The term “cycling” is well-known in the world of anabolic steroids. While the concept of a steroid cycle implies taking steroids, the process of ending a cycle is not as straightforward as simply quitting.
Abruptly discontinuing steroids can result in severe physical and mental consequences.
This article aims to educate on the importance of Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT) after a steroid cycle.
It will describe the effects of stopping steroids and the adverse effects that can be prevented with PCT. Lastly, the article will outline common drugs utilized in PCT, offering potential options for consideration.
Let’s get started!
What Is Post Cycle Therapy?
Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT) is a necessary treatment for individuals who have completed a steroid cycle, allowing them to restore hormonal levels more rapidly than through natural means.
In the past, bodybuilders paid little attention to the aftermath of a steroid cycle, either quitting abruptly or gradually reducing steroid use to allow the body to adapt.
However, neglecting PCT after ending a steroid cycle results in adverse effects and symptoms, which will be discussed further.
Why You Need To Take PCT After A Steroid Cycle?
The consumption of artificial hormones, prohormones, or SARMs leads to a reduction in natural testosterone levels as steroids artificially boost testosterone levels and cause the body to decrease its own production.
During a steroid cycle, this effect is not immediately apparent as increased testosterone levels result in increased energy, sexual drive, and rapid muscle growth and strength.
When you discontinue steroid use without beginning a post-cycle therapy (PCT), your body not only lacks natural or artificial testosterone but also has an excessive amount of estrogen.
During a steroid cycle, elevated estrogen levels can also occur, leading many steroidusers to take estrogen inhibitors.
However, after stopping steroids, testosterone levels significantly decrease while elevated estrogen levels persist, resulting in negative effects.
What Happens If You Don’t Take PCT?
Consequences of Skipping PCT
Failure to undergo post-cycle therapy (PCT) after ending a steroid cycle results in a high estrogen-to-low testosterone imbalance, leading to numerous adverse symptoms, including :
● Physical Symptoms – Weight gain, muscle loss, excessive water retention, decreased libido and erectile dysfunction, and gynecomastia.
● Mental Symptoms – Decreased sexual desire, decreased self-confidence, irritability, heightened emotions, and depression.
The extent and severity of these symptoms vary based on various factors, including the duration and amount of steroid use prior to completing the cycle.
These symptoms can persist for weeks or even months after stopping the steroid cycle.
Wasted Results
A significant concern is that the primary goal of using steroids is to achieve larger, more toned muscles.
However, after ending a steroid cycle, testosterone levels decline while estrogen remains elevated, resulting in muscle loss and increased fat accumulation.
Essentially, a considerable portion of the results achieved during the steroid cycle will be reversed.
How PCT Helps?
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) combats many of the adverse effects previously mentioned.
One type of medication used for PCT are selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like Nolvadex. Nolvadex blocks estrogen from interfering with the pituitary gland, thereby promoting the production of testosterone.
Nolvex is primarily taken for its anti-estrogenic properties, binding to estrogenreceptors instead of actual estrogen, reducing some of the side effects caused by elevated estrogen levels after a steroid cycle. Nolvadex also promotes natural testosterone production by stimulating the production of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, and helps prevent gynecomastia.
Additionally, SERMs such as Nolvadex do not eliminate all estrogen from the body, allowing some to remain. This benefits the immune system, lipid profile, and even muscle growth.
Other drugs commonly used for PCT include Clomid (a SERM), HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin), and others.
Our PCT recommendations
When to start taking PCTs?
Start taking PCTs 2 weeks after finishing your cycle of a long-acting steroid product. (Testosterone Enanthate, Sustanon, Cypionate, t400, Masterson Enanthate, Trenbolone Enanthate, Primobolan Enanthate.)
Start taking 3 weeks after finishing a cycle of Deca Durabolin, Equipoise, and T450.
3-5 days after shorter-acting injectables like Testosterone Propionate.
Dosages
Days 1-20 take 500 iu every other day
Days 10-30 take 100mg Clomid first 10 days followed by 50mg next 10 days
Days 1-40 Nolvadex 10 days at 40 mg then the next 30 days at 20mg a day
Conclusion
Post Cycle Treatment (PCT) is shown to be an effective harm reduction measure, which will help steroid users get through the classic symptoms that follow a steroid cycle much faster and more comfortably.
Drugs like Nolvadex reduce the adverse effects of having too little testosterone and too much estrogen simultaneously. That alone will help with all of those nasty mental and physical consequences a sudden hormonal imbalance can leave.
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