Does that mean normal for a 40-year old? Overall, do you feel better? I'm going in for the annual physical. This one will be for the big 5-0. I've been thinking about asking the doctor for lab values on thyroid and testosterone. I think HGH administered under a doctor's care is worth considering. However, I remember well how Lyle Alzado (Broncos - 70's) admitted before his death that steroids and excessive HGH gave him brain cancer.
as the self=proclaimed resident steroid expert here, I can tell you anything you want to know hgh=expensive primo (primobolan depot)= is AWESOME, expensive, hard to get and NOT what you are looking for. testosterone enanthate= probably a good choice to put a spring in your step Things I have used under a Dr's supervision: primo, halo, test, deca, dbol, tbol, var, winny, adex, eq, nolva, clen, androl, dnp this list is long... I do not use anabolics at all anymore, nor would I recommend for someone shopping around for a 'beach body'. There are things to help fight the aromatization of anabolics, also dosing will cause pronounced sides. rule#1, get your fat ass and diet in check, NOTHING will help you if you are not eeating/training right and NOTHING will show from 4 weeks, you may feel a little different, but these changes take time, you also need good pct, if you don't know what pct is, don't f^cking touch ANY anabolics EVER. Get lost. Do your research on a good board, not a Ferrari site.
My son was on HGH for 12 years due to a severe deficiency in his natural hormone production. He was constantly checked for ill-effects during that period. He finally came off it at 16. It is very expensive and could supress your natural hormone production once you're on it. You do need it even if you're an adult, so messing with your natural production probably isn't a good idea if you don't need it for health and are only looking at it as an "easy" solution.
Increasing hormone levels when they are supposed to be decreasing as they are in humans as they get older has been the topic of dicussion for a while among Drs. Most feel that pts taking hormone replacement can be at higher risk for certain cancers. They are still doing studies so the jury is still out but many athletes have died of strange cancers after doing various types of hormones for years.othr nature decreases these hormones for very good reason. You guys are looking for the fountain of youth and it's right in front of you. Diet and exercise.
Do you know of one? FYI - I'm the same weight I was in high school. I don't need to loose weight and I understand exercise and diet are key. I'm not trying to bulk. But the article in GQ I just read gave it high marks and the Dr.s using it looked great in their late 60s.
I know of a dozen sites, I do not want to link directly here, but pm and I'll give you a few. HGH is overrated, there are plenty of other things that do not need a dr that can boost people, everything from b12 shots to a well engineered diet, not by reading books and boards, but by meeting a nutritionalist/trainer that knows you and your body type. do not use gh if you are under 30 because you have not totally settled in to your body, that is the best way i can put it. after 30, you will have greater benefits than a kid at 20. Depepnding on what you take, you can supress your natural hormone production. Being able to read these changes in yourself and taking precautions will help you get through some moderate doses. Most of you guys will benefit from 250-500/mgs of Testosterone per week and not need hgh. Just because GQ said it worked, does not mean you need to shell out the dough. What is supression? Well when you take some steroids, your body reads this and begins to shutdown natural production. If you take some things to boost natural production while you supress, you can come off cycle easier. This is noted by testes getting smaller, sometimes you can develop gyno or '***** tits' where the tissue behing the nipple swells from water. They get sensative and puffy. Sometimes this is irreversible. With proper precautions, and blood tests, you can keep it in check. User types: beach body, maintanence or body builder Beach bodies are guys that just 'want to look good naked' and don't really need these products. These are users looking for shortcuts and usually f themselves up more than anything. maintanance users are the older guys trying to look/feel young again. this group benefits mostly from testosterone NOT hgh. Testosterone is REALLY cheap. A 12 week cycle of testsosterone is the cost of one week of hgh. The older you get, the less effective natural test is on the body. Supplimenting this for a guy like me in my 30's is like hitting puberty again. When I used it, I felt really good, more energy to go to the gym, I felt better. body builders are guys that know their **** and hate the rest of you. they know every gram of food/drink/'suppliments' entering their bodies. they push the limits of the human body short of cybernetic implants lol
Jesus F------ Christ. When is the message going to get through: There is no magic bullet. Unless you are competing in sports, use of radical supplements is just plain stupid. If you need to trim down, do the math, do the exercise & stop wasting your money on fad supplements. Every one wants something for nothing. Use common sense & practical science to achieve your goal. Yeah, I have a GNC card & use it, but just on the basics.
TestShoot sounds like he's down. I agree with his advice. Definately get your diet in check & commit to a workout routine for a good 6 months first. That will do wonders for you, then you can decide if you want to go further. Agree hgh is overrated & overpriced. B12 shots will only give you a psychological boost unless you are b12 deficient or have other absorbtion problems. If no absorbtion problems, you may try oral or sublingal b12 (shots are not necessary, and GI tract destruction of b12 is exaggerated). Primo has its faults too. Fact: primo can shut you down. fact: primo can cause shedding (hairloss). Test is cheap & would definately give results, but beware the sides mentioned in TestShoots earlier thread, also , he did not mention hairloss, which is VIP to most men our age. It will make you shed, especially if you are predisposed to mpb, it will be greatly accelerated with test. I do not recommend any anabolics for you at all unless a blood test would indicate lower than average test levels , then probably only a maintanence dose. I just don't think you have done enough on your own yet. If you want to stay young, work hard at it. Eat right, exercise, get good sleep, keep your stress levels down, etc. It is not easy ... nothing worthwhile ever is.
True, I forgot about (primo) shedding as having dropped a gram a week in the past, I never had problems. HGH can also cause dehydration and joint pain. Test can cause bloat in some people, but hair loss I only hear of from guys running 1.5grams or more a week for long (16+ week) cycles. Other things taken while on cycle, and after (clomid, nolva, fina) will help cut the likelyhood down. B12 will produce more red blood cells, possibly thickening of the blood, for me, I had more energy, could hyper-oxyginate, and my appetite took off. I'll be honest and tell you guys that you will probably not like giving yourself injections two or three times per week. It f's with your mind, but does not hurt, but even the best of us chicken out when time comes to pull out a pin and stick yourself. I have a slight fear of needles myself, and hate being a pincushion. If I was going to tell the older and beach body crowd to take one cycle, it would be primo (300mgs/wk) and possibly add in winny or var. You will lose fat and harden up well even on a low calorie diet. ***I in no way condone use of steroids in any sanctioned body of athletics or recreational use "too look good" and post this as satire and reference only*** Nothing will replace a work out, and Venus is right, there is no magic bullet, if you don't do things right, you are just wasting gear. In general here are some thoughts: NO beer/alcohol at all (hinders protein synthesis) NO soda (just a good rule) NO concentrated juices (go organic 100% juice) NO salt NO processed grains (most breads, also no rice/pasta) NO whole/lowfat/2% milk, get skim only DO eat tuna DO eat all natural peanut butter DO eat more, smaller meals throughout the day, like 5 a day, keeps the metabolism humming along and energy levels are stable DO eat whole wheat toast DO change your whole life, it is hard at first, then you get used to it, and actually enjoy it more.
Its funny you ask. They clinic asks the same thing but I don't notice any difference. BTW, my dianabol was bumped to 2cc every 2 weeks from the previous 1cc. The blood test showed I was still low. When I was in Panama in 1998 on a long TDY as a Reservist I had the thorough physical done. Blood, urine, hearing, vision, etc. Everything checked out normal. When I started a new job in the summer of 2003 a had to have a company medical screening (field job on a chemical plant). There I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and they wouldn't allow me to start work unitil it was rectified. It was then I realized I had high blood pressure from 2001. Sitting at my desk I would sometimes feel my heart beat through the vessels in my forehead. Since it wasn't all the time, I just blew it off. I found out my mom has been on blood pressure meds for 30 years, so its a genetic thing. The low thyroid is on the other side of the family. But what I'd really like to know is how the hell did I get lactose intolerance, high blood pressure, low thyroid and low testosterone in about a 4 year period. I turn 40 in February. I can't believe I said I was 40 when I was 39 1/2. Arrggg. So currently I'm on Armour Thyroid, Triamat.... (a diuretic), Clonidine, and 2cc Dianabol every 2 weeks. All of this is prescribed and supposedly all is normal now according to blood tests. I now need to improve my diet. That is the next thing I need to work on. The gym is easy. I need to go from overweight & strong for 39 to lean & strong. So my suggestion is do the thorough physical with all the attendent blood, urine, etc. Since you are 50, is it time to do the prostate thing too? As for Lyle Alzado and the rest of those athletes, I don't think it is anything like the quantities I am taking. Those guy really abused steroids with the quantities they were shooting up.
I'm scanning the article I have the article - anyone that wants it EMAIL me and I will forward a .pdf to you. My PM box is very close to full.............. I'd be interested in what you think Testshoot
HGH (the best is known as hemotropin by the way) does not aromitize and the side effects are quite minimal. As long as you cycle it in 12 weeks on, followed by at least 12 weeks off, you should not have any permanent side effects. Your body will not become dependent on supplementation unless you do not properly cycle. Also, you need to have a proper post-cycle-treatment cycle, which is more complicated then you might expect. there are a number of pills (prescription only) that are designed to ease your body back into producing the same levels of its own hormones. it is a lot more complicated then most people realize, it is really an art where the painter is constantly walking a fine line. for more informaiton consult: http://forums.anabolicreview.com/index.php oh ya, and for the best results with hgh, you need to take it with something that increases your LT4 hormone (cytomil), your insulin levels (insulin), and your testosterone levels (sus)
Ok, lemme break this down. None of you fat lazy A55E55 should even consider HGH. Seems you are all hooked by the flavor of the moment from a lame mag article. I am trying to save you bigger problems down the road by a quick fix today. Jintropin is also very common, actually more so than hemotropin right now. Also realize that unless it is coming from a dr, chances are you will get counterfeit gear. the cost is so high, the incentive to give you test or something else is very high. Only get gear from dr's. HGH should be used WITH insulin, not something to boost its production and DON'T F^CK WITH T3/T4 because this is thyroid stuff. Hypothyroidism can occur and that sucks balls. T3 should be used in a cutting (fat loss cycle) usually stacked with clenbuterol (clam butter oil, inside joke lol) Sus = sostanon/sustanon; a common testosterone blend with synergistic effects, meaning the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. 1+1+1+1 = 5!!! I have used sust before, there is a thiong called 'sus flu' where you get flu like symptoms. TESTOSTERONE WILL CAUSE ACNE slin = insulin; if you don't know what insulin shock is, oh hell, don't touch insulin you boneheads, you f^ck up and deserve ALL the consequences. To recover your natural production use nolvadex during cycle, and clomid after cycle. Also there are adex and fina, but I have no personal experience with these. Medical Terms/ Common Terms / Slang (in no particular order) Anabolism: constructive metabolism characterized by the building of tissue into more complex living matter, mainly muscle. Anabolic: promoting anabolism Anabolic steroid: any one of several compounds derived from testosterone or prepared synthetically to promote general body growth, to oppose the effects of endogenous estrogen, or to promote masculinization effects. They have a chemical structure similar to cholesterol. Androgen: any steroid hormone that promotes male characteristics. Aromatize: the on take of feminine characteristics or feminization. Atrophy: refers to a state of deterioration usually within the muscle or bodily organ due to a lack of use or health. Catabolism: a complex metabolic process in which energy is liberated for use in work, energy storage, or heat production by the destruction of complex substances. Basically muscle tissue is broken down when a person is in a catabolic state and the use of anabolic steroids will change this. Cholesterol: a fatty substance found in animals that performs many vital functions and is synthesized by the liver and the adrenal cortex. b!tch Tits: a slang term for gynecomastia. Gynecomastia: an abnormal enlargement of one or both breasts in men. This condition is usually temporary due to a hormonal imbalance brought on by the use of steroids, however, can occur naturally as well. Freaky: A bodybuilding term used to describe a person who is huge and obviously on steroids. Fakes or basement drug: refers to counterfeit or fake steroids. Virilization: the process in which a person takes on the characteristics of a mature male. Masculinization. Gear: slang for steroids, syringes, anything associated with the use of steroids Juice: slang term for injectable steroids Dart, poke, pin, ned: slang terms for syringes. Thermogenisis: the production of heat. Raises metabolism making it easier to burn fat. Trade name: the name given to a particular substance by each company that manufactures it. Cycle: the time in which a certain supplement is taken. If you take a supplement for 6 weeks it is a 6-week cycle. Usually the time on a cycle is followed by the same amount of time off of the cycle. Libido: a persons sex drive. Steroid: any of a large number of hormonal substances with the same basic chemical structure produced mainly in the adrenal cortex and gonads. Lean mass: the amount of muscle on a persons body Immune system: the system in a persons body that wards off infection and responds to illness. Testosterone: an androgenic hormone which is used to produce anabolic steroids. Estrogen: natural hormone that promotes the growth and development of female characteristics. Creatine: a nitrogenous compound that when combined with phosphate produces ATP ATP: adenosine triphosphate is a molecule used to store and release energy in the muscle. Diuretic: a substance that increases the amount of urine which is released by the kidneys.
I have read that primabolin dosen't aromatize, and is the cleanest of all the anabolics, just recently said to be cleaner than anavar.
primo and many others do not, primo is something i would personally run all year round #1 if it were legal; #2 if i could get it #3 if i could get it in 200mgs per cc or greater and #4 if the amps broke cleanly! edit var is an oral, not all orals are that bad, and a primo var stack is like heaven.
www.ironforlife.com <---great site to educate yourself... but I recommend getting info from as many angles as possible.
Thanks, will do the full-blown screen. Funny how life is. As I get older, my shoulders get smaller and my prostate gets bigger. Never thought I would experience that!! I guess every man gets to experience that phenomena. Time for consistent and yearly examination by good doctors.
I am not doubting that you know your stuff, but if you ask any professional bodybuilder or read the recommendations in Anabolics Review 05, everyone agrees that you need to take something to increase your thyroid hormone output in addition to your test levels. This will give you the best gains with HGH. Since it is so expensive, users try to make the most gains for their money. check the forum that I mentioned earlier for more information then you could ever absorb, they have a sub-forum all about hgh I do agree, however, that HGH is typically one of the last things that bodybuilders will use based on it's price and complexity. If this is your first cycle there are many other safer things that would better serve you.
Chase it is good to have you here, sometimes I need to put things back in check too, your point-counterpoint is very productive to help us educate these guys As a guy that has friends that have 'been there done that' I can tell you that the t3/t4 is for cutting. It is effective with HGH, as by itself growth hormone has some ok fat loss, but the addition of the T compounds supercharge the loss. They do not work by themselves though, if you sit on the couch and expect the magic to just happen without substantial increases in physical activity, you are doing damage to your system. If you want to play with reference T3 chemicals go to www.ag-guys.com get some lab rats, and play before you dare take the advice of anyone. BB'rs don't use HGH just on price alone. It is a low anabolic, but the gains are quality, and the pct (post cycle therapy) is substantially less. Do a deca, test, dbol stack and pretty much explode with growth. Work a hard pct and expect to keep 50%+ of it, more the older you are since young metabolisms cause catabolism faster. hgh side effects: carpal tunnel water retention numb pain in left upper arm lack of appetite nausea t3 side effects well not sides, but read this anyway, I hate to cross post to this board, I have too much respect for them so I am taking an edit Disclaimer T3 is not a drug that should be taken lightly. It's a very potent thyroid hormone. Messing with your natural hormone levels is very dangerous and unpredictable. The potential for complications is very high, and abuse can lead to thyroid disease and low thyroid output not only immediately upon discontinuation, but also later in life. There is no such thing as safe use of T3 outside of a medical setting. There is only "safer" use. Use at your own risk. Introduction: What is T3 and what are the side effects? This article is pushing 2000 words, so here's a link for anyone who's interested: What about T4? Bodybuilders should not use T4. It's a much weaker drug designed for long term use in patients with chronic thyroid disease. 100mcg of T4 corresponds to 25mcg of T3 and offers equivalent thyroid support; however, this does not translate to equal weight loss benefits. It has made itself on sources' lists simply because it is widely available and extremely cheap. Is T3 catabolic? It may shock many people to know that T3 is NOT catabolic per se. Corticosteroids are catabolic drugs that attack muscle tissue directly; T3 does not. It is a very potent calorie burner and it does not discriminate between carbohydrates, protein and fat. Unlike DNP, it has no protein sparing properties. T3 is also more likely to burn muscle than fat in lean users (10-12% BF), but this can be said for any extreme drop in caloric intake and uptake such as starvation diets (Caloric intake <10 X BW). Muscle loss can be avoided with the use of anabolic agents. T3's alleged catabolic properties have become legendary. Excessive amounts of T3 (more than 75mcg), will have a very strong calorie burning effect, and since some bodybuilder use 150 mcg, it's easy to see why such misinformation has been so prevalent. The average bodybuilder will not need several grams of steroids to counter a reasonable dose of T3. There is no need to use more than 75mcg-100mcg. Going beyond this dose will cause more harm than good, as massive doses of steroids need to be used to counter the muscle loss, further stressing the body for minimal, if any additional benefits. I think I've lost 20 lbs of muscle! T3 can also give your muscles an extremely flat look and very soft feel. This side effect of extreme glycogen depletion can have a very profound psychological impact in bodybuilders. It often feels and looks like muscle loss when it's simply a lack of muscle "pump" because of restricted blood flow to that area and depletion of glycogen stores in muscles. Generally, carbohydrate loading does not solve this problem. "Pumping up" (or training for that matter) brings more blood into the muscles and is a temporary albeit effective solution. Clenbuterol and certain steroids can offset the lack of muscle pump because these drugs tend to "harden up" users by bringing more blood into to the muscles. Are steroids absolutely necessary on T3? This is very dependent on the user. Diet must be flawless, only reasonable doses should be considered (50mcg) and the user must know his body to a tee. Those who don't know what that last statement entails should not even consider T3. This is a veteran drug and should not be used by bodybuilders who are new to the game or do not have a deep understanding of how there bodies react to certain foods and training philosophies. T3 can be used alone or better yet with Clenbuterol without fear of muscle loss in overly fat people (20-25% BF). This is not recommended, however, since these people will generally return to overeating upon discontinuation of their cycle and may likely end up with more weight than they started with. How should I eat on T3? Protein should be kept at 1.5-2g per lb of bodyweight. The majority of protein should come from lean meats. Shakes can be used, but should not be heavily relied on as they are more likely to be turned into glucose and used immediately for energy. Caloric reduction should come from carbs and fat only. What is T3 used for? Fat-loss: The main use for T3. Increase Nutrient Uptake: Not very well known, but this is a great use for T3. Doses between 6.25-12.5mcg do not shutdown endogenous thyroid output. T3 at this dose can be used to add LBM and help in keeping the fat off. When doses are kept at 6.25-12.5mcg, muscles are full and rock hard, and energy is through the roof. At these light doses, it's common for people to go to the bathroom 5-6 times a day because there bodies are making more efficient use of the food they eat. Can I permanently shutdown my Thyroid? Simply put, NO, it can't happen. Natural thyroid production will be completely shutdown for a good period of time after using T3, but it will eventually recover. Bruce Kneller posted this study on the Testosterone website: N Engl J Med 1975 Oct 2;293(14):681-4 Recovery of pituitary thyrotropic function after withdrawal of prolonged thyroid-suppression therapy. Vagenakis AG, Braverman LE, Azizi F, Portinay GI, Ingbar SH. The pattern of thyrotropin secretion was analyzed in seven euthyroid women, before and after withdrawal of long-term thyroid hormone, by serial measurements of thyroid 131l uptake, serum thyroxine, tri-iodothyronine, and thyrotropin concentrations, and the response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone. During exogenous hormone administration, 131l uptake was suppressed, and serum thyrotropin concentrations before and after administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone were undetectable. After withdrawal of exogenous hormone, thyrotropin secretory function was transiently impaired, as indicated by undetectable basal thyrotropin concentrations together with absence of response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone, and subsequently by normal values of basal thyrotropin concentration and normal responses to releasing hormone while serum thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine concentrations were subnormal. Decreased thyrotropin reserve persisted for two to five weeks. Detectable values of serum thyrotropin (less than 1.2 muU per milliliter) and a normal 131l uptake usually occurred concurrently in two to three weeks. Serum thyroxine concentration returned to normal at least four weeks after hormone withdrawal. Basically, it is extremely important to eat cleanly and keep up with cardio for at least 4 weeks and up to 6 weeks following a T3 cycle. It's also very important to ramp down properly and not use any drug that have an effect on metabolism and thyroid function, i.e. Clen, Ephedrine, Steroids, DNP, T2… Calories should be kept in check, even lowered in some cases, and High Intensity Cardio is a must; at least 20mins, 3times a week. L-Tyrosine can be used at 1-3g a day to help thyroid function, but its effectiveness is debatable. Switching to a higher carb, lower fat and lower protein diet is crucial in helping your thyroid bounce back after a cycle. A three-day carb up would be a good idea following a T3 cycle. This study demonstrates how important carbohydrates are for normal thyroid function. (Note: Some people seem to think of carbs as Lucky Charms and toast when there are far better carb choices that won't make you look like the Michelin Man.) Dietary-induced alterations in thyroid hormone metabolism during overnutrition. Danforth E Jr, Horton ES, O'Connell M, Sims EA, Burger AG, Ingbar SH, Braverman L, Vagenakis AG. Diet-induced alterations in thyroid hormone concentrations have been found in studies of long-term (7 mo) overfeeding in man (the Vermont Study). In these studies of weight gain in normal weight volunteers, increased calories were required to maintain weight after gain over and above that predicted from their increased size. This was associated with increased concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3). No change in the caloric requirement to maintain weight or concentrations of T3 was found after long-term (3 mo) fat overfeeding. In studies of short-term overfeeding (3 wk) the serum concentrations of T3 and its metabolic clearance were increased, resulting in a marked increase in the production rate of T3 irrespective of the composition of the diet overfed (carbohydrate 29.6 +/- 2.1 to 54.0 +/- 3.3, fat 28.2 +/- 3.7 to 49.1 +/- 3.4, and protein 31.2 +/- 2.1 to 53.2 +/- 3.7 microgram/d per 70 kg). Thyroxine production was unaltered by overfeeding (93.7 +/- 6.5 vs. 89.2 +/- 4.9 microgram/d per 70 kg). It is still speculative whether these dietary-induced alterations in thyroid hormone metabolism are responsible for the simultaneously increased expenditure of energy in these subjects and therefore might represent an important physiological adaptation in times of caloric affluence. During the weight-maintenance phases of the long-term overfeeding studies, concentrations of T3 were increased when carbohydrate was isocalorically substituted for fat in the diet. In short-term studies the peripheral concentrations of T3 and reverse T3 found during fasting were mimicked in direction, if not in degree, with equal or hypocaloric diets restricted in carbohydrate were fed. It is apparent from these studies that the caloric content as well as the composition of the diet, specifically, the carbohydrate content, can be important factors in regulating the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones. A post cycle crash is inevitable; this is the time when your diet really matters.
thanks, you are doing a very fine job articulating the majority of the education here. I hope that I am not coming off like I know enough to consult someone who has made up their mind on taking it, I would never want that responsibility While I agree with everything you've said previously, here is a little food for thought for the less well versed "Wow, is this great stuff. It is the best drug for permanent muscle gains. This is the only drug that can remedy bad genetics, as it will make anybody grow. GH use is the biggest gamble that an athlete can take, as the side effects are irreversible. Even with all that, we LOVE the stuff." (Daniel Duchaine, Underground Steroid Handbook, 1982.) As with no other doping drug, growth hormones are still surrounded by an aura of mystery. Some call it a wonder drug which causes gigantic strength and muscle gains in the shortest time. Others con-sider it completely useless in improving sports performance and ar-gue that it only promotes the growth process in children with an early stunting of growth. Some are of the opinion that growth hor-mones in adults cause severe bone deformities in the form of over-growth of the lower jaw and extremities. And, generally speaking, which growth hormones should one take -the human form, the synthetically manufactured version, recombined or genetically pro-duced form- and in which dosage? All this controversy about growth hormones is so complex that the reader must have some basic information in order to understand them. The growth hor-mone is a polypeptide hormone consisting of 191 amino acids. In humans it is produced in the hypophysis and released if there are the right stimuli (e.g. training, sleep, stress, low blood sugar level). It is now important to understand that the freed HGH (human growth hormone) itself has no direct effect but only stimulates the liver to produce and release insulin-like growth factors and so-matomedins. These growth factors are then the ones that cause vari-ous effects on the body The problem, however, is that the liver is only capable of producing a limited amount of these substances so that the effect is limited. If growth hormones are injected they only stimulate the liver to produce and release these substances and thus, as already mentioned, have no direct effect. During the mid 1980's only the human, biologically-active form was available as exogenous sour-cc of intake. It was obtained from the hypophysis of dead corpses, an expensive and costly procedure. In 1985 the intake of human growth hormones was linked with the very rare Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, an invariably fatal brain disease characterized by progressive dementia. In response, manufacturers removed this version from the market. Today, human growth hor-mones are no longer available for injection. Fortunately, science has not been asleep and has developed the synthetic growth hormone which is genetically produced either from Escherichia coli (E coli) or from the transformed mouse cell line. It has been available in nu-merous countries for years (see list with Trade Names. The use of these STH somatotropic hormone compounds offers the athlete three performance-enhancing effects. STH (somatotropic hormone) has a strong anabolic effect and causes an increased pro-tein synthesis which manifests itself in a muscular hypertrophy (enlargement of muscle cells) and in a muscular hyperplasia (in-crease of muscle cells.) The latter is very interesting since this in-crease cannot be obtained by the intake of steroids. This is probably also the reason why STH is called the strongest anabolic hormone. The second effect of STH is its pronounced influence on the burning of fat. It turns more body fat into energy, leading to a drastic reduc-tion in fat or allowing the athlete to increase his caloric intake. Third, and often overlooked, is the fact that STH strengthens the connective tissue, tendons, and cartilages, which could be one of the main reasons for the significant increase in strength experienced by many athletes. Several bodybuilders and powerlifters report that through the simultaneous intake with steroids STH protects the athlete from injuries while increasing his strength. You will say that this sounds just wonderful. What is the problem, however, since there are still some who argue that STH offers nothing to athletes? There are, by all means, several athletes who have tried STH and who were sadly disappointed by its results. However, as with many things in life, there is a logical explanation or perhaps even more than one: 1.The athlete simply has not taken a sufficient amount of STH regularly and over a long enough period of time. STH is a very expensive compound and an effective dosage is unaffordable by most people. 2.When using STH the body also needs more thyroid hormones, insulin, corticosteroids, gonadotropins, estrogens and - what a surprise! - androgens and anabolics. This is also the reason why STH, when taken alone, is considerably less effective and can only reach its optimum effect by the additive intake of steroids, thyroid hormones, and insulin, in particular. But we must point out in this case that STH has a predominately anabolic effect. There are three hormones which are needed at the same time in order to allow for maximum anabolic effect. These are STH, insulin, and an LT-3 thyroid hormone, such as, for example, Cytomel. Only then can the liver produce and release an optimal amount of somatomedin and insulin-like growth factors. This anabolic effect can be further enhanced by taking a substance with an anticatabolic effect. These substances are---everybody should probably know by now-anabolic/androgenic steroids or Clenbuterol. Then a synergetic effect takes place. Are you still wondering why pro bodybuilders are so incredibly massive but, at the same time, totally ripped while you are not? It is "Polypharmacy at its finest," as W Nathaniel Phillips described to the point in his bookAnabolic Reference Guide (5th Issue, 1990). But coming back once more to the "anabolic formula": STH, insulin, and L-T3. Most athletes have tried STH during preparation for a competition in that phase when the diet is calorie-reduced. The body usually reacts by reducing the release of insulin and of the L- T3 thyroid hormone. And, as was described under point 2, this is not an advantageous condition when STH is expected to work well. Well, we almost forgot. Those who combine Clenbuterol with STH should know that Clenbuterol (like Ephedrine) reduces the body's own release of insulin and L-T3. True, this seems a little complicated and when reading it for the first time it might be a little confusing; however it really is true: STH has a significant influence on several hormones in the human body; this does not allow for a simple ad-ministration schedule. As said, STH is not cheap and those who intend to use it should know a little more about it. If you only want to burn fat with STH you will only have to remember user infor-mation for the part with the L-T3 thyroid hormone as is printed by Kabi Pharmacia GmbH for their compound Genotropin: "The need of the thyroid hormone often increases during treatment with growth hormones. " 3. Since most athletes who want to use STH can only obtain it if prescribed by a physician, the only supply source remains the black market. And this is certainly another reason why some athletes might not have been very happy with the effect of the purchased com-pound. How could he, if cheap HCG was passed off as expensive STH? Since both compounds are available as dry substances, all that would be needed is a new label of Serono's Saizen or Lilly's Humatrope on the HCG ampule. It is no longer fun when somebody is paying $200 for 5000 I.U. of HCG, only worth $12, and thinking that he just purchased 4 I.U. of STH. And if you think this happens only to novices and to the ignorant, ask Ben Johnson. "Big Ben," who during three tests within five days showed an above-limit testosterone level, was not a victim of his own stupidity but more likely the victim of fraud. 'According to statistics by the German Drug Administration, 42% of the HGH vials confiscated on the North American black market are fakes." (Der Spiegel, no. 11, 1993.) One can only say, "Poor Ben." Even Deutsche Apothekerzeitung is aware of this problem. The magazine wrote in its issue no. 26 of 07/01/93 in the article "Wachstumshormon--Praparate: Arzneimittelf5lschungen in Bodybuilder-Szene": "The currently-known cases are traded with Dutch or Russian labels... in addition to a display of labels in the Dutch or Russian lan-guage the fakes are distinguished from the original product, in-sofar as the dry substance is not present as lyophilic but present as loose powder. The fakes confiscated so far use the name "Humatrope 16" under the name of Lilly Company (with Dutch denomination) or "Somatogen" (in Russian)." Nowhere can this much money be made except by faking STH. Who has ever held original growth hormones in his hand and known how.they should look? 4. In a few very rare cases the body reacts by developing-antibodies to the exogenous STH, thus making it ineffective. Before discussing the extremely difficult matter of dosage and intake the following question suggests itself: Generally speaking who is taking growth hormones? A whole lot of athletes as the following quotation suggests: "Charlie Francis, the Canadian athletic trainer of Ben Johnson tells how he improved the performance of Ben and numerous other Olympic athletes by the use of growth hormones in 1983. Francis also had conclusive evidence that the U.S.-American field and track athletes were using growth hormones. In a 1989 interview with a pro bodybuilder, an interview not meant for publication, this massive athlete made clear that he was convinced that almost all professional top athletes were using Protropin. He also said that it did not bother him if the IFBB were to introduce doping tests for men in 1990 as long as there would be no testing for growth hormones (Anabolic Reference Update, June 1989, no. 11). "it is highly suspected that the top Ms. 0 competitors use this product to help them attain their incredibly rippled muscles while still looking like women." (Anabolic Reference Guide, 5th Issue, 1990, W N. Phillips.) Most top bodybuilders using Growth Hormone (GH) feel that insulin activates it. One top pro was rumored to have been using 12 I. U. of GH per day in preparation for his last WBF contest. He swears that GH only works with insulin." (Muscle Media 2000 ' October/ November 1993, no. 34.)" And shortly before the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, U.S. researchers succeeded in synthetically manufacturing the hormone. This hormone which cannot be detected with current testing methods immediately prepared American athletes throughout the country for the games in California. After reports of success the drug became the secret runner on the doping market. The football pro Lyle Alzado, who died of brain tumor, shortly before his death confessed that he had taken HGH for 16 weeks - and he claimed that 80% of all American football pros do so, too. Ben Johnson, who in 1988 in Seoul was caught with anabolics, admitted to the investigating committee of the Canadian government that he had tried the Growth Hormone. He had paid $ 10,000 for ten bottles of HGH. According to Johnson, his physician, George Astaphan, had also designed programs for his colleagues Mark McKoy, Angella Issajenko, and Desai Williams. Hurdle sprinter Juli Rochelean who toddy runs records for Switzerland under the name Baumann procured HGH on the black market of the bodybuilder scene in Montreal... Among women Gail Devers won the 100 meters (1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, the auth.) after havingjust overcome a severe thyroid condition, a well-known side effect of taking HGH. Such suspicions are reinforced by current market data. The two U.S. companies Genentech and Eli Lilly produced about 800 million dollars of HGH in 1992. Genentech alone reported an eleven percent production increase compared to last year. Chemists incessantly emphasize that the drug should only be manufactured for use by persons with stunted growth. The U.S.Food and Drug Administration, however, sees it differently: the U.S. government currently includes HGH on the list of forbidden drugs and 'threatens up to five years of,prison for illegal possession of the drug." (Der Spiegel, no. I I of 03/15/93). "Many of the top strength athletes use HGH and the cost of its use ran as high as $30,000/year for one particular pro bodybuilder. Short term users (8 week duration) will spend up to $150 per daily dosage. And because the top athletes are rumored to use it, HGH lust in the lower ranks has become more rampant." (Daniel Duchaine, Underground Steroid Handbook 2.) The question of the right dosage, as well as the type and duration of application, Is very difficult to answer. Since there is no scientific research showing how STH should be taken for performance improvement, we can only rely on empirical data, that is experimental values. The respective manufacturers indicate that in cases of hypophysially stunted growth due to lacking or insufficient release of growth hormones by the hypophysis, a weekly average dose of 0.3 I.U./week per pound of body weight should be taken. An athlete weighing 200 pounds, therefore, would have to inject 60 I.U. weekly. The dosage would be divided into three intramuscular injections of 20 I.U. each. Subcutaneous injections (under the skin) are another form of intake which, however, would have to be injected daily, usually 8 I.U. per day. Top athletes usually inject 4-16 I.U~day. Ordinarily, daily subcutaneous injections are preferred Since STH has a half-life time of less than one hour, it is not surprising that some athletes divide their daily dose into three or four subcutaueous injections of 2-4 I.U. each. Application of regular, small dosages seems to bring the most effective results. This also has its reasons: When STH is injected, serum concentration in the blood rises quickly, meaning that the effect is almost immediate. As we know, STH stimulates the liver to produce and release somatomedins and insulin-like growth factors which in turn effect the desired results in the body. Since the liver can only produce a limited amount of these substances, we doubt that larger STH injections will induce the liver to produce instantaneously a larger quantity of somatomedins and insulin-like growth factors. it seems more likely that the liver will react more favorably to smaller dosages. If the STH solution is injected subcutaneously several consecutive times at the same point of injection, a loss of fat tissue is possible. Therefore, the point of injection, or even better, the entire side of the body, should be continuously changed in order to avoid a loss of local fat tissue (lipoathrophy) in the injection cell. One thing has manifested itself over the years: The effect of STH is dosage-dependent. This means either invest a lot of money and do it right or do not even begin. Half-hearted attempts are condemned to failure. Minimum effective dosages seem to start at 4 I.U. per day. For comparison: the hypophysis of a healthy, adult releases 0.5-1.5 I.U. growth hormones daily. The duration of intake usually depends on the athlete's financial resources. Our experience is that STH is taken over a prolonged period, from at least six weeks to several months. It is interesting to note that the effect of STH does not stop after a few weeks; this usually allows for continued improvements at a steady dosage. Bodybuilders who have had positive results with STH have reported that the built-up strength and, in particular, the newlygained muscle system were essentially maintained after discontinuance of the product. The American physician, Dr. William N. Taylor, confirms this statement in his book Anabolic Steroids and the Athlete, where on page 75 he writes: "Evidence for increased muscle number (hyperplasia) in athletes stems from their statements that the increased muscular size and strength remain after the HGH therapy has been discontinued. In fact, there may be further muscular size and strength gains as the training-induced hypertrophy continues in the month beyond." It remains to be clarified what happens with the insulin and LT-3 thyroid hormone. Athletes who take - STH in their build-up phase usually do not need exogenous insulin. It is recommended, in this case, that the athlete eats a complete meal every three hours, result ing in 6-7 meals daily. This causes the body to continuously release insulin so that the blood sugar level does not fall too low. The use of LT-3 thyroid hormones, in this phase, is carried out reluctantly by athletes. In any case, you must have a physician check the thyroid hormone level during the intake of STH. Simultaneous use of ana bolic/androgenic steroids and/or Clenbuterol is usually appropri ate. During the preparation for a competition the use of thyroid hormones steadily increases. Sometimes insulin is taken together with STH, as well as with steroids and Clenbuterol. Apart from the high damage potential that exogenous insulin can-have in non-diabetics, incorrect use will simply and plainly make you FAT! Too much insulin activates certain enzymes which convert glucose into glycerol and finally into triglyceride. Too little insulin, especially dur ing a diet, reduces the anabolic effect of STH. The solution to this dilemma- Visiting a qualified physician who advises the athlete during this undertaking and who, in the event of exogenous in sulin supply, checks the blood sugar level and urine periodically. According to what we have heard so far, athletes usually inject intermediately-effective insulin having a maximum duration of effect of 24 hours once a day. Human insulin such as Depot-H Insulin Hoechst is generally used. Briefly-effective insulin with a maximum duration of effect of eight hours is rarely used by athletes. Again a human insulin such as H-Insulin Hoechst is preferred. The undesired effect of growth hormones, the so-called side effects, are also a very interesting and hotly-discussed issue. Above all it must be said: STH has none of the typical side effects of anabolic/ androgenic steroids including reduced endogenous testosterone production, acne, hair loss, aggressiveness, elevated estrogen level, virilization symptoms in women, and increased water and salt retention. The main side effects that are possible with STH are an abnormally small concentration of glucose in the Wood (hypoglycemia) and an inadequate thyroid function. In some cases antibodies against growth hormones are developed but are clinically irrelevant. What about the horror stories about Acromegaly, bone deformation, heart enlargement, organ conditions, gigantism, and early death- In order to answer this question a clear differentiation must be made between humans before and after puberty. The growth plates in a person continue to grow in length until puberty. After puberty neither an endogenous hypersection of growth hormones nor an excessive exogenous supply of STH can cause additional growth in the length of the bones. Abnormal size (gigantism) initially goes hand in hand with remarkable body strength and muscular hardness in the afflicted; later, if left untreated, it ends in weakness and death. Again, this is only possible in pre-pubescent humans who also suffer from an inadequate gonadal function (hypogonadism). Humans who suffer from an endogenous hypersecretion after puberty and whose normal growth is completed can also suffer from Acromegaly. Bones become wider but not longer. There is a progressive growth in the hands and feet, and enlargement of features due to the growth of the lower jaw and nose. Heart muscle and kidneys can also gain in weight and size. In the beginning all of this goes hand in hand with increased body strength and muscular hardness; it ends, however, in fatigue, weakness, diabetes, heart conditions, and early death. What the authorities like to do now is to present extreme cases of athletes suffering from these malfunctions in order to discourage others and to drum into athletes the fact that with the exogenous supply of growth hormones they would suffer the same destiny This, however, is very unlikely, as reality has proven. Among the numerous athletes using STH comparatively few are seven feet tall Neanderthalers with a protruded lower jaw, deformed skull, clawlike hands, thick lips, and prominent bone plates who walk around in size 25 shoes in order to avoid any misunderstandings, we do not want to disguise the possible risks of exogenous STH use in adults and healthy humans, but one should at least try to be open-minded. Acromegaly, diabetes, thyroid insufficiency, heart muscle hypertrophy, high blood pressure, and enlargement of the kidneys are theoretically possible if STH is used excessively over prolonged periods of time; however, in reality and particularly when it comes to the external attributes, these are rarely present. Tests have shown no causal relation between treatment with somatropin and a possible higher risk of leukemia. Some athletes report headaches, nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances during the first weeks of intake. These symptoms disappear in most cases even with continued intake. The most common problems with STH occur when the athlete intends to inject insulin in addition to STH. We know two competing German bodybuilders who, because of improper insulin injections, fell into comas lasting several weeks. The substance somatropin is available as a dried powder and before injecting it must be mixed with the enclosed solution-containing ampule. The ready solution must be injected immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. It is usually recommended that the compound be stored in the refrigerator. With the exception of the remedy Saizcn the biological activity of growth hormones is usually not impaired when storing the dry substance at 15-25ºC (room temperature); however, a cooler place (2-8º C is preferable. On the black market the price for 4 I.U. each of the compounds Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, and Saizen, in Europe is $80 - 120 for a prick-through vial including the solution ampule. As already mentioned, there are many fakes. It is noted that for the U.S.-American growth hormone compounds, the substance con tent is not given in 1-U. (International Units) but in mg (milligrams). Since I mg corresponds to exactly 2.7 I.U. the 5 mg solution of the compound Humatrope by Lilly contains exactly 13.5 I.U. of Somatropin. The 10 mg solution of the Protropin compound by Genentech therefore contains 27 I.U. of Somatropin. In American powerlifting and bodybuilding circles Humatrope is usually preferred over Protropin. The reason is that Humatrope is synthesized from a chain of 191 amino acids and thus is identical to the amino acid sequence of the human growth hormone. Protropin, on the other hand, consists of 192 amino acids, one amino acid too many. This might be the explanation for why more antibodies are developed with Protropin than with Humatrope. Growth hormones are on the doping list but they are not yet detectable during doping tests. source: http://www.steroid.com/HUMAN%20GROWTH%20HORMONE.phtml
