Aromatase inhibitors, or blockers, are a type of healing agents that are used to reduce the concentration of estrogen in the blood and increase the level of gonadotropic hormones and own testosterone. These substances are also used to treat and prevent male gynecomastia.
Aromatase inhibitors in bodybuilding are very often used during the course of anabolic steroids for:
- increase indicators of anabolic hormones in the blood;
- gynecomastia prevention;
- prevent hypertension;
- increased relief (by eliminating the negative effects of estrogen);
- decrease in estrogenic destruction of the axis of the testicles-pituitary-hypothalamus, which leads to early reconstruction.
When building a course, it is necessary to reckon with the fact that not all anabolic steroids are subject to aromatization. Use is justified in the use of products such as methandrostenolone, methyltestosterone, testosterone and its derivatives. Slightly flavored halotestin, boldenone.
Efficiency
The most affordable and preferred aromatase inhibitors (almost similar in fertility):
Product (worldwide name) | Trademark (sold by pharmacies) | approximate price | Release form | Preventive use in bodybuilding | With the appearance of gynecomastia |
Exemestane | Aromazin | 1600 rub. | 30 tab. 25 mg each | 2.5 mg (1/2 tablet) every other day | 25 mg daily until symptoms are eliminated. Then reduce the dosage to preventive. |
"Letrozole" | "Letromara" (pharmac.) "Letroza" Estrolet | 3200 rub. 1000 rub | 30 tab. 2.5 mg each | 0.5 mg (1/5 tablets) every other day | 2.5 mg daily until symptoms are eliminated. Then reduce the dosage to preventive. |
Anastrozole | Selana Egistrazole Anastrozole Kabi | 1500 rub. 350 rub 1300 rub. | 28 tab. 1 mg each | 0.5 mg (1/2 tablet) every other day | 1 mg daily until symptoms are eliminated. Further, the dosage is reduced to prophylactic. |
It should be noted that a moderate concentration of estrogen is useful for muscle growth, therefore, preventive dosages are indicated in volumes that affect the maintenance of the physiologically necessary level of male estrogen.
Course Use
Most domestic athletes, using aromatase inhibitors, use the following tactics: drugs are used only when the first signs of gynecomastia appear (itching in the nipple, swelling, redness). Unfortunately, this approach cannot be called optimal.
The most rational solution is testing estradiol after about ten days of using anabolic steroids with a short half-life (Methandrostenolone, Testosterone Propionate ) or after three to four weeks of using oblong esters (Sustanon, Enanthate, Cypionate). Next, the average portion of Anastrozole is prescribed - 0.5 mg every other day. After ten days, a control analysis of estradiol is carried out and the dosage is adjusted according to the results.
A compromise is the use of low to moderate portions of Anastrozole, focused on personal experiences. If after such treatment appears depression, erectile dysfunction, a drop in libido, then you need to reduce the dose.
Research
The emergence of the publicly available Letrazol brand has made this product a leader. There are many tests proving the high effectiveness of this tool in men. The introduction of the substance was accompanied by a marked increase in gonadotropin (LH). A productive dosage originates from 0.02 mg (100 times lower than the therapeutic): with it you can reduce the concentration of estrogen by a third. 50% of Letrozole is excreted from the body within 2-4 days, which allows it to be drunk every other day. A basic drawback is his ability to reduce estrogen levels even in small doses.
"Anastrozole" is popular in bodybuilding: it has been remarkably studied on men as a means of reducing estradiol. It has been experimentally shown that a dose of 1-0.5 mg can reduce estradiol levels by approximately 50%. You can buy this product from dealers almost ten times cheaper than in a pharmacy. In megacities there is a cheap “Anastrozole Kabi”.
In his book, Dr. Mauro G. De Pascale wrote: "It is assumed that estrogens formed as a result of aromatization of testosterone and other anabolic steroids in the departments of the hypothalamus and brain reduce the secretion of luteinizing hormone, and, consequently, the production of testosterone." Guilmann and Goodmann report that feedback is activated more by the accumulation of estrogen rather than testosterone. In this way, it is explained that aromatase inhibitors can significantly reduce the inhibitory effect of anabolic substances on the secretion of personal sex hormones.
Side effects
Why are aromatase inhibitors dangerous for men? We know that estrogen in small doses has a positive effect on the male body. Estrogen hormones increase both the effectiveness of the course and the susceptibility of androgen receptors. In addition, they themselves have a protective and anabolic effect.
The significance of muscle estrogen receptors is thoroughly described in the Anna Wiik dissertation. In fact, in reality, impressive doses of blockers can unnecessarily reduce estrogen levels, which contributes to the appearance of side effects such as:
- inhibition of muscle growth;
- joint pain (arthralgia);
- worsening well-being and falling libido;
- depression;
- a lipid blood profile disorder (cholesterol increase);
- decreased bone strength.
Subjectively, drugs are better tolerated than Tamoxifen.
Natural inhibitors
The following are highlighted:
- caffeine;
- resveratrol;
- zinc;
- nicotine;
- apigenin;
- catechins;
- eriodiktiol.
The use of "Anastrozole"
What else are aromatase inhibitors good for? Drugs data are widely used in bodybuilding. For example, Anastrozole is necessary for water retention in the human body and the prevention of gynecomastia (often in combination with androgens such as testosterone and dianobol or in combination with finasteride). But in this case, the athlete receives, along with this, an impressive complex of prohibited drugs from the “List of Prohibited Methods and Substances”, which also have their own spectrum of secondary effects.
The uncontrolled use of "Anastrozole" by athletes who are fond of, in particular, bodybuilding, can lead to arthralgia, asthenia or to reduce joint mobility, headache, drowsiness. Of course, thromboembolic problems and strokes can develop occasionally.
Much has been written about "Anastrozole" in the literature for athletes as a very harmless drug. But the distant and immediate effects from its reception can be the most unpredictable and tragic. After all, if you take only one tablet (1 mg) daily, you can get a pronounced hormonal surge. By the way, this phenomenon is observed in more than 80% of people who have used this product.
In general, aromatase inhibitors are fairly well known drugs. Samples of the third generation of Anastrozole blockers and, later, Vorozol and
Letrozole was created as first and second line products for the treatment of multiple receptor-positive breast cancer.
Krizin
For weightlifters, the pharmacological market also offers 5,7-dihydroxyflavon (“Crisin”), which athletes use in very high doses. It has anti-aromatase properties and is produced in two forms - MRM-Chrysin, which holds 500 mg of flawless krizin per capsule, and SciFit-Chrysin ES, which holds half the active substance.
Developers do not describe side effects, but it should be remembered that all substances and preparations that have antiaromatase action can cause significant harm to the athlete's body. In addition, they are in the “List of Prohibited Methods and Substances”.
Reviews
Many bodybuilders say that, based on the experience of using Letrozole (Femara), they concluded: this product, solving one problem (increased estrogen rate), contributes to many other problems. Of course, aromatase inhibitors are important for men. After all, the body (including the male) uses estrogens to maintain the health of the immune system, the brain, normal cholesterol, healthy joints, ligaments, and so on.
Athletes say that estrogen triggers the muscle growth mechanism in the body. Taking 2.5 mg of Letrozole per day, they begin to feel serious injuries of the joint-ligamentous apparatus and become vulnerable to infectious and viral diseases.
Many athletes are sure that “Letrozole” can be used only by professional bodybuilders in preparation for competitions. Thanks to him, they get rid of excess fluid in the body (professionals do not mind health for the sake of victory). They are pleased to acquire this aromatase inhibitor. The price is quite suitable for them.
Some athletes say that "Letrozole" has a positive effect on the body even at a dosage of 0.1-0.5 mg. They report that its secondary effect is no worse than other inhibitors and is standard for this type of drug. They assure that, subjectively, the product reconstructs the testicle volume faster than Tamoxifen and Clomid. They also claim that aromatase inhibitors are drugs whose price justifies quality.
Other athletes report that any blocker can be used, but given the high productivity of Letrozole in small doses, it is the most inexpensive.
Anastrozole
Today, Anastrozole is the most popular blocker. The cheapest is the Selana. Some aromatase inhibitors rarely appear in a pharmacy, for example, Anastrozole Kabi.
Many people do not save on their health and choose quality.
Take "Anastrozole" in accordance with its own level of estradiol. Therefore, first, the level of estradiol is tested in order to adjust the portion based on the analysis. The average classic dosage is 0.5 mg per day.
Ten days later, tests must be taken again. If the level of estradiol is standard, you can reduce the dosage to 0.5 mg twice a week. If it is still tall, the reception should be continued. And this should be followed until the estradiol level is fully restored.