Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) After an Anabolic Steroids Cycle
Posted October 3rd, 2008 by adminAfter a steroid user has finished a cycle his natural production of hormones particularly testosterone is suppressed and needs to be restore to its original state quickly to minimise some of the post cycle side effects such as depression and loss in strength and weight. Post cycle therapy is an after cycle drug regime which is designed to do this and is in my opinion more important from the cycle itself. I would rather be moderately big and my balls still work then look like the hulk and have pea sized nuts.Tamoxifen (nolvadex) and Clomid. There are others but these two are considered to be the best.
The 2 main drugs used for PCT are
Clomid and Nolvadex are both anti-estrogens belonging to the same group of triphenylethylene compounds. They are structurally related and specifically classified as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) with mixed agonistic and antagonistic properties. This means that in certain tissues they can block the effects of estrogen, by altering the binding capacity of the receptor, while in others they can act as actual estrogens, activating the receptor.
In men, both of these drugs act as anti-estrogens in their capacity to oppose the negative feedback of estrogens on the hypothalamus and stimulate the heightened release of GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone). LH output by the pituitary will be increased as a result, which in turn can increase the level of testosterone by the testes.
Both drugs do this, but for some reason bodybuilders persist in thinking that Clomid is the only drug good at stimulating testosterone. What you will find with a little investigation however is that not only is Nolvadex useful for the same purpose, it should actually be the preferred agent of the two.
PCT Protocol
The normal protocol for clomid is:
day 1 300mg
day 2-11 100mg ed (every day)
day 12-21 50 mg ed
Doses split throughout the day.
This should be followed by a significant time off of steroids to allow the body to recover. The rule is that a cycle should not be started with out the PCT material as if you have to cut a cycle short for any reason you can still recover.
When PCT should be started all depends on the half-life of the substance. The half-life is the time it takes the substance to break down by half. Testosterone enthanate has a halflife of about 2 weeks so it is suggested this is when the PCT should begin. If started before hand the Test will still be in your system and still suppressing your natural levels so PCT would have little effect. Dianabol on the other hand had a very short half life so PCT can be started the day after the last dose.
For more information on the steroids half-life then please re read the profiles and that should answer your questions. On the next page is a table containing recommended start times for PCT after each steroid. If you are doing a stack then it is best to pick the one with the longest PCT start time before commencing with your PCT protocol.
Anadrol50/Anapolan50: 8 - 12 hours
Deca durabolan: 3 weeks
Dianabol: 4 - 8 hours
Equipoise: 17 - 21 days
Finajet/Trenbolone: 3 days
Primabolan depot: 10 - 14 days
Sustanon: 3 weeks
Testosterone Cypionate: 2 weeks
Testosterone Enanthate: 2 weeks
Testosterone Propionate: 3 days
Testosterone Suspension: 4 - 8 hours
Winstrol 8 - 12 hours
For example if you were to do a Test / Dianabol cycle then you would start PCT 2 weeks after your last test injection as it is the longest acting steroid in your cycle.
Clomid Clomid is not an anabolic/androgenic steroid. Since it is a synthetic estrogen it belongs, however, to the group of sex hormones. In school medicine Clomid is normally used to trigger ovulation. Clomid also has a strong influence on the hypothalamohypophysial testicular axis. It stimulates the hypo-physis to release more gonadotropin so that a faster and higher release of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinising hormone) occurs. This results in an elevated endogenous (body’s own) testosterone level. Clomid is especially effective when the body’s own testosterone production, due to the intake of anabolic/androgenic steroids, is suppressed. In most cases Clomid can normalize the testosterone level and the spermatogenesis (sperm development) within 10- 14 days. For this reason Clomid is primarily taken after steroids are discontinued. At this time it is extremely important to bring the testosterone production to a normal level as quickly as possible so that the loss of strength and muscle mass is minimized. Even better results can be achieved if Clomid is combined with HCG or when Clomid is used after the intake of HCG.
Paradoxically, although Clomid is a synthetic estrogen it also works as an antiestrogen. The reason is that Clomid has only a very low estrogenic effect and thus the stronger estrogens which, for example, form during the aromatization of steroids, are blocked at the receptors. These would include those that develop during the aromatizing of steroids. This does not prevent the steroids from aromatizing but the increased estrogen is mostly deactivated since it cannot attach to the receptors. The increased water retention and the possible signs of feminization can thus be reduced or even completely avoided. Since the antiestrogenic effect of Clomid is lower than those found in Proviron, Nolvadex, and Teslac it is mainly taken as a testosterone stimulant. Clomid is a medication that promotes the production of the body’s own stimulating hormone, gonadotropin, which in turn increases the testosterone level. It is, for example, administered to women as a so-called antiestrogen to trigger ovulation (”ovulation stimulator”).
Side effects of Clomid are very rare if reasonable dosages are taken. Possible side effects are climacteric hot flashes and occasional visual disturbances which can manifest themselves in blurred vision, giving flickering or flashing. Should visual disturbances occur, the manufacturer recommends discontinuing Clomid treatment. Inadequate liver functions cannot be excluded; however, they are very unlikely. In women enlargement of the ovaries and abdominal pain can occur since Clomid stimulates the ovaries. When taking Clomid multiple pregnancies are possible as well. As for the dosage, 50-100 mg/day (1 -2 tablets) seems to be sufficient. The tablets are usually taken with fluids after meals. If several tablets are taken it is recommended that they be administered in equal doses distributed through-out the day. The duration of intake has been rumoured to not be taken for longer than 10-14 days. This is incorrect. Clinical studies with male patients have shown clomid to be used for up to a year or longer. Most athletes begin with 100 mg/day, taking one 50 mg tablet every morning and evening after meals. After the fifth day the dosage is often reduced to only one 50 mg tablet per day It is normally not necessary to take the compound for more than ten days in order to increase the endogenous testosterone production. Clomid is relatively expensive. A package with 10 tablets costs approx. $35 - 45 on the black market.
Nolvadex This remedy is somewhat different from others since it is not an anabolic/androgenic steroid. For male and female bodybuilders, how-ever, it is a very useful and recommended compound which is con-firmed by its widespread use and mostly positive results. Nolvadex belongs to the group of sex hormones and is a so-called antiestrogen. The normal application of Nolvadex is in the treatment of certain forms of breast cancer in female patients. With Nolvadex it is pos-sible to reverse an existing growth process of deceased tissue and prevent further growth. The growth of certain tissues is stimulated by the body’s own estrogen hormone. This is especially true for the breast glands in men and women since the body has a large number of estrogen receptors at these glands which can bond with the estro-gens present in the blood. If the body’s own estrogen level is unusually high an undesired growth of breast glands occurs. However, in healthy women and particularly in men this is not the case. Despite this, it is mostly male bodybuilders who use Nolvadex, and fewer women. At first sight this seems somewhat inconceivable but when taking a closer look, the reasons are clear. Bodybuilders who take Nolvadex also use anabolic steroids at the same time. Since most steroids aromatize more or less strongly, i.e. part of the substance is converted into estrogens, male bodybuilders can experience a significant elevation in the normally very low estrogen level. This can lead to feminization symptoms such as gynecomastia (growth of breast glands), increased fat deposits and higher water retention.
The antiestrogen Nolvadex works against this by blocking the es-trogen receptors of the effected body tissue, thereby inhibiting a bonding of estrogens and receptor. It is, however, important to un-derstand that Nolvadex does not prevent the aromatization but only acts as an estrogen antagonist. This means that it does not prevent testosterone and its synthetic derivatives (steroids) from converting into estrogens but only fights with them in a sort of “competition” for the estrogen receptors. This characteristic has the disadvantage that after the discontinuance of Nolvadex a “rebound effect” can occur which means that the suddenly freed estrogen receptors are now able to absorb the estrogen present in the blood. For this reason the combined intake of Proviron is suggested (see Proviron.) Nolvadex is also useful during a diet since it helps in the burning of fat. Al-though Nolvadex has no direct fatburning effect its antiestrogenic effect contributes to keeping the estrogen level as low as possible. Nolvadex should especially be taken together with the strong androgenic steroids Dianabol and Anadrol 50, and the various test-osterone compounds. Athletes who have a tendency to retain water and who have a mammary dysfunction should take Nolvadex as a prevention during every steroid intake. Since Nolvadex is very affective in most cases it is no wonder that several athletes can take Anadrol 50 and Dianabol until the day of a competition, and in combination with a diuretic still appear totally ripped in the. limelight. Those who already have a low body fat content will achieve a visibly improved muscle hardness with Nolvadex.
Several bodybuilders like to use Nolvadex at the end of a steroid cycle since it increases the body’s own testosterone production.
This article was taken from the Newbies Guide to Steroids eBook which is availiable for FREE download.
Christopher Watson
Anabolic steroids and bodybuilding discussion
http://allpumpedup.org
One Response to “Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) After an Anabolic Steroids Cycle”
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