Equipoise is a derivative of testosterone, which exhibits strong anabolic and moderately androgenic properties. In common with all steroids, Equipoise increases red blood cell production, which in turn leads to increases in stamina due to an improvement in oxygen uptake. It is also known to increase vascularity, which makes it a favorite when it comes to contest preparation. However, the downside of its use in pre-contest situations is that it does tend to produce an increased appetite in a high percentage of users.

The good news is that Equipoise produces very little in the way of estrogen related side effects. In fact its actual rate of estrogen conversion is half that of the various testosterones. Of course some sensitive individuals may still experience estrogenic effects (or those using extremely high doses). In this case the addition of Nolvadex should be considered – with Arimadex being a stronger option.

Although it is not known as a rapid mass builder, Equipoise will produce slow but steady gains in strength and quality muscle. Due to this slow and steady result pattern, Equipoise is most commonly used for longer cycles of at least ten weeks. This would ensure solid muscle gains with very low water retention. Gains with Equipoise are also easily maintained following use since size increases are not due to water weight.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EQUIPOISE

Equipoise is an extremely versatile drug and, as such, combines very well with other steroids. An example of a great mass building stack would be 300-400mg/week of Equipoise with 500mg of Sustanon or Testosterone Enthanate. For mass building purposes it can also be effectively stacked with Anadrol. This would result in significant gains in strength and mass without the additional side effects that would result from using the androgen alone.
In terms of its use as part of a cutting cycle, Equipoise combines very well with non-aromatizable steroids such as Trenbolone acetate or Winstrol. However, even the extremely low aromatization rate of these substances may be enough to confine usage to bulking cycles only.

As a side note, those who usually favor Deca Durabolin may want to give Equipoise a try since for most people it proves to be stronger as well as safer and less suppressive. I say ‘most people” because there are always going to be individuals who, due to their unique chemistry, may have a different experience with its use.

SIDE EFFECTS

Side effects from the use of Equipoise are pretty low when it is taken in normal (300-400mg/week) dosages and estrogenic side effects only occur in those who are very susceptible to estrogen. In terms of androgenic side effects, long term or high dose use can result in slight virilizing effects including acne and increased body hair growth. Also worth noting is that Equipoise is not the ideal choice for the drug tested athlete since it has the tendency to produce detectable metabolites in the urine months after use.

DOSAGE

The use of 300-400mg/week is normally recommended when it comes to Equipoise use. There have been reports of users ‘front-loading’ it to achieve greater results. This would involve the use of high doses of 600-800mg/week for two weeks and then lowering the dose to 300-400mg/week for the remaining 8-10 weeks.

Women usually find this drug to be fairly safe in terms of virilizing effects as long as dosages are kept at 50-150mg/week.

N.B. Equipoise and all other products mentioned in this profile can be found at www.maximedicine.com.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field.

This is part of a continuing series provided exclusively by MuscleSport Mag giving information on a variety of performance-enhancing drugs for educational purposes. While it is apparent that people are going to use these substances regardless of the health and legal risks involved, quality information is necessary and learning as much about them as possible can only assist an adult making a decision either way.

Testosterone Enanthate is an oil based injectable steroid, which is designed to slowly release testosterone from the injection site. This slow release delivery leads to an elevation in testosterone levels lasting for approximately two weeks (it may even take as long as three weeks for the drug levels to fully diminish). Due to its relatively long activity level, Testosterone Enanthate is favored by the medical profession and is primarily used to treat cases of hypogonadism and similar disorders where low androgen levels are at fault.
As with all testosterone products it has strong anabolic and androgenic activity. Gains in strength and muscle mass are notable, along with an increase in libido. It has also been noted that a relief in tendon pain and an increase in stamina are direct effects of testosterone administration. This is probably due to increased water retention coupled with an increase in red blood cells – leading to a greater oxygen uptake in the blood.

On the downside, all the usual androgenic side effects can be expected e.g. oily skin, acne, aggressiveness, facial/body hair growth and male pattern baldness. In addition, testestosterone does have a high tendency to convert into estrogen (related side effects being water retention, storage of excess body fat and possible gynecomastia (the development of breast like tissue in males). This can be greatly reduced by adding a drug such as Nolvadex (or, if your budget can stretch to it, the superior Arimidex). However, the use of anti-estrogens during a cycle of testosterone is thought by some to reduce the anabolic effects of the drug, so you may wish to see whether their use is absolutely necessary before using them. You may also choose to add them towards the end of your cycle rather than throwing them into the mix early and risking slightly lower gains.
If you do begin to experience a little puffines in the nipple area, swelling or soreness you should act immediately to treat it by either adding an anti-estrogen or switching to another compound as your main drug.

Although this drug does have a long active life, most athletes choose to inject it on a weekly basis with the dosage ranging from 250mg- 750mg. This is done in an attempt to keep drug levels at a more uniform level throughout the cycle. Just remember, the higher the dose the more likely estrogenic side effects are to develop – so start out low to asses your tolerance.

STACKING TIPS: Those looking for greater bulk could add an oral like Anadrol 50 or Dianabol.

For more quality and definition an injectable like DecaDurabolin or Equipoise may be a better way to go. In this case you can lower the intake of Enanthate in order to keep estrogen build up to a minimum.

USER FEEDBACK: Those who have used this drug find it produces significant weight and strength gains with side effects well within the tolerable range provided dosages are kept at acceptable levels. Greater stamina and an overall feeling of well being have also been widely reported.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.