Questions answered by Flex's former steroid expert Philip Goglia

Elevated serotonin levels enhance the metabolic utilization of fats and blood lipids and increase the release of endogenous growth hormone. Serotonin levels are particularly elevated following exercise or during sleep.

Periactin - currently available in four-milligram (mg) tablets or syrup form, in which five milliliters contain two mg of the active ingredient cyproheptadine hydrochloride - is a histamine and serotonin antagonist with anticholinergic and sedativelike effects. It is generally prescribed to treat assorted allergies. Beyond such applications, the drug's supposed claim to fame is its ability to enhance appetites, but who need to consume more calories to enhance their muscularity, size and strenght. The use of Periactin in the bodybuilding community is minimal - very few bodybuilders I know have been able to pass up a food table during the offseason, so lack appetite is rarely a problem with them. Hell, ever seen s hardcore bodybuilder at an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord ?

Some athletes, however, appear to benefit from Periactin's appetite-enhancing side effect. This includes individuals who can't consume large quantities of food because of digestive nausea, anabolic ally suppressed appetite, or certain disorders of the digestive system

Although this compound can help an athlete increase bodyweight, the gain itself does not appear to be in lean muscle tissue specifically; rather, the gain is systemic. Periactin is not an anabolic, nor does it have an effect on endogenous testosterone levels. The strenght gains documented from Periactin use are attributable to nonselective weight gain.

Periactin's side effects are those commonly associated with most antihistamines: nervousness, irritability, dizziness, ringing in the ears and rapid heartbeat, among others. The side effect that most intrigues me, however seems paradoxical: anorexia. Just check the Physicians' Desk Reference if you don't believe me.

I, like many other, get my information from the street, and I hope the info I've picked up is accurate. About two weeks ago, I started taking three five-milligram (mg) tablets per day of Metanabol, manufactured in Poland by Jelfa. My goal is to put on about 15 pounds of solid weight. This all came about after a cast was removed from my arm, which had withered to what looked like the size of pencil.

Am I using this product correctly ? And what you can tell me about this drug ? I'll be 51 years old soon, I weigh 155 pounds, and I'm considered to be in above-average condition, with normal blood pressure and no family history of heart disease.

So, you've obtained some five-mg tabs of Metanabol with which you'd like to pack on 15 pounds of bodyweight. Is it possible ? Sure, it's possible, but then, virtually anything's possible if you're willing to pay the piper. Let me enlighten you.

Metanabol is a brand name of the generic drug methandrostenolone or methandienone, as in good old Dianabol. As those in the know know, oral Dianabol influences protein metabolism, effectively promoting protein synthesis, a goal of virtually all hardcore bodybuilders.

Since its release more than 30 years ago, Dianabol, generally considered a "size" steroid because of its highly androgenic chemistry, has been available in generous supply. It has received praise from numerous atheletes for its ability to help the quickly gain size and strenght. (It's important to note that Dianabol was removed from the U.S. marketplace in 1982.

The bodyweight increase an athlete experiences from D-bol isn't necessarily all lean muscle tissue; a portion of the weight gain results from increased water retention, a byproduct of the drug's interaction with the endocrine system. What's more. Dianabol can produce symptoms associated with hypertension. And depending on one's sensitivity to testosterone. D-bol may aromatize, leading to gynecomastia or, more colloquially, "bitch tits." ( If you're an ardent whatever, please don't write accusing me of being sexist because I used an expression common to the lexicon of the gym but which rankles your politically correct ire.) As well, D-bol converts to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which means your sebaceous glands could start functioning as if you were an adolescent (i.e., you'll start breaking out in acne). The conversion to DHT can also lead to hair loss among some users.

Clearly, using the Metanabol you've purchased (assuming it's not bogus) will lead to size gains. But before you get too excite, consider the following. D-bol belongs to the 17-alpha alkylated family of steroids, which means it is metabolized in the liver. This forces the liver to work overtime, and prolonged use of the stuff can lead to liver toxicity. Even a small dose - say, 10 mg a day - has been noted to elevate liver-function values, although they return to normal after discontinuing use of the drugs (that's assuming you do realistic six-to-eight-week cycles). Moreover, D-bol affects the production of the body's own testosterone, often causing it to drop dramatically within two weeks of use.

With the cessation of its production in the United States. D-bol is no unlike many of today's 'roids available only on the black market. Legitimate D-bol manufactured outside of the United States is available through those channels, but counterfeit D-bol is just as likely to turn up. And God only knows what physiological impact the 100 - 150 tabs you've paid $100 for may have on you. Fake D-bol might be innocuous, containing compressed baking powder, or it might contain something else altogether, such as methyltestosterone, as well as assorted impurities. I know of only three types ( one- and five-mg tablets and one-half percent cream) of Metanabol manufactured in poland, and since the name of the manufacturer is Polfa PF, not Jelfa, your tabs are suspect.

Sure to add 15 pounds of muscle, D-bol may be helpful, but in addition to the side effects already mentioned, your age should be another concern. You note that you're healthy, nut you haven't necessarily presented a complete picture. Trough assorted chemical changes within the body, D-bol might adversely affect the prostate gland, particularly in men over 50. Have you had your prostate checked lately ?

Is the 15-pound gain you seek worth the risks ? Only you can decide, but from where I sit (hell, this ain't brain surgery?, the answer seems clear: No, there is no quick fix. Eat correctly, train with dedication, and give yourself time - this appears to be the more prudent approach given your circumstances.

Questions answered by Flex's steroid expert Chris Street, MS

Testosterone 200, manufactured in Naucalpan, Mexico, by Tornel Laboratories, is a legitimate product. Tough real, the product could be contaminated, thereby causing the local irritation at the injection site, as well as the diarrhea and cramps. The sterility of Mexican veterinary products is a big worry of mine, because some of the labs there are not monitored as closely as labs are in the United States and thus they do not meet standards for purity. Discontinuing use of this product immediately would be the best thing for you to do.

Here's another possible cause of your trouble: The dealer you purchased this product from might have been altered its contents. There was a case in Texas in which a steroid dealer was busted, and authorities discovered that he was filling previously used multidose vials with nonsterile vegetable oil and reselling them. The prospect of receiving used multidose vials is a scary one. I'm particularly concerned about the risk of transmission of certain blood-borne maladies, including hepatitis and human immunodefiency virus. Buying androgens on the black market is a potentially dangerous undertaking. You just never know what's legit and what's not, or what might be disguised by legitimate packaging.

You should also consider discontinuing your use of Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate). This compound is used in veterinary medicine; many drugs like boldenone are not approved for use by humans because of their toxicity. Their long-term use should be avoided. Though I haven't heard of anybody experiencing problems from veterinary drugs, I strongly recommend that you discontinue their use.

In the March 1993 issue, FLEX published a white paper on androgens and their possible relationship to neurotransmitters; i.e., how androgens may be related to psychological side effects (e.g., rage, anger, even psychotic symptoms). is there any updated information on androgens and neurotransmitters, especially relating to stacking drugs ?

What's more, I was wondering if an anxiolytic - say, something in the benzodiazepine family, like Valium or Xanax - could mitigate the impact of steroids on the brain and one's mental health. (I recall that Frank Zane used supplemental tryptophan.) Also, would a serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor, like Prozac, taken during a steroid cycle help prevent some of the psychological effects of steroid use ? Would it help with the depression that often accompanies the postcycle rebound phase ?

Androgens have myriad effects on human body, both physiological and psychological. It's interesting to note that androgens have actually been used in some studies to treat depression! The psychological effects of steroids vary from individual to individual, and the scientific community doesn't agree on steroids' effects on rage and anger.

Most likely there is a dose/response relationship going on here. Based on the available medical literature, most of the side effects you allude to occur in response to doses of 600 milligrams or more per week. To date, there is new research on stacking regimens and their effects on neurotransmitters, and I don't expect to see any studies on that relationship published in the future. It's extremely difficult to pass steroid studies through human review boards at research institutions, and there's no way they would let researchers give a stack to subjects. Can you imagine the number of muscleheads that would volunteer ?

Benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium and Xanax) would certainly exert a calming effect on the central nervous system of an androgen user. But taking these drugs to combat some of the side effects of steroid use doesn't appear to be a smart move. Benzodiazepines can be addictive, and long-term use would be ill-advised. A better choice for preventing steroid-related psychological dysfunction would be Zoloft (sertraline ). Many physicians report that it works well in androgen users and better than Prozac ( fluoxetine ).

By inference from the medical literature cited above, decreasing androgen dosages might alleviate some of the problems you refer to. As to the efficacy of tryptophan, no medical data supports its use in treating androgen-induced depression.

A word of caution : If you are experiencing poststeroid depression, don't ignore your symptoms and don't attempt to treat yourself with serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors or benzodiazepines. Depression can turn into serious business if left untreated, especially if you throw steroids into the mix.

I recently decided to try a cycle that I've never done before. After reading the Anabolic Reference Guide and World Anabolic Review (WAR), I decided on doing Parabolan (trenbolone) for gaining quality muscle mass. I do not want to get big and bloated; I just want to be lean and muscular.

I'm not completely sure that what I purchased is real. I read in WAR that "the chance of finding real Parabolan on the black market is around 5 %." This scares me. each individual ampule box is supposed to contain an ampule saw and the one I purchased didn't. Could you examine the packaging and tell me if the stuff is real ? If not, I don't want to go screwing with it!

The drug packaging along with the empty ampule you provided appear to be real. My findings were also confirmed by an endocrinologist familiar with trenbolone.

I have no idea where World Anabolic Review obtained that figure of 5 % for real Parabolan. I checked the book for a reference, but none was cited for that particular statement. The authors of WAR appear to be engaging in speculation on this point. There are only a few studies in peer-reviewed scientific literature on the availability of real versus counterfeit steroids on the black market. Those studies used very small sample sizes and tested only drugs available in certain areas of the United States. I don't think the studies can be applied to the black market worldwide, and I certainly don't think the authors of WAR took those studies into account when making their statement about fake Parabolan.

The only way to be 100 % positive that you purchased real trenbolone is by performing a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) test in laboratory. GC/MS involves highly sophisticated scientific procedures that are labor-intensive and costly. There are no tests that you could perform at home, and no legitimate lab would conduct these assays for you. It would not only be illegal but highly un-ethical for a scientist to participate in such activities.

Ultimately, the only safe products are those you are absolutely certain are real, notably those readily available in a given area and, therefore, difficult to counterfeit because the real thing is so handy. Taking a chance and self-administering some unknown substance could have serious health consequences - both short and long-term.

In reference to your statement about gaining quality muscle mass and avoiding a bloated look, be aware that any androgen is going to cause water retention. Ergo, your reasoning behind using trenbolone to avoid edema (water retention/bloating) is flawed. All androgens alter the serum-electrolyte balance. Thus, the claims by the World Anabolic Review and Anabolic Reference Guide that trenbolone does not cause water retention are unsubstantiated.

Could it be that most athletes who use trenbolone may also restrict carbohydrate intake, thus leading to the misconception that the drug does not cause bloating ?

Also, if atheletes are using several drugs at one time (stacking), how can anyone tell if it's the trenbolone that's preventing the bloating ? these important questions should be addressed before making a statement that one steroid does not cause certain side effects that others do.

Edema is best avoided on low-dose regimens. As well, low-to-moderate doses (around 200-600 milligrams per week) followed by a period of no drug use will help to minimize high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

I've just obtained a Mexican Rediject Sostenon 250 by Organon. I've been told that Sostenon is excellent because it loads quickly into system and stays available for quite a while. But I've also been told that Sostenon may not be the best choice for me since this is my first time using steroids. I hear that Sostenon is supposed to be used by those who've already done a few cycles. What's the story ?

Sostenon 250 contains the following: testosterone propionate, testosterone phenylpropionate, testosterone isocaproate and testosterone decanoate. The propionate is a fast-acting ester of testosterone and enters the circulation almost immediately. The other esters follow later, thus maintaining an even blood level of hormone. Because Sostenon contains short- and long-acting esters of testosterone, each with a different absorption rate, this preparation is able to achieve an even absorption of androgen into the general circulation.

Sostenon is actually the most popular testosterone preparation prescribed by doctors in Europe because of its prolonged action and balanced release. I don't know why Sostenon is not produced for use in the United States. Many endocrinologists would much rather prescribe Sostenon for their patents than any of the other testosterone products available in the United States.

There are many forms of testosterone produced worldwide. keeping track of all of them can be a bit confusing, so here is some information that might clear things up a bit. The commercially available esters of testosterone all have different absorption rates from the intramuscular depot (injection site). The absorption rate is determined by the length of the side chain on by testosterone molecule. Some of the longer-acting testosterones are enanthate, undecanoate, cypionate and cyclohexanecarboxylate. These longer-acting testosterones can be active for about seven days.

The World Health Organization is experimenting with some testosterones that are active for a month or more. These longer-acting forms are being studied for birth control, but there appears to be no reason why these will not prove to benefit athletic enhancement as well. To date, they have not been made available for public use. But keep reading Drug World for breaking information on these extra-long-acting testosterone preparations.

As for your specific needs, you're right about the positive aspects of the preloaded Rediject syringes, which are usually well-sealed and difficult to counterfeit. And let's dispense the myth that you can use certain androgens only if you have "already done a few cycles." Whoever told you that is not providing you with accurate info.

Make sure to consider both the positive and negative aspects of drugs use. Using drugs without the proper information, and without a doctor's supervision, could pose serious health risks. Realize also that cycling steroids means having to deal with the black market and possibly facing the legal consequences if you get caught. Before you embark on your travels to the drug world, think through your decision and make an educated choice.

There's a good chance that I can get some Winstrol-V out of Mexico, but I'm told that there are so many counterfeits of the stuff that I'd be taking a big risk. I've even heard that in one case, the Winstrol-V was nothing more than very diluted Armor All. Is that possible ? How can I tell if the steroid I'm getting is real ?

Winstrol-V is a brand name for the injectable version of stanozolol. It is manufactured for veterinary use in the Unite States by Sanofi Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, and was originally synthesized at the Sterling-Winthrop Research Institute in 1959. About eight years ago, Upjohn bought the rights to distribute the product, which explains why that company's label appears on authentic version of Winstrol-V. Stanozolol is not produced in Mexico by any drug manufacturer and, therefore, is not available under any trade name in that country. Any product you purchase that claims to be Mexican Winstrol-V must be counterfeit. If you use it, there is a 100 % chance you'll be injecting some unknown substance into your body. Please do not purchase or self-administer any product claiming to be Mexican stanozolol.

I have heard of some bodybuilders obtaining genuine Winstrol-V by way of Mexico: They have a Mexican veterinarian special-order it form the United States or Canada. But most Mexican vets don't have the resources to do this, and those who can do so at a very high price. The most recent quote I can cite is $300 for a 30-milliliter multidose vial of Winstrol-V. Besides paying astronomical prices for this drug, you would also have a transport it across the border. If caught, you would pay some heavy fines and possibly serve jail time.

Unfortunately, there are fake versions of stanozolol floating around on the black market. With accessible technology like scanners and color laser printers, some less-than-reputable steroid dealers are willing and able to generate fake versions of stanozolol (usually aqueous testosterone or, worse, some compound resembling the stanozolol, like Armor All). It would be very easy for someone to reproduce a label or just transfer an authentic label from a used bottle of Winstrol-V.

How can you tell if someone has put a real label on a bogus bottle of steroids ? You can't, even if you were using one of the steroid reference guides to gauge authenticity. Going by the packaging or product labeling in hopes of distinguished real steroids from fake ones is far from a sure thing.

There are two ways to test whether black-market drugs are real. One way is to have the product analyzed via a complex laboratory procedure called gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The other way would be to self-administer the compound, then get a drug test. If it shows up in your urine sample. you know you're getting the real thing.

Of course, neither method is practical. As noted n last month's column, it would be illegal and unethical for a professional lab to run a GC/MS assay on black-market steroids. And administering the substance to yourself is risky. Imagine if you injected Armor All into your tail - it would not only be painful but could be deadly. If you're concerned about the purity of the androgens you purchase, stay away from the black market altogether.

Winstrol-V is one of those drugs with a wonderful reputation for increasing lean body mass and decreasing bodyfat; hence people are willing to gamble on using counterfeits in hopes of achieving a better physique. In reality, getting real stanozolol is a problem due to heavy government restrictions on its distribution in the United States and abroad. If you purchase and used the drug you described in your letter, you might seriously compromise your health. Don't be fooled - again, there are no real versions of Mexican stanozolol in existence.

A friend gave me some Glucotrol (glipizide) tablets (10 milligrams) and triamcinolone acetonide cream (0,1%). He said that the glipizide tablets would stimulate my pancreas into producing insulin and that the triamcinolone cream could be used precontest to enhance fatty or weaker bodyparts (e.g., abs, hips, obliques). Will these drugs work ? What are the pros and cons of using these products ?

Glipizide is classified as an antidiabetic drug, one with several mechanisms of action: It stimulates insulin release from the beta cells of the pancreas, possibly by increasing intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (a chemical messenger); it may improve the ability of insulin to bind to its receptors; and it might also increase the number of insulin receptors in a cell. All of these actions make glipizide a potent medication for treating Type II (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes.

In a normal nondiabetic individual, glipizide would certainly increase insulin production. But would that increased production be enough to mediate an anabolic response and, therefore, an increase in muscle mass ? I think not. Just because you temporarily increase the production of a hormone does not mean that it will translate into an increase in lean body mass. For instance, instead of taking glipizide, you could just take a quantity of sugar between meals to increase insulin production.

In my opinion using glipizide to increase muscle mass is foolhardly and a waste of time. Like all drugs, glipizide has its own set of side effects and multidrug interactions. Be aware that using glipizide in conjunction with androgens could create an enhanced hypoglycemic response, calling for careful monitoring of blood-glucose levels.

The hype surrounding insulin and its ability to increase muscle hypertrophy in weight-trained humans is not yet backed by any scientific studies. Many in the athletic community have provided anecdotal reports that insulin s helping them to make huge gains in muscle mass; but again, these claims are not supported by peer-reviewed scientific literature.

Let's look at insulin self-administration with a critical eye. How can an athlete identify insulin as being solely responsible for muscle growth during a given cycle ? How is this being measured ? Is insulin alone creating the gains, or is it insulin taken in conjunction with other ergogenic substances (e.g., somatotropin, thyroid hormones, androgens, beta₂ agonists) ? Furthermore, those with a medical condition called hyperinsulinemia (an abnormally high level of insulin in the blood) do not have greater muscle mass than those without the condition. So, one could reason that high insulin levels are not a prerequisite for having big muscles.

Those issues listed above should be thoroughly researched and thought out before jumping into insulin use - or glipizide use, for that matters. As well, you need to evaluate the health risks associated with high insulin levels and use of this hormone is general, There is no question that misusing insulin can kill you - that's not even up for debate. By self-administering insulin, you stimulate cells in your body to increase their uptake of glucose and amino acids an anabolic response that causes blood-glucose levels to drop. If these levels drop too low, you could go into a hypoglycemic coma and possibly die.

There's also a theory currently being debated in the medical community that exogenous insulin administration causes many diabetics to suffer a whole list of maladies (e.g., atherosclerosis, kidney disease, retinal neuropathy). These conditions are very serious and, in some cases, life-threatening. A study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine (J.P.Despres, et al., "Hyperinsulinemia as independent risk factor for ischemic heart disease," 334:952-7, 1996) reveals that high insulin levels during fasting appear to be an independent predictor of heart disease in men - not a good portent.

Insulin is a potent growth factor. While growth is cool for skeletal muscles, the presence of a high level of a powerful growth factor for an extended period can negatively affect other parts of your body. Receptor desensitization is another concern if you are receiving high levels of insulin for a long duration.

The risk-to-reward ratio for using glipizide and/or insulin as a training aid does not look favorable at this point. Why screw around with insulin levels when something else be much safer and more effective ? Better yet, focus on your training and nutrition exclusively and leave the drugs alone.

Your use of triamcinolone acetonide is also a concern. Triamcinolone is a corticosteroid and has no anabolic effect or lipolytic (fat-burning) properties whatsoever. In fact, corticosteroids are catabolic! Rubbing this cream on your body will not have any effect on the problem areas you mentioned in your letter but would reduce inflammation if you're having skin problems. Whoever us providing you with these drugs and the information on how to use them is misleading you. Neither of these products will promote muscle growth.

I remember when "cutting edge" meant stacking a couple of steroids during a cycle. Now, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin, clenbuterol and other drugs are the rage. We're in a whole new era of drug use in sports. Consequently, science and medicine have not been able to thoroughly study these drugs and their effects on athletes. the latter are entering uncharted territory, and some might pay dearly for their exploration. At this rate, the days of stacking just a few different steroids are beginning to seem innocent.

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