Like everyone else who has ever read a single book (or every book for that matter) on the proper use of anabolics, I usually included a course of Clomid after each cycle. It was the responsible thing to do. So they say. There was just one little problem with this procedure. It seemed to make the recovery and the return of libido, testicular size, sperm count, seminal volume and normal testosterone levels worse. How can this be? Maybe I was just a weird exception to the rule. One doctor suggested I might have some bizarre feedback loop that gave the drug its negative effects. Maybe I was crazy. Maybe not.

The simple truth of the matter is this: the thinking on Clomid is based on some very sketchy evidence which has been parroted endlessly among the bodybuilding community. In a way, I'm at fault myself. Allow me to explain.

A few years back, I co-wrote an article with Brock Strasser called "The Steroid Summit." In that piece, I mentioned Clomid and ejaculate volume. Where I was going with this was the fact that I noticed a definite decrease in ejaculate volume and this would indicate that Clomid wasn't doing what it was supposed to do. Brock replied "Oh yeah, Clomid will definitely increase ejaculate" and he went on to say how male porn stars are using it to enhance their "bursts of drama" so to speak. We were tackling a lot of topics and I didn't want to dispute his contention so I let it go. At any rate, wouldn't you know... the rumor about porn stars and Clomid ran rampant. I started hearing it everywhere, even in places unassociated with bodybuilding.

I knew I couldn't be the only person experiencing negative effects from Clomid so I did a little personal survey. It turns out I wasn't as weird as I thought. Out of over 100 bodybuilders I questioned, about 1 in 4 experienced in the use of steroids and aromatase blockers admitted that Clomid didn't have the effects they were hoping for. Many also claimed that Nolvadex, which has a very similar structure to Clomid, caused a loss in libido and a weak ejaculation. Even among those who felt it helped them, there were complaints about "emotional distress" and "weepiness", both of which suggest an increase in estrogen. So how can anyone be sure Clomid is actually beneficial?

Still, the rumors persist.

I was on a popular internet message board recently and someone was claiming that they weren't getting back their atrophied testicles even after using 50mgs of Clomid for two weeks. The resident "guru" suggested taking 100mgs for another two weeks. This line of thinking is straight from the middle ages when doctors prescribed leeches to cure a disease -- if the patient got sicker from the treatment the solution was; more leeches! Ridiculous? Of course. Some things never change.

There are several major problems associated with Clomid, as well as Arimidex, Nolvadex, Teslac or any other estrogen blocker. For one thing, all these compounds are indiscriminate in how much estrogen they block. So what's bad about that? Well, the whole point of using an anti-estrogen is to protect against the spillover of estrogen that comes with the excessive use of androgens. If the body can't metabolize all that testosterone, it aromatizes into estrogens. What the experts fail to address is the fact that the amount of aromatization varies greatly from individual to individual. If the steroid dosages are moderate, there might not be any aromatization of any consequence, and the anti-estrogens may lower levels below what they were normally! And keep one very important fact in mind. A little estrogen in men is necessary for a healthy libido. (It's also necessary for other things such as bone density, skin tone, etc., but I can't think of anything more important to most men than their dicks.)

More recently, it's even been suggested that estrogen may play a role in the proliferation of androgen receptors. This may explain why some experienced steroid users claim that they get decreased results when adding an anti-estrogen to their stack. It was once thought that anti-estrogens such as Nolvadex decreased IGF-1, but this has not been validated with any concrete evidence. Nevertheless, studies done on rats found that androgen receptor binding was dramatically increased after the administration of estradiol, increasing the anabolic potency of the androgenic steroid. If nothing else, this shows that estrogen is, on some level, directly or indirectly involved in the process of promoting muscle growth. There's also the added element of strength and size gains due to the water retention that estrogen inflicts. And just as a kicker, anti- estrogens may also increase sex hormone binding globulin which is the last thing you want when coming off a cycle.

In the case of Clomid, the effects may be even worse than other anti-estrogens since Clomid is a mild estrogen itself. The basic theory behind its use (which is sounding more and more stupid every day) is essentially that the Clomid will occupy the estrogen receptor sites thus disallowing the formation of more estrogen. Maybe. What's more likely in cases where estrogen levels are normal, the Clomid will simply add more estrogen. This may the reason for some people's apparent aversion to Clomid and its estrogen-like side effects. Even if Clomid did lower estrogen, there's no evidence that lower estrogen will necessarily lead to increased testosterone, yet this is the premise which everyone follows.

Clomid has also been known to produce a decrease in the LH response to LH releasing hormone. This is something that has been known for a while, (findings on this date as far back as 1978) yet curiously ignored. Naturally, studies aren't conducted to benefit the bodybuilder on steroids, so we must learn to read between the line sometimes. In doing so, conclusions can be drawn. All too often steroid gurus draw them incorrectly.

The notion of increased sperm count is also one of contention. Allow me to get technical for a moment and break my own rule about references for a second while I cite this quote from a study done on Clomid. "Treatments with idiopathic oligospermia for six to nine months resulted in a significant increase in gonadotropin testosterone and estradiol levels. A significant increase in sperm density was observed only in subjects with low sperm count below normal basal FSH levels. In cases where sperm density increased, FSH levels decreased, suggesting an inhibitory effect."

What this suggests in plain English is that not everyone reacts to Clomid treatment in the same way and sperm levels must be abnormally suppressed for the drug to be of any benefit. And even in situations where that is the case, the side effect was lowered Follicle Stimulating Hormone, which as you may know, controls the amount of Leutinizing Hormone we release which in turn regulates how much testosterone we have. This is why so many bodybuilders claim to crash after coming off of the Clomid.

Judging from this information it's clear that Clomid, at best, is a crap shoot and its benefits, if any, are temporary. So why is everyone still taking it? Of course, this is hypothesis on my part and a lot of the pedants and pundits will refuse to acknowledge it. After all, all the pros use Clomid. Why should anyone listen to me? They don't have to, but they should.

I was speaking with Jerry Brainum on this very subject. I should mention, Jerry, unlike some of the self-appointed experts that abound on the internet and the world of underground newsletters, is one of the most knowledgeable people in the business on the subject of nutrition and pharmacology. He's been writing on the subject before most of these pseudo whiz kids were born. He knows everybody who is anybody in the world of bodybuilding. When I mentioned my theories about Clomid he said to me; "You're not alone. I don't know a single pro who still uses Clomid."

This in itself speaks volumes. Of course, it may not be the best validation for my argument since there are plenty of pro bodybuilders who are complete jackasses when it comes to knowledge and application of anabolics. He or she usually hires someone who knows something, or more likely, can get something. The protocol is then to load the syringe to the top and keep shooting until the stash is gone. Nevertheless, the fact that Clomid has lost its allure among the higher echelon on the bodybuilding ranks is a sure sign it isn't working well. If it did, they'd all use it, even if they stayed on 365 days a year. Who wouldn't want to maintain testicular size and increase natural production while keeping estrogen low? If Clomid was effective in doing so, there'd be no reason to stop. They know what works and what doesn't. And they know that Clomid sucks. (Of course, there's always some lunkhead who doesn't catch on right away.)

One last thing to keep in mind: Back in the 60's and early 70's no one used anti­estrogens. Look at the pictures of the stars of that time and you'd be hard pressed to find a case of gyno anywhere. Food for thought. The bottom line: If dosages are kept sane, Clomid wouldn't be needed -- even if it worked well, which it doesn't.

Forget Clomid. For more effective methods of keeping excess estrogen in check, read on.

This section includes anabolic steroids and other drugs that athletes use to increase performance, cosmetic appearance, and inhibit side effects. These drugs are effective on both cutting and bulking cycles.

RATINGS: These items are rated based on a scale of one to ten. One is the low end of the scale and ten the high end. The ratings are based on a risk to benefit factor with risk referring to the dangers to one’s health and benefit referring to the drugs efficacy at providing the intended result -- increased performance, improved cosmetic appearance, and reduced side effects. Items receiving a rating of one to three are usually excluded because they tend to have no positive training effect. No items received a perfect ten as a performance enhancement drug has yet to be invented that provides risk free, exceptional results. The steroids with a higher rating, are low androgenic and low toxic items.

AVERAGE DOSAGES: These dosages are what the majority of research on steroid use has shown to be optimal for increased performance, improved cosmetic appearance, and reduced side effects. The raw data on these dosages varied largely from one individual to another. What is presented in the drug profile is a sample mean of these readings.

PRICES: Prices are included in some profiles. These are black market estimated prices unless the pharmaceutical price in the country of origin is specified -- converted to U.S. dollars. Black market prices and availability vary enormously.

Profile Components: We have provided all the information that is at our disposal on each substance. Any specific topic not covered as it pertains to a specific substance indicates that not enough reliable information was available.

Pharmaceutical Name: anastrozole

Brand Names: Zenica Pharmaceuticals: Arimidex, 1MG tabs.

Description: Arimidex is an anti-Estrogen drug originally intended to treat advanced breast cancer. It is reserved for postmenopausal women whose cancer has progressed in spite of treatment with drugs like tamoxifen. While other drugs such a Nolvadex and Clomid work by merely blocking Estrogen receptors Arimidex works by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase altogether. This enzyme is responsible for the conversion of Testosterone and other androgens into estrogen and estradiol. As we know, high levels of Estrogen in men is the cause of water retention and the growth of breast tissue in men, a condition known as Gynocomastia (Gyno or bitch tits). Bodybuilders may use this drug to prevent aromatization while on a high androgen cycle.

Effective Dose: 1MG a day for four days will completely rid your body of all estrogen.

Pharmaceutical Price: $5 per tab. Average Street Price: $17-$30 per tab.

Side Effects: The down side of this drug is that it will completely shut down the production of estrogen. This is not as good as it sounds since low levels of estrogen are needed to potentate the effectiveness of androgens as well as normal bodily functions. One approach might be to take one cap every third day along with Clomid instead of daily. This would ensure that estrogen levels are being suppressed enough to prevent side effects but not so low that it interferes with normal bodily functions.

Counterfeits:No known counterfeits.
Effectiveness Rating: 9

Pharmaceutical Name: Nandrolone Decanoate

Brand Names:

Countries of Origin: Anaboline 50 mg/ml; Adelco GR
Androlone-D 200 (o.c.) 200 mg/ml; Keene U.S.
Deca-Durabolin 25 mg/ml; Bender A; Donmed
South Africa;
Organon G. B. CH,DK, ES, GB, GR, I,NL, PL, Fl, Hermes/
Organon YUDeca-Durabolin 50 mg/ml;
Organon G. B. CH, DK, ES, FR, GB,U.S,GR, I, NL, PL,FI;
Mexico, Thailand
Hermes/Organon
YU, Steris U.S.,
Bender A, Donmed
South Africa
Deca-Durabolin t100~ 100 mg/ml; Organon NL
Deca-Durabolin 100 mg/ml; Organon GB, GR,
Fl, Canada, U.S.,
Steris U.S.
Deca-Durabolin 200 mg/ml; Steris U.S.
Deca-Durabol 25, 50, 100 mg/ml; Organon S
Elpihormo 50 mg/ml; Chemica GR
Extraboline 50, ml; Genepharm GR
Hybolin Decanoate 50, 100 mg/ml; Hyrex U.S.
Jebolan 50 mg/ml; EtemTK
Nandrolone Dec. 50, 100, 200 mg/ml; Steris U.S.
Nandrol. Dec. (o.c.) 100 mg/ml; Lyphomed U.S.,
Quad U.S.
Nandrobolic L.A. (o.c.) 100 mg/ml; Forest U.S.
Neo-Durabolic (o.c.) 100, 200 mg/ml; Hauck U.S.
Nurezan 50 mg/ml; RafarmGR
Retabolil 25 mg/ml; Gedeon Richter U,BG
Retabolil 50 mg/ml; Gedeon RichterHU,BG
Retabolin 50 mg/ml; Medexport Russia
Sterobolin (o.c.) 50 mg/ml; Orion FL
Turinabol Depot (o.c.) 50 ma/ ml; Jenapharm G
Turinabol Depot 50 mg/ml; Jenapharm BG, CZ
Ziremilon 50 mg/ml; Demo GR

Veterinary:
Anabolicum 25 mg/ml; 10 ml/50 ml Bela-Pharm G
Norandren 50 50 mg/ml; 10 ml/50 ml Brovel Mexico

DYNABOLON: (Nandrolone Undecanoate) 80.5 milligrams per injection. This is a French anabolic steroid similar to Deca-Durabolin but slightly more androgenic. It produces dramatic increases in size and strength. Average dosages are in the area of 2 to 4 ccs a week. It is popular in Italy. It is often preferred over Deca-Durabolin because it is less expensive.

Description: Injectable steroid derivative of 19-Nortestosterone. This product is a favorite to thousands of steroid users. Deca is the most widely used and most widely available steroid in America. Manufactured by numerous domestic pharmaceutical suppliers, it is one of a diminishing number of steroids that are available at American pharmacies. It promotes excellent size and strength gains. This steroid has been used for cutting and for bulking. Deca has a reputation for alleviating sore joints and tendons. Athletes report that sore shoulders, knees and/or elbows are somehow without pain on the Deca cycle. This drug dramatically improves nitrogen retention and recuperation time
between workouts.

Effective Dose: Men: 200-400 mg per week; Women: 50-100 mg per week.
Average Street Price: $30 per vial

Stacking
Athletes have stacked it with virtually every drug and reported positive results. It seems to be an excellent base drug on any cycle.

Side Effects: Deca can be used by almost all athletes, with positive results and very few side effects. The drug is a moderate androgen, highly anabolic compound. It has minimal liver toxicity and only aromatizes in excessive dosages. Deca does have an effect on the body's natural hormone axis yet it is not nearly as pronounced as it is with drugs like testosterone. Unfortunately, Deca has very stubborn metabolites which have been known to show up on a steroid test as long as 12 months after it was administered. This, in combination with the number of athletes using it, has contributed to its showing up on more steroid tests than any other compound. For this reason, any athlete that has the potential of being subjected to a steroid test should not be using Deca. For those who are not steroid tested, it remains the number one choice.

Counterfeits:Deca is the most popularly counterfeited steroid on the market. Effectiveness Rating: 9

DURABOLIN: (nandrolone phenlypropionate) 50 mg/cc, 2 cc/vial.

Almost identical to Deca-Durabolin except it is active for less than a week. Shots must be administered around two times weekly where as Deca can be taken as little as once every 10 days. Durabolin can yield dramatic results similar to Deca; in fact, it is one of the safest, most effective steroids available to athletes. It is produced domestically and costs about $15 per vial.

ACTIVIN: Spanish Nandrolone Phenylpropionate -- 4 ampules 10 mg each.

NANDROLIN: Veterinarian Durabolin. TROBOLIN: Veterinarian Durabolin 10 ml vials 50 mg/ml.

FHERBOLICO: (Nandrolone Ciclohexilpropionate) 50 mg x 3 injections (one amp each). A Spanish steroid derivative of 19-Nortestosterone. It is similar in action to Durabolin and is used in a dose of 100-200 mg weekly. Also, Anabolin and Nandrocot.

NANDRABOLIN: (Nandrolone Laurate) 25 mg or 50 mg per cc 50 cc/vial. This veterinarian steroid is found primarily in Canada and Europe. It is a very long acting version of Deca. Whereas Deca can stay active in the system for two weeks, this product is usually active from three to four. Nandrabolin is only available in low milligram doses. This product is presently not being counterfeited and is cheap.

LAURABOLAN: This is a version of Mexican Nandrabolin

NORABOLIN: A veterinarian steroid containing nandrolone laurate.

Sustanon: The "king" of testosterone blends.

The four different testosterone esters in this product certainly look appealing to the consumer, there is no denying that. But for the athlete I think it is all just a matter of marketing (Hell, why buy one ester when you can get four?). In clinical situations I can see some strong uses for it. If you were undergoing testosterone replacement therapy for example, you would probably find Sustanon a much more comfortable option than testosterone enanthate. You would need to visit the doctor less frequently for an injection, and blood levels should be more steadily maintained between treatments. But for the bodybuilder who is injecting 4 ampules of Sustanon per week, there is no advantage over other testosterone products. In fact, the high price tag for Sustanon usually makes it a very poor buy in the face of cheaper testosterone enanthate/cypionate. Bodybuilders should probably stop looking at the four ester issue, and stick with totals (Sustanon is just a 250mg testosterone ampule). Were enanthate to be available for say $10 per amp of 250mg, and Sustanon priced nearly double that, buying the Sustanon would be like throwing money away. If you could get nearly double the milligram amount for the same price with enanthate, this is the better product to go with hands down. Leave the high priced stuff for the guys who don't know any better.

IN CONCLUSIONWhile the advent of esters certainly constitutes an invaluable advance in the field of anabolic steroid medicine, clearly you can see that there is no magic involved here. Esters work in a well-understood and predictable manner, and do not alter the activity of the parent steroid in any way other than to delay its release. Although the lure surrounding various steroid products like testosterone cypionate, Sustanon, Omnadren etc. certainly makes for interesting conversation, realistically it just amounts to misinformation that the athlete would be better off ignoring. Testosterone is testosterone and anyone who is going to tell you one ester form of this (or any) hormone is much better than another one should do a little more research, and a lot less talking.
Acetate: Chemical Structure C2H4O2.

Also referred to as Acetic Acid; Ethylic acid; Vinegar acid; vinegar; Methanecarboxylic acid. Acetate esters delay the release of a steroid for only a couple of days. Contrary to what you may have read, acetate esters do not increase the tendency for fat removal. Again, there is no known mechanism for it to do so. This ester is used on oral primobolan tablets (metenolone acetate), Finaplix (trenbolone acetate) implant pellets, and occasionally testosterone.
Propionate: Chemical Structure C3H6O2.

Also referred to as Carboxyethane; hydroacrylic acid; Methylacetic acid; Ethylformic acid; Ethanecarboxylic acid; metacetonic acid; pseudoacetic acid; Propionic Acid. Propionate esters will slow the release of a steroid for several days. To keep blood levels from fluctuating greatly, propionate compounds are usually injected two to three times weekly. Testosterone propionate and methandriol dipropionate (two separate propionate esters attached to the parent steroid methandriol) are popular items.

Phenylpropionate: Chemical Structure C9H10O2.Also referred to as Propionic Acid Phenyl Ester. Phenylpropionate will extend the release of active steroid a few days longer than propionate. To keep blood levels even, injections are given at least twice weekly. Durabolin is the drug most commonly seen with a phenylpropionate ester (nandrolone phenylpropionate), although it is also used with testosterone in Sustanon and Omnadren.
Isocarpoate: Chemical Structure C6H12O2.

Also referred to as Isocaproic Acid; isohexanoate; 4-methylvaleric acid. Isocaproate begins to
near enanthate in terms of release. The duration is still shorter, with a notable hormone level being sustained for approximately one week. This ester is used with testosterone in the blended products Sustanon and Omnadren.
Caproate: Chemical Structure C6H12O2.

Also referred to as Hexanoic acid; hexanoate; n-Caproic Acid; n-Hexoic acid; butylacetic acid; pentiformic acid; pentylformic acid; n-hexylic acid; 1-pentanecarboxylic acid; hexoic acid; 1-hexanoic acid; Hexylic acid; Caproic acid. This ester is identical to isocarpoate in terms of atom count and weight, but is laid out slightly different (Isocaproate has a split configuration, difficult to explain here but easy to see on paper). Release duration would be very similar to isocaproate (levels sustained for approximately one weak), perhaps coming slightly closer to enanthate due to its straight chain. Caproate is the slowest releasing ester used in Omnadren, which is why most athletes notice more water retention with this compound.
Enanthate: Chemical Structure C7H14O2.

Also referred to as heptanoic acid; enanthic acid; enanthylic acid; heptylic acid; heptoic acid; Oenanthylic acid; Oenanthic acid. Enanthate is one of the most prominent esters used in steroid manufacture (most commonly seen with testosterone but is also used in other compounds like Primobolan Depot). Enanthate will release a steady (yet fluctuating as all esters are) level of hormone for approximately 10-14 days. Although in medicine enanthate compounds are often injected on a bi-weekly or monthly basis, athletes will inject at least weekly to help maintain a uniform blood level.
Cypionate: Chemical Structure C8H14O2.

Also referred to as Cyclopentylpropionic acid, cyclopentylpropionate. Cypionate is a very popular ester here in the U.S., although it is scarcely found outside this region. Its release duration is almost identical to enanthate (10-14 days), and the two are likewise thought to be interchangeable in U.S. medicine. Althletes commonly hold the belief than cypionate is more powerful than enanthate, although realistically there is little difference between the two. The enanthate ester is in fact slightly smaller than cypionate, and it therefore releases a small (perhaps a few milligrams) amount of steroid more in comparison.
Decanoate: Chemical Structure C10H20O2.

Also referred to as decanoic acid; capric acid; caprinic acid; decylic acid, Nonanecarboxylic acid. The Decanoate ester is most commonly used with the hormone nandrolone (as in Deca-Durabolin) and is found in virtually all corners of the world. Testosterone decanoate is also the longest acting constituent in Sustanon, greatly extending its release duration. The release time with Decanoate compounds is listed to be as long as one month, although most recently we are finding that levels seem to drop significantly after two weeks. To keep blood levels more uniform, athletes (as they have always known to do) will follow a weekly injection schedule.
Undecylenate: Chemical Structure C11H20O2.

Also referred to as Undecylenic acid; Hendecenoic acid; Undecenoic acid. This ester is very similar to decanoate, containing only one carbon atom more. Its release duration is likewise very similar (approximately 2-3 weeks), perhaps extending a day or so past that seen with decanoate. Undecylenate seems to be exclusive to the veterinary preparation Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate), although there is no reason it would not work well in human-use preparations (Equipoise certainly works fine for athletes). Again, weekly injections are most common.
Undecanoate: Chemical Structure C11H22O2.

Also referred to as Undecanoic Acid; 1-Decanecarboxylic acid; Hendecanoic acid; Undecylic acid. Undecanoate is not a commonly found ester, and only appears to be used in the nandrolone preparation Dynabolan, and oral testosterone undecanoate (Andriol). Since this ester is chemically very similar to undecylenate (it is only 2 hydrogen atoms larger), it has a similar release duration (approximately 2-3 weeks). Although this ester is used in the oral preparation Andriol, there is no reason to believe it carries any properties unique of other esters. Andriol in fact works very poorly at delivering testosterone, bolstering the idea that oral administration is not the idea use of esterified androgens.
Laurate: Chemical structure C12H24O2.

Also referred to as Dodecanoic acid, laurostearic acid, duodecyclic acid, 1-undecanecarboxylic
acid, and dodecoic acid. Laurate is the longest releasing ester used in commercial steroid production, although longer acting esters do exist. Its release duration would be closer to one month than the other esters listed above, although realistically we are probably to expect a notable drop in hormone level after the third week. Laurate is exclusively found in the veterinary nandrolone preparation Laurabolin, perhaps seen as slightly advantageous over a decanoate ester due to a less frequent injection schedule. Again athletes will most commonly inject this drug weekly, no doubt in part due to its low strength (25mg/ml or 50mg/ml)

There are many different esters that are used with anabolic/androgenic steroids, but again, they all do basically the same thing. Esters vary only in their ability to reduce a steroid's water solubility. An ester like propionate for example will slow the release of a steroid for a few days, while the duration will be weeks with a decanoate ester. Esters have no effect on the tendency for the parent steroid to convert to estrogen or DHT (dihydrotestosterone: a more potent metabolite) nor will it effect the overall muscle-building potency of the compound. Any differences in results and side effects that may be noted by bodybuilders who have used various esterified versions of the same base steroid are just issues of timing. Testosterone enanthate causes estrogen related problems more readily than Sustanon, simply because with enanthate testosterone levels will peak and trough much sooner (1-2 week release duration as opposed to 3 or 4). Likewise testosterone suspension is the worst in regards to gyno and water bloat because blood hormone levels peak so quickly with this drug. Instead of waiting weeks for testosterone levels to rise to their highest point, here we are at most looking at a couple of days. Given an equal blood level of testosterone, there would be no difference in the rate of aromatization or DHT conversion between different esters. There is simply no mechanism for this to be possible.

There is however one way that we can say an ester does technically effect potency; it is calculated in the steroid weight. The heavier the ester chain, the greater is its percentage of the total weight. In the case of testosterone enanthate for example, 250mg of esterified steroid (testosterone enanthate) is equal to only 180mg of free testosterone. 70mgs out of each 250mg injection is the weight of the ester. If we wanted to be really picky, we could consider enanthate slightly MORE potent than cypionate (I know this goes against popular thinking) as its ester chain contains one less carbon atom (therefore taking up a slightly smaller percentage of total weight). Propionate would of course come out on top of the three, releasing a measurable (but not significant) amount more testosterone per injection than cypionate or enanthate.

I'm sure that if you have taken an interest in anabolic steroids you have noticed the similarities on the labeling of many drugs. Let's look at testosterone for example. One can find compounds like testosterone cypionate, enanthate, propionate, heptylate; caproate, phenylpropionate, isocaproate, decanoate, acetate, the list goes on and on. In all such cases the parent hormone is testosterone, which had been modified by adding an ester (enanthate, propionate etc.) to its structure. The following question arises: What is the difference between the various esterified versions of testosterone in regards to their use in bodybuilding?

An ester is a chain composed primarily of carbon and hydrogen atoms. This chain is typically attached to the parent steroid hormone at the 17th carbon position (beta orientation), although some compounds do carry esters at position 3 (for the purposes of this article it is not crucial to understand the exact position of the ester). Esterification of an injectable anabolic/androgenic steroid basically accomplishes one thing, it slows the release of the parent steroid from the site of injection. This happens because the ester will notably lower the water solubility of the steroid, and increase its lipid (fat) solubility. This will cause the drug to form a deposit in the muscle tissue, from which it will slowly enter into circulation as it is picked up in small quantities by the blood. Generally, the longer the ester chain, the lower the water solubility of the compound, and the longer it will take to for the full dosage to reach general circulation.

Slowing the release of the parent steroid is a great benefit in steroid medicine, as free testosterone (or other steroid hormones) previously would remain active in the body for a very short period of time (typically hours). This would necessitate an unpleasant daily injection schedule if one wished to maintain a continuous elevation of testosterone (the goal of testosterone replacement therapy). By adding an ester, the patient can visit the doctor as infrequently as once per month for his injection, instead of having to constantly re-administer the drug to achieve a therapeutic effect. Clearly without the use of an ester, therapy with an injectable anabolic/androgen would be much more difficult.

Esterification temporarily deactivates the steroid molecule. With a chain blocking the 17th beta position, binding to the androgen receptor is not possible (it can exert no activity in the body). In order for the compound to become active the ester must therefore first be removed. This automatically occurs once the compound has filtered into blood circulation, where esterase enzymes quickly cleave off (hydrolyze) the ester chain. This will restore the necessary hydroxyl (OH) group at the 17th beta position, enabling the drug to attach to the appropriate receptor. Now and only now will the steroid be able to have an effect on skeletal muscle tissue. You can start to see why considering testosterone cypionate much more potent than enanthate makes little sense, as your muscles are seeing only free testosterone no matter what ester was used to deploy it.

Sibutramine

Sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate, brand name Meridia, is an FDA approved oral prescription medication used for the management of obesity and maintenance of weight loss and is known to work best when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Meridia works by affecting natural chemicals in the brain involved in regulating the appetite and allows them to act longer. The appetite control center in the brain is what is believed to regulate the amount of food eaten through feelings of hunger and fullness. Unlike many other appetite suppressant drugs, Meridia is not a releasing agent. It does not get inside the cells to boost the release of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. Instead, as an uptake inhibitor, Meridia works outside the cells to stop these neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed and thereby allowing appetite control to last longer. In clinical trials of 6,000 individuals, Meridia produced clinically and statistically siginificant weight loss results. Meridia was studied among men and women, ages 18 to 65, and on average, patients achieved 5-10% reduction of baseline weight. If appetite control is necessary while on a ketogenic diet this drug might be a good addition. Most side effects associated with Meridia are mild and momentary in nature, including dry mouth, headache, constipation and insomnia. In some patients, Meridia substantially increases blood pressure. MERIDIA should be taken once a day without regard to meals. It will also be available in multiple doses (5, 10, and 15 mg), enabling physicians to individualize therapy for their patients. The recommended starting dose of MERIDIA is one 10 mg capsule per day. Patients with inadequate weight loss should be titrated to a 15 mg dose.

Orlistat (Xenical)

On May 24, 1999, a new diet drug that reduces fat absorption finally won approval from the Federal Drug Administration. It was only the second diet drug (after sibutramine) to receive FDA approval since 1997, when the administration banned the popular fen-phen combination after it was linked to several heart-related deaths. Orlistat, the first of a new class of drugs called lipase inhibitors, can decrease absorption of dietary fat in the gastrointestinal tract by about 30 percent, according to drug manufacturer Roche Laboratories. This would indicate it would not be an optimal choice for a ketogenic diet. The FDA approved it by prescription for the seriously obese only and not casual dieters who want to shed five or 10 pounds. The drug, trade-named Xenical, was tested over seven years on more than 4,000 patients and on average, 57 percent of patients treated with Xenical and 31 percent of placebo-treated patients lost at least 5 percent of their body weight. All patients in the studies received nutritional counseling as well. In January, the results of a two-year study on the effectiveness of Xenical were released in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, funded by the drug's manufacturer, found Xenical helped patients lose weight, but only about seven pounds more after two years than the patients who took a dummy pill. The JAMA study also showed Xenical was associated with a slight reduction in cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose. For those taking the drug, health authorities recommend a nutritionally balanced diet with no more than 30 percent of calories from fat. Xenical reduces absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, K and beta carotene, so users of the drug are advised to take dietary supplements. Side effects of Xenical include gas, diarrhea and intestinal cramping. Typically the more fat patients eat, the more effects they experience.