How Long Should I Take Testosterone Suspension?
Testosterone suspension is used to treat hypogonadism and used illicitly by athletes to enhance performance. Dosage and length of administration vary depending on use and other drugs taken simultaneously, as testosterone can cause detrimental side effects.
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Identification
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Testosterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone produced in male testes and in much smaller amounts by female ovaries as well as in the adrenal glands of both sexes. Testosterone causes masculine changes during puberty, increases skeletal muscle mass and promotes bone density and bone growth. Pharmaceutically, testosterone suspension is a synthetic version of the natural molecule, suspended in water. Users must inject this drug into muscle tissue, preferably the larger muscles such as the gluteus (butt) or the vascus lateralis of the thigh (one of the quadriceps muscles).
Treatment
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According to drugs.com, the Federal Food and Drug Administration has approved testosterone for treatment of low natural testosterone production (hypogonadism). Testosterone use is indicated for adolescents suffering from delayed-onset puberty, men with the congenital disorder Klinefelter's syndrome and hypogonadism that results from injuries, diseases or chemotherapy.
According to Dr. Wayne G. Hellstrom of the University of Tulane Medical School, men undergoing hormone replacement therapy also can receive testosterone, and the dosage is determined by the method of delivery. Drugs.com lists ranges of 2.5mg daily for transdermal applications and Hellstrom lists dosages ranging from 50 to 400 mg every two to three weeks for injectable versions. Patients with hypogonadism may take testosterone supplementation indefinitely.
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Athletic Uses
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According to bodybuilding.com, athletes and bodybuilders take testosterone suspension illicitly to gain muscle, recover from heavy training, and increase strength to enhance athletic performance. Because testosterone suspension delivers its effects fairly quickly over a short period of time, bodybuilding.com reports that illicit users usually opt to inject it daily at dosages of up to 100mg.
Cycle
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For illicit users taking only testosterone suspension, bodybuilding.com recommends dosages of 50 to 100 mg daily for eight to twelve weeks. Their website also reports that users may choose to take ancillary drugs to mediate some of the detrimental side effects of testosterone suspension. These drugs may include anti-estrogens (such as the breast cancer drug Nolvadex) at 30 to 40 mg daily or aromatase blockers such as proviron or arimidex, which prevent the body from converting excess testosterone into estrogen.
Additionally, bodybuilding.com reports that excess dosages of exogenous (externally produced) testosterone will dampen natural production, and that users may have to take human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to restart the body making its own testosterone again. They recommend taking 3000 to 5000 International Units (IU's) of HCG every five to six days, starting during the last two weeks of a testosterone suspension cycle.
Stacking
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According to bodybuilding.com, many bodybuilders and athletes choose to "stack" testosterone suspension, that is, take it in conjunction with another steroid. Users trying to maximize muscle gains may choose to also inject nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin) at dosages of 300 to 400 mg weekly, while users looking to maximize lean muscle mass gains and prevent water bloating can take boldenone (Equipoise), also at 300 to 400 mg weekly.
Side Effects
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The FDA has classified testosterone as a Pregnancy Category X drug, which means that it is known to cause birth defects in unborn fetuses, and women who are pregnant should not take this drug.
According to drugs.com, testosterone also can cause the development of male characteristics, especially in women. These many include deepened voice, hirsutism, acne, oily skin, altered libido, gynecomastia (male breasts) in men, the interruption of menstrual cycles and enlarged clitoris in women.
Additionally, drugs.com reports that testosterone can alter blood serum cholesterol, potentially leading to high blood pressure and coronary or circulatory diseases. Users also may experience allergic reactions that include nausea, fever, vomiting, muscle cramps, headaches, and psychological effects that range from aggression and irritability to moodiness, depression and paranoia.
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