posted April 06, 2000 01:38 PM            

Q: If cortisol is such a problem when you come off of the
juice, wouldn't it be a good idea to use Cytadren? It also deals
with estrogen, so surely this makes sense, right?

A: Wrong. First of all, off is off! Although it's desirable to
restore normal androgen production, priority should always be
given to the liver. Giving this organ a break should be your
major concern. Cytadren often causes more liver enzyme
disruption than we see with some anabolic steroids. For this
reason alone, the product is a definite no-no!

Over the years, I've looked at the endogenous hormone levels
of many athletes under my wing. Having to contend with the
testing criteria imposed on many of them has made this a
necessity. I can tell you from experience that the kind of
regimens followed by most athletes never really allow normal
endogenous production to be restored. I can also tell you that
the liver is under continuous stress for most of their
steroid-taking careers.

The next surprise is that Cytadren also suppresses testicular
steroid production�not a good idea when you're supposed to
be trying to restore it. Obviously, this isn't a big problem when
you're actually on steroids. Think about it, the little testicular
steroid factory in your Levis is already on strike, so it's no big
deal. During this period, low doses can help deal with
peripheral estrogen and subsequent bodyfat problems.