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Clomid is the commonly
referenced brand name for the drug clomiphene citrate. Clomid is not an
anabolic steroid, but a prescription drug generally prescribed to women as
a fertility aid. This is due to the fact that clomiphene citrate shows a
pronounced ability to stimulate ovulation. This is accomplished by
blocking/minimizing the effects of estrogen in the body. To be more
specific Clomid is chemically a synthetic estrogen with both
agonist/antagonist properties, and is very similar in structure and action
to Nolvadex. In certain target tissues Clomid
can block the ability of estrogen to bind with its corresponding receptor.
Clomid clinical use is therefore to oppose the negative feedback of
estrogens on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which enhances the
release of LH and FSH. This of course can help to induce ovulation.
For
athletic purposes, Clomid does not offer a tremendous benefit to women. In
men however, the elevation in both follicle stimulating hormone and
(primarily) luteinizing hormone will cause natural testosterone production
to increase. This effect is especially beneficial to the athlete at the
conclusion of a steroid cycle when endogenous testosterone levels are
depressed. If endogenous testosterone levels are not brought back to
normal, a dramatic loss in size and strength is likely to occur once the
anabolics have been removed. This is due to the fact that without
testosterone (or other androgens), the catabolic hormone cortisol becomes
the dominant force affecting muscle protein synthesis (quickly bringing
about a catabolic metabolism). Often referred to as the post-steroid
crash, it can quickly eat up much of your newly acquired muscle. Clomid
can play a crucial role in preventing this crash in athletic performance.
As for women, the only real use for Clomid is the possible management of
endogenous estrogen levels near contest time. This can increase fat loss
and muscularity, particularly in female trouble areas such as this hips
and thighs. Clomid however often produces troubling side effects in women,
and is likewise not in very high demand among this group of athletes.
Male
users generally find that a daily intake of 50-100 mg (1-2 tablets) over a
four to six week period will bring testosterone production back to an
acceptable level. This raise in testosterone should occur slowly but
evenly throughout the period of intake. Since an immediate boost in
testosterone is often desirable, many prefer to combine Clomid with
HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) for the first week or two after the
steroids have been removed. The kick-start from HCG
also helps to restore the normal ability for the testes to respond to
endogenous LH, which may be hindered for some time after the cycle is
ended due to a prolonged state of inactivity. Once the
HCG is stopped, the user continues treatment with Clomid alone.
HCG should not be used for longer than two or three weeks though, as
the resulting increased testosterone and estrogen levels may again
initiate negative feedback inhibition at the hypothalamus. When planning
your ancillary drug program, it is also important to remember that
injectable steroids can stay active for a long duration. Using ancillary
drugs the first week after a long acting injectable like
Sustanon has been stopped may prove to be wholly ineffective. Instead,
the athlete should wait for two to three weeks, to a point where androgen
levels will be diminishing. Here the body will be primed and ready to
restore testosterone production.
Clomid and HCG are also occasionally used
periodically during a steroid cycle, in an effort to prevent natural
testosterone levels from diminishing. In many instances this practice can
prove difficult however, especially when using strong androgens for longer
periods of time. There is also no exact method for using the two drugs in
this manner. Some have experimented by periodically administering small
doses of HCG along with one or two tablets of
Clomid, perhaps for a few days at a stretch followed by a longer break. An
on/off schedule would be implemented; for fear that this combination may
lose some effectiveness if used continuously for this purpose. This method
of intake may prove to be effective, although it is really much more
feasible to stimulate testosterone production after the cycle than to try
and maintain it for the long duration during.
In
addition to helping with the post-cycle testosterone crash, Clomid can
also help with elevated estrogen levels during a steroid cycle. A high
estrogen level puts an athlete in serious risk of developing gynecomastia,
which is an obvious unwanted side effect. With the intake of Clomid, the
athlete can hopefully reduce his risk for developing gynecomastia. The
estrogen "blocking" properties of Clomid appear to be slightly weaker than
Nolvadex in comparison however, which is why Clomid is not usually
thought of as an equal substitute for estrogen maintenance. Of course both
drugs have similar actions in the body, and are relatively interchangeable
for this purpose. Clomid can likewise also be used as a maintenance
anti-estrogen throughout the duration of steroid intake with good
confidence, just as is done with Nolvadex. In
most instances this will prove equally sufficient, the drug effectively
minimizing the activity of estrogen in the body and warding off gyno and
excess water/fat retention. Unfortunately just as with
Nolvadex this is not always the case however, and many find it
necessary to addition another antiestrogenic drug. The most common adjunct
is Proviron, an oral DHT used to competitively
lower aromatase activity and raise the androgen to estrogen ratio. The
Clomid/Nolvadex and
Proviron combination is extremely effective, although we could
alternately replace them both with a more specific aromatase inhibitor
such as Arimidex or Cytadren. While stronger at
combating estrogen in most cases, these drugs are also typically much more
costly.
As
for toxicity and side effects, Clomid is considered a very safe drug.
Bodybuilders seldom report any problems, but listed possible side effects
do include hot flashes, nausea, dizziness, headaches and temporarily
blurred vision. Such side effects usually only appear in females however,
as they feel the effects of estrogen manipulation much more readily than
men. While female athletes can clearly gain some benefit from Clomid,
estrogen manipulation is probably not the most comfortable way to go about
cutting up. Should it still be used for such purposed and side effects do
become pronounced, Clomid of course is to be discontinued and (at least) a
break taken from it.
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