Deca-Durabolin is a Nandrolone based steroid that is attached to the Decanoste ester. The steroid is so powerful because of the way it is put together. There may be many different forms of Nandrolone, but Nandrolone-Decanoate is the most well-known and used by anabolic steroid users. It is most commonly known as Deca-Durabolin.
Deca-Durabolin is perhaps the most well-known steroid there is in the bodybuilding world. It was originally developed back in the 1950s, and it didn’t take long for athletes to see the benefits. By the mid-60s, it was common practice to supplement a Dianabol or Testosterone booster with this steroid.
About Deca-Durabolin
Deca-Durabolin is what is known as a 19-nortestosterone anabolic steroid based on the Nandrolone hormone. This hormone occurs naturally in the human body but far less than the amount of hormones in other steroids such as testosterone. Nandrolone is mostly responsible for growth and synthetic Nandrolone, such as this steroid, was originally used as a treatment for anemia.
Brand/Trade Names: Deca-Durabolin, QV Nandrolone Deca, Decalone, Decanan, Dorolon, Dolone, Neobol, Neodec, Novabolin, Nubolin, Probolin, Synobol, etc
Chemical Structure: 17-Hydroxyestra-4-en-3-one
The Molecular Formula: C18H26O2
When taking Deca-Durabolin, you will experience a boost to the levels of Nandrolone in the body, leading to more muscle development, heightened levels of hemoglobin, a higher red blood cell count, and better nitrogen retention. All of these benefits work together to boost muscle growth and regeneration. Nandrolone has strong anabolic properties and doesn’t convert to estrogen as much as other anabolic steroids do. Though there is still some conversion here.
As this steroid is a Nandrolone attached to the Decanoate ester, it’s slow to start, but the effects last much longer. In particular, this steroid has a half-life approaching fifteen days which is the longest half-life that an anabolic steroid can have. The only kind of steroid that could last longer in an Undecanoate ester based steroid.
As a result of being such a long ester based steroid, it takes longer for the effects to be seen. It could be four weeks before you notice a real difference. However, this long life also means that the effects continue after you cycle off of the steroid.
Deca-Durabolin Benefits
Deca-Durabolin is a very simple steroid. It increases muscle mass and strength. These are the two most important benefits but it does also help relieve joint pain as a secondary side-effect. This is one reason that bodybuilders continue to take Deca-Durabolin even after they end their gaining phase as they enjoy the relief.
This steroid is so powerful that even a small dose, used for therapeutic purposes, can lead to large lean muscle mass gains, thanks to the nitrogen retention properties. When you take Deca-Durabolin, you’ll notice that there is far more nitrogen retained in your muscles than before. This extra nitrogen retention is part of being in an anabolic state.
Being in an anabolic state like this can lead to vast gains in muscle tissue, though it will be slow. While this would be enough to increase your mass, the effects are seriously boosted with better collagen synthesis that improves strength as well as muscle. It’s also important to note the fact that Nandrolone has on the production of IGF 1. IGF 1 is another anabolic hormone that is part of the peptide class.
These anabolic qualities alone would be enough to build mass and increase strength, but there’s still more. They also boost the metabolic rate. Nandrolone (and Deca-Durabolin) allow you to develope a larger, but leaner, physique. Pretty amazing, no?
Deca-Durabolin Side Effects
Just one dose of Nandrolone is enough to suppress testosterone production completely, even if it’s a small dose. Because of this, you need to supplement this steroid with a testosterone supplement. If you don’t, then your body will not have enough testosterone to function properly.
Try and get a Testosterone: Deca ratio of 2:1, though you might want to get a little more testosterone in some cases.
While there isn’t as much aromatization as there is with other steroids, there is still some aromatization, as you would normally expect from an anabolic steroid.
How much occurs depends mostly on the dose and your own personal sensitivity. It is almost guaranteed to happen if you are using it as a performance enhancer as the dose will be much higher than it would be for simple therapeutic use.
As Deca-Durabolin is a progestin, which means it raises progesterone levels, an aromatase effect could lead to Gynecomastia and higher levels of water retention. If you combine Deca with an aromatase inhibitor like Arimidex or Letrozole, then you can decrease the effects.
Deca-Durabolin Cycles and Doses
Because Deca-Durabolin is so effective at building strength and size, it should be used as part of the bulking cycle. Bulking or gaining cycles are also the best choice because of the water retention one suffers when taking it.
Bulking will be the time when it’s mostly used, and most people using it have a good tolerance to it. It’s slow acting, but effective, and the effects can last for a few months after you cycle off of the steroid.
Deca-Durabolin will generally be used for an eight-week cycle. Twelve weeks is the best cycle and sixteen weeks is still safe and effective. There’s no point to taking it for less time than that because it takes four weeks to begin being effective, so the typically four to six-week cycle is pointless with this steroid.
The minimum dose to get good results is 200mg a week for most people. If all you want is some joint relief, then you can take as little as 100mg. While you can experience growth with 200mg the perfect dose for Deca-Durabolin is 400mg a week for 12 weeks.
Don’t forget that you need to supplement Deca-Durabolin with testosterone to keep up your levels of testosterone.
No matter how much of the supplement you take and how long you take it for you should always follow a proper post-cycle therapy (PCT) plan when you come off of it. If you don’t, you might be unable to reverse the testosterone-suppressing effects.