If you are using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), this article will be helpful to educate yourself about post-cycle therapy. The PCT protocol is a crucial part of the anabolic steroids cycle. It will help to maintain users’ hard-earned gain and save them from various side effects that occur due to anabolic steroids. Let’s start with the basic terms of it.
- What Is Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT)?
Post-cycle therapy is also shortly known as PCT. It is a protocol that combines specific drugs or compounds to boost, restore or maintain users’ testosterone levels after every anabolic steroids cycle. Synthetic hormones will naturally replace anabolic steroids usage, and this means once you stop using anabolic steroids, those synthetic hormones will leave your system instantly.
After that, your natural hormones start working again; that’s why PCT for bodybuilding is essential to perform. When users take anabolic steroids, it will suppress or shut down the natural testosterone production, which may cause various negative side effects. So, it is necessary for every steroids user to perform post-cycle therapy after anabolic steroids cycle.
PCT for women is not required because women produce very low amounts of testosterone production, which won’t affect them too much. Only male users need to perform the PCT cycle to avoid various side effects of steroids.
- Why to Perform Post-Cycle Therapy?
An appropriate PCT cycle helps users to kick-start their body’s natural testosterone production. It also saves you from various side effects of anabolic steroids or symptoms of lower testosterone levels. The symptoms include mood swings, fatigue, loss of muscle mass and energy, loss of libido, depression, and many more. All of the above symptoms are not good for users’ health.
Moreover, PCT helps to counteract all the possible side effects of performance-enhancing drugs. It also enables us to keep gains that are achieved from using supplements during the on-cycle. Here are the most common reasons why you need to perform the PCT cycle after anabolic steroids:
- To kick-start the natural production of testosterone levels.
- Counteract the side effects of PEDs.
- Prevent symptoms of low testosterone levels.
- It helps to keep or maintain your gain.
- It provides recovery time.
- What Drugs Are Used To Perform The PCT Cycle?
There are three different types of drugs available in the market that are used to perform the PCT cycle—for example, Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate), Nolvadex (Tamoxifen), and HCG. However, Clomid and Nolvadex are highly popular and mainly used drugs. Both of these drugs effectively boost or restore natural testosterone production. Let’s understand them in detail.
(i) Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate)
Clomid is the brand name of Clomiphene Citrate. It is a Selective Estrogen Receptors Modulator (SERM). Initially, it was developed to treat fertility in women. Clomid promotes female fertility by improving ovulation, and it also regulates their menstrual cycle.
Clomid is an effective drug that prevents estrogen from coming into contact with the pituitary gland. It allows the interaction and reduces the production of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH). Both of these hormones are crucial for testosterone production in the body.
Clomid is a more potent drug than Nolvadex, which can quickly restore hormones. It allows users who got off heavy and prolonged steroids. The ideal PCT for men’s cycle is for three weeks. The general dose is 50 mg per day. Users can take the below doses:
| Week | Clomid (Beginner & Intermediate Users) | Clomid (Advance Users) |
| Week 1 | 50 mg per day | 75 mg per day |
| Week 2 | 50 mg per day | 50 mg per day |
| Week 3 | 25 mg per day | 50 mg per day |
(ii) Nolvadex or Tamoxifen Citrate
Nolvadex is the brand name of Tamoxifen Citrate. It is also a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). Both of these PCT drugs are available as prescription only. This drug is also used to treat female issues. Clomid is widely used as a fertility drug, while Nolvadex is useful to treat breast cancer patients. Nolvadex works by binding breast tissue in both females and males. It will reduce the estrogen levels in the user’s body.
It also prevents male users from severe estrogenic side effects such as gynecomastia which is a condition where male breasts become larger than usual. Nolvadex also boosts the user’s secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and increases the secretion of testosterone hormone in the body. It maintains gains that you have achieved during the on-cycle.
The general dose of Nolvadex is 25 mg per day, and the ideal cycle is for three weeks or 21 days. A high dose and long-term use of these drugs may cause various side effects, so avoid it. You can take the below doses:
| Week | Nolvadex (Beginner ) | Nolvadex (Advanced Users) |
| 1 | 20 mg per day | 25 mg per day |
| 2 | 20 mg per day | 25 mg per day |
| 3 | 10 mg per day | 20 mg per day |
(iii) HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)
HCG, also known as Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is naturally found in women. It is also an effective drug to boost anabolic steroids natural testosterone hormone. However, HCG is only used after a heavy anabolic steroids cycle. The recommended dosage of HCG is 2000 IU to 3000 IU every other day.
HCG can regulate hormones during or after the anabolic steroid cycle. It helps users to maintain their gains. Generally, it is taken only three to five days at a maximum. The HCG dosage starts with 250 IU per day and increases them up to individual requirements. For example,
| Week | HCG Dosage |
| Week 1 | 2000 IU to 3000 IU every other day |
| Week 2 | 2000 IU to 3000 IU every other day |
| Week 3 | 2000 IU to 3000 IU every other day |
How Long Should PCT Last?
A correct PCT protocol lasts for three weeks. However, it depends heavily on users’ natural hormone production suppression. So, it is different for everyone. You have to wait for at least three to four days to leave anabolic steroids from your system completely; then, you can start the PCT cycle.
- Precaution During The PCT Cycle
The PCT cycle is very manageable and will be over before you know it. Here are some common tips or precautions that you should follow during the PCT cycle:
- Make sure to intake proper nutrition.
- Get enough sleep
- Consider using a testosterone booster
- Take proper or enough rest
- Keep hard training, Never skip a workout
- Conclusion
Post-cycle therapy is essential for anabolic steroids users because it helps them to counteract various side effects of anabolic steroids. A correct PCT cycle is helpful to maintain users’ gains and also boost or restore the natural testosterone production in the body. It also improves the user’s strength and muscle mass.
Users can use Clomid, Nolvadex, or sometimes HCG to perform the PCT cycle. The ideal PCT for men is three weeks. Above, we have mentioned the recommended PCT dosage based on users’ experience levels. If you still have any doubts on PCT dosage, kindly contact our coaching experts (https://top-steroids-online.com/en/free-cure-advice/ ) anytime.
