Post Cycle Therapy is a system for leveling the consequences of using androgenic anabolic steroids, ideally allowing to preserve the results of the cycle, purify the body and restore the hormonal arc. For these purposes, Post Cycle Therapy is divided into two main types: therapy for retention of results and therapy for “rest”. The first is a senseless thing, used by non-professionals who do not need anabolic steroids at all, since it will not be possible to keep the result after the cycle, the “rollback” will be even further than the level that was before taking androgenic drugs, but the health damage will be caused. Ideally, of course, the result remains, but only if the PCT is of a professional nature, namely it is not a therapy, but a “bridge”.
Professionals, in general, when they “relax” between “courses”, they do not try to keep the result of using anabolics, but try to “rest” as much as possible, to recover, so that when they “sit down” again on the “course”, this gives the greatest result. The bottom line is that the maximum natural testosterone level is several times less than the level that can be achieved with androgenic anabolic steroids, therefore it is impossible to keep muscle mass without steroids, even theoretically! That’s why if you are not a professional, if you are an amateur and swing in order to just look good, then you do not need steroids! Especially they are not necessary to you in the event that you have just started to train, if you have not yet learned to hypertrophy the muscle fibers in “natural” way.
Many newcomers think that they will go through two or three “courses”, get pumped up, and then they will quit, and they will only support the form. It will not work! First, androgenic anabolic drugs are, if I may say so, growth accelerators, but if there is no growth at all, then there is nothing to accelerate. Secondly, after the end of the “course” you will all merge. Thirdly, it’s just silly, because, let’s just say, you can even get all the genetically accessible kilograms of pure muscle mass available to you. Here you have reached the genetic ceiling, which you would have already achieved, just not so quickly, and the harm to health that you already inflicted! And the question arises, why? If you are ready to sacrifice your health, you are ready to “plow” 6 days a week, and you will have to “plow”, otherwise there will be no result, is it not better to reach the genetic ceiling yourself, and then apply the drugs to achieve more?
Well, let’s finish the lyrical digression, let’s say that you decided to go through the “course” and think how to approach it more professionally, in order to do yourself the least harm. First, you need to pass tests to know exactly what androgenic anabolic steroids you need and what indicators you need to return as a result of post-cycle therapy. Secondly, you need to correctly select the drugs themselves, so as not to harm your body, and you will select the drugs in accordance with the analysis data, which we will discuss in more detail in the relevant article. During the cycle, by the way, you also need to take tests, but already others, again, to know exactly what measures to take. Well, after the cycle you will also need to pass tests to understand if you have restored the balance of hormones or not.
Thirdly, you should understand that although PCT is called post-cycle therapy, all the less, you need to start therapy during cycle, because if your testicles do not function at all, then at the end of the cycle they will atrophy, and you will have to recover longer. In general, you must understand that before you get anywhere, you need to think about how to get out! The essence of PCT is to restore the hormonal arc: the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicles, as well as normalize the ratio of low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins, and, which is also extremely important, to dampen the secretion of cortisol and normalize liver function.
| Analysis |
Properties |
Norms |
Side Effects |
Drugs |
| Testosterone |
The main male hormone:
General – associated with (SHBG) globulin or with albumin;
Free – affects the muscle cells; |
General: 8.5-55.5 nmol/l
Free: 46-224 nmol/l |
Aromatization |
HCG |
| SHGG |
Protein binding testosterone, which slows down muscle growth |
13-71 nmol/l |
Blocks Androgens |
Stanozolol
Proviron
Insulin |
Gonadotropins:
LH and FSH |
Luteinizing hormone (LH) – produces testosterone;
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) – produces sperm; |
LH: 0.8-7.6 IU/mp
FSH: 0,7-11,1 IU/mp |
Blocks Androgens |
Proviron |
| Estradiol |
Counterweight to testosterone, the optimal ratio to the “test” is 1:200 to 1:300 |
3-70 pg/ml (0-206 nmol/l) |
Gynecomastia |
Letrozole (1 tab/week) |
| Progesterone |
Prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone |
0.5-6.0 nmol/l |
Decrease Libido |
Stanozolol
Mifepristone |
| Prolactin |
Enhances the effect of estradiol |
53-360 mIU/l |
Blocks Androgens |
Dostinex (1 tab/week) |
| Dihydrotestosterone |
Androgenic substance, which contributes to a more rapid recovery |
250-990 pg/ml |
Increase Prostate
Alopecia |
Finasteride (2 mg/day)
Progesterone |
| Bilirubin |
The product of the breakdown of hemoglobin, therefore excess damages the liver |
General: 8.5-20.5 μmol/l
Direct: 0-3.4 μmol/l |
Fatigue |
Karsil (10 tabs/day) |
| Enzymes of the liver |
Ensure normal liver function |
AlAT: 7-35 IU/l
AsAT: 10-20 IU/l |
Fatigue |
Flamin |
| Cholesterol |
LDL – low density lipoproteins, clog vessels;
HDL – high-density lipoproteins, effectively transport fats through blood vessels |
HDL: 0.9-1.9 μmol/l
LDL 3-6 μmol/l
LDL to HDL: From 3: 1 to 8: 1 |
Atherosclerosis,
Heart disease |
Fish oil |
| Kidneys: Urea and Creatinine |
Discharge of ammonia through urine |
Urea: 2.8-8.3 μmol/l in blood
Creatinine: 0,044-0,106 μmol/l in blood |
Urination problems |
By doctor’s prescription |
| Cortisol |
Regulates carbohydrate metabolism, is a stress hormone, destroys proteins |
138-690 nmol/l in the morning |
Destroys Muscles |
Clenbuterol
Insulin |
| Blood pressure |
Optimizes blood pressure in arteries |
Below 140/90 |
Stroke, diseases of the heart |
By doctor’s prescription |
Conclusion: before cycle you must pass tests for the level of total and free testosterone, gonadotropin, prolactin, estradiol, progesterone, cholesterol, pressure, liver enzymes and bilirubin; During the cycle it is necessary to measure cholesterol, pressure, liver enzymes, bilirubin and prolactin with estradiol; After the cyclese” again pass all the tests.
Analyzes: A Professional Approach
Analyzes before the cycle are able to show us our natural level of certain hormones, as well as the initial level of “health”, because if you have high blood pressure or high amount of bilirubin in the liver, you must be crazy to take steroids. As for the conclusions about the cycle itself, it is important to pay attention to the level of estradiol, prolactin and progesterone, since if you have a higher level of progesterone, then you are not recommended to use steroids with progestogenic activity, and if the level of prolactin and/or estradiol is high, then you do not need to use easily flavored drugs.
Analyzes during the cycle allow to understand, how much we harm the body, and how effective the cycle will be. If during the cycle the level of “bad” cholesterol, that is, low density of lipoproteins, is increased, then fatty northern fish or OMEGA-3 and OMEGA-6 fats should be added to the diet. The liver during cycle in any case gives a poor performance, which is partially suppressed by silymarin, which can be purchased under the trademark “Karsil”, but in general, this analysis should be done more so that you can track which drugs are more and less dangerous.
Arterial pressure during the cycle also increases, because in the body becomes more blood, if the indicators are too high, you need to reduce dosages and/or use drugs for pressure. Estrogens and prolactin should also be measured and suppressed by aromatase inhibitors (Letrozole) and inhibitors of prolactin secretion (Dostinex), respectively, but you can find out if they need to be docked or not, only by empirically raising and raising the level of these hormones to different levels and monitoring the result. At what level it will be more favorable, at this level they should be kept during the cycle.
The dosage of Letrozole is individual, but on average one can take prophylactically one tablet a week, it is desirable to break it into 3-4 parts and drink every second day. If you have any symptoms of gynecomastia, then you need to eat 1 tablet a day until the symptoms disappear. It is necessary or not necessary to take Letrozole may show tests that must be taken 1-2 weeks after the start of the cycle in the case of “short” esters, or 3-4 weeks in the case of “long” esters.
The dosage of prolactin ranges between 0.25-0.50 mg/twice a week, it is recommended to take with Letrozole, the tests are given at the same time as on Letrozole. It is worth noting that, most likely, prolactin will not be needed, if in time to stop estrogens.
Analyzes after the cycle are a way to control post-cycle therapy, but it makes sense to take them only if you did the tests before the cycle, otherwise they will not tell you anything. First, you need to make sure at the end of the PCT that free and common testosterone came back to normal. If testosterone is not restored, then you need to pass tests of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, because their low level and will most likely cause low testosterone levels. Estrogens and prolactin, which are likely to be increased, should be quenched with aromatase inhibitors or inhibitors of prolactin secretion. How to stop the bad indicators of cholesterol and liver you already know, and cortisol, which is also likely to be increased, can be suppressed by anti-catabolics.
Post Cycle Therapy Drugs
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a hormone that is extracted from urea of pregnant women, because it is there that it comes from the placenta that synthesizes it. By its action, it is similar to luteinizing hormone, chorionic gonadotropin stimulates the testicles to produce testosterone, which is necessary to ensure that the testicles are not atrophied. To take chorionic gonadotropin follows 2-3 weeks before the end of the cycle on “short” esters, or immediately after its termination, if “long” esters were used. The bottom line is that “short” drugs are quickly eliminated from the body, and long ones last up to 2×3 weeks, respectively, if we try to restore the hormone arc, then we need to completely “get off” by the time the steroid is removed from all drugs that affect on any component of the hormonal arc. You can buy Human Chorionic Gonadotropin online, it is recommended to take approximately 1000 IU per day, until the effects of steroids ends.
Antiestrogen drugs – they should be taken one week before the end of gonadotropin intake. Antiestrogens are divided into aromatase inhibitors and estrogen receptor blockers, respectively, you can continue to take Letrozole: 1 week during the cycle, half a tablet every 2 days and, in fact, after the cycle, 3 weeks half a tablet every four days. If you want to use estrogen receptor blockers, then Tamoxifen or Clomiphene will suit you.
Clomiphene should be taken 100 mg per day, in the morning 50 and in the evening as much; You can use the load, taking the first day of the drug in a doubled dose for 4 doses. Tamoxifen – 20 mg per day, if necessary, increase to 40 mg, sometimes use a load of 80 mg for the first day. Clomiphene stimulates luteinizing hormone more strongly, but it is a weaker anti-estrogen and does not increase the sensitivity of the luteinizing hormone receptors. That is why Tamoxifen is better, but it also increases the number of progesterone receptors, so it can not always be taken. For example, if an athlete used progestogen drugs, like Anapolon | Anadroxyl | Oxymetholon or Nandrolone | Deca 300 | Deca 500 | Nandroxyl, then Tamoxifen is contraindicated. That is why it is best to use Letrozole (Femara | Letroxyl).
Proviron is a drug that blocks aromatization, SHBG and increases libido, because of the latter it is taken during PCT, but this is meaningless, because it does not solve the cause of the problem, it is handled by Letrozole. Proviron can be used during the cycle when the athlete uses a long cycle of anabolic steroids, or uses a cycle for drying.
The liver and cholesterol are something that is not usually included in post-cycle therapy, but you need to pay attention to it, be sure to pass the tests and, in the case when the indices are not satisfactory, take action. To normalize the ratio of “bad” and “good” cholesterol, take OMEGA-3. With the liver all the more difficult, be sure to consult a doctor
Supplements are various sports nutrition products and vitamins that can help to avoid catabolism, including BCAA, arginine, testosterone booster, zinc, vitamin E, and other drugs that can reduce catabolism. The use of these additives can be started at any time, they perform merely an auxiliary role during post-cycle therapy.
Conclusion: during the intake of androgenic anabolic steroids, the athlete should take chorionic gonadotropin 2-3 weeks before the end of the cycle” on “short” esters and immediately after the termination of the cycle on “long” esters. A week before the end of the chorionic gonadotropin intake, it is recommended to start taking Letrozole and take it 4 weeks, 1 week while the steroids are still active and 3 more weeks, in fact, after the cycle of therapy. A week after you finish taking all the drugs that stimulate any segment of the hormone arc, you can re-take tests. If, God forbid, the hormone arc has not recovered, then, most likely, you will need another anti-estrogen drug, but this is a special case that must be treated separately, be sure to consult a doctor!
PCT Training
A very important aspect of post-cycle therapy is the training program, which should be of a “preventive” nature, that is, the athlete must train less, with fewer working scales and less. No formative exercises and exercises for small muscle groups should not be used! It is best to practice basic exercises, and, the training should last 30-40 minutes, and rest between approaches should be increased to 2 minutes. Total for training you can perform 10-15 approaches, so for PCT the most acceptable option is a three-day split, when the athlete trains the legs in one day, in the other back and in the third chest. For training it is recommended to perform no more than three exercises, all exercises are basic, the range of repetitions is 6-10, approaches no more than 5.
