Substance: nandrolone decanoate
Deca-Durabolin is a brand name of Organon
Company, the manu-facturer of the drug containing the substance
nandrolone decanoate. Although nandrolone decanoate is still contained
in many generic compounds, almost every athlete connects this substance
with Deca--Durabolin. Most common are the administrations of 5 0 mg/ml
and 100 mg/ml. Deca-Durabolin is the most widespread and most commonly
used injectable steroid. Deca's large popularity can be attributed to
its numerous possible applications and, for its mostly positive results.
Deca-Durabolin causes the muscle cell to store more nitrogen than it
re-leases so that a positive nitrogen balance is achieved. A positive
ni-trogen balance is synonymous with muscle growth since the muscle cell,
in this phase, assimilates (accumulates) a larger amount of pro-tein
than usual. The same manufacturer, however, points out on the package
insert that a positive nitrogen balance and the protein--building effect
that accompany it will occur only if enough calories and proteins are
supplied. One should know this since, otherwise, satisfying results with
Deca cannot be obtained. The highly ana-bolic effect of Deca-Durabolin
is linked to a moderately androgenic component, so that a good gain in
muscle mass and strength is obtained. At the same time, most athletes
notice considerable water retention which, no doubt, is not as distinct
as that with injectable testosterones but which in high doses can also
cause a smooth and watery appearance. Since Deca also stores more water
in the connective tissues, it can temporarily case or even cure existing
pain in joints. This is especially good for those athletes who complain
about pain in the shoulder, elbow, and knee; they can often enjoy
pain-free workouts during treatment with Deca-Durabolin. Athletes use
Deca, depending on their needs, for muscle buildup and in preparation
for a competition.
Deca is suitable, even above average, to develop muscle mass since it
promotes the protein synthesis and simultaneously leads to water
retention. The optimal dose for this purpose lies between 200 and 600
mg/week. Scientific research has shown that best results can be obtained
by the intake of 2-mg/pound body weight. Those who take a dose of less
than 200 mg/week will usually feel only a very light anabolic effect
which, however, increases with a higher dosage. Most male athletes
experience good re-sults by taking 400 mg/week. Steroid novices usually
need only 200 mg/week. Deca works very well for muscle buildup when
combined with Dianabol and Testosterone. The famous Dianabol/ Deca stack
results in a a fast and strong gain in muscle mass. Most athletes
usually take 15-40 mg Dianabol/day and 200-400 mg Deca/week. Even faster
results can be achieved with 400 mg Deca/week and 500 mg 5ustanon
250/week. Athletes report an enormous gain in strength and muscle mass
when taking 400 mg Deca/week, 500 mg Sustanon 250/week, and 30 mg
Dianabol/day. Deca is a good basic steroid which, for muscle buildup,
can be combined with many other steroids.
A conversion into estrogen, that means an aromatizing process, is
possible with Deca-Durabolin but occurs at a lower rate than ex:
testosterone. During competi-tions with doping tests Deca must not be
taken since the metabo-lites in the body can be proven in a urine
analysis up to 18 months later. The risk of potential water retention
and aromatizing to estro-gen can be successfully prevented by combining
the use of Proviron with Nolvadex. A preparatory stack often observed in
competing athletes includes 400 mg/week Deca-Durabolin, 50 mg/day
Winstrol, 228 mg/week Parabolan, and 25 mg/day Oxandrolone.
Although the side effects with Deca are relatively low with dosages of
400 mg/week, androgenic-caused side effects can occur. Most problems
manifest themselves in high blood pressure and a pro-longed time for
blood clotting, which can cause frequent nasal bleed-ing and prolonged
bleeding of cuts, as well as increased production of the sebaceous gland
and occasional acne. Some athletes also re-port headaches and sexual
overstimulation. When very high dos-ages are taken over a prolonged
period, spermatogenesis can be in-hibited in men, i.e. the testes
produce less testosterone. The reason is that Deca-Durabolin, like
almost all steroids, inhibits the release of gonadotropins from the
hypophysis.
Women with a dosage of up to 100 mg/week usually experience no major
problems with Deca. At higher dosages androgenic-caused virilization
symptoms can occur, including deep voice (irreversible), increased
growth of body hair, acne, increased libido, and possibly
clitorihypertrophy. Women who experience disturbance even at a weekly
dose of only 50 mg/week of Deca-Durabolin, are often better off taking
the earlier-mentioned and faster-acting Durabolin. Unlike the
long-acting Deca, when Durabolin is administered once or twice weekly in
a dosage of 50 mg, no concentration of undesired amounts of androgens
occur. Since most female athletes get on well with Deca-Durabolin a dose
of Deca 50 mg +/week is usually com-bined with Oxandrolone 10 mg +/day
Both compounds, when taken in a low dosage, are only slightly androgenic
so that masculinizing side effects only rarely occur. Deca, through its
increased protein synthesis, also leads to a net muscle gain and
Oxandrolone, based on the increased phosphocreatine synthesis, leads to
a measurable strength gain with very low water retention. Other
variations of administration used by female athletes are Deca and
Winstrol tab-lets, as well as Deca and Primobolan S-tablets.
A great disadvantage of Deca-Durabolin is its high price. In the U.S. a
50 mg ampule costs approx. $10 - 12. Deca-Durabolin in strengths of 200
mg/2 ml ampules; usually cost around $30 per ampule. Because of its
great popularity and the high demand that goes along with it, there are
many fakes of Deca-Durabolin.