Anavar and Deca Profile

Anavar (Oxandrolone)

Anavar is not your drug of choice when trying to build massive amounts of muscle or increase your strength to any significant degree. It’s more of a regular hammer compared to the other sledgehammers that you normally hear about. Anavar is an oral steroid with weak anabolic effects and very low androgenic effects. Gains are gradual and slow but the tradeoff with quicker acting drugs is that you are spared many of the androgenic side effects, namely bloating, of those drugs when using Anavar. Because of the low androgenic effects, this is a steroid preferred by women who want to reduce the risk of virilization when using. Anavar is a 17-alkylated drug, as are most orals, and shares the same potential liver toxicity as others do; therefore, cycles should be limited to the same range as most 17-alkylated drugs, about 4-6 weeks. Liver function tests will no doubt rise while on and drop back down to normal when off. Anavar doesn’t aromatize and isn’t converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Dosages range from 15-150mg a day, although the upper number is the extreme end of the range, and most will stick with 50mg or under per day. Tabs are mostly 2.5mg, but occasionally you will find 5mg tabs to make getting the proper dose easier. This is also an expensive steroid, and other than for women, it probably doesn’t have much of a place in your arsenal if you’re looking for big gains. However, if you have the money and are looking for small but steady increases in muscle mass and/or want to be on something that perpetuates less of a bloat while cutting, Anavar may be a drug you can benefit from.

Deca-Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate)

Deca-Durabolin is one of the more famous, or infamous (however you view it) steroids in the world. Its popularity surged in the 80’s and 90’s as it has very few nasty side effects when compared with other steroids. However, the one side effect that it does have turns many off to its use. We’ll get to that little surprise in a bit.

Deca is an injectable steroid with a long half-life on the order of a week or so. Because of this, it is more suitable for long cycles and should be frontloaded to get your blood levels up quickly. If you’re going to be drug-tested anytime in the near future, you’ll want to stay away from Deca and its long half-life. So why do people use Deca? Well, first of all it works. Deca binds to the androgen receptors in muscle better than testosterone; however, it exhibits somewhat weaker activity in muscle building when compared to testosterone. This is no doubt due to its lack of non-AR mediated effects. In other words, testosterone exhibits activity through both the anabolic receptor and other mechanisms, while Deca probably derives most of its benefits solely through the anabolic receptor.

What separates Deca from others is what happens to it in the body. Testosterone is reduced to DHT by an enzyme called 5ά-reductase, which exhibits more androgenic activity than testosterone. Deca is reduced by that same enzyme to a compound called dihydronandrolone. This is a weaker androgen than Deca and affects your hairline, prostate, and your propensity for steroid-induced acne far less than the metabolites of other steroids. People typically see fewer of those side effects when on a cycle in which Deca is the foundation. Still, Deca can indeed be converted to estrogens by the liver, but it occurs at a much lower rate than testosterone. Gynecomastia is uncommon but possible. This is probably mediated by both the conversion to estrogens and by Deca’s activity as a progestin.

The one side effect that was mentioned earlier but not stated is, unfortunately, the one that keeps people away from this steroid. Known rather unaffectionately as “Deca Dick”, erectile dysfunction is an unfortunate side effect of using Deca only cycles. It happens relatively commonly, but the solution to this is actually very simple. You just have to add testosterone, and the magic begins again. Your dick will love you for it. The typical ratio is using twice as much testosterone as Deca, so if you were using 400mg of Deca, you would simply use 800mg of test. Simple but effective.

Why would you risk playing Mr. Limpy when you can use other steroids? Well, you certainly don’t have to and many people shy away from it, but Deca has its place. Gains are steady, but unspectacular. Having said that, if you ever have joint problems when on, Deca can be a God-send. Talk to one person who’s used it and has had previous joint problems, and you’ll probably find a convert. Deca apparently promotes the production of synovial fluid in our joints, providing nice lubrication that many seem to lack. For that purpose, it’s probably a good drug to use while rehabbing injuries; that is, if you decide to use while recovering.

Typical doses are 200-600mg a week, and this can all be injected at once (with a frontload of twice that dose on the first week) due to the long half-life.