Prelude

In 2009, Competitive Edge Labs introduced a new pro-hormone/designer steroid ‘Alpha One’ which is a direct clone of Methyl-1-Alpha or commonly referred to as M1A for short.  Methyl-1-Alpha was brought to market in 2005 by Legal Gear (now LG Sciences), however was discontinued rather quickly in 2006.  Regardless of the particular product the nomenclature of this compound should be (Methyl-1-Etiocholenolol-Epietiocholanolone) which is effectively Methyl 1-AD.

Products confirmed to contain (Methyl-1-Etiocholenolol-Epietiocholanolone):

1. EST Methyl XT
2. Legal Gear Methyl-1-Alpha
3. Competitive Edge Labs – Alpha One

Since the aforementioned products above are discontinued, we will be using Alpha One as our reference supplement as it’s typically readily available for purchase through major online vendors.

Overview:  Alpha One / Methyl-1-Alpha

Alpha One is one of the strongest pro-hormones/anabolic designer steroids on the over the counter market today, therefore cycles are typically very short with three weeks being the recommended and most common cycle length.  It’s known to have some conversion to M1T (Methyl-1-Testosterone) as M1A/Alpha One is a precursor to M1T, however legit information regarding the rate of conversion is unknown but most educated estimates are in the 15-20% range.  With that said, Alpha One is an already active steroid therefore regardless of conversion to M1T it’s plenty sufficient on it’s own without factoring in conversion.

Alpha One is certainly NOT for first time pro-hormone and steroid users, it is recommended that users have at least 2 successful cycles under their belt before considering Alpha One.  It should also be noted that Alpha One is a ‘one-run’ product, meaning, when the current supply runs out, that’s it…. so stock up!

Maintaining Health

Alpha One / Methyl-1-Alpha is an oral based pro-hormone that’s processed by the liver, Alpha One is also a methylated compound and thus puts additional strain on our bodies liver.  This is one of the harshest compounds available on the over the counter market it will negatively impact blood pressure, lipid values, cholesterol levels and will put stress on the bodies endocrine system, there is also additional side effects (discussed shortly) that can also present themselves, however in most cases they’re typically minor and a slight inconvenience.

However with proper planning and preventative supplementation we can assist our bodies with protecting our livers, lipid values, cholesterol levels and help control adverse blood pressure effects, this may seem like a daunting task finding supplements to tackle all of these concerns, however luckily several supplement companies have been making “all-in-one” cycle protection products that work to address many of these potential side effects and subsequently an “all-in-one” product will be the basis for our on cycle support.  Therefore ANYONE running Alpha One , is required to supplement with one of the following products throughout the entire duration of the cycle.

1. Anabolic Innovations – Cycle Support (Powder)
2. Anabolic Innovations – Life Support (Capsules)
3. Competitive Edge Labs – Cycle Assist (Capsules)

Either of the three are suitable choices, cost should be the deciding factor or whether you prefer capsules or powder.  A general rule of thumb is to pre-load either of the products two weeks prior to beginning your cycle and continue to use throughout the entire cycle from start to finish, buy accordingly so you have enough on hand.   These products will assist your body with maintaining healthy blood pressure, prostate health, liver function and lipid profile by utilizing popular herbs such as Hawthorn Berry (BP), NAC (liver), Milk Thistle (liver), Saw Palmetto (prostate) among others.  Please follow the manufactures recommended dosage (as per bottle) as it’s the dosage known to work best.

Where as with many cycles, one of the products above would be sufficient on it’s own for cycle protection, however for Alpha One it’s recommended to take the route “better safe than sorry” and provide our bodies with additional protection by supplementing with the following.

1. Himalaya LiverCare (Liv.52) – Will provide strong liver protection in conjunction with an the “all-in-one” products, very affordable at under $20 for a bottle.  For Alpha One cycles 3 capsules per day is recommended, use throughout the duration of the “on” period, can use in PCT as well.  Buy on e-bay for the best pricing.
2. NOW Grape Seed Antioxidant – Grape Seeds have shown in many studies to provide benefits in regards to blood pressure, cholesterol levels and lipid values by limiting lipid oxidation.  For Alpha One / Methyl-1A  cycles, 3 capsules per day is recommended, use throughout the duration of the “on” period, can use in PCT as well.  Under $10.

We also recommend having plenty of Taurine on hand with Alpha One to control back pumps, for more information on combating other sides please read our article combating cycle sides. Additionally it’s been reported that some users experience estrogen related side effects on Alpha One / Methyl-1-Alpha, we suggest having some topical formestane on hand in case they arise, cautious users can use formestane throughout the duration of their cycle, running half  the suggested dosage would suffice.

Dosing

Alpha One is one of the strongest compounds available on the OTC market, it’s generally recommended to start with a lower dosage, asses tolerance and then slowly increase it to the desired range, assuming side effects are tolerable.  Our dosing layout is unique to the user depending on experience, Alpha One cycles are most commonly 3 weeks in length, however advanced users typically run 4 week cycles, it’s recommended to keep the fourth week as optional depending on side effects.  Below are dosing recommendations.

Assuming you have experience with strong compounds (i.e Superdrol, Phera, M1T, etc):

Week 1: 40mg / per day | Week 2-4: 60mg / per day

Assuming this is your first strong cycle:

Week 1: 20mg / per day | Week 2-3: 40mg / per day (Final week can be bumped to 60mg if sides tolerable)

Assuming this is your first cycle:

Alpha One / Methyl-1-Alpha is not recommended for first timers.

Dosages above 60mg per day are not recommended as the added benefit may be negligible compared to the added sides at higher than common dosages.

Alpha One works very quickly, the majority of users begin to experience the effects of this comound typically within the first week (or shortly thereafter), it has a relatively short half life (5-6 hours) therefore dosages should be equally split with about five hours between each dose, ideally starting with the first dosage in the morning.  On lifting days it’s recommended to take a dosage roughly one hour before starting your gym session, in some cases taking a dosage before bed may have a negative impact on sleep, so take this into consideration.  In addition, it’s generally a good idea to take each dosage with EFA’s (i.e fish oil) in order to enhance absorption, it’s also recommended to consume 16+ ounces of water at each Alpha One dosage.

Common Side Effects

The occurrence rate of side effects while using Alpha One would be from moderately common to very common, however they’re completely user unique, some users may not experience any side effects, while other users will experience a combination of sides.  It should be noted that the majority of these side effects are simply of inconvenience more so than a possible health affecting issue and for the most part can be resolved through simple supplementation, take sometime to read our article on combating side effects.  Keep in mind these potential side effects are in addition to those mentioned above under “Maintaining Health”…

• Decreased Libido/Sexual Function
• Lethargy / Fatigue
• Increased hair growth / Increased hair shedding
• Puffy / Sensitive Nipples
• Joint Discomfort
• Back Pumps (Dull pain in back after/during workouts)
• Water Retention / Estrogen Related Sides
• Increased aggression, head aches, flushing and various other sides can happen as well.

Typical Results

Results will vary based upon the dosage, experience, diet and many other factors, Alpha One / Methyl-1-Alpha will generally provide exceptional strength gains and good size gains.  Because some mild fluid retention is common on Alpha One it’s typically used strictly for bulking purposes and those on a clean bulking diet will yield the best results.

Gains with Alpha One can range quite a bit, however the most common gains are in the 8-12lb range with exceptional increases in strength.  Gains in upwards of 20lbs have been reported and it’s certainly not uncommon for people to post gains in the 12-15lbs range as well.

Post Cycle Therapy

Possibly the most important item on the menu is post cycle therapy, when taking a foreign substance (Alpha One/Methyl-1-Alpha/Methyl XT) that creates testosterone your body begins to shut down it’s normal production, when you stop taking a pro-hormone or steroid compound your body needs a way to jump start it’s own natural production again, while limiting endocrine system stress, this is why we need post cycle therapy.  It’s not just as simple as that however, when coming off of a compound your body goes through a very stressful phase as your hormones are out of balance, failure to mitigate these imbalances can result in a unique set of side effects not related to the Alpha One compound.  Below is just a *few* of the noted side effects of an improper post cycle therapy regiment, it should also be noted that the occurrence of side effects in the post cycle stage is more common than the “on-cycle” phase, however a properly planned post cycle therapy regiment can mitigate these risks.

• Gynecomastia (or Man Boobs)
• Anxiety/Depression (Can range mild to severe)
• Body Aches/Pains (Can range mild to severe)
• Impotence and other sexual function side effects.
• Loss of gains made on cycle.

As you can see, these are side affects we definitely want to avoid at all costs, so let’s start discussing a proper Alpha One PCT (Post Cycle Therapy).

Post Cycle General:  You should begin your PCT regiment immediately after your pro-hormone or designer steroid cycle, it should begin the day after your last dosage of Alpha One.  PCT regiments are typically 4-6 weeks depending on the type of compound being used, user and type of PCT.  As noted in the previous section under “Maintaining Health”, you should continue to use Life Support, Cycle Assist or Cycle Support throughout your entire cycle, INCLUDING your PCT regiment.

• Boost Natural Testosterone Production.
• Regulate Estrogen.
• Restore HPTA function.
• Reducing SHBG.
• Control Cortisol Effects.

Over The Counter:  An OTC (Over The Counter) post cycle therapy regiment is not an acceptable PCT for Alpha One, for Alpha One cycles a Research Drug is REQUIRED.

Research Drugs:  The MOST effective PCT regiment is one that includes a prescription/research drug, however some users prefer not to go this route, you may be asking why would someone go another route if this is the most proven and effective PCT method.  There’s various reasons but one to point out is that these drugs aren’t technically available without a prescription, these are also very powerful drugs that can also have their own side effects, notice that I say they aren’t “technically” available that’s because they can be purchased online at research drug sites, I won’t provide you with any links, if you chose to go this route googling for these sites will won’t take you long.

1. Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate).  Comes in Liquid or Pill form.

2. Optional (But highly-recommended):  Competitive Edge Labs – P.C.T Assist

3. Optional (But recommended):  Competitive Edge Labs – Suppress-C

Below is an example PCT when using a research drug (such as Nolvadex aka Tamoxifen Citrate, as we are in this case).

Week 1 Nolvadex 30mg | Week 2-3 Nolvadex 20mg & P.C.T Assist (6 caps) | Week 4 Nolvadex 10mg & P.C.T Assist (6 caps) | Week 5 P.C.T Assist (6 caps)

Example Cycle

This is an example cycle from start to finish to give you an idea how it should look, assumes you’re using Nolvadex.  From start to finish our properly designed cycle will take approximately 10 weeks total.

• Week 1-2:  Pre-load Cycle Support, Cycle Assist or Life Support @ Bottle Recommended dosages.
• Week 3:  Cycle/Life Support | Alpha One 20mg
• Week 4-5:  Cycle/Life Support | Alpha One 40mg
• Week 6:  Cycle/Life Support | Nolvadex 30mg
• Week 7-8:  Cycle/Life Support | Nolvadex 20mg | PCT Assist (6 Caps).
• Week 9:  Cycle/Life Support | Nolvadex 10mg | PCT Assist (6 Caps).
• Week 10:  PCT Assist (6 Caps).

Advanced users running four weeks with higher dosages, simply adjust for the fourth week and higher dosing.

Stacking

Stacking Alpha One with other compounds isn’t incredibly popular as it’s quite strong on it’s own, keep in mind, Alpha One and any subsequent clones (Methyl-1-Alpha, Methyl XT) are methylated, therefore stacking with another methylated compound is NOT recommended under any circumstances.  Alpha One could be stacked with mild non-methylated compounds, most commonly when stacked, it’s with a compound that helps curtail fat gain.  Here are some non-methylated compounds that could be potential stack candidates.

Non-Methylated Compounds (11-OXO, Stanodrol, P-Stanz, Furazadrol, etc)

Supplements

It’s recommended that users supplement with a quality Multi-Vitamin and Fish Oil throughout the ENTIRE cycle.  You should stop taking any other supplements on Cycle as well such as Creatine, NO, Test Boosters and so on, these should be saved for PCT in order to preserve strength.  It’s heavily recommended that during PCT, you add Creatine and a Cell Volumizer type of product.  Supplementing with Protein is highly recommended on cycle.

Interactions

Users who are on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication may experienced increased anxiety/depression while on cycle and during PCT.  It is HEAVILY advised not to drink alcoholic drinks while on Cycle & PCT, doing so will put significant strain on the liver and can result in a major health hazard.  Users should avoid using stimulants on cycle as blood pressure may elevate too high and possibly cause fainting.  In general, avoid starting any new medications while on cycle or just before, if you’re concerned about a possible interaction consult your doctor.  Users should also eat a clean diet on cycle.

Drug Testing

Those being tested for elevated testosterone levels and or lowered estrogen levels will produce a positive test result while on Alpha One, it’s also important to note that if using a research/prescription drug for your PCT regiment, this will also cause a positive test result in many cases.  In the meantime the easiest method for passing a drug test is to purchase synthetic urine online, they come in easy to use kits at many websites and are relatively affordable.

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor.  The information being provided is simply personal opinion.  Anyone under the age of 21 should not consider using any pro-hormone or designer steroid as it can have a negative impact on your life, for life.

Prelude

Both Mass Tabs & Cynostane were legal over the counter designer anabolic steroids that were both based somewhat on the potent superdrol compound. IDS Mass tabs (newer release) and A.I Cynostane were available for a very limited time, at this time they have both recently been pulled from the market making them more difficult to find for purchase.

If you’ve read any of our other compound articles, you’ll notice that we typically cover a single steroid or pro-hormone compound per article, however in this case both Mass Tabs & Cynostane are partially based on superdrol, therefore many of the same principles apply to both Mass Tabs & Cynostane, we also felt neither compounds needed an individual bible written about them due to their limited availability.

Mass Tabs by IDS.

The ‘new’ Mass Tabs were released by IDS in 2009, at the time of it’s release many assumed it contained the compound methyl-sten, but FCC and third party testing has confirmed that Mass Tabs contains the potent steroid Superdrol. Unfortunately to this date, there is no factual information as to how much Superdrol it contains per capsule, as their formula is proprietary, however estimates have put it in the 10-20mg range, we believe it’s roughly 15mg (per capsule) range and that seems to be the general consensus.

In light of this, Mass Tabs should be treated in an identical fashion to Superdrol (2a,17a di methyl etiocholan 3-one, 17b-ol) in regards to your regiment and expectations, however we will discuss that a bit more shortly.

General Opinion: Mass Tabs typically gets excellent feedback with gains comparable to superdrol (depending on comparable doses) with slightly less occurrence of side effects.  It is still possible to purchase Mass Tabs on sites such as Ebay however it is a bit expensive due to the high demand and low availability.

Cynostane by Anabolic Innovations.

Cynostane was introduced by Anabolic Innovations as part of their new “black label” in late 2009, however it was discontinued shortly after it’s release due to recent activity by the FDA regarding designer steroid supplements.  Cynostane doesn’t actually contain superdrol like Mass Tabs does, nor is it the same exact nomenclature but cynostane does share a very similar chemical structure with superdrol.  Let’s briefly analyze the two.

• 2a,17a-dimethyl-17b-hydroxy-5a-androstan-3-one (Superdrol)
• 2-cyano-17a-methyl-17b-hydroxy-5a-androst-3-one (Cyanostane)

The most important difference here is that cynostane is not dimethylated with a cyano group at the 2 position.  Despite the very similar structure, any modification to a structure can change the compounds intended results, therefore Cynostane shouldn’t be viewed as “comparable” to Superdrol, but instead viewed as a relative, they share some properties but have differences.

General Opinion: Don’t expect superdrol caliber results, Cynostane is noticeably weaker than superdrol in regards to results, but has a much lower risk of side effects and in the event of side effects they’re typically much more manageable.  Cynostane seems to be hit or miss, with some folks reporting excellent results and others reporting very little.

Cycle Health Support

Both Mass Tabs & Cynostane are oral based steroids that are processed by the liver, in addition they’re both methylated which puts additional strain on the liver, in the case of Mass Tabs it will be more harmful to the liver than Cynostane so take slightly more precaution.  Since both Mass Tabs & Cynostane share similarities with superdrol, they should both be considered potentially very powerful steroidal supplements, which can negatively impact blood pressure, liver function, lipid values, cholesterol levels and will put strain on the bodies endocrine system, there is also additional less serious side effects that we will discuss later.  Most of these negative side effects have been present in steroid usage for decades, luckily over the years preventative herbal supplementation has been vastly improved to provide our bodies with protection for our livers, lipid values, cholesterol levels and help control adverse blood pressure effects. All-in-one cycle protection products have existed for several years and should be a staple in any steroid or pro-hormone cycle, therefore an all-in-one will be our basis for on cycle health support and is required for a proper mass tabs or cynostane cycle.

1. Anabolic Innovations – Cycle Support (Powder)
2. Anabolic Innovations – Life Support (Capsules)
3. Competitive Edge Labs – Cycle Assist (Capsules)

Either of the three are suitable choices, cost should be the deciding factor or whether you prefer capsules or powder. A general rule of thumb is to pre-load either of the products two weeks prior to beginning your cycle and continue to use throughout the entire cycle from start to finish, buy accordingly so you have enough on hand. These products will assist your body with maintaining healthy blood pressure, prostate health, liver function and lipid profile by utilizing popular herbs such as Hawthorn Berry (BP), NAC (liver), Milk Thistle (liver), Saw Palmetto (prostate) among others. Please follow the manufactures recommended dosage (as per bottle) as it’s the dosage known to work best.

Where as with many cycles, one of the products above would be sufficient on it’s own for cycle protection, however for Mass Tabs & Cynostane it’s recommended to take the route “better safe than sorry” and provide our bodies with additional protection by supplementing with the following.

1. LiverCare (Liv.52) – Provides strong liver protection in conjunction with an “all-in-one” product, very affordable at under $23 for a large 180-count bottle. For Mass Tabs cycles 3 capsules per day and for Cynostane 1-2 capsules per day, use throughout the duration of the “on” period, carry into PCT as well.

For more information on combating other common on-cycle sides please read our article combating cycle sides.

Mass Tabs Dosing & Results

Mass Tabs seem adequately dosed based upon IDS’s recommendation of one pill per day, most users report excellent results at one pill daily with minimal side effects.  Advanced users with past superdrol or mass tabs experience can experiment with dosages up to two pills per day, however at this point the cost factor and risk of side effects may out weigh any benefits of two pills daily versus one.

Mass Tab cycles are almost always four weeks in length as this was IDS recommendation and it seems to be the ideal length, so we recommend it, some users have ran successful cycles that were three weeks in length as well and there have been some reports of highly experienced steroid users running five weeks (although not recommended).  Like Superdrol begins to work relatively quickly, on average users typically begin seeing noticeable strength and muscle gains by week two, it should be taken simultaneously with fish or flax seed oil to enhance absorption.

Results will depend on the users diet, experience and training regiment, Mass Tabs work best when used in a Bulk due to it’s ability to help pack on the “dry” lean muscle at a vastly increased rate when eating a high protein caloric surplus diet.  With a proper diet and lifting regiment gains typically range between 10lbs to 15lbs at one capsule daily for four weeks, the ‘gain’ ranges above are considered somewhat normal, however some users have reported gains in upwards of 20lbs and some less than 10lbs.

Cynostane Dosing & Results

Cynostane is adequately dosed therefore a large amount isn’t required to obtain desirable results, for some, Cynostane seems to be hit or miss with some users loving the compound and others not seeing results that meets expectations.  The most common dosing regiment is 30mg (3 capsules) daily for four weeks (30/30/30/30) and it’s generally recommended to stick with this, however more advanced users can and have ran cycles at 40mg daily (4 capsules) for four weeks or five week cycles at 30mg daily.  In the event you decide on 40mg daily, run the first two weeks at 30mg daily and the final two weeks at 40mg daily.

Cynostane begins working relatively quickly, on average users typically begin seeing noticeable strength and muscle gains sometime around week two, it should be taken simultaneously with fish or flax seed oil to enhance absorption.  Cynostane has a relatively short half life at around 6-7 hours, therefore to keep a consistent level in the blood stream, if possible split your dosages by 5-6 hours each day.

Results will depend on the users diet, experience and training regiment, Cynostane works well in in a bulk or recomp due to it’s ability to help pack on “dry” lean muscle with minimal (if any) water retention.  Typically gains range between 7lbs to 10lbs at 30mg daily for four weeks, in some cases users have reported gains in upwards to 15lbs+ and in other cases some reported gains less than 5lbs, but typically a poor diet is the culprit for lack of gains.

Common Side Effects

The occurrence rate of side effects while using Mass Tabs would be from semi-mild to moderate and with Cynostane would be mild to semi-moderate, however they’re completely user unique, some users may not experience any side effects, while other users will experience a combination of sides. It should be noted that the majority of these side effects are simply of inconvenience more so than a possible health affecting issue and for the most part can be resolved through simple supplementation, take sometime to read our article on combating side effects.

• Decreased Libido/Sexual Function
• Lethargy / Fatigue
• Increased hair growth / Increased hair shedding
• Puffy / Sensitive Nipples
• Joint Discomfort
• Back Pumps (Dull pain in back after/during workouts)
• Increased aggression, head aches, flushing and various other sides can happen as well.

Post Cycle Therapy

Possibly the most important item on the menu is post cycle therapy, when taking a foreign substance that creates testosterone your body begins to shut down it’s normal production, when you stop taking a pro-hormone or steroid compound your body needs a way to jump start it’s own natural production again, while limiting endocrine system stress, this is why we need post cycle therapy. It’s not just as simple as that however, when coming off of a compound your body goes through a very stressful phase as your hormones are out of balance, failure to mitigate these imbalances can result in a unique set of side effects not related to the steroid or pro-hormone compound. Below is just a *few* of the noted side effects of an improper post cycle therapy regiment, it should also be noted that the occurrence of side effects in the post cycle stage is more common than the “on-cycle” phase, however a properly planned post cycle therapy regiment can mitigate these risks.

• Gynecomastia / Gyno (or Man Boobs)
• Anxiety/Depression (Can range mild to severe)
• Body Aches/Pains (Can range mild to severe)
• Impotence and other sexual function side effects.
• Loss of gains made on cycle.

As you can see, these are side affects we definitely want to avoid at all costs, so let’s start discussing a proper Mass Tabs & Cynostane PCT (Post Cycle Therapy).

Post Cycle General: You should begin your PCT regiment immediately after your pro-hormone or designer anabolic steroid cycle, it should begin the day after your last dosage of Mass Tabs or Cynostane. PCT regiments are typically 4-6 weeks depending on the type of compound being used, user and type of PCT. As noted in the previous section under “Maintaining Health”, you should continue to use Life Support, Cycle Assist or Cycle Support throughout your entire cycle, INCLUDING your PCT regiment.

• Boost Natural Testosterone Production.
• Regulate Estrogen.
• Restore HPTA function.
• Reducing SHBG.
• Control Cortisol Effects.

Over The Counter: An OTC (Over The Counter) post cycle therapy regiment is NOT an acceptable PCT for Mass Tabs or Cynostane, for either of these cycles a Research Drug is REQUIRED. Some users will argue that in some cases an OTC PCT will suffice, but it’s not worth the risk, go with a SERM (prescription grade) PCT and feel confident.

Research Drugs: The MOST effective PCT regiment is one that includes a prescription/research drug, however some users prefer not to go this route, you may be asking why would someone go another route if this is the most proven and effective PCT method. There’s various reasons but one to point out is that these drugs aren’t technically available without a prescription, these are also very powerful drugs that can also have their own side effects, notice that I say they aren’t “technically” available that’s because they can be purchased online at research drug sites, we can’t provide you with any links, if you chose to go this route googling for these sites will won’t take you long.

1. Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate). Comes in Liquid or Pill form.

2. Highly-recommended: Competitive Edge Labs – P.C.T Assist or Purus Labs ReCycle.

Below is an IDEAL PCT when using a research drug (such as Nolvadex aka Tamoxifen Citrate, as we are in this case).

1. Week 1:  30mg daily of Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate)
2. Week 2:  20mg daily of Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate)
3. Week 3-4:  10mg daily of Nolvadex & PCT Assist or ReCycle (as per bottle)
4. Week 5-6:  PCT Assist or ReCycle (as per bottle)

Supplements

It’s recommended that users supplement with a quality Multi-Vitamin and Fish Oil throughout the ENTIRE cycle, keep something on hand for your joints in the event you experience some discomfort Universal Animal Flex works wonders. You should stop taking any other supplements on Cycle as well such as Creatine, NO, Test Boosters and so on, these should be saved for PCT in order to preserve strength. It’s heavily recommended that during PCT, you add Creatine and a Cell Volumizer type of product. Supplementing with Protein is highly recommended on cycle

Interactions

Users who are on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication may experienced increased anxiety/depression while on cycle and during PCT. It is HEAVILY advised not to drink alcoholic drinks while on Cycle & PCT, doing so will put significant strain on the liver and can result in a major health hazard. Users should avoid using stimulants on cycle as blood pressure may elevate too high and possibly cause fainting. In general, avoid starting any new medications while on cycle or just before, if you’re concerned about a possible interaction consult your doctor. Users should also eat a clean diet on cycle.

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor. We do not condone steroid usage, this information being provided is simply personal opinion.

Prelude

Prostanozol & Orastan-E are both non-alkylated legal pro-hormones/designer-steroids that are variations of the anabolic steroid Stanozolol (aka Winstrol). Prostanozol was originally brought to market by ALRI in 2005 and was later cloned by Gaspari Nutrition later that year and sold as Orastan-E, since then it has been cloned by several other companies, but most recently it was cloned by Competitive Edge Labs and sold as “P-Stanz”. Regardless of the clone at hand the compound should be as follows ([3,2-c]pyrazole-5alpha-etioallocholane-17beta-tetrahydropyranol) and since at this point Competitive Edge Labs P-Stanz is the most readily available clone that’s of high quality we will be using it as our primary reference throughout this article.

Introduction

Orastan-E/P-Stanz is one of the mildest compounds available which makes it a great fit for first timers looking to get their feet wet in the world of pro-hormones and anabolic steroids, it’s also non-methylated therefore liver issues aren’t a major concern. Unfortunately because it’s on the mild side, it’s not incredibly effective when used stand alone by users that are bulking, it typically works best when stacked with a stronger methylated steroid or pro-hormone for those looking to bulk up. It’s can be quite effective (even stand alone) when being used by those cutting or re-comping (building some muscle while losing fat) it should be noted however that this compound isn’t often ran solo, in nearly all cases it’s stacked with another compound for better results.

Maintaining Health

Orastan-E/P-Stanz remains one of the mildest compounds on the market, side effects typically aren’t common however as with other pro-hormones/designer-steroids there’s always some risk of side effects, thus properly planning for common side effects will help reduce any occurrences. Luckily many herbal based supplements have been scientifically shown to produce desirable results when it comes to Blood Pressure, Liver Function and Lipid profiles. Over the years several companies have begun creating “all-in-one” products designed specifically for prohormone and designer steroid cycles, these products have been a staple in thousands of users cycles with excellent results including blood work to backup their effectiveness. Therefore ANYONE running a cycle of Orastan-E/P-Stanz should use one of the following products throughout the entire Cycle.

1. Anabolic Innovations – Life Support (Capsules)
2. Anabolic Innovations – Cycle Support (Powder)
3. Competitive Edge Labs – Cycle Assist (Capsules)

All threeare, for the most part, identical products the biggest difference is the form and cost, whether you prefer to take pills or powder. A general rule of thumb is to pre-load either one (Life Support or Cycle Support) one week prior to beginning your cycle and all the way through until the end, so buy accordingly so that you have enough on hand. These products will assist your body with maintaining healthy blood pressure, liver function and lipid profile. If running Orastan-E/P-Stanz solo, you can reduce the Life/Cycle support dosage by 25% to conserve money.

Dosing

For first time users it’s recommended to begin with 100mg daily then slowly work it up to around 150mg which is the most popular dosing.  Experienced users with past pro-hormone or designer steroid experience can experiment with dosages up towards 250mg, however the added benefit may be negligible compared to the added sides at higher dosages.  Regardless of past experience, users running Prostanozol/P-Stanz as part of a ‘stack’ should keep the dosage around 150mg.

Most users begin to experience the effects of Prostanozol/P-Stanz around week 2-3 of the cycle, therefore most cycles are typically 5-6 weeks in length to take advantage of the late kick in.  Advanced users shouldn’t run Prostanozol/P-Stanz any longer than 7 weeks in length, when being used in a stack Prostanozol/P-Stanz shouldn’t be ran any longer than six weeks, regardless of the circumstances.

Unfortunately, Prostanozol/P-Stanz has a relatively short half life (around 5-8 hours) therefore you should split up your dosages to compensate.  For example, if you’re running 150mg daily, you would be best served by taking one 50mg pill in the morning, one 50mg pill in the afternoon and one 50mg pill several hours before bed.  Overall you should aim to take a dosage every 6-8 hours, in some cases taking a dosage close to bed may disrupt normal sleep patterns, adjust to what fits your schedule.

Common Side Effects

Side effects with Prostanozol/P-Stanz aren’t common, when used stand alone, however as always with any designer steroid or pro-hormone side effects can occur and in most cases they’re simply a controllable inconvenience.  The following are a listing of some possible side effects with Prostanozol/P-Stanz.

• Decreased or Increased Libido/Sexual Function
• Anxiety / Stimulated Feeling
• Hair shedding / Thinning
• Slightly increased Blood Pressure
• Back Pumps (Dull pain in back after/during workouts)

Typical Results

Results will vary based upon the dosage, however at ANY dosage Prostanozol/P-Stanz will assist with decreasing bodyfat, increase muscle hardness, enhance recovery and improve vascularity.

• When used in a bulking diet, users may see gains somewhere in the 3-5lb neighborhood on a 6 week cycle at 150mg.
• When used in a recomp diet, users may see gains somewhere in the 2-3lb neighborhood while simultaneously losing 1-2% bodyfat on a 6 week cycle at 150mg.
• When used in a cutting diet, users may see gains somewhere in the 1-2lb neighborhood while losing 1-3% bodyfat on a 6 week cycle at 150mg.

These ranges are considered common, however some users may experience gains in upwards of 8+lbs and some users may not experience many noticeable gains at all, however lack of results is typically a result of poor diet and workout regiment.

Stacking

Prostanozol/P-Stanz and clones are incredibly popular stackers, this is because they’re mild and non-methylated which allows users to stack this compound with popular methylated compounds such as Halodrol.  Prostanozol/P-Stanz is most commonly used by users who are bulking while using other stronger compounds (i.e H-Drol, BOLD), with the addition of Prostanozol/P-Stanz users can bulk with less worries of fat gain (Prostanozol/P-Stanz will help reduce fat gains while bulking).  Users using Prostanozol/P-Stanz simply for it’s noted fat control during a bulk can get away with running lower dosages (i.e 100mg) as it’s effective for that application at this dosage.  Below is a short list of several compounds Prostanozol/P-Stanz is commonly stacked with.

1. Methylated Compounds (Halodrol, H-Drol, P-mag, Superdrol, M-Drol, Epistane, Havoc, etc)
2. Non-Methylated Compounds (BOLD, 11-OXO, Tren, 3-AD, Furazadrol, etc)

Post Cycle Therapy

Giving your body time to adjust is incredibly important and thus post cycle therapy is incredibly important when taking a hormonal compound such as Prostanozol/P-Stanz and other Orastan-E clones.  Once you stop taking a designer steroid or pro-hormone your body goes through a change of hormones and puts stress on your endocrine system, with a properly planned PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) we assist our body with easing back into normal function.  Failure to follow a properly planned PCT can result in undesirable side effects such as.

• Gynecomastia (or Man Boobs)
• Anxiety/Depression
• Weight ‘fat’ Gain / Muscle Loss
• Body Aches/Pains
• Impotent / Sexual Side Effects

As you can see, these are side affects we definitely want to avoid at all costs, so let’s start discussing a proper Prostanozol(Post Cycle Therapy).

Post Cycle General:  You should begin your PCT regiment immediately after your pro-hormmone or designer steroid cycle, it should begin the day after your last dosage of Prostanozol/P-Stanz.  PCT regiments are typically 4-6 weeks depending on the type of compound being used, user and type of PCT.  As noted in the previous section under “Maintaining Health”, you should continue to use Life Support or Cycle Support throughout your entire cycle, INCLUDING your PCT regiment.  During PCT we effectively want to achieve the following…

• Boost Natural Testosterone Production.
• Regulate Estrogen.
• Restore HPTA function.
• Reducing SHBG.
• Control Cortisol Effects.

Over The Counter:  An OTC (Over The Counter) post cycle therapy regiment is simply that, a PCT that consists with strictly over the counter products that can be bought at major supplement outlets such as BodyBuilding.com or stores such as Vitaminshoppe or GNC.  Since Prostanozol/P-Stanz is a relatively non-suppressive and mild compound, an over the counter PCT is acceptable for dosages in the 50-100mg range, users utilizing a dosage of 150mg should consider going with a SERM, using Prostanozol/P-Stanz in a stack requires a SERM.  In general if you have access to a SERM such as Nolvadex or Clomid, regardless of the dosage, a SERM is the most effective PCT method.

1. Competitive Edge Labs – PCT Assist.  An ALL purpose PCT product that will help boost testosterone production, help balance hormones and assist with estrogen regulation.
2. SNS Inhibit-E.  An affordable effective estrogen inhibitor.

When using an over the counter Prostanozol/P-Stanz PCT, it’s recommended to run a 4 to 6-week PCT regiment, assuming you were using the products above, here is how you would schedule your PCT.

Week 1-2 PCT Assist |   Week 2-4 PCT Assist, Inhibit-E.  |  Week 4-6 Inhibit-E

Research Drugs:  The MOST effective PCT regiment is one that includes a SERM perscription/research drug, however some users prefer not to go this route, as they are “experimental” drugs and can have their own side effects.  As such with a compound such as Prostanozol/P-Stanz a research drug really isn’t needed except for users running dosages at or above 350mg.  To obtain a SERM you’ll need a prescription or sometime to research on google regarding research drugs, as they can be purchased legally if being used for research purposes.

1. Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate).  Comes in Liquid or Pill form.

Below is an example PCT when using a research drug (such as Nolvadex aka Tamoxifen Citrate, as we are in this case).

Week 1-2 Nolvadex 20mg  |  Week 2-4 Nolvadex 10mg

Example Cycle

This is an example cycle from start to finish to give you an idea how it should look, assumes you’re going with a prescription drug for PCT.  From start to finish our properly designed cycle will take approximately 12 weeks total, this cycle assumes you’re running Prostanozol/P-Stanz for 5 weeks at 150mg per day.

• Week 1:  Pre-load Cycle Support or Life Support @ Bottle Recommended dosages.
• Week 2:  Cycle Support or Life Support | Prostanozol/P-Stanz @ 100mg daily
• Week 3-6:  Cycle/Life Support | Prostanozol/P-Stanz @ 150mg daily
• Week 7-8:  Cycle/Life Support | PCT Assist
• Week 9-10:  Cycle/Life Support | PCT Assist | Inhibit-E (or other AI/Estrogen Control)
• Week 11-12:  Inhibit-E (or other AI/Estrogen Control)

Drug Testing

Those being tested for elevated testosterone levels and or lowered estrogen levels will produce a positive test result while on Prostanozol/P-Stanz, it’s also important to note that if using a research/perscription drug for your PCT regiment, this will also cause a positive test result in many cases.

Supplements

It’s recommended that users supplement with a quality Multi-Vitamin and Fish Oil throughout the ENTIRE cycle.  You should stop taking any other supplements on Cycle as well such as Creatine, NO, Test Boosters and so on, these should be saved for PCT in order to preserve strength and gains.  It’s heavily recommended that during PCT, you add Creatine and a Cell Volumizer type of prodct.  Supplementing with Protein is highly recommended on cycle

Interactions

Users who are on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication may experienced increased anxiety/depression while on cycle and during PCT.  Users should avoid using stimulants on cycle as blood pressure may elevate too high and possibly cause nose bleeds or even in some rare cases fainting.  In general, avoid starting any new medications while on cycle or just before, if you’re concerned about a possible interaction consult your doctor.  Users should also eat a clean diet on cycle and limit their alcohol intake significantly (best option would be to discontinue usage).

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor.  The information being provided is simply personal opinion.

Prelude
If you’ve read any of our articles you’ll know we are big time SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator) preachers, most knowledgeable users strongly advocate their usage in PCT (post cycle therapy). The biggest reason behind the advocacy for SERMs during PCT is that they have proven to be incredibly effective when used during the PCT phase of an anabolic steroid or pro-hormone cycle, in fact bodybuilders have been using SERMs for well over a decade, there is a long line of history backing up their effectiveness.

This article assumes that you understand the necessity for a properly planned post cycle therapy regiment.

SERMinology
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) are a class of compounds that act on the estrogen receptor, as you may know during the post cycle phase your body begins to restart it’s natural hormone production, most steroid compounds suppress estrogen, therefore during the PCT phase estrogen levels will inevitably increase. Too much estrogen, too soon can lead to estrogenic symptoms such as gynecomastia, weight gain, muscle loss and so on, we obviously want to avoid these at all costs therefore a SERM in PCT is incredibly effective.

There has been a lot of talk lately about using over the counter herbal based supplements for post cycle recovery, while for some cycles this may suffice, using a SERM offers quite a few advantages, here are just a few.

1. Quicker recovery
2. Proven recovery
3. Helps maintain muscle gains made on cycle
4. Low Gynecomastia risk

Downside
There are some downsides to using SERM’s mostly because they can’t be purchased over the counter, you will either need a prescription from your doctor or you’ll need to find a trustworthy research chemical site that sells SERMs for research purposes, these sites are relatively easy to come by however.

In addition SERMs are prescription drugs that may present their own side effects, just like any other medication, therefore you should understand some of the risks and potential side effects while using a SERM. While the chance of the following is low, it’s still worth noting that some of the more serious side effects can cause blood clots, stroke or endometrial cancer. Some of the more common and mild side effects associated with SERMs can be grouped into the following short list.

1. Fatigue/Lethargy
2. Hot Flashes / Night Sweats
3. Mood Swings
4. Chest Tightening / Shortness of Breath
5. Dizziness / Headaches

Nolvadex (Tamoxifden Citrate)
Nolvadex is the golden standard among steroid users, it’s by far the most popular SERM being used for post cycle therapy. Nolvadex was discovered in the 1960s however wasn’t approved for medical usage in the US until the late 1980s, today, it’s most typically prescribed to women and men who have breast cancer as it’s shown to be quite effective when used in that capacity. In short Nolvadex when used post cycle, will keep estrogen levels at bay and help to restore our bodies natural testosterone production. Nolvadex has quite a long half life at around 5-7 days, therefore even after the last dosage it will continue to be effective.

Nolvadex can reduce IGF-1 levels by up to20% but it’s also a benefit to cholesterol levels making the trade-off acceptable.  It’s also been suggested that Nolvadex can up-regulate progesterone receptors making Nolvadex a less than ideal PCT choice for progesterone based compounds such as Tren.

The standard dosing of Nolvadex for most cycles is 20mg/20/mg/10mg/10mg that’s the daily dosage for weeks one through four respectively. For the harshest compounds users can run either 30mg/20mg/20mg/10mg for four weeks or alternatively 20mg/20mg/20m/10mg/10mg for five weeks. Below is an easier to understand four week Nolvadex PCT for the common cycle.

• Week 1:   20mg daily
• Week 2:   20mg daily
• Week 3:  10mg daily
• Week 4:  10mg daily

Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate)

Clomid only takes a back seat to Nolvadex in terms of it’s popularity among steroid users, Clomid is most typically prescribed as a fertility drug for women and is the most prescribed drug for such uses.  Clomid while works slightly differently than Nolvadex will deliver the same results, it should be noted that one major benefit of Clomid is it typically works faster than Nolvadex however based on studies is slightly less effective than Nolvadex.  Clomid is the ideal choice for progesterone based compounds such as Tren, as Clomid has no progesterone up-regulating properties.  Clomid carries a long half life as well at 5-7 days, therefore even after the last dosage, it will remain effective for an extended period of time.

The standard dosing of Clomid for most cycles is 50mg/50/mg/25mg/25mg that’s the daily dosage for weeks one through four respectively. For the harshest compounds users can run either 75mg/50mg/50mg/25mg for four weeks.  Below is an easier to understand four week Nolvadex PCT for the common cycle.

• Week 1:  50mg daily
• Week 2:  50mg daily
• Week 3:  25mg daily
• Week 4:  25mg daily
  

Fareston (Toremifene Citrate)

Fareston is more comparable to Nolvadex than Clomid, they both work in a similar fashion.  Like Nolvadex, Fareston has been around for quite a while and has been in usage for more than 20 years as a breast cancer treatment, it’s also pending approval for treatment of prostate cancer.  There are also studies being performed to tests the drugs commercial viability as a gynecomastia and the lipid profile restoration, this further backs up it’s usage during post cycle therapy.  Fareston users have a greater percentage chance of experiencing side effects when compared to other SERMS and additionally the range of side effects with Fareston outnumber those of Clomid or Nolvadex.  With that said, Fareston is incredibly effective and may be the most potent SERM available, but is probably only a worthwhile choice on the harshest cycles such as Superdrol (and in any case Nolvadex will suffice).

Fareston standard dosing for most cycles is 90/60/60/30 (Week1/Week2/Week3/Week4) this will suffice for nearly ALL cycles. For the strongest cycles users can run 120/90/60/30 (4 weeks) or 90mg/90mg/60mg/60mg/30mg (5 weeks)

• Week 1:  90mg daily
• Week 2:  60mg daily
• Week 3:  60mg daily
• Week 4:  30mg daily

The Selection

The golden standard for post cycle therapy SERMs has been Nolvadex, in nearly all cases it’s the recommended SERM of choice due to it’s effectiveness and low risk of side effects and it’s among the cheapest.  Clomid is effective as well and is generally the preferred PCT for progesterone based compounds such as Tren.

You may be asking yourself how to improve upon a SERM based PCT, it’s certainly possible and if you have the money, it’s definitely viable.  Typically in most of our articles we layout a PCT that includes a SERM and also Competitive Edge Labs PCT Assist, to improve your SERM based PCT, start taking PCT assist around week two of your PCT, follow the bottles dosing recommendations as well.

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor. The information being provided is simply personal opinion.

Tren is a popular over-the-counter anabolic steroid/pro-hormone, Tren is one of the more storied compounds on the market and also one of the most confusing as they’re are four separate compounds that are commonly referred to as Tren.  However two of the forms (17b-methoxy-trenbolone) and (13-ethyl-3-methoxy-gona-2,5(10)-diene-17-one) have been discontinued or are non-existent.

This article primarily covers the two most popular and available forms (estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione) and (19-Norandrosta4,9diene-3,17dione) both of these compounds should be treated as being identical, these two include products such as….

1. Competitive Edge Labs – X-Tren
2. Fast Action – Trena

Many others have been discontinued to FDA pressure, but at the time of this posting, both of the above could be found online for purchase from major supplement vendors.  Just to note throughout this article we will be using competitive edge labs x-tren as our source for Tren and the article is being written around x-tren but other ‘tren’ products should be interchangeable.

Health Protection

Tren is a non-methylated compound, however despite this Tren is quite possibly the strongest non-methylated product available and carries our Class III rating.  Therefore it will negatively impact blood pressure, lipid values, cholesterol levels and will put strain on the bodies endocrine system, there is also additional less serious side effects that we will discuss later.  Most of these negative side effects have been present in steroid usage for decades, luckily over the years preventative herbal supplementation has been vastly improved to provide our bodies with protection for our lipid values, cholesterol levels and help control adverse blood pressure effects.  All-in-one cycle protection products have existed for several years and should be a staple in any steroid or pro-hormone cycle, therefore an all-in-one will be our basis for on cycle health support and is required for a proper cycle

1. Anabolic Innovations – Cycle Support (Powder)
2. Anabolic Innovations – Life Support (Capsules)
3. Competitive Edge Labs – Cycle Assist (Capsules)

Either of the three are suitable choices, cost should be the deciding factor or whether you prefer capsules or powder. A general rule of thumb is to pre-load either of the products two weeks prior to beginning your cycle and continue to use throughout the entire cycle from start to finish, buy accordingly so you have enough on hand. These products will assist your body with maintaining healthy blood pressure, prostate health, liver function and lipid profile by utilizing popular herbs such as Hawthorn Berry (BP), NAC (liver), Milk Thistle (liver), Saw Palmetto (prostate) among others. Please follow the manufactures recommended dosage (as per bottle) as it’s the dosage known to work best.

One of the potential downside’s of Tren is the potential of progestin induced gyno or flare ups of existing gyno cases, while rare, we need to take this into consideration.  Therefore we recommend all users run P-5-P on cycle, follow the recommended dosage on the bottle, if you experience any flare ups, bump the dosage into the 150-250mg range.

Dosing

Tren needs to be dosed relatively high to be at it’s peak efficiency, cycles are typically 4-7 weeks in length, however for the most part 6 weeks is considered to be the sweet spot.  We recommend that new Tren users start with a 5 week cycle.  Regardless of experience we don’t believe users should experiment with dosages any higher than 120mg, past this point the added health risk versus benefits simply aren’t worth the risk.

Tren dosing for new users:

Week1: 60mg / per day | Week 2-5: 90mg

Tren dosing for experienced users:

Week1: 90mg / per day | Week 2-6: 120mg / per day

We recommend splitting the dosages with one being taken in the morning and another around dinner (or preferably before workout).  Advanced users can experiment with cycles in the 7-8 week range but as we often mention, the longer the cycle the longer you’re putting your health at risk keep it short and sweet and effective and 6 weeks gives you all of that.  The dosing above is based on x-tren which is 30mg per pill, in the event you’re using another designer compound other than x-tren that has 20mg per pill, adjust your dosing to get as close to the numbers above.

Common Side Effects

The occurrence rate of side effects while using Tren would be from semi-mild to somewhat common, however they’re completely user unique, some users may not experience any side effects, while other users will experience a combination of sides. It should be noted that the majority of these side effects are simply of inconvenience more so than a possible health affecting issue and for the most part can be resolved through simple supplementation, take sometime to read our article on combating side effects.

• Decreased Libido/Sexual Function
• Lethargy / Fatigue
• Increased hair growth / Increased hair shedding
• Puffy / Sensitive Nipples (Potential Gyno Flares as well)
• Joint Discomfort
• Back Pumps (Dull pain in back after/during workouts)
• Increased aggression, head aches, flushing and various other sides can happen as well.

Typical Results

Results will vary based upon the dosage, experience, diet and many other factors, in general Tren will provide exceptional lean body mass gains, incredible strength gains and endurance in the gym.  Tren is most well known for it’s ability to quickly and extensively increase strength throughout the duration of a cycle, it works well in any circumstance whether cutting, bulking or recomping.

• When used in a bulking diet, gains can range from 9-14lbs on a 6 week cycle at 90mg.
• When used in a recomp diet, gains can range from 6-8lbs on a 6 week cycle at 90mg, while also possibly reducing body fat.
• When used in a cutting diet, gains can range from 2-4lbs on a 6 week cycle at 90mg, while also possibly reducing body fat.

The ‘gain’ ranges above are considered somewhat normal, however some users have reported gains in upwards of 20lbs and some users may not experience many noticeable gains at all, results are largely dictated by diet.  Gains are based on a lot of factors, but most importantly, keep your calorie intake very high throughout the cycle to maximize gains and don’t forget to lift hard & heavy with appropriate form.

Post Cycle Therapy

Possibly the most important item on the menu is post cycle therapy, when taking a foreign substance that creates testosterone your body begins to shut down it’s normal production, when you stop taking a pro-hormone or steroid compound your body needs a way to jump start it’s own natural production again, while limiting endocrine system stress, this is why we need post cycle therapy. It’s not just as simple as that however, when coming off of a compound your body goes through a very stressful phase as your hormones are out of balance, failure to mitigate these imbalances can result in a unique set of side effects not related to the tren compound. Below is just a *few* of the noted side effects of an improper post cycle therapy regiment, it should also be noted that the occurrence of side effects in the post cycle stage is more common than the “on-cycle” phase, however a properly planned post cycle therapy regiment can mitigate these risks.

• Gynecomastia / Gyno (or Man Boobs)
• Anxiety/Depression (Can range mild to severe)
• Body Aches/Pains (Can range mild to severe)
• Impotence and other sexual function side effects.
• Loss of gains made on cycle.

As you can see, these are side affects we definitely want to avoid at all costs, so let’s start discussing a proper Tren PCT (Post Cycle Therapy).

Post Cycle General: You should begin your PCT regiment immediately after your pro-hormone or designer steroid cycle, it should begin the day after your last dosage of tren. PCT regiments are typically 4-6 weeks depending on the type of compound being used, user and type of PCT. As noted in the previous section under “Maintaining Health”, you should continue to use Life Support, Cycle Assist or Cycle Support throughout your entire cycle, INCLUDING your PCT regiment.

• Boost Natural Testosterone Production.
• Regulate Estrogen.
• Restore HPTA function.
• Reducing SHBG.
• Control Cortisol Effects.

Over The Counter: An OTC (Over The Counter) post cycle therapy regiment is NOT an acceptable PCT for Tren, for Tren cycles a Research Drug is REQUIRED. Some users will argue that in some cases an OTC PCT will suffice for Tren, but it’s not worth the risk, go with a SERM (prescription grade) PCT and feel confident that your body will recover.

Research Drugs: The MOST effective PCT regiment is one that includes a prescription/research drug, however some users prefer not to go this route, you may be asking why would someone go another route if this is the most proven and effective PCT method. There’s various reasons but one to point out is that these drugs aren’t technically available without a prescription, these are also very powerful drugs that can also have their own side effects, notice that I say they aren’t “technically” available that’s because they can be purchased online at research drug sites, we can’t provide you with any links, if you chose to go this route googling for these sites will won’t take you long.  We recommend using Clomid with Tren as it interacts with progesterone differently than Nolvadex, which helps with Gyno prevention.

1.  Clomid. Comes in Liquid or Pill form.

2.  Competitive Edge Labs – P.C.T Assist

Below is an example PCT when using the research drug Clomid.

Product	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5
Clomid	75mg	50mg	50mg	25mg	none
PCT Assist	5 capsules	5 capsules	5 capsules	5 capsules	4 capsules

Example Cycle

This is an example cycle from start to finish to give you an idea how it should look, assumes you’re using Clomid. From start to finish our properly designed cycle will take approximately 11 weeks total.  Don’t forget to include P-5-P if you chose the follow that recommendation.

Stacking

Tren is incredibly effective on it’s own but due to it’s non-methylated status it’s frequently stacked with other methylated steroids such as halodrol (h-drol) and epistane (e-stane), keep in mind if deciding to stack a methylated compound with Tren, we recommend also introducing Nolvadex into your PCT.

Supplements

It’s recommended that users supplement with a quality Multi-Vitamin and Fish Oil throughout the ENTIRE cycle, keep something on hand for your joints in the event you experience some discomfort Universal Animal Flex works wonders. You should stop taking any other supplements on Cycle as well such as Creatine, NO, Test Boosters and so on, these should be saved for PCT in order to preserve strength. It’s heavily recommended that during PCT, you add Creatine and a Cell Volumizer type of product. Supplementing with Protein is highly recommended on cycle

Interactions

Users who are on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication may experienced increased anxiety/depression while on cycle and during PCT. It is HEAVILY advised not to drink alcoholic drinks while on Cycle & PCT, doing so will put significant strain on the liver and can result in a major health hazard. Users should avoid using stimulants on cycle as blood pressure may elevate too high and possibly cause fainting. In general, avoid starting any new medications while on cycle or just before, if you’re concerned about a possible interaction consult your doctor. Users should also eat a clean diet on cycle.

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor. The information being provided is simply personal opinion.

Halodrol & Bold Cycle – Intro
Winter continues to be the most popular periods of time to bulk up and with winter starting to kick into full gear we want to really take advantage of this time to pack on as much mass as possible before we have to switch gears for the warmer weather. We wanted to put together a good stack how-to based on two of the more popular designer steroids/pro-hormones available BOLD (1,4AD) & H-DROL (Halodrol) for even better bulking results users can replace h-drol with p-mag (promagon) as they’re entirely interchangeable.

This stack is not for novices, ideally this stack would be for someone who has completed 2-3 successful cycles previously, when you’re just getting started out there’s no need to stack compounds. We are running both of these compounds at their ‘sweet spots’ therefore this will be quite a potent stack for someone without proper cycle and lifting experience.

H-Drol (Halodrol)

Halodrol (now referred to as H-Drol) is a methylated designer steroid created by Gaspari Nutrition, the chemical makeup is (4-Chloro-17a-Methyl-Androst-1,4-Diene-3-17b-Diol), h-drol is methylated therefore it puts stress on our livers, h-drol shouldn’t be stacked with another methylated compound and should be ran with appropriate liver support. H-drol is quite potent and works well while cutting, recomping or bulking and is mild enough to be stacked with other non-methylated compounds (such as BOLD).

BOLD (1,4AD)

BOLD (1,4AD) is a legal anabolic steroid/pro-hormone made popular by iForce Nutrition, the chemical makeup of BOLD is (1,4-androstadiene-3b,17b-dione or androst-1,4-diene-3b,17b-dione), BOLD is non-methylated compound therefore it’s easy on the liver which makes it great for stacking with methylated steroids and has a very low occurrence of side effects. BOLD happens to also be a great bulking supplement, while also increasing appetite, but it can be a bit on the expensive side to run.

Bodily Protection

Like many compounds on the market bold and h-drol can have a negative impact on blood pressure, lipid values, cholesterol levels and will stress our bodies endocrine system, in the case of h-drol as noted it will also put additional strain on our livers. Anytime you’re stacking two designer anabolic steroids or pro-hormones the potential for side effects is elevated, however with proper supplementation and planning we can help our bodies mitigate most of the risk and or reduce the severity of side effects. Luckily for the past couple of years companies have been offering all-in-one cycle protection that are designed specifically to help prevent side effects and or in the event of side effects (such as elevated blood pressure) reduce their impact. Therefore ANYONE running a stack like this is required to supplement with one of the following products throughout the entire duration of the cycle.

1. Anabolic Innovations – Cycle Support (Powder)
2. Anabolic Innovations – Life Support (Capsules)

Either of the two are suitable choices, cost should be the deciding factor or whether you prefer capsules or powder. For this stacked cycle begin pre-loading either life support or cycle support one week before starting the cycle, make sure you run one of these products through the entire duration of your cycle including PCT so make sure you buy enough. These products will assist your body with maintaining healthy blood pressure, prostate health, liver function and lipid profile by utilizing popular herbs such as Hawthorn Berry (BP), NAC (liver), Milk Thistle (liver), Saw Palmetto (prostate) among others. Please follow the manufactures recommended dosage (as per bottle) as it’s the dosage known to work best.

What Else?

For this stack we also recommend running a proven antioxidant throughout the duration of this cycle. Run the following product throughout the duration of the cycle, for this stack 2-3 pills per day is sufficient.

• NOW Grape Seed Antioxidant – Grape Seeds have shown in many studies to provide benefits in regards to blood pressure, cholesterol levels and lipid values by limiting lipid oxidation.

Dosing & Length

We won’t get into all the dosing possibilities, because they’re so many options, but for this theoretical stack below is the dosing and length we will be using.

 

Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)

As noted this article assumes you have past anabolic steroid or pro-hormone experience therefore we won’t get into WHY you need to PCT, please read our informative bibles on h-drol and bold for that information. For this stack you will most definitely need a prescription grade PCT utilizing a SERM and Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate) fits that bill and is also the most popular SERM among steroid and pro-hormone users below is how this stacks PCT is being laid out.

1. Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate). Comes in Liquid or Pill form.
2. Optional (But highly-recommended): Competitive Edge Labs – P.C.T Assist

Below is the example PCT when using a research drug (such as Nolvadex aka Tamoxifen Citrate, as we are in this case).

Week1-2 Nolvadex 20mg & P.C.T Assist (5 caps) | Week 3-4 Nolvadex 10mg & P.C.T Assist (5 caps) | Week 5 P.C.T Assist (4 caps)

Putting it together

Here is how the cycle would look on paper from start to finish, including everything.

 

Closing Arguments

This cycle should yield excellent results probably in the range of 10-20lbs of mass from start to finish, this article simply shows you how to stack these two compounds, make sure you read our bibles for both of these compounds so you can thoroughly understand all of the risks and get additional information about them.

• TunedSports.com H-Drol Bible
• TunedSports.com BOLD Bible

Supplements

It’s recommended that users supplement with a quality Multi-Vitamin and Fish Oil throughout the ENTIRE cycle, keep something on hand for your joints in the event you experience some discomfort Universal Animal Flex works wonders. You should stop taking any other supplements on Cycle as well such as Creatine, NO, Test Boosters and so on, these should be saved for PCT in order to preserve strength. It’s heavily recommended that during PCT, you add Creatine and a Cell Volumizer type of product. Supplementing with Protein is highly recommended on cycle

Interactions

Users who are on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication may experienced increased anxiety/depression while on cycle and during PCT. It is HEAVILY advised not to drink alcoholic drinks while on Cycle & PCT, doing so will put significant strain on the liver and can result in a major health hazard. Users should avoid using stimulants on cycle as blood pressure may elevate too high and possibly cause fainting. In general, avoid starting any new medications while on cycle or just before, if you’re concerned about a possible interaction consult your doctor. Users should also eat a clean diet on cycle.

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor. The information being provided is simply personal opinion.

Prelude

Dymethazine (aka mebolazine) was brought to market by iForce Nutrition in 2009, however, despite Dymethazine being ‘legal’ it was largely taken off the market due to recent FDA activities. Despite this, clones of the original Dymethazine have already been brought to the market, most notably D-Zine by Competitive Edge Labs is a quality confirmed source, throughout this article we will reference both Dymethazine and DZine as they’re both interchangeable featuring the same compound (2,17-dimethyl-5-androstan-17-ol-3,3′-azine – 15 mg per capsule)

Superdrol vs Dymethazine

Dymethazine is nearly identical to Superdrol, except it’s two (as opposed to one) superdrol molecules attached to each other, now based on this you may be thinking that Dzine is twice as powerful as Superdrol, this is not the case. Your bodies stomach acid separates these two molecules prior to absorption, so it becomes a single molecule just with two potential pathways, despite this difference Superdrol remains the more powerful compound.

The one advantage that Dymethazine has over Superdrol is the less likelihood of side effects or in the event of side effects being present they’re typically more manageable with dZine/dymethazine. Don’t take this as it being side-effect free, Dymethazine is an incredibly potent compound and carries the same risks as any other powerful anabolic steroid or pro-hormone.

Maintaining Health

Dymethazine is an oral based designer steroid that’s processed by the liver, Dymethazine is also a methylated compound and thus puts additional strain on our bodies liver. dZine is a very powerful product and carries our Class III rating therefore it will negatively impact blood pressure, lipid values, cholesterol levels and will put strain on the bodies endocrine system, there is also additional less serious side effects that we will discuss later. Most of these negative side effects have been present in steroid usage for decades, luckily over the years preventative herbal supplementation has been vastly improved to provide our bodies with protection for our livers, lipid values, cholesterol levels and help control adverse blood pressure effects. All-in-one cycle protection products have existed for several years and should be a staple in any steroid or pro-hormone cycle, therefore an all-in-one will be our basis for on cycle health support and is required for a proper cycle.

1. Anabolic Innovations – Cycle Support (Powder)
2. Anabolic Innovations – Life Support (Capsules)
3. Competitive Edge Labs – Cycle Assist (Capsules)

Either of the three are suitable choices, cost should be the deciding factor or whether you prefer capsules or powder. A general rule of thumb is to pre-load either of the products two weeks prior to beginning your cycle and continue to use throughout the entire cycle from start to finish, buy accordingly so you have enough on hand. These products will assist your body with maintaining healthy blood pressure, prostate health, liver function and lipid profile by utilizing popular herbs such as Hawthorn Berry (BP), NAC (liver), Milk Thistle (liver), Saw Palmetto (prostate) among others. Please follow the manufactures recommended dosage (as per bottle) as it’s the dosage known to work best.

Where as with many cycles, one of the products above would be sufficient on it’s own for cycle protection, however for Dymethazine it’s recommended to take the route “better safe than sorry” and provide our bodies with additional protection by supplementing with the following.

1. Himalaya LiverCare (Liv.52) – Will provide strong liver protection in conjunction with an the “all-in-one” products, very affordable at under $20 for a bottle. For Dymeth/Dzine cycles 2 capsules per day is recommended, use throughout the duration of the “on” period, can use in PCT as well.
2. NOW Grape Seed Antioxidant – Grape Seeds have shown in many studies to provide benefits in regards to blood pressure, cholesterol levels and lipid values by limiting lipid oxidation. For Dymeth/Dzine cycle, 2-3 capsules per day is recommended, use throughout the duration of the “on” period, should use in PCT as well. Under $10.

For more information on combating other common on-cycle sides please read our article combating cycle sides.

Dosing

For first time users of Dymethazine we recommend starting with a lower dosage, asses tolerance and then work your way up to the desired range or sweet spot., while experienced users can jump into higher dosages to start and can venture into longer cycles and higher doses. Dymethazine cycles are typically 3-5 weeks in length, with 4 weeks being the most common, 5 week cycles should be reserved for experience Dzine users. In general the higher the dosage, the shorter the cycle, those considering running 5 week cycles should keep the dosage to a maximum of 30mg. Below are two common dosing protocols.

Dymethazine dosing for new users:

Week1: 15mg / per day | Week 2-4: 30mg

Dymethazine dosing for experienced users:

Week1: 30mg / per day | Week 2-3: 30mg / per day | Week 3-4: 30-45mg / per day

In general with Dymethazine, three week cycles can be somewhat effective but a four week cycle will yield much improved results with limited additional risk therefore we recommend four week cycles for Dymethazine/dZine. In the event you decide on a three week cycle keep the dosage consistently throughout the entire cycle (example 30mg/30mg/30mg for week1/week2/week3). Advanced Dymethazine users can bump the dosage to 45mg but at this point the added potential for side effects begins to greatly increase, it’s a user unique experience if you feel the need to experiment with 45mg bump it up and then bring it back down to 30mg if the sides are too great. Many consider the sweet spot for h-drol to be a four week cycle ran at 30mg throughout the entire duration.

Dymethazine has a relatively long half life of 12-16 hours (as per iForce), users should split the dosage by at least 8-10 hours to ensure consistent levels the IDEAL dosing regiment would be one dosage in the morning and one dosage pre-workout later in the day/night or around dinner time. Dymethazine when compared to other anabolic steroids and pro-hormones works relatively quickly, users typically begin to experience the effects of dZine in 10-14 days.

Common Side Effects

The occurrence rate of side effects while using Dymethazine would be from semi-mild to moderate, however they’re completely user unique, some users may not experience any side effects, while other users will experience a combination of sides. It should be noted that the majority of these side effects are simply of inconvenience more so than a possible health affecting issue and for the most part can be resolved through simple supplementation, take sometime to read our article on combating side effects.

• Decreased Libido/Sexual Function
• Lethargy / Fatigue
• Increased hair growth / Increased hair shedding
• Puffy / Sensitive Nipples
• Joint Discomfort
• Back Pumps (Dull pain in back after/during workouts)
• Increased aggression, head aches, flushing and various other sides can happen as well.

Typical Results

Results will vary based upon the dosage, experience, diet and many other factors, in general dymethazine will provide exceptional lean body mass gains, excellent strength gains and endurance in the gym. Dymethazine works best when used in a Bulk due to it’s ability to help pack on the muscle at a vastly increased rate when eating a clean caloric surplus diet, with that said dymethazine can also be used in a cutting or recomp cycle, however other compounds are typically better suited than dzine (such as Epistane/Havoc or H-Drol) for those diet types.

• When used in a bulking diet, gains can range from 10-16lbs on a 4 week cycle at 30mg.
• When used in a recomp diet, gains can range from 6-9lbs on a 4 week cycle at 20mg, while also possibly reducing body fat 0-2%.
• When used in a cutting diet, gains can range from 4-6lbs on a 4 week cycle at 20mg, while also possibly reducing body fat 1-3%.

The ‘gain’ ranges above are considered somewhat normal, however some users have reported gains in upwards of 20lbs and some users may not experience many noticeable gains at all, results are largely dictated by diet

Gains are based on a lot of factors, but most importantly, keep your calorie intake very high throughout the cycle to maximize gains and don’t forget to lift hard & heavy with appropriate form.

Post Cycle Therapy

Possibly the most important item on the menu is post cycle therapy, when taking a foreign substance that creates testosterone your body begins to shut down it’s normal production, when you stop taking a pro-hormone or steroid compound your body needs a way to jump start it’s own natural production again, while limiting endocrine system stress, this is why we need post cycle therapy. It’s not just as simple as that however, when coming off of a compound your body goes through a very stressful phase as your hormones are out of balance, failure to mitigate these imbalances can result in a unique set of side effects not related to the Dymethazine compound. Below is just a *few* of the noted side effects of an improper post cycle therapy regiment, it should also be noted that the occurrence of side effects in the post cycle stage is more common than the “on-cycle” phase, however a properly planned post cycle therapy regiment can mitigate these risks.

• Gynecomastia / Gyno (or Man Boobs)
• Anxiety/Depression (Can range mild to severe)
• Body Aches/Pains (Can range mild to severe)
• Impotence and other sexual function side effects.
• Loss of gains made on cycle.

As you can see, these are side affects we definitely want to avoid at all costs, so let’s start discussing a proper Dymethazine PCT (Post Cycle Therapy).

Post Cycle General: You should begin your PCT regiment immediately after your pro-hormone or designer steroid cycle, it should begin the day after your last dosage of Dymethazine. PCT regiments are typically 4-6 weeks depending on the type of compound being used, user and type of PCT. As noted in the previous section under “Maintaining Health”, you should continue to use Life Support, Cycle Assist or Cycle Support throughout your entire cycle, INCLUDING your PCT regiment.

• Boost Natural Testosterone Production.
• Regulate Estrogen.
• Restore HPTA function.
• Reducing SHBG.
• Control Cortisol Effects.

Over The Counter: An OTC (Over The Counter) post cycle therapy regiment is NOT an acceptable PCT for Dymethazine, for Dymethazine cycles a Research Drug is REQUIRED. Some users will argue that in some cases an OTC PCT will suffice for Dymethazine, but it’s not worth the risk, go with a SERM (prescription grade) PCT and feel confident.

Research Drugs: The MOST effective PCT regiment is one that includes a prescription/research drug, however some users prefer not to go this route, you may be asking why would someone go another route if this is the most proven and effective PCT method. There’s various reasons but one to point out is that these drugs aren’t technically available without a prescription, these are also very powerful drugs that can also have their own side effects, notice that I say they aren’t “technically” available that’s because they can be purchased online at research drug sites, we can’t provide you with any links, if you chose to go this route googling for these sites will won’t take you long.

1. Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate). Comes in Liquid or Pill form.

2. Optional (But highly-recommended): Competitive Edge Labs – P.C.T Assist

Below is an example PCT when using a research drug (such as Nolvadex aka Tamoxifen Citrate, as we are in this case).

Week1-2 Nolvadex 20mg & P.C.T Assist (5 caps) | Week 3-4 Nolvadex 10mg & P.C.T Assist (5 caps) | Week 5 P.C.T Assist (4 caps)

Example Cycle

This is an example cycle from start to finish to give you an idea how it should look, assumes you’re using Nolvadex. From start to finish our properly designed cycle will take approximately 11 weeks total.  Don’t forget to include LiverCare.52 and Grape Seed Anti Oxidant if you chose the follow that recommendation.

• Week 1-2: Pre-load Cycle Support, Cycle Assist or Life Support @ Bottle Recommended dosages.
• Week 3: Cycle/Life Support | Dymethazine/dZine 15mg
• Week 4-6: Cycle/Life Support | Dymethazine/dZine 30mg
• Week 7-8: Cycle/Life Support | Nolvadex 20mg | PCT Assist (5 Caps).
• Week 9-10: Cycle/Life Support | Nolvadex 10mg | PCT Assist (5 Caps).
• Week 11:  PCT Assist (4 Caps).

Supplements

It’s recommended that users supplement with a quality Multi-Vitamin and Fish Oil throughout the ENTIRE cycle, keep something on hand for your joints in the event you experience some discomfort Universal Animal Flex works wonders. You should stop taking any other supplements on Cycle as well such as Creatine, NO, Test Boosters and so on, these should be saved for PCT in order to preserve strength. It’s heavily recommended that during PCT, you add Creatine and a Cell Volumizer type of product. Supplementing with Protein is highly recommended on cycle

Interactions

Users who are on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication may experienced increased anxiety/depression while on cycle and during PCT. It is HEAVILY advised not to drink alcoholic drinks while on Cycle & PCT, doing so will put significant strain on the liver and can result in a major health hazard. Users should avoid using stimulants on cycle as blood pressure may elevate too high and possibly cause fainting. In general, avoid starting any new medications while on cycle or just before, if you’re concerned about a possible interaction consult your doctor. Users should also eat a clean diet on cycle.

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor. The information being provided is simply personal opinion.

Prelude

Phera Plex was originally introduced by Designer Supplements in late 2005, at the point of it’s release it was one of the first designer steroid/pro-hormone products on the market after the 2004 pro-hormone ban.  While Phera Plex is no longer produced and hasn’t been for quite sometime now, there are various well known clones that offer identical results to the original, it still remains quite a popular compound in the hardcore community as it’s one of the strongest compounds available on the over-the-counter market.  Phera Plex and it’s various clones are great bulkers but the gains tend to be wet (water weight) but still remains popular due it’s ability to pack on weight relatively quickly.

Below is a listing of several Phera Plex clones, keep in mind, due to the recent FDA activity that some of these may be hard to find, in general anything made by Competitive Edge Labs is a good choice, so when searching for the right clone, we recommend starting with P-Plex.

1. Competitive Edge Labs – P-Plex
2. Chaparral Labs – Pheravol-V
3. iForce Nutrition – Phera Flex
4. Genetic Edge – Phera
5. Kilo Sports – Phera Mass

Since Phera Plex is no longer available, we will be using Competitive Edge Labs P-Plex as our reference for this guide, however their identical and both contain the same compound (17a-Methyl-etioallocholan-2-ene-17b-ol).

Maintaining Health

P-Plex is an oral based designer steroid that’s processed by the liver, P-Plex is also a methylated compound and thus puts additional strain on our bodies liver.  It’s been well documented that P-Plex is one of the harshest compounds available on the market it will negatively impact blood pressure, lipid values, cholesterol levels and will put stress on the bodies endocrine system, there is also additional side effects (discussed shortly) that can also present themselves, however in most cases they’re typically minor and a slight inconvenience.

However with proper planning and preventative supplementation we can assist our bodies with protecting our livers, lipid values, cholesterol levels and help control adverse blood pressure effects, this may seem like a daunting task finding supplements to tackle all of these concerns, however luckily several supplement companies have been making “all-in-one” cycle protection products that work to address many of these potential side effects and subsequently an “all-in-one” product will be the basis for our on cycle support.  Therefore ANYONE running P-Plex, is required to supplement with one of the following products throughout the entire duration of the cycle.

1. Anabolic Innovations – Cycle Support (Powder)
2. Anabolic Innovations – Life Support (Capsules)
3. Competitive Edge Labs – Cycle Assist (Capsules)

Either of the three are suitable choices, cost should be the deciding factor or whether you prefer capsules or powder.  A general rule of thumb is to pre-load either of the products two weeks prior to beginning your cycle and continue to use throughout the entire cycle from start to finish, buy accordingly so you have enough on hand.   These products will assist your body with maintaining healthy blood pressure, prostate health, liver function and lipid profile by utilizing popular herbs such as Hawthorn Berry (BP), NAC (liver), Milk Thistle (liver), Saw Palmetto (prostate) among others.  Please follow the manufactures recommended dosage (as per bottle) as it’s the dosage known to work best.

Where as with many cycles, one of the products above would be sufficient on it’s own for cycle protection, however for P-Plex it’s recommended to take the route “better safe than sorry” and provide our bodies with additional protection by supplementing with the following.

1. Himalaya LiverCare (Liv.52) – Will provide strong liver protection in conjunction with an the “all-in-one” products, very affordable at under $20 for a bottle.  For P-Plex cycles 3 capsules per day is recommended, use throughout the duration of the “on” period, can use in PCT as well.
2. NOW Grape Seed Antioxidant – Grape Seeds have shown in many studies to provide benefits in regards to blood pressure, cholesterol levels and lipid values by limiting lipid oxidation.  For P-Plex cycle, 3 capsules per day is recommended, use throughout the duration of the “on” period, should use in PCT as well.  Under $10.
3. Supplement Direct Taurine – Taurine is a free form amino acid that’s well known for reducing painful muscle pumps or even cramps, which are quite common on Phera Plex cycles, we recommend using 3-4 grams, 20-30 minutes prior to workout, also adding a 1-2 grams to your intra-workout drink is also advisable..

For more information on combating other common on-cycle sides please read our article combating cycle sides.

Dosing

P-Plex is quite a strong compound therefore it’s generally best to start with a lower dosage, asses tolerance and slowly increase it to the desired range.  For first time P-Plex users generally 20mg is sufficient and should be an ideal first cycle dosage, P-Plex cycles are typically 3-4 weeks in length with 4 weeks being the most common, typically after 4 weeks the gains begin to slow and side effects increase thus cycles longer than 4 weeks aren’t common or recommended.  Below are two common dosing protocols.

P-Plex dosing for new P-Plex users:  Week1:  10mg / per day | Week 2-3:  20mg / per day | Week 4: 20-30mg

P-Plex dosing for experienced P-Plex users:  Week1:  20mg / per day | Week 2-4:  30-40mg / per day

If going with a 3-week cycle instead of a 4-week cycle, don’t use a lower first week dosage, keep it the same the entire way through the cycle (example week 1-3:  20mg/20mg/20mg per day).  Advanced users with past P-Plex experience can experiment with dosages to around 50mg, however the added benefit may be negligible compared to the added sides at high dosages, generally most see the 30mg daily dosage the ‘sweet spot’ but for some it can be 20mg or 40mg even. In general start slow the higher the dosage the higher the risk for side effects, find the best dosage for your body with the least amount of sides and keep it there for the best results.

Phera Plex and it’s clones work relatively quickly, therefore many users typically begin to experience the effects of P-Plex in 5-10 days, however depends on the user. P-Plex has quite a long half life (around 12 hours) therefore dosages should be broken into two or three periods of the day, if going with two daily dosages split them by 12 hours apart, if going with three daily dosages, split them by 8 hours apart, for best results aim to take one dosage about an hour prior to working out.

P-Plex degrades over time, so if you’re storing a ‘stash’ take this into consideration, the shelf life is said to be around one to two years in ideal storage conditions.

Common Side Effects

The occurrence of side effects while using P-Plex can be quite common, in most cases the side effects are mild and very manageable, however in some cases can be a bit harsher, keep in mind that side effects are user unique, some users may not experience any side effects, while others will experience a combination of side effects. Most of these side effects are simply an inconvenience and can often be resolved through simple herbal/natural over the counter supplements, take sometime to read our article on combating side effects.

• Decreased Libido/Sexual Function
• Lethargy / Fatigue
• Puffy / Sensitive Nipples
• Back/Calve Pumps/Cramps
• Acne (Facial/Body)
• Hair Loss/Thinning/Shedding
• Prostate Pain / Discomfort
• Decreased / Increased Appetite
• Increased aggression, head aches, flushing and various other sides can happen as well.

It has also been reported that Phera Plex/P-Plex and additional clones can potentially enlarge the heart, however there’s insufficient scientific evidence at this time to thoroughly support this claim as only tests on rats has been performed, but at least take this into consideration.

Typical Results

Results will vary based upon the dosage, experience, diet and many other factors, in general P-Plex will provide exceptional body mass gains, excellent strength gains and endurance in the gym. Since P-Plex is a wet compound it works best when used in a Bulk as the gains are often wet which is undesirable for those cutting.

• When used in a bulking diet, gains can range from 12-20lbs on a 4 week cycle at 20-30mg.

Gains are based on a lot of factors, but most importantly, keep your calorie intake very high throughout the cycle to maximize gains.

Post Cycle Therapy

Possibly the most important item on the menu is post cycle therapy, when taking a foreign substance (Phera Phlex) that creates testosterone your body begins to shut down it’s normal production, when you stop taking a pro-hormone or steroid compound your body needs a way to jump start it’s own natural production again, while limiting endocrine system stress, this is why we need post cycle therapy.  It’s not just as simple as that however, when coming off of a compound your body goes through a very stressful phase as your hormones are out of balance, failure to mitigate these imbalances can result in a unique set of side effects not related to the P-Plex compound.  Below is just a *few* of the noted side effects of an improper post cycle therapy regiment, it should also be noted that the occurrence of side effects in the post cycle stage is more common than the “on-cycle” phase, however a properly planned post cycle therapy regiment can mitigate these risks.

• Gynecomastia / Gyno (or Man Boobs)
• Anxiety/Depression (Can range mild to severe)
• Body Aches/Pains (Can range mild to severe)
• Impotence and other sexual function side effects.
• Loss of gains made on cycle.

As you can see, these are side affects we definitely want to avoid at all costs, so let’s start discussing a proper P-Plex PCT (Post Cycle Therapy).

Post Cycle General:  You should begin your PCT regiment immediately after your pro-hormone or designer steroid cycle, it should begin the day after your last dosage of P-Plex.  PCT regiments are typically 4-6 weeks depending on the type of compound being used, user and type of PCT.  As noted in the previous section under “Maintaining Health”, you should continue to use Life Support, Cycle Assist or Cycle Support throughout your entire cycle, INCLUDING your PCT regiment.

• Boost Natural Testosterone Production.
• Regulate Estrogen.
• Restore HPTA function.
• Reducing SHBG.
• Control Cortisol Effects.

Over The Counter:  An OTC (Over The Counter) post cycle therapy regiment is NOT an acceptable PCT for P-Plex, for P-Plex cycles a Research Drug is REQUIRED

Research Drugs:  The MOST effective PCT regiment is one that includes a prescription/research drug, however some users prefer not to go this route, you may be asking why would someone go another route if this is the most proven and effective PCT method.  There’s various reasons but one to point out is that these drugs aren’t technically available without a prescription, these are also very powerful drugs that can also have their own side effects, notice that I say they aren’t “technically” available that’s because they can be purchased online at research drug sites, I won’t provide you with any links, if you chose to go this route googling for these sites will won’t take you long.

1. Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate).  Comes in Liquid or Pill form.

2. Optional (But highly-recommended):  Competitive Edge Labs – P.C.T Assist

It’s recommended that Users with deep pockets can also add in a natural testosterone booster such as S.A.N. MyoTEST, in the event you go this route, it would be best to run a test booster starting week two through week six.  Below is an example PCT when using a research drug (such as Nolvadex aka Tamoxifen Citrate, as we are in this case).

Week 1 Nolvadex 30mg & P.C.T Assist (6 caps)| Week 2-3 Nolvadex 20mg & P.C.T Assist (6 caps) | Week 4 Nolvadex 10mg & P.C.T Assist (6 caps)

Example Cycle

This is an example cycle from start to finish to give you an idea how it should look, assumes you’re using Nolvadex.  From start to finish our properly designed cycle will take approximately 10 weeks total.

• Week 1-2:  Pre-load Cycle Support, Cycle Assist or Life Support @ Bottle Recommended dosages.
• Week 3:  Cycle/Life Support | P-Plex 10mg
• Week 4-5: Cycle/Life Support | P-Plex 20mg
• Week 6:  Cycle/Life Support | P-Plex 20-30mg
• Week 7:  Cycle/Life Support | Nolvadex 30mg | PCT Assist (6 Caps).
• Week 8-9:  Cycle/Life Support | Nolvadex 20mg | PCT Assist (6 Caps).
• Week 10:  Cycle/Life Support | Nolvadex 10mg | PCT Assist (6 Caps).

Supplements

It’s recommended that users supplement with a quality Multi-Vitamin and Fish Oil throughout the ENTIRE cycle, keep something on hand for your joints in the event you experience some discomfort Universal Animal Flex works wonders.  You should stop taking any other supplements on Cycle as well such as Creatine, NO, Test Boosters and so on, these should be saved for PCT in order to preserve strength.  It’s heavily recommended that during PCT, you add Creatine and a Cell Volumizer type of product.  Supplementing with Protein is highly recommended on cycle

Interactions

Users who are on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication may experienced increased anxiety/depression while on cycle and during PCT.  It is HEAVILY advised not to drink alcoholic drinks while on Cycle & PCT, doing so will put significant strain on the liver and can result in a major health hazard.  Users should avoid using stimulants on cycle as blood pressure may elevate too high and possibly cause fainting.  In general, avoid starting any new medications while on cycle or just before, if you’re concerned about a possible interaction consult your doctor.  Users should also eat a clean diet on cycle.

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor.  The information being provided is simply personal opinion.

Prelude

Orastan-A is an off shoot legal variation of  Furzabol, which is very similar to the steroid Winstrol however claims to be more potent, the Orastan-A compound was brought to market by Gaspari Nutrition back in 2006 however was later discontinued due to Gaspari making an exit from the pro-hormone and anabolic/designer steroid market.  Since then many different clones have been brought to market that offer similar results to the original Orastan-A, here is a short ‘shoppers list’ of several clones that are available.

1. Competitive Edge Labs – Furuza-A (recommended)
2. Axis Labs – Furazadrol
3. Winabol/Winadrol
4. Spectra Force Research Furaguno
5. Other less popular include (Furazavol and Winzrol)
6. Generally anything in the “Fura” or “Win” naming scheme *may* be an Orastan-A clone.

The nomenclature for these clones is typically either (5a-androstanol[2,3]furazan-17b-tetrahydropyranol) or (5a-etioallocholan(2,3-)furazan-17b-tetrahydropyranol), both compounds will produce nearly identical results so there’s no need to place emphasis on discussing the differences as they’re minor and won’t have any baring on our desired usage.

Since Orastan-A is no longer marketed, throughout this article we will be referencing Axis Labs – Furazadrol which is the most popular “Fura” based compound available, however the dosing between different clones should remain identical, as should the results.

Introduction

As a compound Furazadrol is on the mild side which makes it a great compound for first timers, it’s also non-methylated therefore issues with the liver aren’t a concern making it even more attractive to novice users.  Furazadrol is seldom used by users bulking, it works best while cutting or recomping (building some muscle while losing fat) it’s also quite popular as a stacker due to it’s non-methylated status.

One of the biggest complaints regarding Furazadrol and other ‘Fura’ clones is that they’re under-dosed therefore cycles are typically costly when compared with other compounds, but when at an effective dosage the results are describable and easy to maintain even after post cycle therapy.

Maintaining Health

Furazadrol remains one of the mildest compounds on the market, side effects typically aren’t common however as with other pro-hormones/designer-steroids there’s always some risk of side effects, thus properly planning for common side effects will help reduce any occurrences.  Luckily many herbal based supplements have been scientifically shown to produce desirable results when it comes to Blood Pressure, Liver Function and Lipid profiles.  Over the years several companies have begun creating “all-in-one” products designed specifically for prohormone and designer steroid cycles, these products have been a staple in thousands of users cycles with excellent results including blood work to backup their effectiveness.  Therefore ANYONE running a cycle of Furazadrol will need to use one of the following products throughout the entire Cycle.

Anabolic Innovations – Life Support (Capsules)

Anabolic Innovations – Cycle Support (Powder)

Both are, for the most part, identical products the biggest difference is the form, whether you prefer to take pills or powder.  A general rule of thumb is to pre-load either one (Life Support or Cycle Support) one week prior to beginning your cycle and all the way through until the end, so buy accordingly so that you have enough on hand.  These products will assist your body with maintaining healthy blood pressure, liver function and lipid profile.

Dosing

As mentioned earlier Furazadrol is known as being underdosed, therefore in order to achieve the desired results with this compound we need to run it far above the manufacturers label, in general with Orastan-A clones the higher the dosage the better the results, that goes without saying, make sure you understand the dosing protocol, more is better with Furazadrol however going too high could result in undesirable side effects.

The manufacturers recommended dosage is typically 150 mg (50mg x 3) running it here will assist in a cutting cycle, however won’t likely produce noticeable gains.  The most popular dosing among users is 250mg (50mg x 5) and we recommend that as a good starting point, users can safely push the dosage into the 350mg range for even better results, with Furazadrol we recommend starting the first week at 200mg then slowly working it up towards 300mg, if gains are light bump it to 350mg.

Since Furazadrol is a mild non-methylated compound it can be ran longer than your traditional 4-6 weeks, most Furazadrol cycles are ran anywhere from 5 to 9 weeks in length, generally the higher the dosage the shorter the duration.  For users running longer cycles, we recommend building up the dosage, running a very high dosage for a extended cycle isn’t recommended.

Furazadrol has a relatively short half life, dosages should be evenly split up throughout the day therefore a user running 300mg per day should divide their cycle into three separate dosages of 100mg, with the ideal regiment being one dosage in the morning, one in afternoon and one at night.

Common Side Effects

Side effects with Furazadrol aren’t common, when used stand alone, however as always with any designer steroid or pro-hormone side effects can occur and in most cases they’re simply a controllable inconvenience.  The following are a listing of some possible side effects with Furazadrol.

• Decreased Libido/Sexual Function
• Anxiety / Stimulated Feeling
• Reduces good & bad cholesterol
• Slightly increased Blood Pressure
• Back Pumps (Dull pain in back after/during workouts)

Typical Results

Results will vary based upon the dosage, however at ANY dosage Furazadrol will assist with decreasing bodyfat and increase muscle hardness.  Below assumes you’re running a 7 week cycle and are on a clean diet, above maintenance.  Those cutting may experience lower strength and size gains, but will be able to retain muscle while quickly losing fat.

When used at 150mg users report fat loss, moderate strength gains and mild (if-any) size gains.

When used at 300mg-350mg users report increased strength, reduced bodyfat and mild size gains in the 3-6lb range.

Furazadrol works best in a cutting diet due to it’s ability to greatly enhance fat loss and help retain muscle.  It’s also a viable compound in a bulk to help control fat gain.

Stacking

Furazadrol/Orastan-A clones are incredibly popular stackers, this is because they’re mild and non-methylated which allows users to stack this compound with popular methylated compounds such as Halodrol.  Furazadrol is most commonly used by users who are bulking while using other stronger compounds (i.e H-Drol, BOLD), with the addition of Furazadrol users can bulk with less worries of fat gain (Furazadrol will help reduce fat gains while bulking).  Users using Furazadrol simply for it’s noted fat control during a bulk can get away with running lower dosages (i.e 150-250mg) as it’s effective for that application at this dosage.  Below is a short list of several compounds Furazadrol is commonly stacked with.

1. Methylated Compounds (Halodrol, H-Drol, P-mag, Superdrol, M-Drol, Epistane, Havoc, etc)
2. Non-Methylated Compounds (BOLD, 11-OXO, Tren, 3-AD, etc)

Post Cycle Therapy

Giving your body time to adjust is incredibly important and thus post cycle therapy is incredibly important when taking a hormonal compound such as Furazadrol and other Orastan clones.  Once you stop taking a designer steroid or pro-hormone your body goes through a change of hormones and puts stress on your endocrine system, with a properly planned PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) we assist our body with easing back into normal function.  Failure to follow a properly planned PCT can result in undesirable side effects such as.

• Gynecomastia (or Man Boobs)
• Anxiety/Depression
• Weight ‘fat’ Gain / Muscle Loss
• Body Aches/Pains
• Impotent / Sexual Side Effects

As you can see, these are side affects we definitely want to avoid at all costs, so let’s start discussing a proper Furazadrol (Post Cycle Therapy).

Post Cycle General:  You should begin your PCT regiment immediately after your pro-hormmone or designer steroid cycle, it should begin the day after your last dosage of Furazadrol.  PCT regiments are tpyically 4-6 weeks depending on the type of compound being used, user and type of PCT.  As noted in the previous section under “Maintaining Health”, you should continue to use Life Support or Cycle Support throughout your entire cycle, INCLUDING your PCT regiment.  During PCT we effectively want to achieve the following…

• Boost Natural Testosterone Production.
• Regulate Estrogen.
• Restore HPTA function.
• Reducing SHBG.
• Control Cortisol Effects.

Over The Counter:  An OTC (Over The Counter) post cycle therapy regiment is simply that, a PCT that consists with strictly over the counter products that can be bought at major supplement outlets such as BodyBuilding.com or stores such as Vitaminshoppe or GNC.  Since Furazadrol is a relatively non-suppressive and mild compound, an over the counter PCT is recommended for dosages in the 150-350mg range, users utilizing a dosage of 350mg should consider going with a SERM.

1. Competitive Edge Labs – PCT Assist.  An ALL purpose PCT product that will help boost testosterone production, help balance hormones and assist with estrogen regulation.
2. S.A.N – Attitude.  An affordable effective estrogen inhibitor and test booster.  (Not required for low dosages of Furazadrol i.e 150-300mg).

When using an over the counter furazadrol PCT, it’s recommended to run a 4 to 6-week PCT regiment, assuming you were using the products above, here is how you would schedule your PCT.

Week 1-2 PCT Assist |   Week 2-4 PCT Assist, Attitude.  |  Week 4-6 Attitude

Research Drugs:  The MOST effective PCT regiment is one that includes a SERM perscription/research drug, however some users prefer not to go this route, as they are “experimental” drugs and can have their own side effects.  As such with a compound such as Furazadrol a research drug really isn’t needed except for users running dosages at or above 350mg.  To obtain a SERM you’ll need a prescription or sometime to research on google regarding research drugs, as they can be purchased legally if being used for research purposes.

1. Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate).  Comes in Liquid or Pill form.

Below is an example PCT when using a research drug (such as Nolvadex aka Tamoxifen Citrate, as we are in this case).

Week 1-2 Nolvadex 20mg  |  Week 2-4 Nolvadex 10mg

Example Cycle

This is an example cycle from start to finish to give you an idea how it should look, assumes you’re going with a prescription drug for PCT.  From start to finish our properly designed cycle will take approximately 14 weeks total, this cycle assumes you’re running Furazadrol for 7 weeks at or around 300mg.

• Week 1:  Pre-load Cycle Support or Life Support @ Bottle Recommended dosages.
• Week 2:  Cycle Support or Life Support | Furazadrol 200mg
• Week 3:  Cycle Support or Life Support | Furazadrol 250mg
• Week 4-8:  Cycle/Life Support | Furazadrol 300mg
• Week 5-8:  Cycle/Life Support | Furazadrol 350mg
• Week 8-10:  Cycle/Life Support | PCT Assist
• Week 10-12:  Cycle/Life Support | PCT Assist | San Attitude (or other AI/Estrogen Control)
• Week 12-14:  San Attitude (or other AI/Estrogen Control)

Drug Testing

Those being tested for elevated testosterone levels and or lowered estrogen levels will produce a positive test result while on Furazadrol, it’s also important to note that if using a research/perscription drug for your PCT regiment, this will also cause a positive test result in many cases.

Supplements

It’s recommended that users supplement with a quality Multi-Vitamin and Fish Oil throughout the ENTIRE cycle.  You should stop taking any other supplements on Cycle as well such as Creatine, NO, Test Boosters and so on, these should be saved for PCT in order to preserve strength.  It’s heavily recommended that during PCT, you add Creatine and a Cell Volumizer type of prodct.  Supplementing with Protein is highly recommended on cycle

Interactions

Users who are on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication may experienced increased anxiety/depression while on cycle and during PCT.  Users should avoid using stimulants on cycle as blood pressure may elevate too high and possibly cause fainting.  In general, avoid starting any new medications while on cycle or just before, if you’re concerned about a possible interaction consult your doctor.  Users should also eat a clean diet on cycle and limit their alcohol intake significantly (best option would be to discontinue usage).

Disclaimer

We are not doctors, therefore before starting any supplement or training regiment you should consult with your doctor.  The information being provided is simply personal opinion.

The Pro-hormone & Designer Steroid Chart.

This chart is simply a listing of popular over the counter ‘legal’ designer steroids and pro-hormones, we have also put them into “classes” in regards to their strength.  When it comes to anabolic compounds that affect hormone levels there is progression that needs to be followed, novice users should start with weaker compounds, jumping immediately into stronger compounds can cause serious problems (including health hazards) for many.  It’s also important that you not jump too far ahead of yourself as once you arrive at the “stronger” compounds there’s no turning back to the weaker compounds, follow the different classes and phases, start with weaker compounds and gradually work yourself to the stronger compounds over a period of several years.

Class I | Stage 1 – Anabolic Compounds

These are compounds that are non-methylated (liver friendly), have low risk of side effects, easy to maintain gains and cycles that are easier to plan.  These also make for great ‘stackers’ for more experienced users.  An over the counter PCT will suffice for ‘class 1′ compounds.

Class II | Stage 2 – Anabolic Compounds

The following compounds are methylated therefore liver protection is required, side effect occurrence is typically greater than “stage 1″ compounds, however gains are often better with ‘stage 2′ compounds.  Prescription grade PCT regiments are recommended for ‘stage 2′ compounds, however in some cases over the counter will suffice.

Class III | Stage 3 – Anabolic Compounds

These compounds are for advanced users that have previously completed 2-3 successful cycles, side effects are more common than ‘stage 2′ compounds, gains at this level are harder to maintain post cycle and require prescription grade post cycle therapy regiments.  Cycles at this stage are also short in length due to the occurrence of side effects.

Class IV | Stage 4 – Anabolic Compounds

Compounds in this category will produce rapid gains, however come with significant risk of side effects, these compounds are for ADVANCED users only.