Learn more about PCT
All information below are from book "ANABOLICS" by William Llewellyn. "William Llewellyn is a scientist in the field of human performance enhancement. As a former steroid user, his knowledge about anabolic drugs is formed from both real world experience and scientific research. He is eager to share information and experiences with others, and is a longtime supporter of the steroid harm reduction community. William serves as an honorary lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, assisting educational efforts at its Centre for Public Health. He has contributed to many industry and major media publications over the years, and even been featured on the covers of ESPN Magazine and The Washington Post."
What is PCT
Post-Cycle Therapy, or PCT for short, refers to the practice of using certain medications to assistant in the discontinuance of anabolic steroids. Anabolics (p. 242).
Anabolic steroids destabilize your hormonal balance as the brain receives information from the high amount of hormones in the blood. It turns off the production of your own hormones and thus - atrophy (disappearance, reduction) of the organs responsible for their production - testicles in men, because the body no longer needs them to produce this or that hormone.
The job of PCT is to get your organs back to the level of hormone production it was before you started taking steroids. This is very important because too low levels of the testosterone hormone will have a bad effect on your entire body and also the psyche. You may cry for a variety of reasons, get colds, gain fat, your libido drops to zero, you become depressed, and of course you lose muscle because you don't have enough testosterone to even maintain it. Not to mention building bigger and stronger muscles.
There are 3 main drugs taht should have place in a good PCT cycle : hCG, Clomid, Tamoxifen
hCG in PCT
Accoring to William Llewellyn book, "Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a fertility drug that mimics the actions of luteinizing hormone. It is commonly used during the post-cycle period to address testicular atrophy, which as we have seen is one of the fundamental roadblocks to hormonal recovery." Anabolics (p. 247)
Llewellyn is saying, that bCH should be taken for a period of 2-3 weeks and that testicles atrophy is caused by lack of the LH stimulation. The main role of hCH is to stimulate testicles, so that their original mass is recovered more quickly than when we rely on physiological LH production (LH production is very low during steroid cycle as brain is stopping it).
Image above show LH and Testosterone levels measured 1 week after taking last injection of 250mg Testosterone Enanthate. While LH levels are growing, Testosterone growth is held almost up to 10-11th week (!!)
Anti-estrogen in PCT (Clomid and Nolvadex)
These both drugs, accorging to William Llewellyn book, are used to block the negative feedback inhibition of estrogen. This may foster the heightened release of GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone) and then your own LH and Testosterone (yeah! yatzi!)
Men doesn't have high estrogen levels, so why to take anti-estrogen drugs ?
Anti-estrogens are used is both to trigger correction in LH levels much quicker, and to increase total LH. They are number one drug to fight gynecomastia
Be aware, use of anti-estrogens alone is not an effective strategy to recover hormone levels after steroid cycle. They are not addressing testicual atropy (you won't be able to recover your nuts only witj Clomid and Tamoxifen).
Traditional PCT Program
Program below was created by Dr.Michael Scally and taken from his book (Anabolic Steroids - A Question of Muscle: Human Subject Abuses in Anabolic Steroid Research) and also used by Llewellyn in his work.
Scally develope his PCT program based on blood tests of hundreds of males and modified by examining 19 healthy males taht took high doses of Testosterone Cypionate and Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca-Durabolin) for 12 weeks. Scally's protocol is focused on the combined use of hCG, Nolvaed (Tamoxifen) and Clomid and now is maybe the most trusted and clinically supported PCT therapy program available in the medical world.
PCT Program Step by Step
This PCT program beginns with a solid dose of hCG (2000iu , EOD - every other day) for 20 days. They anti-estrogen drugs (Tamoxifen and Clomid) are added. It is important because hCG may up-regulate testicular aromatase says Dr.Scally. Normal hormonal functions should be recovered after 45 days.
When to start PCT ?
The exact time of PCT therapy is determined by the used steroid half-life (consider the one that have the longest half-life and last injection)
Example: Testosterone Cypionate (200mg/week) - it's half life is 8 days. A dose of 200mg/week increases its levels in blodd after serveral weeks to around 2000-2400 ng/dL. It would take about 3 half-lives (24 days) for testosterone levels to drop to 250-300 ng/dL. So the PCT should be started about 1 week after the last injection. It is becasue hCG is the most efficient in 20-day period. The 20-day period of time in which hCG is used is most critical. That's why we place PCT program around that drug.
Example: Testosterone Cypionate/Enanthate (500mg/week) - approx. 4 half lives (32 days) for testosterone levels to drop. So PCT should be started around 2 weeks after last testosterone injection.
PCT and Oral Steroids ?
William Llewellyn is stating that only-oral (!!) cycles, PCT should start 7-10 days BEFORE (!!!) last pill is taken ! Not after !
Dr.Scally PCT Plan
Day 1-20 : hCG every other day 2000iu = 10 x 2000iu = 20 000iu total
hCG is sold (usually) as 5000iu in 1 vial. You can draw 2.5 shot from 1 vial.
But from my own experience, I know that you will be able to draw 2 shots from it as some stay in vial, some
in syringe, some you spill around yourself etc. So consider 1x5000iu = 2 shots.
Total packages required: min 4 x 5000iu, safe supply: 5 x 5000iu
Day 1-30 : Clomid 50mg x twice a day = 100mg/day x 30 days = 3000mg
Clomid is sold (usually) as packgae of 50 x 50mg tablets.
Total packages required: min 1 x 50x50mg, safe supply: 2 x 50x50mg
Day 1-45 : Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) 20mg x twice a day = 40mg/day x 45 days = 1800mg
Clomid is sold (usually) as packgae of 30 x 20mg tablets.
Total packages required: min 3 x 30x20mg, safe supply: 3 x 30x20mg
PCT Products
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