Testosterone Propionate info
Testosterone
propionate is a commonly manufactured, oil-based injectable
testosterone compound. The added propionate ester will slow
the rate in which the steroid is released from the injection
site, but only for a few days. Testosterone propionate is
therefore comparatively much faster acting than other testosterone
esters such as cypionate or enanthate, and requires a much
more frequent dosing schedule. While cypionate and enanthate
are injected on a weekly basis, propionate is generally
administered (at least) every third day. To make this drug
even more uncomfortable to use, the propionate ester can
be very irritating to the site of injection. In fact, many
sensitive individuals choose to stay away from this steroid
completely, their body reacting with a pronounced soreness
and low-grade fever that may last for a few days. Even the
mild soreness that is experienced by most users can be quite
uncomfortable, especially when taking multiple pharmacokinetics
of Testosterone propionate injections each week. The "standard"
esters like enanthate and cypionate, are clearly easier
to use, and therefore much more popular among athletes.
Those who are
not bothered by frequent injections will find that propionate
is quite an effective steroid. It is of course a powerful
mass drug, capable of producing rapid gains in size and
strength. At the same time the buildup of estrogen and DHT
(dihydrotestosterone) will be pronounced, so typical testosterone
side effects are to be expected. Some do consider propionate
to be the mildest testosterone ester, and the preferred
form of this hormone for dieting/cutting phases of training.
Some will go so far as to say that propionate will harden
the physique, while giving the user less water and fat retention
than one typically expects to see with a testosterone. Realistically
however, this is nonsense. The ester is removed before testosterone
is active in the body, and likewise the ester cannot alter
the activity of the parent steroid in any way, only slow
its release. We can say that propionate might be the favored
testosterone among female bodybuilders (for those who insist
on testosterone use), as blood levels are easier to control
with it compared to other esters. Should virilization symptoms
develop, one would not wish to wait the weeks needed for
testosterone concentrations to fall after a shot of enanthate
for example.
During a typical
cycle one will see action that is consistent with a testosterone.
Users sensitive to gynecomastia may therefore need to addition
an anti-estrogen. Those particularly troubled may find that
a combination of Nolvadex and Proviron works especially
well at preventing/halting this occurrence. Also unavoidable
with a testosterone are androgenic side effects like oily
skin, acne, increased aggression and body/facial hair growth.
Those who may have a predisposition for male pattern baldness
may also find that propionate will aggravate this condition.
To help combat this we also have the option of adding Propecia/Proscar,
which will reduce the buildup of DHT in many androgen target
tissues. This will help minimize related side effects (particularly
hair loss) although it offers us no guarantees. And as with
all testosterone products, propionate will also suppress
endogenous testosterone production. The use of a testosterone
stimulating drug like HCG and/or Clomid/Nolvadex is therefore
a requirement in order to avoid enduring a post-cycle crash.
The most common
dosage schedule for this compound (men) is to inject 50
to 100mg, every 2nd or 3rd day. As with the more popular
esters, the total weekly dosage would be in the range of
200-400mg. As with all testosterone compounds, this drug
is most appropriately suited for bulking phases of training.
Here it is most often combined with other strong agents
such as Dianabol, Anadrol 50 or Deca-Durabolin,
combinations that prove to be quite formidable. Propionate
however is sometimes also used with nonaromatizing anabolics/androgens
during cutting or dieting phases of training, a time when
it's fast action and androgenic nature are also appreciated.
Popular stacks include a moderate dosage of propionate with
an oral anabolic like Winstrol (15-35 mg daily), Primobolan
(50-150mg daily) or oxandrolone (15-30mg daily). Provided
the body fat percentage is sufficiently low, the look of
dense muscularity can be notably improved (barring any excess
estrogen buildup from the testosterone). We can further
add a non-aromatizing androgen like trenbolone or Halotestin,
which should have an even more extreme effect on subcutaneous
body fat and muscle hardness. Of course with the added androgen
content any related side effects will become much more pronounced.
Women who absolutely
must use an injectable testosterone should only use this
preparation. The dosage schedule should also be more spread
out for a female bodybuilder, with injections coming every
5 to 7 days. The dosage obviously would be lower as well,
generally in the range of 25mg to 50mg per injection. Androgenic
activity should be less pronounced with this schedule, giving
blood levels time to sufficiently decrease before the drug
is administered again. In order to further reduce any risks,
the duration of this cycle should not exceed 8 weeks. Should
a stronger anabolic effect be needed, a small amount of
Durabolin (Deca-Durabolin if unavailable), Oxandrolone
or Winstrol could be added. Of course the risk of noticing
virilizing effects from these drugs may increase, even with
the addition of a mild anabolic. Since many of the masculinizing
side effects of steroid use can be irreversible, it is very
important for the female athlete to monitor the dosage,
duration and incidence of side effects very closely.
On the black
market propionate is not an abundant item. Although individual
ampules are commonly cheap in the pharmacies of many countries,
purchases here can be quite different. When looking to buy
the total number of ampules needed for a complete cycle
the costs for this drug can add up quickly. This is especially
true when purchasing individual ampules, which usually carry
a high price tag even if the content is only 50mg of steroid.
Obtaining a multi-dose vial preparation is the best way
to reduce the price of this compound, as the cost for each
injection should be considerably reduced with a large container.
The higher dosage in the 100mg and the 250mg item also bring
the price down for this steroid considerably, and seem to
be sparking new interest in this ester. Athletes however
generally still find propionate to be a bit too much trouble
though, and usually prefer the longer acting testosterones
like cypionate or enanthate. Although demand for this steroid
is low, it is of course still an acceptable option.
Some Vet companies
as well as UG labs are now even producing 250mg/ml dosage
vials. This dosage is more shocking than it sounds at first
next to all the 250mg enanthate and now cypionate products
in circulation. Testosterone propionate is less oil soluble
than Testosterone enanthate or cypionate, making a high
dosage more difficult to achieve. Before this the highest
concentration you could find of this steroid was 100mg/ml.
Reaching 250 milligrams is no doubt a result of not simply
adding more steroid to one ml of oil, but increasing the
alcohol content in the solution considerably as well. This
makes for a much more uncomfortable solution to inject.
Although admittedly the highest dose of propionate you will
ever find, users have been reporting that it is also intolerably
painful. Most find they have to dilute the solution with
other lower dosed steroids if they are to continue using
the product. This should be no a surprise I guess with a
steroid that already has a reputation as being painful to
inject. |
