Thinking about trying steroids?

I

informed

Guest
***I wrote this as a warning of the dangers of steroid use and advocate informed use. I was hoping it could be stickied in the steroid forum as many new users come in and ask the same questions about starting a cycle, thank-you***



Thinking about trying steroids?

Read this whole disclaimer first with a special tip on training naturally at the end. Do not take as gospel what you heard in the gym. Also just because steroids gave certain results and a lack of noticeable side-effects in your friend does not mean the results will be the same when YOU take that cycle! Also steroids are not miracle drugs, diet, training and commitment are all important in making a steroid cycle increase muscle mass as desired.

If you are thinking about taking steroids and you are under 25 and have not been lifting week-in week-out consistently for 5 years then don’t even bother taking steroids, there’s no need, you should have plenty of natural potential left as your testosterone levels are peaking naturally. It is also dangerous for teenagers and young adults to take steroids.

If you are thinking about taking steroids please make it an informed choice as side-effects do range from person to person in both the type (permanent or reversible) and severity.

Not all steroids are equal! Know your steroid!

Please be aware that not all steroids are the same, they are all very different in their properties:

• some are more androgenic than others
• some are more anabolic than others
• some also bind to the progesterone receptor
• some also bind to the estrogen receptor
• some don’t convert too DHT
• some don’t convert too estrogen
• some are both injectable and orally active
• some are only orally active
• some are only injectable
• some have different esters (forms of the particular steroid) of different half-lives (active time in the body)
• some esters (forms of the particular steroid) can take over a month after the last shot too leave the body
• all steroids shut down natural testosterone production via blocking the hypothalamus-pituatary-testicle-axis (HPTA) some do this more than others (nandrolone and trenbolone of all esters are particularly severe in shutting down the HPTA)

Do you know the properties of the steroid you are thinking about taking? Please see www.steroid.com and do a search for your steroid there for referenced information on a particular steroid.

SIDE EFFECTS

Permanent side effects are clearly noted

Psychological Side Effects:

• Increased aggression – steroids can shorten your “fuse”
• Increased sense of well-being to the point of euphoria in some instances
• Vivid dreams
• Psychosis (in some cases needing hospitalization and subsequent treatment with antipsychotics) – a rare occurrence

Physical Side effects:

• Male Pattern Baldness - If you have the genes for MPB steroid use will trigger them into action at the time of use. This is a permanent side effect.
• difficulty sleeping
• Shrinking of the testicles – depending on the type of steroid used and level of HPTA inhibition they may bounce back to full size naturally or maybe not quite all the way. This is a permanent side-effect when it occurs without treatment, however it can be mitigated by using hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin Branded: Pregnyl) during cycle and during PCT (post cycle therapy)
• Prostate enlargement – this is reversible with the use of a course of DHT blocking drugs (finasteride, dutasteride and saw palmetto) after cycle completion
• Fusion of the bone growth plates (this can stunt growth in younger individuals and is a permanent side effect)
• Increased body hair – (legs, stomach, chest, shoulders, back and face) this is a permanent side effect
• Breast tissue growth under the nipples (bitch tits) – sometimes permanent if anti-estrogenic drugs are not administered quickly
• water retention – puffy face or body clears naturally, or via diuretics (natural or pharmaceutical) or by using a low estrogenic steroid
• decreased sperm count to the point of contraception – this is largely reversible, but in rare cases has been permanent
• Increase in bone density
• Increase in red blood cell count
• Erectile dysfunction – depends on the steroid and amount of use, but this can become permanent in rare cases
• Increased erection frequency (high testosterone cycles and proviron are known for this)
• Stress the liver – (orals are the worst offenders here) some liver damage may be permanent with continued heavy use
• Stress the kidneys – heavy steroid users have been known to need dialysis.
• Disrupt your lipid profile
• an increased ability to burn fat
• and lastly an increase in muscle mass

Too summarise:
some side effects are permanent
some are reversible naturally,
some are reversible with other drugs (called ancillaries)
some are avoidable altogether with taking certain drugs.

Remember that increased muscle gains are not permanent and only a good PCT coupled with excellent training and adequately high caloric diet regime will keep all of the muscle gains you make whilst on steroids.

If You Are Going to Take Steroids

Avoiding Side Effects

Some side effects are avoidable through a good Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) regime and knowledge of the properties of the particular steroid used. A good PCT will keep your testicles from shrinking and will restart your HPTA post cycle in a hurry. A good PCT can also avoid estrogenic side effects (bitch tits and water retention). A good PCT can consist of:

• hCG – always needed, research dosages on steroid.com
• hMG (human menopausal gonadotrophin) – rarely needed too restart sperm production, this will be under guidance of a doctor if needed.

Anti-estrogenic drugs

These drugs stop water retention and bitch tit growth. They also stimulate the HPTA to produce testosterone naturally again. They do come with a sizeable list of their own possible side effects including erectile dysfunction, but are generally well tolerated.

There are 2 types of anti-estrogenic drugs aromatase inhibitors and SERMs.

aromatase inhibitors: e.g arimidex – blocks the conversion of testosterone to estrogen
estrogen blockers (or SERM selective estrogen receptor modulator): e.g nolvadex, clomid – block the estrogen receptor

Please research steroid.com or other referenced sources for dosage regimes to restart the HPTA and for estrogen suppression.

DHT Blockers (block the conversion of testosterone to DiHydroTestosterone)

These drugs are useful for shrinking the prostate back to size and for stopping male pattern baldness. They do come with a sizeable list of their own side effects including erectile dysfunction, but are generally well tolerated.

finasteride: blocks one type of the DHT converting enzyme
dutasteride: blocks both types of the DHT converting enzyme
saw palmetto: natural alternative that can be used if the prostate enlargement is not severe.

Please research steroid.com or other referenced sources for dosage regimes too stop hair loss or shrink the prostate to size again.

Basic Steroid Cycle do’s and don’ts

• Research all of the steroids and PCT drugs you are using until the knowledge becomes second nature and you can participate in forum Q & A’s.
• You need an adequate diet with enough protein and complex carbohydrates to fuel growth (know your daily target caloric intake)
• Forget supplements, creatine is ok if you must
• Have a well thought out training regime, post it in an appropriate forum for advice
• Always base a cycle with testosterone
• Stick to short half-life esters (propionate) for a first cycle incase unacceptable side effects pop up and you want to stop suddenly
• For a first cycle stick to testosterone only and it would be prudent to always stick to testosterone only.
• Stay away from Nandrolone and Trenbolone, they are the most HPTA suppressive steroids and HPTA recovery has proven to be difficult in some cases.
• Always use injectables
• Never do a cycle without a PCT
• Never start a cycle until you have ALL of your PCT drugs and ALL of your needles
• Learn the proper aseptic technique of injecting
• Keep a diary of when you need to use and how much of what PCT drug and what steroid
• Don’t do orals, there are increased side effects (hepatotoxic)
• Keep cycles to 10 weeks or less
• Keep off steroids for at least as long as you are “on” them, i.e. 10 weeks on then at least 10 weeks off to recover.
• Less is more, most forum recommended steroid cycles use more than is needed to saturate the androgen receptors. There are only so many androgen receptors in the body, once they are saturated more drugs will not have a greater effect. 250mg of testosterone a week is many times more than you would produce naturally and will give you plenty of gains at low side effects.


Lastly It Is Possible to Get Consistent Natural Gains with NONE of These Side effects:

I personally recommend training drug free with: http://www.hypertrophy-specific.com/hst_index.html - Hypertrophy Specific Training - the ONLY scientifically proven formula for increased gains without drugs. Please see the forums there if you are unsure about how the program works. I can testify that it really does work.
 
you forgot proviron in the anti-E section. That has anabolic effects (through alternate mechanism) as well as anti-E effects and is a popular choice among bb'ers.

Interesting write up otherwise, although the side-effects section is nearly useless if you don't tie it to specific drugs (different steroids cause different side-effects as you noted, but some don't cause all of those, etc etc).
 
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