akn
Musclechemistry Member
With most of the focus on Aromasin these days, I wanted to bring some of the attention back to our other AI’s. While Aromasin has rightly earned its place on the most popular list, each AI has its own unique set of characteristics which makes it ideal under various circumstances, but before we start discussing these differences, let’s begin with a brief history of letrozole in medicine. Brought to market by Novartis in 1997, Letrozole’s original indication was for the treatment of receptor-positive or unknown advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. A few years later, fertility specialists began employing letrozole for the purpose of ovarian stimulation after clinical studies demonstrated several advantages over Clomid, such as an improved side effect profile, a reduced risk of multiple gestation (twins, triplets, etc), and increased rates of conception.
It didn’t take long for BB’rs to become aware of this potent anti-estrogen, but as a patented drug and without any peptide/research chemical companies in existence at the time, not many BB’rs couldn’t afford or even find the drug. This all changed a few years later, with an abundance of UGL’s and chemical research companies offering the drug at reasonable prices. At this point letrozole has been widely available on both the black & grey markets for close to a decade.
Prior to the arrival of AI’s most BB’rs relied in Nolvadex and to a lesser extent Clomid, in order to combat the estrogenic side effects associated with the use of aromatizable drugs. As SERMs, they were able to prevent receptor mediated side effects such as gynecomastia, but they were completely ineffective at managing systemic estrogen levels. This left the BB’r prone to water retention, increased blood pressure, female fat pattern distribution, reduced libido, sexual dysfunction, emotional disturbances, and other undesirable side effects.
AI’s were also largely responsible for the change in PED habits that occurred among BB’rs over the last 15 years, particularly in regards to testosterone usage. While large dosages were certainly in use prior to that, AI’s allowed BB’rs to not only use greater amounts of testosterone without fear of estrogenic side effects, but it allowed them to run these large doses right into contests—a practice I am adamantly opposed to for several reasons, the most important of which is related to its negative effect on conditioning. With aromatization having such potentially negative effects on a BBr’s contest appearance, this was not something which was done previously with any regularity.
It didn’t take long for BB’rs to become aware of this potent anti-estrogen, but as a patented drug and without any peptide/research chemical companies in existence at the time, not many BB’rs couldn’t afford or even find the drug. This all changed a few years later, with an abundance of UGL’s and chemical research companies offering the drug at reasonable prices. At this point letrozole has been widely available on both the black & grey markets for close to a decade.
Prior to the arrival of AI’s most BB’rs relied in Nolvadex and to a lesser extent Clomid, in order to combat the estrogenic side effects associated with the use of aromatizable drugs. As SERMs, they were able to prevent receptor mediated side effects such as gynecomastia, but they were completely ineffective at managing systemic estrogen levels. This left the BB’r prone to water retention, increased blood pressure, female fat pattern distribution, reduced libido, sexual dysfunction, emotional disturbances, and other undesirable side effects.
AI’s were also largely responsible for the change in PED habits that occurred among BB’rs over the last 15 years, particularly in regards to testosterone usage. While large dosages were certainly in use prior to that, AI’s allowed BB’rs to not only use greater amounts of testosterone without fear of estrogenic side effects, but it allowed them to run these large doses right into contests—a practice I am adamantly opposed to for several reasons, the most important of which is related to its negative effect on conditioning. With aromatization having such potentially negative effects on a BBr’s contest appearance, this was not something which was done previously with any regularity.
