Bill Roberts holds a bachelor's degree in Microbiology and Cell Science, and is pursuing his doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Medicinal Chemistry. His education was invaluable so far as being able to design/improve nutritional supplement compounds. His education was invaluable so far as being able to design/improve nutritional supplement compounds, since it was in the field of designing drug molecules and secondarily some work in transdermal delivery. It was not specifically "geared" toward androgens other than expertise with pharmacological principles having broad applications. This has allow Bill to provide unique insight into the field of anabolic pharmacology with knowledge of points which he would not have known otherwise.



Nothing in this article is intended to take the place of advice from a licensed health professional. Consult a physician before taking any medication.

Dear Bill,

What does "anti-estrogen" mean? How are anti-estrogens like Cytadren, Clomid, and Nolvadex different from each other? Is Proviron an anabolic steroid, or not?

Anti-estrogens are drugs which act to reduce estrogenic activity in the body. This can be done either by reducing the amount of estrogen, or by reducing the activity of whatever estrogen is present.

Competitive aromatase inhibitors, such as Cytadren, Arimidex, and probably Proviron, bind to the same binding site on the aromatase enzyme that testosterone does. By doing this, they allow less testosterone to bind to aromatase. So, less testosterone is converted to estradiol (estrogen).

Here’s an important thing: the effectiveness of competitive inhibitors decreases as the amount of the normal substrate increases. Suppose that you had equal amounts of inhibitor and normal substrate in the blood, and they bound to the enzyme equally well. Then the inhibitor would at any moment be taking up half the sites that the normal substrate otherwise would, so it would reduce conversion rate by 50%. But if the amount of substrate is increased 10 times while the amount of inhibitor remains the same, then the inhibitor would be out-competed by the more numerous substrate molecules. It would therefore be rather ineffective.

For example, with more testosterone molecules available, and similar binding strengths, the enzyme will mostly bind testosterone. It will then mostly be working to produce estrogen. To obtain the 50% reduction we had before, then the amount of inhibitor would also have to be increased 10 times.

To be really effective, the inhibitor must either be present in higher concentration than the normal substrate, or must bind more tightly.

With Cytadren or Proviron, it takes quite a lot of inhibitor to out-compete high testosterone levels. With Arimidex, rather little, even 1 mg/day, can be sufficient because it binds so strongly.

The other general approach is estrogen receptor antagonism. If a molecule binds strongly to a hormone receptor, but does not activate that receptor and makes it unresponsive to the normal hormone, then it is a receptor antagonist. Clomid (clomiphene) and Nolvadex (tamoxifen) follow this approach. These drugs are very similar structurally. They are both what are called triphenylethylenes, and are not steroids. The differences are relatively minor, but seem to affect an important characteristic of these compounds: drug metabolism.

Both tamoxifen and clomiphene are metabolized to other related compounds which can be estrogenic or anti-estrogenic. Both act as estrogens in bone tissue, perhaps after metabolism, which is a very useful property for female patients, for whom these drugs are usually intended. (Otherwise, an anti-estrogen could lead to osteoporosis.) Tamoxifen seems particularly prone to acting as an estrogen in the liver, which may account for reduced IGF-1 levels seen when this drug is taken.

Users generally seem to agree that when tamoxifen is used, gains are a little less than what otherwise would be expected. (Let’s not take this too far though: many people have made great gains while using tamoxifen as an anti-estrogen. And it’s always hard to say what "would" have been the case if a drug had not been included.) I’ve heard nothing but good about clomiphene, though.

Proviron, an anabolic steroid, is particularly interesting. I suspect that it not only acts as an antiaromatase but in an unknown DHT-like anti-estrogenic manner. This might involve estrogen receptor downregulation for example. In any case, aromatase inhibition and/or Clomid don’t seem to give the same effect on appearance and muscle hardness as when Proviron is included.

How much of these agents is needed for effective estrogen suppression?

Again, it depends on the dose of anabolic/androgenic steroids (AAS) and it depends what type of AAS is being used.

With Primobolan or trenbolone there is no need for these drugs.

With nandrolone, an aromatase inhibitor will be of no use, because aromatase is not used in the aromatization of nandrolone. A rather small amount of estrogen receptor antagonist can be useful. 12.5 to 25 mg Clomid would be plenty for 400 mg/week Deca.

With testosterone, stacking of an aromatase inhibitor and an estrogen receptor antagonist will give the best results. Cytadren use should not exceed 250 mg/day in my opinion. This alone would not be sufficient for say 1 g/week or more of testosterone. With such a dose, ideally one would add in 50 mg/day Clomid. Proviron at 100 mg/day could substitute for the Cytadren. Or Cytadren and Proviron can be used in combination, 125/50 or higher, together with 50 mg/day Clomid.

For lower doses of testosterone, proportionally less antiestrogens can be used.

Arimidex is very effective but extremely expensive. 1 mg/day of this is at least as effective as 250 mg/day Cytadren. If a milligram per day cannot be afforded, use of half a milligram would allow Cytadren use to be cut in half, which may be desirable.

How does Clomid "stimulate" testosterone production at the end of the cycle?

It really doesn’t. Rather, by acting as an estrogen receptor antagonist, it reduces the inhibition that results from elevated estradiol levels. This helps return LH to normal levels, which helps testosterone to return to normal levels (if the testicles have not atrophied).

How does hCG help?

Acts as an LH receptor agonist, thus substituing for LH. It does nothing to help the hypothalamus and pituitary. Thus, it can be effective during the cycle to help avoid testicular atrophy, but is not best used in the taper when one is attempting to restore LH production. Increases in natural testosterone, stimulated by the hCG, will act to inhibit LH production. Thus, you can see where hCG use is counterproductive in the taper itself.

Can Clomid, taken throughout a cycle, completely eliminate inhibition?

I do not believe so. There is also androgenic inhibition mediated by the androgen receptor, which has nothing to do with the estrogen receptor. Androgenic inhibition is unavoidable and cannot be helped by estrogen receptor antagonists. However, use of Clomid throughout a cycle can definitely reduce the degree of the inhibition and allow a speedier recovery at the end of the cycle.

Is it safe to take Clomid for so many weeks? I heard it should only be taken for 2 weeks.

The two week idea comes from the fact that medically its main use is to help women with fertility problems. Because of the menstrual cycle, there are only certain times of the month when there is any chance of ovulation. It is pointless, then, for these women to take the drug for more than two weeks at a time. Some have misconstrued this to apply to males.

Men have taken the drug in clinical studies for a year continuously. It is a rather safe drug.

Why do you say not to use more than 250 mg/day of Cytadren?

Cytadren has two main therapeutic activities. At high doses, such as a gram per day, it is a very effective inhibitor of the enzyme desmolase, which is required for all steroid production, and is rate limiting for the production of cortisol. So the drug is very useful for treating patients with Cushing’s Syndrome, who produce abnormally high levels of cortisol.

It is also an inhibitor of aromatase, and it is a better aromatase inhibitor than a desmolase inhibitor. About 250 mg/day is sufficient for fairly good inhibition of aromatase, resulting in only fairly low levels of desmolase inhibition.

As dosage increases, aromatase inhibition does not improve much, but desmolase inhibition increases greatly.

Even at 250 mg day, there is still significant desmolase inhibition. Other side effects, such as lethargy, may bother some individuals even at this dose.

Why is desmolase inhibition bad? I have read that cortisol is the enemy of our muscles, and we want to reduce it.

Those articles are written by people trying to sell you alleged cortisol-reducing supplements.

While abnormally high levels of cortisol are indeed muscle wasting, abnormally low levels of cortisol do not result in extra muscle growth, and cause joint problems.

Dear Bill,

You’ve talked about tapering off Cytadren. Why?

There is a feedback mechanism for production of cortisol. Low levels of cortisol enhance release of corticotropin releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, and ACTH from the pituitary. Both will result in higher production of cortisol.

So moderate inhibition of desmolase will temporarily reduce cortisol, but soon it will be back to normal as this feedback mechanism compensates.

If you then suddenly discontinue the drug, then these elevated ACTH levels will result in abnormally high cortisol for a time, until the body adjusts again. This can be avoided simply by tapering down over about a week.

Should Cytadren be taken all at once, or in divided doses?

Because the half life is only 6 or 8 hours, if the drug is taken only once, then through part of the day there will be little drug in the system, and little anti-aromatase activity.

I think the best approach is to use half the dose on arising (or an hour or two afterwards) to get blood levels from a somewhat low level up to the desired maintenance level. This would then be followed by quarters of the dose at 7 or 8 hour intervals twice after that.

You talked about a gram per week of testosterone. Isn’t that ridiculous? What about say 200 mg?

It is my view that the farther one is from one’s natural, untrained state, the harder it is to gain more muscle. There comes a point where the body essentially finds a new balance and may remain at the same muscular weight (give or take a pound or two) for a year or more, even with excellent training, if hormonal conditions remain the same.

Under different hormonal conditions – for example, more testosterone – growth can resume and a new balance point, if reached, will be at a considerably higher muscular weight. At that point, even if one were to stay on that dose of drug continually, little gains would be seen. But with higher yet levels of testosterone, rapid growth could again resume.

So a person who has already made a lot of gains is probably not going to see much, if anything, from 200 mg/week testosterone. And if he used steroids to get there, and is already more muscular than he’d be as a natural trainer, he may see nothing at all, just maintenance.

A true beginner, on the other hand, can make plenty of gains with natural levels of testosterone.

From the medical standpoint, 600 mg/week has been shown to be quite safe. Furthermore, in double blind studies and so forth, doses of less than 300 mg/week generally have resulted in nothing. These studies have usually been with athletes training the same during the cycle as they were beforehand. They’re generally useless for our purposes but they do make a point here. If the dose is 300 mg/week and an athlete trains and eats the same as before, no miracle results.

Yes, I know I’ll come under criticism: you or your buddy did great on 250 mg/week. But in every case I have ever seen, such trainers were guys who were not that dedicated to lifting until they went on their cycle. They weren’t in their peak condition at the start of the cycle, and so they had some muscle memory to help them. Or they were fairly novice lifters. They trained and ate better than they ever did before. They probably would have regained 10 lb. of muscle and gained a new 10 lb. just on Placebobolan, thanks to the training, nutrition, intensity, and muscle memory. Those who ate enough to get fat will also attribute some of the fat weight as being muscle weight.

Now there is one regard where a low dose can be quite effective. This is in fat loss. Many people, especially natural endomorphs, can enjoy easy fat loss for the first time in their lives on quite moderate doses such as 250 mg/week.

I would say that 500 mg/week is a reasonable minimum for muscle gains, except for an advanced trainer, who may need a gram a week to make much further gains. To advance to today’s pro BB status, even if one has the genetics, requires more yet, not just in quantity but in supplementary drugs such as GH and insulin, which I will not be discussing.

Dear Bill,

Isn’t it true that such-and-such, because it converts to DHT, will . . . ?

No.

The only commercially available AAS for human use which converts to DHT is testosterone.

All others have modifications to the structure which make it absolutely impossible for them to be converted to DHT per se (dihydrotestosterone).

Any time a steroid book goes on and on about various steroids "converting to DHT" and presenting theories about this, the author does not know anything about steroid chemistry. It is as simple as that.

By the way, there is a veterinary steroid which can convert to DHT, though not significantly, and no one should change their opinion of it because of this. I thank Pat Arnold for pointing out to me that boldenone can do so, although rather negligibly.

What about all those "DHT-based steroids"?

That is more nonsense. The AAS which have been so described in popular books are no more similar to DHT than to testosterone. This statement makes about as much sense as calling all anabolic steroids diosgenin (wild yam) based, or androstenedione "DHEA based" (oh no, I hope I have not started a new rumor. . .)

One simply has to look at the activity of each AAS in its own right without trying to use theories which aren’t based on correct information anyway.

Dear Bill,

Is it true though that a drug such as nandrolone is less likely to cause hair loss than testosterone?

Yes. This may be because nandrolone is converted to DHN rather than DHT. Dihydronandrolone is almost the same molecule as DHT, but without the 19-methyl group. While DHT binds to the androgen receptor (AR) more strongly than testosterone does, DHN binds fairly weakly to the AR, less so than nandrolone itself does.

Nandrolone itself is a 5a -reductase inhibitor (although it yields DHN in the process). So less DHT is produced if nandrolone is present. Nandrolone will also inhibit natural production of testosterone, so there is less testosterone available to be converted to DHT.

The testosterone user has high levels of DHT in the scalp, and therefore a lot of androgen in the scalp. The nandrolone user has low levels of DHT, instead having DHN, which is less potent.

Furthermore, DHT probably has hair loss activities not mediated by the androgen receptor, but by other proteins in the scalp and via the immune system. DHN may not have these activities.

More importantly, what is observed is that nandrolone is quite good for keeping one’s hair, whereas testosterone is not, for those genetically predestined to lose their hair.

The price one pays for this, though, is that nandrolone is not as effective an anabolic as testosterone.



Dear Bill,

My doctor wants to put me on hCG after my testosterone levels were only 105 per dl. How will this effect my body weight and muscle size? I had a prescription for 200 mg testosterone cypionate for low testosterone levels for the last year. I’ve been off the testosterone for the last 5 months. To increase my testosterone levels, do I have to use this?

Deano

The hCG will help increase your natural testosterone, by acting like LH.

This is normal therapy when the cause of low testosterone is low LH.

However it doesn't solve the problem of why you have low LH.

I would ask the doctor to also consider prescribing clomiphene citrate (Clomid) to address that issue as well.

Good luck!

Dear Bill,

So Clomid is just another antagonist like tamoxifen?

Pretty much, yes.

Wouldn't it *reduce* serum testosterone levels by increasing serum estrogen levels through antagonism (assuming no direct HPGA activity)?

No, it is an antagonist because it binds to estrogen receptors and prevents estrogen from working there. I think I see what you are thinking. Because certain other writers have claimed that if the receptors "overflow," then the hormone "goes elsewhere and causes side effects." You are thinking the same thing.

No, the number of receptors is absolutely negligible compared to the number of molecules of estrogen, and whether the receptors are blocked or not doesn't change serum level.

If the stuff helps bring nads back on-line by reducing estrogen what happens to the poor saps who have no endogenous testosterone after a cycle then use Clomid to get it up again?

Tim

Very often they still have significant estrogen levels, and therefore, significant estrogen-induced suppression of the HPTA. Reducing this suppression will help restore normal LH production.

The process may take time, sometimes months. This is why I prefer shorter cycles, to avoid chronic suppression. That’s a problem worth avoiding.

Dear Bill,

I was under the impression that HCG was the bombtrac but it doesn't exactly do what I want it to. I don't want to trick my body and delay the inevitable. What exactly does Clomid do that makes it so effective in increasing endogenous levels of testosterone?

It blocks estrogen receptors, and odd though it may seem, the body "decides" how much more testosterone to produce largely (but not entirely) from what the estrogen levels are. If estrogen levels are sensed as being low, then the pituitary (usually) will produce more LH to compensate. This causes more testosterone to be produced.

Dear Bill,

Your article on the history of AAS was great. In it, if I read correctly, you said that DHT inhibits aromatase. Realizing that hormonally spurred events in the body involve many factors, might it be safe to conclude anyway, that someone who outwardly exhibits high amounts of DHT (allopecia, hirsutism) would be an unlikely candidate for gynecomastia at reasonable levels of a test ester such as enanthate?

David

Not really, because, besides DHT levels, there are genetic factors causing different individuals to have different overall hairiness, or to have male pattern baldness. These signs do not necessarily indicate unusually high DHT levels.

Dear Bill,

Thank you for the great column on Clomid! I have a few questions about the use of Proscar / Propecia to minimize DHT while on differing dosages of testosterone esters:

By blocking DHT, will this compromise the effectiveness of testosterone therapy in terms of athletic and bodybuilding performance? Doesn't DHT have some performance-enhancing effects?

Yes, but if testosterone levels are very high from endogenous use,then partial inhibition of 5AR is probably going to, at most, keep DHT to normal levels. Thus there would be no loss relative to that.

Throw in some CNS-effective androgens, for example trenbolone, and there should be no problem.

Does blocking DHT affect circulating estrogen levels or the likelihood of estrogen-related side effects like gynecomastia?

Yes.

For an athlete on 1,000 mg / week of testosterone enanthate, what would be an effective dosage of finasteride to minimize the chance of hair loss? Prostate enlargement? How about 2,000 mg /week? 4,000 mg / week?

I personally wouldn't use more than the recommended pharmaceutical dosage, or 5 mg/day. More might not be safe and might at some point cause DHT levels to become abnormally low.

What is the relationship between estrogen / DHT with regard to hair loss? Do both need to be controlled? Or is DHT the main culprit?

I'm not a hair loss guru. Essentially as I understand it the problems are genetic predisposition, immune response, androgen receptor agonists (which includes all AAS), and not DHT itself, but a DHT metabolite.

Does DHT exert its effects at the same receptor as testosterone and other androgens or is it separate?

The same. Thus, DHT itself is not a particular culprit. However, it has at least one metabolite which binds to some other, presumably pharmacologically-active receptor in bald scalp tissue (not an AR.)

Dear Bill,

First off, thank you so much for the real info on bodybuilding and drug use. There is so much bad information out there. My question is regarding the use of equipoise to achieve a shredded physique. I have a 50 ml bottle and intend to use it while dieting. My questions are:

1. How often should I inject and how much?

That depends on how much you can afford, and what your goals are, and how concerned you are with side effects.

Consider it about equally effective as Deca, and apply your opinion of what amount of Deca would be appropriate to you to the Equipoise.

2. What type of diet should I use to keep the most muscle? (I was going to use Body Opus - Duchaine)

BodyOpus is a good diet. However, I believe that all diets can work well, except for diets high in both fat and carbohydrates, and diets which never replenish carbohydrates. Some people, however, definitely do better on one particular type of diet for any particular purpose. So you need to experiment.

3. Do I need to use anti-estrogens?

Clomid would be effective. Some will not need it. It is a matter of individual differences.

Antiaromatase drugs would probably help also, if you are one of those persons who have problems with estrogen from Equipoise. You should be able to tell whether you are or not by water retention.

4. How should I come off of it? Should I use HCG, Clenbuterol, etc.?

HCG is best used, if it is used, during the cycle, not after, to keep the testicles in working order.

Clomid, after the cycle, will help to restore natural LH production.

Clenbuterol is not necessary.

Dear Bill,

I have what you call "bitch tits"! The question is how can i reduce or shrink the "bitch tits"? Please help me...

Derek

Usually, reduction in estrogen levels, or estrogen activity, will reduce gynecomastia somewhat.

There is only one way to get rid of it entirely: surgery. Dr. Bruce Nadler advertises his services in this area and I have heard nothing but the highest praise for his work.

Dear Mr. Roberts;

I'm 45, overweight about 30 pounds (255#) white male, 6 foot tall. My doctor just put me on Testosterone Cypionate 400mg, injected every two weeks to get my sex life going and get my testosterone levels back to normal.

That's a pretty good dose, Steven! You are lucky you do not have a doctor who wants to give you only 200 mg every two weeks.

BUT I am also lifting weights, and although I took dianabol for a short time back in the 70's, I am really not up on this stuff and sort of in the dark. Since I am just beginning to make strides at the gym I am really excited that I am now getting steroids legally...perfect timing. I work out 4 times a week for an hour with a trainer. I do not powerlift.

My questions are many, but the main ones are this:

1. As steroids go, the above type and dosage...is this a good one and the dosage sufficient for great muscle mass production?

The dose is a little more than a replacement dose, which is typically thought to be about 100 mg/week. Your training should definitely become much more productive!

This dose is not high enough, though, to get you more than perhaps 20 pounds (very roughly speaking) more muscular than you could get with normal testosterone levels.

Still, that should be a great improvement!

2. How would body builders rate this brand? Scale of 1 to 10?

Genuine, pharmaceutical testosterone, any ester, is ALWAYS a 10.

3. Will this automatically produce, if any, weight loss?

No. Your metabolism may speed up somewhat, and for that reason (if you don't also eat more) you may lose fat.

4. Should I be supplementing this with protein drinks?

Getting 30-40 grams of protein every two or three hours, whether from real food or supplements, is a good idea. I would make sure to still be getting a good part of the diet from real food.

5. Just got my first injection 4 days ago...when do you think it will start kicking in?

Steven

I'd expect noticeable changes (not monstrous changes) in 3-4 weeks if you train well.

Dear Bill,

I am in day 1 of the Body Opus diet. I have a bottle of Maxi-Gain (50 cc's) and 50 tablets of clenbuterol. What is the most effective way to use these two supplements in conjunction with the diet to optimize my fat burning and at the same time retaining (or building) muscle. What is the best cycle to use? Thank you.

Todd

Unfortunately, the fastest way to build the most muscle is NOT to be losing fat at the same time. You are really at cross purposes here.

I recommend focusing simply on retaining muscle while dieting. The only exception to that is with a relatively novice trainer, one who has gained less than 25 lb of muscle from his starting point, or 10 pounds of muscle from her starting point.

Novices can gain some muscle while losing fat. More advanced trainers really cannot, though they might regain previously-obtained muscle while dieting.

So, why not bulk up first, then cut? Don't bulk up too fat though. I think it is a bad idea to put on more than say one pound of fat per week, or to go past 12-14% bodyfat.

Dear Bill,

I have recently taken my first cycle of Sustanon, (mexican) and my back and arms have recently broken out bad with acne. What would you suggest that is not oil based and will not make me break out as bad.

Deca and Primo are really your two choices there, and perhaps Equipoise or Winstrol.

The oil of the steroid, by the way, has nothing to do with the problem.

My first cycle ever was D-bol and from it I got gynecomastia, behind the nipple, and had surgery to get it removed. Should I take something like tamoxifen every time now. I am worried about that estrogen build up again.

Donald

It depends. If it was removed absolutely completely, you may not now be very subject to gyno. Very often though, a tiny trace remains, in which case you would be highly prone to gyno again. There is no way to tell that I know of.

I would use antiestrogens anyway if possible.

Dear Bill,

How much primobolan depot ist needet for a cutting cycle - if no other AAS is used?

400 mg/week should suffice. Maybe 200 mg/week would still help avoid muscle loss, but I am not sure. I don't know anyone who likes to go that low.

Dear Bill,

What are your thoughts on the current trend of using oral insulin agents like Glucophage, Phenformin, etc. in bodybuilding?

Probably not of value. For size, injectable insulin will be used. Perhaps newer oral delivery forms of insulin itself will become popular.

What will be the next big trend in your opinion in bodybuilding pharmaceutical usage?

Jason

I don't know what is out there on the immediate horizon beyond what there already is, and using more of it.

Ultimately drugs which change gene expression, for example, antisense RNA oligonucleotides to block catabolic protein products, might be used. Perhaps their use might even be targeted to specific muscles via injection of liposomes directly to that muscle. One target might be myostatin.

Don’t expect the pharmaceutical firms to be focusing on bodybuilders as a market, though. If these drugs are produced, most likely they will be for veterinary purposes.

Dear Bill,

What about the new wave of supposed "legal" androgens like androstenedione? What is your take on their effectiveness?

Less effective than pharmaceutical anabolics. More effective than any other legal substance except perhaps creatine.

Dosing schedules?

Jeff

The more frequently they are taken, and the higher doses that are taken, the more the results will be, but the side effects will become the same as, or worse than, the pharmaceutical anabolics at some point.

Once a day dosing does not seem to be leading to problems of depressed HPTA function in users. At least no one is complaining about it. Frequent dosing probably would cause that problem.

Without antiestrogens, androstenedione certainly does raise estrogen levels somewhat, and can lead to gyno. The diols should be less prone to this, as should the nor products.

Dear Bill,

I would like to know what side effects my husband may encounter when taking androstenedione and nor-anderstendione. He wants to build muscles and gain weight. I am concerned that he will become more aggressive and/or addicted to them.

I would not be worried about either.

The only "addiction" that can occur is that he may like the results and fall into a "more is better" mentality. This is not physical addiction. It is like deciding that you want to get more of anything. It might be wise to plan a limit beforehand, assuming that money is an issue in your family as it is for almost everybody.

I would not recommend using more than a total of 200 mg per day, certainly not more than 400 mg. Beyond that, one might as well just use anabolic steroids and get more results for less money. (Where legal of course.)

I'd also like to know if there is any information about how it could effect us if we try to concieve a child???

There would be an effect if YOU used it, but not if he used it. It is normal for the male to have testosterone in the body, and it is normal for levels to vary quite a lot.

Actually, if he used these supplements very heavily, it could result in a temporary reduction in sperm count, the same as is seen with anabolic steroid use. This would be reversible.

Has there been ANY studies regarding these supplements??

Beth

So far as increasing muscular weight in humans? Nope.

Dear Bill,

Would it be efficient to stack androdiol and 5-androdiol together?

No.

I am now stacking androdiol, norandrostene, and tribulus terrestris together and getting great results, would adding androdiol 5 increase the results?

It might increase your bra size.

Also, should I purchase some chrysin to go along with the stack?

Probably not, why not get a real antiestrogen like Clomid?

How much 5-AD should a person take in one day without increasing risks of side effects?

None. It is estrogenic and a poor choice for men.

Dear Bill,

I have been training pretty hard now for about five weeks. I've lost 12 pounds of body fat and have gained five pounds of muscle. As you can tell I just started getting serious about lifting. I want to know what supplements are truly good for someone like me... age 22, weight: 120, height: 5'3", lift weights: 4 days/week, aerobics: twice/week, to keep fat down and to help me build/create more muscle?

MRP’s (meal replacement products) such as Met-Rx and competing products, are good because they make it much easier to provide yourself with good nutrition every two or three hours. That often just isn't practical with "real food." They also make sure that you get enough vitamins and minerals. Very often, multivitamin/mineral tablets don't contain all the calcium or magnesium you need, for example, because they just won't fit into a small pill!

Creatine is also good and may be worth 10 lbs of size or so, certainly 5, and you may feel stronger in the gym.

I like using ephedrine and caffeine before workouts myself. They definitely improve my focus and aggression on the weights.

Often, ephedrine products are called ECA stacks (ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin.)

I work out with two guys and they really push me hard when were training, it's fun, but they always tell me I should start taking stuff like primobolan, and winstrol. I've done alot of reading on all types of steroids, including the side effects, and I don't really think (for the size I want to be) that I should be taking stuff like that.

You're making a smart decision. You can make a lot of gains right now, very fast, training naturally. And you will learn your body and learn how to lift much better while training naturally.

I did one cycle of, well I better just say a very good fat burner, and was very pleased with it, but I want something that I can buy through a store and that doesn't produce acne...what about Ripped Fuel?

Make sure it still contains ephedrine or Ma Huang.

TwinLab generally makes excellent products.

However, generally, if the products contain the same amount of ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin, then they are the same, and there’s no need to pay top dollar.

Hello Mr. Roberts,

I am Vishal Man Chaturvedi from INDIA. My brother is a beginner bodybuilder and he is having pain on rear deltoids while doing exercises of chest. Because of this, chest is his weakest part of body. I had already provided him some rear deltoid exercises to make them strong - still its not working. Please suggest how to develop his chest.

Sincerely Yours ,

Vishal Man Chaturvedi

Hello, Mr Chaturvedi!

I suspect your brother's pain is more from the rotator cuff, which stabilizes the shoulder, than from the rear deltoids themselves.

If you wish to buy a book, The 7-Minute Rotator Cuff Solution from Health for Life is generally well thought of.

If not, a simple exercise may suffice.

Find something, perhaps a preacher bench or other bench, on which to rest the elbow. The upper arm should angled so the elbow is forward of the body a little, and below the shoulder a little. You would be standing or perhaps sitting, with the upper body straight.

With a light dumbbell, or using a cable, keep the upper arm at that same angle and lift the weight from where the forearm is level with the ground, to where the forearm is straight up, and then back down.

This exercise is good for strengthening muscles in the rotator cuff which are needed to stabilize the bench press.

Your brother should also be certain to bench press correctly. Many people like to lift their shoulders up as well, since that makes the weight go higher. Don't do it! The shoulders should stay down, hard, against the bench, and the shoulder blades should be pulled together.

Also, many times the rack holds the barbell too high, forcing the lifter to use poor form and to lift his shoulders up from the bench to take the weight or to return it. And many times the lifter positions himself so that the rack is far forward of his shoulders. These things can cause problems for the rotator cuff. If that is the case, let the spotter (person helping him) hand the barbell to him, and take it back when he is done. This can make a difference.

I hope this solves his problems!

Dear Bill,

I am an avid female fitness nut as well as bodybuilder. However, my question to you does not concern myself, but my boyfriend. He is literally driving me crazy He started to use creatine and has seen amazing results. Anyway, in trying to cut-up and get the ripped look, he's stopped the creatine - he was doing about 10-15 grams a day - which in turn has affected his strength and he is becoming quite discouraged. I told him that he should use the creatine as maintenance (smaller dosage) rather than the initial loading. He is currently using Hydroxycuts as well. I dont know much about the product, but the ingredients are powerful energy boosters so, I dont understand why his stength has been affected so much. Wouldn't this compensate for what he's lost from the creatine as far as energy goes?

Janice

No, the "energy boosters" really don't do much for strength, although ECA does help one get an extra rep in many cases, and just have more intensity in lifting.

You are correct in what you are saying. When creatine is stopped, after a while, the gains produced by it go away, or at least some of them do. Five grams per day would be enough to maintain the gains. It is a question of whether having the extra muscle is worth spending the money for 5 grams per day.

Dear Bill,

I'm always reading about how great L-glutamine is, but recently I've read that most oral glutamine never reaches the muscle tissue. If this is true, are glutamine caps and powder just a waste of money? Also, would EAS's Cytovol be a good alternative?

Josh

Josh, I think that glutamine is very important, but, if one is already getting a lot of glutamine from the diet, then a little more from supplements won't make any difference.

Someone who is already using a lot of Met-Rx and Designer Protein, for example, would already have a lot of glutamine in their diet.

I don't know about EAS Cytovol. I did try EAS GKG about two years ago, which was a glutamine product hyped by Phillips, and it did nothing for me. But perhaps it would have helped someone who was getting less glutamine from other sources.

Dear Bill,

I have been prescribed betamethasone muscular injections to help the healing of an anterior clavicular joint. Will this also have any effect on muscle growth?

John

Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid steroid, like cortisol. It will have a negative effect on muscle growth. How severe that is depends on the dose, of course.

Getting your joint healed is absolutely necessary though, so that is a price to be paid! Any muscle lost will swiftly come back.

Dear Bill

I am about to try some Anadrol® and it is very hard on the liver.

Not always.

I have heard of somthing called "Milk Thistle" that is soposed to help protect the liver while taking Anadrol®. What is Milk Thistle?

Burt

Milk Thistle is also known as silymarin, and is an herb which acts as an antioxidant.

No one has shown that it does anything to make 17-alkylated steroids less hepatotoxic.

It is one of those things that won't hurt if taken as directed, and might help, but I wouldn't bet on it.


Dear Bill,

A question related to your article on the drug development of anabolic steroids: Given the low virilization property of Oxandrolone and Methenolone, would this suggest that they have less psychological side effects (aggression, irritability, etc. - what is informally known as "roid rage")?

Yuval

Answer:
Much activity in the brain attributed to testosterone is in fact caused by estrogen. The brain has high levels of aromatase. Some activity, however, is directly androgenic: for example, DHT is neuroactive, but cannot aromatize to estrogen.

Your thinking is logical, and it is indeed noted that the AAS you mention are not known for increasing aggressiveness. Perhaps that is the reason. I am not aware of where that has been proven.

Dear Bill,

I am 23 and have been lifting for around 8 years off and on. My problem is my lack of growth.

My question is, is HCG a very common drug? I am looking for about 20 lbs worth of mass, while cutting my body fat. Clomid sounds like the best way to help your body snap back. And HCG is not detectable by drug tests. I am not sure if this dealer has clomid, so is there a way I could get it from a doctor? One thing is clear, I do not want to do multiple cycles, and I want to keep what I get.

HCG is commonly available in Mexican pharmacies, and commonly available by prescription in the United States for men with infertility problems, as is Clomid.

You do not mention AAS use anywhere here. HCG and Clomid by themselves would be of little use, and certainly a "cycle" using them would produce no long-lasting retained gains.

For that matter, it is impossible to keep indefinitely all that one gains on a steroid cycle. Once the hormonal environment is back to normal, the physique will begin to revert to normal. There is some lifetime retention of gains in my opinion, but the greater fraction of the gains will be lost.

Dear Bill,

I am looking for an AS that will not blow my system out ( harm it), one that will help me get cut from it, gain about 20 max of mass, increase my performance in a long term aspect, and be easy to recover from. But the two main things are: low toxicity and short period of time in the body.

These are conflicting goals. Gaining muscle and cutting do not go well with each other, and doing only one cycle and expecting major long term results is not realistic.

I do not want my liver "shooting craps" on me. I want to do this the safe way, with a little cheating, ya know. I would like your help and advice on what to look for.

It sounds as though you want to be conservative. Conservative choices of drugs include Primobolan, Deca Durabolin, and testosterone if combined with anti-estrogen drugs.

If I get a full cycle, would it be good to split it in half so that my growth does not get out of control?

It is unlikely that your growth will get out of control.

8 weeks would be reasonable.

Dear Bill,

I'm an 18 year old that weighs a measly 140. I really want to increase my muscle mass and weight. I have a weight set.....but I’m unsure about what kinds of foods that are good to eat while training, and I want to develop some sort of basic plan which will suit my needs.

Sam

This will depend somewhat on your physique type.

If you are the naturally rail-thin type, who doesn't put on much bodyfat no matter what he eats, then you need not be so careful. You could continue to do things like eat ice cream. Whereas if you are the bodytype which puts fat on easily, then you should make sure almost every meal is good nutrition.

That means from about 20-40 or more grams of protein per meal, fat calories probably not much above 1/3 of the total calories, avoiding partially-hydrogenated fats, and avoiding sugar including high fructose corn syrup.

You should eat every two or three hours.

If this does not seem practical, the meal replacement products such as Met-Rx can help.

The main thing is, don't put your body into periods of starvation, as is the case when one goes many hours between meals.

There is almost nothing that all bodybuilders agree on, but this is something everyone agrees on: You need to eat at least five or six meals a day. That does not necessarily mean more total food: the meals will probably all be smaller.

Dear Bill,

I recently went to Mexico and purchased a few boxes of Primobolan 5mg tabs and Deca 50mg redijects! I took 1cc of deca so far and about 15mg of Primo (3-4 tabs) a day! How much Primo should I take a day!

I cannot say what you "should" do, but I can tell you that for a male (you did not say if you were male or female though) that dose will do nothing for gains. It really is not a practical drug for that purpose.

I wanted to make sure the primo was real and see if that could be causing my severe head pains!

Real Primobolan would be very unlikely to cause head pains.

Hi Bill,

In a month or so I will be going on a cycle of D-bol (25mg/day) and Deca (400mg/week). I want to use an antiaromatase, because I have earlier had problems with d-bol (gyno began to show up). I have cytadren, but I'm not 100% sure how it works in the body and what side effect I may encounter while using it. And finally, how is it safely used (dosage, tapering, etc.)?

BTW, would nolvadex be useful in any way stacked with d-bol/deca/cytadren?

Regards Fred

Cytadren works by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme: binding to the same site that the AAS molecule needs to bind to, and thus blocking it.

Unfortunately it also inhibits the desmolase enzyme which ultimately is necessary for cortisol production.

At 250 mg/day, the inhibition of desmolase is relatively much less than that of aromatase. So one can get reasonable (though incomplete) aromatase inhibition with moderate desmolase inhibition. Nonetheless, the body will compensate for the inhibition in cortisol production, by increasing ACTH. (Higher ACTH results in higher cortisol.)

The body, in effect, learns to produce the same amount of cortisol as before, even though the desmolase enzyme is somewhat inhibited.

What happens then when you discontinue Cytadren, and the desmolase inhibition is ended?

High cortisol levels.

Cytadren has a longer half life than Dianabol. Thus, if Cytadren is taken at the same time as the Dianabol, it will last long enough to provide aromatase inhibition while the Dianabol is in the body.

So if you took the Dianabol only once in the morning, for example, then only one dose of Cytadren would be needed, at the same time. Half a tab would suffice, unless a lot of Dianabol is used (over 40 mg let’s say) in which case perhaps ? tab would be better.

If you take it more frequently, then a half tab in the morning, and quarter tabs up to twice later in the day, would be conservative and reasonably effective.

Stacking with Clomid would be wise. Nolvadex would be comparable in effect.

Dear Bill,

This may sound ridiculous to you, but can I come up positive for Deca on a steroid test?

Yes, if you have used it, or if you have recently used norandrostenedione.

But perhaps you are asking, will Deca be detected on an ordinary drug test given to ordinary employees, not to athletes? No. It must be looked for specifically, and they do not do this for the general population.

Also, what is the maximum time that you have heard that real Deca stays in your system?

Brian & Carrie

It is common to detect it even after six months. I can't recall the maximum I have ever heard of but I think it was 8 or 9 months. Of course, Craig Titus claimed much longer than that, and perhaps some others have as well. Whether those claims are true or not is another matter.

Mr. Roberts,

I recently read your antiestrogen article, and have a couple of questions. I'm prone to gyno, and after a Sustanon/Dianabol cycle I do have a small lump to the side of each nipple. Here's a copy of my current cycle, with which I'm taking clomid 25mg/day. What do you think of adding proviron, and what dosage would you recommend?

wk1 test prop 200mg, deca 200mg

wk2 300, 400

wk3 300, 400

wk4 300, 400

wk5 300, 400

wk6 200, 200

then switch to

wk7 para 76mg, anavar 15mg/d

wk8 152, 20

wk9 152, 25

wk10 228, 25

wk11 152, 20

wk12 76, 15

wk13 clomid 100mg/d

wk14 50mg/d

wk15 50mg/d

Starting lighter the first week makes little sense. Doing the same, or doing double, makes more sense.

The same applies to ramping up the Parabolan; that is, assuming you can get the real thing.

It looks as though you are trying to taper the Parabolan. That is not necessary. You could take nothing on week 11, relying on what is already in the system, then if desired, Primo on week 12.

I personally would make the cycle shorter.

In any case, to your question: The Proviron would be of some value during the weeks with testosterone, and until the testosterone is out of the system. If you are using a long lasting ester, that might be three additional weeks or so.

Clomid is probably more cost effective.

I would not use 100 mg/day Clomid at the end, but instead use 50. You would have no aromatizable drugs in the system anyway. There is no need to try to drive estrogen receptor activity down to zero. In fact that would be undesirable, since some estrogen is needed for LH production.

The Clomid might as well be 50 mg/day all through the cycle.

Dear Mr. Roberts,

How would you feel about a stack containing the supplements of norandro, andro, tribulus, and diol-5. How would you take them and what would you change about the stack.

Andy

If it were me, I would consider only androdiol and norandrodiol. 5-androdiol would be out of the question. I don't know whether tribulus works or not. It won't hurt, so if you want to try the gamble, why not?

If the andro products are taken around the clock, I expect that this would lead to inhibition of natural testosterone production. Thus, I would not use them after 4 PM, or 6 PM at the latest. That way, they are essentially out of the system while you sleep, and for a good part of each 24 hour period.

Dear Bill,

I purchased a bottle of OSMO 50tm 60 Capsules from GNC. When I took it home and read the bottle it said no one over 50 should use it.

Well, they have no study to show that it is unsafe. They are probably being conservative because many men over 50 have prostate problems, which this product could aggravate. Older men are also more likely to have prostate cancer, which would definitely be aggravated by this product.

When I went back to GNC to purchase more they told me that they had been pulled because many of the companies that were manufacturing Androstene were not testing them and were found to not have the ingredients that they claimed on the bottle.

My understanding is that GNC is leery about carrying the andro products, even though they are legal.

My question is, should a man my age be taking Androstene (even if I did not experience any side effects.)

A prostate examination would be a good idea. You have to decide whether the small risk of the andro products is worth the benefit to you.

Androdiol would have less risk in this area, and besides this, will be more effective. Norandrodiol would have even less risk.

Is it true about the companies not testing the ingredients and there are false claims about this stuff?

It is true that some company's are disreputable and sell products which do not contain what the label claims. OSMO, however, is a reputable company.

What can I expect from Androstene at my age?

It (or one of the diols) may improve your workouts, improve muscle mass a little, and perhaps help with keeping fat off. It may improve sexual desire.

Where is a reliable place to purchase it that will guarantee me that I am getting what I paid for

Tony.

Well, at the risk of sounding like a plug, Meso-Rx. Substrate Solutions or OSMO would be good brand choices.

Dear Mr. Roberts,

My name is Chris, I am currently in the USMC. I am taking Symbiotrophin pro hgh and stacking it with Creatine. I've been using this combination for three weeks and I've notice some strength increases and my friends say that they can see the weight gains. Do you suggest to continue with this program as suggested on the container (for six months). Or finish this month and try something else.

The creatine is well proven. Obviously the cost depends on the amount bought, etc., but 5 grams per day maintenance just doesn't cost much. So I would stay on it.

The other product you mention is an unknown.

With unknowns, I prefer to periodically take time off of the product, and see if I do just as well without it. If that is the case, especially if that happens more than once, then I drop using that product.