Showing posts with label testosterone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label testosterone. Show all posts

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.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Sustanon and Testosterone replacement therapy

Testosterone plays a big role in creating and maintaining the levels of supremacy, status, and power. This is not just because the primary male sex hormone is one of the biggest factors driving competitiveness in men, but also because it encourages men to gain and maintain power and amp; social status. However, some men may face deficiency of testosterone (low testosterone, low T, hypogonadism or andropause) as they age.

Low testosterone levels in men are characterized by signs and symptoms such as reduced sex drive, sperm production, bone density, red blood cell production, muscle mass, fat distribution, lethargy, energy levels, and body strength. A fall in testosterone would therefore mean weak bones, low energy, significant physical and emotional changes, increased fat tissue, increased risk of osteoporosis, constant fatigue, depression, and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and erectile dysfunction.

In today’s highly competitive world where second chances are rare to come by, the pressure to win at all costs surely leaves us left with stress and sedentary lifestyles. These are the times when the body takes a huge toll and the production of natural hormones such as Testosterone start declining at a gradual and speedy pace. This means we not only face an increased risk of memory, concentration, libido, and energy loss, but our body’s ability to produce sperm and maintain bone density is hampered. This is where a potent drug like Sustanon 250 comes into the picture.

Prescribed medically for replacement therapy, Sustanon is a blend of four compounds of testosterone: 30 mg Testosterone Propionate, 60 mg testosterone phenylpropionate, 60 mg testosterone Isocaproate, and 100 mg testosterone decanoate. This anabolic androgenic steroid is prescribed worldwide for men diagnosed with low testosterone levels. This oil-based injectable blend has the chemical name of 17ß-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one and can be detected over a period of 2-3 months. This drug, prescribed as part of replacement therapy, is ideally used in doses of 250-500mg every week by men though some men tend to administer this steroid in weekly doses of 1000-2000mg. Athletes and bodybuilders stack this steroid with anabolic androgenic steroids such as Trenbolone, Anadrol, Winstrol, Dianabol, Masteron and Parabolan. However, Sustanon should be used with great care and diligence. This drug is not recommended to girls and women, especially if pregnant or breastfeeding or those who may get pregnant while using this drug.

Extremely popular among those in strength athletics and bodybuilding, Sustanon is one steroid that can always and easily be associated with promoting the sense of well being. Use of this steroid improves libido and erectile function and stimulates improvements in levels of hemoglobin and Hematocrit without any clinically relevant changes in liver enzymes and PSA. Moreover, Sustanon use is characterized by low fat deposition and water retention levels that make muscles appear smooth, strong, and ripped. The list of benefits associated with this potent and affordable steroid does not end here. Sustanon use for a period of eight to twelve weeks is also linked with improved reflexes and invincibility and this steroid can even improve the number of motor neurons in skeletal muscles and enhance neuromuscular transmission.

Ttestosterone replacement therapy with sustanon has the potential of improving the signs and symptoms of low testosterone in men diagnosed with Hypogonadism, a health condition in which the male body is unable to produce sufficient amounts of testosterone because of a problem with the testicles or with the pituitary gland controlling the testicles. It is for these and many more reasons that Sustanon is rated very highly by medical practitioners across the world to treat men with fewer spontaneous erections, reduced sexual desire, sleep disturbances, increased body fat, reduced muscle bulk, or decreased bone density. Use of this anabolic androgenic steroid is also associated with dramatic improvements in the levels of PSA, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lipid profiles, and liver function tests. Moreover, improved testosterone levels also prove useful in reducing body fat as the primary male sex hormone plays a critical role in regulating insulin, fat metabolism, and glucose. If that was not all, improved testosterone also results in improved muscle mass and body strength by increasing protein synthesis besides stimulating the drive to win and the desires for power and status.

Side effects:
Side-effects from using Sustanon 250 are consistent with side-effects of any testosterone. They include water retention and gynecomastia (bitch tits) from testosterone’s conversion to estrogen by the aromatase enzyme. Users on Sustanon also risk side-effects like hair loss and swelling of the prostate, mainly from testosterone’s conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the 5-reductase enzyme. Both of these side-effects can be minimized with the use of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like nolvadex (tamoxifen) or aromatase inhibitors (AIs) like aromasin.

Higher levels of testosterone also cause more oil to be secreted on the skin; thus, increasing your chances of getting acne. In addition, you will be more prone to sweating and your urine will have a “solvent-like” smell if you exceed 500-750mgs of sust per week.


Best Sustanon Cycles For Male Athletes:

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Oral anabolic steroids to maintain the health of AIDS patients

Oral anabolic steroids (no the injectable kind like nandrolone) can tax the liver and lower good cholesterol (HDL). You are planning to take dianabol, an oral anabolic not approved in the US and one known for its liver, blood pressure and lowering HDL issues. It is a 17 alpha alkylated anabolic that has been designed to slow down its destruction by the liver.

Only Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca durabolin) and Oxandrolone have been studied in HIV related unintentional weight loss. Oxandrolone is a mild oral anabolic but one that can also increase liver enzymes. Nandrolone does not have this issue (it is not a 17 alpha alkylated anabolic), but some men can have increases in hematocrit and blood viscosity (not good for the heart). All anabolic shut down your own body's testosterone production, so it is good to supplement with testosterone to ensure normal sex drive and function. Playing around with anabolic steroids without doing a lot of reading and research is foolish in my opinion. You should be monitored by a physician to follow hematocrit, PSA, blood pressure, estradiol related issues (like breast enlargement), liver enzymes, etc. Men with HIV that are going to use anabolic no matter what at least engage in some harm reduction by reading and informing themselves about these potent hormones that have helped us in the past survive by combating wasting syndrome. A good bodybuilder is a smart bodybuilder. Over eight studies have shown nandrolone to be effective for increasing lean body mass (LBM) and strength in men and women with HIV. A randomized, placebo controlled trial in 38 women conducted by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) reported significant increases in weight and lean body mass after 12 weeks of Nandrolone therapy (100 mg every two weeks). There were no differences between the groups in fat increases or in clinical or laboratory adverse events. Hoarseness, hirsutism, and clitoral enlargement were noted rarely in the treated group.  A recent study by Wanke reported that as many as 29 percent of people with HIV in the era of HAART are still losing weight or lean body mass, despite undetectable viral loads.

Nandrolone decanoate is especially attractive because of its benign side effects profile compared to alternative steroids. According to Vergel, unlike oral steroids such as Oxandrin and Anadrol, nandrolone does not impact liver function lab markers at the low doses used in HIV a crucial issue for many people with overtaxed livers from HAART or HCV. One of the FDA approved products to treat HIV-wasting, Megace (megestrol acetate), tends to produce its weight gain due to increases in fat rather than lean body mass -- and adding fat during AIDS wasting has not been shown to improve survival. Megace, a female sex hormone, has also been associated with side effects such as diabetes, blood clots, impotence and the development of female sex characteristics. Another agent approved to treat HIV wasting, Serostim (recombinant human growth hormone), lacks evidence of benefit beyond 12 weeks. FDA-approved appetite stimulants such as Marinol contain the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana (THC), notes Brenda Lein of Project Inform, and "thus is not a preference for many people with HIV who are in recovery." Also, it's theorized that Marinol may simply owe its ability to increase weight to a side effect of the THC high that people get the munchies and tend to eat more.

Winstrol and Equipoise are both not good on the liver since they both are 17 alpha alkylated. Nandrolone is not liver toxic, not 17 alpha alkylated and it has been studied in doses up to 600 mg a week in HIV. Most HIV positive men who need help gaining lean body mass use it at conservative dose of 200 mg Nandrolone plus 200 mg of Testosterone Cypionate every two weeks for 12-16 weeks and most stay on testosterone replacement therapy after stopping the Nandrolone so that you do not lose muscle mass and quality of life.
The FDA and most people did not seem to care even after some of us tried to stop this.You can also gain lean body mass by weight training and consuming a balanced diet. Supplements like creatine, whey protein and others have been shown to help.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Steroid Can Restore Body Tissue in HIV-Positive People

Of the 3 orally dynamic anabolic steroids, Oxandrolone has been studied in HIV-infected patients more extensively than has oxymetholone. Stanozolol is used for the treatment of hereditary angioedema and has not been used for its anabolic effect in this patient populace to any great extent.

One of the earlier studies of Oxandrolone in HIV-infected patients was begun before the introduction of the PIs. Sixty-three HIV-infected men with a deprivation of corpse weight greater than 10% were randomized to receive placebo, oxandrolone, 5 mg/d or Oxandrolone, 15 mg/d. The patients who received 15 mg/d of oxandrolone gained weight throughout the 16-week interval, whereas those who received 5 mg/d of oxandrolone maintained their weight. In contrast, the patients who received placebo continued to lose weight.

In a follow-up study, which has not yet been published, patients were randomized to placebo or to 1 of 3 dosages of Oxandrolone 20 mg/d, 40 mg/d, or 80 mg/d. The patients in the group who received 40 mg/d had the most statistically significant weight gain. However, both the patients in this assembly and those who received 80 mg/d showed important increases in serum levels of liver transaminases.

A study published in 1999 sought to terminate whether a regimen of supraphysiologic doses of androgen (testosterone) plus an anabolic steroid (oxandrolone) would better the LBM and strength gains achieved with advancing resistance exercise in HIV-infected men who had practised weight loss. A second objective of the study was to determine whether antiretroviral remedy with a PI prevented lean corpse anabolism.

All subjects in the study participated in supervised progressive resistance exercise for 8 weeks. At the same period, they received testosterone, 100 mg/wk, by intramuscular injection. Twenty-four eugonadal men were then randomized to either placebo or oxandrolone, 20 mg/d. Twenty-two patients completed the read. The results indicated that compared with patients who received placebo, those who received oxandrolone experienced improved nitrogen weigh (P = .05); increased LBM (P = .005) and increased muscle strength, as judged by either maximum weight lifted (P = .02 to .05) or dynamometry (P = .01 to .05). The results were like regardless of whether the patients were taking a PI. However, compared with placebo, oxandrolone was associated with a statistically significant decrease in blood levels of high-den-sity lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P < .001).

Because all patients in the study participated in progressive opposition training and received testosterone, only an additive effect of Oxandrolone versus placebo was being decided. Therefore, the study appears to be valid even though the number of patients enrolled was little. On the other hand, had the design of the study called for dividing the patients into multiple groups, so that not all patients received testosterone or participated in progressive resistance exercise, the number of patients required to reach statistical significance would have been much higher on the organization of 350.

The conclusions that can be drawn from the study are that Oxandrolone 20 mg/d, added to a program consisting of both progressive resistance exercise and physiologic doses of testosterone improved the anabolic and functional responses in patients who showed HIV-related weight loss.

Only 1 study of oxymetholone in HIV-infected patients has been reported. This study was a nonblinded pilot trial that was completed in Germany and reported in 1996. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either Oxymetholone (14 patients) or Oxymetholone plus ketotifen (16 patients). Ketotifen is an H1-receptor antagonist that has been shown to block tumor necrosis factor A. The patients receiving the medications under study were compared with 30 matched control patients who met the same inclusion criteria, such as advanced HIV infection and chronic cachexia.

At entry into the study, all patients had experienced significant weight loss (greater than 12 kg [26.4 lb]). The average weight get by the patients who received Oxymetholone was 8.2 kg (18 lb), a 14.5% grow over weight at entry (P < .001). The average weight gain by the patients who received association therapy was 6.1 kg (13.4 lb), a 10.9% increase over weight at entry (P < .005). The untreated control patients lost an average of 1.8 kg (4 lb). Both groups of treated patients showed improvement in the ability to perform activities of daily living and in several quality-of-life variables. Although this study was not a double-blind clinical trial, the investigators believed that the results suggested the need for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Treatment with testosterone

There has been much argument about the part of testosterone levels in AIDS wasting. Testosterone is the man hormone which promotes muscle growth. Following the inspection of low levels of serum testosterone in many men with AIDS wasting, a stipulation known as hypogonadism, some treatment advocates and doctors have argued that correcting the testosterone deficiency may reverse wasting.

However, the relationship between HIV infection, testosterone production and AIDS wasting is still unclear. One recent study found no relationship between wasting and hypogonadism, but a review of patients in the Multi center AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), a large United States cohort followed since 1985, found that testosterone levels fell before the onset of wasting. A study of testosterone levels in women with AIDS wasting found that more than half the women had low levels of testosterone. Symptoms of testosterone deficiency comprise fatigue, reduced sex make, infertility, depression and deprivation of appetite.

These symptoms are common in advanced HIV disease, and may be associated with many other illnesses and malnutrition. Testosterone levels are reduced in chronic illnesses as an adaptive measure to conserve vitality. Even when effective antiretroviral treatment reduces HIV levels and clears up opportunistic infections, some experts suggest that testosterone levels will not return to standard on their own. Opportunistic infections can also lead to hypogonadism.
Testosterone injections or derma patches that deliver testosterone on a daily basis are being investigated as a way of maintaining testosterone levels, and some controlled studies have investigated the effectiveness of various testosterone preparations in encouraging the replacement of lean muscle tissue. A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of testosterone injections establish that men who received testosterone gained muscle and weight, and reported feeling better in comparison to men who received placebo. However, benefits seem to be restricted to men with hypogonadism.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Hormones and HIV infection

While both men and women involvement many of the same symptoms, women regularly must contend with some distinctively female signs of HIV infection such as:
    Persisting or strict vaginal infections particularly vaginal yeast infections.
    Pap smears that indicate cervical dysplasia or other abnormal changes.
    Pelvic infections such as pelvic inflaming infection (PID.)
Although women with HIV frequently experience these women’s health conditions, women without HIV also experience vaginal infections, deviant Pap smears, and pelvic infections.

Other signs and symptoms that may indicate HIV infection contain:
    Genital warts
    Genital ulcers
    Severe mucosal herpes infections
Regularly, within a few weeks of infection, both men and women experience flu-like symptoms. Others do not experience signs or symptoms of HIV or AIDS until several years later. This makes HIV testing required for those with current or previous high risk behaviors.
An insulin-like growth element (IGF) is a polypeptide that has a molecular structure similar to insulin. There are two types of IGF: IGF-1 is made and secreted primarily in your liver, and helps modify the cycle of cell growth, division and death. IGF-1 is critical to fetal development and growth during childhood. IGF-2 is secreted by your brain, kidneys, pancreas, and muscles, and is most dynamic in a baby's growth in the womb. IGFs are interesting because the receptor for these hormones are expressed on many types of cancer cells and new biologic therapies targeting these receptors are in advanced clinical trial development. Several hormones play a critical role in exercise in popular and strength training in particular. Testosterone, cultivation hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) provide strength and muscle growth stimulus; cortisol, epinephrine and nor epinephrine and glucagon command access to fat and glucose fuels by manipulating the release of stored fuel when needed in addition to other important functions; and insulin provides the storage impetus for the fuels derived from the food we eat. Getting these hormones to work so that you can maximize muscle and strength is one of the secrets of natural mass training.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Slow production of testosterone and HIV infections

A low testosterone plane is quite ordinary in men living with HIV. MC had been HIV infected for almost ten years. While he had his share of distressing illnesses; sinus infections, thrush and the like, he always prided himself on sensitivity pretty okay. Recently, after turning 40 years old, MC noticed he felt more fatigued than usual. He had little energy after dinner, wanting to sleep more and more each day. His problems were not just with energy levels. In the bedroom he establish that his sex desire had all but disappeared. When he was in the mood he sometimes had trouble getting an erection. When he did, it was not as powerful or as great lasting as it once was. To top it all off, he felt sad at times, and finding joy in any movement was difficult. MC had all the classic signs of low testosterone and felt testosterone replacement may be exactly what he needed. For years, experts have been informed of the affect HIV has on testosterone producing. Specifically diminished levels of testosterone are common in HIV+ men. The incidence of low testosterone increases in men who have lived long-term with HIV. To compound the problem, it's normal for the cadaver to slow production of testosterone (hypogonadism) after the age of 40 regardless of HIV reputation.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

HIV infection and muscle mass


Anabolic steroids are drugs derived from the male hormone testosterone. They promote muscle growth and increase lean body mass. Although anabolic steroids have many approved medical uses, they are abused by some athletes and others seeking to improve performance and physical appearance. These non medical uses are illegal and carry many health hazards.

Anabolic steroids are often used by people who weight train to improve the effects of training and for aesthetic reasons. They are usually used in four-week cycles, followed by a period off "treatment". Anabolic steroids are artificial (synthetic) versions of the male hormone testosterone that help build muscle. They also enhance masculine characteristics.

Because they can help the body to form lean muscle, they are sometimes used to treat wasting and weight loss caused by HIV, and doctors sometimes prescribe them to people experiencing fat loss from the limbs because of lipodystrophy. Testosterone supplements are also used to treat low testosterone levels which can develop in people with HIV due to HIV infection, some other infections, anti-HIV drugs and other medicines.

The anabolic steroids have been studied as a treatment for wasting caused by HIV, and have been shown to be safe and effective, helping the formation of lean muscle mass. To be most effective, anabolic steroid treatment should be combined with an exercise programme of resistance (weight) training. Studies have mostly been restricted to men because of concerns about the side-effects of steroid treatment for women.

Anabolic steroids can increase levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and other side-effects, so their use should be closely monitored particularly if you are taking a protease inhibitor or have any risk factors for heart disease.