular methyl-testosterone. The delivery system used for andriol is quite novel in itself and shows a lot of promise. If it weren't for a few quirks I'm sure this delivery method could have caught on fast. The crude methyl-testosterone was the first of many oral steroids delivered by way of a 17-alpha-methyl alteration to the base compound. Apart from changing the affinity for a lot a structures, making a steroid with completely different characteristics, the main problem here was that it invoked a level of hepatoxicity. Often minor, sometimes severe (anadrol, Halotestin). This meant that treatment could not be continued for extended periods of time in complete safety. The demand for an oral steroid that can be used for lengthy treatment has been high since the very beginning. First of all its never easy for a doctor to sell his patients on injection protocols (many fear or at least dislike needles) and for the doctor too it would be easier if the patient could take a pill than to have him come back every other week for an injection. So the pressure was on to create a steroid that wouldn't require a 17-alpha-methyl alteration.
The answer was to seek a new way of delivery, that bypassed the liver, so that no alteration was needed to protect the steroid from being deactivated in the liver. That way was found in lymphatic absorption. As with many paths of uptake, this one too is very specific and limited. The lymphatic system is a series of heavily filtered channels intended for the resorption of water. When blood is delivered to a tissue through the arterial system, it is depleted of oxygen and nutrients, and then lead back to the heart by the venous system. Unfortunately only about 85% of the fluid is readily re-absorbed. That means 15% stays behind in the tissue and if that process where to continue day and night, we'd all swell up like Marshmallow man and explode in less than a week. That's why, inside tissues, there is another extended capillary system other than the cardiovascular one. The lymphatic system. This has the sole purpose of draining water from tissue. This is why it mostly only transports water. Its also heavily filtered by lymph nodes throughout the body that will remove almost everything, because the system is easily accessible and if not properly filtered a virus or cancer cell could easily spread throughout the body in this manner. But in the digestive tract it seems the lymph system makes an exception. Lymph fluid is usually clear (since its pure water), but in this area its troubled. That's because it appears to absorb oils and fats as well.
Steroids are made from the prime storage of fat in the body, cholesterol. So there is a definite possibility here. And the lymphatic system, for 75-80%, empties itself in the major duct (ductus thoracicus), which in turn empties itself in the angulus venosus, where the vena jugularis interna (internal jugular vein) and the vena subclavia (vein below the collarbone) meet, right before they enter the heart through a common vein. That means, without having to pass the liver, these fats can be delivered straight to the heart. Now the question is, if indeed it was readily absorbed by the lymphatic system, why alter a steroid at all to survive the liver ? Obviously it doesn't get through to any great extent. That's because it absorbs only actual fats. This carrier therefore targets the solution of the steroid in an oil, so that it will be absorbed with the oil. It also seeks to make the compound more lipophillic so solution is more complete and permanent. As we also learned from injectable steroids, the way to make a compound more lipophillic is by attaching an ester. The longer the ester is, the more lipophillic it makes the steroid. In this case they opted for an undecanoate ester, which has a length of 11 carbons, the longest ester used to date.
In this case we are talking about a testosterone undecanoate. It is dissolved in a type of sterile oil and then sealed inside a cap. As a whole, the dissolved steroid is then easily absorbed by the lymphatic system, prior to passing the liver, and delivered with ease to the heart where it is then sent out across the body. The system itself is ingenious and in theory perfect. Maximal delivery and no hepatoxicity. A potent steroid capable of being used for long treatments. However (I'm sure you saw that one coming) in practice things don't always turn out the way they appear in theory. In studies1 done on both men and women, andriol was shown to be a mild and inconsistent steroid at best. Mild is a problem that is easily solved with higher doses, but inconsistent is another story entirely. It seems that the amount that was delivered and the peak levels of testosterone in the blood as well as the length of activity, differed not only from person to person, but from day to day. That means a different person, from day to day, will get very varying levels of testosterone in the blood. And the differences were not minor.
One subject may have a peak level of 5 ng/mmol while another can have in excess of 50 ng/mmol. What's worse, the same person may get these levels on different days. In terms of its anabolic (ie non-medical) use, that means doses of 8-16 caps per day are being used. That's more than most will inject per week of the shorter cypionate and enanthate esters. Normally 1 cap delivers 40 mg of testosterone undecanoate. An ester releases the steroid in the blood, leaving us with approximately 25 mg of testosterone per cap (it's a long and heavy ester). That's 200-400 mg per day being used, and andriol being as novel as it is, isn't cheap or easy to come by. That makes it, at best, just as uninteresting as methyl-testosterone.
As far as the properties of this steroid go, like a propionate ester or a suspension injection, levels of testosterone, DHT and estrogen are easy to control, which makes this steroid a possibility for use during any time of the year, whether the athlete be cutting or bulking. The water retention is less notable than with longer esters, and if too high is easily controlled with Proviron or Nolvadex. Its pure testosterone, so if delivered in high enough doses, for reasons previously stated, it is of course a good mass builder with all the characteristics of testosterone. No more no less. It is of course a safe (to the liver), controllable oral steroid that can be used for extended periods of time, which does spark the interest of some, but anybody serious about gains will usually find andriol a very poor buy. Great invention for the medical world, but of little to no interest to the serious athlete.
Stacking and Use:
Andriol doesn't have that many uses. When utilized in doses of 8-16 caps per day are used and it can obviously be stacked with most any other steroid. Water retention problems that are common with testosterone are usually controllable enough to warrant use even during cutting phases, and even if not Proviron can be added to maximize its potential. The use of ancillaries is generally not required as its very mild to begin with and most problems can be solved by discontinuing use or lowering the dose. The usual anti-estrogens can be used, but generally with the cost of andriol for what little it does makes it less appealing to invest in the likes of Nolvadex or arimidex.
Caps are best spread out throughout the day. Most oral steroids have a 17-alpha-methyl alteration that changes affinity and binding of the steroid, so that a single dose is usually enough. With andriol delivery is swift, peak doses high, but the steroid never outlasts its half-life of 3-5 hours. So it should be taken in three equal doses throughout the day, preferably with meals as lymphatic absorption is promoted in the presence of bile and other secretions in the GI tract.
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Anavar
Pharmaceutical Name: Oxandrolone (OXA)
Chemical Structure: 5 alpha-androstan-2-oxa-17 alpha-methyl-17 beta-ol-3-one
Molecular Weight Of Base: 306.4442
Effective Dose: 20-40 mg/day for men, 10-15 mg/day for women
Characteristics:
AAn intrinsically weak steroid with a high price-tag and low availability, oxandrolone owes its large popularity due to its safety. In sharp contrast to oxymetholone, oxandrolone is quite generally considered to be the safest of all steroids. Its effects are more than well-documented and have been for a few decades now. The medical community values oxandrolone as a safe alternative for more harmful steroids, which is why it is considered safe for use in children and even in patients suffering hepa-toxicity as the result of alternate steroid use1.
It's most noted medical use has been in the expediting of wound healing2,3 often practically applied to the treatment of burns 4,5,6. But recently its gaining popularity again as a means of keeping weight on HIV-infected patients suffering from wasting due to the immuno-deficiency virus. It was also considered safe for use in prepubescent children with a growth delay7. No major harmful effects were noted from this particular therapy, eventhough one study8 reported that the use of oxandrolone did speed up the onset of puberty in these children. Furthermore oxandrolone has found frequent applications in the treatment of other wasting symptoms for hepatitis and cancer as well as the treatment of osteoporosis in both men and women of all ages.
Oxandrolone was introduced in the year 1964, when Searle came out with the original Anavar. It quickly became the popular drug in the sports crowd for people looking for a safer alternative to the major steroid at the time, Dianabol (methandrostenolone). It remained one of the best-sellers for well over 2 decades until it was indefinitely discontinued in the year 1989. Much to the regret of the recreational bodybuilding and powerlifting community. The prices have remained high for the little stock that remained available. The only brand readily found was oxandrolone SPA, manufactured in Milano, Italy. That is, until 1995 when its use in the treatment of the then vastly spreading immuno-deficiency disease AIDS9 sparked the interest of BTG, a US-based company who came out with Oxandrin. The first widely available oxandrolone product since Anavar production was stopped.
The main reasons for the wide-spread use of oxandrolone in sports is because it is very appealing to female athletes as well as male athletes. It causes little or no virilization properties, demonstrated by its medical uses to treat women. This is rather surprising since oxandrolone does not aromatize either. It's the only steroid that is both safe and convenient without producing excess estrogen. That makes it particularly useful when cutting up for a contest or preventing an increase in body-fat due to estrogenic effects. In fact the main use of oxandrolone to a bodybuilder is in the maintenance of lean mass while reducing body-fat. Oxandrolone itself may not actually reduce body-fat, but it too plays a key role in the process. Like most non-aromatizing compounds it has a repressing effect on the appetite making it easier for the user to control cravings and stay strict with his diet.
Oxandrolone also has little effect on the body's own natural hormone production. The negative feedback was found to be very minor, meaning that during short term use no suppression of Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, start of natural testosterone production) was noted. This meant that whatever gains made, as little as they may have been, were very easily maintained post-cycle. So there was also no use for products like Clomid or Nolvadex in conjunction with oxandrolone consumption. The easy to maintain low gains would indicate a low binding to the androgen receptor. While not extremely high, it should actually be noted that it does have quite decent binding to the androgen receptor. But the reason for its mild effects is quite likely the low dose used. Rarely if ever are doses higher than 20 mg used on a daily basis. Either because of convenience or due to the high price. But comparing that the doses of other steroids this is remarkably low. So its only logical the gains and side-effects aren't particularly notable.
Of course a bodybuilder has limited use for a compound that is both a weak androgen in the doses mostly used and doesn't aromatize since no mentionable effect on mass can be produced to satisfy the chemically enhanced athlete. Therefor it is best noted that oxandrolone is most popular with power- and weightlifters to enhance strength without increasing bodyweight. This is valued highly since strength athletes often compete in weight-classes. Oxandrolone does not increase strength through androgenic stimulation, at least not primarily. It stimulates the formation of phosphocreatine, a body compound that can replenish ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) , the main energy currency of the living organism. This gives an incredible increase in short term anaerobic performance, the type needed for explosive action such as sprinting and lifting weight.
For bodybuilders the best results are seen when stacking oxandrolone with a highly androgenic compound. Either during a mass stack with aromatizable products to boost strength a little more, or in conjunction with a non-estrogenic compound. This is most beneficial since it can maintain lean mass, decrease appetite, improve sharpness of the muscle and keep strength levels up without giving increased androgenic risk (acne, prostate hypertrophy, hair loss) when stacked with pure androgens (stanozolol, drostanolone). For those looking for safe maintenance of muscle mass a stack of Anavar with Primobolan is not a bad investment (but a big investment). The common use of oxandrolone is estimated, at 0.125 mg per pound of bodyweight. For men it should be closer to 0.2 mg per pound, for women 0.08 mg per pound per day.
The downsides to oxandrolone are minor. The worst problem by far is the poor availability and high price. But it has to be noted that, eventhough oxandrolone is nowhere near Halotestin or anadrol in hepa-toxicity, it too is a 17-alpha-alkylated substance that can cause liver damage if used for long periods on end. Other common side-effects include headaches, loss of libido, diarrhea and dizziness.
The conclusion to follow these paragraphs is of course that oxandrolone is understandably still a popular and very versatile steroid, much desired by both experienced athletes and novice users because of its many properties. While few will say this is the best or their favorite steroid, you won't find many that will have anything negative to say about it either.
Stacking and Use:
Because of its mild nature and the low doses generally used with oxandrolone there is very little use for secondary compounds like anti-aromatase drugs, estrogen receptor antagonists or blood pressure medication. That in itself may somewhat make up for the high cost and little gains made on it.
In stacks Anavar is sometimes used to increase strength or help maintain it during mass phases. Oxandrolone obviously has very little to add in terms of mass compared to the other substances used to obtain such goals. It fades in comparison to test, Deca, Anadrol, D-bol and such. Nonetheless it is added quite often, perhaps because people assume it will make the overall stack less hazardous, but that's a myth of course. Frankly I would imagine there are better and cheaper things to waste your money on if mass is what you seek.
On a cutting phase oxandrolone makes a good match for 120-140 mcg of clenbuterol daily stacked with something in the nature of Halotestin or Winstrol. The combination improves muscle hardness and striation as well as support mass and strength retention. Experienced users would preferably add testosterone propionate or Equipoise no doubt, rather than Halotestin or Winstrol due to less hazard to the liver associated with those two drugs, especially Halotestin.
Mostly it is used for decent strength gains without gaining too much weight, particularly suited for weight- and powerlifters and martial artists. In that aspect, and in my humble opinion, Winstrol would be a good choice for a stack. 50 mg of Winstrol every day to every other day stacked with 30-40 mg of oxandrolone daily would give a very good result in overall strength enhancement without adding a mentionable amount of weight to the frame.
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Arimidex (Anastrozole)
Pharmaceutical Name: Anastrozole
Effective dose: 0.5 to 1 mg / day orally
Characteristics:
Arimidex seems to have somewhat become the holy grail of anti-estrogens. Due to its limited availability, high price and extreme effectiveness, its become a much desired product on the black market. The compound anastrozole is indeed a revolution in the treatment of breast cancers. It's a new generation of aromatase blocker. Up until recently the main product for this purpose was the androgenic steroid Mesterolone (Proviron). But the problem here was that Proviron was not particularly strong and in the required doses of 50 to 100 mg per day, androgenic side-effects were not uncommon. Proviron is after all a DHT derivative. It could also never be used longer than the cycle lasted, because to some extent (despite readily being deactivated) it was suppressive of natural testosterone production. Anastrozole seems to do the job more efficiently. In clinical trials a single tab daily proved to have a profound effect. In steroid circles, mostly due to the high cost, experimentation with half and quarter tabs proved it to be almost unbelievably strong. So much, that really half a tab per day suffices for most users.
Anastrozole operates by blocking the aromatase enzyme, the primary enzyme for the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. A steroid that is altered by this enzyme is referred to as an aromatizing steroid, and such steroids can cause estrogen build-up. This has several potential side-effects such as water retention, fat gain and lets not forget gynocomastia (the growth of breast tissue in men). To prevent such effects anti-aromatase products can be used. Often times during a cycle most will want to allow for some estrogen, since it heavily promotes strength and gains as well (increases GH, upgrades the androgen receptor, improves glucose utilization). These people will generally opt for an estrogen receptor antagonist such as Nolvadex (tamoxifen) or Clomid (Clomiphene). These products do not stop the formation of estrogen, but stop the estrogen from exerting its effects by competitively taking up the receptors for this hormone. This allows them to stop any problems dead in their tracks, acting very fast, but upon discontinuation allowing for immediate influx of estrogen again as well. This has the benefit that they can be used as soon as problems arise, and discontinued when they subside, thereby only reducing estrogen-mediated gains for the time-span of the occurring problem (mostly gyno). Aromatase blockers like arimidex and proviron on the other hand are more useful for those seeking to eliminate estrogen from a cycle of aromatizable steroids all together. People who are willing to settle for slower gains, in an attempt to stay lean throughout, or for those who are truly sensitive to estrogen and do not want to take the risk of problems occurring. And arimidex is the clear weapon of choice here, at least to those who can afford it.
Things one needs to note while using arimidex is that the benefits of estrogen become non-existent as well. First of all that means gains can be drastically reduced. They will be leaner and more qualitative, but they will nonetheless be seriously reduced. A second problem is that estrogen seems to have a positive effect on cholesterol levels. Since estrogen is reduced, the use of arimidex may have a profound impact on HDL to LDL ratio's in your cholesterol profile. In this aspect the use of Nolvadex is more user-friendly, because despite its anti-estrogenic effects in most tissues, it seems to exert positive estrogenic effects in the liver and promote a better cholesterol profile.
Lastly, the major problem with arimidex is the cost. I've seen people who were willing to fork over 250 dollars for a 28 tablet box of legit arimidex. That's the price of fame. Of course these prices are rididculous, but most people don't really know where to look. I've found the generic anastrozole tabs for as low as 2.2 dollars per tab, which is less than half the average street price. So it all comes down to shopping around a bit. Its not that anastrozole is that expensive to make, just that its patented. Which means that besides legit arimidex, all versions in existence are generics. This also means they could be slightly off on content or impure, if trustworthy at all. So be sure to check this with someone who has tried them or had them tested before buying a generic. The liquidex sells legit for not that much more, Around 3 to 4 bucks per gram and is generally a good buy as well, although content may be off. Since few will be investing in this to mess around with low doses and will generally opt to take 1 mg a day (1/4 cc), this shouldn't be a problem. The anastrozole powder is a real buy at merely 2-3 dollars per mg, but obviously no one will ship that for less than 100 mg orders.
Stacking and Use:
As mentioned, arimidex is an ancillary that is supposed to be stacked with aromatizing steroids in order to stop all formation of estrogen. Its seemingly very potent, so doses of 0.5 to 1 mg are enough. Some claim that 0.25 mg is enough, but for anyone doing any sort of serious cycle, I would not advise less than 0.5. These steroids are, without exception testosterone, nandrolone, norethandrolone, boldenone and methandrostenolone. And all of their derivatives as well. The drug oxymetholone (anadrol) has estrogenic effects as well, but they seem to be the result of oxymetholone's acidic A-ring activating the estrogen receptor by itself, rather than by conversion to estrogen. So Nolvadex would be more advisable in that case. To understand the whole story, I refer you to my profile on Anadrol.
Although it does block gains, aromatase blockers are generally used for the extent or a certain duration on a cycle, whereas receptor antagonists are used mostly to solve problems. Because it takes some time for an aromatase blocker to take effect (even when aromatase is blocked, there is still a level of circulating estrogen) and again some time to bring estrogen back upon discontinuation (new estrogen needs to be made again), acute problems are best solved with Nolvadex or clomid. When an aromatase blocker is used, Arimidex is the best choice by far. Proviron may be more apt when using with testosterone, due to its other characteristics and positive benefits on testosterone, but for all other intents and purpose arimidex should be preferred in these instances.
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Cheque Drops
Pharmaceutical Name: Mibolerone
Chemical structure: 7-alpha, 17-alpha-dimethyl-19Nor-androst-4-en-3-one,17b-ol
Molecular weight of base: 302.4558
Effective dose: A few drops per day, taken sublingually
Characteristics:
This is without a doubt THE most powerful steroid that was ever commercially marketed. Its androgenic potency is slightly less than that of methyltrienolone, but it can still aromatize, adding the benefits of estrogen as well. Unfortunately the only product it was ever marketed as never fully exploited the potential of this drug. It was delivered in microgram amounts in liquid droppers, the intent being to add a few drops to the food of female dogs in heat to keep them under control. Human athletes used a few drops under the tongue before a sporting event or training to increase their aggression levels, but noted little or no anabolic effect from this drug because it was so lowly dosed. Not that there was much room for high doses, because even in these low amounts using it longer than 2 or 3 weeks on end seemed to seriously compromise your liver. Just to demonstrate quite how toxic the compound mibolerone was to humans.
If it was free and safe to use orally, just 5 mg per day would probably give you more anabolic effect than a high-dose stack of several of the strongest products out there. It wasn't that far in potency from methyltrienolone. It possessed the same androgenic binding of trenbolone, even more so because its affinity for binding structures was even more reduced due to its 17-alpha-alkylation. But unlike methyltrienolone, it still allowed for aromatization to testosterone, enhanced by the progestagenic effect that all 19nor compounds seem to possess, which only further enhanced the extreme anabolic effect of mibolerone. Unfortunately because of its 17-alpha-alkylation it also rivaled methyltrienolone (metribolone) in liver toxicity, making it completely unsafe to even use 5 mg a day without killing yourself short term. A much better choice in that regard would have been trestolone (MENT), which is the same as Mibolerone but doesn't possess the toxic 17-alpha-methyl group. Sadly enough, MENT was never commercially marketed despite its well documented use as a male contraceptive (same for Mibolerone as well by the way).
But bodybuilders and other athletes had to make do with low-dosed cheque drops to increase activity. Nonetheless they enjoyed a great popularity. Mostly owed to the late Steroid guru Dan Duchaine. This was one of his many obscure (and usually dangerous) discoveries. The same person that discovered DNP, and extremely hazardous and powerful fatburner. Oddly enough cheque drops were more popular outside of bodybuilding. Boxers, football players and martial artists who fought full contact particularly had a fondness of this product and used it to enhance aggression prior to an important match with great success. It wasn't seldom that when a particularly aggressive incident occurred in boxing, that it was rumoured Mibolerone was the real culprit.
But even that didn't last, cheque drops have all but disappeared and I have yet to come across a legit one, or even an empty packaging from a legit one a long time ago. Which would illustrate what a dinosaur cheque drops have become in such a short time. But for those who really look around, they are still out there and I believe in some countries still used in veterinary medicine. So if you want it bad enough, but like I said, its impossible to use it to its full capacity, so its probably a waste to pursue anyway.
Stacking and Use:
Because its extremely toxic in higher doses and cannot be used longer than 2 weeks on end, there really isn't much to stack with cheque drops. A user will opt to take but a few drops sublingually (under the tongue) prior to an event for which he requires and increase in energy and aggression. But because here too there is the risk of natural testosterone suppression, cheque drops are best used during a cycle with other anabolic steroids. In this nature it stacks with literally everything however, and is both suited for use during bulking as well as cutting, eventhough it doesn't have a direct influence on either.
Because it's a non-aromatizing steroid that cannot be used longer than two weeks, the post-cycle use of clomid or Nolvadex is not required. Natural test will only partially be suppressed and should bounce back. If as advised you stacked it with a longer cycle of other steroids, its imperative that you still run them because of these other steroids, not so much for the cheque drops. For those prone to hypertension the use of an anti-hypertensive agent like Catapresan would be advised however. No other ancillaries should be required with this agent.
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Clenbuterol
Pharmaceutical Name: clenbuterol
Molecular weight of base: 277.193
Effective dose: 40-160 µg / day orally
Characteristics:
Clenbuterol is a very widely used drug and has quite a reputation. A good one among athletes and recreational users, and a very bad one among those people who know very little about illegal performance enhancing aids. Its not a steroid. In fact, the only medical use for which clenbuterol is generally prescribed (and now being less and less prescribed thanks to its illegitimate use) is for obstructions of the air-way. People with chronic breathing disorders like asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier. But its only one of the many things that can be achieved with the use of clenbuterol.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catclen.jpgIn terms of action this drug is best likened to the now also illegal ephedrine and its legal replacement, ma huang. All of them operate mainly by increasing the manufacture and secretion of catabolic hormones known as cathecholamines (like dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline)) which are secreted from the adrenal region. Now these hormones have a wide variety of functions. First of all they seem to alter the contractile characteristics of smooth muscle, but very specifically. Some will apparently be stimulated, and others inhibited. Amongst those inhibited, the smooth muscles in the bronchial tree, which explains its soothing effect in patients with breathing problems. What it also does is increase thermogenisis. This usually encompasses a rise in blood pressure, a stimulatory effect of the heart muscle and a resulting rise in body temperature.
Along with the reversing of the effects of insulin (and inhibiting the action of insulin) which results in a release of glycogen back into the blood stream as glucose and an inability to store or use more glycogen, it will increase the rate of protein and fat being burned in the body. For bodybuilders that appears to be the primary use of the drug. This thermogenisis and an increase in the rate of fat being burned usually has as a result that the metabolic rate of the subject its much higher and he burns more calories. This in turn results in loss of adipose tissue (the shedding of fat in other words) revealing a leaner physique with cuts and striations. The downside to this effect is that there is a concomitant rise in the rate of protein being burned. Where fat is robbed from the fatty tissue in the body, protein is generally robbed from the muscle. As with all catabolic hormones, in time muscle loss can and will occur. Which is why many opt to use this compound during a cycle of anabolic steroids that will help preserve the lean body mass while reducing the fat.
Among the other actions that cathecholamines have is an increase in aerobic capacity (facilitated by the easier breathing), a stimulation of the nervous system (facilitated by norepinephrine and acetylcholine release) and thus the skeletal muscle system, an increase in oxygen transportation (facilitated by the increased blood pressure) and an increase in vigil. These characteristics in turn combine to make this drug particularly interesting for athletes doing endurance sports and needing a boost. Especially in middle-long running numbers, this drug is widely abused and its no secret that in cycling circles clenbuterol in liquid form is combined with a painkiller and the drug EPO (synthetic erythropoeitin, a renal hormone) which increases the manufacture of red blood cells. It is then injected along the road, thereby avoiding positive tests prior to the race. Needless to say such a cocktail is very hazardous to the cardiovascular system. Just to demonstrate the wide use of this drug and its immense popularity among athletes, observe the US Olympic team. Exercise-induced asthma is an afflmiction that generally occurs in 3-7% of the population, and is in some rare cases treated with clenbuterol. In 2000 60% of US Olympic athletes claimed to have exercise-induced asthma and ALL of them were prescribed clenbuterol for this condition. An otherwise illegal drug, tolerated solely for this reason. And this while the Romanian gymnast Andrea Raducan was stripped of her gold medal for the 25 µg of norephedrine in her cold medicin she was taking...
In several animal studies1,2,3 Clenbuterol was also shown to act as an anabolic, believed to be able to impart muscle gains. This was never demonstrated in humans4 however, and there is more evidence that its effect on catabolic hormones invokes the opposite. In any case, the animal studies used much higher doses5 then one would safely recommend for humans. The late Dan Duchaine, by many held in high regard as a steroid guru and a former writer of the now defunct MM2K, believed it had something to do with the stimulation of a third beta receptor, which was different in humans as opposed to other mammals, and that this was the reason humans did not receive any anabolic benefits. As with most of what Dan said, this is very questionable, but one of many possible explanations in a debate that still rages on. Despite the many claims of other bodybuilders that still swear it has some form of anabolic action, I must say I've seen enough proof to the contrary to strongly advise against buying clenbuterol for promoting muscle mass. You may be more than sorely disappointed. Next time you see a 230 pound, 6 foot top-level cyclist, let me know and I may change my mind.
Clenbuterol, when used for its fat-burning properties is best used in a pyramid scheme. Slowly building up the dose may be more important that tapering off of it, as most first time users will rarely if ever know how they will react. Because of the effects on blood pressure its best to start with 20-40 µg per day and slowly work your way up increasing the dose every 3 days by 20 µg, to a maximum of 120-160 µg (most find 80 µg to be adequate). Its also best not used for long periods of time. Body homeostasis seems to negate the excitatory and inhibitive functions of clenbuterol over time, creating a complacency effect. It loses most of its nerve stimulation and fat burning benefits after 3-4 weeks, and using it longer on end would be futile. The user is best to discontinue use for an equal period of time and then recommence again.
Another thing people should be aware of is the inherent liver toxicity associated with clenbuterol use. When stacking with oral 17-alpha-alkylated steroids, accutane, anti-biotics or other hepatoxic elements, one should have his liver values checked by a licensed physician at regular points in time to avoid all problems. If you not a yellow discoloration of the skin cease use immediately and contact your doctor.
Stacking and Use:
Clenbuterol should be built up and tapered off gradually with dosage increases and decreases every 3-4 days and doses never exceeding 160 µg per day to be perfectly safe. Its mostly used for periods of 2-3 weeks then discontinued for equal periods of time to disallow the body to adapt to the effects of the drug. For fat-burning goals clenbuterol is often stacked with another fat-burning agent for quick effect, or alternated with another fat-burning agent by people who need to stay lean on a year-round basis. Usually cytomel (T3) is used for such purposes, with alternating cycles of 3 weeks each. If used together, cycles will not completely overlap, but differ slightly so as not to match the low doses with the low and the high doses with the high. A typical cycle for clenbuterol might be 3 weeks, with the daily amounts being 40/40/40/60/60/60/80/80/80/100/100/100/80/80/80/60/60/60/40/40/40 µg/day. Then stopping for three weeks and recommencing.
It's also commonly stacked with anabolic steroids. Usually non-aromatizing steroids that give the user a leaner and harder look, and allow for less water retention. They serve a main purpose of allowing the user to keep as much of his hard-earned muscle mass as he tries to shed the fat he has stocked up in the off-season with catabolic precursors such as clenbuterol. Clenbuterol is generally regarded as fairly safe6, hence its wide-spread use. It should be disadvised for all with blood pressure and/or previously diagnosed cardio-vascular problems. But most tolerate it quite well. By building up the dose over time they usually see when they've reached a dose that becomes too harsh. The use of clenbuterol will elicit higher body temperature, higher blood pressure and in some, especially at high doses, insomnia and jitters. Though these should not be nearly as pronounced with clenbuterol as they are with ephedrine and its legal counterpart ma huang. They are also easily remedied by shifting doses around so you don't take clenbuterol in the hours leading up to bedtime and most of it in pre-training phases when the drug can enhance your training vigor.
Another good match for clenbuterol in a stack is the plant derivative yohimbine Hcl. It does concern the standardized product yohimbine here and not the raw material yohimbe, which is useless. In small doses of 20-30 mg per day, it can stop the down-regulation of the noradrenaline feedback mechanisms, that usually inhibit the actions of noradrenaline by reducing receptor affinity. This has two important uses. The first is that the length of action of clenbuterol can be enhanced by a few hours when using it together with yohimbine Hcl (although it already has a considerable half-life time7 of 36 hours and one daily dose should suffice) , and the second is that concomitant use of yohimbine Hcl may allow clenbuterol to induce its fatburning aspects on a longer term than the normal 2-3 weeks, so it can be used for 5-6 weeks instead. Yohimbine Hcl is, at least for now still, a legal supplement that can be acquired for very little money from legal sources and supplement companies.
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Clomid and Nolvadex
Pharmaceutical Name: Clomiphene (as citrate)
Molecular weight of base: 405.9663
Molecular weight of ester: 192.125 (citric acid, 6 carbons)
Effective dose: 100-150 mg/day orally
Characteristics:
While practically similar compounds in structure, few people ever really consider Clomid and Nolva to be similar. Its not just a common myth in steroid circles, but even in the medical community. This misconception originates from their completely different uses. Nolvadex is most commonly used for the treatment of breast cancer in women, while clomid is generally considered a fertility aid. In bodybuilding circles, from day one, clomid has generally been used as post-cycle therapy and Nolvadex as an anti-estrogen.
But as I intend to demonstrate this is in essence the same. I believe the myth to have originated because Nolva is clearly a more powerful anti-estrogen, and the people selling clomid needed another angle to sell the stuff, so it was mostly used as a post-cycle aid. But few users really understand how clomid (and also Nolvadex, logically) works to bring back natural testosterone in the body after the conclusion of a cycle of androgenic anabolic steroids. After a cycle is over, the level of androgens in the body drop drastically. The body compensates with an overproduction of estrogen to keep steroid levels up. Estrogen as well inhibits the production of natural testosterone, and in the period between the return of natural testosterone and the end of a cycle, a lot of mass is lost. So its in everybody's best interest to bring back natural test as soon as humanly possible. Clomid and Nolvadex will reduce the post-cycle estrogen, so that a steroid deficiency is constated and the hypothalamus is stimulated to regenerate natural testosterone production in the body. That's basically how the mechanism works, nothing more, nothing less.
Both compounds are structurally alike, classified as triphenylethylenes. Nolvadex is clearly the stronger component of the two as it can achieve better results in decreasing overall estrogen with 20-40 mg a day, than clomid can in doses of 100-150 mg a day. A noteworthy difference. Triphenylethylenes are very mild estrogens that do not exert a lot, if any activity at the estrogen receptor, but are still highly attracted to it. As such they will occupy the receptor and keep it from binding estrogens. This means they do not actively work to reduce estrogen in the body like Proviron, Viratase or arimidex would (by competing for the aromatase enzyme), but that it blocks the receptor so that any estrogen in the body is basically inert, because it has no receptor to bind to.
This has advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is that when use is discontinued, the estrogen level is still the same and new problems will develop much sooner. The advantage is that it works much faster and has results sooner than with an aromatase blocker like Proviron or arimidex. Therefor, when problems such as gynocomastia occur during a cycle of steroids one will usually start 20 mg/day of Nolva or 100 mg/day of clomid straight away, in conjunction with some Proviron or arimidex. The proviron or arimidex will actively reduce estrogen while the clomid or Nolvadex will solve your ongoing problem straight away. This way, when use is discontinued there is no immediate rebound.
So which one should you use? Well personally, I'd have to say Nolvadex. Both as an on-cycle anti-estrogen and a post-cycle therapy. As an anti-estrogen its simply much stronger, demonstrated by the fact that better results are obtained with 20-40 mg than with 100-150 mg of clomid. For post-cycle, this plays a key role as well. It deactivates rebound estrogen much faster and more effective. But most importantly, Nolvadex has a direct influence on bringing back natural testosterone, where as clomid may actually have a slight negative influence. The reason being that Tamoxifen (as in Nolvadex) seems to increase the responsiveness of LH (luteinizing hormone) to GnRH (gonadtropin releasing hormone), whereas clomid seems to decrease the responsiveness a bit1.
Another noteworthy fact about Nolvadex is that it acts more potently as an estrogen in the liver. As you remember, I mentioned that clomiphene and tamoxifen are basically weak estrogens. Well, tamoxifen is apparently still quite potent in the liver. This offers us the positive benefits of this hormone in the liver, while avoiding its negative effects elsewhere in the body. As such Nolvadex can have a very positive impact on negative cholesterol levels2 in the body, and therefore too should be considered a better choice than clomid. It will not solve the problem of bad cholesterol levels during Steroid use, but will help to contain the problem to a larger degree.
Another reason why I promote the use of Nolvadex over Clomid post-cycle (as if being 3-4 times stronger and having more of a direct effect on restoring natural test wasn't enough) is because it's a lot safer. Not just because it improves lipid profiles, but also because it simply doesn't have the intrinsic side-effects that Clomid has. Clomid causes more acne for sure, but that's mainly because you need to use a 3-4 times higher dose. But Clomid seems to also affect the eyesight. Long-term clomid therapy causes irreversible changes in eyesight3 in users. Irreversible. For me that alone is reason enough to prefer Nolvadex.
Lastly, one should be aware that use of these compounds can reduce the gains made on steroids. Nolvadex more so than clomid, simply because it is stronger. Estrogen is responsible for a number of anabolic factors such as increasing growth hormone output, upgrading the androgen receptor and improving glucose utilization. This is why aromatizing steroids like testosterone are still best suited for maximum muscle gain. When reducing the estrogen levels, we therefore reduce the potential gains being made. For this reason one may opt to try clomid during a cycle instead of Nolvadex. Although I would imagine that the problem that needed solved would be of more concern, in which case Nolva remains the weapon of choice. It's a plain fact that there is a high correlation between gains and side-effects. Either you go for maximum gains and tolerate the side-effects, or you reduce the side-effects, and with it the gains. That's life, nothing is free.
Stacking and Use:
If problems of Gynocomastia or other estrogen related symptoms tend to pop up during a cycle the use of 20-30 mg of Nolvadex or 100 mg of Clomid daily should easily contain the problem, and be used until a few days after the problem subsides. For best results and the least amount of problems upon cessation it is best stacked with Proviron (50 mg) or arimidex (0.5 mg) for this duration as well. Its not advised that these products be ran concomitantly with the steroid for the entire duration of the stack, as this will reduce your gains. Instead cease the usage of anti-estrogens once the problem is contained, and should the problem resurface, simply recommence the use of the products in the same manner as described above.
Once a cycle of steroids is concluded one should always initiate a post-cycle therapy to help bring back natural testosterone as soon as possible. This will help you to retain the mass you gained. How this is done depends highly on the type of steroid used. If only orals were used, therapy should start immediately, even the last day of the stack. If short-acting esters or water-based injectables were used, therapy should commence within 4-7 days after last injection, and if long-acting esters were used then it should commence 1.5 to 2 weeks after the last injection was given. The length of the therapy will vary as well, from 3-5 weeks. The longer acting the product was, the longer therapy should be continued to make sure all suppressive factors are cleared before use of Clomid/Nolvadex is discontinued.
For best results, it is best stacked with HCG (Human Chorionic gonadotrophin), which functions as an LH analog and can help bring testicle size back up. HCG use starts the last week of a cycle, and on from there every 5-6 days (usually 1500-3000 IU) and discontinued 1.5 to weeks prior to the cessation of Nolvadex/clomid. The reason being that HCG itself is also suppressive of natural testosterone and should be out of the body before therapy is over, or it will inhibit natural testicle function. But I can not stress enough that HCG possibly plays a more important role in post-cycle therapy than clomid/Nolvadex. For Clomid and Nolvadex, doses are usually tapered down. Its best to start with 40-50 mg of Nolvadex or 150 mg of Clomid for the first week or the first two weeks, and then finish the program with 20-25 mg of Nolvadex or 100 mg of Clomid for an additional two weeks.
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Cytomel
Pharmaceutical Name: liothyronine sodium
Chemical Structure: tri-iodio-thyronine (T3)
Molecular weight of base: 650.9776
Effective Dose: 25-100 µg / day orally
Characteristics:
Cytomel is not a steroid, but more a of a cutting aid. It's a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone tri-iodio-thyronine or T3, made up of a metabolite of the amino acid tyrosine and 3 iodine ions. In the body it in turn is made from another hormone, T4, which is secreted by the thyroid under influence of the pituitary hormone TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone). If a shortage of either TSH or T4 is noted, usually doctors may opt for a replacement therapy. These days the most common prescription is synthetic T4 (synthroid), but in more severe cases of permanent thyroid dysfunction, the choice is given to Cytomel. Simply because T4 is mostly active through its conversion to T3 and T3 is 4-5 times stronger than T4 on a µg for µg basis.
In bodybuilding circles Cytomel is mostly used as fat-loss drug. Thyroid hormones are often referred to as the metabolic regulators of the body. High levels of T3 speed up the metabolism of an individual, allowing him to burn more calories and use calories more sufficiently. Generally ectopmorphic body-types have very high thyroid levels and in some cases a slight undiagnosed form of hyperthyroidism. Both hyper-and hypothyroidism can have severe consequences on an individual, such as goiters and other nasty stuff, so messing with your thyroid is not something I would advise to beginners. As with insulin, misuse of this compound can leave you dependent on exogenous T3 for the rest of your life (remember
Frank Zane?). So some caution and research is required before putting Cytomel in your body. Generally cycles should be limited to 4-6 weeks tops, I recommend 3 and alternating cycles with 3-week cycles of clenbuterol. But most importantly, to avoid a crash or a shock to the thyroid function doses need to be built up over time and tapered off again. More so for cytomel than for any other drug in existence.
In his book, Anabolics 2002, Bill Llewellyn says that Cytomel is not a drug to start off on, and that use of milder drugs like T4 (Synthroid) or triacana can help ease a person into the use of T3. I'm inclined to disagree here however. Triacana is weak compound and I find of little use. Its not easily found anymore and not cheap either. T4 is basically similar to Cytomel except that its weaker. Something that users normally compensate with higher doses and sends them down a similar lane as simply using cytomel. Agreed, cytomel is NOT a drug for beginners, but with adequate research, experience with diet and some self-control, I don't see why cytomel shouldn't be the first thyoid compound used. But for recreational users looking for a fatburner, I still suggest using clenbuterol over cytomel for all intents and purposes. Cytomel is much more powerful, but clenbuterol is a lot safer for use. The results are easier to maintain with clenbuterol as well. Negative feedback in the thyroid may decrease natural levels of T3 in the body, causing a decrease of metabolic rate after coming off a cycle of T3. That can cause
a rebound effect during which a lot of weight is gained back.
For competitive bodybuilders Cytomel is an almost unmissable aid in contest preparation, along with clenbuterol and non-aromatizing steroids such as stanazolol, trenbolone, methenolone and so forth...
Stacking and Use:
It can be stacked or alternated with clenbuterol. I usually recommend to alternate, three weeks clen with three weeks cytomel, since clen loses most of its benefits after a short period of time and using cytomel for extended time-periods will increase the risk of permanent thyroid failure. Neither drug is terribly expensive so I see no problem in this. Some opt to use them together for 3-4 weeks, and then use an over the counter ECA stack to bridge with for an equal period of time, but I'm not such a big fan of that. Which naturally doesn't mean its not effective, that's just a personal opinion. Running it for three weeks, one could choose for a schedule as follows: 25/25/25/50/50/50/75/75/75/100/100/100/75/75/75/50/50/50/25/25/25 µg/day. If taken for 4 weeks, then run each dose for 4 days, 5 weeks then each dose for 5 days and so on. It is extremely important that the doses are tapered on and off and that a cycle never exceeds 6 weeks at the most.
As far as adding products, no ancillaries are needed, but its highly recommended that this is only used when anabolic/androgenic steroids are also being used. First of all the extra free calories work with the steroids to enhance results, but also because an increased level of thyroid hormones can be extremely catabolic and the use of anabolic compounds to counter muscle loss is a requirement here.
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Danatrol
Pharmaceutical Name: Danazol, Danocrine
Chemical structure: 17alpha-Pregna-2,4-dien-20-yno[2,3-d]isoxazol-17-ol
Molecular weight of base: 337.4608
Effective dose: 200-400 mg/day
Characteristics:
With the lack of a 3-keto group, and the addition of a pentangle at the 2 and 3 positions, one could liken the structure of Danazol best to Stanozolol (Winstrol/Stromba) or Furazabol (Miotolan). But for proper understanding of this drug its best likened to Mesterolone (proviron). Its similar, but a lot less androgenic. Like mesterolone it's a steroid, but rarely regarded as such. Because of its structure its only mildly androgenic and because it binds readily in a lot of places in the body without exerting any real action, its not considered anabolic to any degree. So you can derive that the use of danazol is not that of the classic anabolic, androgenic steroid. In treatment Danazol is used as an anti-gonadotropin. Its exogenous administration gives negative feedback to the natural production of testosterone, slowing it down, but mostly it's a competitive anti-aromatase. And for that reason its sometimes employed by bodybuilders to prevent the side-effects of aromatization of certain hormones like testosterone. These side-effects include bloating through water retention, increased body-fat and gyno (growth of breast tissue in men).
I do say "sometimes" because Danazol is hard to come by these days, as is illustrated by the large number of products in the product list above that have been discontinued. On the black market too it seems the interest in this compound is relatively low, and prices considerably high. As high as 350 dollars for 100 tabs of 200 mg, and knowing the daily dose is easily 400 mg per day, that's a costly affair. That's why you won't hear much of danazol in popular literature. But in the scientific literature its still frequently used for research purposes.
Possible side-effects that can occur with use are of course very mild. Like Proviron it does not aromatize to any extent and actually prevents aromatization, and the lack of a 3-keto group amongst other things makes it a particularly poor androgen, so androgenic risk is limited. One might still note increased libido and some acne however. Perspiration, hot flashes, elevated blood pressure and liver toxicity (to a small extent, due to the high doses) can be encountered if using very high doses for extended periods of time.
Danazol may make a great alternative for Proviron, but with Proviron, arimidex, cytadren and several others available to us, the need for another mild, expensive aromatase inhibitor is limited, hence its low presence on the black market. Many governments and sports federations have also banned Danazol because of its slight androgenic effect, making things like Arimidex a much more popular choice, and selling for roughly the same on average, and those who are tied in, even a lot cheaper due to the wide-spread availability of anastrozole (Arimidex) to the underground manufacturers.
Stacking and Use:
Ideally one would stack Danazol with aromatizing steroids like nandrolone, testosterone, methandrostenolone and boldenone to limit or stop them from aromatizing, and thus eliminating or reducing estrogenic side-effects. Since its an aromatase inhibitor, it would most likely be employed for continuous use. If it was merely as a short term problem-solving measure an estrogen receptor antagonist like Clomid or Nolvadex may be handier. For these purposes a dose of 200-400 mg daily is employed. The higher end being the more common. It needs to be noted that there is a downside to blocking estrogen formation as well, because estrogen increases our gains. It is (as demonstrated in the Equipoise profile) helpful in upgrading the androgen receptor, increasing natural growth hormone output and improving glucose utilization for extra energy and a sense of well-being. These are things a user needs to be aware of. Obviously a little water retention is not a big deal or you would not have chosen an aromatizing compound to begin with, so unless you are particularly sensitive to estrogenic side-effects, keeping an estrogen receptor antagonist (Nolvadex or Clomid) handy, just in case, instead of running an aromatase inhibitor throughout, will allow you to get more mass out of a cycle.
Since Danazol is an anti-gonadotropin, the post-cycle use of Clomid or Nolvadex is required, maybe even in conjunction with a preceding HCG therapy to bring natural testosterone back, but since one would only really opt for Danazol in conjunction with suppressive aromatizing steroids, you would already be doing this anyway if you know what is good for you, so surely I'm just mentioning this for no reason (although one can never be too safe). There is no real use for other ancillaries with this compound.
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Deca-Durabolin
Pharmaceutical Name: Nandrolone / Nor-testosterone (as undecanoate)
Chemical structure: "19-Nor-4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol" or "4-Estren-17beta-ol-3-one"
Molecular weight of base: 274.4022
Molecular weight of ester: 172.2668 (Decanoic acid, 10 carbons)
Effective dose: 200-800 mg / week
Also see "Laurabolin" profile.
Characteristics:
The decanoate ester of nandrolone is generally referred to as Deca, stemming from the brand name Deca-Durabolin under which nandrolone was marketed by the Organon company. But as the reference list up above suggests there are many generic forms of this compound available. Nandrolone is perhaps the best marketed and easy to get steroid out there and it has always enjoyed an immense popularity. Its fairly accurate to state that safe for Dianabol, Deca is by far the most used steroid. The deca/d-bol stack, it is often suggested, is where the practice of stacking comes from. But what does it owe its popularity too ? Well, nandrolone has some unique qualities that make it unlike any other steroid known to man.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catdeca.jpgNandrolone is more commonly known as the base steroid 19Nor-testosterone. As this structure would indicate its like testosterone in appearance but for one small change : the absence of a carbon atom in the 19th position. This gives it a number of very distinct features. First of all it makes nandrolone a notably weaker agonist of the androgen receptor. That alone causes quite a reduction in the risk of androgenic side-effects. This is because it is the only steroid that is affected by the 5-alpha-reductase (5AR) enzyme in a way that makes it even less androgenic. Unlike testosterone which forms DHT (dihydrotestosterone) at the 5AR enzyme, a hormone 3-4 times as potent as an androgen receptor stimulator, nandrolone forms DHN (dihydronandrolone) a hormone that is even less suited than the already mild parent hormone for agonizing the androgen receptor. Those two features combined make nandrolone a very safe bet for people at risk for prostate hypertrophy, acne and aggravated male pattern hair loss. At the same time its estimated that nandrolone is 2.4 times as anabolic as testosterone1, on a gram for gram basis.
Due to the many different ways that testosterone mediates anabolism, one has to take that statement with a serious grain of salt, but it does establish nandrolone as a potent muscle builder and performance enhancer with a comparatively safe character, at least androgenically speaking. This androgenic mildness is perhaps the greatest reason for its popularity. But due to the lack of immediate anabolic activity nandrolone is rarely used alone. Its the most known and sought after product for use as a base steroid, to use in conjunction with a more androgenic specimen to enhance the results without increasing androgenic side-effects to a serious degree.
The ways in which nandrolone exerts its anabolic effects are two-fold. First of all it's a good mediator for nitrogen retention. When nitrogen retention is high, in essence it means that the cells are taking up more nitrogen than they are releasing. Why is this a good thing though? Well every amino acid has what is known as an amino-group, which contains nitrogen. When nitrogen is retained it means there is a high concentration of amino acids in a cell, which in turn positively affects the rate of protein synthesis. Since every tissue in the body is made from protein, including muscle, this means that muscle hypertrophy is facilitated. A second factor is through estrogen. While nandrolone's rate of aromatization is considerably smaller than that of testosterone, it does convert to a particularly powerful form of estrogen¹. This has been noted to increase glycogen storage, growth hormone release and upgrade the androgen receptor in some tissues. In this case it also entails agonizing of aldosterone, but more on that later.
On an interesting note, the 5-alpha-reduced versions enlighten us as to the anabolic effect of nandrolone as opposed to that of testosterone. Since nandrolone is weakened at the 5AR enzyme and testosterone becomes notably stronger at the 5AR enzyme it makes sense that testosterone would be a better anabolic mediator in tissues with a high concentration of this enzyme, and that nandrolone would be the stronger of the two in tissues with a lower count of 5AR enzyme1b. Because 5AR is not as well represented in muscle tissue it accounts for the finding that nandrolone is 2.4 times more anabolic when it comes directly to muscular hypertrophy. It also explains why its less of a risk for androgenic side-effects such as benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) and androgenetic alopecia (MPB). Both the prostate and the scalp namely have high concentrations of the 5AR enzyme.
If indeed the overall yield of estrogen is so much smaller, and so is the rate of androgen receptor stimulation, how then is nandrolone so anabolic? The common belief is through a third receptor : the progesterone receptor. It has been concluded that both nandrolone2 and several of its metabolites3,4 do indeed activate the progesterone receptor and are altered by it. On the one hand progestagenic activity decreases the estrogen receptor concentration in some tissues, it also mediates estrogenic action in other tissues5. So while estrogenic side-effects are fairly uncommon with nandrolone use alone, they can indeed occur and the implications of nandrolone's activity as a progesterone indicate these potential side-effects aren't to be solved with an aromatase inhibitor alone (like Cytadren). As long as there is estrogen in the system (indicating a possible increase of the problem when stacked with another aromatizing compound) progesterone can agonize its effects. And since progesterone receptors are found in breast tissue and have been linked to the formation of milk ducts, progestagenic activity may aggravate possibly gynocomastia. So while such problems are rare, when they occur they aren't easily treated.
It makes sense then that those particularly prone to the effects and side-effects of estrogen would take extra precaution. Blocking aromatase, considering the previous paragraph, would be a poor choice, but competitively inhibiting the estrogen receptor itself with clomiphene citrate (Clomid) or tamoxifen citrate (Nolvadex) might bring some relief since a large portion of progestagenic action is nullified if there is no circulating estrogen around, or if it is kept from being activated by the estrogen receptor. It is generally assumed that 1 mg of either every day for every 20 mg of nandrolone injected weekly is sufficient. Slightly higher doses, or the use of an aromatase inhibitor like cytadren can be stacked if nandrolone is used in conjunction with another aromatizing steroid. It has also been noted that the steroid stanozolol (Winstrol) may provide relief as it too binds to the progesterone receptor but remains unaltered by it. How strong of a competitor it is in such a case and what sort of doses would be needed are as much your guess as they are mine, so this may be non-issue. But it does bode well for the stacking of nandrolone with stanozolol in that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catst6.jpgAnother benefit of nandrolone use often reported is the pain-free workouts because nandrolone lubricates the joints. It stores a lot of water (as synovial fluid) in the joints, which eases the impact of the heavy weights handled by bodybuilders and weight lifters. One may wonder how nandrolone can do a better job at it than a steroid that aromatizes much stronger such as a testosterone ester, but its quite easily explained. One study at least goes to show that nandrolone metabolites are also aldosterone agonists6. Although we aren't entirely sure of the mechanism by which this occurs. But, while sparing you the details of this complex hormone, aldosterone has a strong function in the retention of sodium in the body. High sodium levels correlate with a high storage of water and that would explain the aforementioned effect. Of course one needs to note the implication of this of course: a bulkier frame and a certain loss of definition are not uncommon with nandrolone, perhaps more so than with testosterone.
One last note that is of critical relevance to drug tested athletes is the interaction between nandrolone and esterase. Injectable, non 17-alpha-alkylated hormones are often esterified. This means attaching an ester to a specific position on the steroid causing it to be more lipophyllic. That means it stores well in body-fat and is only slowly released into the bloodstream, giving the whole a time-released character. The more carbons an ester has the longer it will last. For the drug to become active it needs to remove its ester. When released into the bloodstream simply the suspension in H2O will solve that. But in the body-fat the ester can also be removed by the enzyme esterase. But esterase works two ways, meaning in some cases it can also attach an ester. Nandrolone is such a case.
Nandrolone with a decanoate ester is fairly long acting (10 carbons) to begin with and if on top of that a lot of the drug can be de- and re-esterified that means the substance stays active in the body for quite a long time. This has resulted in positive drug tests for the hormone nandrolone and many of its metabolites, most notably 19-Norandrosterone up to 18 months after last use of the drug. While this is a fairly known fact, the recent number of athletes (including well known soccer stars) that have tested positive for nandrolone would indicate a lot of misinformation or plain lack of information in some circles. Positive tests, with reprimands, that could have easily been avoided. So anyone subject to any form of athletic drug test should refrain from using 19-Nortestosterone (nandrolone) or any of its metabolites, that includes nor-prohormones.
For those of you looking to use nandrolone as your only steroid, be aware that the gains on nandrolone are not only mild, but also quite hard to maintain. Nandrolone, in the first place due to its combined estrogenic/progestagenic properties, is quite suppressive of the natural testosterone production. Since it actively participates at three receptors its very quick and merciless when it comes to giving negative feedback to the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone from the hypothalamus. But then one also has to take into account its affinity for esterases, making it stay active in the body significantly longer than most hormones. Because that means upon cessation of nandrolone-use you'll still be under quite suppressive conditions, there simply isn't enough intrinsic anabolism available to support the mass you gained, resulting in a rather quick and inglorious reduction of weight.
Personally, for all intents and purposes I prefer boldenone (equipoise) over nandrolone. Its also a relatively mild androgen that has no conversion at the 5AR enzyme, so its not that much more of an androgenic risk, but in all other aspects it's a much safer steroid. Doesn't have strong estrogenic effects, nor progestagenic activity. That means it doesn't cause bloat or fat gain and is much less likely to cause gyno. On the contrary, the gains from boldenone are much leaner. Its also stronger, mg for mg. It doesn't readily re-esterify and due to its lower estrogenic effects, it is not nearly as suppressive of natural testosterone either. That makes the gains not only better, qualitatively speaking, but also much easier to maintain. Also as far as purchase is concerned. Boldenone is becoming cheaper and is very widely available. The availability of Deca is dropping, but its still the most counterfeited steroid in the world. That makes it more likely that an inexperienced buyer will get scammed looking for nandrolone decanoate, than looking for boldenone undecylenate.
Stacking and Use:
Nandrolone stacks well with virtually anything. Due to its mildly aromatizing and its progestagenic activity its mostly used as a mass building compound by all but the monstrously huge. Because some water retention is a fact, one would not desire to include it in a cutting phase, especially if its one of your first cycles. Nandrolone is used in doses of 200-600 mg per week. 400 mg is the common recommendation for a somewhat experienced user, when used in conjunction with another product. Nandrolone as decanoate, as found in deca-durabolin, is a long acting ester of 10 carbons. That means 1 injection weekly will more than suffice as it has quite a long span of activity
To this effect its preferably stacked with another aromatizing compound. In the first place a long acting testosterone like cypionate, enanthate or sustanon 250. For a beginner cycle, we want to note that the testosterone compound is the most active compound and its therefore more desirable to lower the dose of nandrolone rather than the dose of testosterone. Often beginners look to start at 400 mg of nandrolone and 250 mg of testosterone. A better suggestion would be 200 mg of nandrolone and 500 mg of testosterone. Then bump the nandrolone to 400 mg.
It also makes a good match for doses of Anadrol or Dianabol, although neither compound can be used for the time-span of nandrolone decanoate due to liver toxicity. This isn't the case for a long-acting testosterone ester. Often nandrolone and test are stacked in conjunction with Anadrol or Dianabol for the first few weeks of a stack to boost gains and strength.
A nandrolone stack accompanied by stanazolol (Winstrol/Stromba) makes sense as well, especially for those who are highly prone to gyno. It's commonly accepted that stanazolol can compete for the progesterone receptor, and since nandrolone can act as a progestin, this is a wise precaution. Progesterone agonizes estrogen and while nandrolone only aromatizes slightly and cases of gyno with moderate nandrolone use is rare, when stacking it with another aromatizable compound like Dianabol or testosterone, you may not want to take the
chance.
For secondary products one needn't consider an anti-aromatase like Cytadren since one
cannot fully block all aromatase conversion and due to the enhanced estrogen activity as a result of progestagenic influence, it would serve little purpose. Using an estrogen-receptor antagonist, while not fool-proof obviously, may serve some benefit. Agonized or not, without binding to the receptor estrogen loses most of its influence. Using stanazolol and either clomid or Nolvadex during a stack with nandrolone is usually the best prescription. Post-cycle use of such substances to help HPTA recover faster and retain gains also comes highly recommended, and preferably for longer than you would with most stacks, since nandrolone stays active for a very long time.
More advanced users often consider the use of low-dose nandrolone (200 mg/week) with cutting cycles as well, which goes to prove that nandrolone really does stack with anything.
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Dianabol
Pharmaceutical Name: Methandrostenolone / methandienone
Chemical structure: 17 beta-hydroxy-17alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one
Effective dose: 15-50 mg / day orally or 50-150 mg / week by injection
Characteristics:
Dianabol was originally developed by John Ziegler and released by Ciba in 1956. It has had a long stint of popularity since then, especially in the US. Until the late 70's methandrostenolone was all the rave. Perhaps the most popular steroid ever. Known users include every Mr.Olympia from Scott to Zane. Of course the doses used have severely increased since then. Its popularity was also the cause of its demise. Almost a decade ago now the original D-bol was discontinued when the FDA drew the conclusion that its therapeutic uses were minimal compared to the amount of bodybuilders who were using it. But methandrostenolone has never been out of circulation really. Especially the Russians appeared quite fond of it and Russian D-bol is one of the best and most marketed forms of the substance methandrostenolone today.
Methandrostenolone is without a doubt one of the best, if not the best product for people who compete in non-aerobic oriented sports. It promotes drastic protein synthesis, enhances glycogenolysis (repletion of glycogen after exercise) and stimulates strength in a very direct and fast-acting way. It may be less useful to those competing in aerobic events as it also diminishes cell respiration1. But methandrostenolone manifests itself in a distinct manner : rapid and fast-acting build-up of strength and mass is noticed. That's why its often used at the beginning of cycle consisting of mostly injectables like long-acting testosterone esters and nandrolone. Since the effects of such drugs don't fully come out for the first 10-15 days, methandrostenolone is dosed in to provide immediate and visible results. It has a rather weak androgenic component and an obviously quite strong and visible anabolic component. Its effects are largely non-AR mediated, which is documented by its rather low influence on the natural endocrine system2 and the fact that it decreases rather than increases red blood cell content in the blood. Which means that one worry users of Dianabol, especially short term, needn't fear is the dramatic shutdown of natural testosterone production as is often the case with very androgenic compounds. Of course this effect is dose-dependent. It still has a mild androgenic component, meaning in high doses (30+ mg daily) androgen-mediated side-effects can be noted (acne, male pattern hair loss).
Because of its fast effects, immense popularity and the increasing "more-is-better" sentiment among bodybuilders, increasingly high doses are indeed being used and recommended. One has to wonder about the logic of such recommendations however, since high dose urine-analysis showed portions of unmetabolized compounds were being excreted3. In simpler terms that means that with higher doses, higher amounts of unchanged methandrostenolone were being excreted in the urine. This would indicate that the current stance needs to be reviewed and that smaller doses, taken multiple times per day would deliver better results and maximal use of the steroid. Dianabol simply is highly effective in low doses(25-40 mg ed). Som say Anadrol, a comparable steroid to methandrostenolone, is better, but its taken in doses of 50-150 mg. If one was to take methandrostenolone in those doses better gains could be expected. Methandrostenolone is also a lot safer in as opposed to the highly toxic and progestagenic anadrol. If one takes into account that the half-life of methandrostenolone in the body is only 3-6 hours, this theory makes even more sense. So taking your daily dose spread over 3 or 4 doses may elicit a better effect than only 1 or 2 doses. Methandrostenolone is quite effective in these lower doses by the way. Milligram for Milligram its more powerful than a testosterone ester, generally considered the best mass-builder.
A few notes there need to be made however. Not everyone should try and spread their doses out over multiple servings. First of all there is a slightly lower efficacy to take into account here as well due to two characteristics. The first being that you feed the total amount to the liver in smaller portions, yet the liver still manages to metabolize the same amount. Percentage wise that means less methandienone would make it through totally. The second would be that the peak levels aren't quite as high since no large doses are taken all at once. These two facts make it hard to recommend that just anyone take multiple doses. People who take moderate to low doses of ONLY methandrostenolone should probably opt for a single morning dose. This delivers a higher peak level and more survival of your only steroid. It also, due to the short half-life, makes the drug clear the body before the body produces its largest dose of natural testosterone, the early hours of sleep. Combined with the already mild effect at the AR, you could keep a good amount of your gains when using clomid or Nolvadex post-cycle. For those using it in conjunction with other, mostly injectable steroids, two doses seems to be the better choice, if you are taking in excess of 40 mg a day perhaps even three doses.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catst5.jpgThis is usually the case for fast-acting substances, they have short half-lives. Which brings us to the point of prolonged use. The general concensus is that methandrostenolone should never be used more than 6 weeks on end due its strong hepatoxic effects. Being largely an oral compound, its also 17-alpha-alkylated to help it survive the liver upon first pass. Liver values are elevated over a short period of time4, making long-term use a very dangerous affair. Liver values should return to normal quite fast after discontinuation however since the effects are so short-lived. Other risks associated with the use of methandrostenolone include the apparition of estrogenic side-effects because it interacts rather well with the aromatase enzyme on account of its methylated properties. It is therefore best used in conjunction with an anti-estrogen. Gynocomastia, high blood pressure, salt and water retention and mild cases of acne are therefore not uncommon.
Its methylated properties (17-methyl group) does have several positive characteristics of course. Why else would they add this group? The main purpose of course it to make sure less of the methandrostenolone is affected by hepatic breakdown when taken orally. But apparently it also decreases the affinity of the drug to SHBG (sex-hormone binding globulin), a sex steroid binding protein that takes up as much as 98% of testosterone. Testosterone that can't be used to build muscle. Since methandrostenolone does not bind to this protein easily, its quite an active substance, no doubt accounting for its fast and immediately visible action. Dianabol also does not affect cholesterol levels to a high degree in moderate doses5, and it seems to help an athlete stock up on potassium6. This is particularly beneficial taking into account the amount of sodium its estrogenic effects store as well.
We hinted at the short time of activity methandrostenolone possesses. This means that despite its immediate, fast and explosive gains in both strength and mass, they are quite hard to maintain. Often the bulk of mass is lost shortly after discontinuation, making it most unsuitable for those looking to gain and keep quality muscle. An injectable may suppress some of these obviously flawed characteristics, but the 5 mg tabs remain the trend. With its high capacity to survive breakdown in the liver this understandably. Orally its perhaps the most powerful, although in the strength of effects it still can't hold a candle to androl. But its cheaper and safer than the aforementioned of course.
In light of the evidence presented, we conclude that the best use for methandrostenolone is short-term, for 5-6 weeks, at the beginning of a longer bulking stack (10+ weeks), preferably injectable, to kickstart gains and strength. Its effects are largely non-AR mediated and it aromatizes quite well, which leaves it with limited stacking partners, The best candidates are of course nandrolone and testosterone. It should be taken in doses no higher than 50 mg (20-40 mg being the norm) ,spread over multiple doses for maximum effects in stacks and a single morning dose when taken by itself. D-bol remains a favorite today however, that's a fact that cannot be argued.
Stacking and Use:
I needn't really expand too much, since most of the conclusion were drawn in that last paragraph. Dianabol is a methylated compound with a certain toxicity, so in the interest of safety you wouldn't use it longer than 6 weeks on end, 8 weeks at the absolute maximum and only under supervision of a medical professional who can monitor your liver values. Because it heavily aromatizes its not particularly useful during cutting and with 6-8 weeks of use maximum, that leaves but two options. Either stacking it with another, injectable, compound that can be used for longer terms (beginning of stack when other compound is least active) or you would do multiple short cycles. In that case one would take off at least as long as he was on during a cycle, preferably longer. Like 6 weeks on, followed by 6-10 weeks off. These multiple cycles were all the fashion among pro bodybuilders in the 70's with very decent results.
When stacking with a longer-acting product, such as testosterone enanthate or cypionate, Deca or Equipoise, the best use is early on in the stack. Dianabol is a very fast-acting steroid and most injectables don't start showing their real value for 2-3 weeks. That makes it particularly useful to kick off a cycle with.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catdian2.jpg
The pink ones are Anabol (Dianabol) and the yellow ones are Stanabol (Winstrol).
It's most readily stacked with Deca-Durabolin or Primobolan, perhaps even Equipoise. Usually an injection of 200-400 mg/week combined with 30-40 mg of Dianabol everyday. In some cases testosterone was used in conjunction with anyone of these stacks. For short term use oral Primobolan made a good match, and in lesser ways an oral Winstrol. Both provide a mild, lean foundation for the Dianabol and both are also 17-alpha alkylated, warranting short-term use. Since Dianabol has little Androgen receptor activity, it functions particularly synergistic with compounds that have a strong Androgen receptor activity as is the case for all the aforementioned.
Along the lines of secondary products an anti-aromatase like Cytadren or Arimidex may be useful. When stacked with Deca, the choice for a receptor antagonist like Clomid or Nolvadex is perhaps a wiser choice. Perhaps even a combination of both. Dianabol aromatizes rather heavily, which means in a stack with another aromatizing compound the risk for gyno remains high and water retention is virtually a fact. Post-cycle the use of Clomid or Nolvadex can be employed to boost natural testosterone production. There is quite some circulating estrogen post-cycle that causes prolonged negative feedback, clomid or Nolvadex would solve that problem and help you retain more of your gains.
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Equipoise
Pharmaceutical Name: Boldenone (as undecylenate)
Chemical structure: 1,4-androstadiene-3-one,17b-ol
Molecular weight of base: 286.4132
Molecular weight of ester: 186.2936 (undecylic acid, 11 carbons)
Effective dose: 300-600 mg/week
Characteristics:
For something that is generally injected into cows, horses and dogs boldenone is quite a popular and well-liked drug by most bodybuilders because of its unique make-up. It possesses several characteristics that aren't found in any other substance and its use is so varied its much desired year-round. Boldenone is a decent anabolic coupled with both a mild androgenic and a mild estrogenic effect. Sort of like a weak testosterone. In structure it doesn't differ all that much from testosterone, the main anomaly being a double bond in the one position as well as the 4 position. Its nonetheless quite good at promoting gains, but mostly through a combination of androgenic potential and other media than the androgen and estrogen receptors.
The strange thing about its androgenic component is that it is mostly not mediated by a 5-alpha-reduced form, as is the case for most steroids. While it does indeed form a very potent 5AR form (dihydroboldenone, roughly 7 times as anabolic as testosterone1) its shows a very low affinity for the 5-alpha-reducatase enzyme2. This leads to the conclusion that a large part of the anabolic effect boldenone exerts is formed by the hormone itself binding to the androgen receptor. This could also be the reason its had such a successful run as a veterinary drug, because despite differences in the metabolism of species it has always produced extraordinary results.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catequi.jpg
Like most anabolic steroids it increases muscle mass over time by increasing nitrogen retention and positively influencing protein synthesis or re-synthesis. An action that is not necessarily supported by an androgenic mediator as was shown with nandrolone. What boldenone has that other steroids don't is that it indirectly supplies the necessary means for that protein synthesis because it drastically increases the appetite. Thereby facilitating the high nutritional intake (especially protein wise) needed to book the best results when using anabolic androgenic steroids. Its more of a benefit than you think as a lot of people have theorized that it is this increase that is responsible for the great results booked when using boldenone. This theory may hold its own as there is indeed not much proof of the kind of anabolic activity with boldenone that would be responsible for the elicited effect.
Its estrogenic activities are slight, but present. This has more of a positive than negative influence. The aromatisation of boldenone is too small to cause real problems and in normal doses (300-400 mg/week) problems such as gynocomastia and too much fat retention are unheard of. However small aromatisation is desirable as estrogen too mediates anabolic activity. It can be responsible for better glucose utilization3,4 (repleting lost glycogen stores after exercise) and stimulating increased growth hormone release5. But most notably estrogen is responsible for an upgrading of the androgen receptor6 allowing hormones that act on the androgen receptor to exert a larger anabolic effect. This is why hormones that are strong androgens but also aromatize heavily, like anadrol and testosterone, can put the most mass on your frame. In that aspect boldenone is perhaps the most suitable steroid because of its moderate estrogen levels that allow for the benefits, but not the side-effects of aromatization. And no doubt the perfect balance is partially responsible for stimulation of the appetite.
For athletes of sports other than strength sports or bodybuilding will also note that boldenone is quite likely the most favorable steroid for them to use as it also stimulates the release of erythropoeitin in the kidneys. Erythropoeitin is a hormone known as EPO and heavily abused among endurance athletes because it signals the body to increase the production of red blood cells (erythrocytes). Red blood cells are the carrier of oxygen in the body, meaning that a higher maximal oxygen capacity can be obtained and better performance can be achieved over longer amounts of time before lactic acid is built up, which would in turn result in cramps and a cessation of the activity at that level. In short it improves your stamina. For bodybuilders this characteristic may be useful in promoting increased vascularity.
In that aspect boldenone combined with a non-aromatizing steroid like Winstrol or Primobolan may be perfect to help you get cut and ripped while improving vascularity. The downside to that is that you really need to try hard to suppress the increased appetite. Which is why its probably a better idea to stack a somewhat larger dose of boldenone with a mass building drug like testosterone or anadrol to elicit major gains.
The negative effects of boldenone are quite limited. In the normal doses of 300-400 mg a week estrogenic side-effects are almost never noted except in those who are very succeptible to estrogen. In terms of androgenic side-effects long-term use or very intense use of boldenone can cause slight virilizing effects such as acne and increased body-hair growth. Never really a problem for men, but women considering its use on account of its moderate androgenic qualities should be aware of this.
Stacking and Use:
As an undecylenate ester, boldenone needs only be injected every week (staying active well over 4 weeks), but because the preparations come in 25 mg/ml, users most often opt for 25-50 mg every day to every other day. A use of 300-400 mg per week seems to be the normal recommendation. Its not hepatoxic to any serious degree and can therefore be used for longer cycles. The appearance of underground forms of boldenone in higher concentrations (200 mg/ml) has made it easier to inject only once a week, which is to be preffered over the multiple dosings because it has a more even release and the cumulative effect shows much sooner. Speaking of cumulative effect, the best results with boldenone are seen when a user front-loads. Usually that means he will use a high doses of 600-800 mg/week for 2 weeks and then lower that dose to the normal 300-400 mg/week for the remaining 8-10 weeks.
Boldenone is most often used for cutting. Its stacking partners for this purpose in particular are trenbolone, stanazolol and testosterone propionate. I'm no big fan of testosterone for cutting, although propionate is commonly used with great success by many users. Nonetheless I don't recommend test for cutting for beginners. Stanazolol is particularly useful in improving muscle hardness and strength while boldenone offers increased vascularity without overly aromatizing. The use of 50 mg of stanazolol every day, stacked with 300-400 mg per week of boldenone should serve the purpose of retaining gains and gaining increased definition and vascularity while shedding fat very well. Trenbolone would be a better match for those looking for moderate but very lean gains. Parabolan at 76 mg every other day for example will provide a decent increase in lean mass in combination with boldenone, without having to sacrifice shape or definition. Of course any combination of the above is an option as well. For example 300 mg of equipoise per week stacked with 76 mg of parabolan every other day and 50 mg of Winstrol every day, possibly with some test propionate at 50 mg a day.
But though rarely mentioned, I personally find boldenone the better choice for bulking. Due to its effect on vascularity it is mostly used for cutting, but if you had a drug that increased your appetite like boldenone does, would you really use it to lose weight? It makes more sense to use it in a stack with a testosterone ester like enanthate or cypionate for good gains, instead of nandrolone. Sort of as a base. It aromatizes less than nandrolone and doesn't have that pesky progestagenic effect either, and because it increases appetite it would provide you with the means to an end in terms of gaining weight. 300-400 mg a week of boldenone with 500 mg of sustanon or 500 mg of testosterone enanthate would form an incredible stack. Even for those who prefer deca, adding a small amount of boldenone will go a long way in improving appetite. But boldenone is stronger than Deca, mg for mg, as well as safer and less suppressive.
Boldenone makes a very poor match for nandrolone and methenolone though, since its very similar in action. The beauty of boldenone is that it can be an alternative for nandrolone when bulking due to its leaner results and more potent anabolic action, as well as an alternative for methenolone because while barely aromatizing its stronger than methenolone (Primobolan), gram for gram.
The use of secondary drugs is rarely required. It doesn't aromatize at a great rate so the use of anti-aromatases is rarely implemented and the use of Nolva and clomid, during a cycle, is only necessary when stacked with aromatizing steroids like testosterone. Nolvadex or Clomid may have some use in restoring natural test post-cycle, because of the long-acting ester (11 carbons) and the mild estrogenic component. Normally 4 weeks of treatment is required, starting 1.5 to 2 weeks after the last shot.
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Esiclene
Pharmaceutical Name: Formebolone
Chemical structure: 17-alpha-methyl-2-carboxaldehyde-androsta-1, 4-dien-3-one-11alpha,17b-diol
Molecular weight of base: 330.4692
Effective dose: 2-4 mg/day per muscle injected, or 50 mg/day orally
Characteristics:
Formebolone is a form of methandrostenolone (Dianabol). It has the same base structure, but with a few key alterations such as the attachment of 2-carboxaldehyde group and an 11-hydroxyl group. As with Fluoxymesteron (Halotestin) the 11-hydroxyl-group keeps the steroid from aromatizing. That means no estrogen can be formed. As we all know Methandrostenolone can form a quite potent estrogen that causes bloat and swelling, fat gain and even gyno. One would not encounter such problems with formebolone. But as we also know, methandrostenolone is largely dependent on estrogen for its gains because it is a particularly weak androgen. That makes this a relatively weak steroid, with little or no potency for growth. My best guess is that the attachment of the 2-carboxaldehyde group serves the main purpose of stabilizing the 3-keto group, in the hopes of increasing androgenic binding a little bit. The 3-keto group is after all essential to androgen receptor binding. But Methandrostenolone already has next to no affinity for the enzyme 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which removes the 3-keto group, so it's a structural change with very little use.
What the 2-carboxaldehyde group also does however, is render formebolone very irritative. And that, surprisingly, has made the injectable version of it very popular with bodybuilders. Here you have a weak steroid, with little to no inherent anabolic activity, in a vial at only 2 mg/ml. And yet it's a much sought after product by many professionals. Why? Well the irritative quality seems to provide a swelling in the injected area for a certain duration, giving the injected muscle a much fuller and bigger look. Much like that crap being used today, synthol, but then more even and more temporary. Its no secret that bodybuilders of the late 80's and early 90's loved this stuff. Its mostly reserved for professional and semi-professional bodybuilders however, because the cost on the black market was phenomenal, due to the limited availability of legitimate Esiclene. At 15 bucks per 2 ml vial sometime, a two week treatment for 2 or 3 bi-lateral muscle groups would soon run you 500-800 dollars. And obviously in competition, formebolone was never the only steroid used.
In medical circles formebolone was mostly used to treat children with a growth deficiency. The mild nature of a non-aromatizing methandrostenolone, and the absence of an estrogenic component which could stunt growth, a decent amount of success was obtained with these trials. They caused an increase in bone age, without jeopardizing the final height of these pre-pubescent and pubescent children1. This indicates a mild anabolic activity, corroborated by another study done on people with renal insufficiency2. Formebolone was capable of increasing nitrogen retention to a point where excess excreted amino acids no longer taxed the liver. But the degree of anabolic action itself, is too mild to warrant its use for performance enhancement.
The swelling usually lasted 3-4 days, and treatment often limited to the 10-14 days preceding a show. At that top level, the use of Esiclene alone could make the difference between a winner and a loser.
The oral form may offer a little bit of anti-catabolic activity, but as you can imagine, methandrostenolone without estrogen is basically like a bar without beer. Its there, but what is the point? Like methandrostenolone it comes in 5 mg tabs, and equal doses (25-40 mg/day) would elicit maybe 1/4th or 1/5th of the action of methandrostenolone. Maybe not bad for women (studies show the absence of any severe degree of virilizing properties3, further justifying the low androgenic potency), or those really prone to gyno, but basically a waste. Especially if you know the oral form is extremely hard, if not impossible to find (I have yet to come across it) and therefore it will probably cost an arm and a leg. This is one steroid best forgotten in my opionion. The injectable form however remains a very popular and welcome commodity.
Stacking and Use:
One could stack the oral form with most anything. Although its inherent weak nature and lack of estrogenic conversion would suggest its best used when cutting, and stacked with drugs that serve that purpose as well, such as stanozolol (Winstrol), Trenbolone (Finaplix), Methenolone (Primobolan) and oxandrolone (Anavar). Although its mostly a waste. Even doses of 50 mg per day would offer us little if any anabolic benefit because it's a very poor androgen. This steroid is also 17-alpha-alkylated and thus toxic to the liver. Use should never be longer than 5-6 weeks maximum to be perfectly safe. But these points are mostly moot. Even if you had the money and the resources to do this, you'd be a fool not to spend them on more effective steroids.
The injectable version is used in the final 10-14 days leading up to a contest. Usually starting with 1 ml in each muscle being treated to assess your tolerance, and then a full 2 ml (1 vial) in each muscle daily. This treatment is really only suited for deltoids, biceps, triceps, calves and hamstrings. In larger muscle groups the results may be somewhat distorted and uneven, which may cost you more points than anything in a contest. The alternative is to do multiple even shots per muscle, but then you need someone with experience to apply it everywhere evenly. It would be impossible to do that yourself. Little bit of advice, never use it on the forearms, they consist of over 20 muscles, most of them with their own fascia. You would have to inject all muscle separately to get a good effect, and poking yourself 40 times a day is not something you want to do. Also, in muscle groups that consist of different muscle or muscle bellies, make sure you inject in the same place on both sides, so you get the same part of the muscle to swell. I can only imagine how ridiculous it looks to see the biceps femoris swollen to the brink on one leg, and the semitendinosus on the other side blown out of proportion.
Swelling should subside in 3-4 days after stopping, after which injected muscle will return to its original size.
Because its so weak and exerts no real anabolic influence at any receptor, the use for alternate compounds to control side-effects is mostly obsolete.
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Finaplix
Pharmaceutical Name: trenbolone (as acetate)
Chemical structure: 17-beta-hydroxyestra-4, 9-11-trien-3-one
Molecular weight of base: 270.3706
Molecular weight of ester: 60.0524 (acetic acid, 2 carbons)
Effective dose: 40-70 mg every 2-3 days either transdermally, nasally or by injection
Also see "Parabolan" profile.
Characteristics:
AAccording to many an opinion this drug delivers the best gains, qualitatively speaking, for money. You notice two names on top of this profile, but unfortunately finaject hasn't been made in quite a while now. Since 1987. This is quite a shame. Both Finaplix and finaject are veterinary steroids and were readily and easily available for democratic prices. Finaject was an injectable and provided you could find a sterile source it was quite convenient. Now only finaplix remains as the original source of trenbolone acetate. The Ttokkyo brand trenbol75 surfaces from time to time as well, but its derived from the same material, though qualitatively not as pure. The problem with finaplix as opposed to finaject is that it comes in veterinary implant pellets, and trust me, you don't want to get one of these babies shot in your butt. So it needs to be converted to either a transdermal (often using DMSO) or an injectable. There are kits to achieve both. Trenbolone nasal sprays are gaining popularity as well.
Trenbolone acetate is rather short-acting but well liked because of its great availability and price. The alternative is the limited availability of Parabolan, a longer-acting trenbolone ester made for human use. Unfortunately certain lots only surface from time to time and they never sell cheap. They do act quite a bit longer. Parabolan (trenbolone as hexahydrobencylcarbonate) has the half-life of an enanthate meaning it requires less frequent injections. One of the major problems with finaplix however is that beginners making sterile injectable compounds isn't a wishful thing, and often leads to abscesses and infections.
The fun with Fina is that it causes small, well-maintainable and quality gains. Naturally it won't give you the sort of mass that testosterone or methandrostenolone would give, but it makes up for it by adding only quality mass (no estrogen formation, so no fat and water retention) which is quite easy to keep on your frame. In contradiction to many aromatizing steroids such as testosterone where a large portion of the gained mass is quickly lost again after discontinuation of the product.
It's also a very versatile product that can be used in a lot of different ways. One could easily stack it with testosterone, anadrol or dianabol for mass gains where the actions of trenbolone cause severe strength gains and add some quality to the mass. Since trenbolone was found to be roughly 3 to 4 times as anabolic as most testosterone esters it quite easily boosts strength over short periods of time. It acts well on the androgen receptor with as a result that it can have certain side-effects. Most notably the normal androgenic side-effects such as increased acne and a risk for prostate hypertrophy, definitely increased aggression leading to roid rage in prolonged use of high doses and in some cases an aggravation of an existing hair loss problem.
On the other hand trenbolone just as easily combines with stanozolol or methenolone for purposes of reducing body-fat. Bill Roberts recently claimed that trenbolone doesn't reduce body-fat and that nothing in the literature proves it does. But I beg to differ. Either Mr.Roberts isn't too bright or he doesn't know how to perform a medline search, since after a mere minute of searching I found a study1 that clearly documented the fat-loss aspects of trenbolone acetate. It clearly concluded (even said so in the abstract) that trenbolone does indeed reduce body-fat (as androgens do, we discuss this in our profile of Masteron), but only when not competing with circulating estrogen. This means as a fat-loss agonist, trenbolone is best used late in a cycle and only combined with non-aromatizing steroids since it competes with circulating estradiol. Body-fat percentage when cutting would drop regardless, simply because of the qualitative lean mass gain made while no extra body-fat is deposited.
And finally in doses of 50-100 mg daily, trenbolone acetate can be used just fine by itself and quite favorably. In fact for people starting out, not too concerned with the side-effects and looking solely for a quality increase in lean muscle, small doses of fina (50mg/day injectable) would be very suitable.
The mechanism by which trenbolone mediates skeletal muscle hypertrophy is diversified and not very well understood. On the one hand trenbolone is a very active agonist of the androgen receptor, as illustrated by its increasing strength and aggression at the level it does. While this is a large contributor there is evidence that it mediates muscle growth by another pathway entirely2,3, namely the increasing of satellite cell sensitivity to an increase in IGF-1 (Insulin-Like growth factor 1) and FGF (Fibroblast growth factor). This would result in a much, much greater nutrient uptake and protein synthesis and explain why trenbolone is so much more potent in building lean muscle than other non-aromatizing, AR-mediated steroids like drostanolone and mesterolone.
In fact, in veterinary cycles the androgenic hypertrophy is regarded as the strongest of any steroid, which is why instead of using aromatizing compounds to enhance mass in cattle, they now inject them with products like Revalor-S, which contains trenbolone and estradiol, to make up for the lack of estrogenic mass accrual.
The points one may wish to consider during use of Fina is the low sterility of some home-brewed concoctions along with the already relatively painful injections (high alcohol content). This can lead to multiple problems when it is injected daily. Lumps due to plentiful same-site injections, abscesses and infections caused by faulty filtering and so on. Trenbolone is not particularly toxic though. Liver values are barely elevated while using it. Though there is no evidence or explanation to support this, some users reported a certain kidney-toxicity. Blood in urine and all that. While this was no doubt the result of a fake (Finaject used to be an often faked steroid shortly after its discontinuation) but I figured I'd mention it. Other than that mild androgenic effects such as acne and an increase in hair loss are noted as well.
For those seeking to use trenbolone there are many online sources on how to make injectable, transdermal and intranasal forms if you can get your hands on fina. Some sites even sell conversion kits that make the whole even easier.
Stacking and Use:
Trenbolone is relatively safe steroid all in all. There is some concern about kidney toxicity, but usually exaggerated. The beauty of trenbolone is that its one steroid that has it all : Its highly effective in its own, provides all lean gains which are fairly easy to maintain and isn't very prone to cause side-effects. Finaplix particularly provides you with a cheap source of trenbolone as well. The problem is making the cartridges into a sterile injectable or transdermal.
A transdermal is made quite easily. Option number one is simply to get your hands on some DMSO, mix up a 50/50 mix of DMSO and water, add in the crushed up fina pellets and apply to the skin. The second is to make an alcohol carrier. You can find the necessary products at any local pharmacy and the more you buy, the cheaper it gets. All of it perfectly legal, easy to obtain since pharmacies are supplied 5 times a day and not too expensive. You need ethanol (as pure as it gets, I use SD40) and Isopropyl Myristate (IPM), a mix of isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid. Mix up 70% ethanol and 30% IPM and dissolve 50 mg per ml trenbolone in your solution. Meaning if you had a solution of half a liter (500 ml) you could add in 25 grams of trenbolone. Again, simply apply and let it dry. These methods will give you roughly 25% absorption of trenbolone.
To get the maximum it is recommended that you inject the stuff of course, but that's slightly more complex as you need to get rid of a lot of the crap they put in these cartridges. You will need sterile oil, solvent (lipophillic), 1 empty sterile container, A syringe filter, two syringes and 2 18gauge needles. Start by putting your pellets in your solvent, and let it sit. You want the pellets to become completely undone and dissolved in your fluid. This is imperative. Shake it up real good and then let it sit for 12-48 hours to let all the crap sink to the bottom. Now take one of your syringes and start transferring the fluid into the sterile oil. You can decant as well, but you really don't want any of the crud on the bottom to make it into this solution, so using the syringe and doing it slowly is the best way. Now take your empty sterile container and use a new syringe to transfer the oil. Attach a syringe filter between syringe and needle and slowly put the oil into your container, slowly filtering it. For everytime you repeat this step you need uncouple the filter/needle from the syringe, or else dirt will gather at the wrong side of the filter and get into your solution. In fact, if your container is a vial its advised that you leave the needle in the vial with the filter on it and you just use the syringe to refill and filter. This solution is now fit to be injected. Its still advised to hold the syringe with the trenbolone under some hot streaming water before injecting first though.
One may also want to note that finaplix has decent oral availability as well. In fact, because of the acetate ester its transdermal availability is less than it would be for a pure steroid, so actually its oral potential is greater than its transdermal potential. When taking oral fina, to account for the difference in availability between this and injectable, one would have to consume 240 mg ( 3 times 4 pellets) every day for 6-8 weeks. But it does work and it saves you the time and cost of making a transdermal.
Nasal sprays and sublingual forms are also popular, and while they too have some minor success, they are the worst way to go. It's a steroid, and with the added ester its even more lipophillic. Since the mucous membranes in the mouth and nose only let hydrophilic substances through, the rate of absorption is extremely limited. Usually to achieve this cyclodextrins are used, sugars that are lipophillic on the inside and can hold a steroid inside, but are hydrophilic on the outside, making the whole absorbable through these channels. But since fina does not have this and most of us do not possess the skills to make cyclodextrin complexes in our own kitchens, this is not a path one should consider.
There is little or no need to stack secondary drugs with fina. It does not aromatize. There is some concern as to fina being progestagenic, so you should you opt to stack it with an aromatizable compound it may worsen potential gynocomastia so adding winstrol or Nolvadex, or even both to such a stack may be wise. But in itself or in a non-aromatizing stack this is not necessary. The use for post-cycle estrogen antagonists is limited as well, so Nolva or clomid to boost natural test will have little use. It is a very strong androgen receptor agonist however, so perhaps using some HCG after a cycle may help you retain more gains and prevent testicular shrinkage, but since HCG does increase estrogen that does reinstate the use of Nolvadex or clomid as well.
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Halotestin
Pharmaceutical Name: Fluoxymesterone
Chemical structure: 9-alpha-fluoro-11-beta-hydroxy-17-alpha-methyl-4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol
Molecular weight of base: 336.4457
Effective dose: 20-30 mg / day orally
Characteristics:
With the exception of perhaps anadrol, Halotestin is the single most dangerous steroid to use. Its liver toxicity is unrivaled and you wouldn't be the first person to end up in the hospital with jaundice and dangerously elevated liver values after a hefty cycle of fluoxymesterone. My question has often been simply "Why?". Fluoxymesterone has a low anabolic capacity. The results in mass would be small to non-existent. Qualitatively similar gains as one would book with trenbolone, but tren would go for equal or less money, deliver three times the gains and wouldn't be half as risky to use. Therefor the sole marked use of fluoxymesterone that is actually warranted is that by power- and weightlifters seeking to boost strength while remaining in a set weight class.
In bodybuilding its used near the end of cutting cycles, since in people with an already low body-fat percentage it adds a distinct hardness and definition to the look, although, as stated, better and safer products will achieve similar effects. As with these alternatives fluoxymesterone has absolutely zero estrogenic activity and will thus not add water or fat to the frame in any way.
While a definite increase in aggressiveness and a notable rise in erythrropoesis is noticed with the use of fluoxymesterone, it has been theorized that it actually has very moderate binding to the androgen receptor. Either that or it shows a higher affinity for other receptors. The enzyme aromatase comes to mind because of the effect it has, like a DHT compound would, on muscle hardness. The latter seems like a better explanation. On the one hand there is nothing that would immediately indicate it acting on the androgen receptor, on the other there is very good likeness to other steroids that are mostly AR-mediated. Its my best guess that not all has been said about fluoxymesterone. Its not a very interesting or grateful object of study however due to the high risk and low yield of this particular steroid.
Athletes that may consider its use are endurance athletes that do not get drug tested (as it is quite easy to detect). The stimulating effect on erythropoesis (red blood cell production) and cell respiration, such an athlete would find a good use for the increase in aerobic capacity noticed for this, without adding unnecessary bodyweight to the frame he has to carry. In this aspect it may be good to note that a short cycle of Halotestin with a moderately long cycle of Equipoise may have some merit in this instance. Neither would increase water retention drastically, neither would give explosive gains. But both have positive effects on the VO2 max.
In any case, and whatever the reason of use, 4 weeks is the best duration of use, 6 weeks at the most. As stated before, many athletes, having used fluoxymesterone while not under supervision of a physician, have ended up in the hospital with life-threatening conditions.
Stacking and Use:
Halotestin is taken in mild doses (10-20 mg) every day for short periods of time, 4 weeks, 6 weeks at the very most due to its high level of toxicity. The use of anti-estrogens is not necessary since fluoxymesterone does not aromatize at all. As secondary drugs one may want to consider blood pressure medication such as catepressan to avoid hypertensive conditions. What you will definitely need is a check of liver values on a regular basis if you want to play it safe. I don't normally recommend the use of liver-protectors during a cycle as enhances liver function breaks down a greater amount of your steroid, but in this case you ought to make an exception. Milk thistle, dessicated liver, vitamin B6 and such both during and after a cycle are highly advised. There is no need for clomid of Nolvadex use after a cycle to bring back natural test.
Halotestin really only serves a purpose as a bodybuilding drug when the athlete is cutting. Probably in the late stages of a cutting cycle to promote muscle density and hardness, preserve muscle tissue and such. To that effect it may be good to use some Halotestin (20-30 mg/day) the last 4 weeks of a boldenone or methenolone cycle for example, or at the end of a stack with trenbolone. It may make a good stacking partner for stanazolol (Winstrol/Stromba) as well since they serve the same purpose. But frankly in all cases opting for a higher dose of the other drug may be a better choice, both in terms of gains and safety. Boldenone (Equipoise) being the one possible exception. Due to its toxicity Halotestin is not much sought out in stacks.
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HCG / Pregnyl
Pharmaceutical Name: Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin
Effective dose: 1500-7500 IU every 5-6 days
Characteristics:
Human chorionic gonadotrophin is a strange hormone. Its only found in the placenta of pregnant women. For women it has fairly little use if any however, but to the male athlete it has one interesting property. It can mimic the action of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the body. LH is a pituitary hormone that is released and signals the manufacture of testosterone in the testicles. The sex hormones in the body work via a negative feedback system, where too much sex hormone (like anabolic androgenic steroids and estrogens) causes a signal to the brain to stop the release of LH. During long duration cycles, if natural test stays suppressed for considerable time, a male user will begin to note an atrophy in his testicles, meaning they will visibly shrink purely out of disuse. By administering an LH-mimicking agent, one can bring back the function of the testicles and let them regain their size. This is the main use of HCG.
Since it forms testosterone in the body to some extent, it can impart certain performance enhancing properties, but usually these are not major. The side-effects accompanied with HCG use (usually androgenic such as extreme acne), its low rate of effect, the cost compared to more effective steroids and so on will mostly keep athletes from using it for that purpose. Moreover it can be tested for in athletic competitions, so most will stay clear of it. But to the steroid user HCG is an almost essential part of a cycle. Because of its effect on bringing testicle size back it can promote the return of natural testosterone, since the first natural signals can immediately deliver a higher yield of testosterone in the body. And getting natural testosterone back online after a cycle is crucial, especially if you intend to keep most of your hard-earned gains. Without adequate natural endocrine response you will not be able to maintain a mass that was higher than before.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/cathcg.jpg
The downside is that HCG too is suppressive of natural testosterone. Because it takes the place of LH. LH is not the first step in the chain of command, instead its manufactured in the pituitary under the response of Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) which is secreted from the hypothalamus. And since an LH mimicking agent is supplied exogenously, the negative feedback signal to the hypothalamus will still tell it to stop making GnRH, and so no natural LH is produced. This is why the product is always used in conjunction with a potent estrogen receptor antagonist like clomid or Nolvadex. When the androgen level in the body has dropped, these antagonists will lower estrogenic response creating a steroid deficit that signals the Hypothalamus to start making GnRH. When it does, after HCG therapy, testicle size is up again and shortly thereafter natural testosterone manufacture should return to normal. But therefore its crucial that users note that though HCG is essential after long cycles, it shouldn't be used without clomid or Nolvadex AND HCG should be discontinued at least two weeks before coming off Clomid or Nolvadex or else it will suppress natural testosterone itself.
Also important to take into account : using HCG for too long a period of time or in doses that are excessively high, can desensitize the testicles to the effect of LH and would put your right back where you started from. Basically that would mean you spent money to no avail. In terms of side-effects one should expect some androgenic signs such as acne and there is a risk for hair loss or prostate hypertrophy, but in most cases this compound will be used for 3-4 weeks, so these should not manifest themselves to any serious degree. There will also be some estrogen build-up, but since the user HAS to be on clomid or Nolvadex, this should not become apparent either. Next to this, HCG being a fertility drug, one should be aware that increased blood pressure and blood clotting can occur. HCG is clinically used to make women ovulate, or to invoke birth in pregnant women.
Stacking and Use:
You would normally opt to use HCG after you've done a long cycle, usually 8 weeks or more. Note that almost all proper cycles are 8 weeks or more in length, its just that some beginners have a phobia of needles and opt to waste their time with an all oral stack first, in which case the cycle wouldn't be longer than 6-7 weeks. In these cases too HCG can have a use, but most of the time testicular atrophy will not have progressed to such a stage that it is an absolute necessity. In any case, you should run it about 3 weeks, totaling about 4 shots. One every 5-6 days. Start off with one shot of 3000 IU somewhere in the last week of your stack, then another 3000 5 days later, then drop to 1500 5 days later and a last shot of 1500 6 days after that. Sometime after the second or third shot, therapy with Nolvadex or clomid should be commenced and continued for 4-5 weeks. How to do this, I refer you to the Nolva/clomid profile.
In any case, I'll repeat it again, since it is important. HCG IS and always will be an important part of post-cycle recovery, but it should never be run too long or at too high a dose and should always be accompanied by the use of either Clomid or Nolvadex. The use of Clomid or Nolvadex should also be continued at least 2 weeks after HCG is discontinued to avoid the HCG causing problems.
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Human Growth Hormone
Pharmaceutical Name: Somatotrophin
Effective dose: 6-12 IU/day in combination with androgens and insulin for muscle growth, 3-6 IU/day for fat loss purposes
Characteristics:
HGH is, unlike most hormones used by bodybuilders, not a steroid hormone, but a proteinaceous hormone made up of a chain of 191 amino acids. All animals have growth hormone, but each seems to be specific to the species. HGH was first isolated in the late 70's and early 80's as a biological form. The hormone was literally extracted from the pituitary of deceased individuals. As with anything extracted from carcasses this imposed a serious risk of contracting the Kreutzfeld-Jacob disease (since the late 90's best known as mad cow disease), a normally rare neural infliction that makes you spastic and can cause death over a period of no more than two weeks. Not exactly appealing. There also wasn't, understandably, much demand for such a compound on the black market. Late 80's early 90's geneticists succeeded in manufacturing a genetic form of HGH however, through a very complicated technique using mice genes and what have you not (I'm not a geneticist, don't ask me). This also seriously upped the price of the compound.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/cathuman.jpgBut around that time, mainly due to this safer form, some top-level athletes were taking an interest. With increasing drug tests making the most effective anabolics forbidden territory, a pharmaceutical race to find replacement compounds that could not be detected had begun. And since then several athletes have and are still using HGH. It's a very mythical compound, since professionals will use it in high doses and make obvious improvements, yet most recreational users seeking to try it have to settle for lower doses and get little if anything out of it in terms of lean muscle mass increases. Along with several human studies1,2 that clearly document that HGH administration offers us no benefit in this aspect, it makes one wonder. Its terribly expensive and most people seem to get nothing out of it. So is it really worth it when extremely effective steroids can be bought for the proverbial nickel and dime? I don't think so, but I'll get back to that later.
So what is GH useful for? Well first of all its effects on reducing body-fat have been well-documented. Daily doses of 3 to 6 IU injected subcutaneous have actually been shown to spot reduce body-fat mass and have, at least for some athletes, proven invaluable in contest preparation time. This dose, for short periods of time, may be somewhat affordable to a truly dedicated athlete. But one can still wonder if it is really worth it. GH has also been shown to elicit extremely positive effects on erythropoeisis3, the manufacture of red blood cells. The administration of GH in older athletes with a strong decline in GH levels has shown a severe improvement in endurance. Since levels of GH decline by half every decade, a person of 60 has roughly 15-20% of the GH he had at age twenty. So HGH is especially beneficial to older athletes regarding the effects on endurance. But just how effective superdosing HGH in younger top athletes is, no one really knows. It would be virtually undetectable as well, so no doubt this has been experimented with.
Now in regards to muscle mass, I've yet to see anything prove the contrary of what the studies I provided claimed. I've not seen HGH increase muscle mass at all. Then again, I've never seen anyone use 10-12 IU per day the way some top level professionals do. Some claim that HGH can cause hyperplasia rather than hypertrophy. Hypertrophy is the growth of muscle cells, hyperplasia is the division and thus multiplication of cells. The theory goes that this does not increase size immediately, but in due time, due to the increase in the amount of cells, when they all do hypertrophy under the influence of steroids and insulin, the result will be much greater. Of course one side-effects of HGH is that it seems to increase the size of everything, including bones (which gives very ugly protrusions in people who have no growth left in them) and intestines (which explains the incredible increase in gut size of professional bodybuilders, despite low body-fat percentages). Now these side-effects alone would allow for several pounds increase. Stack that with 3 grams per week of testosterone and an equal dose of other steroids, some insulin, lots of rest and 8000 calorie diets, and I really don't see how much the HGH contributed in creating the muscle-weight these athletes have. I mean amateur and recreational users top 260 pounds, fairly lean using 1 gram of test and 1 gram of other drugs per week, maybe some insulin. It seems to me at least that HGH is a royal waste of money. Even if it did contribute 3 or 4 pounds, is it worth a habit of 150 dollars per day? Not in my book.
In short, HGH may provide many benefits, but will rarely be worth the money. Top-level competitors, especially those subject to drug tests may find this to be worth it to give themselves and edge, most will not. HGH is a very effective compound with a lot to offer, but currently not really worth the money you'd pay for it. It is getting cheaper (In Europe the popular thing now is the 36 IU Genetonorm, selling for 50-60 bucks) but until manufacturing becomes more cost-effective, chances of prices reaching sane levels any time soon are not that high. What has been an interesting observation is the re-appearance of the old biological form. While all commercial forms had been discontinued, underground versions of the biological form have resurfaced. Previously despised, the chants of the top competitors claiming HGH is the holy grail of performance, many amateurs will now risk using this crude version to get some of that benefit for a cheaper price. Even if it means they have a high chance of dieing one of the most terrible deaths known to man. It's a funny world, eh?
Stacking and Use:
For the best results HGH should be stacked with any number of compounds. If at all possible the use of a serious steroid cycle, cytomel (T3) and insulin should be used. Not only do these promote the best results with HGH, HGH will allow for better results with them. It promotes the release if IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor I) in the liver, which is an extremely anabolic hormone. In conjunction with insulin it will therefore promote extreme nutrient retention in the muscle cells, providing the perfect anabolic environment. Cytomel seems to give it a great deal to work with. Metabolism is increased, together they form a great fat-loss combo, but more nutrients now become available as well. Along with the nitrogen/protein retention of some strong anabolic steroids this should provide very good overall results. But one can't mistake HGH as some form of miracle cure. Its no better than these other compounds, and it won't turn the cycle into a miracle of muscle growth either. Some would think this because of the incredible cost, but nothing of the sort is true. It has equal use, it just costs a hell of a lot more. Which is my main reason in stating its simply not worth what you get out of it.
For all intents and purposes of increasing endurance and performance to some level, 3 to 6 IU will suffice. The same for most fat loss purposes. HGH has a very short half-life (30-45 minutes or so) and should be injected at least once daily, maybe twice daily if at all possible. For possibly more anabolic results due to its effects on freeing nutrients and increasing IGF-1 levels, 10-12 IU per day are needed for an extended period of time (10-15 weeks), usually in conjunction with other anabolic compounds. Its interesting to note that in your choice of anabolic, an aromatizing compound like testosterone should be given preference since estrogen has positive benefits on HGH as well.
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Insulin
Effective dose: 5-15 IU/ day
Characteristics:
Insulin is not an androgen, or a steroid for that matter. Insulin is a proteinaceous hormone that is secreted from the pancreas, mostly in response to high sugar levels. It's a polypeptide made from 51 amino acids, separated in an A and B chain by a sulfide bridge (Covalent bond). Its main use is to regulate blood sugar levels. If blood sugar levels are too high insulin is released, which stores more glucose in the cells as the polysaccharide glycogen, the prime energy source in the human body. This alone makes it a valuable hormone. But it also increases the uptake of other compounds into the cell. This includes protein. Since anabolic steroids increase protein synthesis, and we eat lots of protein, the only thing missing in that system is a way to get the amino acids to where the protein is synthesized. Insulin can do that. Its interesting to note that insulin does not have a direct negative feedback system like steroids do. When blood sugar levels drop, cells simply become more resistant to the insulin and don't receive as much of an impulse to store glycogen as they would at first. This is important, as it will have certain implications.
Insulin was designed for diabetics, a disease marked by one characteristic : too much blood sugar due to an insulin deficiency. There are two types of diabetics, but this is irrelevant to the discussion at hand. As with anabolic androgenic steroids, taking endogenous insulin will shut down natural pancreatic secretion action. This is not as easily solved as with steroids, where production eventually bounces back. Warning number 1 : Insulin use can, and in the long run will, make you a life-time diabetic. Keep that in mind before you decide that insulin might be for you. On the one hand this is a good way to get a discount maybe, on the other hand, injecting daily for the rest of your life is not a pleasant outlook. On second thought scratch that, there is no positive side as insulin is available freely without prescription at a fairly low cost. This is because when a diabetic does not get his insulin in time it may be fatal. When a diabetic goes into seizure you don't want to waste time going to a doctor to quickly obtain a prescription. By then its too late. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catinsu.jpg
There are three types of non-prescription insulin. Fast-acting, which is mostly used, known as Humulin-R. Then there is an intermediate form (Humulin-N or Humulin-L) which can last almost three times as long, which means up to a day. And lastly there is the Humulin-U, which stays active for longer. Particularly useful for diabetics who may forget their shots, as it stays active longer than a day. There is also a really fast-acting form called Humalog, but this is only available via prescription since it's the most easily abused and the Humulin-R suffices for most diabetics. Humulin-R is the compound most used by the way because it's the shortest acting form. Yes, that's a good thing. In fact it's a very good thing. When administering supra-physiological doses of insulin, more glucose is stored as glycogen resulting in a lower blood sugar level. When your blood sugar level is too low, its called hypoglycemia and it can cause you to go into shock and die. Warning number 2 : If proper protocol for using insulin is not followed, you can die. This has two definite implications. First of all it explains why you want the short-acting form. Blood sugar levels need to be monitored over the active time, so you obviously don't want it to stay active for 24 hours or longer. The second implication is that obviously sugar has to be taken with the insulin to prevent hypoglycemia and sugar needs to be kept on hand for the entire duration of activity, which is 6-8 hours. If dizziness or weakness occurs, more sugar has to be taken. This will be discussed in the how to use section.
Initially, doses of insulin will make you leaner as you store more carbs that would otherwise be stored as fat. But as people will tell you, it eventually has a tendency to make you fat. As indicated earlier, there is no negative feedback, but cells develop a resistance to insulin, in which case circulating excess carbs will be processed as adipose tissue. And if you know what's good for you, you will have circulating extra carbs.
Stacking and Use:
Insulin is obviously best stacked with some form of anabolic androgenic steroid. Its mostly added to stacks including the extremely expensive human growth hormone.
Its proper use entails a single shot once a day of a short-acting compound. Usually Humulin-R, unless Humalog can be obtained. Its best used after a training session, when the body already has a tendency to store more carbs and protein. Although some people prefer other times of day. The standard protocol suggests the use of 1 IU per 20 pounds of bodyweight, but you would do best to start out at a lower dose like 2-4 IU and then work your way up a bit, until you feel you are taking enough. As doses increase, so does the amount of sugar that is ingested with them. Again a standard of 10 grams per IU is given, but I would recommend a dose of 150 grams regardless of the amount as long as it is below 15 IU's, if it is higher then add 10 grams for every IU. Since the compound stays active for 6-8 hours, hypoglycemia can occur at any moment during this time span. So consuming carbs during this time is advised, and at the very least keep a large amount of them handy, so you can act quickly. Dizziness, weakness and feeling sleepy are all pretty indicative of the onset of hypoglycemia and a good sign that you should take another good dose of sugar.
The carb source suggested here should be glucose (dextrose). This is basically blood sugar and will absorb the fastest, minimizing the risk as opposed to other carbs. Mix 150 grams in water and consume within 20 minutes of the injection and keep a glass with another 150 grams handy. If you finish the glass, immediately prepare another until the insulin has cleared the blood.
Again a reminder of the high risk involved with insulin. It can make you a life-long diabetic and in the worst case, it can kill you. I strongly advise against the use of insulin compounds. Should you not heed my warning, follow the protocol to the letter. One slip could mean your life.
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Lasix
Pharmaceutical Name: Furosemide
Chemical structure: 4,17beta-Dihydroxyestr-4-en-3-one
Effective dose: 20-60 mg/day
Characteristics:
Furosemide is the most powerful and most widely used diuretic drug in the world. The injectable version is fast-acting, and dries someone out like prune. Its used in the medical field, mostly in the emergency room, to purge people who have ingested large doses of toxins, hoping that the toxins can be excreted before they enter the system and so avoiding worse problems. It also makes a good shock treatment for people who are admitted with dangerously high blood pressure. Its very multi-functional, but its also a very dangerous drug. It signals the body to immediately excrete both intracellular and extracellular water, and with it the key electrolytes sodium and potassium. This can lead to severe problems. Muscle contraction is based on the exchange of electrolytes. That means in first instance an electrolyte imbalance can causing cramping and other irregularities in muscle contraction. Now if its only a calf or a bicep, no harm done in the long run. But when its your heart muscle, that's another story. In 1985 professional bodybuilder Mohammed "Momo" Benazziza fell dead after winning a Grand Prix, the cause of death was believed to be his pre-contest use of the diuretic Lasix.
In most sports diuretics are used to lose small amounts of weight in a hurt. If you compete in weight classes and need to drop a pound in an hour, lasix will do the trick for you. Cleans the water from your body and you are lighter. If you have a match the next day, you are probably heavier again, so a major advantage. In bodybuilding the use of diuretics is for another reason entirely. The aim is after all to show as much muscle as possible, and to show as much definition and striation within that muscle. Unfortunately even at the dangerously low body-fat percentages bodybuilders compete at, a lot of that definition may still be hidden under layers of subcutaneous water. By using diuretics, that water can be shed and the maximum potential of a physique can be retained. In many cases, the levels of water retained by an athlete has made the difference between doing very well and doing very poorly. And the differences in the water household between the pre-judging of a contest and the evening show have sometimes made the difference between several placings. So diuretics have become an integral part of bodybuilding over the last 20 years.
Furosemide comes in oral tablets of 20 and 40 mg and in an injectable form. The injectable is the most potent. Its injected intravenously, as opposed to most steroids which are injected intramuscularly. It can become active in a matter of minutes and has a drastic effect. But as described previously, also a very dangerous one. The orals will usually take 60-90 minutes to kick in, but have a fairly drastic effect themselves. Furosemide is without a doubt the most potent diuretic in the world. An athlete will rarely opt to take more than 40 mg daily, and only in the last 4 or 5 days leading up to a show. The Injectable version is only used pre-contest, especially if there is testing. Testing for diuretics has become very popular in bodybuilding of late, and that has driven more athletes to wait until after taking their piss, and then inject some Lasix to get rid of the last bit of water. Needless to say this is a reckless practice. If a stronger effect is required, athletes are more likely to opt for adding another, milder diuretic like spironolactone (Aldactone), instead of increasing the dosage of lasix. There are a number of combination diuretics like Lasilactone that enjoy great popularity in the sports sector. Usually they near the potency of using twice as much lasix, but with much less hazard.
Stacking and Use:
Since its so harmful and potentially lifethreatening, furosemide should only be used the last 4-7 days leading up to a contest, with around 20 mg a day, 40 mg at the very most. If a stronger effect is needed, additioning a milder diuretic is advised. 50 mg of spironolactone or hydrochlorthiazide, which are potassium sparing diuretics, will usually do the trick. Adding a potassium supplement to furosemide is wise, 1500-3000 mg daily normally. This keeps electrolytes somewhat in balance and helps prevent the worst of side effects such as nausea, dizziness and cramping. There isn't much use for ancillary drugs with furosemide otherwise. Its an anti-hypertensive in itself, so it could offer relief after a dieting period with ephedrine, clenbuterol and high dose androgens. One should always take care to replenish his water and salt intake after use is discontinued.
Many users will note a very distinct bloating after discontinuing the product, sometimes to the point where everyday movement is near impossible. During the use of this product extremely heavy and painful cramps can occur, as well as Diarrhea, dehydration, dry mouth, dizziness and nausea.
If the injectable is used, make sure its out of necessity. Otherwise I would caution you to stay away from it. If you do, a small amount injected into a vein will have an impact within minutes. Make sure you addition some potassium to it immediately, and have someone watching your back at all times. Keeping a shot of epinephrine handy just in case is not being overly cautious.
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Laurabolin
Pharmaceutical Name: Nandrolone / Nor-testosterone (as Laurate)
Chemical structure: 19-Nor-4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol" or "4-Estren-17beta-ol-3-one
Molecular weight of base: 274.4022
Molecular weight of ester: 200.3204 (Lauric acid, 12 carbons)
Effective dose: 200-800 mg / week
Characteristics:
Laurabolin is an alternate form of nandrolone. It's a good substitute if Deca Durabolin is not available and you absolutely must have nandrolone. The main difference here is the length of the ester. A laurate ester, as in laurabolin, has 12 carbons as opposed to the 10 carbon decanoate ester that Deca Durabolin has. That makes it slightly longer acting. But you would still want to use weekly injections for all intents and purposes, so its basically interchangeable with Deca. The only product truly of interest is Loeffler's Laudrol LA. While Loeffler is the least reputable company on the list, it's the only one that makes Laurabolin in a decent concentration. The 25 and 50 mg/ml versions are really not interesting as they require weekly, single-day injection of 8-16 ml. Not a pleasant or wishful experience in anyway. As with Deca in the same concentration, its rarely if ever used. That's why Deca, which comes in 100 and 200 mg/ml as well, has more popularity than Laurabolin and a more wide-spread availability.
One plus of Laurabolin, because its less popular, is the reduced chance of getting scammed. Most of the crooks who fake steroids will opt to fake Deca because its in higher demand. And since everyone knows Laurabolin is mostly 25 and 50 mg/ml, there wouldn't be an interest in it either. Same with Deca in low concentrations. Nonetheless, if you wanted to be sure of not buying a fake when shopping for Deca, I would tell you to go with the lower concentrations. Although of late I'm more inclined to tell you to forget about nandrolone altogether and opt for Boldenone instead. Not only because its equally available and you have less chance of getting scammed, but also because boldenone is safer estrogenically, has no progestagenic action, provides lean muscle growth, does not bloat you up, is not as suppressive of natural testosterone, is stronger mg for mg and overall a much better and safer steroid. Like I said, this is mostly a product for the old-school vets that absolutely must have nandrolone (old myths die hard).
Since the base compound is nandrolone, you can count on some serious bloating. Nandrolone's androgenic component is mild, but it has a progestagenic binding that allows it to worsen estrogenic effects. Water retention being one of them. Its also a potent aldosterone agonist, and one of the actions of this hormone is to store more sodium. Increased sodium storage means increased water retention. So bloating is something you can pretty much expect. The estrogenic/progestagenic component also makes it a verifiable risk for fat gain and Gyno (growth of breast tissue in men). Because of the progestagenic component, aromatase inhibitors like arimidex, cytadren and proviron are fairly useless at countering the side-effects.
Its estrogenic effects combined with the fact that nandrolone readily re-esterifies in the body makes it have some additional problems. First of all on the suppression of natural sex hormones. Natural testosterone is shut down during the use of anabolic steroids, and the idea is to get it to come back online as soon as possible after a cycle so you can maintain most of the mass you gained. Because nandrolone 'lingers' in the body for quite some time and is a tad estrogenic, it tends to suppress the natural endocrine system much longer. With Laurabolin, who's ester is even longer acting, this problem may be even more pronounced. Even with the use of HCG and Nolvadex or Clomid, problems of this nature can arise. That means extensive post-cycle recovery (7-10 weeks) periods and a high chance of losing a lot of the mass you gained. The second problem is the detection time. Nandrolone can be detected in the body 18 months after last use, and word has it the new batch of tests will be able to detect almost 2 years after last use. People subject to random drug testing for anabolic steroids will find any nandrolone particularly unsuited for that purpose alone. Someone should tell all these idiot pro athletes getting busted for nandrolone use lately. You would think people at that level would be more informed.
Of course its not all bad. Nandrolone owes its popularity to its mild androgenic nature. While being a decent enough androgen itself, it does not convert to a more androgenic specimen in androgen responsive tissue such as prostate, skin and scalp. On the contrary. As opposed to testosterone which can form the 3-4 times more potent androgen DHT in these tissues, nandrolone will form DHN, a compound that is several times LESS androgenic. That makes nandrolone one of the safest steroids androgenically speaking, and a very low risk for hair loss and prostate hypertrophy. But still, boldenone makes a nice substitution, because it can rival nandrolone in this aspect. It doesn't have any conversion at the 5AR enzyme whatsoever and keeps its initial potency in all tissues.
Stacking and Use:
Like Deca Durabolin, Laurabolin too is mostly used as a base compound for bulking stacks. Because of its low androgenic nature it allows a user to increase his gains without having to risk more androgenic risk associated with stronger compounds. The best match for it would be a long acting testosterone like sustanon 250, enanthate or cypionate. Augmenting your dose of testosterone with a dose of Laurabolin that is roughly 80% of that dose. So if you would use 500 mg of testosterone, stack it with 400 mg of Laurabolin weekly. It also makes a good match in stacks with daily doses of Dianabol (methandrostenolone) or Anadrol (oxymetholone). The addition of either testosterone or Proviron (mesterolone) is highly recommended, because nandrolone seems to have an extreme suppressive effect on the libido. The term Deca dick is often used here, where temporary impotence or a severe loss of sexual interest can occur. Testosterone or Proviron can somewhat counter this problem.
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In terms ancillaries, it may be wise to have an estrogen receptor antagonist like Nolvadex or Clomid handy when using a long acting nandrolone like Laurabolin. Aromatase inhibitors (cytadren, proviron, arimidex) have a limited use, because nandrolone can aggravate circulating estrogen by binding the progesterone receptor, so its smarter to keep estrogens from binding by using a receptor competitor like the aforementioned. Because nandrolone is also nasty suppressive stuff, the use of HCG and Nolvadex or Clomid is an absolute must. To be absolutely sure nandrolone won't cause any problems in this area, I would actually suggest you discontinue your Laurabolin 1-2 weeks prior to ending your stack/cycle. That will give it a chance to somewhat clear the body by then.
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[B][SIZE=5]Masteron[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] drostanolone (as propionate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 2 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one
[B]Molecular weight of base and ester:[/B] 360.5356
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 100 mg every 2-3 days [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]M[/B]asteron is hard to find these days, if at all, and that's quite a shame for many competing bodybuilders because in terms of achieving the best results while shedding body-fat, nothing really beats drostanolone. Drostanolone is structurally a 2-methylated form of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is formed when testosterone interacts with the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. DHT is dreaded by many who fear androgenic side-effects such as increased acne and body hair, loss of hair and prostate hypertrophy. 5-alpha-reduction often mediates or speeds up such processes because DHT binds to the androgen receptor 3-4 times better than testosterone. That means androgenically speaking, no steroid is quite as powerful as DHT.
[B]F[/B]or those looking to reduce body-fat and water retention such a compound is literally a dream. Drostanolone, being 5-alpha reduced, cannot form estrogen upon interaction with the aromatase enzyme yet still shows a very high affinity for it. Because it takes up so much of the aromatase enzyme, yet is refrained from actually using it by its structural make-up, it reduces the amount of estrogen formed1 from other steroids as well because there are less aromatase enzymes to be used by those compounds to form estrogen with. This made stacking with slightly aromatizing compounds such as boldenone much more bearable as it eliminated even the slight aromatisation of such substances. So for bodybuilders the use of drostanolone is not only in limiting estrogens in question, but also eliminating possible estrogen formation from other steroids used during this time for increased anabolic or anti-catabolic activity. This because, especially for larger bodybuilders, drostanolone alone does not suffice to retain the maximum amount of weight.
[B]T[/B]he reduction of estrogenic capacity of course made drostanolone ill-suited for use as a mass-builder. In fact the gains on it were quite limited. Someone seeking to gain muscle mass rarely, if ever, resorted to a DHT compound. But coupled to its extreme androgenic qualities it lead to the perfect compound to retain strength and mass while shedding body-fat. The absence of estrogen refrained it from increasing water or salt retention, and there is evidence that the androgenic component may expedite the fat loss process2. The exact mechanims by which a rise in androgens stimulates fat loss is not known, but it is theorized that it may be due to catecholamine-induced (epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine) lipolysis, caused by the androgen increasing the number of beta-adrenergic receptors (the primary triggers for fat mobilization) on the membrane surface of fat cells. It is my understanding however that the noted decrease in body-fat is mainly due to a slight increase in lean mass and a stagnation of the body-fat, automatically resulting in a loss of body-fat in percentages, after recalibration.
[B]T[/B]his would also highly promote its use for power- and weightlifters as they compete in weight classes. Drostanolone can promote the increased strength while keeping body-fat the same or even lowering it. Allowing for an increased perfomance without the risk of being cast into a higher and more difficult weight class.
[B]O[/B]ne possible use for drostanolone during the off-season, when gaining mass, may be DHT's affinity for the binding proteins of sex steroids : sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and albumin. Normally a large amount of testosterone cannot be used by the body in anabolic functions because it is mostly bound to these plasma proteins. When testosterone is administered along with a DHT-compound, the DHT will take up most of the protein and allow the testosterone to exert its massive anabolic effects, thereby increasing the possible gains, especially in lower doses. Of course, due to the limited availability of drostanolone and its high price, this is the type of situation one usually resorts to mesterolone (1-methyl-DHT as in proviron) for. Its cheaper and equally effective to serve this particular purpose (but notably weaker in other aspects, since like DHT its readily deactivated in muscle tissue by the 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme).
[B]W[/B]hen discussing the side-effects, for once I'm going to go easy. This is because most people are well aware of the side-effects of DHT compounds and scared to death of them because androgenic side-effects caused by mass compounds like testosterone are largely attributed to the formation of DHT at the 5AR receptor enzyme. This may be a time to step back and look what sort of damage DHT can realistically do. An increase in acne is almost always noted, but if that doesn't seem to bother you with other steroids, then why with a short-acting androgen like drostanolone ? Hair loss seems to be the major concern, but if you've dealt with the use of steroids before or are educated to their effects you are aware that it merely speeds up a genetically pre-existing condition of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). This condition only occurs in 30% of men and can easily be detected by examining the men on your mother's side of the family. Androgenetic alopecia is passed on through the X chromosome and thus in matri-linear fashion (mothers side). The rule of thumb being quite simple : if you have it, don't touch this compound, if you don't, then you don't have to worry. Yes, it really can be that simple.
[B]T[/B]hat only leaves benign prostate hypertrophy (enlarged prostate) and the related conditions such as prostate cancer. Recent evidence shows that estrogen too is a mediator in the development of this condition, which would lead us to draw the conclusion that a purely androgenic compound, lest taken with a highly aromatizing substance, has considerably less risk for aggravating such a condition than DHT formed by testosterone. These last two paragraphs to show that perhaps the side-effects of DHT are largely exaggerated. But that doesn't mean they just went away because I said so, extreme caution needs to be exercised by individuals at risk for hair loss and prostate problems. But to add one last bit of perspective, keep in mind that this compound is injected and spread across the body evenly. When DHT is formed by testosterone, its formed in androgen specific tissues, meaning its mostly concentrated in scalp, skin and prostate, which isn't the case here.
[B]P[/B]erhaps the most favorable effect of drostanolone is that it can increase muscle hardness and density in the athlete, giving him a more complete and finished look when he steps on stage. A lot of pure androgens have this effect. But with all of them you need an already rather low body-fat level for it to take full effect. A lot of people who had heard of this effect experimented with drostanolone and were sorely disappointed because they were too fat when they started.
[B]D[/B]rostanolone is usually a propionate, which is a short-acting ester. That means frequent injections (every 24-48 hours) are needed for maximum effect. This can be quite a pain and cause abscesses due to the many injection marks at the same site, but this has positives too : Drostanolone propionate can be hid from detection in two weeks or less, making it safe for use up to that point without fear of being exposed at a drug test. Not that it would necessarily interrupt plans if it was, because eventhough chromatographic tests have been able to detect DHT compounds since 1997, they are rarely implemented in most sports. No doubt that gave it an edge over things like stanazolol for many athletes.
[B]O[/B]ne major downside is that as time goes by the odds of finding Masteron are quite slim. It hasn't been made in quite a while and its safe to say that 90% of all you'd find out there are fakes. On some foreign markets there are some masteron analogs available, but even these are quite rare and very expensive on European and American domestic markets.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]D[/B]rostanolone is not a drug that requires the use of alternate drugs. People with a tendency for hypertension may want to take the necessary precautions, but drostanolone does not aromatize at any rate making the use of anti-estrogens irrelevant, both during a cycle to prevent side-effects as post-cycle to boost natural testosterone (E.g. Clomid). There is simply no need for alternate drugs and because its an esterified injectable there is no hazard to the liver worth mentioning either.
[B]B[/B]est use is to inject 50-100 mg every day to every other day, depending on your degree of expertise in training and your size of course. Most beginners will be quite satisfied with either 50 mg every other day or 100 mg every 3 days. Mostly used in conjunction with other drugs as DHT is quite easily de-activated in the body (althouth drostanolone's 2-methyl group protects it somewhat from deactivation by stabilizing the 3-keto group).
[B]D[/B]rostanolone is best stacked with something in the nature of boldenone (Equipoise) at 300 mg a week. The boldenone gives increased vascularity and the drostanolone adds muscle density while the stack as a whole preserves muscle mass. Although its rare that someone opts for a stack of two compounds with largely similar action, something can be said about stacking drostanolone with Stanazolol (Winstrol/stromba). The drostanolone doesn't stay active at the AR very much, often being drawn to SHBG, albumin, aromatase or 3bHSD, but still adds distinct hardness and boosts strength to some degree. Adding Winstrol, which has higher activity at the Androgen Receptor and some affinity for the progesterone receptor may form quite a synergistic stack. It would also be safe to throw in some nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin) at 200-300 mg per week.
[B]O[/B]ne would almost never use drostanolone while trying to gain mass, except in order to block the aromatase enzyme, which forms estrogen. But a better option there is Proviron, an analog DHT-compound (mesterolone) which is basically only used for that purpose. Drostanolone is too expensive and too hard to come by to employ it for that reason.
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[B][SIZE=5]Megagrisevit Mono[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] clostebol (as acetate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 4-chloro-androst-4-en-3-one,17b-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 322.8741
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 60.0524 (acetic acid, 2 carbons)
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 20-50 mg/day [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]S[/B]teranabol is no longer made and cannot be found under this name anywhere. If you do find it under that name, consider it a fake. Steranabol is confusing as well, because Farmitalia still makes steranabol Depot and steranabol Ritardo, but both of those are forms of the nandrolone derivative oxabolone cypionate (see profile on Steranabol). The active ingredient, clostebol acetate is still found in the German product Megagrisevit Mono however, but since that's a little long to pronounce, its either referred to as steranabol or by its pharmaceutical name, clostebol.
[B]S[/B]tructurally, clostebol is simply testosterone with an added chloro group at the 4-position. In itself quite ingenious. I mean you see all sorts of structural alterations to prevent a steroid from interacting with enzymes, but none as simple as this. By putting a structural alterations right on top of the 4-position, it cannot be 5-alpha reduced to dihydrotestosterone, thereby limiting a more androgenic form in androgen specific tissue like scalp, prostate and skin. And so of course, avoiding all problems associated with DHT formation like extreme cases of acne and serious hair loss. But it also prevent aromatization, so no estrogen is formed. That limits fat gain, bloat and the risk of breast growth in men (gyno). Needless to say of course that eliminating the stronger androgenic and all of the estrogenic components, this steroid is nowhere near as potent as its parent, testosterone. But you have to admit the beauty of it. Why use testosterone if you are only going to stack it with fortunes worth of arimidex and finasteride to block estrogen and DHT, if you can just take clostebol and be done with it? I mean if you are going to screw around and mess up the strongest anabolic, do us all a favour and just use this stuff. If you really can't take the side-effects and still want to use a steroid. Although I must say I loathe such people. Either you take it like man and accept the risk, go for the gains and get from it what you can, or you can't tolerate the risk, and then you should just stay away from all steroids. Period. I hate those "I want it all and don't want to pay for it" type of people.
[B]T[/B]his steroid is understandably weak and with little to offer to a serious user of anabolic steroids. Although it does offer us a form of testosterone that is perfectly fine to use under all circumstances when cutting. Its not a very userfriendly drug however. Megagrisevit Mono injections come in 10 ml per 1.5 ml injection That means 7.5 ml need to be injected on a daily basis. I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't like to play for pincushion. Women may find a use in this steroid as its androgenically so much less aggressive than testosterone, and
a single 1.5 ml injection daily can give them appreciable results. Which is not so for males.
[B]W[/B]hile I can show little appreciation for this steroid from a performance enhancing point of view, which for me is the main point of interest, in treatment, medically speaking, it's a god-send. It was commonly used in women and geriatrics with great success and a low rate of side-effects, and could possibly aid children with growth deficiency. For AIDS patients too, clostebol may be a more natural and effective way of treatment than oxandrolone (Anavar) without having to suffer the consequences of oxymetholone or testosterone use. So as a scientist to be, I can certainly see the brilliance of such a simple alterations and the effect it has. I believe clostebol, if attached to a longer ester and in larger injections, like 250 mg/ml clostebol enanthate or something, it has a lot of promise in hormonal replacement therapy and the treating and prevention of wasting diseases.
[B]T[/B]here is an oral form of clostebol acetate, under the same name of Megagrisevit Mono, but it has no alterations that suggest increased oral availability. As such, oral doses would have to be 10-15 times higher to elicit a similar effect as the injections, and so not very cost-effective.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]C[/B]lostebol acetate stacked with a decent base compound for cutting would be a good enough product for all but pro bodybuilders. 50-75 mg/day to every other day stacked with 300-400 mg a week of Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate) or Primobolan (methenolone enanthate) for 8-10 weeks, would make a great stack for maintaining lean mass and promoting muscle hardness in cutting bodybuilders. Non-aromatizing orals like Winstrol, Anavar and Mesterolone make a good match for it as well. [B]S[/B]ince it no longer aromatizes, the use for anti-estrogens is futile, and because it doesn't interact with the 5AR enzyme that well anymore, adding finasteride is out of the question as well. After long treatment HCG and Nolvadex or Clomid post-cycle is advised to counter the suppressive nature of any steroid stack of course. But all in all, clostebol can be considered a very safe steroid.
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[B][SIZE=5]MENT[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Trestolone, MENT, 7MENT (as acetate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 7-alpha-19Nor-androst-4-en-3-one,17b-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 288.429
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 60.0524 (acetic acid, 2 carbons)
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 10-50 mg every day [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]I[/B] MENT has always been my favourite steroid, and that's just from reading the studies and looking at the structure of it. Thinking of what MENT can do should make every steroid user drool. This stuff is nearly as strong as its 17-alpha-alkylated counterpart mibolerone (cheque drops) but without the mad liver toxicity. It's a 19Nor substance, a nandrolone derivative. Its very much like nandrolone, except it has a 7-alpha-methyl attachment. This attachment stops it from being 5-alpha-reduced1. Now as you know, 5-alpha-reduction makes nandrolone, otherwise a very potent hormone, much weaker. A nandrolone derivative without 5-alpha-reduction for example is trenbolone (Parabolan/Finaplix), a very strong and potent androgen. But because of trenbolone's triple double bond structure, it also does not aromatize. But MENT on the other hand is still capable of aromatizing2 (which would not be the case with a 4 or 5 methylation), so you still have the benefits of estrogen : extra strength, better glycogen use, upgrading of androgen receptor, increased GH output and more IGF1. Its estrogenic potency may in fact be slightly larger because 7-alpha-methyl-estradiol (the product of MENT aromatization) may show less affinity to binding proteins as well. It is in fact suggested that part of MENT's actions may be the result of this potent estrogen1.
[B]T[/B]his stuff should literally and in all aspects be stronger than testosterone. Its androgenic character will be like trenbolone (same risk of hair loss, prostate hypertrophy, acne, deepening of voice) and its estrogenic character will be like that of nandrolone (same risk of gyno, bloating and fat gain). But its hypertrophic ability should be much higher than either of these, or even testosterone.
[B]O[/B]ne question begs to be asked however: why on earth would they make it an acetate ester? In depot shots that means daily injections. This is after all the same company that is looking to market injectable testosterone undecanoate for shots once every 10 weeks. Well, so far two uses have been found for MENT in the medical community. Sundaram, who is probably the leading researcher where nandrolone and its derivatives are concerned, found it to be of perfect use for both replacment therapy for men, as well as for male contraception3 (Which would suggest it at least doesn't suffer from the libido suppressing drawback that nandrolone does). And from what the latest research in the matter seems to suggest, it looks like Schering is planning on making it in implant pellets4 that would release the drug over time, with 4 pellets delivering no more than 1.3 mg/day ! Assuming most of us do not want to use 40-50 pellets that could pose a problem for the use of MENT for enhancement purposes, lest there are some black market knock-offs. But take it from one who had looked, currently none of the wholesalers seem to have access to MENT. So the pending release of MENT may not be such joyful news after all (except for Schering who stands to profit nonetheless).
[B]T[/B]here is one study5 in particular that documented the exact effects of MENT very well, although it was carried out on castrated mice so these effects may not be transcribed to humans. MENT was capable of restoring sexual behaviour and seminal vesicle weights to intact levels as good as testosterone but at 1/3rd of the dose ! What was also interesting was that MENT did not seem to stimulate aggressive behaviour at all. Compared to a control group of castrated mice, there levels of aggression did not nominally increase at all. This could be positive news for all those roid ragers out there giving the steroid community a bad name.
[B]A[/B]nother interesting study6 more or less quantified the effects of MENT as compared to testosterone, and found that its androgenic character, based on the weights of ventral prostate and seminal vesicles, was 4 times greater than that of testosterone and that the hypertrophic nature was no less than 10 times greater, based on the weight increase in the levator ani muscle. More disturbing was the finding that the suppressive effect of MENT on HPTA was 12 times greater than that of testosterone, which is concerning at the least for a product with uses as a male contraceptive. The varying figures indicate that where a dose of testosterone that can maintain serum gonadotropin levels and muscle mass, can also maintain the prostate and seminal vesicles, where MENT cannot. This can easily be explained because the larger part of testosterones androgenic action stems from target specific conversion to a more androgenic form in the prostate and other androgen sensitive tissues, because these have a high concentration of 5-alpha-reductase. But MENT is not affected by 5-alpha-reductase.
[B]B[/B]ecause of its 7-alpha-methyl group, MENT also shows no significant binding to SHBG7 (sex hormone binding globuline). On the one hand that is why it is such a strong hormone compared to testosterone (estimated 3 times stronger), but also why its half-life is shorter (begging daily injections still with the acetate ester). So in conclusion we can state that this hormone is extremely powerful at what it does and could find more uses, both in the medical community (to treat wasting diseases and burns) and in the sports enhancement field. While its production is imminent and its safety record proven in both studies with humans and animals, it remains to be seen for what purpose and in what form it will be marketed by Schering. As things are now, it looks like it will be produced in a form that will only be useful in hormonal replacement therapy, and not in short term treatment of burns or wasting diseases, or for sports enhancement.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]his information is of course purely hypothetical and based on an injectable version of the aforementioned acetate ester of MENT. Given the short half life and the short ester, daily injections would be required. In most cycles we would inject around 75 mg per day of test (give or take, based on 500 mg/week). Similar results could be obtained with 25-50 mg per day of MENT. The drug does aromatize like nandrolone, and it aromatizes to 7-alpha-methyl-estradiol. In light of the low affinity of MENT for binding proteins, the same could be assumed of 7-alpha-methyl-estradiol, so this may be a quite potent estrogen. Combined with the progestagenic action of 19Nor steroids that could lead to a reasonable risk for gynocomastia. Especially those prone to estrogen should probably supplement with 1 mg per day of arimidex or 2.5 mg per day of letrozole to keep these effects at bay. If stacked with additional aromatizing or otherwise estrogenic hormones its best to keep Nolvadex on hand as well, and to remind yourself of the progestagenic action. RU486, the abortion drug, is the only known truly effective progestin blocker, but is hard to find and terribly expensive. Combining with Winstrol may help, as it does have some competitive progestagenic blocking abilities, but their extent is not quantified in any study. The androgenic effects may be quite strong, so acne probably will occur, and men prone to problems with male pattern hair loss or prostate problems should be cautious. Due to the 7-alpha-methyl group, MENT is not affected by 5-alpha-reductase, so treatments like Proscar will have no effect.
[B]W[/B]hen stacking this product, one will probably be looking to add mass to the frame. To that extent it could be stacked with testosterone (particularly powerful combo), Methandrostenolone (40 mg/day), Oxymetholone (100-150 mg/day) or Boldenone -(200-800 mg/week) (the latter would be my preference). It would not make a very good match for nandrolone, as nandrolone can be considered the weaker relative of MENT, with similar action but much less androgenic possibilities. Given the progestagenic nature, Stanazolol (50 mg/day) may be a good match for MENT as well.
[B]K[/B]eep in mind that there are very few real world results with MENT on humans, and there is no literal data on its hypertrophic ability, so a lot of this is hypothetical, based on the available studies and evidence.
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[B][SIZE=5]Methandriol[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Methyl-androstenediol (pure or as dipropionate), MAD
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 17alpha-methyl-5-androstene-3beta,-17beta-diol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 304.4716
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] (two times) 74.0792 (propionic acid, 3 carbons)
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 50-100 mg every 2-3 days by injection or 40-60 mg/day orally [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]M[/B]ethandriol (MAD) is not really an actual steroid. It's more of a prohormone. Its only illegal because it's either esterized or methylated, both practices declaring any steroidal substance illegal by the catch clause for schedule III drugs. But basically its 5-androstene-3beta, 17beta-diol, better known as 5AD. A prohormone that is legally available in pure form and a rather weak one at that.
[B]B[/B]eing a prohormone it means it needs to interact with an enzyme to form the active substrate. In this case 5AD is a testosterone precursor, but it only yields about 0.19% of testosterone upon interaction with the 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme1 it uses to convert. So in terms of active anabolic compounds you see MAD is weaker than weak. Even in legal circles 5AD isn't really used very often because there are better substances available. So what's really the use of MAD? Well it seems 5AD is a potent estrogen agonist. That means it doesn't necessarily act as an estrogen and it certainly doesn't convert to an estrogen, but that it increases the effect of circulating estrogens from other compounds. This makes MAD quite capable of increasing bulk weight (water and/or fat) quite well when stacked with a substance that aromatizes heavily, such as methandrostenolone or testosterone. As we discussed in the profile on boldenone (Equipoise) estrogen contributes to the storing of glycogen, the release of GH and IGF-1 in the body. It also upgrades the androgen receptor. Possibly delivering greater results from AR-mediating compounds. Trenbolone, testosterone, drostanolone...
[B]O[/B]ne thing also noted with the use of 5AD prohormones is that they increase the conversion of the 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme in one direction. In legal circles its therefore often stacked with other diol compounds to increase their yield of active substrate. With steroids it may be useful in increasing the amount of activation of compounds compared to deactivation at this enzyme. DHT's such as mesterolone and drostanolone are often deactivated by this enzyme into 5-alpha-androstanes. 5AD use may keep a higher amount of these compounds active.
[B]5[/B]AD also possesses an immune system upgrading effect. For people prone to disease easily, especially on low-calorie diets, 5AD may provide some relief. Perhaps by increasing white blood cells, though the mechanism isn't entirely clear.
[B]T[/B]he downsides are quite clear. By itself it has no real anabolic activity other than that mediated by already existing estrogens. This also means that in high doses (exceeding 50 mg daily) its quite prone to causing estrogenic effects such as gynocomastia. I know of a few people that used a high dose of this substance to increase immunity and developed gyno problems. One might imagine that using a mix of an aromatase blocker (Proviron/cytadren) and an estrogen receptor antagonist (clomid/Nolvadex) may provide relief if it weren't for two things. The first being that its simply not anabolic enough for you to spend more money on and the second being that all the anabolic effects that it does have are mediated by estrogen. Making anti-estrogen use rather counter-productive.
[B]I[/B] can't imagine anyone wanting to use this compound really. Not in this day and age anyway. One thing I have tried to find out, but couldn't quite substantiate is whether or not the injected version (dipropionate) is also 17-alpha-alkylated, like the oral version. The methyl group in its structure indicates it is, but I have my doubts as this characteristic (being 17a alkylated) would make it virtually impossible, or very hard at least to allow double esterification (the addition of di-propionate). But as I stated, I wasn't able to find out.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]M[/B]ethandriol is mostly found as a 17-alpha-alkylated oral, meaning the time-span of its use is limited due to hepatoxicity. After a stack with such a compound one might want to stack a number of proven liver protectors such as P450, milk thistle and Vitamin B6. The reason I do not recommend you take them while taking an oral methylated or ethylated steroid is because they obviously fortify the liver and may increase the hepatic breakdown of your oral compounds. Secondary drugs with methandriol are not wishful. Its not a strong androgen of its own, and most of its anabolic effects are mediated by agonizing estrogen. So while stacking an anti-aromatase or estrogen antagonist may help relieve estrogen-related conditions, it also totally negates any use you may have for this substance.
[B]O[/B]ne would preferably stack this with an aromatizable compound is the logical conclusion. Testosterone (250-750 mg per week) being the prime candidate since it aromatizes well allowing the methandriol to execute its primary function, and is adequately androgenic through its conversion at the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme (to form DHT) that it can benefit from methandriol's ability to upgrade the androgen receptor. Those who fear estrogenic effects, may prefer a mildly aromatizing hormone such as boldenone (300-400 mg per week) better, though one has to wonder about the use of a moderate compound like boldenone by itself, since the methandriol has no real addition of its own to make.
[B]M[/B]ethandriol is rarely sold or found these days, whereas its still easy to obtain. The reason is that a number of legal variations have surfaced over the years. Now these prohormones (5AD) were often considered inferior due to low availability but in the mean time an etherized (attaching an ether instead of an ester) form has become available that gives it adequate bio-availability in higher doses (400-500 mg a day), still amounting to no more than the price of proper methandriol, minus the hepatoxicity. [B]T[/B]he use of an estrogen antagonist such as clomid or Nolvadex after a cycle to bring back natural test is highly recommended, due to the high levels of active post-cycle estrogen in the body at that time. Using Nolvadex for 3-4 weeks at a tapering dose of 40,30,20 lowering the dose every 7-8 days would be adequate to help you bring back natural test and retain more gains.
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[B][SIZE=5]Methyltestosterone[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Methyltestosterone
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 17alpha-methyl-4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 302.4558
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 25-50 mg/day [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]M[/B]ethyltestosterone was, well, still is the worlds first oral steroid developed. Using the now infamous 17-alpha-methyl alteration to render the base hormone, testosterone, orally active. However, unlike the whole host of injectable testosterones, methyltest is a rather crude and not very well liked compound. Mostly due to this alteration. Methyltestosterone is to testosterone, what Dianabol (methandrostenolone) is to Equipoise (boldenone). On the one hand the 17-alpha-alkylation of the steroid gives it less affinity for the aromatase enzyme so less estrogen is formed, but as with Dianabol, the estrogen formed is 17-methyl-estradiol, which is much more potent. Just as we will notice serious bloat and water retention with Dianabol, we will see the same with methyltestosterone, but to a much greater degree, simply because the base structure has twice the tendency to aromatize. With this amount of estrogenic effects, gynocomastia is a very real threat and concomitant use of an anti-estrogen is strongly advised.
[B]T[/B]he alteration also decreases the affinity for other structures. First and foremost the androgen receptor. This offers us few benefits. Due to the decreased androgenic activity the potency of methyltestosterone is weaker than that of testosterone, but even in terms of androgenic risk nothing is really gained. Testosterone being the prime androgen, even with this alteration risk of hair loss, acne, prostate hypertrophy and a whole host of other side-effects is never far away. Also, where Dianabol has little to no conversion to a more active androgen by way of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, methyl-testosterone still shows fair affinity for this particular enzyme and converts to the powerful 17-methyl-Dihydrotestosterone. These type of side-effects alone will turn most experienced users off of methyl-testosterone, at least when equally priced and more controllable injectable products are available. As with any potent androgen, some men may develop aggressive tendencies during its use.
[B]A[/B]s with Dianabol, what we have on our hands here is a very potent mass builder and all in all an effective steroid when observed individually. 40-50 mg per day taken for just a few weeks can make drastic changes. But since many already find the bloat and fat gain of Dianabol a bit much to tolerate, this steroid is never in high demand. Dianabol is more available, provides extremely good results, is quite safe and comparatively cheap. So there is a multitude of reasons why methyltestosterone is rarely used. It seems, however, that it is making a re-introduction as a medical aid for oligospermic men, especially in the United States. One reason for this may in fact be the low demand for it on the black market, making more physicians comfortable in prescribing it due to a lowered chance of abuse.
[B]L[/B]astly, as with all 17-alpha-alkylated steroids, we need to mention the risk for liver damage. A methyl-testosterone product used for extensive time periods can cause severe hepatoxicity, so use is best limited to 6, maximum 8 weeks on end followed by an off-period of equal length or longer.
[B]I[/B]n conclusion, most will find methyl-testosterone to not be worth their while. The side-effects are ever present, and while they can easily be combated with a combination of arimidex and finasteride, it seems a bit idiotic to pay 15 or more dollars per day on ancillary drugs that will reduce the anabolic activity, while spending only 1-2 bucks at most on the steroid itself.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]hose still seeking to use methyltest will probably do so out of necessity and will not be stacking it with another anabolic/androgenic steroid. For such use 40-50 mg taken in a single daily dose upon waking, for a period no longer than 8 weeks would be ideal. Some may wish to use this steroid, like Dianabol, to kickstart a cycle and get results sooner at the beginning of a longer cycle of injectable testosterone, possibly stacked with another base compound such as boldenone or nandrolone. In that case 30 mg or so, again in a single morning dose, taken for the first 5-6 weeks of said cycle would provide the needed benefits. Since this is only useful in bulking stacks with aromatizable steroids, the resulting severity of side-effects will be grave. One needs to verify he is not at risk for hair loss or prostate hypertrophy first, and have ancillary drugs such as Nolvadex, arimidex and finasteride on hand to control the side-effects.
[B]I[/B]n terms of ancillaries, If gynocomastia symptoms should appear, one should start the use of 20 mg of Nolvadex daily and start a cycle of 0.5 mg of anastrozole (arimidex) alongside it. After 3-4 days, the Nolva can be discontinued, but the anastrozole should be continued for a while longer. Some have asked me about the use of Proviron in this matter, but in my opinion one needs to realize how much DHT will be present with the use of this compound to begin with, it may do more harm than good to add more of it (Proviron being a 1-methyl-DHT). So granted, anastrozole is quite expensive, but needs to be given preference here. I don't normally approve of the use of finasteride, because DHT often offers a steroid user more benefits than problems (apart from those prone to hair loss) and the blocking thereof may reduce the results obtained, in this case, especially at the beginning of a longer injectable testosterone cycle, one may choose to look into its use.
[B]N[/B]atural testostosterone shutdown may be quite severe, so the use of HCG and Nolvadex or clomid post-cycle is virtually a must.
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[B][SIZE=5]Metribolone[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Methyltrienolone
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 17-methylestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one,17b-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 284.3974
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 5-15 mg / day [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]M[/B]ethyltrienolone is structurally similar to trenbolone (Parabolan/Finaplix), a well-liked and powerful androgen that does not aromatize to estrogen. The difference is the attachment of a 17-alpha-methyl group for oral activity. So one could refer to methyltrienolone as oral trenbolone. It was first explored quite some time ago by Negma in France, the same company that marketed Parabolan (trenbolone). But the drug was never approved by the French government and was hence never produced. The reason was extreme hepatoxicity. Bill Roberts, the biochemist, once commented that taking methyltrienolone made taking insane doses of anadrol and Halotestin together look mild on the liver. While I was unable to find anything in the literature that describes the extent of the liver toxicity, it's a generally accepted fact. That's also why, to the dissapointment of many, you will never find a commercially marketed methyltrienolone product. Its only sold in bulk to labs and universities for research studies involving androgens.
[B]M[/B]ainly because (and those who wish it was available will wish so even more now) its such a potent androgen. There is some conflicting information in that regard however. Organic chemist Patrick Arnold, head of LPJ research, once stated that methyltrienolone was the most powerful steroid ever, and that statement has been blown out of proportion and taken on a life of its own. While androgenically a very potent steroid, methyltrienolone is still basically trenbolone with a 17-alpha-methyl group. A group that has the tendency to actually reduce the androgenic potency. So it may actually be somewhat milder than trenbolone, on the contrary to what many pseudo steroid guru's are now claiming after reading Pat Arnold's statement. I can't find any other documented effects of the 17-alpha-alkylation influencing androgen binding in a positive way. It's a potent androgen, with more binding than even DHT2, but the study that claims that is mild at the very best about quantifications, whereas people have used the term 1000 times more powerful than testosterone, which is surely exaggerated.
[B]W[/B]hat is interesting is that it seems to show nearly no binding for sex-hormone binding proteins, which makes it a popular choice in androgen receptor studies3, since it will demonstrate equal binding in all tissues regardless of the presence and amount of these proteins. No doubt this plays a role in its supposed binding capacity. In this instance the 17-alpha-alkylation may have played a key role, since it has been demonstrated a multitude of times that 17-alpha-methyl groups decrease the binding for sex-hormone binding proteins as well as most other structures, and due to its triple double bond, trenbolone really didn't bind well to these to begin with.
[B]O[/B]ne of the findings made in clinical tests with methyltrienolone was the discovery of high amounts of the DHT-deactivating enzyme 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in muscle tissue4. Once again proof that God meant to keep us humans weak. Hurray for science. Follow-up studies then went on to show that DHT nonetheless showed similar binding in the prostate, and showing little or no presence of the deactivating enzyme. So God would rather have us all die of prostate cancer than gain a few ounces of muscle. It's a comforting thought, no?
[B]W[/B]hat methyltrienolone, despite its amazing capacity, still doesn't overcome are the basic problems with any 19Nor compound. First of all its effects on libido. Methyltrienolone still seems to affect our sex drive in such a potent manner that the dreaded Deca Dick (temporary impotence) is a very real threat5. Another is that it still binds almost equipotently to the progesterone receptor3. The latter would be of little concern as long as no circulating estrogen is present since methyltrienolone does not aromatize, but could cause problems such as aggravating water retention and gyno (growth of breast tissue in men) if combined with an aromatizing androgen or an estrogen.
[B]W[/B]hile many may wish that an incredibly strong androgenic, non-aromatizing compound as this was available for daily use, its not. And if the indications are true, its probably best. I've warned many people for the toxicity of fluoxymesterone, and everything points to it that methyltrienolone makes fluoxymesterone look like Tums tablets in terms of liver toxicity.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]O[/B]bviously this section is mostly useless, as any who would use, let alone stack methyltrienolone for any decent period of time, wouldn't really be around long enough to tell us how well it worked. Ideally one would use it alone, while dieting or for the purpose of gaining lean mass. The androgenic potency is slightly higher than that of trenbolone, so the risk for aggravated hair loss, acne, prostate hypertrophy and deepening of voice is not only realistic, but almost likely. If one were to use it, you would probably have to use every trick in the book to protect your liver and stay alive: [URL="http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ala.html"][COLOR=#4aa9ff]Alpha Lipoic Acid[/COLOR][/URL], Milk thistle, [URL="http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/liver.html"][COLOR=#4aa9ff]dessicated liver[/COLOR][/URL] and Vitamin B6. The blood pressure raise would not be mild either. So something to lower blood pressure is advised as well.
[B]O[/B]f course the best advice is to refrain from using such a compound, although for 99% of the population that is not a problem, and I would assume that the 1% that does have access would know better.
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[B][SIZE=5]Miotolan[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Furazabol
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 17-alpha-methyl-5-alpha-androsta-2,3-furazan,17b-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 330.4692
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 20-50 mg/day [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]F[/B]urazabol reminds us of Stanozolol (Winstrol) strucrurally. Its similar in appearance in that it's a DHT molecule with a 17-alpha-methyl group for oral availability, and has no 3-keto group, needed for androgenic binding. But instead of a 2,3-pyrazol group, furazabol has a 2,3-furazan group. The difference may not be all that big, both groups contain 2 nitrogen atoms and 2 double bonds and both are present instead of the 3-keto group. The advantage is that its not readily deactivated and therefore whatever influences it has, they are consistent. The downside is that the lack of a 3-keto group, which will impair its overall androgenic potency. So in that aspect again comparable to stanozolol. Anabolics 2002, without a doubt the best reference guide for steroids in print, lists Furazabol as extremely androgenic however, which is no doubt just an oversight. In nearly every way the behaviour of furazabol would be identical to that of Stanozolol.
[B]I[/B]t's an obscure steroid, that's the least we can say. Its only manufactured in Japan and in tabs of 1 mg. Low availability makes the cost of this steroid rather high, and its not particularly easy to find. Perhaps a tad more potent than Stanozolol, the doses used lay in the same neighbourhood, 20-50 mg/day. The higher doses being the preference. The demand for it isn't very high either, because Winstrol/Stromba is a popular and cheap to come by. The only benefit of its obscurity is that noone will invest in faking it. So if you do come across Furazabol, you have pretty good odds that the stuff is legit.
[B]N[/B]ow, the literature does not make a whole lot of mention of furazabol, but from what I was able to find1, it supports the weak nature of the steroid. In one case it was found that furazabol was a good treatment for hyperlipemia, and this without affecting proteinuria (the prevention of excretion of amino acids, where one would expect a steroid to increase proteinuria and not effect hyperlipemia). The low androgen binding may explain the lack of effect it had on proteinuria. The doses used were considerably high though, at least for furazabol. 1.1 mg/kg/day. That means a 200 lb bodybuilder would be using around 90-100 mg/day
[B]F[/B]urazabol can be considered a relatively light steroid therefore. It is not estrogenic in anyway, on account of its dihydro structure and its lack of estrogenic action and low androgenic binding make it have fairly little influence on the body's own testosterone production. Much like Winstrol (stanozolol) and Anavar (oxandrolone). In the long run suppression will occur of course, but because it occurs much slower a user will suffer less from testicular atrophy and therefore bounce back easier when a cycle is concluded. There is a slim chance of androgenic risk, as with Winstrol, but its not frequent or severe. So acne, increased body and facial hair and even an aggravation of male pattern hair loss can occur, but it's a lot less likely than with more androgenic specimen.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]F[/B]urazabol is a 17-alpha-alkylated steroid, and therefore has a level of hepatoxicity. In the interest of protecting your liver, you should not extend use beyond 6-8 weeks maximum. It's a mild steroid with no estrogenic activity, so logically its best used when cutting in stacks with Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate), Finaplix (trenbolone acetate) or Primobolan (methenolone enanthate) and the needed fat-burners of course. Unlike most steroids, this drug has a relatively short half-life2 however. It compensates with quite long activity (15-33% excretion of unchanged metabolites after 24 hours) so a single dose should be enough to get you through the day. But on account of the low half-life time, you may want to consider splitting doses in two each day.
[B]B[/B]ecause it doesn't aromatize and doesn't have a strong androgenic component, the use of ancillary drugs is limited. The use of Clomid or Nolvadex after a cycle is certainly advised, though the merit may be rather limited. There is no need for anti-estrogens or blood pressure medication during the cycle.
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[B][SIZE=5]Nilevar[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Norethandrolone
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] "17-alpha-ethyl-19-Nor-4-androstene-3-one,17b-ol" or "17-alpha-ethyl-4-Estren-17beta-ol-3-one"
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 302.4558
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 20-40 mg / day [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]his is supposedly one of the first steroids in circulation in bodybuilding circles. Its what Arthur Jones had Bill Pearl on in 1956, and it gave him a gain of 30 pounds to win the Universe that year. Not coincidentally 1956 was the release of Nilevar by Searle in the US. The same company that would later bring us Anavar (oxandrolone) which was a lot milder on the system and notably less toxic. Nilevar is rarely used these days.
[B]O[/B]ne could state, though not technically correct, that the substrate is an oral Deca preparation. It stems from the same base steroid (nortestosterone) and acts in a very similar fashion. It too is a potent stimulator of the androgen receptor, substantiated by its readiness to cause virilization in female users. Its likewise deactivated by the 5-alpha-reductase, which explains why in lower end doses its actually one of the mildest steroids, androgenically, in men. Norethandrolone is also a noted progestin and also aromatizes at some rate. This means, very much like nandrolone, that it can cause estrogenic side-effects with small amounts of circulating estrogen thanks to the estrogen-agonizing properties of the progestagenic activity.
[B]I[/B]t's basically nandrolone every step of the way, just slightly weaker androgenically and a little more potent estrogenically. The gains will be bulky due to high water retention, a lubrication of the joints is noted because of this. Nortestosterone metabolites such as norandrosterone can be detected quite long after use in tests, again due to high amounts of esterification in the adipose tissue, so norethandrolone should not be used by drug-tested athletes.
[B]W[/B]hen 30-40 mg are used, good gains in strength can be maintained as well as decent size gains, but they aren't particularly easy to maintain due to the suppressive effect norethandrolone has on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA).
[B]U[/B]nlike nandrolone, one thing should be noted. Norethandrolone is a 17-alpha-alkylated compound. This gives it two distinct differences from the parent compound. The first being that its not esterified rapidly. So while detection of metabolites can be seen a long time after last use, its not quite as long as you would notice with nandrolone. The second is that it has a certain degree of hepatoxicity. That means you probably wouldn't use Nilevar as a base compound for stacking like you would Deca. Its use should be limited to 4-6 weeks and no longer, and regular checks of liver values are recommended just to be on the safe side. Liver values should restore rapidly after cessation of use. Use of the compound is usually accompanied by headaches, gastro-intestinal discomfort and high blood pressure.
[B]U[/B]nlike Anavar, which was Searle's reply to the high rate of side-effects with norethandrolone, Nilevar is very readily available and isn't expensive at all. Probably because not many athletes consider using it anymore. Its most used in the higher weight classes of weight-lifting competitions. And with great success I might add. Powerlifters are also very fond of it. But due to the high rate of side-effects, the limited use and the bulky results, Nilevar is mostly passed up for more effective compounds in bodybuilding circles. Its progestagenic activity also makes a lot of people weary of stacking it for bulking purpose with other compounds that may aromatize, as this heightens the risk of estrogen related side-effects.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]N[/B]ilevar is a moderately anabolic oral 17-alpha alkylated steroid. Its alkylated with an ethyl group rather than a methyl group, as is commonly done. Its hepatoxicity is well-established, though not quite at the level of anadrol or Halotestin. But nonetheless you want to refrain from using it for long periods of time. Using 20-40 mg a day seems to be the proper use. There is no need to split doses up. In fact it may not even be necessary to take it every day, since nandrolone interacts very well with esterase and stores well in the adipose tissue. Mind you, norethandrolone's effect in this matter is strongly reduced as opposed to a nandrolone ester due to its ethyl group. But single daily dose seems to make most sense.
[B]T[/B]he best stacking opportunities are analog to those of nandrolone esters, meaning aromatizable steroids such as testosterone, dianabol or anadrol. The orals make most sense since they would be used for a similar period of time as the Nilevar. There is of course the hazard of stacking norethandrolone and oxymetholone, both steroids that cause estrogenic build-up. In this case the stacking with an anti-aromatase AND a receptor antagonist would be highly advised, as well as adding in some Stanazolol. But 30-40 mg of Nilevar with 30-40 mg of methandrostenolone or 50-100 mg of anadrol would deliver very positive results. Methyltestosterone at 30-40 mg might make a pretty good match for some real bulk as well. The danger of stacking 17AA orals of course is a very real increase in liver toxicity.
[B]T[/B]he use of secondary drugs is highly advised with Nilevar, especially when stacked with the four aforementioned substances. Using Nolvadex throughout the stack at about 20-30 mg every day seems to be the best way to go. And adding in some arimidex (0.5 mg ed) or Proviron (50-100 mg ed) seems cautious as well, especially with dianabol or methyltestosterone. Post-cycle use of clomid or Nolvadex should be encouraged and maintained for 3-4 weeks with tapering doses between 50 and 25 mg. Nolvadex being the preferred compound over clomid due to its higher affinity for the estrogen receptor.
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[B][SIZE=5]Orabolin[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] ethylestrenol
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 19-Nor-17alpha-pregn-4-en-17-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 288.4722
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 20-50 mg/day [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]P[/B]eople who have been in this game for a long time, may remember this steroid as Maxibolin. Its most popular name. But to avoid all confusion, its now best referred to as Orabolin, because Maxibolan was taken from the market some time ago. Most experienced users will of course prefer not to remember Orabolin at all. It was a bit of a failure in all aspects.
[B]F[/B]irst of all it's a 19Nor-steroid, a derivative of nandrolone. I'm no big fan of 19Nor-steroids, apart from maybe trenbolone. The lack of the 19th carbon makes them re-esterify easily, particularly suppressive of natural testosterone and above all, lends them progestagenic activity, or if you will, the ability to worsen estrogenic side-effects by binding the progesterone receptor. The sole benefit of a 19nor compound is that 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. This allowed users to book decent gains without overly having to fear acne, hair loss and prostate hypertrophy as they did with testosterone. For me that still doesn't warrant the use of nasty stuff like nandrolone or norethandrolone, for some it does. But I'm pretty sure all will be in agreement that this steroid is a waste. Its similar to norethandrolone, except it lacks a 3-keto group. This group is essential for binding the androgen receptor, and without it, its safe to assume that the anabolic activity of this steroid is less than weak. Studies1 actually seem to suggest that the only anabolic activity that ethylestronol does exert, is by making a 3-keto group and thus converting to norethandrolone.
[B]N[/B]orethandrolone (inviting you to read the profile on norethandrolone) wasn't much of a success either. It was designed to be an androgenically mild oral steroid, like an oral nandrolone (which is in essence what it was), but then Searle realized that apart from being androgenically mild it was relatively nasty and uncontrollable stuff (which is how I feel about most 19nor steroids, including nandrolone) and came out with Anavar instead, since it was better suited as a mild oral steroid. So even through conversion you don't get anything decent out of this product.
[B]T[/B]he 17-alpha-ethyl group also lends it a certain liver toxicity, which doesn't allow for long use or high doses. And high doses are really what you need for any form of favorable effect. Women may somewhat appreciate this steroid in doses of 20-30 mg day, as its androgenically the mildest you'll ever come across, with very little virilizing symptoms. Although in any case, I would still recommend Anavar (oxandrolone) over ethylestrenol. Mainly due to its reputation, its become hard to find on the black market. Virtually extinct. I for one don't really care much.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]I[/B]f you have ethylestrenol, my advice is toss it or sell it to your gullable friend. It's a waste. If you must use its, remember that the gains will be next to non-existent. Using 30-50 mg per day for 5-6 weeks on end, stacked with other products are the best way to go. Make it worth your while and add in some testosterone or boldenone for example. Aromatization is minimal, so the use of anti-estrogens will not be needed during the cycle, but because 19Nor steroids are nasty, suppressive stuff, you would do wise to run HCG and Nolvadex or Clomid once the cycle is over.
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[B][SIZE=5]Parabolan[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] trenbolone (as hexahydrobencylcarbonate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 17-beta-hydroxyestra-4, 9-11-trien-3-one
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 270.3706
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 130.1864 (hexahydrobencylcarbonic acid, 7 carbons)
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 76 mg every 2-3 days, 152 mg every 3-4 days... [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]P[/B]arabolan is another trenbolone product, in the same nature as Finaplix, so what's been said for finaplix pretty much goes for Parabolan as well. It differs distinctly in a few characteristics. Parabolan is a different ester that acts considerably longer, meaning you could go longer without injecting. But since it comes in 76 mg vials and few people take the time to inject multiple vials at once, its still used on a frequent basis. 2 or 3 days between injections seems to be the general norm. Leading up to a similar build-up of 228-304 mg per week.
[B]A[/B]nother difference is that Parabolan was specifically designed for human use. That would in itself make it a better choice than Finaplix because it needn't be prepared and the chance of faulty, painful, home-brewed injections decreases. But since it hasn't been manufactured in a while and legit lots only surface from time to time the price of the stuff is quite high. As more bodybuilders become aware of the absence of Finaject and that it is very hard to fake Finaplix, Parabolan is also being faked quite a bit. Usually fake trenbolone compounds are a low-dose testosterone propionate product. This has often lead to the belief that trenbolone causes gyno and other estrogenic effects, but that simply isn't true.
[B]T[/B]his belief has taken on a life of its own though. Making theories pop up all over the place. The only one that made sense, from some point at least, was that trenbolone was progestagenic and acted at the progesterone receptor. Its structure is similar to nandrolone, so this is a logical assumption. But even then, for progesterone activation to cause things like gyno, it needs to act as an estrogen agonist. It needs an estrogen as mediator. Since trenbolone doesn't cause aromatization, any sighting of gyno with trenbolone use should be regarded as a misinterpretation and is most likely to blame on another compound, an aromatizable one. So while trenbolone may increase the risk of gyno when stacked with heavily aromatizing substances, its simply not true that trenbolone alone causes gyno.
[B]F[/B]or more information on the substance trenbolone I refer you to the [URL="http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catfinaplix.htm"][COLOR=#4aa9ff]Finaplix[/COLOR][/URL] profile...
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]renbolone is relatively safe steroid all in all. There is some concern about kidney toxicity, but usually exaggerated. The beauty of trenbolone is that its one steroid that has it all : Its highly effective in its own, provides all lean gains which are fairly easy to maintain and isn't very prone to cause side-effects. Parabolan is the more expensive way to go, but definitely the most userfriendly as you side-step the need to make your own home-brewed concoction and any risk of involuntary infections and abscesses. Parabolan is quite hard to come by however, and should you find a real one, its not all that cheap.
[B]T[/B]renbolone doesn't have to be stacked per se, its quite effective on its own and as such is quite popular with beginners as it delivers good lean gains without extra costs. 76 mg every two or three days and you are done. But some prefer to stack it, and justly so. As a strong androgen mediator it stacks particularly well with base steroids such as nandrolone, boldenone and methenolone. Nandrolone for bulking, methenolone for cutting and boldenone can be used for either. As with basically any steroid, it stacks quite well with all forms of testosterone as well, most notably testosterone propionate during a cutting cycle.
[B]T[/B]renbolone is preferred over Winstrol, Masteron, Proviron and so forth in strength, so simply upping the dose to every day would be a better choice than stacking it with these compounds. Great gains can be obtained using oxymetholone or methandienone with trenbolone. Of course for short stacks of 6 odd weeks, and taking the necessary precautions. You need to use Nolva and probably add some winstrol if you are stacking with oxymetholone, since both oxy and tren have some progestagenic activity. So all in all a very useful, powerful and versatile steroid in use.
[B]T[/B]here is little or no need to stack secondary drugs with Parabolan. It does not aromatize. There is some concern as to Parabolan being progestagenic, so you should you opt to stack it with an aromatizable compound it may worsen potential gynocomastia so adding winstrol or Nolvadex, or even both to such a stack may be wise. But in itself or in a non-aromatizing stack this is not necessary. The use for post-cycle estrogen antagonists is limited as well, so Nolva or clomid to boost natural test will have little use. It is a very strong androgen receptor agonist however, so perhaps using some HCG from the second to the before last week of a cycle may help you retain more gains and prevent testicular shrinkage.
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[B][SIZE=5]Primobolan[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Methenolone (orally as acetate, injections as enanthate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 17 beta-hydroxy-1-methyl-5 alpha-androst-1-en-3-one
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 302.4558
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 60.0524 (acetic acid, 2 carbons)
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 130.1864 (enanthoic acid, 7 carbons)
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 200-300 mg/week injections or 50-150 mg/day orally [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]P[/B]rimobolan is a well-known and popular steroid as well. Like nandrolone it's most often used as a base compound for stacking with other steroids. Methenolone however, is a DHT-based steroid (actually, DHB or dihydroboldenone, the 5-alpha reduced of the milder boldenon). Meaning when it interacts with the aromatase enzyme it does not form estrogens at all. That makes it ideal for use when cutting when excess estrogen is best avoided because of its retentive effects on water and fat. Methenolone is mostly only used in such instances, or by people who are very succeptible to estrogenic side-effects, because the anabolic activity of methenolone is slightly lower than that of nandrolone, quite likely BECAUSE it is non-estrogenic.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catprimo.jpg[B]B[/B]ecause it is a widely available steroid its often used as a replacement for nandrolone or boldenone to those who have no access to Deca-Durabolin or Laurabolin or Equipoise. When stacked with a heavy mass steroid like testosterone and/or methandrostenolone it can deliver almost similar gains. Those seeking to cut will most likely be very pleased stacking it with drostanolone, stanozolol or trenbolone. Women and beginners also stack methenolone WITH nandrolone because this gives a mildly anabolic stack that is generally regarded as one of the safer stacks around in an androgenic perspective. But alas, with the nandrolone, also a very suppressive stack.
[B]M[/B]ethenolone is available as an injection or as an oral. The injection is naturally regarded as better. Its an enanthate ester which is quite long-acting and only needs to be injected once a week in doses of 300-600 mg. Because it by-passes hepatic breakdown on the first pass, it also has a higher survival rate. The orals are a lot less handy, but often preferred by bodybuilders who are afraid of needles or who are already taking one or more injectable compounds. The tabs are in a short-lived acetate form, meaning that doses of 100-150 mg per day are needed, split over 2 or 3 doses, making the tabs quite inconvenient for use. The reason doses need to be split up, unlike most oral steroids, is because Methenolone is not 17-alpha-alkylated, but 1-methylated for oral bio-availability. This reduces the liver stress, but also the availability, hence the multiple and high doses needed daily.
[B]L[/B]ike nandrolone, methenolone is very mild on the system. Probably the reason why both are strongly favored as base compounds in stacks. Methenolone has no estrogenic side-effects whatsoever, on account of its structure. Its effects on the cholesterol levels are barely noticeable. In doses of 200 mg or less (injectable) blood pressure is rarely, if at all, altered. As for hepatoxicity, long-term use will of course increase liver values but gradually and only slightly. The injections of course, since they only pass the liver once, have roughly half the liver-toxic effects of the tabs. The low liver-toxicity is accounted for that the bio-availability of methenolone is carried by a 1-methyl-group, which lessens the need for a carrier attachment such as a 17-alpha-akylated group, the main culprit in steroid-related liver afflictions.
[B]T[/B]he strangest thing however, taking into account that Primo is still a DHT (or rather DHB)
derivative, is that it is quite easy on the system androgenically as well. Women use methenolone often, usually the tabs, and find little virilisation symptoms in short term use of methenolone. Long-term use may induce some acne and a deepening of the voice however. Methenolone is also not overly suppressive of the HPT axis (endocrinal axis for the production of natural testosterone). These are both the result of DHB's 1,2-double bond, which, analog to the parent structure boldenone, reduces the androgenic binding by 50% as opposed to DHT.
[B]F[/B]or athletes who wish to maintain a "natural" status in competition, the tablets are quite well-suited as detection chances for the acetate-form are quite slim. However tests have improved and quite a number of metabolites1 of methenolone can be detected with a simple urine sample. But an English study documented that there is a liability in eating methenolone contaminated meats2, which could provide a possible defense if found out. One could always claim they ate the meat of a chicken or cow injected with methenolone since the test concluded eating such meat does not improve performance, but can deliver positive tests for several methenolone metabolites almost 24 hours after ingestion. That's for those of you seeking a viable defense against a possible methenolone-positive.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]M[/B]ethenolone comes in orals and injectables. The injectables are to be preferred as they can be used for quite some time and only require injecting once a week. The orals are taking every day, or multiple times a day. An oral passes through the liver twice. An injectable only once. The injectable is more effective since less is broken down.
[B]M[/B]ethenolone is not used all that often by experienced users. It makes a good product as an alternative to Deca or EQ in a cutting stack, because it has similar properties but does not aromatize and does not have progestagenic activity. But those at least slightly versed will prefer boldenone over methenolone as its more potent gram for gram. Its quite mild, so its not as prone to cause your standard side-effects. This too makes it quite popular with beginners. Methenolone was quite popular during the 70's in stacks with Methandrostenolone. Some of the all-time greats of bodybuilding were quite fond of this stack.
[B]T[/B]he common use is similar to that of Nandrolone. 300-400 mg a week, in conjunction with other steroids mostly. Some attempt to make up for the lack of potency switching from nandrolone or boldenone to methenolone by using higher doses, in the neighbourhood of 600-800 mg a week. At that point I feel it would be cheaper to opt for boldenone at 300-400 mg a week though. Methenolone makes a poor stacking partner in mass stacks as both Deca and EQ provide better results while they are qualitatively similar. There is a slight merit in stacking Methenolone with boldenone, because apart from its 1-methyl group, methenolone is basically DHB, the 5-alpha-reduced form of boldenone. But since boldenone itself has very low affinity for 5-alpha-reduction, it should have a good synergistic effect stacking the two at 300 mg/week each. [B]T[/B]here is no use for alternate drugs since it does not aromatize, is quite mild and the gains are fairly easy to maintain, so post-cycle use of clomid or Nolvadex is not warranted.
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[SIZE=5][B]Proviron[/B][/SIZE]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Mesterolone
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 1 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 304.4716
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 25-100 mg / day orally [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]M[/B]esterolone is an orally active, 1-methylated DHT. Like Masteron, but then actually delivered in an oral fashion. DHT is the conversion product of testosterone at the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, the result being a hormone that is 3 to 4 times as androgenic and is structurally incapable of forming estrogen. One would imagine then that mesterolone would be a perfect drug to enhance strength and add small but completely lean gains to the frame. Unfortunately there is a control mechanism for DHT in the human body. When levels get too high, the 3alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme converts it to a mostly inactive compound known as 3-alpha (5-alpha-androstan-3alpha,17beta-diol), a prohormone if you will. It can equally convert back to DHT by way of the same enzyme when low levels of DHT are detected. But it means that unless one uses ridiculously high amounts, most of what is administered is quite useless at the height of the androgen receptor in muscle tissue and thus mesterolone is not particularly suited, if at all, to promote muscle hypertrophy. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catprov.jpg
[B]P[/B]roviron has four distinct uses in the world of bodybuilding. The first being the result of its structure. It is 5-alpha reduced and not capable of forming estrogen, yet it nonetheless has a much higher affinity for the aromatase enzyme (which converts testosterone to estrogen) than testosterone does. That means in administering it with testosterone or another aromatizable compound, it prevents estrogen build-up because it binds to the aromatase enzyme very strongly, thereby preventing these steroids from interacting with it and forming estrogen. So Mesterolone use has the extreme benefit of reducing estrogenic side-effects and water retention noted with other steroids, and as such still help to provide mostly lean gains. Its also been suggested that it may actually downgrade the actual estrogen receptor making it doubly effective at reducing circulating estrogen levels.
[B]T[/B]he second use is in enhancing the potency of testosterone. Testosterone in the body at normal physiological levels is mostly inactive. As much as 97 or 98 percent of testosterone in that amount is bound to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and albumin, two proteins. In such a form testosterone is mostly inactive. But as with the aromatase enzyme, DHT has a higher affinity for these proteins than testosterone does, so when administered simultaneously the mesterolone will attach to the SHBG and albumin, leaving larger amounts of free testosterone to mediate anabolic activities such as protein synthesis. Another way in which it helps to increase gains. Its also another part of the equation that makes it ineffective on its own, as binding to these proteins too, would render it a non-issue at the androgen receptor.
[B]T[/B]hirdly, mesterolone is added in pre-contest phases to increase a distinct hardness and muscle density. Probably due to its reduction in circulating estrogen, perhaps due to the downregulating of the estrogen receptor in muscle tissue, it decreases the total water build-up of the body giving its user a much leaner look, and a visual effect of possessing "harder" muscles with more cuts and striations. Proviron is often used as a last-minute secret by a lot of bodybuilders and both actors and models have used it time and again to deliver top shape day in day out, when needed. Like the other methylated DHT compound, drostanolone, mesterolone is particularly potent in achieving this feat.
[B]L[/B]astly Proviron is used during a cycle of certain hormones such as nandrolone, with a distinct lack of androgenic nature, or perhaps 5-alpha reduced hormones that don't have the same affinities as DHT does. Such compounds, thinking of trenbolone, nandrolone and such in particular, have been known to decrease libido. Limiting the athlete to perform sexually being the logical result. DHT plays a key role in this process and is therefore administered in conjunction with such steroids to ease or relieve this annoying side-effect. Proviron is also commonly prescribed by doctors to people with low levels of testosterone, or patients with chronic impotence. Its not perceived as a powerful anabolic, but it gets the job done equally well if not better than other anabolic steroids making it a favorite in medical practices due to its lower chance of abuse.
[B]M[/B]esterolone is generally well liked nonetheless as it delivers very few side-effects in men. In high doses it can cause some virilization symptoms in women. But because of the high level of deactivation and pre-destination in the system (albumin, SHBG, 3bHSD, aromatase) quite a lot of it, if not all simply never reaches the androgen receptor where it would cause anabolic effects, but also side-effects. So its relatively safe. Doses between 25 and 250 mg per day are used with no adverse effects. 50 mg per day is usually sufficient to be effective in each of the four cases we mentioned up above, so going higher really isn't necessary. Unlike what some suggest or believe, its not advised that Proviron be used when not used in conjunction with another steroid, as it too is quite suppressive of natural testosterone, leading to all sorts of future complications upon discontinuation. Ranging from loss of libido or erectile dysfunction all the way up to infertility. One would not be aware of such dangers because Proviron fulfills most of the functions of normal levels of testosterone.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]M[/B]esterolone is an oral alkylated steroid. If used primarily as an anti-aromatase drug, using it throughout a longer cycle (10-12 weeks) of injectables may elevate liver values a little bit, though much, much less than one would expect with a 17-alpha-alkylated steroid. Eventhough instead of inhibiting gains, mesterolone may actually contribute to gains. So that's a bit of a shame. Its not quite as toxic since its not alkylated in the same fashion, but at the 1 position, which reduces hepatic breakdown, but not like 17-alpha alkylation. The reason for the change of position I assume, is because alkylating at the 17-alpha position has been shown to reduce affinity for sex hormone binding proteins. This would in turn decrease its ability to free testosterone. Nonetheless the delivery rate is quite good. Its taken daily in 50-100 mg doses.
[B]T[/B]he best thing to stack it with is testosterone of course. Its most easily bound to SHBG and albumin, and deactivated for up to 98%. Since the DHT can compete for these structures with higher affinity it would naturally lead to a higher yield of whatever testosterone product you stacked it with. Since DHT levels are notably higher now there is also more stimulation of the androgen receptor causing more strength gains, and because of its affinity for aromatase the overall estrogen level decreases as well. This has as a result that gains are leaner, and once again the overall testosterone yield is increased as less I converted at the aromatase enzyme.
[B]I[/B]t's of course used in other stacks with products such as methandrostenolone, boldenone and nandrolone to reduce estrogenic activity and increase muscle hardness. The addition of proviron makes boldenone a dead lock for a cutting stack and for some may even make it possible to use nandrolone while cutting, although the use of Winstrol or a receptor antagonist in conjunction is wishful as well. The benefit of adding it to a nandrolone stack is that it may also help you reduce the decrease in libido suffered from nandrolone, since the latter is mostly deactivated by 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that makes other hormones more androgenic.
[B]P[/B]roviron is an anti-aromatase, so obviously anti-estrogens would be futile and redundant. Blood pressure medication for those prone to hypertension may be wise, as this DHT can increase the blood pressure.
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[B][SIZE=5]Stenbolone[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Stenbolone (as Acetate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 2-methyl-5alpha-androst-1-en-3-one,17b-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 302.4558
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 60.0524 (acetic acid, 2 carbons)
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 50-100 mg daily to every other day injections [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]S[/B]tenbolone acetate was first marketed by Syntex in 1963, but has since been discontinued almost 15 years ago now, despite a great popularity. I get the strange impression that a lot of popular steroids disappeared around that time, which is a real shame. Syntex had previously marketed oxymetholone, but with the high doses needed of oxymetholone and its poor androgenic properties, it lead to problems with excessive bloating, gyno and liver toxicity. Syntex's answer was Stenbolone. It was mistakenly called injectable anadrol by a lot of users, even though the steroids were as different as night and day (similar mistakes were made with Searle's Nilevar and Anavar).
[B]S[/B]tenbolone actually closely resembles the steroid methenolone (Primobolan). The only difference is that instead of a 1-methyl group, it has a 2-methyl group. The same difference that separates drostanolone (Masteron) and mesterolone (Proviron). In characteristics this changes very little, one can assume stenbolone to have roughly the same effect as methenolone. It's a 5-alpha-structure, a 5-alpha reduced version of boldenone. That means it doesn't aromatize to estrogen and does not cause problems with bloating through water retention, or gynocomastia (growth of breast tissue in men). That took care of the first problem. But at the same time the 1,2-double bond in its structure made it less androgenic than one would expect from a 5-alpha-reduced steroid. As with boldenone, which is only half as androgenic as testosterone, Stenbolone is only half as androgenic as Dihydrotestosterone, the 5-alpha-reduced version of testosterone. So despite the fact that it did not cause estrogenic problems, it didn't really cause androgenic problems to a great extent either. So a user would worry less about hair loss, acne, prostate hypertrophy and deepening of voice than he would with say, testosterone.
[B]S[/B]o what really is the difference between stenbolone and methenolone (Primobolan)? Well, there really isn't one. The 1-methyl group serves a function to increase oral activity. But since there is no oral stenbolone, that point is irrelevant. The 1-methyl group serves no real purpose to the injectable form of methenolone. So they are the same. I would assume the addition of a 2-methyl group on stenbolone was the same as that of drostanolone, to protect the 3-keto group and improve stability and androgenic binding. But here too the alteration is fairly useless. The reason methenolone and stenbolone have reduced androgenic activity is the 1,2-double bond, but that same double bond also keeps it from being readily deactivated by the 3a-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme, as the case is with Dihydrotestosterone (drostanolone is 2-methyl-DHT). So the need for the 2-methyl alteration is minimal at best.
[B]S[/B]o we've established that in characteristics there is no difference between injectable methenolone and stenbolone. But what is of relevance is that stenbolone is only made as an acetate ester, and that injectable methenolone is only made as an enanthate ester. That means upon injection methenolone stayed active much longer and a single weekly injection would suffice for proper action. The acetate ester on stenbolone only lasted two days at best, so it was to be injected daily for proper effect. So for convenience one would have preferred methenolone enanthate over stenbolone acetate. A good use for a shorter ester may have been to avoid testing positive in a drug test. The shorter ester could be used longer, closer to contest time, and needed less time to clear the blood and urine. But oddly enough stenbolone disappeared off the market around the time that drug testing became really popular. In that aspect stenbolone was ahead of its time.
[B]T[/B]he use of such a drug, being mild and non-aromatizing, was mainly as a base compound during cutting phases. An athlete would find that stenbolone made a great anti-catabolic, that allowed him to keep his mass while on a hardcore diet. And it made a good match for other steroids that served the same purpose like stanozolol (Winstrol) and trenbolone (Finaplix, although at that time Parabolan was still available). Like one would use Nandrolone (Deca-durabolin, Laurabolin) during a mass phase, stenbolone and methenolone were used during cutting phases. Because of its mild nature, several female competitors liked stenbolone as well.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]A[/B]s a non-aromatizing injectable, the male athlete would typically use around 50 mg of stenbolone, to be injected daily. Around 350 mg/week. Strong competitors even went as high as injected the 100 mg/ml amps daily, totaling a whopping 700 mg per week. It was rarely if ever used alone. It made a good match for other mild non-aromatizing compounds during cutting phases, drugs like oxandrolone (Anavar) and stanozolol (Winstrol/Stromba) at 30-50 mg/day. One could use it for mass gaining purposes as well, as a base for the likes of testosterone, methandrostenolone (Dianabol) or oxymetholone (Anadrol). Usually with good success, although today's athletes would prefer a longer-acting compound like Primobolan Depot for that purpose, which is convenient since the Primobolan is still made, and stenbolone is now extinct.
[B]A[/B]s far as ancillary drugs are concerned with stenbolone, their use is minimal. No anti-estrogens are required because it is incapable of forming estrogen. Since its only a mild, and due to its short ester, very controllable androgen, no real precautions need to be taken on that front either. Simply discontinuing the product when problems arise should suffice. Post-cycle use of Nolvadex or clomid for a short period of time is recommend, but has a limited use. After long cycles (10+ weeks) one may consider using HCG and a longer therapy with Nolvadex and or clomid to bring back natural testosterone faster and help one retain the gains made.
[B]F[/B]emales will find that 25-50 mg injected every other day will more than suffice for good results. Females are also advised to keep an anti-androgen like spironolactone handy in case virilizing symptoms surface. Product should then be discontinued and using 50 mg/day of spironolactone (Aldactone) for 3-4 days should remedy the worst.
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[B][SIZE=5]Steranabol[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Oxabolone (as Cypionate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 4,17beta-Dihydroxyestr-4-en-3-one
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 290.4016
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 132.1184 (cypionic acid, 8 carbons)
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 400-800 mg/week [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]his was a tough steroid profile to compose, as before someone mentioned oxabolone to me recently, I had never heard of it, much less encountered it. To compile the brands and products list I therefore had to enlist the help of Wanted, of our very own steroid boards. Oxabolone is an odd steroid. Like the steroid Clostebol (see Megagrisevit Mono profile) it has an alteration at the 4 position, and that exerts similar effects as with clostebol (which used be sold under the name Steranabol by Farmitalia as well, but was discontinued).
[B]O[/B]xabolone is a nandrolone derivative however, a 19Nor compound. The 4-hydroxyl attachment, just like the 4-chloro attachment in clostebol, changes the affinity of the steroid for the aromatase and 5-alpha-reductase enzymes. By losing the interaction with the aromatase enzyme, oxabolone, unlike its parent nandrolone, cannot convert to estrogen. All estrogen related side-effects are therefore non-existent. No risk of gyno, no bloat as the result of water retention and so forth. As most of you may know, nandrolone also has progesterone binding properties, that worsened its estrogenic side-effects, but without the presence of estrogen, that no longer forms a problem. Its comparable to trenbolone. Trenbolone still possesses nandrolone's progestagenic activity, but because it cannot aromtize its not an issue. This also means that Oxabolone can be used for cutting purposes, just like trenbolone.
[B]O[/B]n the other hand, inhibiting interaction with 5-alpha-reductase will have an entirely different effect than it did with clostebol. Clostebol was a testosterone derivative, and the 4-chloro group inhibited formation of DHT in this manner. That made clostebol several times less androgenic in nature than testosterone, and made it a much weaker steroid as well. That's not the case of oxabolone. The 4-hydroxyl group inhibits the formation of DHN (dihydronandrolone). But Unlike DHT, DHN is an extremely weak androgen.So by eliminating it, you are in fact increasing the androgenic potency of nandrolone, especially in target tissues like scalp, skin and prostate, which does increase the risk of androgen related side-effects. But it also makes it a much stronger steroid. Nandrolone being quite a decent androgen to begin with, inhibiting reduction to DHN makes it that much stronger, and truly comparable in action to the steroid trenbolone (see Parabolan and Finaplix profiles). It would exert a distinct hardening effect on the body, and would be a non-aromatizing hormone still capable of packing on a notable amount of lean mass. Which can be said of very few steroids. It would be the perfect lean mass builder.
[B]T[/B]he problem is the longer ester. A cypionate ester usually warrants weekly injections. This would be considered a good thing, since less frequent injections are easier to tolerate, and you'd still be able to reap the benefits that would otherwise only be possible with daily or every other day injections with trenbolone. But oxabolone cypionate only comes in 25 mg/ml. And the doses needed are closer to 400-500 mg/week. That means very voluminous injections (8-16 ml at a time), and that is not so pleasant or handy. One could therefore split shots up into every other day shots of 3-4 ml, but because of the long ester one would have to wait for it to accumulate enough to show its full effect. Therefor, with the larger availability and cheaper cost of trenbolone acetate, it would seem the latter is a much better way to go.
[B]D[/B]on't get me wrong, oxabolone cypionate is a great product, with a lot of potential, if only someone would make a 200 mg/ml product and made it more available. Perhaps a note to underground steroid manufacturers ?
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]I[/B]t's a relatively hard product to use, because of the low dosing. Ideally you need once a week injections of 400-800 mg. But since that equals about 16 to 32 ml worth of product being injected in a single day, that may not be entirely worth it. So one could split up the doses. 3 times 6 ml per week for example, though that is still a lot. Maybe 4 ml every other day at the least. But since oxabolone cypionate is a long acting product, that means you will only get small amounts in the blood early on, and that you will need to wait for a cumulative effect before you get gains worth mentioning. In that aspect the much shorter acting trenbolone acetate (finaplix) is a much easier product to use.
[B]I[/B]t makes for an ideal cutting steroid, the perfect anti-catabolic to retain maximum lean tissue while reducing body-fat. But also a lean mass gainer, well suited for packing on small amounts of lean mass, while not increasing body-fat or water retention as most mass steroids will do. In these aspects its understandably best stacked with Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate) or Primobolan Depot (Methenolone enanthate) as a base compound for the best results, and all or not with Winstrol (stanazolol), Proviron (Mesterolone), Halotestin (Fluoxymesterone) or Anavar (oxandrolone). Using 400 mg a week of oxabolone alongside 300-400 mg of Primobolan Depot or Equipoise weekly for 8-10 weeks, and perhaps 50 mg/day Winstrol or 30-40 mg a day Anavar for even better effect.
[B]S[/B]ince it does not aromatize, the use of anti-estrogens is not needed. Most side-effects associated with oxabolone would be linked to its extreme androgenic nature. Acne, hair loss and prostate hypertrophy are a risk. Because it is a long-acting ester, the use of spironolactone (aldactone) after a cycle may be wise. Because it's a 19nor hormone, which is very suppressive, and a long-acting ester stressing the need for HCG and Nolvadex or Clomid post-cycle is important. Post-cycle therapy is crucial in maintaining gains. Another inherent problem with 19Nor compounds is the suppressive effect they have on libido. Single men will welcome this effect, as it takes your mind of sex, but men who are in a relationship and need to perform will want to use testosterone or proviron alongside it to correct this problem. Increased aggression is also no rarity while using oxabolone
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[SIZE=5][B]Sustanon 250[/B][/SIZE]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Testosterone (as 30 mg propionate, 60 mg isocaproate, 60 mg as phenylpropionate, 100 mg decanoate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 4-androstene-3-one,17beta-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 288.429
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 74.0792 (propionic acid, 3 carbons)
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 116.1596 (isocaproic acid, 6 carbons)
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 150.1768 (Propionic acid phenyl ester, 9 carbons)
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 172.2668
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 250-1000 mg/week [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]estosterone is the prime male androgen in the body, and as such still the best possible mass builder in the world. It has a high risk of side-effects because it readily converts to a more androgenic form (DHT) in androgen responsive tissues and forms estrogen quite easily. But these characteristics also provide it with its extreme anabolic tendencies. On the one hand estrogen increases growth hormone output, glucose utilization, improves immunity and upgrades the androgen receptor, while on the other hand a testosterone/DHT combination is extremely potent at activating the androgen receptor and eliciting major strength and size gains. While not always the most visually appealing result, there is no steroid on earth that packs on mass like testosterone does.
[B]S[/B]ustanon 250 is a unique blend of 4 different esters of testosterone. The principle purpose of attaching an ester to a steroid is to make it more lipophillic, so that when injected intra-muscularly it can remain in the adipose tissue longer and is released in the blood-stream over time. The longer an ester, the more lipophillic it is. Sustanon 250 contain 1 short, 1 long and 2 medium length esters that are all delivered over time, which gives a quick release, but a durable one as well. You may think that this is a positive thing, and to patients requiring testosterone therapy this probably is, but to a steroid user its really not.
[B]A[/B] steroid user will use a long-acting testosterone and inject it once a week. The end of a week is usually the time when a long-acting (7 or 8 carbon) ester has tapered down to its original level and threatens to drop below that level, giving sub-par amounts of testosterone beyond that point (eventhough the compound stays somewhat active for 3-4 weeks). With sustanon, that equal amount is divided much differently. Imagine a hypothetical situation where one take either 270 mg of a an ester that lasts 6 days, or 270 mg of a blend of different esters, 90 mg each, that release over respectively 2, 4 and 6 days, analog to sustanon. With the first one, an even amount of testosterone is released on each day. With the second one the entire first ester, half the second ester and 1/3rd of the last ester is released within the first two days. The result here is clear : the first two days one gets 165 mg, the next two one gets 75 mg and the last 2 days one gets a mere 30 mg. The levels peak much sooner, and drop off sooner, leaving you with less than adequate androgen levels as the week draws to a close.
[B]S[/B]o for use as one would use another long-acting testosterone, I find sustanon to be poor value. The price is roughly the same so I really don't see the affinity people seem to have for it. Respectively cypionate and enanthate are much better choices. I can understand the need for a fast-acting component to front-load and kick-start gains, but even then, testoviron (200 mg testosterone enanthate and 50 mg testosterone propionate) is a much better choice. Speaking of front-loading, for this express purpose sustanon may be very suited. One could probably obtain results faster If one were to use 500 mg of sustanon on day 1, then again 5 days later on day 6 and start a cycle of enanthate/cypionate at 500 mg/week on day 11. That avoids the major crash at the end of the week and makes maximum use of the fast acting esters to saturate the system.
[B]A[/B]s with all testosterones the rate of side-effects is quite high. Risks of androgenic side-effects (hair loss, prostate hypertrophy, deepening of voice) as well as estrogenic side-effects (gyno, water retention, fat gain) are real, and the use of ancillary drugs such as anti-estrogens will most likely be needed. This is something that I urge all users to take into account. Never start any cycle with testosterone without having at least a lot of Nolvadex and a few amps of HCG on hand. Testosterone is not in any way toxic, and should not give a user any problems apart from a high rate of occurrence of standard steroid side-effects.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]B[/B]ecause of its long-acting components, sustanon is mostly used as a form of long-acting testosterone. Much like testoviron, testosterone enanthate and testosterone cypionate. I don't find it to be the best choice for this purpose, but obviously I don't determine the trends among bodybuilders. In such use doses of 500 to 1000 mg per week are used in a single injection, with decent results nonetheless. Perhaps because 3 of its esters are notably shorter than enanthate or cypionate, so more of it is actual testosterone and less ester, eventhough the distribution is uneven. Its best use in my opinion is to start off a cycle with, by injecting twice with 5 days space, and then give it another 5 days before starting an 8-10 week cycle of testoviron, enanthate or cypionate. This should allow for more testosterone to build up and results to come much faster.
[B]A[/B]gain, because of the two medium-length and the long ester, the compound is not very controllable. So when problems occur, simply discontinuing the product is not an option. One needs to be familiar with anti-estrogenic compounds for one. When signs of gyno appear using 20-40 mg/day of the estrogen antagonist Nolvadex or 100-150 mg/day of its weaker counterpart clomid until a few days after symptoms disappear is advised. The best way to avoid such problems is running proviron or arimidex, aromatase blockers, alongside the product. In most instances I give preference to arimidex, but when concerning the use of testosterone Proviron at 50-100 mg per day may be wiser since it frees up more testosterone.
[B]O[/B]f course the simultaneous use of an aromatase blocker will compromise your gains since it literally stops estrogen from being made. Androgenic problems can be reduced to some extent by the use of finasteride, which will stop the conversion of testosterone to its more androgenic component DHT. This may alleviate aggravated hair loss and prostate problems somewhat. Again, the blocking of such a conversion may decrease the gains made and will in any case heighten the risk for estrogenic side-effects, since DHT acts as an anti-estrogen. Proviron is also a form of DHT, so people worried about androgenic side-effects should then naturally opt for arimidex over proviron when they choose an aromatase blocker as well. [B]S[/B]ustanon stacks well with any compound. Usually testosterone is always the stronger compound in the stack, so whenever you stack something alongside its usually because the drug has certain characteristics. Usually this means it will be a milder drug that will allow the user a milder cycle with lower occurrence of side-effects than simply using more testosterone, without having to give up all of the potential gains. Deca-Durabolin, Equipoise and Primobolan are some of the more fitting compounds for this purpose. But naturally the king of all mass-builders stacks well with almost anything.
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[B][SIZE=5]Teslac[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Testolactone
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 17 alpha-oxa-D-homo-1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 300.3968
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 200-500 mg/day [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]estolactone, although a derivative of the normal sex steroids (A-ring structure most likened to boldenone) is not considered and anabolic or an androgenic steroid. Although I once read the well known Biochemist Bill Roberts comment it has no androgenic activity, its structure would certainly indicate a mild possibility to androgenic binding, although not drastic, and as we will later demonstrate, it would exert some androgenic influence through other media as well although it may simply not come to expression. Its chemical use is mainly, as most anti-estrogenic compounds, in the treatment of female estrogen related problems, such as breast cancer. And Testolactone has earned its way in that regard, as a successful treatment for even very advanced carcinoma's. New evidence also suggests that it may be a good treatment for oligospermic men1 (men with low sperm counts, may affect fertility). This evidence also supports the notion, that like HCG, Testolactone can increase the release of Gonadotropins and help bring back testicles to their normal size.
[B]B[/B]ut lets start with its anti-estrogenic benefits. It works as an aromatase inhibitor2 in the likes of Proviron, Cytadren and Arimidex. Some have claimed that Testolactone is perhaps the best anti-estrogen around. While I've seen no head to head studies, the lowest price I have found for a 50 mg tab of Teslac (1/4th of effective dose) was 3 dollars, which is 50% more than I pay for a daily dose of arimidex (1 mg), so it better be the best. Otherwise, why bother ? Personally I have my doubts. Arimidex is generally held as the best aromatase inhibitor, and studies have shown that the legal aromatase inhibitor Viratase (5Adione) binds aromtase up to 98%. Then hearing the comments of Bill Roberts that only stacking it with proviron would completely block all estrogen, it can't be as potent as these two. But regardless, it's a very powerful aromatase inhibitor.
[B]I[/B]ts also been touted as a gonadotropin increasing compound, much like HCG. Studies1 have shown that it increases testosterone (47%) and androstenedione (70%) levels in the body, and because it's a potent aromatase inhibitor, it does not subsequently increase estrone or estradiol levels like HCG would. As such it also positively affects testosterone to estradiol levels (126%) and androstendione to estrone levels (231%). While the study did not show any increase in sperm count or sperm motility, in 3 out of 5 cases treatment led to pregnancy, which indicates that it may be advisable in treating infertility in men. And the majority of infertility problems that couples have, are caused by the male. The fact that no increase in sperm count or motility was noted, may be due to a slight anti-androgenic effect that testolactone could exert3. This may have led to the fact that its androgenic effect in increasing testosterone and testosterone to estradiol levels is mostly negated, because in binding the androgen receptor, it does not seem to exert influence. From there on out the literature is very contradictory. The short term treatment seems to have no effect on serum testosterone concentration, even though androstendione concentration is increased significantly. This would indicate that at first testolactone may exert inhibiting effects on the 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme, which is later negated as androstenedione levels keep rising. This would also explain why testosterone does not increase in linear fashion with androstendione in the studies that do show an increase in testosterone.
[B]S[/B]o testosterone increases would stay out a little while longer than they would with HCG, but this is of no concern to use, since the main use of HCG would be to decrease testicular atrophy, and since even short term treatment with testolactone shows increases in pregnenolone, DHEA and androstendione4 it would prove that testolactone is well suited for this purpose as well. Perhaps even better suited since it would be less suppressive of natural endocrine production than HCG due to its strong anti-estrogenic and mild anti-androgenic properties. In combination with some Nolvadex, it may form a perfect post-cycle treatment.
[B]T[/B]here are no major side-effects from this product, its mostly used in women so androgenically its no risk at all. Its an anti-estrogen, so a lack of estrogenic side-effects as well. In seldom cases users can experience increased blood pressure, itching and pricking (paresthesia), pain in the arms and legs and swelling, tongue infection, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
But the occurrence is very limited.
[B]I[/B]t's a good enough product that is for sure, with a multitude of uses to the chemically enhanced bodybuilder. But as with my commentary on Human Growth Hormone, I'm not about to spend 3 times more money per day to augment my cycle than I do on my cycle alone, that just doesn't make sense. In this case, due to the anti-estrogenic effects, it may actually reduce the results from your cycle. So the price is and remains a major turn-off.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]estolactone is generally employed as an ancillary, either during a cycle to suppress estrogen or after a cycle to help bring back natural test by decreasing testicular atrophy. In case number one, being an anti-aromatase, its best stacked with an aromatizing hormone like testosterone, methandrostenolone or nandrolone to help reduce estrogenic side-effects. One would use a dose of 500 mg (10 tabs !) to completely block estrogen, but most will opt to use 200-250 mg and addition 50 mg of Proviron or 0.5 mg or arimidex to get the trick done. Mostly to suppress cost of course.
[B]F[/B]or the latter case, using some 200-250 mg daily for about 3-weeks post-cycle is usually adequate. Starting about 1 to 1.5 weeks after last injection, and starting Nolvadex or Clomid about 2 to 2.5 weeks after last injection. Though much less suppressive of natural testosterone than HCG, its still recommended that use is terminated at least 2 weeks before therapy with Clomid or Nolvadex is over. [B]N[/B]o additional products are needed when using Testolactone, but keep in mind that it can suppress gains from your steroid cycle. Not only because its an anti-estrogen, but also because it has mild anti-androgenic properties.
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[B][SIZE=5]Testosterone Cypionate[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Testosterone (as Cypionate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 4-androstene-3-one,17beta-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 288.429
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 132.1184 (cypionic acid, 8 carbons)
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 250-1000 mg/week [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]estosterone is the prime male androgen in the body, and as such still the best possible mass builder in the world. It has a high risk of side-effects because it readily converts to a more androgenic form (DHT) in androgen responsive tissues and forms estrogen quite easily. But these characteristics also provide it with its extreme anabolic tendencies. On the one hand estrogen increases growth hormone output, glucose utilization, improves immunity and upgrades the androgen receptor, while on the other hand a testosterone/DHT combination is extremely potent at activating the androgen receptor and eliciting major strength and size gains. While not always the most visually appealing result, there is no steroid on earth that packs on mass like testosterone does.
[B]T[/B]estosterone Cypionate is a single-ester, long-acting form of testosterone. Due to the length of its ester (8 carbons) it is stored mostly in the adipose tissue upon intra-musuclar injection, and then slowly but very steadily released over a certain period of time. A peak is noted after 24-48 hours of injection and then a slow decline, reaching a steady point after 12 days and staying there for over 3 weeks time. Of course most users of anabolics will not find adequate benefit in the use of this steady-point dose, so this product is normally injected once a week, making the very lowest dose higher than half the peak dose at any given time. This is roughly the starting blood level as well. A long-acting testosterone ester is a must-have in any mass-building cycle. As such this is a very decent product.
[B]P[/B]ersonally I have more affinity for testosterone enanthate, but few users will note any real difference between the two products, and both remain a better buy than their popular counterpart sustanon 250, which is a poor choice of testosterone in my opinion. It makes sense that a user simply opts for which one is most readily available at the time. They sell for roughly the same price, and are almost equally good. So most North and South-American users will usually opt for the use of a cypionate, as it is more available in those regions, whereas Europeans and Asians will probably prefer the enanthate version.
[B]A[/B] long-acting testosterone ester may be the best for all your mass-building needs, but its not an easy product to use. Because of the extreme length of action (3-4 weeks) one cannot easily solve occurring problems by simply discontinuing the product, as it will continue to act and aggravate side-effects over extended periods of time. In regards to damage control and post-cycle therapy, some familiarity with the use of ancillary drugs is required prior to using a long-acting testosterone product. Nolvadex and Proviron will come in very handy in such cases and post-cycle HCG and clomid or Nolvadex will be required as well to help restore natural testosterone. Frequency of side-effects is probably highest with this type of product.
[B]W[/B]hile most will tell you it's a waste to not use testosterone, as it will take ages longer to build proper mass, these are all points to take into consideration. Testosterone is a product that is heavily used by beginners and veterans alike and justly so. Those who fear they may never understand the proper use of ancillary drugs, may want to suck it up and invest in some propionate or suspension testosterones instead. These are much shorter acting and easier to control, but they do need to be injected once every two days, whereas this type of ester will impart great gains with a single weekly injection. Something to keep in mind.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]estosterone is the most powerful compound there is, so obviously its perfectly fine to use it by itself. With a long-acting ester like Cypionate doses of 500-1000 mg per week are used with very clear results over a 10 week period. If you've ever seen a man swell up with sheer size, then testosterone was the cause of it. But testosterone is nonetheless often stacked. Due to the high occurrence of side-effects, people will usually split up a stack in testosterone and a milder component in order to obtain a less risky cycle, but without having to give up as much of the gains. Primobolan, Equipoise and Deca-Durabolin are the weapons of choice in this matter. Deca seems to be the most popular, probably because of its extremely mild androgenic nature. But Deca being one of the highest risks for just about every other side-effects, I probably wouldn't advise it. If Deca is used, generally a dose of 200-400 mg is added to 500-750 mg of testosterone per week.
[B]P[/B]rimobolan is sometimes opted for, and can be handy since it doesn't aromatize, which will make the total level of water retention and fat gain a lot less than with more test or with Deca for example. Unfortunately, its mild nature combined with a lack of estrogen make Primobolan a very poor mass builder. Again, doses of 300-400 mg are used. I would actually suggest a higher dose, but with the current prices for Primo I don't think it would be very popular. My personal preference goes out to Equipoise. Androgenically its not that much stronger than Deca because it has next to no affinity for the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme and is only half as androgenic as testosterone. Its twice as strong as Deca, mg for mg, and has a lower occurrence of side-effects. It has some estrogen, but not a whole lot so it actually tends to lean a person out rather than bloat him up as Deca will. It also increases appetite, which promotes gains, and improves aerobic performance, which may be wishful as testosterone normally has an opposite effect.
[B]O[/B]f course testosterone cypionate can be stacked with any number of compounds apart from these, but these make the best match. When stacking with testosterone, one needs to look at what the other compound can bring. Either it has a characteristic that testosterone doesn't have, or its nominally safer. The testosterone will bring all the mass, so adding another steroid to enhance mass alone, is futile. More testosterone is the best remedy for that.
[B]O[/B]ne needs to be familiar with a host of other compounds when using long-acting testosterone esters however. First of all, anti-estrogens. The rate of aromatization of testosterone is quite great, so water retention and fat gain are a fact and gyno is never far off. If problems occur one is best to start on 20 mg of Nolvadex per day and stay on that until problems subside. I wouldn't stay on it for a whole cycle, as it may reduce the gains. In terms of an aromatase blocker, testosterone is one of the few compounds where Proviron may actually be preferred over arimidex. The proviron will not only reduce estrogen and can be used for extended time on a testosterone cycle, it will also bind with great affinity to sex-hormone binding proteins in the blood and will allow for a higher level of free testosterone in the body, thus improving gains.
[B]U[/B]sually 50-100 mg will suffice, the lower end is preferred for maximal results since estrogen plays a key role in gains, but those more worried about estrogen should opt for a higher dose. For those worried about androgenic side-effects (hair loss, prostate hypertrophy, deepening of voice), one can utilize the hair loss treatment finasteride. This blocks the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme and stops the conversion of testosterone to the more androgenic compound DHT. I'm not a big fan of this, because DHT reduces estrogenic bloat, increases free levels of testosterone and is a very potent androgen that is 3-4 times stronger than testosterone. Those worried about hair loss however, may want to opt for arimidex as their anti-aromatase, since Proviron is a form of DHT after all.
[B]A[/B]fter a cycle, mainly due to the high aromatization and increased levels of estradiol in the blood after discontinuing, natural testosterone levels will be severely suppressed. This means steps need to be taken to assure the quick return of natural testosterone, or we stand to lose a lot of the gains we made while using testosterone. Since it's a non-toxic, potent mass-builder its mostly used in long 10-12 week cycles. So some testicular shrinkage will have occurred too. Its very important that people see that HCG and Nolvadex/clomid are essential as a post-cycle therapy, and that both are equally important in achieving our goal. HCG injections should be started the last week of the cycle and continued for 3-4 weeks, using 1500-3000 IU every 5-6 days. HCG will act as an alternative to LH and start the endogenous testosterone cycle, thereby increasing testicle size once again. Then about 2 weeks after the last shot of testosterone is given, Nolvadex/Clomid cycle should be started. 40 mg of Nolva or 150 mg of Clomid per day for two weeks, followed by two more weeks with either 20 mg of Nolva or 100 mg of Clomid per day should be adequate. Always remember that HCG is suppressive of natural testosterone itself and should be discontinued at least 2 weeks prior to finishing Nolvadex/Clomid.
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[B][SIZE=5]Testosterone Enanthate[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Testosterone (as Enanthate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 4-androstene-3-one,17beta-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 288.429
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 130.1864 (enanthoic acid, 7 carbons)
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 250-1000 mg/week [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]estosterone is the prime male androgen in the body, and as such still the best possible mass builder in the world. It has a high risk of side-effects because it readily converts to a more androgenic form (DHT) in androgen responsive tissues and forms estrogen quite easily. But these characteristics also provide it with its extreme anabolic tendencies. On the one hand estrogen increases growth hormone output, glucose utilization, improves immunity and upgrades the androgen receptor, while on the other hand a testosterone/DHT combination is extremely potent at activating the androgen receptor and eliciting major strength and size gains. While not always the most visually appealing result, there is no steroid on earth that packs on mass like testosterone does.
[B]L[/B]ike testosterone cypionate, enanthate is a single-ester and long-acting form of the base steroid testosterone. To me, its slightly better value for money than the aforementioned because its ester is only 7 instead of 8 carbons in length. Where that doesn't really change much in terms of release and blood concentration for users who inject on a weekly basis, that does mean that less of the weight is ester and more of it is testosterone. When taking an amount of an esterified steroid, that amount in terms of weight is a combination of the ester and the steroid. Naturally the longer the ester is, the more of the weight it takes up. So its safe to state that 500 mg of enanthate contains more testosterone than does 500 mg of cypionate. Not that this slight difference will be noted on a weekly pattern really, but its enough for me to give it a slight edge if given the choice. Although, as stated with cypionate, your choice between enanthate and cypionate is best based on availability. These are a much better choice than sustanon 250 or omnadren, which are blends of different testosterone esters, due to their irregular release. Nonetheless these versions still appear to be more popular with most users for some reason. Before you compare these to shorter esters under the pretense that even more of the weight would be testosterone, for bulking purposes the release pattern and injection pattern of an enanthate or cypionate is more fitting than that of say, a propionate ester. Enanthate and cypionate are very close in those terms, hence the comparison is possible.
[B]A[/B] long-acting testosterone ester may be the best for all your mass-building needs, but its not an easy product to use. Because of the extreme length of action (3-4 weeks) one cannot easily solve occurring problems by simply discontinuing the product, as it will continue to act and aggravate side-effects over extended periods of time. In regards to damage control and post-cycle therapy, some familiarity with the use of ancillary drugs is required prior to using a long-acting testosterone product. Nolvadex and Proviron will come in very handy in such cases and post-cycle HCG and clomid or Nolvadex will be required as well to help restore
natural testosterone. Frequency of side-effects is probably highest with this type of product.
[B]W[/B]hile most will tell you it's a waste to not use testosterone, as it will take ages longer to build proper mass, these are all points to take into consideration. Testosterone is a product that is heavily used by beginners and veterans alike and justly so. Those who fear they may never understand the proper use of ancillary drugs, may want to suck it up and invest in some propionate or suspension testosterones instead. These are much shorter acting and easier to control, but they do need to be injected once every two days, whereas this type of ester will impart great gains with a single weekly injection. Something to keep in mind.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]estosterone is the most powerful compound there is, so obviously its perfectly fine to use it by itself. With a long-acting ester like Enanthate doses of 500-1000 mg per week are used with very clear results over a 10 week period. If you've ever seen a man swell up with sheer size, then testosterone was the cause of it. But testosterone is nonetheless often stacked. Due to the high occurrence of side-effects, people will usually split up a stack in testosterone and a milder component in order to obtain a less risky cycle, but without having to give up as much of the gains. Primobolan, Equipoise and Deca-Durabolin are the weapons of choice in this matter.
[B]D[/B]eca seems to be the most popular, probably because of its extremely mild androgenic nature. But Deca being one of the highest risks for just about every other side-effects, I probably wouldn't advise it. If Deca is used, generally a dose of 200-400 mg is added to 500-750 mg of testosterone per week. Primobolan is sometimes opted for, and can be handy since it doesn't aromatize, which will make the total level of water retention and fat gain a lot less than with more test or with Deca for example. Unfortunately, its mild nature combined with a lack of estrogen make Primobolan a very poor mass builder. Again, doses of 300-400 mg are used. I would actually suggest a higher dose, but with the current prices for Primo I don't think it would be very popular. My personal preference goes out to Equipoise. Androgenically its not that much stronger than Deca because it has next to no affinity for the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme and is only half as androgenic as testosterone. Its twice as strong as Deca, mg for mg, and has a lower occurrence of side-effects. It has some estrogen, but not a whole lot so it actually tends to lean a person out rather than bloat him up as Deca will. It also increases appetite, which promotes gains, and improves aerobic performance, which may be wishful as testosterone normally has an opposite effect.
[B]O[/B]f course testosterone Enanthate can be stacked with any number of compounds apart from these, but these make the best match. When stacking with testosterone, one needs to look at what the other compound can bring. Either it has a characteristic that testosterone doesn't have, or its nominally safer. The testosterone will bring all the mass, so adding another steroid to enhance mass alone, is futile. More testosterone is the best remedy for that.
[B]O[/B]ne needs to be familiar with a host of other compounds when using long-acting testosterone esters however. First of all, anti-estrogens. The rate of aromatization of testosterone is quite great, so water retention and fat gain are a fact and gyno is never far off. If problems occur one is best to start on 20 mg of Nolvadex per day and stay on that until problems subside. I wouldn't stay on it for a whole cycle, as it may reduce the gains. In terms of an aromatase blocker, testosterone is one of the few compounds where Proviron may actually be preferred over arimidex. The proviron will not only reduce estrogen and can be used for extended time on a testosterone cycle, it will also bind with great affinity to sex-hormone binding proteins in the blood and will allow for a higher level of free testosterone in the body, thus improving gains. Usually 50-100 mg will suffice, the lower end is preferred for maximal results since estrogen plays a key role in gains, but those more worried about estrogen should opt for a higher dose.
[B]F[/B]or those worried about androgenic side-effects (hair loss, prostate hypertrophy, deepening of voice), one can utilize the hair loss treatment finasteride. This blocks the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme and stops the conversion of testosterone to the more androgenic compound DHT. I'm not a big fan of this, because DHT reduces estrogenic bloat, increases free levels of testosterone and is a very potent androgen that is 3-4 times stronger than testosterone. Those worried about hair loss however, may want to opt for arimidex as their anti-aromatase, since Proviron is a form of DHT after all.
[B]A[/B]fter a cycle, mainly due to the high aromatization and increased levels of estradiol in the blood after discontinuing, natural testosterone levels will be severely suppressed. This means steps need to be taken to assure the quick return of natural testosterone, or we stand to lose a lot of the gains we made while using testosterone. Since it's a non-toxic, potent mass-builder its mostly used in long 10-12 week cycles. So some testicular shrinkage will have occurred too. Its very important that people see that HCG and Nolvadex/clomid are essential as a post-cycle therapy, and that both are equally important in achieving our goal. HCG injections should be started the last week of the cycle and continued for 3-4 weeks, using 1500-3000 IU every 5-6 days. HCG will act as an alternative to LH and start the endogenous testosterone cycle, thereby increasing testicle size once again. Then about 2 weeks after the last shot of testosterone is given, Nolvadex/Clomid cycle should be started. 40 mg of Nolva or 150 mg of Clomid per day for two weeks, followed by two more weeks with either 20 mg of Nolva or 100 mg of Clomid per day should be adequate. Always remember that HCG is suppressive of natural testosterone itself and should be discontinued at least 2 weeks prior to finishing Nolvadex/Clomid.
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[B][SIZE=5]Testosterone Propionate[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Testosterone (as Propionate)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 4-androstene-3-one,17beta-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 288.429
[B]Molecular weight of ester:[/B] 74.0792 (propionic acid, 3 carbons)
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 50-100 mg every two days [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]This is an esterified form of the base steroid steroid testosterone, much like enanthate, cypionate and sustanon 250. It's a superlipophillic, oil-based injectable that slows the release of the steroid into the blood stream. But compared to enanthate and cypionate, propionate is a very short ester and is still released quite fast. As such more frequent injections are needed. Levels will peak after 24-36 hours and begin tapering from there on out, making the longest possible time-span between injections, at least or proper results, about 3 days. Most athletes will opt to inject 50-100 mg every day to every other day.
[B]I[/B]t's not the most user-friendly steroid of them all. Frequent injections can be painful to begin with, to a point where users will begin scouting for different locations to stick the needle, in order to not aggravate the same spots all the time. To make matters worse, its not that pleasant to inject either. The injection-site can become irritated and swell, and sometimes give incredible itches or soreness when touched. All these factors combined, you can see that this is the best form of testosterone to start off on for most beginners. And still. As discussed with enanthate and cypionate, a long-acting ester requires some skill with ancillary drugs and familiarity with post-cycle protocol since simple discontinuation will not put a halt to all problems. In that aspect, for those who do not master ancillaries and post-cycle therapy, propionate is perhaps a better product to start off with. Levels of androgens and estrogens will drop within 2-4 days of discontinuation, effectively halting or reducing any occurring side-effects. Nonetheless, this is a testosterone with a high risk of side-effects (the characteristics of testosterone do not change despite the ester, which is just a carrier) so the use of Nolvadex/proviron/Arimidex and so forth is highly advised if you plan to see a cycle through.
[B]W[/B]hat is of note with propionate, is that users have successfully incorporated it into cutting cycles as well. Especially people who tend to lose a lot of mass normally during extreme diet phases find this useful. By injecting every two or three days and using only 50-75 mg each time, no notable water builds up (or at least none that can't be fixed with proviron, arimidex or winstrol) and no fat is deposited, thus allowing a user to stay relatively lean. So this type of testosterone can be used to keep gaining or retaining mass until 2-3 weeks out of contest time with relatively little difficulty. Although most will choose to add Proviron (50-100 mg/day) out of precaution. Its best use is of course still in bulking phases to pack on mass. Testosterone is not the king of the hill of all mass-builders for nothing.
[B]O[/B]n the American black market propionate is not an extremely available item, its most popular in Europe, where its use is more wide-spread than that of the long-acting esters. Its nonetheless a desired item almost anywhere in the world because it's a very controllable form of what is no doubt the most powerful steroid ever. The cost is quite high too, easily running 2 to 3 times more for a weekly dose than enanthate, cypionate or sustanon 250.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]A[/B]s a short-lived oil based injectable, most will want to opt for doses of 50-100 mg every day to every other day. Those of a lighter stature seeking to use it for cutting purposes may want to make that every 2nd or 3rd day, or add proviron as a precaution instead, 50-100 mg/day sufficing in most cases. The site of injection is best rotated each time, or problem can occur. The compound is irritative and the damage to the skin and underlying tissue can cause some cosmetic problems if it becomes repetitive. Subcutaneously , balls of fat or tissue can build up. In most cases these need to surgically removed. So rotating is wise.
[B]F[/B]or bulking purposes one is best to stack testosterone with a base compound such as Deca-durabolin (nandrolone) or Equipoise (boldenone), and can addition Dianabol (methandrostenolone) or Anadrol (oxymetholone) for 5-6 weeks, at the beginning, to kickstart the gains a bit. Most will choose for a more user-friendly, longer-acting testosterone for bulking purposes however. For cutting, the best and primary addition is that of Proviron, which will reduce if not stop estrogen build-up, increase muscle hardness and strength and allow for a higher free testosterone level. But naturally other compounds lend themselves quite well too. Base compounds such as Equipoise or Primobolan (methenolone) making a good match for longer stacks, and towards contest time steroids such as Anavar (oxandrolone), finaplix (Trenbolone) or Winstrol (Stanazolol) make the best matches, as they too will help increase muscle hardness and decrease body-fat, while maintaining lean muscle mass. With testosterone, most any combination is possible. Because testosterone is always the stronger compound in a stack.
[B]I[/B]n terms of ancillaries, the use of anti-estrogens is advised. For cutting puposes one will want to run Proviron alongside the testosterone for the length of the stack, which will rarely make the use of other anti-estrogens a necessity. If no Proviron or arimidex is used, you may want to keep some Nolvadex handy. Should problems arise starting on 20-40 mg of Nolvadex until a while after problems subside should be sufficient for all intents and purposes. Testosterone, being a heavily aromatizing compound, is also quite suppressive of natural testosterone (most so, safe for nandrolone) so a post-cycle therapy with Nolva/Clomid and HCG is necessary. Usually one will start HCG the last week or two weeks of a stack and run it about 4 weeks. HCG shots of 1500-3000 IU given every 5th or 6th day. That means during the end of a cycle, one shot of HCG is given per two shots of testosterone. A user should also opt to wait on using clomid or Nolvadex until the androgen is cleared. For longer esters that was 1.5 to 2 weeks, obviously that time-frame should be reduced to 1 week or even half a week for propionate. One will then start on either 40-50 mg of Nolvadex or 150 mg of Clomid per day for a period of two weeks, and then follow it up with 20-25 mg of Nolvadex or 100 mg of Clomid per day for another two weeks. Post-cycle therapy will facilitate the return of natural testosterone and make it more likely for the user to retain most of the mass he gained while on the cycle.
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[B][SIZE=5]Testosterone Suspension[/SIZE][/B]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Testosterone (as H2O suspension)
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 4-androstene-3-one,17beta-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 288.429
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 25-100 mg/day [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]I[/B]f testosterone is the most powerful mass builder, then gram for gram this is the most powerful testosterone. Suspension is pure testosterone and has no ester attached, and thus no ester calculated in the weight. Where 100 mg of a testosterone ester equals 100 mg minus the weight of the ester, 100 mg of testosterone suspension contains an actual 100 mg of the steroid. Very potent and very powerful. Although it is a rather crude compound, it is without a doubt very, very effective. Suspension is not only not esterified, its not even dissolved in oil the way esters are. Instead it is an aqueous suspension, much like the injectable forms of Winstrol/Stromba (stanazolol). Since a steroid, made of cholesterol, is somewhat lipophillic, it does not readily dissolve in water either. Just as with Winstrol, we will note that the steroid accumulates at the bottom, separated from its water environment if the vial is left sitting for a while. So before use a vial should be shaken, which will provide an even distribution, and then drawn out of the vial. It probably couldn't hurt to shake the syringe again before injecting as well.
[B]B[/B]ecause of its water carrier it does not go directly into the blood, but when it does enter the bloodstream it is released quite quickly delivering very high peak doses. It is injected every day, to every other day at the very least. Some seem to claim that water based steroids will still last in the body for several days on end, but this is not a generally accepted, let alone proven fact. In fact while the steroid probably does exert some action for 2-3 days, most athletes will opt to take advantage of the peak dose and inject it daily. If one sees that even a short ester steroid like propionate is injected every day to every other day in most cases, this logic is easy to follow.
[B]O[/B]ne reason for the extreme success users have had with testosterone suspension is no doubt the extreme doses used. Where one would take 50 mg of winstrol every day to every other day, suspension is injected daily at 100 mg in most cases. Factoring in that there is more testosterone per mg than in an esterified form, it's a safe conclusion that this is almost twice the dose of any other form of testosterone normally used. The results are nothing safe of amazing. Using the optimal peak doses of the steroid, weight is gained at an amazing rate and the steroid accumulates faster than with esters, so gains are seen in a lot shorter time-frame as well. Stack that with another base steroid and an aromatizable oral such as Dianabol (methandrostenolone) and one should not be amazed at weight increases of up to 30 pounds in 8 weeks.
[B]B[/B]ecause of the high peak doses and the extreme amounts used, the characteristics tend to become more pronounced as well. The muscle gain is usually accompanied by severe bloat and water retention, some adipose storage and the risk of gyno is never too far off. Being a very androgenic component as well, suspension may aggravate male pattern hair loss, cause prostate hypertrophy, increase body and facial hair, deepen the voice and so forth, quite easily, in comparison to other steroids. These all need to be taken into account. Despite its controllable nature and short frame of action, suspension is mostly used for bulking purposes. Even with concomitant use of Proviron, some water retention can still occur. Perhaps due to the extreme doses used.
[B]J[/B]ust as with the water-based injectable Winstrol, suspension too is believed to be able to give local growth if injected in a particular area, which has no doubt increased its popularity. Its slightly friendlier to inject than Winstrol or Propionate, because it has a very small crystalline form that passes through a 27 gauge needle easily. But the injections will still not be the most pleasant ones ever felt. Especially when given daily. I myself do not attach a whole lot of belief to the theory of site injection and local growth, but some big names in this industry such as Bill Llewellyn seem to lend it some form of credibility. So I will not elaborate on this debacle anymore than I have. For those willing to give it a shot, I'm sure it can't hurt (well it will hurt, but it won't hurt your gains no matter where you inject it).
[B]T[/B]he number of available suspensions in the world has been reduced to 5, and is therefore not the easiest product to locate on the black market. In Australia the compound can still easily be found, and no doubt a whole host of Mexican imports. Because the crystalline form is quite sophisticated, I wouldn't dream of purchasing suspension from an underground source, one may be disappointed and literally hurt if trying to inject a cruder form of suspension. I wouldn't really trust any other form besides the 5 listed above at this moment in time.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]B[/B]ecause anyone would be hard-pressed to use this particular steroid for cutting, it should really only be administered for bulking purposes. Its not immediately a compound for beginners, it requires some skill. First of all to site inject and rotate injection sites, but also to deal with the occurrence of side-effects, which may be a little more pronounced than with testosterone esters. The compound is best injected daily, using 50-100 mg per day. It is best stacked with other products for the express purpose of adding mass, probably a base compound with a lower occurrence of androgenic side-effects such as Deca-Durabolin or Equipoise in doses of 300-400 mg per week. On can of course, as usual add an oral bulking agent such as Dianabol (methandrostenolone) or Anadrol (oxymetholone) to kickstart gains, but testosterone suspension should deliver results in a shorter time-span than esterified testosterones, mostly due to high peak doses and immediate accumulation. Although for best results one would opt to use it for 10-12 weeks, few will last that long with giving themselves daily injections.
[B]A[/B]n anti-estrogen such as Nolvadex is best kept on hand, as there is little doubt that estrogenic problems will occur. Using 30-40 mg/day until well after problems have subsided is advised. Cautious individuals will opt to run proviron or arimidex, aromatase blockers, alongside testosterone suspension to prevent any estrogen from building up. While this will strongly reduce gains, testosterone suspension is still a very adequate compound. Proviron is to be given preference as an aromatase blocker with all forms of testosterone, but those prone to androgenic side-effects such as male pattern hair loss would do wise to invest in the stronger and more expensive arimidex, since proviron can increase androgen-related side-effects.
[B]T[/B]estosterone is, next to nandrolone, the most suppressive drug of natural testosterone. So its an absolute must, especially after long cycles, to include HCG and Nolvadex or Clomid after a cycle. Running HCG for the last two weeks of a cycle and two weeks after in doses of 3000-5000 IU every 5-6 days, and then starting Nolvadex 4-5 days after last shot of testosterone, beginning at 40-50 mg per day for two weeks and then 20-25 mg/day for another two weeks seems to be the best course of action to follow in this instance.
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[SIZE=5][B]Winstrol / Stromba[/B][/SIZE]
[B]Pharmaceutical Name:[/B] Stanozolol
[B]Chemical structure:[/B] 17 alpha-methyl-5alpha- androstano [3,2-c]pyrazol-17 beta-ol
[B]Molecular weight of base:[/B] 344.5392
[FONT=Arial][B]Effective dose:[/B] 50-100 mg/day injection or 50-100 mg/day orally [/FONT]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Characteristics:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]T[/B]This is another one of the popular ones. Next to Deca and D-bol the third most abused substance among athletes is stanozolol, as documented by the many positive drug tests. Among them the case sprinter Ben Johnson, who was stripped of his Gold Medal in the 100 meter dash in the 1988 Olympics. But since then the number of positives has grown exponentially. In bodybuilding Shawn Ray's positive in the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic (a brief stint the IFBB had with drug testing). Ray was the winner of that event, but Canadion pro Nimrod King was also shown to have stanazolol metabolites in his urine. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catwinstrol.jpg
[B]T[/B]hat short paragraph to illustrate what sort of an impact it has made on the world of sports. Stanozolol is commonly referred to as Winny, after its trade name as marketed by Winthrop : Winstrol. In Europe this may be a bit confusing as the most available form there is called Stromba. Winny comes in two forms, an injectable form and an oral form. Both are equally popular and both are to be used daily. The injections are the same compound as the orals, which is methylated. Due to this feat it can't be esterified for time-release. So its not quite suited for weekly injections although this is claimed on the package insert of the veterinary form of Winny. Another thing that would further add to the difficulty of time-release is that it is delivered in an aqueous solution. That would not exactly facilitate the entry into adipose tissue, needed for the esterification and storage of the substrate in the body.
[B]T[/B]he injectable version often gives more results. In similar doses there is still more breakdown upon first pass in the liver, making it difficult to get an equal amount absorbed. And on top of that it has to be mentioned that most people simply don't take an equal amount. Too many pills, lesser availability, higher cost. Many factors play a role in that. But of course an oral is to be preferred over daily injections as that gives the necessary complications as well. Think of abscesses and lumps, the searching for new injection sites due to pain and so on. Some have solved this problem by simply drinking the Winny injections. It's the same substance, also methylated to withstand the liver, the availability and price are better and its contained in water. So there really aren't many objections to this.
[B]O[/B]f course because they are the same substance, regardless of the method of use, its not advised to use Winny for long periods of time. Slightly less hepatoxic than most 17-alpha alkylated substrates, so it can be used a bit longer, as long as 8 weeks, but longer than that is not wise. Elevation of liver values is quite common.
[B]T[/B]he specificity of Winny however, lies in how it counteracts estrogenic side-effects such as gyno and excess water retention. First of all it's a 5-alpha reduced substrate. 5-alpha reduction breaks the double bond between positions 4 and 5, which is required for conversion to estrogen via aromatase, the primary enzyme for the manufacture of estrogen in males. Because some of these compounds nonetheless show some affinity for aromatase they may have some use in blocking estrogen from other steroids they are stacked with. Wether or not Winny acts in this way is not entirely sure. What has been a popular point of discussion with stanozolol is its suggested anti-progestagenic effects. The theory goes that Winny can bind and compete for a position at the progesterone receptor much like Clomid of Nolvadex would at the estrogen receptor, thereby inhibiting progestagenic effects. Now, progesterone can aggravate estrogenic side-effects by agonizing estrogen and it does play a role in gyno.
[B]W[/B]e also discussed that certain steroids may indeed stimulate and act at the height of the progesterone receptor including nandrolone and Norethandrolone. These hormones are also altered by it inducing a decrease in libido and a sense of lethargy and such, and eventhough they aromatize in lesser rates than some other steroids, they show an equal capability to cause estrogenic side-effects, particularly when stacked with other aromatizable compounds. Now there is evidence that Winny does indeed bind to the progesterone receptor1 and its users do not indicate the normal characteristics of progesterone stimulation, which bodes well for these anti-progestagenic properties. There is also some clinical data that it does aid in symptoms that require progesterone suppression2. Much in the way danazol was also successfully used. The one thing we shouldn't lose sight of however is in what rate it binds to the progesterone reception. There is no data on this. For all we know it couldn't bind strong enough to compete with nandrolone or norethandrolone. So its not wise to state that Winny is an anti-progestagin per se, but it does make Winny a good match for these products in stacks in any case.
[B]S[/B]trong gains are never really made while using stanozolol (it's a weak androgen since it has no 3-keto group needed for androgen binding), but decent and fairly easy to maintain gains are possible. Its limited time of use however makes most experienced users opt for other steroids in that regard. Winny, in bodybuilding circles at least, is used mostly during cutting cycles to maintain mass. Winstrol, like a DHT compound also gives a distinct increase in muscle hardness and striations in people with a low body-fat percentage. This lends further credence that it too may be a an anti-estrogen. But most likely it has more to do with the overall lower levels of circulating estrogen. Winny is also quite effective at promoting strength because it binds very well at the androgen receptor. Short term stanozolol use can promote drastic strength, a feat often employed early in a bulking cycle (although d-bol would be more suited in that case) or late in a cutting cycle to prevent a decrease in performance. This combined with the red blood cell count-stimulating properties of its androgen affinity make it popular among track athletes as well in order to beget better results. As many, including Ben Johnson, did not take into account it can be detected for quite some time after last use so its not advisable for drug tested athletes. Many have assumed otherwise due to the short half-life, but apparently some inactive metabolites are easily esterified, so they can be found up to 5 months after the last injection.
[B]W[/B]inny is mostly quite well-tolerated in men. Cramps, headaches, elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels and liver damage are noted, but on a not so-frequent basis. Standard virilization symptoms associated with the stimulating of the androgen receptor, however, are a problem. Acne, prostate hypertrophy and an aggravation of male pattern baldness can occur, so use by women has to be discouraged.
[B]D[/B]ue to the frequent rate of injections, users generally have to go spotting for different sites of injection on the body. Calves, shoulders, arms and such. When doing so they noted a localized increase in mass which has given root to the myth that Winny can add muscle where it is injected. What I'm about to say goes for all compounds known to date : Steroids do not increase mass locally. The observance is noted because the injection breaks the fascia around the muscle, which possibly gives a muscle a little more room to grow. This is mostly temporary, and in the best cases very limited. Multiple injections would not increase the size in comparison. When the fascia heals, if it heals, it can lead to something called compartments syndrome, where a nerve is pinched between a muscle and its fascia. Leading to numbness quite often and in some cases to a paralysis of everything that nerve controls. This is not a frequent occurrence. This is rare, but my point was documenting that localized growth spurred by an injection is a myth.
[B]A[/B] last note about injectable Winny is : shake before use. Its called an aqueous solution, but the Winny being a steroid is not particularly polar, meaning it doesn't dissolve in the water. When the stuff sits, it will accumulate at the bottom of the vial. A good way to recognize the real stuff as well. So shake before you draw it into a syringe or mix it before you drink it, and perhaps even stir it again once in the syringe prior to injection.
[SIZE=4][COLOR=#00b000][B]Stacking and Use:[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[B]W[/B]instrol is best used at a rate of 50 mg a day. When in an injection that amounts to a single injection every day around the same time. In orals, that'll be at least 5 tabs of a legit product.
[B]I[/B]n a mass stack Winny makes a good match for Deca and Nilevar. Whether or not its anti-progestagenic effects are for real or not, lets just say it can't hurt. In any stack with Deca the use of 25-50 mg a day for the first 6-8 weeks of the stack can kickstart it and add some strength. With Nilevar there is a practical objection because it is also 17-alpha alkylated and more toxic than Winny, so your stack would be limited to 6 weeks, which is not overly productive.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catdian2.jpg
[I]The pink ones are Anabol (Dianabol) and the yellow ones are Stanabol (Winstrol). [/I][B]F[/B]or cutting purposes Boldenone, Masteron and trenbolone are the best options. If you are employing a longer stack, then use 25-50 mg of Winny for 6 weeks or so at the end of the stack. Boldenone is the best match here as the other two do basically the same thing. They act solely or mostly at the androgen receptor. Making them poorer choices since simply upping the dose of Winny would mostly achieve similar results. Of course neither is methylated, which allows for longer use. [B]T[/B]here is no need for an anti-estrogen as Winny may have such a property of its own and does not aromatize at any rate. The only counter-indication with Winny would perhaps be an anti-hypertensive if you use for a longer stack. Be sure to get liver values checked if you use for longer than 6 weeks on end. There is no real use for Clomid or Nolva post-cycle for Winny specifically since there is no post-cycle aromatisation to cause negative feedback. That makes whatever gains you made on Winny quite easy to maintain.
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