Nolvadex vs. Clomid for Post Cycle Therapy
While practically similar compounds in structure, few people ever really
consider Clomid and Nolvadex to be similar. Its not just a common myth in steroid
circles, but even in the medical community. This misconception originates from
their completely different uses. Nolvadex is most commonly used for the
treatment of breast cancer in women, while clomid is generally considered a
fertility aid. In bodybuilding circles, from day one, clomid has generally been
used as post-cycle therapy and Nolvadex as an anti-estrogen.
But as I intend to demonstrate this is in essence the same. I believe the myth
to have originated because Nolvadex is clearly a more powerful anti-estrogen, and
the people selling clomid needed another angle to sell the stuff, so it was
mostly used as a post-cycle aid. But few users really understand how clomid (and
also Nolvadex, logically) works to bring back natural testosterone in the body
after the conclusion of a cycle of androgenic anabolic steroids. After a cycle
is over, the level of androgens in the body drop drastically. The body
compensates with an overproduction of estrogen to keep steroid levels up.
Estrogen as well inhibits the production of natural testosterone, and in the
period between the return of natural testosterone and the end of a cycle, a lot
of mass is lost. So its in everybody's best interest to bring back natural test
as soon as humanly possible. Clomid and Nolvadex will reduce the post-cycle
estrogen, so that a steroid deficiency is constant and the hypothalamus is
stimulated to regenerate natural testosterone production in the body. That's
basically how the mechanism works, nothing more, nothing less.
Both compounds are structurally alike, classified as triphenylethylenes.
Nolvadex is clearly the stronger component of the two as it can achieve better
results in decreasing overall estrogen with 20-40 mg a day, than clomid can in
doses of 100-150 mg a day. A noteworthy difference. Triphenylethylenes are very
mild estrogens that do not exert a lot, if any activity at the estrogen
receptor, but are still highly attracted to it. As such they will occupy the
receptor and keep it from binding estrogens. This means they do not actively
work to reduce estrogen in the body like Proviron, Viratase or Arimidex would
(by competing for the aromatase enzyme), but that it blocks the receptor so that
any estrogen in the body is basically inert, because it has no receptor to bind
to.
This has advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is that when use is
discontinued, the estrogen level is still the same and new problems will develop
much sooner. The advantage is that it works much faster and has results sooner
than with an aromatase blocker like Proviron or Arimidex. Therefore, when
problems such as gynecomastia occur during a cycle of steroids one will usually
start 20 mg/day of Nolva or 100 mg/day of clomid straight away, in conjunction
with some Proviron or Arimidex. The proviron or Arimidex will actively reduce
estrogen while the clomid or Nolvadex will solve your ongoing problem straight
away. This way, when use is discontinued there is no immediate rebound.
So which one should you use? Well personally, I'd have to say Nolvadex. Both as
an on-cycle anti-estrogen and a post-cycle therapy. As an anti-estrogen its
simply much stronger, demonstrated by the fact that better results are obtained
with 20-40 mg than with 100-150 mg of clomid. For post-cycle, this plays a key
role as well. It deactivates rebound estrogen much faster and more effective.
But most importantly, Nolvadex has a direct influence on bringing back natural
testosterone, where as clomid may actually have a slight negative influence. The
reason being that Tamoxifen (as in Nolvadex) seems to increase the
responsiveness of LH (luteinizing hormone) to GnRH (gonadtropin releasing
hormone), whereas clomid seems to decrease the responsiveness a bit1.
Another noteworthy fact about Nolvadex is that it acts more potently as an
estrogen in the liver. As you remember, I mentioned that clomiphene and
tamoxifen are basically weak estrogens. Well, tamoxifen is apparently still
quite potent in the liver. This offers us the positive benefits of this hormone
in the liver, while avoiding its negative effects elsewhere in the body. As such
Nolvadex can have a very positive impact on negative cholesterol levels2 in the
body, and therefore too should be considered a better choice than clomid. It
will not solve the problem of bad cholesterol levels during Steroid use, but
will help to contain the problem to a larger degree.
Another reason why I promote the use of Nolvadex over Clomid post-cycle (as if
being 3-4 times stronger and having more of a direct effect on restoring natural
test wasn't enough) is because it's a lot safer. Not just because it improves
lipid profiles, but also because it simply doesn't have the intrinsic
side-effects that Clomid has. Clomid causes more acne for sure, but that's
mainly because you need to use a 3-4 times higher dose. But Clomid seems to also
affect the eyesight. Long-term clomid therapy causes irreversible changes in
eyesight3 in users. Irreversible. For me that alone is reason enough to prefer
Nolvadex.
Lastly, one should be aware that use of these compounds can reduce the gains
made on steroids. Nolvadex more so than clomid, simply because it is stronger.
Estrogen is responsible for a number of anabolic factors such as increasing
growth hormone output, upgrading the androgen receptor and improving glucose
utilization. This is why aromatizing steroids like testosterone are still best
suited for maximum muscle gain. When reducing the estrogen levels, we therefore
reduce the potential gains being made. For this reason one may opt to try clomid
during a cycle instead of Nolvadex. Although I would imagine that the problem
that needed solved would be of more concern, in which case Nolva remains the
weapon of choice. It's a plain fact that there is a high correlation between
gains and side-effects. Either you go for maximum gains and tolerate the
side-effects, or you reduce the side-effects, and with it the gains. That's
life, nothing is free.
Stacking and Use:
If problems of Gynecomastia or other estrogen related symptoms tend to pop up
during a cycle the use of 20-30 mg of Nolvadex or 100 mg of Clomid daily should
easily contain the problem, and be used until a few days after the problem
subsides. For best results and the least amount of problems upon cessation it is
best stacked with Proviron (50 mg) or arimidex (0.5 mg) for this duration as
well. Its not advised that these products be ran concomitantly with the steroid
for the entire duration of the stack, as this will reduce your gains. Instead
cease the usage of anti-estrogens once the problem is contained, and should the
problem resurface, simply recommence the use of the products in the same manner
as described above.
Once a cycle of steroids is concluded one should always initiate a post-cycle
therapy to help bring back natural testosterone as soon as possible. This will
help you to retain the mass you gained. How this is done depends highly on the
type of steroid used. If only orals were used, therapy should start immediately,
even the last day of the stack. If short-acting esters or water-based
injectables were used, therapy should commence within 4-7 days after last
injection, and if long-acting esters were used then it should commence 1.5 to 2
weeks after the last injection was given. The length of the therapy will vary as
well, from 3-5 weeks. The longer acting the product was, the longer therapy
should be continued to make sure all suppressive factors are cleared before use
of Clomid/Nolvadex is discontinued.
For best results, it is best stacked with HCG (Human Chorionic gonadotrophin),
which functions as an LH analog and can help bring testicle size back up. HCG
use starts the last week of a cycle, and on from there every 5-6 days (usually
1500-3000 IU) and discontinued 1.5 to weeks prior to the cessation of Nolvadex/clomid.
The reason being that HCG itself is also suppressive of natural testosterone and
should be out of the body before therapy is over, or it will inhibit natural
testicle function. But I can not stress enough that HCG possibly plays a more
important role in post-cycle therapy than clomid/Nolvadex. For Clomid and
Nolvadex, doses are usually tapered down. Its best to start with 40-50 mg of
Nolvadex or 150 mg of Clomid for the first week or the first two weeks, and then
finish the program with 20-25 mg of Nolvadex or 100 mg of Clomid for an
additional two weeks.
written by BigCat
References
1 Vermeulen A., Comhaire F., Hormonal effects of an anti-estrogen, tamoxifen, in
normal and oligospermic men, Fertil. Ster. 29 (1978) 320-27
2 Bruning PF, Bronfer JMG, Hart AAM, Jong-Bakker M, tamoxifen, serum
lipoproteins and cardiovascular risk, Br. J. Cancer 1988 Oct, 58 (4) 497-9
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