Anabolic Steroids: Harm Reduction

William Llewellyn (April, 25 2019)

“I Don’t Promote Drug Use.

I Don’t Promote Car Accidents Either, but I Still Think Seatbelts are a Good Idea”

Health Consequences

Health Consequences

January 2006 - March 2018. ~ 12.5 Years.

545 Men Tested Positive for AAS

5450 Control Subjects

644 Men Refused AAS Testing (presumed users)

6440 Control Subjects

13,079 Individuals

Health Consequences

Health Consequences

Mortality was

3 TIMES

higher in AAS users.

Most Common Concerns

Cardiovascular Disease

Infertility/Hypogonadism

Cancer (Liver)

Virilization

FIRST STEP

What are you ultimate goals with

steroid use?

# 1

Choose drugs with a

LOWER

TENDENCY for

SIDE EFFECTS

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

MEN:

Testosterone

Boldenone

Nandrolone

Primobolan

WOMEN:

Nandrolone(Phenylpropionate)

Primobolan(oral)

Oxandrolone

Avoid Orals

Orals are generally much worse for CVD Risk Factors, such as lipid balance (HDL/LDL)

Also, oral (methylated) AAS have high hepatotoxicity. The only drugs associated (albeit rarely) with liver cancer.

Most injectable AAS display low or no toxicity here.

P. Thompson, et al.JAMA. 1989;261

11 Healthy Male

weightlifters. Drugs

taken for 6 Weeks

each, crossover.

Stanozolol (oral)

6mg per day

Testosterone

Enanthate

200mg/week

CARDIOVASCULAR

Testosterone vs. Stanozolol

Stanozolol: (HDL -33%) (LDL +29%)

T. Enanthate: (HDL-9%) (LDL -16%)

M. Small, et al.Thrombosis Research28; 27-36,198

Study involved

12 Healthy Men

Cholesterol

measures were

taken at Baseline,

28 days, and 56

days.

DAILY DOSE?

DURATION?

CARDIOVASCULAR

20% Reduction in HDL

18% Increase in LDL

Injectable Stanozolol

# 2

Pharma First. If

feasible, avoid all:

Counterfeit and

Underground

products

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

Underground Laboratories

Mismatched Labels

Confiscated AAS in The Netherlands

2000-2004

▪57% did not match label▪7% contained no steroids at all

1998

▪31% did not match label▪17% contained no steroids at all

336 Products Tested 1998-2004

Mismatched Labels

“More than 40% [of] AAS products sold in the region failed to meet label claims, which may pose serious health risks to consumers.”

358 Consumer Samples (Czech Rep, Slovakia)

doi: 10.1002/dta.2541

2018

Mismatched Labels

Oils

▪ 43% did not match label▪ 21% over/under dose▪ 16% had no AAS

Tablets

▪ 37% did not match label▪ 20% over/under dose▪ 15% had no AAS

Contamination

24 samples sent in for analysis ANABOLICS 2010

17 contaminated including:

▪ BHT (food preservative)▪ Bis (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (plasticizer)▪ Paraffin (kerosene) ▪ Amines & Carboline (organic/synthesis)▪ Fatty Acids

6 samples (25%) contained bacteria.

Bacteria = Infections

Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting

They once looked like

this…

Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting

Now they can look like this.

Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting

# 3

If you choose to buy

underground,

choose

compounds more

likely

to match label.

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

Boldenone Undecylenate (Equipoise)87.5% WDC12.5% Underdosed

Testosterone Enanthate71.4% WDC7% No AAS7% Different AAS

Methandrostenolone (Dianabol)81.8% WDC9% Underdosed9% No AAS

SIDE TIP:

ANAVAR is one of the WORST

38.3% WDC

30% No/Different AAS

25.5% Underdosed

(2018 Data)

Incentive to Substitute

Study used DNA

Testing to check for

fish mislabeling at

26 Los Angeles area

sushi restaurants.

(2012-2015)

Good places*

Incentive to SubstituteD. Willette, et al.Conserv Biol. 2017 Oct;31(5)

47% rate of mislabeling

# 4

If possible, avoid

Aromatase

Inhibitors.

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

Aromatase inhibitors suppress

estrogen, which is important for

lipid balance. These drugs often

reduce HDL (good) cholesterol.

If estrogen management is

needed, better options may

include.

1.Reduce dose of offending AAS

2.Introduce Tamoxifen (20mg

Aromatase Inhibition

280 mg/wk Testosterone Enanthate

280 mg/wk Testosterone Enanthate + 1,000 mg/day Testolactone (AI)

40 mg/day Methyltestosterone

Metabolism, Vol39, No 1 (January), 1990: pp 69-74

# 5

Do not buy

American,

Canadian, UK, or

West European

Pharmaceuticals

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

Diversion from legitimate Pharma

channels is EXTREMELY RARE in

these regions. Your dealer is

HIGHLY UNLIKELY to obtain

legitimate product in any

appreciable quantity.

Safer Markets

Asia

Central & South America

Eastern Europe

Retail purchase or wholesale-level

pharmaceutical diversion is significantly

more likely in these regions.

# 6

Use moderate

dosages.

The dose/response

relationship is NOT

linear.

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

Moderate Dosages

Men:

Testosterone (esters) 200-750mg/wk

Boldenone (esters) 200-750mg/wk

Nandrolone (esters) 200-750mg/wk

Methenolone (esters) 200-750mg/wk

Women:

Oxandrolone 5-10 mg/day

Nandrolone phenylpropionate 50 mg/week

Methenolone acetate (oral) 50-75 mg/day

# 7

Use in cycles for

reasonable lengths

of time.

ALWAYS

CYCLE

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

Reasonable Cycles

Men:

Testosterone (esters) 8-12 weeks

Boldenone (esters) 8-12 weeks

Nandrolone (esters) 8-12 weeks

Methenolone (esters) 8-12 weeks

Women:

Oxandrolone 4-6 weeks

Nandrolone phenylpropionate 4-6 weeks

Methenolone acetate (oral) 4-6 weeks

Sample Cycle (men)

TIP:

Stacking is NOT a necessity for a

successful program.

Sample Cycle (men)

Sample Cycle (men)

# 8

Take AT LEAST as

much time

OFF ALL

ANABOLIC

STEROIDS.

“Bridging” is not

cycling.

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

1-2 cycles per year

(max) would be most

recommended.

# 9

Always use a

PCT (Post-Cycle

Therapy)

program after

steroid cessation.

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

Recovery can be SLOW without

Nolvadex: 20mg 2x daily for 45 days

Clomid: 50mg 2x daily for 30 days

hCG: 2000IU EOD for 20 days

Timing PCT Initiation

Cypionate/Enanthate: 3-7 days after last injection

(200 mg/week)

Cypionate/Enanthate: 10-14 days after last injection

(500 mg/week)

Decanoate: 10-14 days after last injection

(200 mg/week)

Decanoate: 18-21 days after last injection

(500 mg/week)

Orals Only: 7 days before last pill

# 10

Get bloodwork

done.

BEFORE

+

DURING

+

AFTER

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

Looking to set a baseline in key

health markers is recommended.

Then see changes induced by AAS

use.

Followed by another re-check to

confirm recovery.

Before Use

Checklist (minimum):

Hormone (Steroid)

Lipids (Standard Full Set)

Full Liver Panel

Blood

Kidney

Electrolytes, Minerals, and Glucose

Prostate

On Cycle Testing

Checklist (minimum):

Lipids (Standard Full Set)

Liver Panel, if taking hepatotoxic steroid(s)

Blood

Kidney

Electrolytes, Minerals, and Glucose

After PCT

Checklist (minimum):

Hormone (Steroid)

Lipids (Standard Full Set)

Full Liver Panel

Blood

Kidney

Electrolytes, Minerals, and Glucose

Prostate

# 11

Consider

Hormone

Replacement

Therapy

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

H.R.T.

TESTOSTERONE & HEALTH

◼ Low Testosterone = Risk Factor in CVD

◼ Reduce Insulin Sensitivity

◼ Increase Obesity

◼ Reduce Muscle & Bone Mass

◼ Metabolic Syndrome

Shores et al. 2012

Treatment of

hypogonadism (<

250 ng/dL) in older

men:

39%

Reduction(all-cause

mortality)

TRT Reduced Mortality

Sharma et al. 2015

Treatment of

hypogonadism in

men reduces:

•Mortality (all

cause)

•Heart Attack

•Stroke

TRT Reduced Mortality

# 12?

The use of a

Syringe Filter

should be

evaluated as a

potential

strategy.

HARM REDUCTION TIPS

Limitations:

Cannot remove other drugs, pyrogens, or heavy metals.

Process exposes solution to air.

Can remove all bacteria from a solution.

THANK YOU!

William Llewellynwilliam@roidtest.com

www.roidtest.com

www.molecularnutrition.com