If you have ever taken any type of anabolic steroid for muscle growth, strength, or performance enhancement, then you must comprehend the essence of PCT. Your body is very depressed on account of your steroid cycle, and this depression pertains primarily to the natural production of testosterone hormones in your organism.
The consequence of this depression is a host of adverse effects: muscle loss, fatigue, low libido, and even emotional disturbances. PCT is designed to help your body readjust its natural levels of hormones and thus reduce these side effects.
In this blog, we would be considering the best compounds to be used on PCT, reasons these provisions are needed as well as how one may develop a properly designed PCT regimen which allows the maximum recovery from the administration of steroids.
We will also introduce you to Anabolic Store, your reliable source for all needs related to anabolic steroids, PCT products, and bodybuilding supplements.
What Is Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)?
PCT stands for Post Cycle Therapy, and it represents the recovery process after an anabolic steroid cycle. The main goal of the PCT is the recovery of natural testosterone production, which during active steroid administration is usually down-regulated and/or almost completely shut down.
That is because your body, by administering exogenous-anabolic steroids, reacts to it by tapering its own product of testosterone as it would perceive a reason for omitting natural testosterone production.
Without PCT, resuming natural testosterone production becomes extremely sluggish and labored, fraught with symptoms like loss of lean muscle mass, fatigue, mood swings, impotence, and a host of other side effects.
It is for this reason that PCT applies drugs and supplements to get the body to turn its natural hormone production back on and maintain most of the gains you made on cycle.
Why Is Pct Necessary After Steroids?
When you’re on anabolic steroids, over a longer period of time or with higher dosage, your body begins to rely on these manufactured hormones. As such, your body slows down–even stops–producing the natural hormonal mechanisms known as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which significantly stimulate the production of testosterone in the testes.
For that matter, when you are off your steroid cycle, your levels of testosterone are pretty low, perhaps setting off a number of the following adverse effects:
- Muscle loss: It is pretty hard to retain the amount of muscle that you have gained during your cycle if the level of testosterone is too low.
- Fatigue: A low level of the hormone can bring about tiredness and low energy.
- Mood Swings: The hormonal imbalance can predispose the person to irritability, depression, or anxiety.
- Low libido and erectile dysfunction: Testosterone is a critical component of sex, and as such, when there is an insufficient supply, one may experience problems with libido and performance.
- Increased estrogen levels: Several steroids could be aromatised to estrogen. This could bring about a host of other problems, including gynecomastia, a condition where there would be an enlargement of mammary tissue in males.
It is supposed that PCT should, therefore, form the reversal of these effects and facilitate a quick recovery of your body, hence maintaining the results and avoiding the terrors of a hormone crash.
The Best Compounds For Pct: Which One To Take?
The most common drugs applied for PCT are SERMs and AIs. Sometimes, hCG is also added to kick-start natural testosterone production. Now, let’s look in detail at these compounds and their roles in PCT:
1. Clomid – Clomiphene Citrate
One of the most used SERMs during PCT is Clomid. Medication works by stimulating the release of LH and FSH, which in turn promote the production of natural testosterone. This is very effective at helping the body to restart production of testosterone right after a steroid cycle.
- Dosage: Clomid is normally run at 50-100 mg/day for the first two weeks of PCT, then 25-50 mg/day thereafter for the next 2-4 weeks.
- Benefits: Clomid helps to normalize testosterone levels, keeps optimism high, retains muscles, and reduces the risk of gynecomastia because it blocks the estrogen in some tissues.
2. Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate)
Nolvadex is another SERM quite comparable to Clomid but with slightly less potency. Nolvadex acts by preventing estrogen from binding to its receptors especially in the tissue of the breast, hence ensuring reduced risks of gynecomastia. It stimulates the release of LH and FSH, consequently helping to restore testosterone production.
- Dosage: Nolvadex is generally taken in doses of 20-40 mg/day for the first two weeks in and then 10-20 mg/day for the 2-4 weeks out.
It counters estrogen’s side effects really well, such as gynecomastia, and is of major importance when it comes to the restoration of natural levels of testosterone.
3. Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs)
Some steroid users add Aromatase Inhibitors, AIs, to their PCT protocol, especially while taking steroids that aromatize into estrogen, such as testosterone or Dianabol. AIs, like Arimidex or Aromasin, inhibit the enzyme aromatase responsible for converting testosterone into estrogen. Lowering estrogen with an AI may help avoid water retention, gynecomastia, and other estrogen-related side effects.
- Dosage: Typical dosage for Arimidex is 0.5-1 mg every other day and Aromasin dosed at 12.5-25 mg every other day. Dosage depends on blood work and individual needs.
- Pros: The AIs regulate the levels of estrogen, thereby reducing the possibility of estrogenic side effects in and out of a steroid cycle.
4. HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)
This isn’t necessarily a necessity for all PCT plans, but it can be handy for those users who have been on longer or higher-dose steroid cycles that really suppressed natural testosterone production. HCG is structurally similar to LH and will, therefore, enable the “rebooting” of the testes, encouraging them to take up producing testosterone again.
- Dosage: HCG is generally taken at a dosage of 500-1000 IU every other day for 2-3 weeks at the start of PCT. Very often, it is taken in advance of Clomid or Nolvadex being started because this peptide will help normalize testicular function.
- The advantages of HCG are that it can speed up the recovery of natural testosterone production, especially in cases where suppression was severe.
Sample PCT Protocol
Below is a sample standard PCT protocol with both Clomid and Nolvadex. Note that this will have to be changed based on a few different variables, such as the duration your steroid cycle was and how harsh it was. It would be wiser to see a doctor or do some blood work to adjust your PCT accordingly.
Week 1-2
Clomiphene: 100 mg/d ×
Nolvadex: 40 mg/day
Weeks 3-4
Clomiphene: 50 mg/day
Nolvadex, 20 mg/day
Week 5-6
Clomiphene, 25 mg/day
Nolvadex, 10 mg/d
Optional Aromatase Inhibitor (if necessary)
- Arimidex: 0.5 mg every other day or Aromasin: 12.5 mg every other day, depending on blood work.
Optional HCG (if needed)
500 IU every other day for the first 2-3 weeks of PCT.
PCT and Recovery: What to Know
The PCT process can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks, depending on how the body responds. This stage is very important in monitoring your hormone levels through blood tests, which show that your testosterone is recovering well.
Some users may feel that their energy and performance fall off a little at the start of PCT, but as the levels of testosterone start normalizing, symptoms should gradually get better.
The Importance of Nutrition and Training during PCT
While medications are crucial in rebalancing your hormones, don’t be stingy with diet and training either.
Your body’s going to be in a pretty vulnerable state on PCT, and you’ll want to make sure you’re consuming enough protein to prevent muscle loss. You may also want to dial back training volume, so you don’t overtrain.
Just stick with compound movements, keep the calories coming, and sleep when you need to-and you’ll be able to preserve most, if not all, of that hard-earned muscle.
Anabolic Store-Your Reliable Partner in PCT Products
At Anabolic Store, we value appropriate post-cycle therapy, hence we have a wide range of PCT products on offer: Clomid, Nolvadex, AIs, and even hCG. Our goal is to serve bodybuilders and athletes with nothing but the best products and professional advice for making the transition from a steroid cycle to natural testosterone as seamless as possible. We provide:
- Expert Guides: Learn safe PCT practices, from product reviews to how-to guides.
- Product Reviews: The honest reviews on the most popular PCT products to help you go for the best options regarding your needs.
- Customer Service: Get advice from our staff about the use of PCT protocols and products.
Now, for a successful PCT, check out everything you need from Anabolic Store to keep those hard-earned results.
Conclusion
Do Not Forget PCT This drug therapy enables your body to get back into the swing of things in terms of hormone production and helps minimize the risk of side effects. With drugs like Clomid, Nolvadex, AIs, and HCG, your testosterone levels can be recovered; the possibility of estrogen-related sides will be in position to be curbed and keep the gains you have worked the hardest for.
Keep in mind, which PCT protocol that will be used truly is going to be customized, so make sure you consult a physician or run blood tests to see where you are at. Check out Anabolic Store for the best PCT products and expert advice, where we are committed to safety and effectiveness.