Equipoise info
Equipoise is
the popularly referenced brand name for the veterinary injectable
steroid boldenone undecylenate. Specifically it is a derivative
of testosterone, which exhibits strong anabolic and moderately
androgenic properties. The undecylenate ester greatly extends
the activity of the drug (the undecylenate ester is only
one carbon atom longer than decanoate), so that clinically
injections would need to be repeated every three or four
weeks. In veterinary medicine Equipoise is most commonly
used on horses, exhibiting a pronounced effect on lean bodyweight,
appetite and general disposition of the animal. This compound
is also said to shows a marked ability for increasing red
blood cell production, although there should be no confusion
that this is an effect characteristic of newly all anabolic/androgenic
steroids. The favorable properties of this drug are greatly
appreciated by athletes, Equipoise being a very popular
injectable in recent years. It is considered by many to
be a stronger, slightly more androgenic Deca-Durabolin.
It is generally cheaper, and could replace Deca in most
cycles without greatly changing the end result.
The side effects
associated with Equipoise are generally mild. The structure
of boldenone does allow it to convert into estrogen, but
it does not have an extremely high affinity to do so. To
try and quantify this we can look toward aromatization studies,
which suggest that its rate of estrogen conversion should
be roughly half that of testosterone's. The tendency to
develop a noticeable amount of water retention with this
drug would therefore be slightly higher than that with Deca-DurabolinO
(with an estimated 20°/a conversion), but much less
than what would be expected with a stronger agent such as
Testosterone. While one does still have a chance of encountering
an estrogen related side effect as such when using this
substance, it is not a common problem when taken at a moderate
dosage level. Gynecomastia might theoretically become a
concern, but is usually only heaved of with very sensitive
individuals or (again) those venturing high in dosage. Should
estrogenic effects become troublesome, the addition of Nolvadex
should of course make the cycle more tolerable. An anti-aromatase
such as Arimidex would be a stronger option, however probably
not indicated with a mild drug as such.
Equipoise can
also produce distinct androgenic side effects. Incidences
of oily skin, acne, increased aggression and hair loss are
likewise all possible with this compound, although will
typically be related to the use of higher doses. Women in
fact find this drug quite comfortable, virilization symptoms
usually unseen when taken at low doses. Boldenone does reduce
to a more potent androgen (dihydroboldenone) via the 5alpha
reductase enzyme (which produces DHT from testosterone),
however its affinity for this interaction in the human body
is low to nonexistent". We therefore cannot consider
the reductase inhibitor Proscar to be of much use with Equipoise,
as it would be blocking what is at best an insignificant
path of metabolism for the steroid. And although this drug
is relatively mild, it may still have a depressive effect
on endogenous testosterone levels. A combination of HCG
and Clomid/Nolvadex may likewise be needed at the conclusion
of each cycle to avoid a "crash", particularly
when running long in duration.
Although it
stays active for a much longer time, Equipoise is injected
at least once per week by athletes. It is most commonly
used at a dosage of 400-600mg per week for men, 50-150 mg
per week for women. Should a 50mg version be the only product
available, the injection volume can become quite uncomfortable.
The dosage schedule can be further divided, perhaps injections
given every other day to reduce discomfort. One should also
take caution to rotate injection sites regularly, so as
to avoid irritation or infection. Should too large an oil
volume be injected into one site, an abscess may form that
requires surgical draining. To avoid such a problem, athletes
will usually limit each injection to 3ml and reuse each
site no more than once per week, preferably every other
week. With Equipoise this may require using not only the
gluteus, but also the outer thighs for an injection site.
Of course all problems associated with 25mg and 50mg dosed
products are eliminated with the newer 100 mg and 200mg/ml
versions of this steroid, which clearly give the user much
more dosage freedom and injection comfort.
Not a rapid
mass builder, instead Equipoise will be looked at to provide
a slow but steady gain of strength and quality muscle mass.
The most positive effects of this drug are seen when it
is used for longer cycles, usually lasting more than 8-10
weeks in duration. The muscle gained should not be the smooth
bulk seen with androgens, but very defined and solid. Since
water bloat is not contributing greatly to the diameter
of the muscle, much of the size gained on a cycle of Equipoise
can be retained after the drug has been discontinued. It
is interesting to note that structurally Equipoise and the
classic bulking drug Dianabol are almost identical. In the
case of Equipoise the compound uses a l7beta ester (undecylenate),
while Dianabol is 17 alpha alkylated. Aside from this the
molecules are the same. Of course they act quite differently
in the body, which goes to show the 17-methylation effects
more than just the oral efficacy of a steroid.
As discussed
earlier, Equipoise is a very versatile compound. We can
create a number of drug combinations with it depending on
the desired result. For mass, one may want to stack it with
Anadrol 50(oxymetholone) or an injectable testosterone such
as Sustanon 250. The result should be an incredible gain
of muscle size and strength, without the same intensity
of side effects if using the androgen (at a higher dose)
alone. During a cutting phase, muscle hardness and density
can be greatly improved when combining Equipoise with a
non-aromatizable steroid such as trenbolone acetate, Proviron
(mesterolone; 1-methyl DHT), Halotestin (fluoxymesterone),
or Winstrol (stanozolol). For some however, even the low
buildup of estrogen associated with this compound is enough
to relegate its use to bulking cycles only.
Equipoise is
not an ideal steroid for the drug tested athlete however.
This drug has the tendency to produce detectable metabolites
in the urine months after use, a worry most commonly associated
with Deca-Durabolin. This is of course due to the high oil
solubility of long chain esterified injectable steroids,
a property which enables the drug to remain deposited in
fatty tissues for extended periods of time. While this will
reliably slow the release of steroid into the blood stream,
it also allows small residual amounts to remain present
in the body far after the initial injection. The release
of stubborn stores of hormone would no doubt also be enhanced
around contest time, a period when the athlete drastically
attempts to mobilize unwanted body fat. If enough were used
in the off-season, the athlete may actually fail a drug
screen for boldenone although many months may have past
since the drug was last injected. |
