Side Effects
Every steroid will come with its own side effects profile risk, but experienced steroid users will be familiar with most of the potential side effects that can experience with NPP. Some of these are certain to occur because of the nature of using steroid hormones, while other side effects can be determined more by individual reactions.
Some guys will experience more severe side effects than others, but it’s important to be aware of everything that you could be dealing with, so you’re prepared to combat the side effects and focus on the positive benefits of NPP. This steroid can be considered one of the milder when it comes to side effects, however there’s no escaping some negative effects.
Here are the main side effects to expect when using NPP for performance enhancement:
·         Androgenic side effects: These effects are milder with NPP compared with many other steroids. This category of side effects includes acne and baldness, but only males who are predisposed to these conditions are likely to experience them and for most men, it will be relatively mild. Female users should be alert for signs of virilization like hair growth and deepening of the voice.
·         Estrogenic side effects: Nandrolone is an aromatizing hormone so estrogenic effects can come about when testosterone is converted to estrogen, although they are normally not as severe as with many other steroids. These include development of gynecomastia, water retention and associated increase in blood pressure. Users should be able to easily control these effects by using an aromatase inhibitor.
·         Testosterone suppression: As with all steroids, NPP is going to suppress your natural testosterone production and this effect is very strong when using this compound. For many guys it will only take one dose for most or even all your testosterone production to shut down. This can’t be avoided but must be mitigated by combining NPP in a cycle with a testosterone compound, so you don’t lose the vital bodily functions that this critical hormone provides. Following your NPP cycle you’ll need to implement post cycle therapy to speed up the stimulation of normal testosterone function again.
·         Cholesterol: Some users will experience a reduction in levels of good cholesterol (HDL) when using NPP. This effect can often be amplified through the combined use of an aromatase inhibitor, which many users are likely to also be taking to control estrogenic effects. Those with existing cardiovascular complications or high cholesterol should closely monitor cholesterol levels throughout, and all NPP users should incorporate a good amount of cardio work into workouts while maintaining a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids.
·         Liver toxicity: NPP is not known to be hepatotoxic in users who use the steroid sensibly and with suitable breaks in between cycles. However, all anabolic steroids can come with some risks to the liver, particularly when used at high doses or for prolonged periods of time.
Most male users of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate should be able to prevent or control the side effects well, and it’s more mild side effect profile makes it an appealing steroid to use for new users or those wishing to avoid the much more severe side effects that can be seen with some other compounds.
Female users may find that low doses of NPP bring about no or very little side effects, but this should be closely watched and when any signs of virilization begin the steroid should be stopped right away.
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NPP POST CYCLE THERAPHY:
NPP will suppress your normal testosterone function considerably, so post cycle therapy is critical after doing a cycle that includes NPP – whether it is being stacked with any other compounds or not.
PCT ensures you get your testosterone back on track after the steroids have suppressed production by providing the body with an external source of this critical hormone.
This also relates directly to your results: testosterone is vital for maintaining muscle mass and avoid fat gain. Post cycle therapy therefore can be considered as important as the cycle itself, and any missteps in your PCT can make your entire steroid cycle a waste of time if you aren’t going to maintain the gains you’ve made.
The timing of the start of your PCT will not only depend on NPP itself but on any other compounds being used in the cycle and their half-lives and suppressive effects. If you don’t do any PCT, testosterone levels will take a significant amount of time to get back to normal levels and during that time, severe symptoms of low testosterone will happen as well as rising estrogen levels.
This makes post cycle therapy critical as the halting of exogenous testosterone during your steroid cycle stops, leaving the body with little or no hormone production.
Most NPP users will start PCT anywhere from three to 12 days after the final injection of the cycle. It is recommended to start earlier rather than later to avoid the onset of any symptoms of low testosterone like fatigue, loss of libido, depression, weight gain and muscle loss.
A combination of the Clomid and Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) is the most used and most effective PCT strategy. Using these drugs for 4 weeks will get your testosterone working as it normally should. Dosages will differ depending upon your individual steroid cycle and level of testosterone suppression, and most users will start at a higher dose then decrease it for the second half of the PCT cycle.
Here is an example PCT cycle to follow an NPP cycle:
·         Week 1: Clomid 50mg, Nolvadex 40mg
·         Week 2: Clomid 50mg, Nolvadex 40mg
·         Week 3: Clomid 25mg, Nolvadex 20mg
·         Week 4: Clomid 25mg, Nolvadex 20mg
To ensure gains are maintained to the maximum level, training should continue at a relatively high intensity right through your PCT cycle even if endurance and strength isn’t going to be felt at the same level as when you’re on steroids.
