Winstrol (Stanozolol)

Winstrol is a very popular testosterone derived anabolic steroid from the Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) family that is available as an oral tablet or as an injectable in the form of Winstrol Depot. First developed by Sterling-Winthrop Laboratories in the early 1960’s the active hormone in the compound Stanozolol was given the trade name “Winstrol” and as is common in the anabolic steroid world the first trade name ever given has been the name most associate with the steroid. While many anabolic steroids are normally only found in certain circles some are found across the board in every athletic category imaginable; Winstrol is such a steroid. Very popular in competitive bodybuilding circles due to its use in contest prep Winstrol is also a favorite of performance athletes in baseball, track & field and everything in-between. Further, as most anabolic steroids can be very damaging to women, due to its nature Winstrol is one of the few anabolic steroids that can be safely used by women as well when used responsibly.

The Benefits of Winstrol:

Most all steroids can provide quality benefits to most any cycle for any purpose; however, most anabolic androgenic steroids generally have one primary purpose and secondary characteristics that may be apt for another cycle. For example, the powerful steroid Anadrol is used primarily as a bulking steroid as its nature is best suited for this purpose, however, it does possess traits that can be beneficial in a cutting cycle when used properly; this is very common in competitive bodybuilding circles. Winstrol however is a little different; while its primary purpose is without question a cutting cycle and in the aid in athletic performance there is not much use for this steroid in a bulking cycle as it is not by its mode of action designed to build large amounts of lean tissue. Even so, regarding cutting and athletic performance Winstrol is often a fine choice.

The primary benefit(s) revolving around Winstrol are without question increases in strength and this can relate to physical power, speed and agility; further, as by its nature Winstrol can greatly enhance vascularity as well as promote a dryer and harder physique when body-fat is already low. While Winstrol will not specifically burn stored body-fat, most steroids won’t, it will have a very positive effect on this process. Winny is an excellent steroid for preservation purposes when in a caloric deficit as you should be if you are dieting and the more lean tissue we can hold onto when in this deficit the greater your metabolic rate will be, thereby leading to a leaner and harder physique.

Winstrol & Stanozolol Side Effects:

Winstrol is an ester free DHT steroid found in the form of a 17-Alpha-Alkylated steroid (17-aa) form as well as an injectable aqueous suspension (suspended in water.) Pertaining to the oral form the 17-aa alteration simply refers to the altered chemical structure that occurs at the 17th carbon position; without such restructuring the steroid would be useless in oral form. The 17-aa alteration allows the steroid to survive the first pass through the liver after ingestion and absorb into the blood stream where it becomes active; this has both positive and negative effects. The good news is once ingested it will enter the blood very rapidly, the bad news is it will bring about a level of toxicity to the liver as is common with most oral medications, steroidal and non-steroidal alike.  

As it pertains to the injectable aqueous form the same active Stanozolol hormone is being used, in that there is no difference. However, the toxicity to the liver will not be as large of a concern with the injectable form as by injecting the medication it goes to work directly and bypasses the first pass through the liver completely. Another important distinction is in the half-life; injectable Winstrol carries with it a half-life of approximately 24 hours while the oral Winny form as it is commonly known carries with it a half-life of approximately 9 hours. As you can see that’s a pretty big difference and administration will necessarily vary from one form to the next if absolute efficiency is going to be met.

Beyond liver effects Winstrol does carry with it other concerns, Winstrol can seriously bring problematic conditions to your cholesterol levels as it will increase your LDL and decrease your HDL somewhat dramatically. However, as is often overlooked healthy eating that is full of Omega Fatty Acids can greatly aid in controlling this; no, it will not fix it and prevent your cholesterol from moving but it will keep you in the realm of safety if you are serious and disciplined.

Additionally, Winstrol may be more prone than other anabolic steroids to increasing tendon brittleness. I am not so concerned about this as to consider it a reason to never use Winstrol at all, but it is reason to limit the total weeks of use per year. I don’t have any firm guideline on that, but for example I consider six weeks of use twice per year a reasonable amount.

Further, Winstrol use sometimes leads to joint pain during a cycle, One side-effect many speak of regarding Winstrol revolves around the injectable Depot form as injections can be very painful as is common with water-based steroids.

The suggested dosage of Winstrol is 50-100 mg per day (oral form) and 25-50 mg per day (injectable form) for men and 2.5-10 mg per day (oral form) and 2.5-5.0 mg per day (injectable form) for females, and period of use to be limited to 6 – 8 weeks.

 It is usually stacked with Dianabol, Testosterone Propionate, Testosterone enanthate, and Primobolan during a steroid cycle of six to eight weeks. Antiestrogens such as Clomid or Nolvadex are suggested as aspect of the post cycle therapy as creation of unwanted estrogens may be a problem, particularly for those who have sensitivity to Winny or any of its substances.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Winstrol (stanozolol)?

Do not take stanozolol without first talking to your doctor if you have prostate cancer breast cancer, or a high level of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia).

Before taking stanozolol, talk to your doctor if you;

• have heart or blood vessel disease
• have had a heart attack
• have a high level of cholesterol in the blood
• have bleeding or blood clotting problems
• have diabetes
• take an oral anticoagulant (blood thinner)
• have liver problems, or have kidney problems.  

Winstrol Profile (Stanozolol):

• [17beta-Hydroxy-17-methyl-5alpha-androstano[3,2-c]pyrazole]
• Molecular Weight: 344.5392
• Molecular Formula: C22H36N2O
• Melting Point:N/A
• Manufacturer: (Originally) Sterling
• Release Date:1962
• Effective Dose(men): 50-100mgs/day
• Effective Dose (women): 2.5-10mgs/day
• Active Life:8hours
• Detection Time:3 weeks (oral) to 9 weeks (injectable)
• Androgenic/Anabolic Ratio:30:320

Winstrol References:

1. Trop Doct. 2004 Jul;34(3):149-52.
2. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1989 Jun;68(6):1195-200
3. JAMA. 1989 Feb 24;261(8):1165-8.
4. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 Jan;93(1):43-8. Epub 2005 Jan 25.
5. Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao. 2003 Nov;23(11):1117-20.
6. Can J Vet Res. 2000 Oct;64(4):246-8.
7. Endocrinology. 1984 Jun;114(6):2100-6.
8. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1997 Sep 15;211(6):719-22
9. Agents Actions. 1994 Mar;41(1-2):37-43.
10. Chemical Muscle Enhancement
11. J Invest Dermatol. 1998 Dec;111(6):1193-7.

Primobolan (methenolone acetate)

Primobolan is the common name given to the drug Methenolone Enanthate. It is an injectable steroid that is rather mild in nature when compared to other anabolic steroids (AS), and is generally seen as a more steroid more anabolic in nature rather than an androgenic one. Primo also comes in an oral form called Methenolone Acetate, however due to the non-alkylation of the methenolone in this form, it is not realistically a very useful drug for the male bodybuilder as the liver will mostly destroy the methenolone acetat

Properties of Primo

Primo is quite a unique steroid of which there are no other steroids quite like it. Firstly, Primo does not aromatise to estrogen, thus estrogen related side-effects are not seen in Primo use. This means that acne, water retention, gyno, etc, are all not concerns when using Primo. Thus primo becomes a very useful steroid for those who are easily prone to undesirable side effects such as acne and gyno. Due to the low water retention seen in its use, Primo is often used effectively when cutting. It is not only effective when cutting due to low/nil water retention, bit it also proves very useful when cutting due to its anabolic nature and nitrogen retention properties, which basically means that it holds onto muscle very well when in a calorie deficient mode as one would be when cutting.

Many claim Primo to be side-effect free, except for experiencing slow but steady, quality and retainable muscle gains when on it for longer periods of time (>8weeks). Due to lack of water retention, etc, the gains you see on Primo will be quality muscle gains. Gains on Primo are easily kept, however although Primo is not as harsh on your HPTA (hypothalamus-pituitary-testes axis) it will shut you down. Do not make the mistake of thinking that post cycle therapy (PCT) can be avoided with Primo use, because this is not the case. Recovery should be easier from Primo than most other AS, but proper PCT of Nolvadex and/or Clomid will be necessary.

Primo for many does not generally affect one's libido; however for some it lowers it if used in a cycle without test. Usually I find that this is the case with heavier users of gear, i.e. those that use larger amounts of test and/or stay on AS for longer periods of time. In such cases, if test is not used in the cycle with Primo, appropriate meds such as Viagra, Cialis, etc may be needed on hand in case of libido problems. However as said, for most recreational AS users, loss of libido generally is not a problem with Primo.

Primobolan is a DHT based steroid (Dihydrotestosterone) that possesses both anabolic and androgenic traits although its androgenic properties will prove to be a little on the low side as Primobolan is twice as anabolic as androgenic. Like most DHT steroids Primobolan does not aromatize which for many is a very nice trait, especially concerning those sensitive to aromatase effects.

While both oral and injectable forms of Primobolan are comprised of the same active hormone Methenolone the oral Acetate version will prove to be far less potent on a milligram for milligram basis for one simple reason. Most all oral anabolic steroids are 17-alpha-alkylated in order to allow the hormone to survive the first pass through the liver; oral Primobolan does not possess this trait. Due to this structural change being absent, when taken orally most of the active hormone will be destroyed before it ever enters the blood stream; however, as the 17-aa alteration creates a toxic effect on the liver, because oral Primobolan does not carry the 17-aa trait it is not liver toxic at all.

The Benefits of Primobolan:

As a very mild DHT steroid, most will not see any bulking benefits from its use as it does not possess traits apt for this purpose. You could use this steroid as part of a bulking cycle but it would necessarily require massive amounts and due to this steroid being outrageously expensive this is simply not feasible. Most will find Primobolan to be best served in a cutting cycle; while it will not promote muscle tissue growth to any great degree it is a fantastic steroid for the use of preserving existing muscle tissue. Further, as it can preserve it has also been shown to be one of the few anabolic steroids that can directly lead to fat-loss. While almost all anabolic steroids carry this fat loss trait to a degree, Primobolan appears to do so in a more direct manner.

Without question the greatest benefit to Primobolan use lies within its safe nature when taken by female anabolic steroid users. Make no mistake, this is not a girl only steroid but because so many steroids are so harsh on females, as steroids such as Primo and Anavar are generally well-tolerated by women they hold somewhat of a special place. The largest concern for most women and anabolic steroid use is virilization; however, with responsible use this is non-existent in almost all females. While it can occur, if symptoms start to show, simply discontinuing will see them fade away. This makes Primobolan very beneficial to females as they are able to enjoy a moderate anabolic affect without the nasty side-effects. It is however very important to note, if virilization effects set in there is often no turning back; don’t push the envelope.

Cycle and dosing info for Primo

Although Primo is a quality steroid, as said it is rather week. Also due to the fact that it contains (in injectable form) an enanthate ester, anything under 400mg per week is rather a pointless use of Primo and a waste of money. Generally with AS, more does not always mean better (due to side-effects and other issues), however in the case of Primo more does definitely equal better. If stacking Primo with testosterone, 400-800mg per week will be an effective dose, with obviously the higher doses being the most effective. Primo will have two main effects in such a stack. Firstly it will seem to amplify the effects of test, so 500mg of test enanthate may seem like 750mg or more. Secondly, Primo is very forgiving with one's diet. Quality muscle can still be obtained at a steady rate even with one's diet being off from time to time. However, with a spot-on diet, Primo and test will work wonders.

For those who would want to use Primo on its own or without test, you would really need to use a minimum of 600-800mg per week. If you can afford it, 1000mg per week of Primo will highly reward the user. Some people often ask about using Primo with Trenbolone. This can be done, however without test one must realise that you are likely to be quite shut down, and it is likely you would need some sex medicines as well as HCG. Despite this, for those that want a test-less cycle, Primo and Tren is a great cutting cycle. My ultimate cutting cycle however is one that incorporates Primo, Test Prop and Tren Acetate. Another very good cutting cycle that is test-free would be Primo (600-1000mg per week) with Anavar (60-80mg per day).

Due to the enanthate ester that is attached to the Methenolone base in Primo, it really should not be run for less than 8 weeks. In my opinion, I would run Primo for a minimum of 12 weeks, also bearing in mind that the Primo really kicks in at about weeks 5-6, where a real fullness of muscles is experienced. Primo is also useful at a high dose for those who use higher doses of test and experience appetite loss from this. Primo doesn't cause such appetite loss, thus when bulking this can give a chance for diet to be spot-on. Primo does suppress and shut you down as said, however it is roughly about half as suppressive as test, so a 12 week Primo cycle would shut you down similar to a 6 week test cycle. For this reason, Primo alone can be run up to 20 weeks without fear of a very difficult recovery in PCT.

Due to the enanthate ester, PCT should be run approximately 14-18days after last Primo injection

.

The Side-Effects of Primobolan:

Lets flesh out some of the various general effects of Primobolan, before we get into the differences between the oral and injectable versions... One study performed on sheep involved administering 100mgs of Methenolone, and electronically stimulating their lats (electronic stimulation was used because they kept falling off the chin-up bars). Anyway, when compared with the lat muscles of sheep who didnt receive Methenolone, the receiving group gained significantly more muscle mass as well as strength . Its also has a relatively high affinity for binding to the AR, actually binding better than testosterone . This ability to strongly bind to the AR may be why Primobolan is such a good "fat burner." Strong AR binding has been positively correlated with lypolysis (fat-burning .

In addition, as this steroid can actually aid in reducing breast tumors, no ancillary products need be considered for use with Primobolan, and in fact, it may actually be a useful ancillary agent in its own right, similar to Masteron. Also, just like Masteron, Primobolan has no propensity to aromatize (convert to estrogen). Since it doesnt aromatize, alot of the side effects commonly associated with estrogen will not be of concern. This means water retention, acne, and gyno will be non-existent more or less. this lack of water retention combined with the slow and steady gains provided by Primo may help to explain why it has earned a reputation for creating quality muscle gains. This also helps to explain why it is so expensive. Although estrogenic sides are not a concern, hair loss still, remains a very real concern with Primobolan, as with many DHT-Derived steroids. Many primobolan fans always include Finasteride and Ketoconazole (shampoo) in cycles containing Primobolan.

Primobolan Profile (Methenolone)

•     (Oral Version is + Acetate Ester)
•     (Injectable Version is + Enanthate Ester)
•     [17beta-Hydroxy-1-methyl-5alpha-androst-1-en-3-one]
•     Molecular weight of base: 302.4558
•     Molecular weight of Acetate ester: 60.0524
•     Molecular weight of Enanthate ester: 130.1864
•     Formula: C20H30O2
•     Melting Point:
•     Manufacturer: Schering
•     Effective dose(oral): (Men)50-100mgs/day; (Women) 10-25mgs/day
•     Effective dose (injectable): (Men) 350-600mgs/week; (Women) 100mgs/week
•     Active Life: 10-14 days (injectable); 4-6hrs (oral)
•     Detection Time: 4-5 weeks
•     Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio (Range): 88:44-57

References:

1. Anabolic steroids (metenolone) improve muscle performance and hemodynamic characteristics in cardiomyoplasty. Ann Thorac Surg. 1995 Apr;59(4):961-9; discussion 969-70.
2. Effect of an anabolic steroid (Metenolon) on contractile performance of the chronically stimulated latissimus dorsi in sheep. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 1994;8(4):214-9.
3. Relative binding affinity of anabolic-androgenic steroids: comparison of the binding to the androgen receptors in skeletal muscle and in prostate, as well as to sex hormone-binding globulin. Endocrinology. 1984 Jun;114(6):2100-6.
4. [Anabolic therapy in metastatic breast cancer] Med Klin. 1981 Nov 20;76(24):689-91. German.
5. Partial remission and severe adverse effect caused by metenolone acetate in a male patient with aplastic anem. Eur J Haematol. 1995 Jul;55(1):57-8.
6. Fatal outcome of a patient with severe aplastic anemia after treatment with metenolone acetate. Ann Hematol. 1993 Jul;67(1):41-3.
7. Metabolic effects of anabolic steroids. Wien Med Wochenschr. 1993;143(14-15):368-75.
8. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1995 May 11;1244(1):117-20.
9. Comparative Studies about the influence of MetenoloneAcetate and Mesterolone on hypophysis and male gonads. Arzneimittelforshung. 1970 20(4) 545-7

Deca Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate)

 Deca Durabolin or nandrolone decanoate, is perhaps the second-best known injectable anabolic steroid after testosterone. It seems that almost every steroid novice and many who are experienced with steroid cycles believe that for best results they may need to include Deca. However, in fact this compound has no special anabolic properties: other injectable steroids can do everything for muscle growth that Deca can. On a personal level, Ive included Deca in cycles at doses ranging from 100mgs/week to 2,000mgs per week. Suffice to say, I have my fair share of experience with Deca Durabolin. This drug was regarded very highly by Dan Duchaine in his Underground Steroid Handbooks as well as many of his later writings. For many, this was and is the final word on Deca. Lets delve into some of the reasons that Decas mystique may be well deserved.

First of all, Deca Durabolin (and Nandrolone in general) doesnt produce many estrogenic or androgenic side effects. This is because Deca Durabolin has a very low rate of aromatization (conversion to estrogen via the aromatase enzyme), roughly equal to 20% the rate of Testosterone.

Also, Ive read many places that Deca Durabolin stores water in connective tissue, thus alleviating joint pain. I have no idea what "storing water in the joints" means. I have no idea how to really quantify that statement, or where it started. However, in one study of postmenapusal women, Deca impoved collagen synthesis (1), and in another study Deca Durabolin increased bone mineral content. (2)Both of these studies used VERY low doses, which were far too low to promote muscle growth. In my estimation, based on these 2 studies, an athlete attempting to use Deca only for these two effects (increasing bone mineral content and collagen synthesis) should be using 100mgs of Deca Durabolin every week. Thats actually a higher dose than those two studies used successfully. Even at of this dose, in HIV+ patients who have experienced significant wasting, a 100mg/E2W (every 2 weeks) injection of Deca resulted in a "significant increase in weight" (5). Id never recommend that low of a dose for an athlete, but its evidence of Decas strong anabolic properties.

Deca is a very nice anabolic, causing nice (albeit slow) gains in quality muscle. This could be due to its moderately strong binding to the Androgen Receptor, or its many positive non-Androgen-Receptor mediated effects. One such effect is nitrogen retention, which is a major factor in muscle growth and lean mass gains; in one study, with low-doses (65 mg/week) and high-doses of Deca (200 mg/week), both low-doses and high-doses resulted in significant nitrogen retention (33-52 g nitrogen/14 days, representing gains of 0.5 to 0.9 kg lean tissue/week), and body weight increased by 4.9 +/- 1.2 kg, including 3.1 +/- 0.5 kg lean body mass, and treadmill exercise performance (cardiovascular fitness) also improved (7). Need I say that the higher doses in this study produced more gains? Steroid.com members who have posted their results with Deca Durabolin confirm this in many posts and threads, with their average reccomendation being to take 400-600mgs/week for muscle gain. I have to agree.

Deca Durabolin also has a very long active life. We can see from the chart below that a 100mg shot Deca (represented by the circles) produced relatively active and stable plasma nandrolone levels until day almost 10, hence once a week shots are all thats necessary for stable levels of nandrolond Deca Durabolinnoate (as a side note, the nandrolone phenylpropionate used in this study was active, and only experienced a severe drop off around day 5, shooting NPP every 4th day is the way to go). Youll also note that higher blood plasma levels of Nandrolone are found with Gluteal injections as opposed to Deltoid injections (this is true for all oil-based steroids, I suspect).

 In another study of HIV+ men (6) we can see that Deca Durabolin ( 200mgs on week 1, 400 on week 2 and 600mgs for weeks 3-12) caused NO negative side effects in total or LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, or insulin sensitivity and there was a reduction of HDL cholesterol(8-10 points) in both groups. Also, in most studies with HIV+ subjects, Deca Durabolin also improved immune function. So what do we know so far about this compound? So far, we know thatDeca Durabolin is a very safe drug for long term use, will help with joint problems, could improve immune function, and is highly (!) anabolic, and not very androgenic.

Thats the good news (and theres a lot of it), now for the bad news:

Deca Durabolin is known for producing quality weight gains, but it has to be used for 12 weeks at a minimum, judging from Steroid.com members feedback, as well as my own personal experience. This shouldnt cause any problems, since it is a very mild drug in terms of side-effects.

 The Benefits of Deca-Durabolin:

The benefits of Deca-Durabolin are very simple but as this is a very powerful anabolic they are very great. By understanding what Nandrolone does understanding the benefits of Deca-Durabolin should be fairly simple; increased muscle mass and increased strength. While these are the two most prominent effects there is the added benefit of joint relief as well by means of a secondary nature; for this reason many athletes will supplement with Deca-Durabolin even when not in a gaining phase in order to obtain such relief.

To give you an idea of how powerful this hormone is even small therapeutic doses can cause large increases in weight by increasing lean mass and this is achieved largely due to its nitrogen retention abilities. Those who supplement with Deca-Durabolin will find their muscle holds a far greater amount of nitrogen than without; as we understand being in a state of positive nitrogen retention is highly anabolic. This state of being can lead to vast although slow increases in muscle tissue and while that can lead to mass, coupled with increased collagen synthesis we experience a nice buildup in strength as well. Of equal importance if not even greater is the effect Nandrolone has on the production of IGF 1, a very powerful anabolic hormone in its own right belonging to the peptide class. While these potent anabolic qualities are very apt towards building mass and increasing strength they prove due to their action to readily promote a greater metabolic rate; this simply means we are able to build a larger, yet leaner and more powerful physique; as you can see Nandrolone is one amazing hormone.

Deca Durabolin Side Effects:

Many members of Steroid.com also complain of water-retention with this drug, and again, Im inclined to agree. Letrozole seems to be a preferred choice to combat this, and its my favorite for this use. This water retention would seem to make Deca Durabolin more suitable for bulking rather than cutting, although it can be successfully used for either.

Now for the worst news: Deca Durabolin is a progestin (as are all nandrolones), unfortunately; it happens to stimulate the progesterone receptor 20% as well as progesterone itself (3), and this opens the door for many possible unwanted side effects (water retention, acne, etc...). It must be noted that most of those are rare, though. This also may be the major reason that Deca is such a suppressive drug when it comes to your natural testosterone levels. We can see from the chart below that a simgle measly 100mg injection of Deca Durabolin caused a total (100%) reduction of natural testosterone levels, and it took roughly a month to return those testosterone levels to baseline! All from 100mgs of Deca.

The moral of this story? Always use Testosterone with your Deca Durabolin! I suggest 200mgs, minimum, to avoid impotence and sexual dysfunction. For an anabolic effect from that Testosterone, I recommend at least double that, with an equal amount of Deca Durabolin (minimum). Id also recommend taking an anti-progesteronic drug with Deca Durabolin (or at least having it on hand): Cabergoline and Bromocriptine are both good choices.

Deca Durabolin Cycle:

So where are we? Well, Id be comfortable recommending Deca Durabolin for use in a bulking cycle at up to 600mgs/week for an extended duration (12-16 weeks), or up to 400mgs/week in a cutting cycle (again, for 12-16 weeks), as long as something to combat water retention is present. Whichever purpose you decide to use Deca for, you still need to include Testosterone in your cycle and have some anti-progesteronic drugs on hand (see paragraph above), just in case.

Post Cycle Therapy (PCT), though beyond the scope of this profile, needs to be commented on. Due to the highly suppressive nature of Deca Durabolin, I will speculate that testosterone in a Deca Durabolin-inclusive cycle needs to be run for at least 2 additional weeks upon cessation of Deca. We remember from the chart above that baseline testosterone levels took roughly a month to return. Hence, a nice long estered testosterone should be run about 2 weeks longer than Deca Durabolin, to prevent having a lag in time when the Deca Durabolin is not producing an anabolic effect, yet is still suppressing your natural testosterone levels. Id also suggest that a particularly aggressive PCT be run after your cycle; nolvadex, HCG, and perhaps clomid should all be utilized in an effort to restore your natural hormone levels as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Deca Durabolin Information:

• (Nandrolone Base + Decanoate Ester)
• [19-nor-androst-4-en-3-one-17beta-ol]
• Molecular Weight(base):274.4022
• Molecular Weight (ester):172.2668
• Formula (base): C18 H26 O2
• Formula (ester):C10 H20 O2
• Melting Point (base): 122-124C
• Melting Point (ester):31 - 32 C
• Manufacturer: Organon
• Release Date (in USA): 1962
• Effective Dose (Men): 200-600mgs/week (2mg/lb of Bodyweight)
• Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
• Active life: 15 days
• Detection Time: Up to 18 months
• Anabolic/Androgenic ratio: 125:37

Deca Durabolin References:

1. Metabolism. 1990 Nov;39(11):1167-9
2. Effects of nandrolone Deca Durabolinnoate on bone mineral content R, Righi GA, Turchetti V, Vattimo A.).
3. Cancer Res 1978 Nov;38(11 Pt 2):4186-98
4. (Charts) from Minto et al
5. AIDS. 1996 Jun;10(7):745-52
6. Sattler et al. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 283: e1214-22
7. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1999 Feb 1;20(2):137-46.

Testosterone Propionate

Testosterone Propionate

Testosterone is the male sex hormone responsible for many of the physical and emotional traits of men. It creates the deeper voices, sex drive, aggression and, of coarse, larger muscles in men. Testosterone makes the muscles retain more nitrogen, which in turn makes the muscle synthesize proteins better, producing larger muscles.

The downside to testosterone steroids is that they aromatize, or turn into estrogen, in the body. When the body has too much estrogen it begins to take on female characteristics  gynocomastia, water retention, fat gain, loss of sex drive and testicular shrinkage are all most certain side effects of taking testosterone and letting it aromatize in the body.

So how exactly does Testosterone Propionate build muscle?!! Testosterone Propionate promotes nitrogen retention in the muscle , and the more nitrogen the muscles hold the more protein the muscles store, and the bigger the muscles get. Testosterone Propionate can also increase the levels of another anabolic hormone, IGF-1, in muscle tissue . IGF-1 is alone highly anabolic and can promote muscle growth. It is responsible for much of the anabolic activity of Growth Hormone (GH). IGF-1 is also one of the few hormones positively correlated with both muscle cell hyperplasia and hyperphasia (this means it both creates more muscle fibers as well as bigger fibers). All of this might lead one to speculate that for pure mass, IGF-1, HGH, and Testosterone Propionate would be a very effective combination. Testosterone Propionate also has the amazing ability to increase the activity of satellite cells. These cells play a very active role in repairing damaged muscle. Testosterone also binds to the androgen receptor (A.R.) to promote all of the A.R dependent mechanisms for muscle gain and fat loss , but clearly, as we've seen, this isnt the only mechanism by which it promotes growth.

Testosterone Propionate has a profound ability to protect your hard earned muscle from the catabolic (muscle wasting) glucocorticoid hormones , and increase red blood cell production , and as you may know, a higher RBC count will improve endurance via better oxygenated blood. The former trait increases nitrogen retention and muscle building while the latter can improve recovery from strenuous physical activity, as well as increase endurance and tolerance to strenuous exercise.

Testosterone occurs naturally in both the male and female body, as insofar as drug testing for it, typical tests dont work (i.e. testing for metabolites). Testosterone can be tested for on a testosterone/epitestosterone ratio, a failing result usually being anything over 6 to 1, but there are other more effective tests currently in use as well as being developed by the usual party-poopers in the IOC and FDA. Noteworthy is that if you are using low doses of Testosterone Propionate and stop taking it 36-48 hours before a testosterone/epitestosterone analysis, you can still pass!

Testosterone, once in the body can be converted to both estrogen (via a process known as aromatization) as well as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Estrogen is the main culprit for many side effects such as gynecomastia, water retention, and as a result high blood pressure while DHT is often blamed for hair loss and prostate enlargement. Naturally there are ways to combat this, such as using an anti-estrogenic compound along with your Testosterone Propionate, or even an estrogen blocker. DHT can be combated (on the scalp, to prevent hair loss) with compounds such as Ketoconazole shampoo (sold under the trade name Nizoral) as well as Finasteride (sold as Proscar in the 5mg version and as Propecia as 1mg tablets). Interestingly, this shampoo can also be used topically to combat acne on the face (or even the back if youre really flexible). Both of these methods for preventing hair loss and acne are reasonably effective; however, if you are not predisposed to male pattern baldness they will be wholly unnecessary. Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) is carried by the X chromosome, so if your mothers family boasts men with full heads of hair, then you are probably safe (unless those full heads of hair are all mullets). Naturally, as with most other steroids, your lipid profile is going to suffer a bit while supplementing with Testosterone Propionate. This, of course is nothing that cant be controlled by watching your diet and doing your cardio, at least for the duration of the typical cycle (which for arguments sake, Ill assume is +/- 12-16weeks). Lets be totally honest, here, even a modest amount of exercise will improve your blood pressure and lipid profile .

In-order to combat the aromatization of testosterone, you can simply take an aromatase inhibitor such as Arimidex. This and other anti-estrogenic compounds are generally considered a must with testosterone doses over a gram per week (1,000mgs), and often recommended with even less. Also among side effects (as if acne and going bald arent enough) is increased aggression. This is a hotly debated issue in steroid-culture. Generally the consensus is that if you are prone to being a jerk, you'll be a bigger jerk, and if you aren't, then your temper will not get much worse (this is supported by research as well.) Interestingly enough, high levels of testosterone are generally only associated with improper aggression and anti-social behavior in males with lower intelligence .

Testosterone Propionate is also a relatively safe steroid to use, with some studies showing no adverse effects from 20weeks at 600mgs/week! 

Testosterone is usually attached to an ester (i.e. when you buy Testosterone Propionate, the subject of this profile, you are buying testosterone with a Propionate ester attached). The ester determines how long it takes your body to dispose of the steroid in question, and Propionate is the shortest ester available with a testosterone base (of course, Testosterone Suspension has no ester). There are enzymes, called esterases, in your body that have the function of removing the ester from steroids, and leaving you with just the steroid molecule with the ester cleaved off. Depending on how heavy the ester chain is, that determines how long it takes the esterase to remove it, and that amount of time determines how long the steroid stays active in your body. Great, right? No, not t really; the ester takes up space in the injection.

Check out this chart:

Chemical = Formula = Molecular Weight = Mg of Testosterone

Testosterone (no ester) = C19 H28 O2 = 288.4mg = 100mg

Propionate = C3 H4 O = 56.1mg = 83.72mg

Cypionate = C8 H4 O = 124.2mg = 69.90mg

Here, were comparing Testosterone with no ester (suspension) with Testosterone Propionate and Testosterone Cypionate (basically the longest vs. shortest esters available with testosterone).

So you see, the longer the ester on the testosterone hormone is, the longer the steroid is active in your body, and the less actual testosterone you get. This is because, for every 100mgs of Testosterone Cypionate you inject, only 69.90mgs of it is actually testosterone, the rest is the Cypionate ester, which must be removed. On the other hand, with the Propionate ester youll get 83.72mgs of testosterone! The advantage to longer esters is that they need to be injected less frequently (Testosterone Propionate needs to be injected every other day while you can shoot Testosterone Cypionate once per week). The disadvantage to long estered steroids is that they contain less actual steroid. Anecdotally, however, most people from Steroid.com and other discussion boards who have tried differing esters on their various cycles agree: Testosterone Propionate causes the least side effects and the least bloating. For this reason, its often the testosterone of choice in cutting cycles.

Testosterone levels when youre using injectable Testosterone Propionate begin to decline sharply after the second day of use. Obviously this is not the steroid of choice for those who are squeamish about injections, youll be shooting this stuff every other day at least.

Also, as with most steroids, injected testosterone will inhibit your natural testosterone levels and HPTA (Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis). A mere 100 mgs of Testosterone Propionate per week takes about 5-6 weeks to shut down the HPTA, and 250-500mgs shuts you down by week 2 .

Realistically, every cycle should contain testosterone. Go back and read that sentence again. A beginners dose of testosterone (i.e. someone on their first or second cycle of AAS) would be in the 250-500mgs ranges. Though, realistically, we wouldnt recommend much less than 400mgs of testosterone per cycle for anybody, beginner or not who is supplementing for the purpose of performance, and guess what? The more you use the more results you get, and frequently, the more side effects too .

Testosterone Propionate Stack

What stacks well with Testosterone Propionate? Everything! Many peoples favorites are Equipoise (Boldenone Undeclyenate) or Deca Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate), but really, anything will stack well with Testosterone Propionate. Trenbolone (Trenbolone Acetate), Masteron (Drostanolone), and Winstrol (Stanozolol) are also favorites for many on a cutting cycle. Its important to remember that since Testosterone Propionate has such a short ester, most people stack it with other short estered drugs, the rational being that they need to endure frequent injections for the Testosterone Propionate to be effective, so they may as well be using other drugs requiring the same dosing protocol.

Finally, its worth noting that sometimes a strategy known as "frontloading" is employed with Testosterone Propionate, this is where double or triple the intended dose for the cycle is injected for the first two weeks, then the user switches to a longer ester. The reasoning behind this is presumably to get the blood levels of the hormone up quickly in the hopes of seeing results more rapidly.

Facts About Testosterone-Propionate

Testosterone-Propionate is a short ester based anabolic steroid of the testosterone family and is one of the oldest forms available since the inception of synthetic anabolic steroids. As a short ester based testosterone Testosterone-Propionate is very easy to control in-terms of maintaining stable blood levels; an important factor in testosterone administration and therapy; however, in order to achieve this end frequent injections of the medication will prove to be of an absolute necessity. Nevertheless, those who supplement with Test-Prop as it is commonly known will find all the benefits of testosterone supplementation to be achievable via this particular form.

Understanding Testosterone-Propionate

Testosterone-Propionate is simply testosterone; compared to other forms there is no difference in-terms of mode of action as the nature of the testosterone hormone is the same in each form in-terms of benefits and function. Like all testosterone forms, Testosterone-Propionate is defined by the ester that is attached, as is the case with all forms or in some cases defined by the lack of ester attached, as can be the case in certain instances. To fully understand the compound we need only understand two things; the active hormone itself and then the ester and how it affects its mode of action in-terms of time release and active duration.

Testosterone-Propionate is a highly anabolic and androgenic hormone, equal in both parts. As a testosterone based hormone it is generally well-tolerated by all who supplement with it as testosterone is naturally produced in the body and is not a foreign hormone to natural human function. Not only is testosterone naturally produced by all human beings it is essential for proper endocrine function; those who suffer from low levels of testosterone will find they suffer from a host of issues from decreases in strength and muscle tissue, decreased libido, insufficient immune system function, depression, lack of mental clarity and increases in body-fat to name a few. Conversely, those who exceed their natural testosterone levels will find each category diminished when levels are low enhanced when levels are of a higher nature.

While all testosterone forms can provide the same benefits, Testosterone-Propionate functions based on the ester attached; in this case the Propionate ester. A very short ester, as such milligram for milligram Testosterone-Propionate is more powerful than many other common forms. For example, another common form of testosterone is that of Testosterone-Cypionate; 100mg of Testosterone-Cypionate will yield approximately 70mg of active testosterone; however, as the Propionate ester takes up less mass in the compound 100mg of Testosterone-Propionate will yield approximately 83mg of testosterone.

As a short ester based testosterone Testosterone-Propionate carries a half-life of approximately 4 days; the shortest half-life of all common ester based testosterones. As such, once administered the active hormone enters the blood stream and becomes active in full capacity very quickly but it also dissipates just as fast. For example, 100mg of Testosterone-Propionate administered on day one will fall to 50mg by day 4 and 25mg by day 8 and so on. Conversely, so that you may understand the significance, 100mg of Testosterone-Cypionate administered on day one will fall to 50mg but not until day 12 post injection. For this reason, in order to maintain stable and peak levels of the hormone in the body we must necessarily administer the hormone once every 3 days with every other day being optimal.

The Benefits of Testosterone Propionate

The benefits of Testosterone-Propionate are truly great and in short the benefits most anyone would desire to hold if anabolic steroids were being used. Through the use of Testosterone-Propionate we aptly create a playing field perfect for almost any situation be it bulking, cutting or simply trying to provide an added athletic edge. Through its use the individual can expect to see increases in lean tissue and strength, decreased body fat due to improved metabolic function as well as a greater ability for healing and recovery.

A common misconception is that Testosterone Propionate is only well-suited during a cutting cycle and while it is definitely perfect for a cutting cycle it is perfect because it is testosterone, not because it has the Propionate ester attached. The truth is simple, any testosterone form can be used in a cutting cycle or bulking cycle with equal effectiveness, however, there are variances to consider. As a short ester steroid Testosterone Propionate must be necessarily administered at a minimum of every three days with every other day being far more optimal; because many will be using other short ester steroids during a cutting cycle often it makes sense to use Testosterone-Propionate during this time and simply administer them all at once. However, because peak levels are so easy to control with the use of Testosterone-Propionate due to the short ester being attached many, especially in the competitive bodybuilding world use Testosterone-Propionate in their off-season as well.

The Side-Effects of Testosterone Propionate

The truth is simple, anabolic androgenic steroids do carry with them possible negative side effects, this is a given but they do so no more than any medication; in-fact, many over the counter medications of a non-steroidal nature carry with them far worse possible side-effects than anabolic steroids. As it pertains to Testosterone-Propionate, testosterone itself is generally very well-tolerated by most who supplement with an exogenous form but there are side-effects that can occur; however, with proper and responsible use, in most cases the possible side-effects will prove to be irrelevant.

The most common side effects brought on by Testosterone-Propionate are of an aromatase effect. Testosterone will convert to estrogen through the aromatase process and can bring about such negative effects such as Gynecomastia, water retention, blood pressure and cholesterol issues to name a few. While these side-effects can be problematic they are not without solution; however, the side-effect of testicular atrophy is assured in all but in most cases inconsequential. Through the use of Testosterone-Propionate or any testosterone form, when exogenous testosterone is present natural production is no longer necessary and it will come to a halt. As testosterone is produced in the testicles in men, once productions ceases to exist the testicles shrink; however, once exogenous use is discontinued and natural production begins again the testicles return to their normal size.

As estrogenic side-effects such as the ones mentioned above can be very problematic all hope is not loss; far from it. As these effects are caused by the advent of estrogen, by supplementing with an aromatase inhibitor such as Arimidex or Letrozole we can greatly reduce such affects and many times completely eliminate them. Just as important, as it pertains to blood pressure, cholesterol and other similar actions, a healthy diet is imperative; diets that are sufficient in healthy Omega Fats as well as those who condition with regular cardiovascular training greatly reduce the chances of many negative effects commonly associated with many anabolic steroids.

Testosterone Propionate Profile (Testosterone)

•     4-androstene-3-one, 17beta-ol
•     Testosterone base + Propionate ester
•     Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
•     Molecular Weight (ester): 74.0792
•     Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
•     Formula (ester): C3H6O2
•     Melting Point (base): 155
•     Melting Point (ester): 21C
•     Manufacturer: Various
•     Effective Dose (Men): 350-2000mg+ week.
•     Effective Dose (Women): 50-100mgs/week
•     Active life: 2-3 days
•     Detection Time: 2-3 weeks
•     Anabolic/Androgenic ratio:100/100.

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