33 Muscle-Exploding Deca Durabolin Facts - How many do YOU know?

Want to get the Most-Explosive Muscle Gains Possible from Deca Durabolin? Or do you just want to answer the Inevitable Beginner's Question of what is Deca? Here are All the Facts you need to know about this Incredibly Popular Bodybuilding Drug...

Nandrolone, which is commonly known by its decanoate-ester brand name, Deca Durabolin ("deca" for short), is one of the most-powerful muscle-building and strength-boosting steroids available. Of course, in order to unlock the true explosive, mass-building potential of a deca cycle, it helps immensely to know the facts. That said, keep reading to see how many of the following 33 facts that you know about Deca Durabolin.

1. Nandrolone is Great for adding Size and Strength

Deca is definitely one steroid that's withstood the test of time, having even been used by bodybuilding legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sergio Oliva in the 1960s. And there's a great reason why it's remained so popular over the decades: Nandrolone is excellent at adding lean muscle mass and strength over a long period of time. Many Deca Durabolin reviews rave about this drug, claiming that it's helped them gain 20-30 pounds of lean muscle in a cycle. A 16-week study performed on HIV patients who'd lost 5-15% of their body weight proved deca's mass-building potential. Even at a low dose of 100mg every two weeks, the average patient gained 0.14kg (0.3lb) per week during the study (1).

2. Nandrolone helps your Muscles retain Nitrogen, which promotes Major Growth

One of the biggest benefits of Deca Durabolin is that it helps muscle cells store more nitrogen, as a 1999 study on AIDS patients proved (2). And this is huge because muscle cells assimilate more protein when they're in a positive nitrogen state. However, it's also worth noting that you can't expect mass building and a positive nitrogen balance to occur if you're only eating kale salads and smoothies every day. Your body needs calories and protein to make sure that your muscles are retaining nitrogen on deca and growing at a rapid pace.

3. Deca will have you craving Lots of Food

Luckily, you won't have to worry about only eating that kale salad on a Deca Durabolin cycle because your appetite will feel out of control. Of course, this isn't an excuse to stop eating clean and gorge on the Pizza Hut buffet every day for lunch. However, the appetite stimulation on deca is certainly welcome to bodybuilders who have trouble packing on size due to their small appetite.

4. This Drug raises your IGF-1 Levels

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a hormone that closely resembles insulin and plays a very important role in the muscle-building process. So it goes without saying that if you can raise your IGF-1 levels, you stand a better chance to build lean muscle mass. And deca does exactly this, as a 2000 study showed when Nandrolone decanoate raised IGF-I mRNA expression levels in mice (3).

5. Deca Durabolin has Some Incredible Therapeutic Benefits for Joints

Joint pain is pretty common in people as they age and/or in bodybuilders who engage in intense workouts. This being said, it should be little surprise that the latter group really appreciates the positive Deca Durabolin effects on joint paint. Research has shown that even when dosed at 50mg once every three weeks, Nandrolone decanoate can stimulate type III collagen synthesis in joints (4). So at higher doses, it's easy to understand how bodybuilders and powerlifters with joint pain suddenly feel better after running a deca cycle.

6. This Drug improves Bone Density

Back in 1983, the FDA approved Nandrolone decanoate for treating osteoporosis; so it should be no surprise that deca increases bone density. A 1984 study examined the effects of treating women suffering from metabolic bone derangement with a 50mg Deca Durabolin injection once every three weeks for two years. The end result was that the drug boosted both intestinal calcium absorption and bone mineral content (5).

7. Deca increases your Red Blood Cell Count

Nandrolone decanoate can increase the size and amount of red blood cells in your body. This is very beneficial in improving your body's oxygen-carrying capabilities, which in turns helps your muscle-building efforts too.

8. Nandrolone will raise your Progesterone Levels

A lot of Deca Durabolin reviews warn that this drug can raise progesterone levels, and rightfully so because this female pregnancy hormone converts to estrogen. Progesterone is also found in men and can cause major problems like an enlarged prostate and erectile dysfunction when levels are too high. Seeing as how erectile dysfunction isn't exactly a thrilling proposition to most guys, increased progesterone is one of the worst Deca Durabolin side effects.

9. Many Beginning Bodybuilders don't understand what "Deca" Durabolin is

If you were to ask what is deca to even the greenest of AAS users, chances are that they'd know it's a popular bulking steroid. Furthermore, they'll probably also know that its nickname is "deca." However, what many beginners don't realize is that deca is more than just a shortened drug name; it's the name of a specific ester, which is a steroid molecule with a carbon chain attached to it. The decanoate ester form of Nandrolone (a.k.a. Deca Durabolin) actually has the second-longest carbon chain of all the main esters (behind undecanoate), meaning its half life (discussed in Fact #22) is one of the longest acting.

10. Deca Durabolin is not Nandrolone Phenylpropionate

Given that Deca Durabolin is a version of Nandrolone, some people get it confused with Nandrolone phenylpropionate (NPP). And it's easy to understand why since deca and NPP are esentially the same drug, just in different esters. NPP's phenylpropionate ester has a shorter active half life (4.5 days) and acts much faster than the decanoate ester. In turn, Nandrolone phenylpropionate allows bodybuilders to get more gains on shorter cycles, and the drug leaves their system far quicker. However, the big advantage that Nandrolone decanoate has is that you don't have to stick yourself in the butt with a needle every other day like with NPP; instead, you can take 1-2 deca injections each week.

Okay, so Nandrolone has Some Incredible Muscle-Building Capabilities and Overall Health Benefits. But here are Some of the Side Effects...

11. Deca Durabolin aromatizes at a Moderate Rate

Unlike steroids such as Anadrol, Dianabol and testosterone, Deca doesn't aromatize (convert to estrogen) at a very high rate, meaning many users won't experience as much water retention or gynecomastia (gyno). However, this doesn't mean that one should completely avoid using an aromatase inhibitor (AI) like Arimidex or Aromasin with this drug - especially when you consider that deca interacts with both estrogen and progesterone receptors in the breast tissue. So if you're really prone to gyno, or just terrified of getting it, don't underestimate the moderate aromatization rate of Nandrolone.

12. Nandrolone can shut down Natural Testosterone Production

As mentioned above, the aromatizing deca side effects aren't as harsh as other anabolic steroids. There's a big 'but' here, though, because deca does have the ability to hamper natural testosterone production, even at small doses. Furthermore, deca doesn't break down into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and it actually competes with DHT for receptors. Because DHT is a sex hormone that's crucial to attaining and keeping erections, one of the Nandrolone decanoate side effects is low libido, or what bodybuilders commonly refer to as "deca dick." Additionally, Drugs.com points out that men can experience decreased ejaculatory volume too. So in order to avoid this problem, many bodybuilders run a Nandrolone decanoate cycle with testosterone and HCGenerate.

13. Nandrolone can have a Long-term Effect on your Libido

As if the above isn't scary enough, one of the worst side effects of Deca Durabolin is that it can suppress your luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. These two hormones are the primary catalysts to stimulating the testes (leydig cells) to secrete testosterone. A study by Sweden's Karolinska Institutet showed that those who use the deca steroid for long time periods can suppress LH and FSH levels for over one year after usage (6). So again, on-cycle support along with a testosterone base is very important for any deca cycle.

14. Some Women use Deca...But at their own Risk

Although not the top-recommended steroid for women, some ladies do use deca to pack on muscle and strength. Recommended Deca Durabolin dosage for women is typically 25mg-100mg, with the lower end being a great starting point. However, the problem here is definitely the Deca Durabolin side effects, which vary greatly from woman to woman. Even at low doses, some females will experience virilization (developing masculine side effects), which can lead to more acne, clitoral enlargement, more body and facial hair, and deepening of the voice. So if you're a woman on deca and your voice starts sounding like Morgan Freeman, it's best to get off this drug as soon as possible. Better yet, you should consider a more female-friendly steroid like Anavar.

15. Deca won't make your Hair fall out

On the bright side, Nandrolone won't cause typical steroid side effects like bad skin and hair loss. The latter is because of the aforementioned fact that Nandrolone decanoate's metabolites compete with DHT for receptors. DHT is a male sex hormone that, as MedicalNewsToday.com points out, "gets to the dermal papilla and undermines the absorption of vital nutrients required for healthy hair follicles."

16. This Drug was really Popular among Older Bodybuilding Generations

Dating back to the 1960s, bodybuilders have been using Deca Durabolin to add size and muscle. This of course means that many of our heroes from the Golden Age of Bodybuilding used deca to take the sport to new heights. 7-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger is no doubt the most-famous bodybuilder to admit deca use. The late Mike Mentzer, another notable bodybuilder and Mr. Olympia competitor, also discussed his Nandrolone decanoate use in a December 2000 interview with Iron Magazine. "I took 400mg of Deca Durabolin every 10-14 days, and no more than five Dianabol a day," he recalled. A huge reason why old-school bodybuilders used this drug was because of its incredible mass-building effects combined with mild deca side effects; the latter was really important in this era because AIs and Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) weren't around.

17. Deca isn't as Harsh on your Organs as Other Steroids

As WebMD.com explains, Deca Durabolin side effects don't normally include severe stomach, liver or kidney problems. This is one advantage to using injectables like deca, testosterone, Equipoise and Primobolan since they aren't very toxic to organs. Methylated oral steroids like Anavar, Dianabol and Winstrol, on the other hand, are far more harmful to your liver and kidneys.

18. A Good PCT is Still Important

While Nandrolone side effects don't include many estrogenic or organ problems, it's still very important that yo+u run a solid post-cycle therapy. This is especially the case when considering what deca side effects can do to your natural testosterone production and sex drive. Since most knowledgeable bodybuilders cycle deca with other drugs, your specific PCT will depend upon the cycle as a whole.

19. Nolvadex is Not Very Good for Deca PCT

One drug that you'll want to leave out of your PCT following a Deca Durabolin cycle is Nolvadex. The reason why is because nolva upregulates prolactin (hormone enabling women to produce milk) and progesterone receptors, which is bad because deca also interacts with these receptors. Since the point of PCT is to bring your hormone levels back to normal after a cycle, nolva will keep your progesterone/prolactin levels off balance. Here's an EliteFitness thread where the subject is discussed in depth:

We've covered the Benefits and Risks of Deca Durabolin. So how should you run a Deca Cycle?

20. Deca is cycled with a Large Variety of other Steroids

Deca Durabolin stacks well with a number of steroids, including testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate, testosterone propionate, Anadrol, Dianabol and Sustanon 250. One great thing about deca is that it goes nicely with testosterone, which is used as the base for many cycles. At higher doses, testosterone aromatizes (converts to estrogen) much worse; so rather than adding larger doses of testosterone to a cycle, one could add a weekly deca dosage of 300mg-400mg for more mass and strength-building results. Below you can see a test deca cycle (w/ Dianabol kickstarter) from an EliteFitness.com thread that also includes some constructive criticism:

21. Nandrolone can be safely dosed up to 600mg per Week

Deca Durabolin dosage should be dependent upon your experience. Men who are new to deca should start at 300-400mg per week, while experienced users can safely dose up to 600mg. Bodybuilders who are really experienced with AAS will dose over 1,000mg per week, but this certainly isn't recommended for the average user. Thanks to deca's long half life, some people who use this drug merely administer a single Deca Durabolin injection per week. However, others will do two weekly injections, especially at higher doses.

22. Deca Durabolin has an Incredibly Long Active Half Life

Nandrolone decanoate has an active half life of 15 days, giving it the second-longest active half life of all steroid variations (behind Equipoise's undecanoate ester at 16.5 days). The decanoate ester is very slow-acting, meaning you probably won't see gains from Deca Durabolin for at least 3-4 weeks. But once the effects do kick in, you'll notice some VERY strong muscle-building results. Because deca takes so long to act, a short deca cycle does very little for users.

23. Experienced Bodybuilders quit Deca use before stopping Testosterone in a Cycle

Because of Nandrolone's long active half life, many experienced steroid users stop using it before they quit testosterone in a test deca cycle. This is done to ensure that testosterone and deca both leave your system before beginning post-cycle therapy. Some bodybuilders preach that the minimum point to quit using deca ahead of testosterone in a cycle is two weeks. Below you can see a cycle from an EliteFitness thread where the user is advised to quit using deca four weeks before stopping testosterone usage:

24. Deca is not Good for a 1st Steroid Cycle...nor is it Good Alone

Some beginning steroid users want to run deca for their first-ever cycle. And given the publicity that Nandrolone has gained through athletes' use (discussed later), it's little surprise why. However, a Deca Durabolin cycle is not exactly a great way to welcome yourself to the world of AAS, due to the fact that it can shut down your testosterone production and kill your libido. Here is an EliteFitness forum thread where you can see a beginner propose deca for a first cycle, only to scolded on the matter.

25. Many Bodybuilders like to cycle Testosterone and Deca at a Certain Ratio

One good way to minimize the testosterone and HPTA function shutdown that can happen with deca is to ensure that you're running it at lower doses in a cycle than testosterone. For example, some bodybuilders will run testosterone at 300mg per week and deca at 200mg; this works out to a 2:1 ratio in favor of testosterone. However, there's no set ratio because someone might run 500mg test per week and 300mg deca (1.6:1 ratio) while a really experienced user could run 1,000mg test and 600mg deca (1.67:1 ratio).

26. Bodybuilders can inject Nandrolone into Various Areas

If you're wondering how to take Deca Durabolin, it's given as a deep injection into a muscle, such as the buttock, upper leg or upper arm. It is also recommended that you get a Deca Durabolin injection from a trained doctor or nurse. But since deca is illegal for muscle-enhancing purposes in most countries, the majority of bodybuilders inject themselves. Obviously this isn't something that one wants to go into blind, so here's a discussion at the EliteFitness forums on how to take Deca Durabolin and other injectables.

27. Deca can be stored for 5-7 Years

Nandrolone has a relatively long shelf life and can be stored between five and seven years if done properly. According to Xpil.Medicines.org, the temperature at which deca is stored needs to be below 30°C (86°F). However, one should not store this drug in a refrigerator or freezer, and it should be kept in the original package (until use) to protect from sunlight.

Deca Works! The Many Athletes who've been Busted for using It can tell you this.

28. Deca Durabolin offers some Major Athletic Benefits

Due to incredible Deca Durabolin effects on athletic performance, this drug is very popular among those looking to add muscle mass, strength, drop weight and/or heal injuries. Of course, like any other anabolic steroid, deca is not welcome in sports and will result in a suspension for athletes if they're caught. And due to the incredibly long half life of deca, the chances of passing an in-season steroid test are incredibly low when on it.

29. Marion Jones used Deca Durabolin

As a three-time Olympic gold medalist and former WNBA player, Marion Jones is one of the greatest female athletes ever. However, her legacy instantly became tainted when she was linked to the infamous BALCO scandal along with her first-child's father and fellow gold-medalist, Tim Montgomery. Jones later admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs such as nandrolone decanoate and Tetrahydrogestrinone (a.k.a "The Clear") during her athletic career. She was stripped of her gold medals and spent six months in prison for lying under oath and for being involved in a check-fraud scheme.

30. Barry Bonds tested Positive for Nandrolone - Twice!

Another name that is synonymous with the BALCO scandal is Barry Bonds, the home-run king who mysteriously packed on 20 pounds of lean muscle one year and belted a record-73 homers in 2001. But as this ESPN report revealed, the former San Francisco Giants slugger tested positive twice for deca (2000 and '01). The Deca Durabolin before and after effects can really be seen in Bonds' home-run stats since he'd only hit over 40 homers three times in his first 14 seasons, then turned out these marvelous power stats in a five-year span:

2000 MLB season: 49 home runs
2001 MLB season: 73 home runs
2002 MLB season: 46 home runs
2003 MLB season: 45 home runs
2004 MLB season: 45 home runs

Lucky for Bonds, Major League Baseball had no clear-set rules against using steroids at the time. However, he did get in minor legal trouble for perjury and obstruction of justice stemming from his testimony in the BALCO trial. Oh yeah...and there's also the whole thing about his legacy being in tatters.

31 Plenty of Athletes have been suspended for Deca Use

Jones certainly isn't the only athlete to have received a harsh punishment for using the deca steroid. A wide range of athletes have tested positive for deca steroids, including Spanish footballer Pep Guardiola (one-year suspension), former NBA player Juan Dixon (one-year suspension), cricketer Shoaib Akhtar (two-year ban overturned), tennis player Petr Korda (one-year suspension), British sprinter and gold medalist Lindford Christie (two-year suspension), and MMA fighter Royce Gracie (license suspension). What's interesting here is that you can see deca use in sports like basketball, soccer (football) and tennis, where anabolics aren't very common.

32. Olympic Committee allows Nandrolone in Athletes...to a Degree

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) can't ban every athlete whom they find to have small traces of Nandroloine in their system; otherwise they'd be suspending everybody from gold-medal-winning track stars to mid-level ping pong players. After all, the 19-norandrosterone metabolite, a byproduct of Nandrolone, is often naturally present in human urine. So as Wikipedia points out, the IOC allows up to 2.0 μg/L of 19-norandrosterone in urine samples before suspecting anybody of doping.

33. Deca is Illegal without a Prescription

Not only does Nandrolone draw suspensions in the sports world, but it is also illegal in most countries to buy Deca Durabolin. In the United States, for example, deca is in the Schedule III class of drugs, meaning first-time offenders could draw a maximum penalty of up to a $250,000 fine and/or three years in prison. Luckily, these types of penalties are pretty rare for those using this drug, which is why people continue to buy Deca Durabolin online from countries where it's legal. But given the legality issues here, people should be careful when they search for Deca Durabolin for sale.

What are your thoughts? Here's a link to discuss 33 Crazy Deca Durabolin Facts that you May or May not Know on the EliteFitness.com forums.

Author: George Spellwin