Testosterone Cypionate
Is long acting formulation of testosterone which is indicated in the treatment of individuals who have absent or very low levels of the hormone. It is sometimes known as Depo testosterone.
The testosterone is esterified and thus is quite long acting. It is only available in an injection form. The anabolic steroid is typically dissolved in sesame or cotton seed oil and injected into the buttock area. The drug is slowly released from the injection site for about 7-12 days.
The formulation comes as white milky powder and is insoluble in water but freely soluble in most organic solvents including vegetable oil.
Pharmacology
The body normally makes sex hormones like testosterone which is responsible for the normal growth and development of the secondary sexual features. This includes growth of the prostate, testes, penis, scrotum, body hair, vocal cord thickening, alterations in body fat and musculature. When testosterone deficiency occurs, the secondary sexual characteristics and body growth is always abnormal. Thus, one of the indications of testosterone therapy is in the treatment of individuals who lack testosterone or are infertile.
Indications for use
Testosterone Cypionate is used to treat conditions in made where there is a failure of testosterone to be secreted like:
- primary failure of the testes to make the hormone
- failure of the pituitary to release Gonadotropins
Bodybuilding
Testosterone and its analogues are widely used by athletes and bodybuilders. The steroid is taken principally to enhance the body and stimulate the psyche. Most bodybuilders who take this drug claim that it causes spontaneous bursts in energy associated with increased aggression. This feature of the drug is used primarily by weight lifters and professional wrestlers. Many athletes also claim that the drug improves their ability to perform exercise at intense levels.
Testosterone has moderate anabolic properties but also is a powerful androgenic agent.
Because the drug is given by an injection, its effects on the body are not rapid. One may not see any effects for at least 3-4 weeks after starting the injections. Unlike the oral testosterone, the injected formulations last a longer in the body.
When taken for more than 4-6 weeks, it can increase body mass and protein anabolism. However, for the body to build muscle one also has to eat a diet rich in calories. Most bodybuilders also take a combination of other hormones at the same time. Because testosterone is converted to estrogen in the fatty tissues, there is always the chance of developing gynecomastia and water retention. To prevent this, most bodybuilders add Arimidex or tamoxifen during the off cycle.
During testosterone injections, the natural body testosterone release is inhibited by feedback mechanism through inhibition of pituitary LH. At large doses, even spermatogenesis can be impaired. To allow for the hypothalamic-pituitary axis to recover, it is highly recommended that the drug be tapered off slowly over a period of a few weeks. Sudden discontinuation of the drug can lead to extreme fatigue, weight loss and susceptibility to fractures.
Contraindications
There are some individuals who should avoid testosterone like steroids because it can worsen the clinical condition. These conditions include:
- those with allergy to the drug
- males with breast cancer
- males with prostate cancer
- Women who are pregnant or breast feeding
- Individuals who have liver, kidney or heart problems
Side Effects
When Testosterone Cypionate is injected at low doses, the side effects are rare. However, long term use is known to be associated with a varied number of side effects – all of which are reversible when the drug is stopped. For the female who decides to take testosterone, there are virilizing side effects which are not always reversible when the drug is stopped. Like all anabolic steroids, testosterone also has a number of side effects which includes:
- nausea, vomiting
- abdominal cramps, diarrhea
- swelling
- ncreased /decreased libido
- headaches
- acne, oily skin
- mental change including anger, depression, insomnia
- diaphoresis
- loss of hair
- gynecomastia
When taken by females, the drug definitely can cause virilizing effects like:
- deepening of voice
- hoarseness
- excess hair growth
- enlarged clitoris
- irregular menstrual cycles
Testosterone Cypionate is converted into estrogen in the fatty tissues. The estrogen than leads to development of breast enlargement and water retention. This effect is typically seen after the steroid has been used for more than 4 weeks. The gynecomastia does reverse when the steroid is discontinued.
Over dose
Over dose with Testosterone Cypionate is very rare. The drug is usually administered as an injection. If excess dose is injected, there are no acute side effects but the individual may feel sick for a few weeks. Depending on the dose injected, a visit to the hospital or a physician’s office would not be a bad idea.
Dosage
In clinical medicine, Testosterone Cypionate is administered as an injection. The oily suspension is injected only into the muscles. Testosterone Cypionate is available in two strengths 100mg/ml and 200 mg/ml. It is only made for intramuscular injection. The drug can be injected into the buttock area once every 7-12 days. The majority of the Testosterone Cypionate is bound to protein and only 2% is free. The drug is supposed to be injected once a week, but there are some bodybuilders who do inject it every other day.
This is not recommended and can lead to the formation of abscess, sores and skin infections.
The injection site needs to be rotated if the injections are to be continued for a long time. The oily suspension should not be injected into the arms or the abdomen. The dose of Testosterone Cypionate ranges from 50mg-400mg/week, depending on the condition being treated. Bodybuilders tend to inject the higher amount of the drug- 200mg-400mg/week. The drug is then slowly absorbed into the blood stream over the next few days.
Control
Testosterone Cypionate is a controlled substance and classified under class 3 under the Controlled Substance Act. It is only available in the USA with a physician’s prescription. Possession, distribution or sell of this anabolic steroid is considered illegal.
Detection
Anytime an oily suspension of drug is used, the drug does tend to remain in the body for a long time. Testosterone Cypionate and its metabolites can be detected in the urine for as long as 2-3 weeks after the last injection. Because of this long duration in the body, most bodybuilders prefer to take the drug during the off season.
Availability
The majority of bodybuilders get their Testosterone Cypionate from the black market. In the USA the original pharmaceutical product is well controlled and not available for sale. Generic forms of the steroid have been made in Japan, Australia, Mexico, Spain, Brazil and Thailand is all available.
Most bodybuilders use between 200-1000mg/week and a vial of 400mg in 2 ml can cost anywhere from $20-$40. this can easily amount to $200 per month depending on the dose.
However, like all things in cyberspace the purity and quality of the product is always in question. And fakes products are plentiful.
Testosterone Enanthate
Testosterone is responsible for the normal growth and development of the male sex organs and for the maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics. The drug can affect the growth of the prostate, testes, seminal vesicles, penis and scrotum and is also important for body growth. Although testosterone is an androgenic hormone, it possesses anabolic properties. Its use has been shown to promote protein synthesis and a positive nitrogen balance in the presence of a rich low calorie diet.
Testosterone also has the ability to cause a slight increase in the production of red blood cells by stimulating the synthesis of EPO from the kidney. This leads to an increase in red blood cells and thus an increase in oxygen carrying capacity.
When testosterone is taken over a long period of time, it inhibits the release of gonadotropins from the pituitary gland through a negative feedback mechanism. At high doses it may even inhibit spermatogenesis.
Testosterone also has the ability to cause a slight increase in the production of red blood cells by stimulating the synthesis of EPO from the kidney. This leads to an increase in red blood cells and thus an increase in oxygen carrying capacity.
When testosterone is taken over a long period of time, it inhibits the release of gonadotropins from the pituitary gland through a negative feedback mechanism. At high doses it may even inhibit spermatogenesis.
Dosage
Testosterone enanthate (Delatestryl) only dissolves slowly after an intramuscular injection and therefore it should not be taken more than 1-2 times per month. The formulation comes as an esterified preparation of testosterone which is only meant to be administered by an intramuscular injection. The esterification of testosterone increases the duration of action of the testosterone. The preparation goes into a colourless to slightly yellow suspension of sesame oil. For medical applications, a dose of 250-500mg is used once a month.
Indications
Delatestryl is indicated in the treatment of conditions where testosterone is either deficient or absent. These conditions include:
- primary hypogonadism, where the testes have been injured and do not make the testosterone
- hypogonadism due to failure of the pituitary gland to release gonadotropins
- delayed puberty
In women with breast cancer, testosterone can help block the effect of estrogen and prevent further spread. It is an option instead of surgical removal of the ovaries.
In most cases of testosterone deficiency, therapy is required for a long time until the secondary sexual characteristics have been characteristically developed and growth is adequate.
Duration
Treatment of all individuals with testosterone anthate depends on age, sex, diagnosis and response to treatment and the occurrence of side effects. In general, the drug is well tolerated when prescribed as recommended. Delatestryl should always be injected into the gluteal muscles and not simply under the skin. The injection site should be rotated to prevent abscess formation. Another option is to inject the drug on the outside of the thigh. The drug should never be administered intravenously.
The dose of testosterone enanthate should not exceed 1000 mg per month because the drug has prolonged activity. It is extremely rare to give this drug once every fortnight. The drug should always be checked before injection. It is usually a colourless yellow suspension is clear. Particles or clumping indicates that the product has expired or is inactive. The duration of treatment varies from 4-6 months.
The drug should be stored at room temperature.
Bodybuilders
Many bodybuilders use Delatestryl during the off-season. The drug remains in the body for a long time and it is advisable not to use it during the active sports season. The drug definitely has anabolic and androgenic properties. However, the effects of the drug are not immediate and may take at least 3-4 weeks to become visible. Many bodybuilders also use other anabolic hormones such as GH/thyroxine in combination.
Because testosterone also converts to estrogen in fat tissue, many bodybuilders develop breast enlargement and store water. The dose used to increase muscle mass and strength is about 250-1000 mg/week. However, at the higher doses the drug has potent side effects and it is strongly recommended that all beginners start off with the low dose.
The increase in protein mass is gradual, but does not occur. Because the steroid also stimulates red blood cell production, many bodybuilders also find that they have an increased ability to perform under intense training conditions. Testosterone enanthate is preferred by most bodybuilders because it is readily available and has a number of benefits. It promotes health, increases athletic performance and leads to a positive nitrogen balance. There are reports that it also selectively reduces fat and increases muscle mass. Recent studies from the World Sport Agencies show that this particular drug can boost performance, increase muscle mass and still not be detected in the urine within the first few weeks. Even though the anabolic effects are not obvious, most people have noticed an increase in strength. Sometimes the water retention can be very dramatic and some individuals take a diuretic pill to remove it. To prevent breast enlargement, testosterone antanthate is cycled with drugs such as Arimidex or Tamoxifen. Most people take the testosterone for 4-6 weeks and then stop for a few weeks. During this phase, you can wash out with Arimidex.
Women
All testosterone analogues have the potential to cause virilizing effects if the duration of use is prolonged. In women, these virilizing signs can be deepened by speech, excessive hair growth, irregular menstruation, mood swings and enlargement of the clitoris. It is recommended that at the first sign of virilizing symptoms the drug should be stopped. The reason for this is that some of the virilizing signs may not be reversible even after stopping the steroid.
Side effects
Like all anabolic steroids, testosterone antanthate has a few side effects. These side effects are generally mild and well tolerated. The majority of people see that some side effects after 3-4 months of therapy. The most common side effects are:
- bleeding irregularities
- virilizing effects
- deepening of the voice
- enlargement of the clitoris
- gynaecomastia
- painful erections
- hair loss, acne oily skin
- retention of body water
- nausea, vomiting, jaundice
- liver cancer (rare)
- mental changes, depression, headaches, anxiety,
- increased serum cholesterol
While most of these side effects are reversible, the breast enlargement and some virilising effects are not. The concurrent use of oestrogens to reduce the side effects of virilisation is not always helpful.
In children, the use of testosterone must be closely monitored. It may accelerate bone maturation but does not increase compensatory linear growth – resulting in abnormal body distortion in the anatomy-esp. Jaw and face.
Warnings
The drug should be used very cautiously in people with:
- breast cancer and hypercalcaemia
- liver dysfunction
- prostate cancer
- heart problems
There have been isolated reports of individuals developing a dry cough, breathing difficulties after injection with Testosterone enanthate. This has been linked to the oil preparation or an impurity in the formulation.
All individuals using testosterone should have their liver enzymes and blood haematocrit checked regularly to ensure that they are within normal limits.
Recognition
Testosterone enanthate has a very long half-life in the body. For this reason, it is also detected in the urine long after it has been discontinued. Current techniques of testing can identify testosterone or its metabolites in the urine at least 3-4 weeks after the drug has been stopped. Infact, testing has also gone beyond urine tests. If the excessive use of testosterone is suspected, one can even detect traces of testosterone in the hair 2-4 months after the drug has been stopped.
However, one should know that the tests today testosterone anthate is not perfect. About 50% of people who take this steroid are missed based on testosterone / epitestosterone ratios.
Cost
The legal testosterone anthate is quite difficult to keep off. The majority of bodybuilders get their testosterone from the black market. Generic testosterone formulations in Europe and Mexico are widely available. The drug is not cheap and a vial of 250 mg can cost anywhere from $10-$20. Over the last 2 decades, the increasing scrutiny of these drugs by the DEA has led to unscrupulous dealers selling fake or counterfeit products. So in the end, it’s always up to the buyer.
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