Also known as Nandrolone Decanoate, Deca Durabolin is an anabolic injectable steroid most used by bodybuilders to build mass during the off-season.
It was first brought to market over sixty years ago when pharma giant Organon released it in 1962.
At the time, it was the second nandrolone ester made by the company, the first being Nandrolone Phenylpropionate (NPP).
To this day, it is still used and widely relied on by many bodybuilders to achieve a defined and aggressive physique with enhanced strength and muscle mass. And in this guide, we explore Deca Durabolin, and its benefits and side effects, so you know if it is right for your journey!
From being well-tolerated to making more strength and muscle mass easier to achieve, the benefits of the injectable, Deca Durabolin steroid are abundant! Read below as we cover its range of advantages!
This steroid supports muscular strength and hypertrophy and can bring huge changes to composition in just a few weeks of cycling.
Deca Durabolin is very effective at boosting lean mass as it stimulates protein synthesis and creates positive nitrogen balance within the muscles. It is also safe for first-time steroid users as it is not as potent as other anabolic-androgenic steroids, such as Anadrol, Superdrol, Winstrol, Dianabol, and Trenbolone.
While these four steroids bring bigger gains at faster speeds, many prefer to take Deca Durabolin instead given its safety profile and minimal side effects that are not as harsh as other compounds.
Deca Durabolin is a rather low-risk steroid and is even FDA-approved as a treatment for breast cancer in women and dwarfism in children, and it is known to be effective without any adverse side effects posed.
However, Deca may also be used by bodybuilders as it boosts collagen synthesis, which strengthens the tendons and ligaments – this is very beneficial to bodybuilders who lift heavy weights on a regular basis as doing so puts them at greater risk of injuries, and ones Deca Durabolin may be able to help prevent!
Also known as Nandrolone, Deca Durabolin enhances fluid retention so it may help lubricate joints and keep them moving without pain, friction, or agitation.
There was one study where it was given to eighteen men who had been dealing with joint pain, and the results showed Deca Durabolin helped relieve pain for seventy-two percent of participants, and twenty-eight percent had enough relief to no longer need as large a dose of painkillers. Very impressive results!
As such, this indicates it has potent, anti-inflammatory effects that can make bulking and strengthening a less painless and more comfortable journey.
Most steroids, and especially those in oral form, have toxic effects that cause strain and stress to the liver, also known as the hepatotoxic effect.
Hepatotoxic steroids are very unsafe for those who are trying steroids for the first time as they can cause health issues like liver failure and blood-filled cysts, a condition known as peliosis hepatis.
All this said, the intense side effects and major health risks of toxic steroids can be laid to rest with Deca Durabolin as unlike oral steroids, it is an injectable that reaches your bloodstream without going through the liver.
This means none to very little strain is posed on this vital organ when cycling Deca Durabolin, making it one of the most popular steroids used by veteran and newcomer bodybuilders today!
Deca Durabolin is often cycled in twelve-week intervals as it has long esters and slow-to-show results.
This may be a turn-off for those who want rapid muscle and strength gain but this is good news if you want to keep side effects to a minimum as Deca Durabolin helps balance serum testosterone levels in the bloodstream, and as a result, makes it less likely for you to experience harsh or unpleasing effects.
On a final note, if you stack Deca Durabolin with other steroids, you are likely to see results in both the early and later stages of your cycles.
There are some common side effects of Deca Durabolin you should be aware of before you decide it is best for you! From Deca Dick to low estrogen and testosterone, we will cover all its side effects below!
Deca Durabolin may cause mild drops or rises in bad (LDL) and good (HDL) cholesterol levels.
This means blood pressure elevation is a possible side effect so keep an eye on your numbers.
However, results from lipid profile tests show the risk of cardiac arrest or heart disease occurring from Deca Durabolin use is very low. But keep in mind, all anabolic steroids, to some degree, have negative impacts on blood lipids. There is good news though as Deca Durabolin, and Testosterone too for this matter, pose very little risk and stress to the cardiovascular system, making them a safer bet than most!
This steroid is infamous for causing what many dub Deca Dick as it may decrease sexual desire and output. It can also spur erectile dysfunction, which is never a fun or convenient issue to deal with!
Many men struggle to get it up while cycling Deca Durabolin as it is not highly androgenic. Ones not deficient in androgenicity support nitric oxide production, which is essential for blood flow to the penis. Since Deca raises prolactin levels, a hormone that diminishes sexual interest, arousal, and performance, it can decrease blood circulation and keep you out of the intimacy mood (solution for this down below).
The combination of high prolactin and low nitric oxide levels does not often lead to a pleasing time in the bedroom, though many men resolve this by stacking Deca with an androgenic steroid, like Anadrol, Trenbolone, or Testosterone, as these can help your nitric oxide levels to stay at their optimal amounts.
As a final solution, you can also try taking cabergoline, as you cycle Deca, as it may lower prolactin and help you rebound from symptoms of Deca Dick.
Deca is a suppressive anabolic steroid that can cause low testosterone levels to emerge as you cycle it.
As such, most bodybuilders use Clomiphene (Clomid) or Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) during post-cycle therapy as these help to stimulate endogenous testosterone production, which can ease side effects and restore energy levels to ideal levels.
Deca is not, in the least bit, a highly androgenic steroid.
After all, it aromatizes at a rate of only twenty percent of Testosterone.
However, some Deca users may have estrogen-like
However, estrogen-like side effects are possible while cycling Deca as it greatly increases progesterone.
This is a female sex hormone like estrogen that can stimulate breast tissue and memory glands, and it can lead to gynecomastia, a condition that causes excessive muscle development. To prevent this, many use anti-estrogens, such as Anastrozole, as they act as an inhibitor of progesterone receptor expression, which in turn lowers the chance of gynecomastia developing.
Join us as we cover popular Deca Durabolin cycles and stacks so you can pick the best one for your goals.
Deca Durabolin is mostly used to bulk up the muscles with gains that come in small amounts and in the form of lean muscle.
Most times, stacking steroids will lead to side effects that are far more intense than if taken alone, with symptoms including but not limited to, increased cholesterol and liver enzyme activity. However, Deca is a rather stack-friendly steroid, and in many cases, using it alongside another steroid actually helps to negate its negative side effects on sexual health and performance. As such, Deca-only cycles are rarely used by seasoned bodybuilders with years of skin in the game as many want to keep androgen at peak levels to prevent erectile dysfunction.
But let us assume for the sake of example you pursue a Deca-only cycle, this is how it should look:
Also known as Methandrostenolone, Dianabol ranks among the most popular and effective steroids due to its profound, mass-building effects that make it easy to BULK like the HULK!
Each complements the other during bulking cycles as Deca amplifies the anabolic traits of Dianabol, which enhances the size and strength of muscles in the process. When it comes to adverse effects of Dianabol, hypertension and liver toxicity are atop the list but by stacking it with Deca, the effects and symptoms can be better kept at bay as Deca is an injectable steroid having little impact on blood lipids.
Those who stack Dianabol and Deca Durabolin tend to utilize the following cycle and doses:
Keep in mind, this cycle is aimed at seasoned steroid users with a high tolerance built, and preferably ones who finished a testosterone cycle in the past. In other words, this cycle should only be used by those with a built tolerance to anabolic steroids.
This said, let us move to the exciting part – many people on this stack gain thirty to forty pounds of weight and fifty to seventy pounds of strength! Now, some weight gain is from water retention but a good portion is from newly built muscle too.
If you do try this cycle, and only do so if you have a built tolerance from taking steroids before, keep in mind it can cause high levels of estrogen (Dianabol) and progesterone (Deca Durabolin) as this can lead to gynecomastia, a condition that causes man boobs and excess muscle development in the chest area.
Given this, bodybuilders who stack the two tend to use an anti-aromatase inhibitor as this helps prevent testosterone from converting into estrogen but AIs can raise blood pressure. So utilize them cautiously!
While this cycle is still used today, it was most popular in the 70s during the Golden Era of bodybuilding.
It was popular at the time as it enabled huge gains with no androgenic effects, which meant men could bulk up and gain strength without baldness or hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, as medically termed.
Also known as Oxymetholone, Anadrol is quite similar to Dianabol but as an oral steroid, is able to bring greater muscle and strength-building results to the table. Anadrol is highly androgenic, which is why it pairs well with Deca, and it may even help to relieve impotencies tied to Deca as it supports nitric oxide production, which stimulates blood flow to the penis.
This is what a typical Anadrol and Deca Durabolin cycle looks like:
This cycle is best for experienced steroid users as Anadrol can have rather harsh effects on the body that are not likely to be well tolerated by those who never used steroids before.
Anadrol can cause hepatic and cardiovascular strain, and it holds the power to induce hypertension as it calls for a large dose at fifty to a hundred milligrams per day. Also, Anadrol impacts hepatic lipase, this is good to be aware of as this is an enzyme that may lower good cholesterol (HDL) levels when stimulated.
This cycle brings results but comes with the risk of gynecomastia occurring as Anadrol raises estrogen levels while Deca increases progesterone production. As such, AIs are ineffective at treating estrogenic effects of Androgen as it does not actually aromatize but instead stimulates estrogen receptors directly.
SERMS (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators) like Clomid and Nolvadex may inhibit estrogen activity down to the receptor level and prevent Anadrol from causing gynecomastia. However, SERMs are not free of any risk either as they can increase progesterone, and the chance of gynecomastia development.
Now, it is possible to help prevent man boobs and overgrown chest muscles (gynecomastia) though this requires an aromatase inhibitor to reduce progesterone, and this is risky as it may worsen cardiovascular strain given the lower amounts of estrogen in the body.
Adding to this, using an aromatase inhibitor during a cycle does not negate the risk of gynecomastia as Anadrol could induce it too. Furthermore, post-cycle testosterone suppression is rather extreme so an aggressive, post-cycle therapy is highly advised!
Most health and therapy experts suggest the following medicines to accelerate recovery from anabolic androgenic steroid-induced hypogonadism (ASIH):
During one study, nineteen men who suffered from low endogenous testosterone levels took these medications. And in forty-five days, testosterone levels normalized for each and every one of them!
This highly potent, anabolic steroid is used to forge strength and muscles during the off-cycle season.
However, testosterone may also be used during cutting cycles thanks to its potent androgenic properties that stimulate lipolysis – this enhances fat loss and decreases adipose tissue.
Of all anabolic steroids, testosterone is likely the safest. It is also one of the rare few to be FDA-backed as a medicine approved for use during testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Deca and Testosterone are often deemed the safest and mildest stack a bodybuilder can use, with these terms referring to its side effects that are far less harsh, intense, and hepatotoxic as some other steroids and compounds.
Despite mild and minimal side effects, the Test and Deca Durabolin stack is still potent enough to bring worthy gains of strength and lean muscle mass!
Most people reap huge strength gains and thirty pounds of new muscle from the following cycle:
While this bulking cycle is unlikely to result in hypertension, it can cause changes to cholesterol or blood pressure levels, so check vitals often even though Test and Deca are cardiovascular-friendly compounds.
It is no secret Test goes hand in hand with Deca as it is androgenic by nature, this means adverse sexual side effects of Deca can be avoided – and Testosterone does this without stressing the liver like Anadrol.
If you are concerned with having symptoms of gynecomastia, this is a good cycle for you as you can pair it with an aromatase inhibitor to lower estrogen and progesterone levels – two popular and effective AIs worth trying are Letrozole and Anastrozole.
On a closing note, bear in mind that endogenous testosterone levels will swiftly fall once the cycle ends, so you want to have an aggressive post-cycle therapy planned for your recovery and hormonal rebound.
Amazing results are to be had from an Anadrol and Deca Durabolin cycle though Deca cycled alone can bring subtle yet noticeable gains too!
Below is transformation of man in his 30’s before and after taking Deca Durabolin for 12 weeks, 600mg a week.
In this transformation person used Deca Durabolin solo, without others substances. Cycle length – 15 weeks, 400mg a week.
While mostly taken by men, women who want to bulk up with toned lean muscle may take Deca Durabolin too.
Despite not being the most ideal steroid for women, as Anavar holds this title, research does show it to be a rather safe and well-tolerated steroid when taken in doses of a hundred milligrams.
If you are a woman and want to cycle Deca, you should take 100mg every other week for twelve weeks, which means you should take fifty milligrams per week for three months.
You should also know before cycling it that it may cause masculinization in women, this can occur even from small doses, especially if you cycle it many times. There are also cases of people who had adverse effects from doses as little as 50mg taken every two/three weeks so if you decide to try Deca Durabolin, keep your cycle short, and ideally eight weeks or less – especially if this is your first time taking steroids!
Can women cycle Deca Durabolin? Yes they may but for the best results, this dose cycle should be used:
Note: Anadrol is a more ideal bulking steroid for women as it prevents virilization (the development of characteristics associated with male hormones). Even big doses take over long periods of time do not have masculinizing effects.
Also, Anadrol is a faster-acting compound that speedily leaves the body, unlike Deca Durabolin, which is slower to act and leave the body, given its longer half-life of six days. As such, Deca carries more risk for women as if symptoms of masculinization occur, it will remain in the body for twelve days from the time you stop taking it.
Learn more about the best cutting mass steroids here https://discountanabolics.com/best-cutting-steroids/
Join us below as cover common Deca Durabolin stacks and cycles.
Also known as Boldenone Undecylenate, Equipoise is an injectable, veterinary steroid often given to horses to help them gain lead body weight.
Equipoise is simply testosterone in modified form, similar to Deca Durabolin, though it has a double bond between its first and second carbon. Despite Deca Durabolin being a little more powerful and androgenic, some bodybuilders do take Equipoise instead as its side effects may be milder in nature.
Research suggests Deca to be less estrogenic than Equipoise, which has around fifty percent of the estrogenic effects of steroids like testosterone, and around four hundred percent more than ones like Deca Durabolin.
Each of these is an injectable steroid used during bulking cycles. They are, however, unique in effects as Trenbolone is more anabolic than Deca – made clear in the 125, anabolic rating of Deca Durabolin while Trenbolone rates at 500.
Given this, you can expect more lean muscle with Trenbolone than Deca Durabolin, though weight gain towards the ends of a cycle is similar as while Trenbolone enhances fat loss, Deca raises fluid retention.
Based on research, Trenbolone is among the most harshest and strongest, anabolic-androgenic steroids while Deca is safer, milder, and even FDA-approved; as a medicine and treatment for certain conditions.
If you try it, know it is very potent and poses high risk of cardiac hypertrophy and atherosclerotic plaque.
Adding to this, it is highly androgenic while Deca is not, which means it is more likely to cause issues like acne vulgaris, hair recession, and prostate enlargement. All this said, Trenbolone puts huge gains and a defined physique within easier reach but its severe side effects, like hypertension, make it ideal only for people who have plenty of experience taking steroids. It is not a friendly option for steroid newcomers!
The benefits of Deca Durabolin make it popular with many aspiring bodybuilders, they include:
As with most things, perks do not come without a few downsides, and Deca has them too, these include:
