1 What Is Decabol?
2 How It Works?
3 Side Effects
4 Ingredients & Comparison
5 Drawbacks, Publicity & False Positives
Pharmaceutical name, Decabol, or more commonly called, “Deca,” is the popular bodybuilding, fitness, and weightlifter steroid, Nandrolone Decanoate, for men and women bodybuilders alike. In fact, it may be considered “the most popular of all steroids.” Decabol is an oil-based product manufactured by British Dragon labs, in Thailand. It is intended for injection, and is typically sold by the 10ml bottle under the brand name of “Decabol 250,” “Decabol 250, British Dragon Pharmacy.” What makes Decabol so popular is its ability to significantly produce the desired androgenic results with minimal side effects common to other bodybuilding steroid products.
How It Works?
Sports medicine physicians generally consider Decabol “the safest and most effective injectable anabolic steroid.” Decabol reduces body fat while effectively promoting overall body size and strength. It may also be successfully integrated into mass and cutting cycles. Few and minor side effects have been experienced when the recommended dose of 200-400mg injected once a week, over a period of two to four months, is taken. If intense workouts are continued, the benefits gained may dissipate slightly after the cycling period.
Decabol produces less estrogen conversion. And unless it is taken in higher doses, gyno issues, although present, are purported to be minimized, however this remains dependent upon the individual user’s chemistry. Decabol is “highly anabolic but only moderately androgenic.” It has a tendency to “shut down natural testosterone production,” but this side effect should not be extreme under prescribed routines.
Prolonged use, frequent injections, and/or high doses may also cause androgenecity in women bodybuilders. Decabol has a long half-life making it suitable for traditional cycles, but not as effective for intermittent short cycles. Decabol also has a “built-in self-tapering” effect apparent in the weeks following the last injection.
Side Effects
There are generally no high liver enzyme, cholesterol, or blood pressure levels when Decabol is used in recommended doses. However, blood clotting is increased, and dehydration can cause the user’s nose to bleed. These side effects should be expected with increased dosage amounts and/or dosing frequency.
Decabol is somewhat androgenic. Over the years it has increasingly become popular with women bodybuilders. Although Decabol produces similar side effects as other steroids, the effects are relatively minor, to nearly irrelevant, when compared to other types of steroids. Regulated Decabol doses do not affect the immune system, unlike other steroids, nor does it damage connective tissue such as that found in knees and elbows, which is a big problem among heavy steroid users. Decabol does not aromatize easily.
The result is a “lean” and “hard” body appearance. Women using longer than what’s recommended, using more frequently, and/or using higher doses, may also experience voice changes, acne, or hypertrichosis. Voice changes may be permanent. Amenorrhoea or other menorrhoea abnormalities, and water retention may occur.
Ingredients & Comparison
Chemically, Decabol is described as 17beta-Hydroxyester-4-en-3-one, having a molecular structure of C27H34O3. It has a unique enzyme-converting 5a –reductase. This 5a-reductase also reduces overall potency of Decabol. As a result, the AAS becomes deactivated in the skin, scalp, and prostate. Therefore, Decabol shows less activity in these areas compared to similar steroid drugs affording the same amount of androgen receptors (ARs) activity in muscle tissue.
Decabol is often combined with other steroids – depending on the desired effect. Testosterone, Dianabol, or Anadrol is usually added for bulking effects. Winstrol is a cycle balancer that provides good anabolic effect with lower overall estrogenic activity. There should be an overall increase in new muscle mass and balanced water and fat retention. Older individuals can add Primobolan, Deca, or Equipoise compounds to Winstrol for good results and fewer side effects than standard androgen therapies cause.
Although Decabol only gives approximately half the muscle-building results per milligram as its competitor steroids, it binds better, thus producing superior effectiveness at the androgen receptor of muscle tissue. This may be a result of being less effective or ineffective in non-AR-mediated mechanisms for muscle growth. Similarly is Decabol’s lack of effectiveness in activity on nerve cells. Nerve cells problems, however, may be resolved by combining a drug such that replaces the missing activity.
Decabol is a progestin, which is important for bodybuilders. Natural levels may be increased (in women) or reduced (in men). Used alone, and in moderation, Decabol lowers estrogen levels and the aromatase enzyme has less substrate to work with. This progestogenic activity further inhibits LH production, and even small doses of Decabol may be as inhibitory as other steroids. Decabol also aromatizes to estrogen over time. No fool-proof inhibitors, including, Cytadren, have been found to be effective.