Trenbolone is an androgenic and anabolic steroid available in the form of esterified derivatives. The drug goes on sale under several brand names; consumers may know it as “Parabolan”, “Finaplex”, “Tren” and “Finajet”. The steroid was first used to increase muscle mass and appetite in livestock in veterinary medicine.
Acetate is the most common form of Trenbolone. This ester is characterized by a minimal duration of action and is deposited in the fat depot. The active component begins to enter the blood, gradually being eliminated. The high frequency of injections is due to the short half-life, which may not be very convenient for beginners. Acetate is required to be administered from 50 to 100 mg every other day.
Cyclohexyl methyl carbonate is the rarest form of this steroid. The situation is aggravated by the presence of a fairly large number of fakes, but it is possible to find the original form. It is produced, for example, by the Moldovan company Balkan Pharmaceuticals. Trenbolone Hexahydrobenzylcarbonate injections should be administered at a dose of 300 mg once every seven days.
Enanthate (Enanthate) has pharmacological properties similar to cyclohexyl methyl carbonate. The action lasts up to 10 days. The volume of injections administered 1 or 2 times a week is 300 mg.
Steroid profile
The binding ability of Trenbolone is five times higher than that of testosterone. This steroid is one of the most effective for growing muscle mass and increasing strength. We must not forget about the side effects of the drug that appear when the optimal dosage or duration is not observed.
The popularity of the steroid among athletes is due to zero estrogenic activity and lack of conversion under the influence of aromatase. This allows you not to worry about excessive hydration - fluid accumulation, as well as gynecomastia. The production of testosterone in the body is suppressed by a feedback mechanism and progesterone activity.
Athletes taking Trenbolone may experience the following side effects: sluggish erections, decreased libido, and even testicular atrophy. The progestin activity of the drug is in many ways similar to Nandrolone, which is explained by the origin of the steroid, which is a 19-nor derivative of testosterone. The binding of the steroid and progesterone receptors is the cause of decreased libido and the occurrence of gynecomastia.
Acetate and Enanthate are found in the athlete’s body up to five months after the end of the course.
What causes weight loss after an anabolic cycle?
The body of a healthy man produces about 5 mg of testosterone per day. When steroids are administered, its level increases approximately 20 times. Such support ensures rapid growth of muscle tissue and, as a result, the ability to achieve significant athletic results. After the cessation of the supply of active substances from the outside, the body finds itself without their support and without its natural testosterone, which was present before the course. The purpose of PCT is to restore reproductive function and slow down catabolic processes and preserve the results as much as possible.
Weight loss is a natural consequence of the lack of hormonal support and a decrease in metabolic processes and testosterone levels. Moreover, the strength of the rollback is directly proportional to the dosage and duration of anabolic therapy. The more intensively and longer you took steroids, the more noticeable the drop in muscle volume will be, since the body will get rid of what it cannot support on its own - this is a protective function of the human body. Accordingly, the lower the dose of drugs and the shorter the period of use, the less significant the losses. After long steroid cycles, the recovery period can take up to 6 months. But in any case, you should not ignore PCT.
The effectiveness of the steroid Trenbolone
Taking the drug has the following effects:
- Increases muscle mass. This figure is up to 10 kilograms when using a course of Trenbolone Solo.
- Burns fat deposits. Increased reduction occurs due to the activation of growth hormone synthesis.
- Increases libido and sexual desire when completing the course. When the steroid is withdrawn, the secretion of testosterone produced in the body is significantly reduced.
- Doubles insulin-like growth factor.
- Reduces cortisol concentrations.
- Increases strength indicators.
When to start recovery from anabolic steroids?
Athletes who start PCT immediately after completing injections are acting rashly. Experts advise that after stopping steroids, wait until testosterone levels drop below 12 nmol/l and only then begin therapy. In most cases, this approach is justified.
The exception is some drugs aimed at blocking the production of prolactin (Bromocriptine, Cabergoline) and estradiol (aromatase inhibitors). They are usually taken before the start of PCT, and also in the period after course therapy they may be needed on an individual basis (according to tests). The fact is that increased levels of prolactin prevent the restoration of natural testosterone production, and estradiol is formed from it. Therefore, these categories of medications are recommended to be combined with an anabolic course or taken immediately after it. This is especially true when it comes to steroids with high androgenic activity.
The moment of initiation of rehabilitation therapy can be determined using special tests or based on approximate data on the period of decomposition of substances. The first option is more accurate and simpler, but requires a trip to a medical facility and costs for laboratory tests. In particular, you will have to:
- do a biochemical blood test, which will show the condition of the liver after taking steroids;
- measure hormone levels (LH, FSH, total Testosterone, Estradiol, Cortisol, Prolactin.
Additionally, you can examine the indicators of SHBG and thyroid hormones (free thyroxine and triiodothyronine). For the tests to be reliable, you must strictly follow the instructions of the specialists (donate blood on an empty stomach, do not smoke, avoid stress the day before, do not drink alcohol, etc.).
The second option does not require any preparation, but requires minimal knowledge of sports pharmacology. Based on the volume of the steroid used and information about its breakdown, you can approximately determine the start time of post-cycle therapy. For example, the bulk of testosterone enanthate (subject to recommended dosages) is eliminated from the body within four weeks. This means that after approximately this period of time it is worth starting PCT.
Trenbolone Solo course
Shows high power. It is not intended for women or beginners. The higher the injected volumes of the steroid, the greater the likelihood of side effects. The safety of the course can be increased by strictly following the recommendations that minimize negative manifestations:
- Dosage. Increasing the optimal norm in order to increase indicators and achieve a much faster effect only leads to an increase in the risks of negative consequences. You can consume no more than 50 mg of acetate per day and 300 mg of enanthate per week.
- Gradualism. You need to take the drug from the minimum dosage and increase the volume until the maximum limit is reached. This allows the body to adapt, and if a negative reaction occurs, stop the course in a timely manner.
If the steroid is taken for longer than 5 weeks, it is recommended to start taking 500-1000 IU of gonadotropin in the second week, until the third week after stopping the course. Post-cycle therapy begins 14 days after stopping the use of enanthate or 2-3 days after stopping acetate. This is how long it takes to remove each form of Trenbolone. It is best to use Clomid. Toremifene can be used instead, but it is better not to take Tamoxifen due to the increased progestin effect of Trenbolone.
Endogenous testosterone is restored by using a booster from three weeks to a month. Proper balanced sports nutrition allows you to increase the effectiveness of the course.
Stages of the disease
There are three main forms of gynecomastia, each of which has its own characteristics and requires a different approach to treatment:
- Developing. A reversible stage of gyno that lasts for four months.
- Intermediate. With rare exceptions, it does not require surgical intervention and lasts from four months to a year.
- Fibrous. An advanced stage, which can only be eliminated after surgery.
Not every anabolic steroid used by bodybuilders causes gynecomastia. Some AS have a tendency to aromatize, while others, on the contrary, do not have a tendency to be affected by the aromatase enzyme, that is, they do not lead to an increase in estrogen and the development of gyno. Testosterone, Methyltestosterone, Methandrostenolone are among the most dangerous anabolic steroids, and Oxandrolone, Stanozolol, Boldenone, Oxandrolone are safe.
Possible side effects
Trenbolone can cause the following negative effects:
- increased blood pressure;
- baldness;
- acne - acne;
- excessive aggression;
- excessively oily skin.
The steroid suppresses the production of your own testosterone. This can lead not only to decreased libido, but also cause testicular atrophy. To prevent this side effect, gonadotropin and Cabergoline are administered.
The drug has a moderate effect on the liver and is not toxic. Possible red staining of urine is associated with the excretion of metabolites. The risk of side effects increases when using Clenbuterol or ephedrine during a cycle.
Gynecomastia - symptoms and treatment
Which doctor should I contact for treatment?
Patients with gynecomastia should consult a surgeon experienced in such operations. It is extremely important that the clinic has a license for plastic surgery and a hospital, since a full-fledged operation to correct gynecomastia may require not only the removal of the mammary glands, but also liposuction of the breast area, as well as a lift or plastic surgery.
Drug treatment
Drug treatment of gynecomastia is possible only in the early stages of the disease, when the use of estrogen receptor blockers or aromatase can stop the proliferation of glandular tissue. This approach is justified when the cause of gynecomastia is known (hormonal disorders or drug-induced gynecomastia).
Surgery
If the disease exists for a long time, then its spontaneous regression is impossible, and drug treatment will not be effective, since fibrosis of the mammary glands develops.[21] Therefore, with established gynecomastia, only surgical treatment is possible.
Treatment of gynecomastia stages 1-2
A full-fledged operation to remove gynecomastia consists not only of a mastectomy - the removal of glandular breast tissue, but also of creating an anatomically correct shape of the male breast. Therefore, the surgeon must take into account both medical and aesthetic aspects, as well as listen to the wishes of the patients. Some of them strive to get rid of not only hypertrophied glands, but also to emphasize the lower edge of the pectoralis major muscle. Others want to leave excess fatty tissue, which, in their opinion, visually increases the volume of the pectoral muscles.
The main aesthetic criterion for an adequately performed surgical operation is the absence of areola inversion (“dropping” of the nipple). In foreign medical literature there are descriptions of methods for preserving part of the gland under the areola, which supposedly prevents its retraction. However, this approach is unacceptable, since it sharply increases the chances of developing a relapse of the disease: surgical trauma to the glandular tissue, if preserved, can trigger the process of secondary growth, which will lead to a partial or complete relapse of gynecomastia.
To form a smooth surface and prevent areola inversion, in 2012 we proposed a method for reconstructing fatty tissue. It involves the formation of a fat pad under the areola due to the movement of vascularized fat flaps. This technique is successfully used in men with unexpressed fat tissue, when liposuction is not necessary.
An unnoticeable postoperative scar is an important aesthetic criterion. For this reason, mastectomy should be performed through the areolar approach, and the incision itself should be made along the lower border of the areola strictly along the line of transition of the pigmented skin of the areola into the skin of the anterior chest wall. The length of the incision should not exceed 1/3 of the circumference of the areola to avoid circulatory problems. And although the removal of large mammary glands through mini-areolar access can be a certain technical difficulty, however, as personal experience shows, it is possible to remove glands of any size through the areola without increasing the surgical access.
Surgical approaches along the submammary fold (under the breast), as well as lateral vertical and transareolar approaches that extend beyond the areola should be considered unaesthetic and therefore unacceptable.
Liposuction of the breast area plays an important role in the treatment of gynecomastia. This technique, in combination with mastectomy, gives the best aesthetic results in men with true gynecomastia due to excessive deposition of fatty tissue in the chest area. Like breast removal, liposuction is performed through the areola without the need for separate accesses.
Treatment of gynecomastia stages 3-4. Breast lift
Long-term gynecomastia of large size leads to stretching of the skin and sagging breasts. For this reason, it is impossible to limit yourself to just removing the mammary glands and liposuction; to top it off, breast skin tightening is required.
Paraareolar pexy—tightening the skin around the areola—is necessary for men with grade III gynecomastia. During circular marking surgery, excess skin is excised while preserving the fascia that nourishes the areola. After liposuction and removal of glandular tissue, a padded suture is placed around the outer circumference, which tightens the skin around the areola. This technique allows you to achieve a good aesthetic result, since the postoperative scar turns into a pale texture along the border of the areola.
Amputation breast surgery with free transplantation of the nipple-areolar complex is a standard treatment method for stage IV gynecomastia with severe breast ptosis. The technique involves excision of a complex of tissues (gland/subcutaneous tissue/skin) to form a long linear scar on the anterior chest wall from the sternum to the mid-axillary line. The areola itself is transplanted above the linear scar to an area of de-epidermalized skin.
Lateral mastectomy (lateral breast lift) is our original patented technique that avoids amputation of breast surgery in cases of severe ptosis.[24] The operation combines the benefits of an areola lift with elements of amputation surgery, where a linear scar is formed from the side of the areola to the midaxillary line. The advantage of the technique is the absence of a scar on the anterior chest wall.
Treatment of gynecomastia in adolescents
Gynecomastia in adolescents usually resolves spontaneously, so in most cases no specific treatment is required.
Non-drug treatment. Folk remedies
Honey compresses, fish oil, herbal remedies and other popular methods of traditional medicine are not effective in the treatment of gynecomastia.
High blood pressure
First off, what is blood pressure? Essentially, it shows the state of a person’s cardiovascular system. After measuring the pressure, two numbers are obtained - upper and lower.
The upper one, or also called systolic, shows how hard the blood presses on the vessels during contraction of the heart muscle. The lower (diastolic pressure) indicates the force with which the blood presses on the heart muscle in a relaxed state after contraction.
To put it another way, the upper pressure depends on the force of blood expulsion. But the lower one depends on the following indicators:
- the amount of blood in the total volume;
- heart rate;
- elasticity of blood vessels.
The state of health is determined by the data between the upper and lower pressure indicators. The ideal indicators are 120/80.
Liver recovery after a course of steroids
The hardworking digestive gland experiences additional stress when taking any medications, including anabolic steroids. In order for the liver to effectively cope with its functions (and it has several hundred of them), it is necessary to support it with proper nutrition, and during the recovery period after a steroid cycle, include more vitamins and healthy foods in the diet. The principle is this: minimum – fatty, fried, flour, smoked, spicy; maximum – greens, vegetables, fruits, grains.
The most beneficial for the liver are pumpkin, avocado, olive oil, root vegetables, and citrus fruits. Green tea, nuts, cabbage, berries, and apples will also help in cleansing the body. To support the liver during the recovery period after steroids, you can take special hepatoprotective drugs, for example Carsil, Heptral, Ursofalk or Essentiale Forte. Optimal course: 3 months. But in most cases you can do without them, since the liver is capable of self-cleansing and self-healing. With slight stagnation of bile, dandelion decoction, milk thistle powder, and special herbal mixtures will help. It is also recommended to increase the amount of clean water consumed daily.
How to use an electronic blood pressure monitor
How to measure blood pressure with an electronic tonometer:
- Sit comfortably and fasten the cuff on your arm so that there is 2 cm from its edge to the elbow bend.
- The air tube (or marking) of the cuff device should point toward the center of the elbow notch.
- Now you need to sit up straight and turn on the device. It will automatically carry out all the necessary calculations and the result will be displayed on the display. To check the result, you need to repeat the procedure after two minutes on the same hand.
Testosterone recovery after a course of steroids
Stimulation of the production of “male hormone” is the main stage of PCT. For this purpose, drugs from the SERMs category are used:
- Anastrozole. Blocks estrogen, stimulates the production of your own testosterone, reduces the likelihood of side effects during therapy.
- Dostinex. Aimed at combating excess prolactin, protecting against female obesity, potency problems, and enlarged mammary glands.
- Clomiphene citrate, Clomid, as well as Tamoxifen, Fareston. Promotes the rapid growth of testosterone and prevents the development of symptoms of its deficiency.
- Tamoxifen citrate has strong antiestrogenic properties, but is not combined with all steroids. It is not recommended to use after courses of Trenbolone and Nandrolone due to the high risk of developing progestin activity.
Some people make a mistake and include PCT in their course: hCG (gonadotropin) to stimulate the production of the main “male hormone” and activation. There is no need to do this. Gonadotropin is used during a course of steroids and after withdrawal of anabolic steroids, immediately before PCT. It is believed that its use stimulates the functioning of the gonads and facilitates the recovery of the body during and after taking anabolic steroids. Recommended regimen for the use of Gonadotropin after steroid withdrawal: 5 injections of 1000 IU, alternating every other day. As for the schemes for using Gonadotroin on a steroid cycle, you can study them in the separate topic by following the link: https://trener-z.info/blog/shemy-hg4.html
