Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Why Post Cycle Therapy is Necessary Nolva

Bodybuilders and other athletes often take steroids to help with fat loss and to enhance muscle growth. But there are negative side effects to steroids. Once they stop taking the steroids there is the danger of experiencing a post cycle crash. Post cycle therapy or PCT is used to combat these negative side effects and avoid the crash. If you plan to take steroids you should plan your post cycle therapy in advance.

One of the reasons many people continue steroid use is because they suffered from a post cycle crash including muscle loss. To avoid this they would simply get back on steroids. But continued use of steroid use can cause problems. With the correct post cycle therapy you can stop steroid usage and not suffer as many negative side effects.

When you are using synthetic steroids your body is being given large amounts of testosterone. So much, that it stops producing its own testosterone or at the very least drastically slows production. Once you’re off your cycle your body will start producing testosterone again – but not right away.

Also, to combat the extra testosterone being produce while you’re on steroids, your body starts producing more estrogen. When you stop the steroids your body will still be producing the extra estrogen. This can cause unwanted side effects such as low sex drive, water retention and even breast production.

Because of these side effects; you want to get your hormones back into balance as quickly as possible. PCT helps get your body back into high gear. Without PCT, you can begin to lose the muscle mass you gained during your cycle.

PCT involves taking the following, HCG, Nolva and Clomid. These drugs help promote the production of testosterone until your body’s hormones are back in balance.

To reduce the amount of estrogen in your system, SERMS or Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators are recommended. Two of the most popular are Clomiphene Citrate and Tamoxifen. These are usually started during the last few weeks of a steroid cycle and then continued for three or four weeks after.

PCT plans often include a cortisol suppressor. This is because anabolic steroids block the receptors in the muscles that normally take in cortisol. Your body will start producing more receptors to fight this. Without this your body can go into a catabolic state that depletes muscle tissue. This results in losing the muscle that you just gained during your cycle.

A good post cycle therapy plan will get your body back into hormonal balance as quickly as possible and reduce negative side effects. A forty-five day post cycle therapy is usually recommended. It’s important to also keep lifting weights and working out as you were before. This also helps prevent muscle loss.

You should also eat a healthy diet and be sure to get enough rest during your post therapy cycle. But for most users this is not enough to combat the side effects.

Tamoxifen Citrate (Nolva) is used to treat some types of breast cancer in men and women. It is also used to lower a woman's chance of developing breast cancer if she has a high risk (such as a family history of breast cancer. Since Tamoxifen Citrate (Nolva) has the ability of inhibiting the growth of tumors that respond to estrogens, it is one of the most popular drugs for treating node-positive breast cancer in women following total mastectomy or segmental mastectomy, axillary dissection, and breast irradiation. The antiestrogen is also recommended for treating metastatic breast cancer in women and men and Tamoxifen citrate is an alternative to oophorectomy or ovarian irradiation in premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer. Medically, it is advised for the treatment of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic breast cancer) and is also advised to treat breast cancer in certain patients after surgery and radiation therapy and may even be suggested to minimize the chances of breast cancer in high-risk patients.

One of the biggest advantages of this antiestrogen is that patients whose tumors are estrogen receptor positive are more likely to benefit from it. In addition to that, it can minimize the occurrence of contralateral breast cancer in patients receiving adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. In women with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) after breast surgery and radiation, Nolva can minimize the risk of invasive breast cancer. It is worthwhile to note that Tamoxifen Citrate is well tolerated in males with breast cancer and safety profile of the drug in males is similar to that noticed in women.

Sportsmen using anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs like Dianabol, Anadrol and Testosterone derivatives often make use of Nolvadex and medical studies in the past have suggested that use of this antiestrogen is associated with dramatic improvements in levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, and estrogen control.  Since use of Nolva is featured by its mild yet highly effective properties, it is often preferred compared to Arimidex, Femara, and Aromasin since it does not prevent aromatization but plays the role of an estrogen antagonist, which is also useful in burning fat.

The recommended dose of Tamoxifen Citrate (Nolva) for patients with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) is 20 mg daily for 5 years while sportsmen on steroids use it in doses of 20-45 mg per day, with or without food.

Nolva abuse can lead to side effects, which may be mild or severe, including hypercalcemia, peripheral edema, distaste for food, pruritus vulvae, depression, dizziness, light-headedness, headache, hair thinning and partial hair loss, and vaginal dryness. In very rare cases, side effects like erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, bullous pemphigoid, interstitial pneumonitis, and rare reports of hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema may happen.

Women keen to use Tamoxifen citrate (Nolva) should avoid getting pregnant for two months after last stopping its use and others should best use birth control methods that don’t use hormones like diaphragms with spermicide or plain intrauterine devices (IUDs). Moreover, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug as it is unknown of Tamoxifen Citrate passes into breast milk or may cause potential risk to the infant. Nolva is not recommended to individuals suffering with high amount of calcium in the blood, severely decreased platelets, decreased white blood cells, cataracts, problems with eyesight, blood clot in lung, stroke, obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot, blood clot in a deep vein, pregnancy, or a mother who is producing milk and breastfeeding. A loss of sexual ability or interest may occur in men making use of Nolva.

Medical advice should be sought on an immediate basis after stopping use of Tamoxifen Citrate (Nolva) if side effects such as pain or pressure in pelvis, vaginal bleeding, changes in the amount or timing of bleeding or increased clotting, sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, pain, tenderness, or swelling in one or both of your legs , sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden severe headache with no known cause, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or lack of appetite and yellowing of your skin or whites of eyes is noticed after making use of the anti estrogen.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Oxandrolone and HGH prevent HIV to improve performance

Chronic wasting syndrome, defined by a significant and unintentional weight loss, can occur in people with HIV/AIDS. There are many reasons why it happens including reactions to medications, lack of appetite, nausea, diarrhea and oral sores that make gaining or maintaining weight difficult. Whatever the cause, however, it's vitally important to help reverse the effects for the life of the patient.

People who suffer from chronic wasting often experience an increased progression of the infection and often a decrease in quality of life. Wasting is a form of malnutrition and it leaves the body more susceptible to the effects of the HIV/AIDS, infections and other complications because is can weaken the immune system. If left untreated it can often lead to a quicker death.

Often the first steps used to help reverse or at least stop the loss of lean body mass include nutritional programs, appetite stimulants and exercise programs. The problem is that they don't always work for HIV/AIDS patients. That's when HIV/AIDS patients and their physicians can turn to anabolic steroids for help.

Oxandrolone has been approved by the FDA to help counteract chronic wasting caused by other illnesses, so it's a logical leap to use it for AIDS-related chronic wasting as well. Right now, it's not a mainstream treatment because studies have shown that the most effective dosages for AIDS-related chronic wasting are higher than the FDA approved dosages, but it is beginning to show great benefits to its users.

Here's how anabolic steroids do the job needed to counteract the effects of wasting: One of the natural effects of anabolic steroids is its promotion of cell growth and tissues. People suffering from chronic wasting experience substantial loss of body tissues including both muscle and fat. When used properly, anabolic steroids can help increase the re-growth of muscle tissues and therefore, an overall increase in lean body mass.

Another effect of HIV/AIDS which is related to chronic wasting is lipodystrophy. Lipodystrophy is not necessarily a loss of weight, but rather a redistribution of fat in the body. Often what happens is that fat gathers at the back of the neck and around the abdomen and fat is often lost in the face, arms and legs. It can also lead to diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia and liver problems.

Anabolic steroids do not directly treat lipodystrophy. In fact, there aren't many treatment options for it. Steroids do, however, tend to help with the physical effects by reducing the fatty deposits caused by lipodystrophy.

Growth hormone therapy in adults:
The syndrome of adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is characterized by abnormal fat and muscle mass composition, dyslipidemia, decreased bone mineral density, exercise capacity, and quality of life. AGHD can be a continuation of childhood GHD or result from hypothalamic or pituitary damage. An increase in mortality is seen in these patients attributed to cardiovascular risk factors. It is unclear if these risk factors are exclusively due to GHD or a result of reduced quality of life and sedentary lifestyle. Daily HGH injections to treat AGHD are associated with improvements in body composition, muscle strength, bone density, cardiovascular markers, and quality of life. Fluid retention is an adverse effect of GH therapy in adults and may cause symptoms of edema, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthralgias, and myalgias. Glucose intolerance and possibly Type 2 DM may also develop during treatment.

HIV-associated wasting is linked to alterations in the GH-IGF-1 axis and can be improved with GH treatment. HIV wasting is defined as unintentional loss of body weight and lean body mass in patients infected with HIV. Other treatments for HIV-associated wasting include testosterone and anabolic steroids which increase fat mass but not lean body mass. Increases in lean body mass correlate with improved survival. Clinical trials have shown improvements in weight, lean body mass, and decreases in fat mass when patients are treated for 12 weeks with HGH.

HGH is often abused in combination with anabolic steroids to increase muscle strength and athletic performance. The illicit use of androgen's is seen not only in athletes, but is now being used by a significant number of adults between the ages of 35 and 60 to get rid of love handles and build muscle as they try to stay young, as prescriptions for human growth hormone have become more frequent from "anti-aging" clinics. Adolescent boys feeling pressure from society to increase muscle mass and do better at sports are also increasing their use, and competitive athletes who might be tested for steroid use often turn to HGH to improve performance.

Friday, April 3, 2015

How to Stop Weight Loss While HIV Positive people

HIV-positive people often experience rapid weight loss, commonly referred to as wasting. Wasting happens to people both on and off HIV medications. People experiencing wasting can lose 5 to 10 percent or more of their total body weight in just six months. Not all of the weight lost is body fat. In fact, large portions of lost mass can come from tissue and muscle. Keep in mind that each person's body responds differently to HIV and some will still experience weight loss despite their best efforts to prevent it. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by destroying CD4+ "helper T cells". In healthy individuals, helper T cells organize immune responses that protect the body from infection. When HIV invades the human system, it binds to co-receptors (typically CXCR4 or CCR5) on the surfaces of CD4+ cells and macrophages and introduces viral genetic material into these cells.

Once HIV has gained entry into the host cell, viral RNA is reverse transcribed into viral DNA and combines with the DNA of the host cell—so as the infected cell replicates, so, too, does the virus. Reverse transcription from viral RNA to viral DNA is a target for some antiviral drugs. As CD4+ cell levels become depleted with advancing HIV infection, viral replication within macrophages, dendritic cells and other cell types sustains viral load. HIV can be categorized based on its interaction with surface co-receptors during attachment and entry into host cells. Three primary entry methods comprise a large percentage of HIV cases – R5, which utilizes the receptor CCR5 to gain entry, X4, which uses the CXCR4 co-receptor, and X4R5, which uses both.

Given the dependency upon these cell-surface co-receptors for entry, some strains of HIV are unable to infect individuals who harbor mutations in the gene encoding the co-receptor. These people are resistant to the subtype(s) of HIV that would normally utilize a wild-type receptor to gain entry into host cells.

Make sure you're eating, at minimum, enough calories to maintain your weight. Also take into account additional calories you burn through exercise. Talk to your doctor about appetite-enhancing drugs that can counter the appetite-suppressing effects of many HIV medications. Try multiple small meals and snacks throughout the day if you have trouble finishing the regular three meals. Work with your doctor to find the right HIV medication regimen. Opt for one that controls your disease progression with the fewest side effects. HIV medications, and HIV itself, can cause diarrhea, vomiting, mouth sores and side effects that limit your ability to eat foods or absorb nutrients. Sometimes tweaking medications or adding new ones to your treatment plan can help with side effects.

Weight lift or do strength-training exercises at least two to three times per week. These activities will help build up muscle tissue and prevent muscle loss associated with wasting. Work each major muscle group, including your arms, legs, back, chest, shoulders and abdominal muscles. Never work the same muscle group two days in a row to help prevent muscle injury. Even lifting very small weights at home can help. Talk to a counselor or therapist about your feelings associated with your illness. HIV patients often experience depression, which can contribute to a loss of appetite or disinterest in taking good care of yourself. Work with your therapist to develop a treatment plan that may include medications, coping strategies, group therapy and support groups.
Consider prescription treatments that build up muscle strength and tissue. Ideal medications will also prevent muscle and tissue loss, according to the Tufts University School of Medicine. Treatments include steroids, testosterone injections and human growth hormone. Talk to your doctor to see if one or more of these treatments has benefits that outweigh their risks.

AIDS wasting, which leads to significant weight loss in people with HIV, causes severe loss of weight and muscle and can lead to muscle weakness, organ failure and shortened lifespan. Researchers have long sought to reverse this common, destructive effect of HIV with mixed success. The wasting stems from loss of the body’s ability to grow muscle and from low levels of testosterone. Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone that promote growth of skeletal muscle and the development of male sexual characteristics.

Although most recently in the news for their misuse by professional athletes, anabolic steroids have legitimate medical application for men with low testosterone and people with certain types of anemia. Two anabolic steroids available in the United States, Nandrolone Decanoate and Oxandrolone, have been used to help increase weight and muscle mass in small studies of people with wasting.  Conversely, anabolic steroid use has been associated with increased rates of HIV in those who share needles or use non sterile needles when they inject steroids.

In the review studies, anabolic steroids were administered to patients either orally or by injection. The main side effects were mild and included abnormal liver function tests; acne; mild increase in body hair; breast tenderness; increased libido, aggressiveness and irritability; and mood swings — all common side effect of anabolic steroid use. “The risks and side effects of taking anabolic steroids long-term are certainly of concern,” Johns said. “We were unable to assess these risks in our review due to the short duration of treatment in the studies.”

Wayne Dodge, the HIV/AIDS program director at the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, suggests that clinicians should obtain blood testosterone levels, “if an HIV-infected individual has had significant weight loss, significant fatigue or muscle wasting, and particularly if associated with a significant decrease in libido and erections. If testosterone is in the low or low-normal range then a trial of steroids could be tried. The individual and the clinician should decide what result would constitute a successful trial: weight gain of 15 pounds, a 30 percent improvement in sense of well-being or a successful erection once a week.”