thats news to me
here is the profile in AnabolicResearch2
Arimidex
(Anastrozole)
Arimidex is what we call an aromatase inhibitor (AI). In medicine it’s used to halt
the progression of breast cancer in women. It works by blocking the aromatase
enzyme, which is responsible for the production of estrogen. In athletics and
bodybuilding, it is used as an ancillary compound to be added to a cycle of anabolic
steroids. In this respect it is also used for its estrogen reducing properties, but it has
the additional benefit of increasing teststerone levels, as we'll see.
Many anabolic steroids aromatize (convert to estrogen via the aromatase enzyme),
and this is responsible for many of the unwanted side effects found with anabolic
steroid use (acne, gynocomastia, water-retention, etc.). In one study, both .5mg and
1mg doses of Arimidex were shown to decrease estrogen by roughly 50%. The
1mg/day dose also increased testosterone levels by 58% (1). In that same study, in
both groups, LH and FSH also went up slightly. Take a look:
Changes in testosterone and E2 concentrations in normal young men (15–22 yr old)
before (filled bars) and after 10 days of oral anastrozole at 0.5 and 1 mg (1).
This would seem to suggest that for use during a cycle, a dose of .5mgs/day would
be sufficient to combat estrogen-related side effects. It is, however, important to
remember that some estrogen is necessary to obtain optimal muscle growth. Thelower estrogen levels provided by 'dex seems, anecdotally at least, to produce a
more "hard" and "quality" look for bodybuilders who have experimented with it's use
in either a cutting or bulking cycle.
I’d like to point out that the elevation in testosterone provided by Arimidex is so
large that it can be used as a “form” of testosterone replacement therapy for
hypogonadal men (2). Clearly, this suggests its use in a post-cycle-therapy (as well
as its previously discussed use within a cycle) to regain natural testosterone levels
and full HPTA (Hypothalamic-Testicular-Pituitary-Axis) function.
Literature provided by the original maker of anastrozole (Arimidex, produced by
Zeneca Pharmaceuticals) states that stable blood plasma concentrations of the
compound are achieved after a mere 7 consecutive 1mg daily doses. Also, Arimidex
is just over 80% effective at inhibiting aromatase (3). Thus, if you want to take it for
the entire duration of a cycle of anabolic steroids, you can simply start taking it on
the same day you begin your cycle. Those are some pretty good numbers, huh?
But can you use it for the entire duration of a cycle? Is it dangerous? Well, certainly
reducing estrogen levels in your body is good from a body building point of view as it
reduces water-retention and the potential for gynocomastia (if there’s no estrogen in
your body, you can’t get gyno, regardless of how much progesterone is floating
around) (5). Luckily this stuff is very mild on blood lipids (cholesterol) and doesn’t
affect them adversely (2), at least in the studies I’ve seen. As previously mentioned,
those lowered estrogen levels could possibly (eventually) adversely affect your
cholesterol and possibly even your immune function. I am, however, very
comfortable recommending Arimidex for relatively long-term use. This should be the
ancillary compound of choice for those on long and heavy cycles, especially since it
also doesn’t inhibit IGF (insulin-like-growth-factor, an important component of
anabolism) like some other ancillary compounds (4).
Although prices will vary, this is one of the compounds I will caution the reader from
buying in its legitimate pharmaceutical form. The price (up to $5/tab) is absurd when
considering its availability from underground labs, as well as in the form used for
medical research, at less than 1/3rd of that. I’ve used both the tabs from an
underground lab, as well as the liquid version from research-sites, and found the
results from both to be exactly the same.
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