Anastrazole is one of the most powerful anti-estrogen products there is. It’s classified as an Aromatase Inhibitor and was developed in the early 1990’s by AstraZenaca Pharmaceuticals. It was officially released a few years later in 1995 under the name Arimidex. It remains one of the most-used anti-estrogen products to this day and is still one of the most potent on the market.
Arimidex has many users and is proven to be an effective part of treating breast cancer. It’s actually more effective than the more traditional Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate). It is also used to inhibit estrogen by people taking anabolic steroids.
Many people using anabolic steroids rely on aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex to prevent the buildup of estrogen while on steroids. The majority of anabolic steroids induce aromatase and cause an abundance of estrogen. This leads to the more common side-effects of steroid use and abuse such as gynecomastia.
Brand/Trade Names: Arimidex, Altraz, Altrol, Anabrez, Anastrocare, Anatero, Armilon, Femistra, Femitraz, PMBC, Qubol, Redest, Stazonex
IUPAC Name: 2-[3-(2-cyanopropan-2-yl)-5-(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]-2-methylpropanenitrile
The Molecular Formula: C17H19N5
Arimidex Functions and Traits
Arimidex has a simple function to deliver powerful results. It works by blocking the enzyme responsible for aromatase. This enzyme is also responsible for the production of estrogen. When you inhibit the aromatase process, then less estrogen is produced. Arimidex is so powerful that it’s shown it can reduce estrogen levels by up to 80%. This obviously has benefits for people taking anabolic steroids and it also helps breast cancer patients.
Arimidex is also able to stimulate the release of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). These two hormones are the ones behind the production of testosterone. As a result of this effect some physicians will make this AI a part of low testosterone treatment plans. This isn’t always the best choice though and sometimes a testosterone booster is better. Taking Arimidex as part of a low testosterone plan is best when the plan also involves testosterone therapy.
Arimidex Effects
Arimidex is great when used as part of breast cancer treatment because it works as an anti-estrogen. Many forms of breast cancer use estrogen as nourishment. So cutting off the supply of estrogen effectively starves cancer.
Nolvadex has also been used for this for decades. What Nolvadex does is bind estrogen receptors, making it impossible for estrogen to bind to them instead. Arimidex and other AIs are a little different. They actually halt the production of estrogen and reduce the amount of estrogen in the body. So there’s simply no estrogen around for cancer to feed on and use to harm the patient further.
Arimidex has gone on to be one of the best anti-estrogen treatments on the market for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. It’s especially effective when used to treat post-menopausal women. After cancer subsides, Nolvadex is then used to keep it from returning.
Arimidex is also used by anabolic steroid users to keep the estrogen-related side effects of anabolic steroid use at bay. It’s quite common for anabolic steroids to induce estrogenic side effects because of how testosterone interacts with the aromatase enzyme.
Aromatization causes the production of estrogen. The production of estrogen leads to gynecomastia and water retention. When too much water is retained in this manner, it can cause high blood pressure. It’s worth noting that not every anabolic steroid will aromatise and cause these estrogenic side effects. It is still a very common side effect of the most common anabolic steroids such as Dianabol and Nandrolone.
When steroid users make Arimidex a part of their cycle when using aromatizing steroids they can stop gynecomastia and water retention in their tracks. It can also help to protect against high blood pressure. There are steroids out there that still increase blood pressure without water retention, but this water retention is still the leading cause of high blood pressure among steroid users.
Arimidex Side Effects
Arimidex has a number of side effects associated with it. Almost all of them are response related. This means that your tolerance to the product determines if you’ll suffer from them. This is something seen with all medications. Some people respond badly to aspirin while others don’t.
In some cases, the side effects of Arimidex can also be affected by anabolic steroid use. When taking Arimidex without anabolic steroids then the most common side effects include weakness and fatigue. It may be the most common side-effect of Arimidex overall.
If you take Arimidex in small doses alongside anabolic steroids, then you likely won’t suffer from this side effect. It can still occur during intense cutting or competition cycles when you aren’t eating enough calories to get the energy you need and are burning through the little energy you do have with intense workouts. There are other possible side effects of Arimidex including:
- Headaches
- Hot flashes
- High blood pressure
- Joint pain
- Depression and nausea/vomiting are rare but possible side effects
Studies into Arimidex have shown that this AI could decrease bone mineral content. This means that you are more at risk of suffering from osteoporosis. This problem isn’t likely to affect anabolic steroid users, however. Most anabolic steroids increase bone mineral content.
Most adults using Arimidex should be safe from the side effects listed above. It’s worth keeping in mind that all of these side effects are possible, though. Everyone responds to medications different. As such it becomes almost impossible to predict how you are going to respond to a medication you’ve never had before.
The final problem associated with Arimidex is the effect on cholesterol. Arimidex can potentially negatively affect your cholesterol levels. On its own, it doesn’t seem to have enough power to make a significant difference, but when it’s combined with anabolic steroids, particularly testosterone based ones, it can have a significant effect on cholesterol levels.
One example of this is the steroid Trenbolone Enanthate. It’s been shown that taking this steroid alone for 12 weeks doesn’t have much of an effect on cholesterol levels. However when you combine that dose with an AI such as Arimidex it can suppress the levels of HDL cholesterol (the good kind) by up to 25%.
This occurs even when you are taking a therapeutic level dose as well as a performance level dose. If you’re taking a performance level dose, then it’s going to affect HDL cholesterol even more and will likely lead to a decrease in HDL of over 20% when used with an AI.
How to Administer Arimidex
When Arimidex is used to treat breast cancer then only 1mg a day until cancer subsides is needed. When cancer does subside patients, typically switch to Nolvadex to keep cancer in remission and prevent it coming back.
When Arimidex is paired with an anabolic steroid, then the most common dose is 0.5-1.0mg every other day. It’s unlikely that you will need more than 1mg every other day, with some people getting by on just half of that. When Arimidex is used as part of hormone therapy, then an even smaller dose may be needed.
Of course, competitive bodybuilders may find themselves needing more than 1mg every other day. Competitive bodybuilders may find themselves having to take 1mg every day for the two weeks leading up to the competition. This will harden up your muscles, but it will leave you feeling drained. This is also when your competition diet will not have much energy packed into it.