What is Epistane? - Articles and Blog

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George Spellwin - Founder
EliteFitness.com

Epistane (2a,3a-epithio-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-17b-ol) was first developed in Japan in 1966, and it was originally called methepitiostane. The intention was to develop a methylated version of mepitiostane that could be used orally in combination with Nolvadex to combat breast cancer, where it would stave off excessive levels of estrogen hormones in the body. Nevertheless, epistane ended up being a DHT derivative designer steroid labeled as a prohormone, which was first brought on the bodybuilding market by RPN with the brand name “Havoc.” This product remained legal until the final prohormone ban of 2014-2015.

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Benefits
Cycles and Dosages
Half Life
Side Effects
Conclusion
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2a,3a-epithio-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-17b-ol is the chemical makeup of epistane. It is a very dry compound, and it will produce noticeable results after only a couple weeks of use. Unfortunately, during the time when prohormones were becoming popular, many of them caused progesterone related issues. However, this is not the case with epistane, so there is no risk of rebound gynecomastia or other related side effects. The main issue now is that this compound was banned in 2014, making it illegal to manufacture. Therefore, in order to obtain epistane a potential user would have to turn to the black market or countries where it may still be legal.

epistane chemical structure — Fig 2. Epistane Chemical Structure

Benefits

The first major benefit when using epistane will be dry and hard muscle gains. Additionally, the user will also see a significant increase in strength. Consequently, caution should be observed as to not increase weight too quickly, which could cause injury to joints, ligaments, or tendons. Another nice effect is getting rid of unwanted body fat. This can be very helpful when running a “recomp” style cycle. The last benefit is more of a positive side effect - the user may experience an increased libido and a greater sense of well-being. Obviously, this can only add to the confidence that you will have as you watch your body change and feel the strength increase.

Cycles and Dosages

A typical dose for epistane would be 30-60 milligrams (mgs) per day depending on the user’s experience and desired results. Regarding the cycle duration, it would be recommended to stay on cycle for no more than 6-8 weeks. Epistane has a very short half-life, so it should be dosed 2-3 times per day. Here is an example of how to incorporate epistane into a basic injectable testosterone cycle designed for cutting and muscle hardening, or a recomp (diet dependent):

Weeks 1-12

Testosterone 500mg per week
Aromasin 10mg every other day

Weeks 7-12

Epistane 60mg per day
N2Guard 7 caps per day

*This can also be a week 1-6 kick start not just a closer.

*Follow this cycle with a proper PCT such as The Perfect PCT - http://www.evolutionary.org/the-perfect-post-cycle-therapy-pct/

Half Life

The half-life of epistane is 7 hours. Therefore, you will want to split up your dose into a minimum of two to three equal daily doses. For instance, some users report an enhanced workout when taking a dose before weight training.

Side Effects

Epistane is toxic to the liver, but not nearly as much as other prohormones. Luckily, this side effect can be kept under control by using a good quality liver protector containing TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic acid) and NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) like N2Guard. The great thing about epistane is that it does not aromatize into estrogen. This means that there is no possibility of estrogen related side effects like gynecomastia or water retention. Nonetheless, the user may experience some milder steroid like side effects, such as an added aggression, increased hair loss, and oily skin.

ibe epistane — Fig 3. Epistane by IBE - was it fined by FDA?

Conclusion

Epistane is a very effective oral designer steroid that makes a great addition to any cycle. Being a dry compound, it will fit perfectly into a cycle containing a wet compound like testosterone or deca durabolin. It also stacks very well with dry compounds in a “cutting” or “recomp” cycle. In spite of the fact that there is a prohibition on the production of prohormones, this product can still be found in some countries outside of North America, and even on the black market. However, there are many fakes being sold online, so the buyer must be careful.