Post-Cycle Therapy: 4 components of your success

Post-cycle therapy (hereinafter – PCT) is a set of drugs taken to restore the normal functioning of the body after a course of AAS (androgenic-anabolic steroids). Primarily the endocrine system.

This is necessary for:

• Control of side effects on the course;
• Restore the natural level of hormones;
• Minimize muscle loss after a course;
• Avoidance of side effects from AAS. Such as testicular atrophy or gynecomastia.

1. Flavor control

On the course of steroids (without changing the set and dosage of steroids taken) it is possible to control their aromatization and progestogen activity. It is also possible to support testicular function to produce testosterone.

All this is done by taking additional drugs. Aromatization, that is, the conversion of androgens to estrogens, can be controlled in two ways. You can block the effects of estrogen on receptors, or you can prevent the aromatization process itself (aromatase inhibitors). Accordingly, there are two different classes of drugs with different modes of action.

Estrogen receptor blockers

These drugs act by joining estrogen receptors and thereby blocking estrogen access to them. This group includes clomid (clomiphene), toremifene, tamoxifen.

At the same time, tamoxifen has a number of very useful side effects. The main one is a direct increase in the synthesis of luteinizing hormone (LH). The function of LH is to stimulate the testes. That is, an increase in the production of testosterone and sperm. Tamoxifen is so effective that after 10 days of taking it at 20 mg per day, testosterone production increases by 42% compared with the initial level. And after 6 weeks of admission – by 83%.

Also, under the influence of tamoxifen, an increase in the production of high density lipoproteins occurs, which is the prevention of the development of atherosclerosis.

However, with all the advantages of tamoxifen, it is not recommended to take it to suppress aromatization while taking AAS, as this greatly reduces the effectiveness of taking steroids. Basically, it is used immediately after the abolition of steroid drugs.

It is strictly forbidden to use estrogen receptor blockers at the same time as taking steroids with progestogenic activity – Nandrolone, Trenbolone, Oxymetholone. This will greatly increase their side effects.

In the course of steroids, tamoxifen is permissible to apply, provided that you use only drugs that are not prone to aromatization and progestogenic activity (boldenone, stanozolol, turinabol, oxandrolone, primobolan, etc.). In this case, tamoxifen will be useful for you to minimize the effects of AAS on the secretion of endogenous testosterone and level the properties of steroids to reduce the production of high density lipoproteins.

Effective dosages of tamoxifen are 20-60 mg/day, it is recommended to divide the dose into 2-3 doses. A simple rule will help you determine what kind of dosage you need after the steroid course.

• The total dose of AAS is less than 500 mg/week – 20 mg/day of tamoxifen;
• 500-1000 mg/week – 40 mg/day;
• More than 1000 mg/week – 60 mg/day.

Tamoxifen should be taken at least 3-4 weeks after the course, and preferably longer. Until the start of the next course.

Aromatase inhibitors

Aromatase inhibitors are the second class of drugs to control the work of estrogen in the body. These are drugs such as Proviron, Letrozole and Anastrozole. It is advisable to use them both during and after the course. Nevertheless, they also reduce the effect of the course.

Proviron is not only an aromatase inhibitor, but also increases libido and increases sperm production. Which is extremely useful for the restoration of the testes. Dosages of 25-75 mg/day are used.

Letrozole and anastrozole are very similar drugs. For the prevention of side effects on the course, a dosage of 0.5 mg every other day is used. For the treatment of gynecomastia – 1 mg / day for anastrozole and 2.5 mg/day for letrozole. Both of these drugs have a beneficial effect on the secretion of testosterone, but at a high dosage lower libido.

2. Progestogen control

To control the progestogen activity of steroids, two drugs are used – bromocriptine and dostinex (cabergoline). However, the use of bromocriptine is a thing of the past. This is due to the fact that dostinex significantly exceeds it in all respects. And bromocriptine has a number of unpleasant side effects, such as nausea and loss of appetite.

Dostinex very effectively inhibits the production of prolactin and the conversion of AAS to progesterone. And as a result, increases the secretion of prolactin. Let me remind you that such a property (conversion to progesterone) is inherent in only three drugs – trenbolone, nandrolone and Oxymetholone (Anadrol). Suppression of progestogen activity increases libido, lowers blood pressure, and decreases the decrease in testosterone production. The effect of taking AAS is also reduced.

The dosage of dostinex is 0.25 mg (1/4 tablet) every four days. Even this scanty amount is enough to suppress side effects even from high dosages of AAS.

3. Increased Testosterone Production

In addition to the use of drugs that suppress female sex hormones, chorionic gonadotropin is used to increase testosterone production. At its core, gonadotropin is an analogue of luteinizing hormone (LH), but it is produced not by the pituitary gland, but by the corpus luteum in the placenta of pregnant women, from which this drug is isolated.

Thus, gonadotropin, like LH, stimulates the secretion of hormones in the testes, because it has the same effects as testosterone. Accordingly, spermatogenesis increases, the testes recover their size after a course of AAS.

Chorionic gonadotropin should be used only while you are still on the course, as it suppresses your own production of LH, which is strictly unacceptable during the recovery of the entire hormonal system as a whole.

The most productive regimen with minimal suppression of LH production is subcutaneous administration of 500-1000 gonadotropin units every three days. In total, 5-10 thousand units of the drug are usually enough for the course of gonadotropin.

4. Recovery of the hormonal system and preservation of muscle mass

1. Testosterone boosters – such as ecdysterone (at a dosage of 100-300 mg / day) and D-aspartic acid (3-4 grams per day). They will help the body quickly restore testosterone secretion and generally feel better.

2. Growth hormone – has anti-catabolic activity. Dosage – 10 units per day, it is recommended to divide the daily dose into 2-3 doses. It also enhances the effect of AAS, burns fat, restores joints and ligaments.

3. Sports nutrition – in particular protein supplements and BCAAs (3-5 times a day for 10g.). They have an anti-catabolic effect.

With a properly conducted PCT under the supervision of a specialist, you will receive:

• Maximum preservation of the result (strength and muscle mass), with a minimum rollback phenomenon;
• Restoration of the natural hormonal background;
• Prevention of gynecomastia (aromatization of testosterone to estradiol);
• Stimulating the production of your own testosterone;
• The exception (decrease) in the development of other side effects associated with the use of anabolic steroids.