PCT = Post Cycle Therapy.


PCT's are used to come off of a cycle of a ph/ps/aas (prohormone/prosteroid/anabolic-androgenic steroid) cycle. A PCT's function is not only to help maintain gains, but to bring your body back to where it would naturally be, or as close to that as possible, help prevent rebound effects, and control some of the other 'bad' effects a cycle can create. A PCT can be generalized as a 'taper' back to normality.


PCT's are necessary and should not in any way be taken lightly. When starting a cycle, you should always know your PCT and have it lined up ahead of time. The number of PCT style/combos possible is limitless, and I WILL be addressing several options and possibilities in THIS thread.


Major components to be consider during the PCT timeframe are the restoration of your HPTA's functionality and the rebound of testosterone vs the decline in testosterone. The goal here is to prevent the body from trying to 'repair' itself... The key in PCT is to lower estrogen levels safely, raise testosterone (natural not exogenous), and keep other hormones in balance (ie: cortisol and thyroidal hormones on some occasions/etc). Let's walk over each step here.


Lowering Estrogen:


This will be a huge section due to the fact that there's a lot of ground to cover and lot of misconceptions. We'll start with the most basic and simple to more complicated matters, so for those of you following along who don't care to get into the nitty gritty only have to read the first part and then skim down to the next section!


OTC Anti-estrogens via Aromatase Inhibition. (please note they can be written SEVERAL different ways, I'm going basic here)

• 3,17-dioxo-etiochol-1,4,6-triene (More commonly, ATD)
• 6,17-dioxo-etiocholene-3-ol (More commonly, 3-OHAT)
• 3,6,17-AndrosteneTrione (More commonly, 6-oxo)
• 17a-methyl-17b-hydroxyl-3-keto-delta 1,4,6-etioallocholtriene
• 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (More commonly, Formestane or 4-OHAD)

I won't go into more detail with the several others available because these are the most common.

1. ATD is cheap and very effective, doses of ATD usually never exceed 75mgs. ATD Can have impact on your libido.
2. 3-OHAT is a bit less common, but still effective, it is known to be faster acting than ATD.
3. 6-oxo is an old favorite for many, it is a suicide inhibitor (it binds to the enzyme permanently, preventing it from binding elsewhere)
4. Methylated ATD which is found in AX's old version of PCT and assumingly Fast Actions Revive T, is NOT liver toxic and allows users to reap the full benefits of ATD minus the lack in libido.
5. Formestane is becoming more and more popular, especially in the transdermal form which requires not only a lesser dose, but less frequent dosing.

An interesting study I found on ATD:

NON-OTC Estrogen Modulation


Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators, more commonly SERMS.

There are several different SERMs and a lot of fuss about which ones are best and which ones arent. I won't sit here and argue about it in my thread, but I will discuss the most popular SERMs individually.


Tamoxifene; More Commonly - Nolvadex


Nolva is known very widely and used/abused in a similar sense. Nolva has a reputation as being the best because it is the most researched, however it's hepatoxicity (liver toxicity) and effects on GH are not smiled upon as much as it's effects in dealing with gynecomastia and restoring HPT axis function.


Clomiphene; More Commonly - Clomid


Clomid is known very widely as well, unfortunately a lot of people think that this is "the best" SERM in terms of restoration of the HPT axis. Clomid therapy is very well known and practiced, I personally do not side with it's usage and stay away from it.


Raloxifene; More Commonly - Evista


Ralox is known to be very beneficial to bone density, preventing/treating gynecomastia and moderately effective with the restoration of the HPTA. A common side effect is blood clots.


Toremifene; More Commonly - Fareston


Toremifine is very popular in the modern day and age due to it's very fast recovery with the HPTA and test production. It's effects on gyno are not as well studied as other SERMs.


Aside from the SERM realm there are also NON-OTC Aromatase Inhibitors, this includes Letrozole, Arimidex and Aromasin. The usage of these is very case dependant and I refuse to touch this subject without knowing the person's situation very in depth.


Other OTC Estrogen Modulating Agents:


Indole-3 Carbinole - Quite possibly the only working estrogen channeling agent, this prevents the formation of 16-hydroxylated estrogen by forming a weaker and easier to modulate 2-hydroxylated estrogen.


Chrysin, Di-indoylmethane (DIM) and phytoestrogenic plants that people claim to help with estrogen control should be avoided IMHO.


Putting the above products into practice:


The Taper - 'The Taper' can be defined as the gradual increase/decrease in the amount of product ingested over a period of time.


With a 100% OTC post cycle therapy, you will taper down with your selected AI. To not blanket statement this and be too general, it's usually case dependant with your particular product, I will give several examples later on though, not to worry!


With a NON-OTC post cycle therapy, you will usually taper your SERM downwards and inversely taper your AI upwards. An additional 2 week down-taper of your AI is a good idea to employ here.


Raising Testosterone:


Please keep in mind that anti-estrogens raise testosterone as well, but this is a dedicated pathway that I'm about to discuss.


Zinc/Magnesium - This is, in my humble opinion, the most effective way to boost testosterone naturally. Dosing your favorite ZMA product if fine, for those who buy these seperately, Dosing your Zinc at 30mgs nightly and your Magnesium at 400mgs nightly is fine, I prefer to dose the above amounts twice daily, not including my normal mineral intake.

There are herbs and extracts that claim to raise testosterone. We are almost all familiar with Tribulus and a few of the others. Let's discuss these individually shall we?

Tribulus Terrestis - Trib is so controversial anymore due to new science and technology, despite the arguements that it doesn't actually raise testosterone, it may still do so by an alternate pathway (via the Luteinizing hormone increases it provides) Either way you look at it, it WILL have a nice effect on libido and is something I always incorporate.

Avena Sativa - This oat is well known for increasing libido and sex drive.

Eurycoma Longifolia - Aka Long Jack and Tongkat Ali, this particular evergreen tree is great for libido and other sexual characteristics, and a few studies showing it may cause apoptosis in breast cells.

There are several other herbs and formulas sprouting up all over the place, I touched on what I personally felt are the worthwhile ones, but I did NOT touch on even a high percentage of them all.

Cortisol Modulation:

Cortisol receives a lot of bad press and is quite often frowned upon with an almost genocidical approach taken to it when people are informed of it's true nature. Be at ease everybody, cortisol aint all that bad, he's kewl, just not all the time, HA!


There's a variety of options availabe today to help reduce cortisol, I wanna touch base on 4 of them.

• 7-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone (AKA 7-OH)
• 17 beta-Androstenetriol (AKA 17ß-Triol™)
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (AKA DHEA)
• Phellodenron and Magnolia Extract (AKA Relora™)

Once again, there's plenty of other options, but these are what I wanna touch base on. LOL

1. 7-OH is a sulfate of DHEA and is nodded at in approval in it's effect on cortisol modulation
2. 17ß-Triol™ is once again, another DHEA metabolite that is gaining more and more approval in the industry.
3. DHEA just HAD to be included considering it's effects on... well everything. I don't recommend using this during the PCT timeframe, but when not in PCT, it may be a viable option for helping with cortisol.
4. Relora™ was included because this is something I tend to lean torwards as a staple anymore, it's calming and relaxation promoting effects are great, this is definitely something that I intend to put some time into researching heavily.

We've got the basics covered kids! Let's continue on with the additions of Supporting Supplements, Gynecomastia, Mock up scenarios, and an FAQ section.

Supporting Supplements:



Vitamins/Minerals



Amino Acids - all sorts, essential, non-essential, branched chain, and the 'odd-ball' aminos. Odds are, most people are familiar with these, but for those who aren't, there a 26 main amino acids, and they are essentially a kewl name for protein. The main ones I plan on discussing here are the branched chain type, and glutamine. Although argued against sometimes, I feel that BCAA's are a major part of a bodybuilders supplement regime, regardless of if he's on cycle or in PCT. As for Glutamine, I feel the same way, I shoot for approximately 20grams per day for exceptional recovery.



Alpha Lipoic Acid



SAMe



Silymarin



NAC



Niacin



Policosanol - It's functional, although to what extent, it's hard to say. I feel dosing this a bit higher (40mgs/day) would be the best route if using this.



Divanil



Saw Palmetto



Pygeum



Hawthorne Berry



Celery Seed



CoQ10 - Idebenone is also viable due to cost. CoQ10 is very efficient in not only blood pressure, but hypertension, and other cardiac issues. Dosing this can be expensive and tricky, I use 200mgs/day on cycle, 100mgs/day during PCT and 50mgs/day in general.



Rhodiola



ALCAR/PLCAR



PEA



Garlic - A possible option for total cardiac health.



Glucosamine/Chondroitin/Celadrin/MSM - all possible routes to go when running a cycle that is hard on the joints.



Cissus Quadrangularis



Fish Oil



Seasame Oil - Included for those on cycles in which they are trying to lean out or recomp, this is a great way to aid in that battle.



Creatine



Potassium/Taurine



Water - One of the most important things to maintain high intake of.



Food - This is very essential to any time period, not just cycle and PCT. Proper amounts of every essential vitamin and mineral are very important, so far the only products worthwhile to be a decent multivitamin/mutlimineral formula is not sold on DA, so I can't make mention of it, but it is very solid in comparison to all other multis and the like. - the NA-R-ALA and K-R-ALA forms are the best, I am quite fond of ALA and use it for many things aside from being a potent antioxidant. - S-adenosyl L Methionine is an excellent liver protectant, and also good for mood and joints. I dose this at 400mgs/day in PCT. - Milk thistle is very common and well known, dosing has to be moderately high to be effective, but ~1gram/day is sufficient. - N-Acetyl Cysteine is also a good antioxidant and liver protectant to look into, doses on this are usually fairly high. Beware the taste of bulk NAC. - Big time fan of this for raising HDL cholesterol. 500mgs/day is sufficient and the 'non flushing' kind isn't as potent as an antioxidant, but still effective at raising HDL. - Using this extract can be beneficial to your prostate health, so why overlook it? It also 'frees up bound test' - Great for several reasons, the main one being prostate health. This is not something to lack on during cycles everybody. - I personally don't use this as often as Saw Palmetto, but this to is effective with prostate health. - Oftentimes misused because it needs to be used 2 weeks prior to starting your cycle to have any positive effect on your blood pressure. - I refer to this as a band aid, or in true layman's terms, an OOPS Cure. This will temporarily lower blood pressure, but is not by any means an effective supplement to use monotherapeutically. - Works well with stress relief (based on personal experiences) and is a good option to play with. - great antioxidants and general use supplements, never leave home without em! - PhenylEthylAmine; a possible solution to lethargy caused by a decrease in testosterone. - A possibly estrogenic anti-inflammatory supplement to aid in the possible repair in injuries that are bone/tendon/ligament related. - Belongs in the multi vit category as far as I'm concerned, helps with cholesterol, heart health, joint health and so much more. DO NOT overlook this supplement. - Good not only for ATP production, but also the retention of water. - If you experience "back pumps" on cycle it is because you did not drink enough water, in which these will serve as "band aids" to help you rid yourself of them, INCREASE WATER INTAKE! - Another key to success, it's very anabolic.

ynecomastia:



Gynecomastia is a touchy subject, and usually upon reading literature about it, everybody gets paranoid and thinks they have it. I am not going to tell you how to diagnose it, because I'm not a doctor, I'm not going to tell you how you got it, and most importantly, I'm not going to tell you how to treat it, this is all your doctors job... and that is the sole purpose of this section, to tell you to SEE A DOCTOR!!!









Mock-Up Scenarios! :



Scenario #1



Cycle looks like this:

Halo @ 50mgs for days 1-30

Prop @ 60mgs for days 1-30



Now, for a nice light cycle like this, the PCT doesn't need to be extreme, a suitable and affordable option would be:



SNS Reduce XT - Started on Day 15 of PCT, 3 caps/day til bottle gone



SNS Inhibit-E - 3 caps/day for week 1, 2/day for week 2, 1/day for week 3, and 1 cap every other day for week 4.



EST Test Drive - 2caps in the morning upon waking and 2 caps prebed for 25 days.



Green MAGnitude - 1 scoop preworkout. (this also aids in your magnesium department)



Normal Supporting Supplements for a light cycle.





Scenario #2



Cycle looks like this:

1,4AD weeks 1-8 @ 1gram/day

Epistane for the last 4 weeks @ 40mgs/day

Halo for the first 4 weeks @ 50mgs/day



This cycle is still moderately light, but you could use an extra bump in the PCT; see below:



Gaspari Novedex XT tapered down



AX Retain 2 started day 15, 3 caps/day til bottle runs dry



I3C dosed @ 400mgs/day for duration of PCT



Axis Labs Hypertest @ 4 caps daily, 2 in the AM and 2 prebed.



Supporting supplements should also receive a bit more of a bump.





Scenario #3



Cycle looks like this:

Phera-Plex @ 30mgs days 1-30

Trenadrol @ 60mgs days 1-30



This cycle is again, slightly more intense so we add to our PCT's strength, see below:



6-oxo Extreme - dosed at 10 caps daily for week 1, 7 caps daily for week 2, 4 caps daily for week 3, and 2 caps daily for week 4



Lean Extreme 2.0 Once again, day 15 of PCT til bottle runs dry.



Controlled Labs Blue Up 2 caps first thing in the AM for 4 weeks



I3C @ 400mgs throughout.



ActivaTe Extreme started on Day 15 and ran throughout the bottle.



Additional supporting supplements need to be included.





Scenario #4



This time the cycle looks like:

Superdrol @ 20mgs for days 1-30

Orastan-E clone @ 150mgs/day for 30 days



This time, because Superdrol was used, a SERM should be implemented, see below:



Nolvadex dosed 40mg for 2 weeks, then 20mg for the last two weeks



Inhibit-E dosed at 25mgs for weeks 1 and 2, and then 50mgs for the last two, tapered down after week 4 to 25 every other day for one more week.



Retain 2 dosed starting day 15 @ 3/day til bottle is gone.



Test Drive dosed at 4caps daily, AM/PM split again for 25 days.



Supporting Supplements need to be fairly potent at this point





Scenario #5



This time there's real gear involved and the cycle is fairly potent.



Cycle looks like this:

Testosterone Cypionate @ 500mgs/week for 10 weeks

Methandrostenalone @ 50mgs/day for weeks 1-3

Epistane @ 30mgs/day for weeks 4-10



This time, you definitely wanna run a SERM, definitely wanna make sure you're prepared.



Raloxifene Tapered down from 90mg/day on week 1, 60 on weeks 2/3 and 30mgs/day on week 4



Inhibit-E dosed at 25/50/50/75/50/25



Reduce XT dosed at 3 caps daily til bottle is gone starting day 15 of PCT



I3C at 400mgs/day throughout



Hypertest @ 4caps/daily 2 in the AM and 2 in the PM.



Big bump up in supporting supplements and a cautiousness taken every day.





Scenario #6



This time, you get crazy, you run a potent heavy cycle of PHs/Designers or a huge stack of gear.



No cycle ideas will be given to protect the innocent!



PCT will look like:



Toremifene - 90mgs week 1, 60mgs weeks 2 and 3, and 30mgs week 4



Novedex XT - 1/2/2/3/2/1



Lean Extreme 2.0 started on day 15, 3 caps every day til gone.



ActivaTe Extreme started on day 15, 4 caps every day til gone.



Post Cycle Support - combo of Trans-Resveratrol, Quercetin, and Horny Goat Weed. Take throughout the whole 6 weeks.



Test Drive - 4caps daily, 2am/2pm.



I3C - 400mgs/day throughout



Supporting supplements should be 100%, your health should be monitored by a physician, and you should be aware of every possible detail to look for as a sign of trouble.