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Sustanon is a very popular steroid which is highly appreciated by its users since it offers several advantages when compared to other testosterone compounds. Sustanon is a mixture of four different testosterones which, based on the well-timed composition, have a synergetic effect. This special feature has two positive characteristics for the athlete. First, based on the special combination effect of the compounds, Sustanon, milligram for milligram, has a better effect than Testosterone enanthate, cypionate, and propionate alone.Second, the effect of the four testosterones is time-released so that Sustanon goes rapidly into the sytem and remains effective in the body for several weeks. Due to the propionate also included in the steroid, Sustanon is effective after one day and, based on the mixed-in decanoates, remains active for 3-4 weeks. Sustanon has a distinct androgenic effect which is coupled with a strong anabolic effect. Therefore it is well suited to build up strength and mass. A rapid increase in body strength and an even increase in body weight occur. Athletes who use Sustanon report a solid muscle growth since it results in less water retention and also aromatizes less than either testosterone enanthate or cypionate. Indeed many bodybuilders who use testosterone and fight against distinct water retention and an elevated estrogen level prefer Sustanon over other long-acting depot testosterones.

It is further noticed that Sustanon is also effective when relatively low doses are given to well advanced athletes. It is interesting to note that when Sustanon is given to athletes who have already used this compound in the same or lower doses, it leads to similar good results as during the previous intake. Sustanon is usually injected at least once a week, which can be stretched up to 10 days. The dosage in bodybuilding and powerlifting ranges from 250 mg every 14 days up to 1000 mg or more per day. Since such high dosages are not recommended-and fortunately are also not taken in most cases-the rule is 250-1000 mg/week. A dosage of 500 mg/week is completely sufficient for most, and can often be reduced to 250 mg/week by combining Sustanon with an oral steroid. Sustanon is well-tolerated as a basic steroid during treatment which stimulates the regeneration, gives the athlete a sufficient "kick" for intense training units, and next to the already mentioned advantage-rapid strength increase and solid muscle gain-distinguishes itself also by its cornpatibility. In order to gain mass fast Sustanon is often combined with Deca-Durabolin, Dianabol or Anadrol white athletes who are more into quality prefer cornbining it with Parabolan, Winstrol,Oxandrolone or Primobolan.

Although Sustanon does not aromatize excessively when taken in a reasonable dosage many people, in addition, also take an antiestrogen such as Nolvadex and/or Proviron to prevent possible estrogen-linked side effects. Since Sustanon suppresses the endogenous testosterone production the intake of HCG and Clomid must be considered after six weeks or at the end of treatment. It is recummended that women not take depot testosteronca since the androgen level would strongly increase and virilization symptoms could result. Despite this, it is not uncommon for female competing athletes in the higher weight classes to take testosterone since it helps in remaining "competitive." Women who use "Testo" or who would like to try it should limit its use to either only testosterone propionate or inject a maximum of 250 mg Sustanon every 10-14 days over a period of no longer than six weeks. At this point we would like to emphasize once more that steroid novices should stay away from all testosterone compounds since, al this time, they simply do not need them. The side effects of Sustanon are similar to those of Testosterone enanthate (see also Testosterone enanthate) only that they are usually less frequent and less severe. Depending on the predisposition and dosage, the user can experience the usual androgenic-linked side effects such as acne, aggressiveness, sexual overstimulation, oily skin,accelerated hair loss, and reduced production of the body's own hormones. Water retention and gynecomastia are usually within limits with the "Sustas" or are not as massive as with enanthate and cypionate. Liver damage is unlikely with Sustanon (see Testosterone enanthate); however, in very high dosages, elevated liver values can occur which, after discontinuing use of the compound, usually go back to normal. The fact that fhe liver is a very efficient organ and able to cope well with higher quantities of testosterone is confirmed in the book Doping-verbotene Arzneimittel im Sport by Dirk Clasing and Manfred Donike. On page 54 the authors state: "The liver is able to metabolize an almost unlimited atnount of testosterone (2 g of rat liver are able to break down 100 mg/day of testosterone).

Sustanon is well distributed on the black market and readily available. Unfortunately a large number of these compounds are more or less good fakes. When someone offers you ampules which do not have a paper label but a simple, usually red, imprint, these are certainly fakes. Mostly these are Polish Omnadren from which the original label was removed and replaced by a Sustanon imprint (see also Omnadren). Original Sustanon which almost exclusively is mann- factured by Organon Company always has a paper label. It is more difficult to find the less frequently available original "Susta." On the black market mostly the Russian or Indian Sustanon 250 Through Czechoslovakia large quantities of this original Sustanon 250 are smuggled to Europe and the U.S. The Russian Sustanon 250 comes in a plastic film; printed in blue ink on the back are the name of the compound, the manufacturer, and the included substances. This imprint is either stamped on aluminum foil or on white paper. Five ampules are combined in one strip whereas each ampule is packaged individually. Original Sustanon 250 usually costs $ 12 - 18 per ampule on the black market and is certainly worth the price, In the meantime there are also several fakes of the Russian version which, however, can be easily identified by the rounded corners of the label. The originals always have a label with sharp corners.

Finally there are two more remedies from veterinary medicine we would like to mention which fromn time to time can be found on the black market. These two drugs reflect how difficult it is for some to find original compounds and what athletes have to go through since, ten years ago, nobody would have thought to inject such voluminous quantities of multicomponent testosterones as these. They are the two German remedies, Dobothylit, by Hydro Company, and Durateston, by Vemie Company