Boldenone Undecylenate – EQUIPOISE
Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate) is an anabolic steroid sold under many other names like Boldenone, Ganabol and Ultragan. It is a synthetic anabolic steroid with a similar structure to testosterone.
The drug is only recommended for use in veterinary medicine. It has never been approved for use in humans in North America. Boldenone has come to fame mainly because of its abuse by bodybuilders.
Pharmacology
Boldenone is like many other synthetic steroids. It is a potent anabolic agent at low doses and at high doses possesses both anabolic and androgenic properties. At low doses it can build the body when the diet is rich in calories. However, because it acts like an anabolic steroid, it can suppress the normal synthesis of testosterone in the testes. This can lead to impairment in spermatogenesis and decrease in libido.
When the drug is taken in high doses, it can also be converted into estrogen which can result in gynecomastia and also leads to water retention.
One other feature of Equipoise is that it can stimulate erythropoiesis (an increase in red blood cells). The mechanism for this effect has been associated with stimulation of the erythropoietin stimulating factor which then stimulates the bone marrow. The resulting increase in red blood cells, leads to more hemoglobin and a higher oxygen carrying capacity. Equipose, like other anabolic steroids can also cause changes in electrolytes because of its potent mineralocorticoid properties.
One major negative of Equipose, unlike its other analogues, is that it can stay in the body for a very long time. It has a prolonged half life because the drug does stay bound to tissues and is not broken down by the liver. Many reports indicate that the drug can be detected as long as 12-15 months after first use.
Bodybuilders
How the drug went from horses to humans is not really known. But the fact is that Boldenone does have potent anabolic activity and low androgenic activity and is useful for building body mass. Boldenone can also cause a significant retention of water and sodium at high doses. Like all anabolic steroids it increases nitrogen balance and protein synthesis. The drug is also known to stimulate the kidney and can release EPO-which then stimulates the synthesis of red blood cell in the bone marrow.
This leads to enhanced oxygen carrying capacity. Even though the drug is only meant for animal use, many bodybuilders routinely use it. The drug is often taken in conjunction with other anabolic steroids. Because of its long half life, many bodybuilders take the drug during off season to avoid detection. The drug is continued for a few months and then stopped when the sports season starts. Boldenone is also a potent appetite stimulant.
Boldenone does not immediately cause weight gain. It is much slower than many other anabolic steroids. The muscle mass is typically gained over 4-8 weeks and is steady. The majority of bodybuilders notice that the weight gain is more durable and longer lasting after several cycles, with each cycle lasting about 8 weeks. The one great thing about this drug is that the weight gain is pure muscle mass and not related to water.
Boldenone is not a drug one should take during the active sports season. It has a very long half life and is readily detectable in the body. The majority of bodybuilders use it during off season to build up the bulk. Often it is combined with other drugs like Anadrol, Anavar and Sustanol. When the diet is rich in calories, the size of muscles can be impressive.
Dosing
Since the drug has never been approved for human use, the dose of the drug has been derived by simply guess work. Someone has analyzed what horses require than simply extrapolated that dose to humans. The common dose for body building is not known. It varies from 200—800 mg/week. The recommended dose in horses is about 1mg/kg every 2-3 weeks. Most bodybuilders administer about 400mg/week. It is claimed that doses lower than 300mg/week do not help gain weight.
Boldenone is administered as an intramuscular injection. With the formulations available today, it cannot be taken orally. The drug is injected into the buttock area with care. Since the drug comes as an oily suspension, one should not inject more than 4-8 mls at a time. Large volumes of fluid in the buttock area can cause pain and are very uncomfortable. The dose for women bodybuilders is about 50-75 mg/week. If the injections are painful one can inject the drug in 2-3 different sites or change the dosing to 2-3 times a week- same dose but smaller amounts given every other day.
The oily suspension can irritate the skin and it is recommended that the site be rotated every week. Besides the buttocks one can inject the drug into the outer parts of the thighs. The drug is quite painful when injected in the arms.
Side Effects
Boldenone is an anabolic steroid and has the full spectrum of side effects which include:
- Oily skin
- AcneHair loss
- Mood changes- aggression, paranoia, depression
- Water retention
- Swelling, edema
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Gynecomastia at high doses
- Testicular atrophy
- Possible liver cancer
- Fatique
Unlike other anabolic steroids, the side effects of Boldenone do persist for a long time even after the drug is stopped. Some individuals will continue to have acne and oily skin for months.
Contraindications
While Boldenone is not acutely toxic, the drug is not recommended for use in individuals who:
- are pregnant
- have prostate or breast cancer
- have liver problems
- have a history of heart disease
- renal failure
- hypercalcemia
Warnings
All anabolic steroids come with a warning that they have the potential to cause damage to your liver, decrease libido and shrink your testes. There are numerous reports that prolonged intake of boldenone can lead to severe alterations in sexual behavior and spontaneous changes with mood. Aggression and violent behavior have been widely reported after the use of most anabolic steroids.
Over dosage
Like most anabolic steroids, over dosage is very unlikely with boldenone. Even if someone took many pills at the same time, the major problem would be nausea, vomiting or abdominal cramping. In any case, the individual should go to the hospital for monitoring and supportive care. Since all anabolic steroids can damage the liver, measurement of liver enzymes is essential.
Contaminants
The very lucrative anabolic steroid market has led to many unscrupulous sellers, esp. on the internet selling fraudulent steroids. Since the drug is only available on the black market, many consumers have no recourse even if they know they have been suckered into buying a counterfeit or fake product. And there are lots of reports of counterfeit or contaminated Boldenone formulations. In the USA, the boldenone is smuggled in from Mexico, Japan, Thailand and South America. Once upon a time there were tablets of 25 and 50 mg available as well as liquid formulations of 50 cc vials. However, it is now evident that the tablets were not Boldenone but a mixture of other steroids. The price for 10 mls vial (50mg/ml) averages about $50-$75. Because of the fake products and contamination, always get your drug from a reputable dealer. The cyberspace is full of charlatans who will sell you junk because they do know you can’t go and complain to anyone about the product they sell you.
Control
Boldenone is not for use in humans and the FDA has classified this drug under the Controlled Substance Act as a Schedule 3 drug. The drug is unlawful to possess, distribute or for personal use.
Detection
Boldenone has a very long half life and can remain in the body for months or even years. The oily emulsion has an affinity for fatty tissues and resides in the body for months. The metabolites of boldenone have been found in urine 12 months after the last injection. So one has to have a plan before shooting this drug. If you are going to enter a competition in the next few months, boldenone is the last drug you should inject. It is best reserved for the novice athlete who is just starting out and wants to build his/her body. Further one must not anticipate engaging in sports for that time period. Every sporting organization has banned the use of the drug and it is always checked in the urine. The tests available can identify boldenone and its metabolites.
