Introduction
The proliferation in the use of prohormones in the bodybuilding world has meant that trainees are able to acquire levels of muscularity and strength, previously out of the reach of many. Supplements such as Havoc, Epistane, M-drol, and H-drol, have allowed even those with relatively deficient training and nutritional programs to make rapid gains. However, there has not been a concomitant awareness of the necessity to restore a homeostatic environment in the body, such that while many make rapid progress while using prohormones, many users experience a crash familiar to steroid users who use powerful ergogenics without the ancillary products needed to protect their gains.
What happens when you take a prohormones?
Without going into too much detail, prohormone use will cause the body to recognise that an exogenous substance has been introduced into the body. With that substance being an androgenic hormone, a process called negative feedback takes place whereby the body will reduce its own production of testosterone, the naturally occurring androgen made in the body. This is to counteract the influence of the exogenous hormone that has been introduced.
While the user is on his prohormones cycle he will not be too alarmed in most cases by the fall in his own natural testosterone levels because he is taking a substance which is working via similar mechanisms, to provide many of the anabolic functions of testosterone such as increased muscle mass and strength. Androgenic functions of testosterone, related to characteristics we consider as being associated with males such as aggression, and sex drive, can either be magnified by the use of prohormones, if the substance taken has these characteristics, or else, stay stable or possibly even fall. It is quite common for substances which are very "dry", that is, lower estrogen in the body, to cause a reduction in sex drive whereas those compounds which allow for some estrogen formation, tend to increase the prevalence of androgenic traits such as sex drive, and aggression.
Regardless of whether the user takes something that increases androgenic characteristics or not, ALL users of prohormones will expect to increase muscle mass via the anabolic characteristics of these compounds.
So, towards the end of a typical 4-6 cycle what do we have?
A user will have gained considerable muscle and strength via the anabolic actions of these products while his male traits such as sex drive, and aggression will have varied depending on the nature of the supplement taken. In most cases, the user will have congratulated himself that he has done very well from the cycle, assuming adequate nutrition and training. So what happens next?
Ending a Prohormone cycle
This is where some users come unstuck. Inexperienced trainees tend to run a cycle of a powerful supplement like Epistane or Havoc, which will cause a great increase in muscle mass and strength, but not take into account what happens next....
Once the cycle ends you may think your body will carry on like it was before you took the hormonal product. You may even be delusional enough to think the gains made while "on" were all down to you, but you would be very wrong indeed.
After a cycle is discontinued, the exogenous substance (the prohormones used) rapidly leave the body, usually in 24-48 hrs at the most. At this point, you can no longer rely on them for either anabolic or androgenic effects. So this is where your body's own testosterone production picks up the slack right?
Wrong. Remember, during a cycle your body will gradually shut down production of its testosterone to try to maintain what it considers a normal hormonal milieu. The stronger the prohormone taken and the longer you remained on, the greater the degree to which normal testosterone levels will have been shut down. So when you come off the cycle your testosterone levels are very low. At the same time, estrogen levels tend to rise in response to low testosterone, so post cycle you are not in a very favourable place for muscle building and strength. Instead you are well placed to lose size, strength, gain fat, and, horror of horrors, if you do not take steps to counteract it, the estrogen could even cause you to gain man boobs!!
That's not all either. During a cycle, levels of the catabolic hormone cortisol are reduced, but once the cycle ends, levels of cortisol slowly rise, usually after about a week or so. This cortisol rise will cause you to lose muscle and strength very quickly, as well as cause you to gain bodyfat.
Clearly then, our novice user who failed to consider what would happen once he ended his cycle is in a very bad position of having low testosterone, high estrogen, and high cortisol levels. This is some place you definitely don't want to be in for long, but without the use of ancillary supplements it is something from which the body will only recover very slowly, at which point you may have lost all your gains from your prohormone cycle. What can we do to accelerate recovery then?
Supplements to help recovery post-cycle
Fortunately, we have some methods by which we can restore your body's pre-cycle environment, while protecting your gains while "on". Generally speaking recovery post cycle needs to consider the following factors:
1. Testosterone Recovery
2. Estrogen Inhibition
3. Reducing Cortisol
4. Increasing Libido
5. Promoting strength
6. Restoring health
7. Minimising fat gain
Sometimes trainees may focus on only one or two of these methods, but a comprehensive approach will lead to far superior results than a narrowly focused approach. We will go through each in turn and explore possible options in each.
Testosterone Recovery
This is the most important part in most peoples' eyes and the one that most people will usually make some effort in addressing. Steroid users will usually combine HCG/HMG with some type of anti estrogen to promote testosterone recovery. Most supplement products will attempt to work in a similar way to this approach, albeit without the direct effect that HCG or HMG can bring to the table.
A slew of products/ingredients are promoted to restore normal testosterone recovery. There are far too many to mention but include Tribulus Terrestris, Divanil, Icariin, Indole-3-Carbinol, Zinc, Resveratrol, Vitex Agnus Castus, Avena Sativa and many, many more. Some seem more useful than others, but there is a relative paucity of data beyond anecdotal evidence, that prevents us from making definitive statements as to which to recommend. However, based on user feedback, the following are all highly regarded:
Activate Xtreme - Driven Sports
Vitrix - Nutrex Research
Novedex XT - Gaspari Nutrition
Estrogen Inhibition
Related to testosterone recovery, we must also look to drive down estrogen levels at the conclusion of our prohormone cycle. The sooner this is done the faster we get our testosterone levels back to normal, and the sooner sex drive rebounds, as well as limiting the potential for any unwanted estrogenic effects.
A number of products have been specifically designed for the purpose of reducing estrogen. Favoured ingredients include 6, 17 Keto-Etiocholeva-3-Ol Tetrahydropyranol, 4-Etioallocholen-3,6, 17-Trione, and Chrysin. Some of the more popular and well reviewed products include:
6-OXO - Ergopharm
Novedex XT - Gaspari Nutrition
Arom-X - Adanced Muscle Sciences
Reducing Cortisol
Failing to address rising cortisol levels post cycle can crucify training gains as well as help cause the fat gain typically seen post-cycle. The use of ingredients such as 7-OH, Phosphatidylserine, 5-AT, Vitamin C and Glutamine are typically used to address the problem of high cortisol. Popular products include:
Lean Xtreme - Driven Sports
Restore - ALRI
Increasing Libido
Increasing libido or sex drive may at first glance be considered more of a means to make yourself feel psychologically better post cycle. While there is an element of this, an increased libido is a sign that the body is working optimally and is a signal that a normal hormonal environment is likely to have been attained. Ingredients such as Divanil, DMA, Horny Goat Weed, and Maca are typically used. Popular products include: Activate Xtreme - Driven Sports Ejaculoid - Goliath Labs
Promoting Strength
A big factor in keeping muscle gains is to try your best to keep your weights up post-cycle, or, if at all possible, even try to increase your strength post-cycle, as strength is a powerful signal to the body telling it to maintain muscle mass. A variety of approaches can be used to improve strength either through the use of ergogenics compounds such as creatine, beta-alanine, or the use of stimulants to increase strength. If using stimulants, it is advised to not use them while using prohormones as they are best used they have not been used for some time.
Popular products to enhance strength naturally include:
Armageddon - Star Chem Labs
Superpump 250 - Gaspari Nutrition
Adrenalean - Driven Sports
Pro-Gakic - CNP Professional
Restoring Health
This should be an obvious one really but it is something that too many trainees omit. During a prohormones cycle you will place extra strain on your body systems so it is important to restore optimal health as rapidly as possible. Apart from the obvious, this will help your body to help retain muscle gains since a healthy body is one which will recover sooner. A host of ingredients such as minerals/vitamins, fish oils, adaptogens such as Ginseng and Rhodiola Rosea, liver support substances such as N-Acetyl Cysteine and Milk Thistle can be employed to restore health. Popular products include:
Cycle Assist - Competitive Edge Labs
Fish Oils - Various Generic Manufacturers
Noxidant - Recomp Performance Nutrition
Minimsing Fat Gain
Nobody wants to gain loads of muscle only to get fat after their prohormone cycle is over. At the same time it is not advised to rely too much on stimulants to prevent fat gain as we could end up eating too little, or, by releasing too many catecholamines (adrenealine like hormones), actually cause increased stress levels which is the last thing we want post cycle. Besides, stimulants should be used sparingly to maintain/increase strength before workouts not used every day. Remember, we are trying to limit fat gain not go on a diet or starve ourselves (which will rapidly lead us to lose all our muscle gains). It is better to employ ingredients which can limit fat gain, causing some fat loss without any of the problems of overuse of stimulants. TTA based products, Forskolin, 7-OH, and fish oils are popular choices to minimise fat gain, as well as the use of a high protein diet. Recommended products include:
Damage Control Protocol - Recomp Performance Nutrition
Lean Xtreme - Driven Sports
Sesathin - Avant Labs
Activate Xtreme - Driven Sports
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped people to understand that through proper planning and supplementation, the risks of prohormones use can be mediated via the intelligent use of appropriate ancillary supplements, whose use can help users maintain the gains made using prohormones, while accelerating recovery of optimal body function.
Thanks for this kind of education. On the market, today, there are different kinds of prohormones available. Can you please suggest me the right supplements for beginners.