Ox 51
Musclechemistry Guru
Arimidex
(Anastrozole)
Arimidex is an aromatase inhibitor (AI), a drug that works by blocking the aromatase enzyme responsible for the production of estrogen.
In clinical use, Arimidex is primarily administered to halt the progression of breast cancer in women. In athletics and bodybuilding, it is used as an ancillary compound within anabolic steroid cycles for its estrogen reducing properties, and has the additional benefit of modestly increasing testosterone levels.
In clinical use, Arimidex is primarily administered to halt the progression of breast cancer in women. In athletics and bodybuilding, it is used as an ancillary compound within anabolic steroid cycles for its estrogen reducing properties, and has the additional benefit of modestly increasing testosterone levels.
Many anabolic steroids aromatize (convert to estrogen via the aromatase enzyme), a process that is responsible for many of the undesirable side effects that can accompany anabolic steroid use such as acne, gynecomastia, water-retention, etc. In one study, both .5mg and 1mg doses of Arimidex were shown to decrease estrogen by roughly 50%. The 1mg/day dose also increased testosterone levels by 58%. In that same study, in both groups LH and FSH increased slightly as well.
Take a look:
Changes in testosterone and E2 concentrations in normal young men (1522 yr old) before and after 10 days of oral anastrozole at 0.5 and 1 mg.
This suggests that single a dose of .5mgs/day would be sufficient to combat on cycle estrogen-related side effects. It is, however, important to remember that some estrogen is necessary to obtain optimal muscle growth. The lower estrogen levels seem, anecdotally at least, to produce a more "hard" and "quality" look for bodybuilders during cutting cycles.
I'd like to point out that the elevation in testosterone provided by Arimidex is so large that it can be used as a form of testosterone replacement therapy for hypogonadal men. This means that it would be of great use during post-cycle therapy (PCT) to regain natural testosterone levels and full functioning of the Hypothalamic-Testicular-Pituitary-Axis (HTPA).
Literature provided by the original maker of Anastrozole (Arimidex, produced by Zeneca Pharmaceuticals) states that stable blood plasma concentrations of the compound are achieved after a mere 7 consecutive 1mg daily doses. Also, Arimidex is just over 80% effective at inhibiting aromatase. Thus, if you want its full effect for the entire duration of your cycle, you can simply start taking it one week prior to cycling.
But can you use it for the entire duration of a cycle, and is it dangerous? Well, certainly reducing estrogen levels in your body is good from a bodybuilding perspective, as it reduces water-retention, and the potential for gynecomastia. Fortunately, Arimidex is very mild on blood lipids (cholesterol) and doesnt seem to affect them adversely. As previously mentioned, those lowered estrogen levels could although, its a stretch potentially adversely affect cholesterol and possibly even your immune function. However, I am very comfortable recommending Arimidex short-term use, i.e. throughout cycle and PCT. This should be the ancillary compound of choice for those on long and heavy cycles, especially since it also doesnt inhibit Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF), like some other ancillary compounds.
Although prices will vary, this is one of the compounds I will caution the reader from buying in its legitimate pharmaceutical form. The price (up to $5/tab) is absurd, when you consider its availability from UGLs and research companies (in both tabs and liquid), for less than 1/3 of that. Ive used both the tabs from an Underground Lab, as well as the liquid version from research-sites, and received identical results.
