Dutasteride (Avodart) for blocking the conversion of the hormone Testosterone

Anabolic steroids are one type of performance-enhancing drug. They mimic testosterone in the body to enhance performance by making muscle cells larger and by allowing the body to recover more quickly from the stress of exercise.
Performance-enhancing drugs are no longer just for bodybuilders or pro athletes who are willing to try illegal and potentially dangerous means to improve their body's function. These drugs are being used every day by people of all ages, from middle-school, high-school and college students to older recreational athletes.
Dutasteride (Avodart) is a dual 5-a reductase inhibitor that inhibits conversion of testosterone to DHT. It was developed to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is the enlargement of the prostate. Bodybuilders have used this compound to protect themselves from hair loss.

The difference between Dutasteride and Finasteride, is in the name. Dutasteride (dual-tasteride) works on both of the 5a-reductase enzymes, while Finasteride works on just one. Dutasteride has greater efficacy because of this, and it is more powerful at a lower dose. Treating symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlargement of the prostate gland. It also helps to reduce the risk of urinary blockage and the need for surgery to treat BPH. It may be used alone or along with another medicine (Tamsulosin).

Dutasteride works by blocking the conversion of the hormone testosterone to the more potent hormone dihydro testosterone. It does this by blocking an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. Dihydrotestosterone is partly responsible for making the prostate enlarge. Therefore, a reduced amount of dihydro-testosterone in the prostate causes it to shrink. This helps you to pass urine more easily.

Sometimes, more than one type of medicine is needed to control the symptoms of prostate enlargement. Dutasteride is available in combination with another medicine for prostate enlargement, called Tamsulosin. The combination brand is called Combodart and it may give quicker and better relief of symptoms than either medicine alone.

To understand how Dutasteride works we must first learn about DHT. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a sex steroid and androgen hormone. The enzyme 5a-reductase synthesizes DHT in the testes, hair follicles, adrenal glands, and prostate. Reductase inhibitors work by blocking the action of the enzymes that convert testosterone to DHT. This is why they work so well for protecting/re-growing head hair and helping with BPH. Dutasteride stacked with Finasteride can lower DHT in the body up to 95%.

When bodybuilders use anabolic-androgenic steroids, it can speed up head hair loss. This is due to increased testosterone hormones in the body. The more testosterone, the more conversion to DHT in the body. In addition, running DHT derivatives such as Masteron, Winstrol or Proviron will further increase DHT. To combat this, bodybuilders have experimented with 5a-reductase inhibitors, such as dutasteride, to protect their existing hair and even re-grow more. However, this can come at a price and a myriad of side effects.

Dutasteride has been used for acne control, as it will lower an overabundance of androgens in the body. Nonetheless, it’s not a very effective anti-acne drug, and its potential side effects aren’t worth the possible acne control.

Side Effects:
Preventing sex hormone DHT from being converted from testosterone might not be the best idea in the long term. If you care about your sex drive, Dutasteride might not be for you. The two main side effects from this drug are erectile dysfunction (ED) decreased sexual desire (libido). Additional side effects like gynecomastia can occur as well, due to severely low DHT levels. Even with short term use at low dosages, some users have reported serious problems problems with ED. Therefore, the user must be extremely careful when using duta, and use it only if absolutely necessary.

A dosage of 2.5 mgs per day is a popular starting point among bodybuilders. Most guys are splitting the dose into AM/PM, but that’s not necessary. The half-life of Dutasteride is very long – up to 5 weeks. So, you can dose it EOD (every other day) or longer if you wish.

Synthetic cyclic heptapeptide Melanotan 2(MT2)

Melanotan 2(MT2) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide that is mainly used to increase tanning. It stimulates a natural increase in melanin production. Melanin is the main determinant of skin color in humans. Melanin is a brown pigment which causes skin to become darker in appearance when exposed to UV rays. According to scientific study that has been based on animal test subjects, the impetus of Melanotan 2’s overall functionality and mechanics can be tied to the pituitary gland. This pea-sized gland located at the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain essentially acts as the command center for the endocrine system, as it is chiefly charged with the regulation and control of several system-related functions including those related to growth, metabolism, thyroid gland function, and temperature regulation. Melanotan II’s relationship to the pituitary gland can be drilled down to a hormonal level; specifically, to hormones secreted by the pituitary gland known as melanocortins.

In essence, these particular hormones are responsible for the regulation and control of hair and skin pigmentation in an animal test subject. They achieve this measure of control by expressing melanin. The secretion of melanin is triggered by an animal test subject’s exposure to ultraviolet, or UV, rays. When the secretions are expressed, they are manifested upon the surface of the skin. This process in which this occurs is known as melanogenesis. The secretion acts as a natural means of protection against ultraviolet rays. This component, by extension, acts as a protective measure against a hot of various skin afflictions and ailments that result from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays. These rays include various forms of skin cancers. The primary issue with melanogenesis is the fact that the melanocortins that trigger this process has a rapid half-life that only lasts several minutes. Naturally, this means that the secretion’s overall effectiveness as a measure of protection against ultraviolet rays is very limited.

Melanotan II was first synthesized at the University of Arizona when looking at possible ways to treat skin cancer. They hypothesized that an effective way to reduce skin cancer rates in people would be to induce the body's natural pigmentary system to produce a protective tan prior to UV exposure.

Clinical trials have shown that Melanotan 2 safely promotes melanogenesis. This is a process were melanocytes produce melanin. Lighter-skinned people have low base levels of melanogenesis. Exposure to UV-B radiation causes an increased melanogenesis. The purpose of the melanogenesis is to protect the hypodermis, the layer under the skin, from the UV-B light that can damage it. It does this by absorbing all the UV-B light and blocking it from passing the skin layer.

MT2 has also been shown to have aphrodisiac effects. Giuliano F et al. showed MT2 exerting a dose-dependent effect on erections in anesthetized rats. They went on to show MT2 having inducer and facilitator activities on erection depending upon delivery route of the peptide. There are various studies showing similar results in both animals and humans. Wessells H et al. highlighted the positive effect MT2 has on sexual desire and erections in men suffering with erectile dysfunction and various organic risk factors.

Through clinical research it has been shown MT2 has excellent fat burning effects. It was previously thought that it assisted weight loss indirectly due to its appetite-reducing effect. However, it now appears that MT2 has direct fat burning effects. Strader AD et al. is a great example of the direct fat burning effect. They conducted a series of tests including one that shown MT2 treatment led to a general reduction in both visceral and subcutaneous fat tissue in high-fat-fed mice. Choi YH et al. also showed in addition to reducing food intake and inhibiting body weight gain, administration of MT2 reduces fat mass. They concluded this was most likely by accelerated lipid mobilization, but not by apoptosis (cell death).

A very interesting effect MT2 brings about is its ability to increase insulin sensitivity during researchers' trials. Heijboer AC et al studied the effects MT2 has on hepatic and whole-body insulin sensitivity. Results showed administration of MT2 increased insulin-mediated glucose disposal but did not affect the capacity of insulin to suppress EGP. MT2's acute effect on insulin sensitivity was further highlighted during studies done by the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine. Banno R et al.  examined the effects MT2 had on insulin sensitivity in diet-induced obese rats. The insulin tolerance test showed that insulin sensitivity was significantly improved in the MT2 group compared to the pair-fed group. Furthermore, MT2 treatment increased the number of small-sized adipocytes in epididymal white adipose tissues, suggesting that MT2 increased insulin sensitivity through action on the white adipose tissues.

Benefits of Anavar Cycle

Anavar is ideally a derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Its chemical name is 17b-hydroxy-17a-methyl-2-oxa-5a-androstane-3-one and has anabolic/androgenic ration of 322-630:24. Its molecular weight is 306.443 g/ml at the base and is written under the molecular formula C19H30O3 . Being a 17-alpha alkylated steroid and a DHT derivative, it does not aromatize into DHT when ingested in the body.

Anavar is attributed to having low anabolic as well as androgenic properties because of which its tendency to cause side effects in its users greatly diminishes. It not only helps cut extra fat from the body along with muscle development but also helps add strength to the muscles without causing any fluid deposition in the joints. The biggest advantage of Anavar is that it does not disturb the natural testosterone level of the body upon administration. In fact it is known to keep the release of other hormones in the body also restored. They primarily include FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), IGF-1 (Insulin like Growth Factor 1), GH (Growth Hormone), GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) and LHRH (Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone).

The high amount of energy released after the intake of Anavar is primarily due to stimulation of phosphocreatine synthesis in the mitochondria of the muscles. It also helps burn abdominal and visceral fat in the body at a comparatively faster rate.

Another reason that makes Anavar such a preferred drug is because it is very less toxic on the liver

Cycle 1: Dianabol and Anavar Cycle

Dianabol can either be taken alone or ingested with other anabolic steroids to produce better and improved results. Here we shall be talking about Dianabol and Anavar Cycle today. It primarily has two parts – The beginner’s cycle and the advanced cycle.

Beginners Cycle

The required quantity for this cycle is 10 mg of 100 tablets of Anavar,5 mg of 200 tablets of Dianabol and 50 g of 24 tablets of Clomid.

For the advanced cycle, the dosage should be 150 tablets of 10 mg of Anavar, 300 tablets of 5 mg of Dianabol and 36 tablets of 50 mg of Clomid.

Ideally, side effects of Dianabol are caused only if the steroid is taken in abused quantities for a very long period. Some common symptoms include high blood pressure and liver toxicity. Dianabol can be easily bought online in the form of tablets, injections and syrups with as well as without a prescription.

Cycle 2

The simplest way of taking Anavar is limiting to 50mg of Anavar a day for 8 weeks. Anavar intake should never exceed 10 weeks as the body might get immune to its effect. Some individuals, who need an extra push, can increase it up to 80 mg per day but going over that is not advised.

For best results, it works best to combine Anavar dosage with 500mg of an anabolic steroid like Equipoise for 10 weeks. To add more, one can add testosterone at the base of the cycle to get improved results. The likely dosage of the testosterone compound should not exceed 150 mg a day. This is an ideal Anavar dosage for men. In women, Anavar intake should be restricted to not more than 10 mg a day.

Unlike other strong anabolic steroids, Anavar does not cause any water retention in the joints in the cutting phases which make it comparatively less painful. It does not aromatize into estrogen when administered in the body which makes it the most preferred drug during the pre-competition purposes. Along with gain in muscle strength, Anavar is highly employed by bodybuilders the world over for quality increase in muscle tissue. It is primarily used to keep the muscle hard and tightened.

The benefits of combination - Equipoise and Testosterone

This greatly anabolic and moderately androgenic steroid has an anabolic/androgenic ratio of 100:50. It has the molecular weight of 286.4132 g/mol at base and can be detected over a interval of four to five months and has an active life of nearly 14-16 days. the chemical formula of equipoise is C19H26O and its chemical name is 1,4-androstadiene-3-one,1 7b-ol). Cheaper than Deca Durabolin, Equipoise is admired for promoting muscle mass, aggression, and corpse strength. This execution enhancing medication does not result in excess water retention and aromatization. Equipoise is also useful for improving appetite and is rated very highly as a superior bulking cycle steroid. Equipoise is as anabolic and half androgenic as Testosterone and gets converted to Dihydronandrolone (DHN), a very peaceful androgen in comparison to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

This anabolic androgenic steroid stimulates the release of erythropoietin in the kidneys and promotes the count of red blood cells and the percentage of red blood cells (hemoglobin and Hematocrit) that translates into greater “pumps” during intense workouts.

If that was not all, muscle mass and corpse strength gains made with Equipoise (Boldenone Undeclynate) are more pronounced than with any other steroid or performance enhancing medication. Use of this steroid, for a period of six to ten weeks, is usually associated with promotion of solid, meaty muscle fiber when complemented with intense workouts, balanced and nutritious diet, and healthy lifestyle. This steroid is second to none for providing slow but steady strength gains and trait muscle mass. Muscles gained with Equipoise (Boldenone Undeclynate) are very refined and solid.


Male athletes usually administer Equipoise in weekly dosages of 200-600mg for about 8-12 weeks while female athletes may use this steroid in weekly dosages of 50-125mg for 6-10 weeks. Post cycle remedy with Clomid and Nolvadex is highly recommended towards the close of or at the end of an anabolic steroid cycle involving Equipoise (Boldenone Undeclynate) as one of the steroids or the only steroid. Anti-aromatase inhibitors such as Cytadren or Arimidex may even be used for making Equipoise cycles more tolerable. The addition of HCG is also recommended for avoiding a “crash”, particularly when Equipoise is administered during large cycles.

The combination of Equipoise and Testosterone is considered ideal for experiencing sustaining improvements in terms of lean corpse mass. Equipoise is usually stacked with Winstrol (Stanozolol), Oxandrolone, Testosterone enanthate, Testosterone Cypionate and Testosterone Propionate.

Equipoise is best injected at least once per week for maintaining steady blood levels. Men may use Equipoise in weekly doses of 400-600mg while female athletes may use it in weekly doses of 50-150mg.When overdosed or abused, Equipoise can effect in condition complications such as deepening of voice, irregular menstrual cycles, unnatural hair growth, and unusual hair loss. Equipoise (Boldenone Undeclynate) abuse may also cause acne, increased frequency of erections, unnatural hair growth, oily epidermis, enlarging clitoris or penis. Use of this potent steroid should be stopped and medical assistance should be sought if side effects like red-colored spots on body or inside the mouth or nose, sore throat and/or fever, vomiting of blood, bone pain, nausea, sore tongue, swelling of feet or lower legs, uncommon bleeding, unusual weight gain, black/tarry/light-colored stools, dark-colored urine are experienced after using Boldenone Undeclynate. Abuse of Equipoise may even lead to negatively-artificial lipid profile, virilizing effects in women, high degree of water/salt retention, gynecomastia, increased hair growth, acne, aggravation of male pattern baldness, and sexual side effects. Athletes should always emphasize on rotating injection sites on a regular basis and must follow healthy administration practices to avoid irritation, infection, and abscess formation.

How to use Cytomel and HGH in bodybuilding

Cytomel is a thyroid hormone supplement that contains liothyronine. Liothyronine is a synthetic form of the hormone T3, which is naturally produced by the thyroid gland. This medication is given when the body does not produce enough of the hormone T3 on its own, a condition known as hypothyroidism.

Human growth hormone is naturally produced by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. There are HGH medications available by prescription for those with kidney failure, Turner's syndrome or other diseases. HGH medications, such as somatropin, humatrope, norditropin, are only not available in pill form, they come as injections. The DEA also states, " HGH is only bio available in the injectable form. The HGH molecule is too large for absorption across the lining of the oral mucosa and the hormone is digested by the stomach before absorption can occur."

Both Cytomel and HGH are hormones that are used for medical reasons to regulate growth in individuals whose bodies do not produce enough of these hormones naturally. When a person needs the medication Cytomel, she most likely has an underactive thyroid and she will gain weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. When a person needs an HGH medication, his body is not growing enough. Cytomel is liothyronine, a man-made medication designed to mimic the action of the T3 that is naturally produced by the thyroid gland. Somatropin is an injectable form of the HGH produced by the pituitary gland.

Cytomel up-regulates the beta-2 adrenergic receptors in fat tissues. In lipolysis, or the breakdown of fat in fat tissues, the enzyme HSL (hormone sensitive lipase) plays a significant part. HSL controls the rate of lipolysis. For HSL to be activated, epinephrine and nonepinephrine (catecholomines) are necessary. These catecholomines bind to the beta-2 receptors, and thus when Cytomel up-regulates the beta-receptors, there is a corresponding increase in the ability of catecholomines to activate HSL, resulting to increased lipolysis.

This drug is likewise known to increase the UCP-3 or uncoupling protein-3. This process significantly increases lipolysis. Further, Cytomel also stimulates growth hormone (GH) production, as substantiated by several studies. And since GH is a thermogenic, it contributes to this drug’s fat-burning action. This is why when athletes are using Cytomel they find no need to use HGH. With AAS use, the suppression occurs even after the therapy is stopped, sometimes in periods of weeks or months (especially in cases of long-term use). The same thing is observed during insulin intake, whereby the pancreas (the organ responsible for insulin production) ceases its production of insulin. Such is not the case with exogenous T3 hormone therapy. Several studies have concluded that thyroid therapy does not cause prolonged suppression of thyroid normal production. Thyroid function is normalized just days after medication is discontinued. In other words, there is no thyroid shutdown due to T3 supplementation; there is only a down-regulation of thyroid output during therapy.

Side effects of this class of drug include tachycardia and atrial arrhythmia, bone resorption, and loss of lean muscle tissue. Secondary side effects include insomnia, diarrhea, and nausea. These adverse reactions are highly possible if the user takes high dosages. Notice that some of its major side effects relate to the cardiovascular system. This is because thyroid hormones have significant effects on cardiac structures (including cardiac muscles) and systems that alter cardiovascular hemodynamics. Hyperthyroidism increases virtually all cardiac functions including heart rate and contractility, diastolic relaxation, and rate of ventricular pressure development. This results to an increased cardiac output by as much as 250 percent. These physiological changes are (most likely) the consequences of an increase in the expression of ATP and a decrease in the expression of ATP’s inhibitor, phospholamban.

Another drawback of Cytomel is its catabolic ability. When Cytomel exerts this ability on stored fats, this is an asset. However, this becomes a liability when it exerts this on bones and muscles. The negative result is bone resorption and muscle wasting (mentioned above). Moreover, this drug also diminishes GH’s nitrogen retention ability (although it stimulates GH’s production, as mentioned earlier). There is consensus among Cytomel users that the dosage protocol with this drug is to ramp it up, which means you start at the lowest dosage then gradually move upward. However, there are divergent opinions on how long the ‘gradually’ part should be. There are those who say it should be every three days, and then some pharmacological studies endorse it from 1 to 2 weeks. However, the user’s tolerance level ultimately determines the time frame; that is, if the user reacts really well with Cytomel, then the dosage can gradually increase every three days. Users are advised not to ramp up and down the dosage during therapy as this causes fluctuations in hormone levels, which further results to hormonal imbalance. The more prudent practice is to taper off the dosage. The minimum daily dosage of T3 is 5mcg and the maximum is 100mcg.

Cytomel intake is not dependent on body weight or gender, but rather on the individual’s blood level. This means that females can take the same dosage volume and schedule as males.