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The drug Trenbolone is, without a doubt, the most powerful injectable anabolic steroid used by Steroid.com members to gain muscle. However the full properties of the drug are not always fully understood. This profile will separate fact from fiction and help steroid.com members decide if Trenbolone is right for them.
Trenbolone is similar to the highly popular steroid Nandrolone, in that they are both 19-nor steroids, meaning that a testosterone molecule has been altered at the 19th position to give us a new compound. Unlike Nandrolone however Trenbolone is an excellent mass and hardening drug with the majority of gains being muscle fiber, with minimal water retention (1) It has an unbelievable anabolic (muscle building) score of 500. When you compare that to Testosterone, which itself is a powerful mass builder, and has an anabolic score of 100 you can begin to fathom the muscle building potential of Trenbolone. What makes Trenbolone so anabolic? Numerous factors come into play. Trenbolone greatly increases the level of the extremely anabolic hormone IGF-1 within muscle tissue (2). And, its worth noting that not only does it increase the levels of IGF-1 in muscle over two fold, it also causes muscle satellite cells (cells that repair damaged muscle) to be more sensitive to IGF-1 and other growth factors(3). The amount of DNA per muscle cell may also be significantly increased (3).
Trenbolone also has a very strong binding affinity to the androgen receptor (A.R), binding much more strongly than testosterone (4). This is important, because the stronger a steroid binds to the androgen receptor the better that steroid works at activating A.R dependent mechanisms of muscle growth. There is also strong supporting evidence that compounds which bind very tightly to the androgen receptor also aid in fat loss. Think as the receptors as locks and androgen’s as different keys, with some keys (androgen’s) opening (binding) the locks (receptors) much better than others. This is not to say that AR-binding is the final word on a steroids effectiveness. Anadrol doesnt have any measurable binding to the AR& and we all know how potent Anadrol is for mass-building.
Trenbolone increases nitrogen retention in muscle tissue (5). This is of note because nitrogen retention is a strong indicator of how anabolic a substance is. However, it’s incredible mass building effects do not end there. Trenbolone has the ability to bind with the receptors of the anti-anabolic (muscle destroying) glucocorticoid hormones (6). This may also has the effect of inhibiting the catabolic (muscle destroying) hormone cortisol (7).
Yet another amazing trait that must be noted is its ability to improve feed efficiency and mineral absorption in animals given the drug (8). To help you understand what this means for you, feed efficiency is a measurement of how much of an animals diet is converted into meat, and the more food it takes to produce this meat, the lower the efficiency. Conversely, the less food it takes to produce meat the, higher the efficiency& well you get the idea. Animals given Trenbolone gained high quality weight without having their diet adjusted, thus improving feed efficiency. Finding new compounds which can improve feed efficiency is a billion dollar industry, and has spawned many nutritional advances in the bodybuilding world over the last few decades (CLA, Whey Protein, and HMB are compounds which spring to mind as having first been introduced by the livestock industry). What does this translate to for the hard training athlete? The food you eat will be better utilized for building lean muscle, and vitamins and minerals are also better absorbed which may keep you healthier during cycle.
Anadrol (commonly called by athletes “A50” or “A-bombs”) was initially developed as a compound to help people with anemia, and has since been used very successfully to aid people who are suffering from many other diseases where weight loss is a concern. Thus, it is clearly an effective agent for promoting weight gain, increasing appetite, gaining strength, and increasing Red Blood Cell count. And, as with most Anabolic/Androgenic Steroids (AAS), it has its downsides as well. Anadrol 50 will inhibit your body’s natural production of hormones (testosterone, etc ), will negatively affect your blood lipid profile, can cause water retention, is notorious for causing headaches, and is also highly liver toxic (in fact, it has the worst reputation for hepatoxicity out of all steroids). Paradoxically, although one the benefits touted by its original manufacturer (Syntex) is that it can be used to stimulate weight gain through increasing appetite, taking too much may actually inhibit your appetite!
I think, in order to gain a complete understanding of the Anadrol 50 effects on body, we need to take a look at its advantages contrasted with its disadvantages. Anadrol is a DHT-derived compound, and is 17-Alpha-Alkylated steroid, meaning that it has been altered at the 17th carbon position to survive oral ingestion. Most oral steroids are 17aa, and this helps them make it through your liver in a useful form. Sounds great, right? Lets 17alpha-alkylate everything! Well as you can imagine, there’s a down side.
This 17aa alteration, which makes it possible for Anadrol to survive its first pass through your liver, also makes it very taxing on your liver. How taxing is Anadrol and how much weight can you gain from its use? Well, there was a 30 week study done on Anadrol and, as you can expect, a reasonable amount of side effects were noted. The fact that Anadrol causes some side effects has really never been in debate. But how effective was the drug? Well, first it should be mentioned that this study was done on people with AIDS related wasting, and they actually gained weight (8+kg) while the control group lost weight, and had increased mortality rates. (1). I suppose, if you’re in a study because you have a wasting disease which is also a terminal illness, you don’t want to end up in the control group. Anyway, weight gain in this study peaked at 19-20 weeks, though, so the last 10 weeks weren’t very productive in this respect. Clearly, you wouldn’t want to run Anadrol 50 for 20 weeks, given its toxicity, but after that, any effect in terms of weight and strength gains would be negligible. So, with regards to sides from Anadrol, and the sheer fact that this study lasted so long (30 weeks), it should be apparent that they can be kept under control and the drug can be used safely. People are commonly told to limit their intake of Anadrol to 4 weeks or less I’m a bit less conservative and think you can easily run Anadrol for 6 weeks or more.
From personal experience, however, I can tell you that gains from Anadrol are quite dramatic for the first 3 weeks and then quickly level off. Unfortunately, I find that the side effects experienced from Anadrol (which include a headache, bloating, elevated blood pressure, and a general “unwell” feeling for me) remain for the entire duration of use. But I find as usual, side effects for this drug are pretty much half legend and half truth. Since Anadrol 50 is derived from DHT, it cant actually convert to estrogen (via the aromatase enzyme), and its not a progestin or a compound with progestenic activity so the estrogenic (?) side effects produced by it are of a very mysterious nature. It has been speculated that perhaps it can stimulate the estrogen receptor without actually being converted to estrogen and that’s about as plausible an explanation as Ive heard. However, things really get strange, when Oxymetholone has been used in studies to alter the female reproductive/menstrual cycle; in those cases, it has lowered plasma progesterone levels! (7)One would expect that an AI (aromatase inhibitor) wouldn’t be of much use with this drug, but many have found that Letrozole (which has, in some cases been shown to reduce estrogen in the body to an undetectable amount)(6) can greatly reduce or even eliminate many of the more noticeable side effects of Anadrol, such as the bloating.
As I’ve stated, however, the sides from this drug are certainly no joke, but are easily preventable, and controllable. One study even showed very few sides for subjects using up to 100mgs of Oxymetholone (2). In the original UnderGround Steroid Hand Book, Dan Duchaine states that he used it at doses up to 150mgs/day. Clearly, Anadrol’s hepatoxicity has been a bit exaggerated, in some circles. Be that as it may, my suggestion is still to limit Anadrol’s use to 6 weeks, at a maximum even if just to err on the side of caution. Of course, I have personally run this drug for much longer..
How should we use Anadrol? Id probably be willing to include Anadrol in a cycle including injectable steroids, but not other 17aa compounds. Id make any 6-week-run of this compound begin at the start of a cycle, as a form of “jumpstart” towards seeing gains quickly. The quick gains you will get from Anadrol (up to a pound per day for the first 2 weeks are not uncommon in Steroid.com members) are also just as quick to disappear upon cessation of use .unless you are simply using it as a kickstarter, while waiting for your other compounds to kick-in. Ill go out on a limb here and say that utilizing Anadrol as a “Jumpstart” is the most popular use of this drug for athletes and bodybuilders today. Ill also say that this drug is immensely popular with strength athletes who dont have to worry about weight classes (Field athletes and strongmen), and with powerlifters in the heavier weight brackets. Its also important to note that in one study by Schroder et. Al (2) Anadrol showed that it has the ability to lower serum SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin which binds to your free test and makes it no longer useful for anabolism, among other things) concentrations by 54.9 25.8 and 45 16.2 nmol/l in the 50- and 100-mg treatment groups. This means there will be more free test circulating around your body when you take this drug and clearly, this would produce some synergy when stacked with other steroids. Given the large amounts of weight and strength which can be gained in a relatively short time span on this drug, I’m sure this comes as no surprise to many.
Another important and often understated characteristic of this compound is that Oxymetholone doesn’t bind well to the androgen receptor (Relative Binding Affinity = too low to be determined) (3) which is the lowest Ive ever read about. Basically, what this tells me is that there are a lot of non-receptor mediated effects from this steroid, making it a very potent addition to ANY BULKING stack, because it wont be competing for the receptor sites with the other steroids you’re using. Its also, as you may have guessed a very poor choice for a cutting stack.
What is an Anadrol Cycle? How much should you use? Well, this is actually one of the most interesting facts about Anadrol 50. You see, most steroids produce what we call a “dose respondent curve” which is a fancy way of saying “the more you use, the more you gain.”
Anadrol is one of the few steroids where the dose respondent curve flattens out very quickly. When you take 50mgs of Anadrol, you’ll make some very good gains. When you take 100mgs of Anadrol, you’ll make even more gains. However, it has been found that 100mgs/day is as effective for weight gain as 150mgs/day but produces less side effects and was less toxic (4). I feel that the jump from 50mgs to 100mgs constitutes an acceptable rise in benefit vs. cost, but this is not the case as dosages get over 100mgs. Now, lets see how 50mgs and 100mgs of Oxymetholone actually effect strength, when compared with each other:
Relative (%) changes in strength are shown for the groups receiving placebo (filled bars), 50 mg/day oxymetholone (open bars), and 100 mg/day oxymetholone (gray bars). Nos. above bars represent relative change (%) from baseline to week 12 for the 1-repetition maximum tests of strength. Error bars represent 1 SE from the mean. * Significant difference from placebo, P < 0.05; significant difference from placebo by Wilcoxon test, P < 0.02. See text for additional statistical analyses.
As you can see, in this study, doubling the dose of Anadrol 50 nearly doubled the strength gains of the test subjects. Now, when we look at changes in body composition from Oxymetholone (chart below) we can see that although the guys taking the 100mgs (vs. the 50mgs group) had more fat lost and more Lean Body Mass gained, it wasn’t as dramatic as the differences in strength gains between the two groups:
Changes in body composition are shown for the groups receiving placebo (filled bars), 50 mg of oxymetholone per day (open bars), and 100 mg per day (gray bars). Numbers above the bars represent the mean absolute changes and the error bars are 1 SE. For total lean body mass (LBM) and total fat, differences among the 3 groups were significant (P < 0.0001, one-way ANOVA). * Significant differences from placebo, P 0.001.
Although I am usually not inclined to posit speculations on why a particular drug does or doesn’t do something, in this case I will. Im guessing that the higher doses of Anadrol cause enough appetite suppression (at least anecdotally) to make eating rather difficult. It can also increase insulin resistance and glucose intolerance (5). This has the effect of making macronutrient absorption more inefficient, and could also be a factor in reducing gains when the dosage goes over 100mgs/day. Unfortunately, Anadrol also has a reasonably profound effect on your body’s natural hormonal system, on par with most other oral steroids, but not as bad as most injectables, and its certainly not as harsh on your lipid profile as many anabolics are
(2). As an interesting side note, some of the medical literature on this compound suggests a dose of 1-5mgs per kg of bodyweight. Ill pause a second here for you to figure out how absurdly high of a dose that would translate to for the average bodybuilder!
Sustanon 250 is a popular testosterone blend (mixture) and is without question the most popular and well known blend ever made. Manufactured by Organon, the idea behind Sustanon 250 was to provide the best of small (short) and large (long) ester testosterones in a single compound. This would allow the individual to maintain stable blood levels of the testosterone hormone with an infrequent injection schedule while simultaneously receiving fast acting benefits.
The limited injection frequency makes Sustanon 250 a perfect compound for the treatment of low testosterone. It allows the individual to maintain stable levels without the need for constantly pinning themselves with a needle, but this is truly the only advantage of this testosterone. Sustanon 250 will not provide any advantage over a single ester testosterone compound to a performance athlete. In a performance capacity we will find the individual will still be required to inject the hormone frequently if he is to maintain not only stable blood levels but peaked blood levels. Many often inaccurately assume Sustanon 250 is superior over single ester testosterone forms due to the fact that it carries four distinct testosterones in a single injection. As for the basic functioning traits of testosterone, they will be the same with Sustanon 250 as they are with all testosterone forms. They will be no more or less powerful or effective.
Sustanon 250 is a testosterone hormone. Although synthetic it is a perfect replica of the naturally produced primary male androgen testosterone. By the esters that are attached, this is what defines Sustanon 250 and differentiates it from other testosterone compounds. The compound carries a mixture of small and large esters in a precise dose. It is the precise dose of each of the four testosterone esters that make it. You could take four other testosterones and combine them in the same dosing strength but this would not make it Sustanon 250. This is important because there are underground labs that try to pass off other mixtures as Sustanon 250. The precise makeup of Organon’s product is as follows:
This total mixture gives us 250mg of testosterone per milliliter. Sustanon 250 will also be found in single dose ampules, not vials and each ampule will contain this 250mg concentration. One thing you may have noticed is that the composition of Sustanon 250 is very similar to Omnadren, a testosterone blend manufactured by Jelfa. The original Omnadren mixture was identical to Sustanon 250 with one exception. Omnadren originally carried 100mg of Testosterone Caproate instead of Testosterone Decanoate. However, modern Omnadren now carries the Decanoate ester making it identical to Sustanon 250.
As a testosterone hormone, Sustanon 250 is perfect for treating low testosterone. Testosterone is an essential hormone for men and women; however, men require approximately ten times that of women. The hormone is responsible for sexual development and maturation but it is also responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and function of several key areas of our lives. This is a hormone that plays a role on our physical, mental and sexual well-being, and when levels fall to low we can suffer in numerous ways in all of those areas. The symptoms and effects of low testosterone are not in any way what we’d call life threatening; however, they can tremendously suppress your overall quality of life. The condition is also extremely unhealthy and if left ignored can lead to or help promote conditions that are indeed life threatening. If you suffer from any of the following symptoms there’s a good chance you suffer from low testosterone and Sustanon 250 can easily remedy the problem:
By administering Sustanon 250 such symptoms will not only fade away they will fade away rapidly and bring about notable improvements in those areas of your life. Of course, this is assuming the symptoms are low testosterone related. More importantly, when we treat low testosterone we protect ourselves from the gateway issues that can arise when the problem is ignored.
Interestingly enough, while the use of exogenous testosterone may lead to moderate cholesterol issues, prolonged low testosterone has been linked to high cholesterol. If you suffer from low testosterone there really is no reason you should suffer when treatment is not only available but easily so with compounds like Sustanon 250.
Then we have performance enhancement, and it will be other functions and traits of the testosterone hormone that are of interest here. The performance athlete will notice improvements in every area of his life that the low testosterone patient benefited from. However, in this case he will be taking his testosterone levels to a much higher level. This high level will bring about enormous enhancements in five key areas that are associated with physical progress. And from these five traits, we will find we have a hormone that is one of the most versatile hormones at our disposal and perfect for nearly all male performance related goals. The specific traits of Sustanon 250 in this category include:
Enhanced Protein Synthesis: Protein synthesis refers to the rate by-which cells build proteins, the primary building block of muscle tissue. Protein synthesis is enhanced and in return so is this basic function in anabolism.
Enhanced Nitrogen Retention: All lean muscle tissue is comprised of approximately 16% nitrogen. When nitrogen levels fall this puts us at great risk in falling into a catabolic state. The more nitrogen we retain the greater our anabolic atmosphere will remain. As was with protein synthesis, this trait will prove very useful in bulking and cutting cycles as will all the basic high testosterone level promoted traits.
Increased Red Blood Cell Count: Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to and through the blood. As blood oxygenation levels increase this increases the ability of the muscle to perform. This trait will play an imperative role in endurance and recovery.
Increased IGF-1 Output: Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is a highly potent and powerful naturally produced peptide hormone with tremendous anabolic power. While highly anabolic it also plays an extremely important role on our body’s recovery process. This is a hormone that affects nearly every cell in the human body and with more available there is more to do what IGF-1 does best.
Inhibition of Glucocorticoid Hormones: Glucocorticoid hormones or stress hormones are in many ways the very opposite of anabolic steroids. These hormones destroy muscle tissue and promote fat storage; cortisol is the most well-known glucocorticoid. By using a compound like Sustanon 250 and achieving high testosterone levels, we ensure glucocorticoids while necessary to a degree to our health do not become dominant in the body.
The basic functions and traits of Sustanon 250 are fairly straightforward. There’s nothing magical about this hormone, nothing out of the ordinary but it is still a remarkable product. The testosterone hormone, while very simple to understand is dramatically powerful, beneficial and perhaps the most important hormone of all.
By now we should have a good understanding of the effects of Sustanon 250 simply by understanding its functions and traits. If you suffer from low testosterone and supplement with Sustanon 250 you will suffer no more; problem solved. Then we have performance enhancement, and we want to break down the effects of Sustanon 250 in a way that gives them a real life understanding.
During an off-season bulking cycle this is one of the best times to use Sustanon 250. High testosterone levels create the perfect atmosphere for muscle growth. Granted, the calories have to be there. If you’re not eating enough all the testosterone in the world wont’ help you grow. However, the combination of a well-planned diet and high testosterone levels will see tremendous advancements in lean tissue growth. Of equal importance, high testosterone levels will enhance your metabolic rate. Those who have higher testosterone levels will gain less body fat during their off-season than those who do not have higher testosterone levels. Make no mistake, you can still gain a lot of unwanted body fat if you’re not careful with your off-season nutrition, but high testosterone levels will give you the ability to make better use of this period in training.
While many understand high testosterone levels are beneficial when growing, many fail to understand how beneficial they can be when cutting. A cutting cycle is a perfect time to supplement with Sustanon 250. Due to its tremendously powerful anabolic nature this hormone will protect lean muscle tissue better than just about anything else. When we diet we must burn more calories than we consume and this puts our lean muscle tissue at risk. The body will take what it needs to meet its energy demands from wherever it can get it, and this is often out muscle tissue. The idea is to force the body to burn fat, not muscle and a well-planned diet can help but it can only go so far. At some point the body will go into survival mode and protect the stored body fat and tap into muscle stores for its energy needs unless there is an anabolic protectant such as what high testosterone levels can provide.
Protecting lean tissue is the primary benefit of high testosterone levels when cutting, but it’s not the only one. The use of Sustanon 250 will enable the individual to burn body fat at a more efficient rate due to the metabolic enhancement high levels will provide. It is, however, important to note that many will need to use less Sustanon 250 during their cutting phase compared to off-season phase due to estrogen sensitivity. This will make more sense once we dive into the side effects section. However, some often make the mistake of taking their testosterone levels too low during the cutting phase. Remember, it took high testosterone levels to build the mass you have and it will take similarly high levels to maintain it. You can cut the total dosing down during the cutting phase but you need to be smart about it and consider the inclusion of other anabolic steroids.
The effects of Sustanon 250 do not end with what we’ve discussed so far. High testosterone levels will greatly enhance muscular endurance. You will not tire out as fast when your testosterone levels are high. The use of Sustanon 250 will also dramatically improve your overall rate of recovery and this is invaluable. Recovery is where progress is made. Progress isn’t actually made in the gym when we train. When we train we are actually tearing down muscle tissue. It is the repair process that brings about progress. High testosterone levels will see this progress enhanced and undertaken in a more efficient and thorough manner. This makes high testosterone levels very beneficial to athletes as recovery and endurance are key components to athletic performance. As a bonus, Sustanon 250 will increase the individual’s strength, again a key component to athletic success.
For the healthy adult male, healthy excluding low testosterone, Sustanon 250 is an extremely well-tolerated anabolic steroid. There are possible side effects of Sustanon 250 use, but they are also largely controllable with proper use. We will find that certain side effects of Sustanon 250 are highly dependent on genetic predispositions, but overall safe supplementation is more than possible.
For the low testosterone patient, he will have the easiest time combating the side effects of Sustanon 250. In this case, while side effects are possible he is merely replacing the testosterone he’s lacking. Then we have the performance athlete and he will be taking his testosterone levels far above and beyond what could ever be naturally produced. Most men can tolerate high testosterone levels very well but there is generally a cutoff point. However, this cutoff point can vary greatly from one man to the next. Further, this individual will need to exercise more caution than the low testosterone patient and often take steps that a therapeutic setting may not require. In order to help you understand the possible side effects of Sustanon 250 we have broken them down into their separate categories along with all the information you’ll need.
The side effects of Sustanon 250 will most commonly include those of an estrogenic nature. The testosterone hormone is highly susceptible to the aromatase enzyme, which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. As estrogen levels rise, this can lead to and promote three common side effects associated with anabolic steroid use. The primary estrogenic side effects of Sustanon 250 include gynecomastia and excess water retention. If excess water retention becomes severe this can have a profound negative effect on blood pressure. Severe water retention is the leading cause of high blood pressure with anabolic steroid use. It is also very controllable.
In order to combat the estrogenic side effects of Sustanon 250 an anti-estrogen medication is often recommended. You have two choices in anti-estrogen medications, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM’s) or Aromatase Inhibitors (AI’s). AI’s will be the most effective as they will directly inhibit the aromatase process and reduce total serum estrogen levels. SERM’s will not inhibit aromatization or lower estrogen levels, but they will bind to the receptors thereby preventing estrogenic action. SERM’s can be very useful in combating gynecomastia, but they are often not enough to prevent water retention in some men. Unfortunately, AI’s can also have a negative effect on cholesterol that appears to be greatly exasperated when combined with the use of exogenous testosterone. SERM’s will have no negative effect on cholesterol. In fact, they may promote healthy cholesterol levels due to their estrogen like activity in the liver. If you can get the job done with a SERM it should always be your first choice.
An important note on water retention, and this is very important regarding off-season use of Sustanon 250. An overabundance in calories, especially carbohydrates will promote water retention. Excess calories are needed for growth but often not near the levels most assume. A moderate increase above maintenance caloric consumption is often all that’s needed. However, many will eat so much that they will inevitably hold a lot of water and this water retention may become worse with the inclusion of exogenous testosterone. Control your caloric intake, especially your carbohydrate intake and you’ll have a much easier time controlling water retention.
Sustanon 250 is a highly androgenic hormone and can produce related effects. The androgenic side effects of Sustanon 250 include acne, accelerated hair loss in those predisposed to male pattern baldness and body hair growth. These side effects of Sustanon 250 are highly dependent on genetic predispositions. Sensitivity to androgenicity plays a role but is dependent on the testosterone hormone’s interaction with the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for reducing testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and as DHT activity increases it can lead to the related effects. In order to combat the androgenic side effects of Sustanon 250 some may find the use of a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor such as Finasteride to be warranted. Not all men will need a related inhibitor but some will find it helps. However, it is important to note that a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor will not completely reduce the steroid’s androgenicity. Those who are extremely sensitive to androgenic effects may find this steroid is not for them or should at least be used in minimal amounts.
The use of testosterone can have a negative impact on cholesterol, particularly HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). However, it does not appear to be very significant in most cases. Low HDL suppression is possible but it’s often inconsequential. However, when combined with the use of an AI it appears to be exasperated. According to the data at hand, the use of testosterone at a dosing of 250-600mg per week with an AI will promote an approximate 20% reduction in HDL cholesterol levels. The total reduction as you can see remains statistically the same in that dosing range. Once again, for this reason SERM’s should be your first choice in place of AI’s in order to combat estrogenic activity. But, SERM’s won’t always be enough and there is hope. If an AI is needed with your Sustanon 250 you should ensure you put in a lot of effort into controlling your cholesterol levels. This means a cholesterol friendly diet rich in omega fatty acids, low in saturated fats and low in simple sugars. It also means incorporating plenty of cardiovascular activity into your routine.
Regardless of who you are or why you’re using Sustanon 250 the inclusion of this anabolic steroid will suppress your natural testosterone production. For the low testosterone patient this is of no concern. Such an individual is not producing enough testosterone to begin with. For the performance athlete, while using Sustanon 250, again this is of no concern. Sustanon 250 will provide all the testosterone the body needs. However, the concern arises for this individual once his cycle and use comes to an end. When use comes to an end natural testosterone production will begin again. However, it will take a long time for your levels to return to normal. This can lead to a temporary low testosterone state and the associated symptoms. It can also lead to cortisol becoming the dominant hormone in your body making the progress made on cycle very difficult to impossible to maintain.
Due to the testosterone suppression caused by Sustanon 250, once use is discontinued most all men are encouraged to implement a Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) plan. A solid PCT plan will include SERM’s like Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate) and Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate) and the peptide hormone HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin). This will greatly speed up the recovery process. A PCT plan will not return you to normal on it’s own. There is no PCT plan on earth that can do this. However, a PCT plan will ensure you have enough testosterone for proper bodily function while your natural testosterone levels continue to rise.
Important notes on natural testosterone recovery. Natural recovery assumes no prior low testosterone condition existed. It also assumes severe damage was not done to the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular-Axis (HPTA).
Sustanon 250 is not hepatotoxic and will present no stress or damage to the liver.
In a therapeutic setting to treat low testosterone, Sustanon 250 doses will normally fall in the 250mg every 3-4 week range with one injection every 3 weeks being most common. The total duration of treatment is indefinite. Low testosterone normally needs to be treated for life. We can remedy the problem but it will in most cases require continual treatment.
In a performance capacity, Sustanon 250 doses commonly range from 250-1,000mg per week. 250mg per week is enough to combat testosterone suppression caused by the use of other anabolic steroids. For a true anabolic effect, most will find 500mg per week to be effective. 500mg per week will be very tolerable for most men and often all the Sustanon 250 they’ll need. Many men will be able to tolerate 750-1,000mg per week. Higher testosterone levels should produce greater results; however, they will also increase the probability of negative side effects. How great this increase in probability is will be dependent on the individual and can greatly vary from one man to the next. Doses above 1,000mg per week will greatly exasperate potential negative side effects.
As for stacking, Sustanon 250 will stack well with all anabolic steroids. During off-season cycles, Deca Durabolin or any Nandrolone compound is often beneficial along with possible additions of Anadrol or Dianabol. During the cutting phase, steroids like Anavar, Masteron, Primobolan, Trenbolone and Winstrol will prove useful. You will also find the Trenbolone hormone to be very valuable during off-season use.
An important note; some will find Sustanon 250 painful to inject. Sustanon 250 contains the Propionate ester and a small segment of the population will find this ester irritates the injected area. This will prohibit some from using the steroid.
Sustanon 250 is one of the most expensive testosterone compounds on the market. However, it is in high supply and is one of the easiest anabolic steroids to buy. Organon manufactures the compound in numerous countries. The most common include Karachi’s (Pakistan), Nile’s (Egypt), Redi-Jects (Mexico) and the original Sustanon 250 products from Brazil, Italy, England, Belgium, and Portugal.
There are numerous other labs and pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the Sustanon 250 mixture. One of the most common is Russian Infar and Induject-250 by Alpha Pharma. Countless underground labs also manufacture the mixture in generic form. However, there is always a risk of an inferior product when purchasing an underground label. As for the Organon brands, counterfeits are also a risk, especially when it’s from Brazil, Pakistan and Egypt. You will need to exercise caution and do some hard digging on your supplier before you make a purchase. Also familiarize yourself with the Organon labels thoroughly as the country of origin will determine exactly how the product is supposed to look.
An important note; Sustanon 250 is not legally available in the U.S. The U.S. FDA has never approved it and Organon has never sought out approval. There are many Organon products that have been U.S. FDA approved, but in recent years they have continually withdrawn more of their products from this market due to the strict legislation on anabolic steroids in the U.S.
10mL sterile multi-dose vial
Testosterone Propionate is a single ester testosterone compound and represents one of the most important testosterone compounds ever manufactured. When synthetic testosterone was first created it was in its pure form. Simply put there was no ester attached, thereby providing a fast acting compound that would necessarily require a very frequent administration schedule. In 1937 the pharmaceutical giant Schering out of Germany would release the first ester base testosterone in Testosterone Propionate under the trade name Testoviron. The same trade name it would eventually give to its Testosterone Enanthate product. By attaching the Propionate ester to the hormone, this would allow for the hormone’s release time to be controlled and provided a more efficient means in maintaining stable blood levels. Although this was not the first synthetic testosterone preparation created, Testosterone Propionate would become the first commercially available testosterone product. It would also dominate the medical community until the 1960’s and much of the newly born performance enhancing community.
During the 1960’s Testosterone Propionate would lose a lot of its popularity in favor of the larger ester base Testosterone Cypionate and Testosterone Enanthate compounds. However, it is still used medicinally today as well as by many performance athletes. You will find more of it among the latter group than anywhere else. Many performance enhancing athletes actually believe the Propionate form will lead to less water retention than the dominating large ester forms of Testosterone. For this reason, it is often the preferred form of testosterone during cutting cycles. While this is the common belief it is also a misconception. Regardless of the testosterone form the hormone does not become active in the body until the ester detaches and then the hormone is released. Regardless of the ester originally attached to the hormone you still have the same testosterone hormone in the body once the ester is removed. So where does this myth come from? Common sense tells us that when running a cutting cycle the individual will consume a calorie restricted diet, one that is often healthier and with less of an abundance in carbohydrates. As a result the individual will hold less water. Then we have the fact that many often use less testosterone when dieting and if your total dose is less than an off-season dose there’s less active hormone available to promote water retention. All in all, you can receive the same benefits with Testosterone Propionate as all testosterone forms. However, an advantage of Testosterone Propionate is that it can be easier to maintain stable and peaked blood levels of the hormone due to the very frequent injection protocol compared to large ester bases.
Outside of performance enhancement, Testosterone Propionate has found a number of therapeutic uses. However, like all testosterone forms the treatment of male androgen deficiency such as low testosterone has always been the most common point of use. Testosterone Propionate has, however, also found other points of interesting use over the years in treating menopausal issues, chronic cystic mastitis, excessive lactation and endometriosis. This was for a decent amount of time the most commonly used testosterone for female medical treatment, but it has largely been removed from U.S. FDA approval in female patients. It is still approved for male use in the U.S. but it will be found in medicinal circles more commonly in other parts of the world. However, Cypionate and Enanthate remain the dominate forms worldwide leaving Propionate to be primarily use in performance circles.
Testosterone Propionate is a pure testosterone hormone. Although synthetic it is a perfect replica of the primary naturally produced male androgen testosterone. By design, the hormone is attached to the Propionate (propionic acid) ester, a small/short ester that enables the hormone’s release time to be controlled. Without an ester, the hormone would disperse and dissipate rapidly post administration. By attaching the ester, this promotes a controlled release and allows the individual to inject the hormone less frequently. Once Testosterone Propionate is injected, the ester slowly begins to detach from the hormone. As the ester is detached the testosterone hormone begins to release into the blood. The half-life of Testosterone Propionate is approximately two days, which is substantially longer than ester free testosterone, which carries a half-life a little less than 24 hours.
As a pure testosterone, Testosterone Propionate carries an anabolic rating of 100 and an androgenic rating of 100 as well. The testosterone hormone itself represents the basis by which all anabolic and androgenic ratings are measured in all anabolic steroids. More importantly, while carrying these structural ratings, its translating rating matches up perfectly. Testosterone Propionate will yield a notable amount of anabolic and androgenic activity. This is important as not all steroids match their structural ratings in a translating capacity.
Although synthetic in nature, Testosterone Propionate is an efficient hormone for the treatment of low testosterone. Testosterone is an essential hormone produced by men and women that affects our physical, mental and sexual wellbeing. While produced and essential for both sexes, men require approximately ten times that of women. If you suffer from low testosterone and more than 20 million men in the U.S. suffer from some type of androgen deficiency, Testosterone Propionate will remedy the problem. However, while effective, after all, it is testosterone, it is not a preferred form of treatment as it will require frequent injections. Testosterone Cypionate and Testosterone Enanthate remain the dominant forms in treatment plans. However, if you suffer and Testosterone Propionate is what’s available it is a suitable option.
There are numerous symptoms associated with low testosterone. The symptoms themselves are not life threatening but they severally diminish your quality of life. More importantly, when the condition is ignored it can be an open doorway to many far more serious conditions, some of which are life threatening. The symptoms of low testosterone include:
Regular administration of Testosterone Propionate will remedy every last symptom on this list if it is due to low testosterone. In the early stages of low testosterone you may not display too many symptoms. Many men initially display one of the sexually related most commonly and perhaps one more from the list. However, while the sexually related symptoms are the most common it is possible to suffer from low testosterone without such symptoms initially. As time goes by, if ignored the symptoms will begin to mount. If continually ignored low testosterone can in part promote several far more concerning conditions including:
When compounds like Testosterone Propionate can so easily remedy a low testosterone condition, there really is no excuse for living with the problem. There are possible side effects to use, but keep in mind this is merely testosterone a hormone your body is well accustomed to. For the low level patient, while there are possible side effects of Testosterone Propionate very few men will have a problem.
While a perfect replica of the primary male androgen, treating low testosterone is not the only functional trait provided by Testosterone Propionate. This is a highly versatile anabolic steroid and high levels of the hormone will enhance several primary anabolic characteristics. When we refer to high levels, this is the realm of performance enhancement. With this type of use, the individual will be taking his testosterone levels far above and beyond what could ever be naturally produced. Through this action, Testosterone Propionate will promote five key steroidal enhancement traits that will serve most any man tremendously well. With this type of use, every man who supplements will enjoy improvements in his life in the same areas as a low level patient. However, it is the tremendous enhancement provided by the five traits that separate and distinguish this type of use. The five primary anabolic traits of Testosterone Propionate include:
By enhancing protein synthesis, this simply means we enhance the rate by which cells build proteins. Protein representing the primary building block of muscle tissue; this is essential to repair and recovery, which is where anabolic growth is promoted. The promotion of nitrogen will also enhance the anabolic atmosphere as all lean tissue is comprised of approximately 16% nitrogen. When nitrogen levels fall this can lead to a catabolic (muscle wasting) state. Conversely, the more nitrogen we retain the more anabolic we remain.
Then we have the promotion of red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to and through the blood. Greater blood oxygenation results in greater muscular endurance, enhanced recovery and again promotes the anabolic atmosphere. From here we have the promotion of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is a naturally produced protein hormone that is highly anabolic and essential to the body’s recovery and rejuvenation abilities. This is a hormone that affects nearly every cell in the human body and will have a positive impact on muscle tissue, ligaments and tendons, cartilage, and even the central nervous system.
Finally we’re left with inhibition of glucocorticoid or stress hormones. These hormones are necessary to the body’s wellbeing to a degree but they are muscle wasting and fat promoting hormones. Cortisol is the most well-known glucocorticoid and it is very easy for these hormones to become dominant in the body. A dominant atmosphere will lead to the opposite of an anabolic atmosphere. Thankfully compounds like Testosterone Propionate will ensure this doesn’t happen.
For the low testosterone patient, if you supplement with Testosterone Propionate you will suffer no more. This is the primary effect of Testosterone in this regard. Levels were low and now they’re not. Then we have the performance enhancing athlete, and as a versatile anabolic steroid the effects of Testosterone Propionate will cover a wide breadth in this category.
For the off-season athlete there is no anabolic steroid more important or beneficial than testosterone. High levels of testosterone will promote significant increases in lean muscle mass and strength. This is assuming that the individual is consuming adequate calories. Compounds like Testosterone Propionate are not magical, you will still need to feed your body enough calories. During an off-season period of growth, this means total caloric intake will need to be slightly above maintenance. This will, unfortunately, promote body fat gain. However, the key to a successful off-season is gaining lean tissue while minimizing body fat gain to the fullest extent possible. By supplementing with Testosterone Propionate you will be able to achieve this more efficiently. High testosterone levels will promote a stronger metabolic rate. This is not a license to eat like there’s no end in sight, but you should be able to make better use of your calories.
Then we have the cutting phase, and Testosterone Propionate can be invaluable here. In order to lose body fat we must burn more calories than we consume. You can follow the healthiest diet in the world and exercise yourself into the ground but if you are not in a caloric deficit you will not lose body fat. Unfortunately, this necessary caloric deficit puts our lean muscle tissue at risk, especially as we become leaner. The human body does not want to lose body fat due to its survival instinct. As energy demands increase during dieting the body will take what it needs from wherever it wants, and this is often from your muscle tissue. The key to successful dieting is not only losing fat but minimizing muscle tissue low. High testosterone levels will enable you to achieve this efficiently. Without an anabolic protectant like Testosterone Propionate, some lean muscle tissue loss will occur, this is a given. Due to the metabolic enhancement provided by high testosterone levels, the individual will also burn fat at a more efficient rate.
Regardless of your purpose of use, all who supplement with Testosterone Propionate will find their muscular endurance is greatly enhanced. You will not tire out as fast. You will also find your overall rate of recovery is greatly improved, and it is through recovery that progress is made. This makes Testosterone Propionate an excellent steroid for athletes who may not have any bulking or cutting in mind. The increases in endurance and recovery along with improved strength will simply lead to more effective athletic performance.
Testosterone Propionate is a very well-tolerated anabolic steroid for most healthy adult men. Healthy is excluding a low testosterone condition. While carrying a high threshold of toleration, there are possible side effects of Testosterone Propionate use. For the low level patient, the side effects of Testosterone Propionate will rarely be a problem. Side effects are possible, but keep in mind you’re merely replacing what your body is lacking. For the performance athlete, this will require supraphysiological doses of the hormone and this is where the side effects of Testosterone Propionate will be most common. However, most men can tolerate high testosterone levels very well. There is a cutoff point and it will vary from one man to the next, but most men can enjoy and control relatively high levels of the hormone. In order to help you understand the possible side effects of Testosterone Propionate, we have broken them down into their separate categories along with all the information you’ll need.
The side effects of Testosterone Propionate will predominantly surround its estrogenic nature. The testosterone hormone has the ability to convert to estrogen through its interaction with the aromatase enzyme. As aromatization occurs, if estrogen levels become high this can lead to gynecomastia and excess water retention. Severe excess water retention can also lead to high blood pressure. Fortunately, it is very easy to control and avoid the estrogenic side effects of Testosterone Propionate.
Many men are commonly encouraged to use an anti-estrogen when supplementing with exogenous testosterone. You have two choices in anti-estrogens, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM’s) like Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate) and Aromatase Inhibitors (AI’s) like Arimidex (Anastrozole). AI’s will be the most effective as they inhibit aromatization and lower serum estrogen levels. SERM’s will not inhibit or reduce estrogen, but rather bind to the estrogen receptor preventing the estrogen hormone from binding.
While AI’s are the most effective, they can also be harsh on cholesterol. They do not appear to be too harsh on their own, but when combined with an aromatizing steroid like Testosterone Propionate the problem is enhanced. SERM’s will not promote any negative cholesterol activity. In fact, while anti-estrogenic SERM’s actually act as estrogen in the liver and will promote healthy cholesterol. SERM’s should always be your first choice if they can get the job done. However, some will need an AI and if so they will need to put more effort into controlling their cholesterol.
Testosterone Propionate is a potent androgenic hormone and as a result androgenic side effects are possible. The possible androgenic side effects of Testosterone Propionate include acne, accelerated hair loss in those predisposed to male pattern baldness and body hair growth. While these side effects of Testosterone Propionate are possible, they are highly dependent on genetic predispositions. Many men will not have an issue at all, while others may need to exercise a little caution.
The testosterone hormone has the ability to reduce to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) due to it being metabolized by the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. This is what promotes the androgenic activity in the target areas of the skin and scalp. Some men may find a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor like Finasteride to be useful as it will reduce the hormones relative androgenicity. It will not completely reduce this activity but it will have a pronounced effect.
Testosterone Propionate can have a negative impact on cholesterol, particularly HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) in suppressing total HDL levels. A therapeutic dose should not support a strong statistical decrease, however, the same dose could promote HDL suppression when conjoined with an AI. With a supraphysiological dose, total HDL suppression by as much as 20% is very possible. If conjoined with an AI it will more than likely be exasperated.
If you’re going to supplement with Testosterone Propionate, especially if you’re going to include an AI a cholesterol friendly lifestyle will be important. The individuals diet should be rich in omega fatty acids, low in saturated fats and simple sugars, and plenty of cardiovascular activity should be part of your normal routine. Those who ensure a cholesterol friendly lifestyle will rarely have an issue unless some underlying condition exists.
Regardless of who you are or why you’re using it, the side effects of Testosterone Propionate will always include the suppression of natural testosterone production. For the low level patient this is of no concern. Such an individual is not producing enough testosterone to begin with. For the performance athlete, during use this is also no concern as the exogenous testosterone will provide your body all it needs.
Once use is discontinued, natural testosterone production will begin again. This, however, does not apply to the low testosterone patient. A low level patient will more than likely always need exogenous testosterone therapy.
For the performance athlete, although production will begin again on its own more are encouraged to implement a Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) plan. This will cut down the total recovery time and ensure you have enough testosterone for proper bodily function while your levels continue to naturally rise. No, a PCT plan will not return you to normal on its own, there’s no PCT plan that can do this, but it will ensure a more efficient and comfortable recovery. It will also greatly protect your lean muscle tissue. Once a cycle is discontinued and natural testosterone levels are low, it is very easy for cortisol to become the dominant hormone, and this will put your lean tissue at risk. Implement a PCT plan and this problem is solved.
An important note on natural testosterone recovery; this assumes severe damage was not done to the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular-Axis (HPTA) due to improper steroidal supplementation. It also assumes no prior low testosterone condition existed.
Testosterone Propionate is not hepatotoxic. This anabolic steroid will present no stress or damage to the liver.
For low testosterone treatment standard Testosterone Propionate doses will normally fall in the 25-50mg per injection range and are normally given 2-3 times per week. However, keep in mind in the modern age it is rarely used when compounds like Cypionate or Enanthate are available.
For performance enhancing athletes, 25-50mg every other day is generally a solid dose of Testosterone Propionate to combat suppression caused by the use of other anabolic steroids. For a true anabolic benefit, doses will normally fall in the 100mg every other day range. This is a very safe dose, easy to control and should be well-tolerated by most adult men. Higher doses can be used, most men can tolerate 150mg every other day very well. Many men will be able to tolerate 200mg every other day with relative ease. However, always keep in mind that the higher the dose the greater the probability of adverse effects. Higher doses will require more caution and effort in controlling side effects but it is more than possible to control them.
Testosterone Propionate will stack well with any and all anabolic steroids. Off-season bulking plans will often include compounds like Deca Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate), Anadrol (Oxymetholone) or Dianabol (Methandrostenolone). During the cutting phase, you will find Test-P as it’s often known stacks well with Anavar (Oxandrolone), Masteron (Drostanolone), Primobolan (Methenolone), Trenbolone and Winstrol (Stanozolol). The Trenbolone hormone can also be very beneficial during periods of off-season growth.