Arimidex (Anastrozole)
Arimidex is an anti-estrogen aromatase inhibitor (AI) drug which was originally
formulated as a medication for breast cancer in post-menopausal women and is
still used for that purpose today.
Arimidex (Anastrozole) PCT
The generic name of Arimidex is Anastrozole and while there are several other
brand names used around the world, Arimidex is by far the most common and
widely used and known.
It’s the Arimidex brand that is very popular among steroid users to address the
estrogenic side effects we experience with the use of many anabolic steroids.
For this purpose, Arimidex is almost always recommended for use in a steroid
cycle.
In this guide, you'll learn:







What is Arimidex (Anastrozole)?
Arimidex for Gynecomastia and Estrogen Control On-Cycle
Arimidex for Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
Arimidex Dosage
Arimidex vs Nolvadex for PCT
Arimidex Side Effects
Common Q&A Related to Arimidex
What is Arimidex (Anastrozole)?
By blocking the aromatase enzyme, Arimidex directly lowers the levels of
estrogen circulating in the body. This is critical for treating breast cancer
because of estrogen’s function on cancer cells, but also serves a great purpose
for steroid users as estrogen is the enemy of steroid use and is responsible for
many of the severe side effects we all want to avoid.
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
Anastrozole (Arimidex) Structure
As one of the best aromatase inhibitors, Arimidex is considered the most
effective choice for combating the estrogenic side effects of aromatizing steroid
use like gynecomastia, water retention and the associated high blood pressure
that can come with excess water retention.
While not all steroids aromatize, the most common anabolic steroids that you’re
likely to be using, like all forms of Testosterone, Nandrolone, Dianabol and
others come with strong estrogenic effects as a result of aromatization and
therefore the use Arimidex is going to be a high priority for the majority of steroid
users, whether you’re a beginner or advanced user or somewhere in between.
Arimidex for Gynecomastia and Estrogen Control OnCycle
Using Arimidex during a cycle is almost universal among steroid users as an
estrogenic related side effects protection strategy. The main estrogenic side
effects of aromatizing steroids are water retention (and possible high blood
pressure), and gynecomastia. Arimidex is considered as extremely effective at
inhibiting the aromatase enzyme which brings about these side effects in
steroid users.
Because Arimidex stops the rise of estrogen levels at the most basic level,
rather than selectively blocking some receptors like SERMs (Clomid, Nolvadex)
do, most bodybuilders prefer Arimidex for its more powerful estrogen
controlling ability and many no longer use SERMs, while some steroid users
will use a combination of both SERMs and AIs like Arimidex.
As a bodybuilder using steroids, the two side effects you always want to avoid
are water retention and gynecomastia (gyno). These are both caused by rising
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
levels of estrogen as your natural testosterone is suppressed while taking
steroids.
Arimidex for Gyno
The more powerfully aromatizing the steroid or steroids you’re taking are, the
more severe your estrogen related side effects will be when it comes to gyno
and water retention. The initial symptoms of gyno
include tenderness and swelling of the breast tissue, and this is an initial sign
that gyno is taking hold as a result of your steroid cycle.
While advanced steroid users will know how to prevent this occurring through
the proper use of Arimidex and other drugs, new steroid users can take some
time to balance the right dosage of steroids with that of Arimidex. It’s critically
important that the symptoms of gyno are not left to progress to a stage where
they are not reversible through any means besides invasive surgery.
Arimidex as an aromatase inhibitor makes it possible to avoid getting yourself
into that situation, and therefore should be considered as just as an important
part of your steroid cycle as the steroids themselves are.
Arimidex for Water Retention
Water retention is the other area where we need to be focused on estrogen
control during a steroid cycle. Bloating caused by water retention is not only
unsightly for your physique, but can give you a false sense of achievement with
your gains.
This quickly turns to disappointment once you realize the weight gained was
mostly water rather than muscle. But even more serious is the issue of high
blood pressure that can result from excess water retention – increasing the risk
of stroke or heart attack.
It goes without saying then that controlling water retention as much as possible
is vital not only for your results, but your health too.
Arimidex with its anti-estrogen functionality provides an important tool for steroid
using bodybuilders to prevent or at least greatly minimize water retention during
a steroid cycle.
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
Arimidex for Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
Arimidex has the ability to stimulate natural testosterone production in men and
this can make it useful during post cycle therapy where the goal is to build up
natural testosterone levels again after they’ve been strongly suppressed during
a cycle.
Keep in mind that for most guys, Arimidex alone will not be strong enough as a
testosterone stimulator to use alone in post cycle therapy, and some choose not
to use it at all.
The main reason for not including Arimidex in post cycle therapy is because of
its very powerful estrogen lowering effect which in some cases can cause levels
of the hormone to drop too low to support proper body functioning.
While estrogen is not a prime hormone for males, some is still required and the
use of Arimidex during post cycle therapy can inhibit this necessary function and
therefore not provide the beneficial effects you really need during post cycle
therapy.
This can come as some surprise to new steroid users who assume AIs, with
their exceptionally powerful estrogen reduction ability, must be the best option
for post cycle therapy as well but most users will choose to go the route of
SERMs like Nolvadex, Clomid.
You can go ahead and combine these with hCG for maximum effect during post
cycle therapy, where your core goals are stimulating natural testosterone
function again and avoiding the horrendous symptoms of low testosterone, plus
ensuring all or most of the gains made during your steroid cycle are maintained.
When it comes to these post cycle therapy goals, Arimidex is rarely the most
ideal drug to include in the cycle despite its excellent and important usage
during your steroid cycle itself.
Arimidex Dosage
Arimidex Dosage During Anabolic Steroid Use
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
Arimidex is a highly effective aromatase inhibitor at low doses for estrogen
control when using steroids that aromatize. Many guys will find that 0.5mg every
two days is enough to mitigate all side effects.
Others will need to increase to 1mg every two days. While some people will take
as much as 1mg of Arimidex everyday during a cycle this is usually unnecessary
and it’s also advised to test your individual response to the drug by starting out
at the lower dose.
Female Arimidex Dosage
Because it has such strong estrogen suppressive effects, Arimidex is mostly
only given to post-menopausal women as a breast cancer treatment to slow the
growth of some types of tumors and where the cancer is still progressing after
the use of SERM drugs. The most common dosage is 1mg daily.
Many women will be required to take Arimidex for up to five years to help control
the growth of cancerous tumors. This long term administration of Arimidex
comes with increased risk of side effects that we rarely or never see with the
short term use that steroid users undertake with this drug.
As Arimidex is not prescribed medically for the majority of women with breast
cancer who have not yet reached menopause, female steroid users also should
not use this drug for any purpose.
Arimidex Dosage for PCT and Increased Endogenous Testosterone Secretion
As mentioned already, Arimidex is not a prime choice for post cycle therapy
purposes for the majority of steroid users.
While it has some function for helping stimulate the production of testosterone,
its highly suppressive effects on estrogen can result in a less than ideal effect on
testosterone production and a result that is not as effective as using SERMs like
Nolvadex and Clomid, which are more commonly used for PCT purposes, in
conjunction with hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin).
While everyone reacts differently to different drugs, and your post cycle therapy
will also depend on the type of steroid cycle you were on, some may wish to
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
include Arimidex and in these cases a dosage of 0.5mg to 1mg daily during the
post cycle therapy cycle is sufficient.
Arimidex vs Nolvadex for PCT
More and more bodybuilders are turning to AIs like Arimidex to meet their needs
for a powerful and effective anti-estrogen while using steroids because AIs
actually block the function of estrogen, while SERMs like Nolvadex are very
selective in how and where they can stop the functioning of estrogen. But many
of us are still using Nolvadex and other SERM’s, often in conjunction with AIs.
How does Nolvadex compare with Arimidex and should you still be using a
SERM at all? It’s not so black and white, and ultimately it comes down to how
your body reacts to the drugs and the strength of your steroid cycle and the
associated side effects.
A big advantage that Nolvadex and other SERMs have over Arimidex and AIs is
that while Arimidex is likely to have a negative impact on your cholesterol by
lowering HDL cholesterol – the good cholesterol type and this is amplified further
when it’s used with most anabolic steroids, Nolvadex does not come with this
concern.
In fact Nolvadex can potentially be good for cholesterol; quite the opposite to
Arimidex in this regard. This is a big reason, especially for those concerned with
cholesterol health, that people will choose to use SERMs over an AI like
Arimidex particularly for more mild steroid cycles where an AI might not be
needed anyway.
There’s another huge benefit to Nolvadex though: it is very effective during post
cycle therapy to stimulate the natural production of testosterone following
suppression during a steroid cycle.
Arimidex and SERMs in general simply don’t excel at this function because
although it has some testosterone stimulating effects, the way Arimidex
suppresses estrogen levels so much that there is not enough for normal
functioning makes testosterone stimulation quite weak and not often enough to
provide the much needed benefits during post cycle therapy.
Therefore Arimidex is rarely recommended for use during post cycle therapy and
instead is considered to be a drug that is mostly used during a steroid cycle
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
which is where it’s performance and results does outshine that of Nolvadex.
That’s not to say that bodybuilders don’t use Arimidex during post cycle therapy:
many do but only in conjunction with other drugs so that every possible angle is
covered to aid in total recovery from a powerful steroid cycle.
For people foregoing Arimidex altogether during post cycle therapy, a
combination of Clomid, Nolvadex and hCG are often used instead. The ultimate
goal of post cycle therapy is to stimulate testosterone not only for normal
functioning as a male, but also to retain your muscle gains and control body fat –
both of which will suffer when testosterone levels are lower than normal.
Arimidex Side Effects
As a drug designed for women, most of the side effects listed and known about
relate to Arimidex’s impact on the female body and in particular how the
substantial reduction of estrogen brings about most of these side effects.
Since estrogen is the primary female sex hormone, it is clearly going to have a
heavy impact on female when Arimidex reduces estrogen levels to the levels
that it does – while when men use Arimidex this estrogen reduction is welcomed
rather than a hindrance in most cases. Additionally, as a breast cancer treatment
Arimidex is almost always taken over very long periods of time compared to the
length of time it’s used for by steroid users.
But all of this doesn’t mean there aren’t side effect risks for steroid users who
take Arimidex, but they are not going to be as extensive or severe. One of the
main concerns surrounds a possible reduction in bone mineral content (BMC)
which can lead to a higher risk of fractures and bone weakness, especially
among people who lift heavy weights.
While most steroid users are unlikely to see a noticeable issue with bone mineral
content reduction with Arimidex, some bone or joint pain can occur but usually
subsides once you stop the drug. Since many steroids actually improve BMC,
this side effect is even less of a concern for steroid users.
The second most concerning side effect of Arimidex revolves around
cholesterol. When this drug is used with many types of anabolic steroids which
themselves are known to have a bad effect on HDL cholesterol levels by
lowering them (and sometimes significantly), Arimidex can make this worse.
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
While a reduction in HDL is almost always reversible after stopping steroids, it’s
still critically important to follow a diet that is low in saturated fat and higher in
cholesterol friendly foods like those rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Cardio work is also advised so you can keep cholesterol levels as optimal as
possible during this time. If you are prone to high cholesterol then choosing a
SERM for on-cycle estrogen levels control rather than an AI like Arimidex can
eliminate this problem for you.
Other uncommon possible side effects of Arimidex include fatigue, headache,
nausea and hot flashes but once again these are almost always only seen in
women who use Arimidex for long periods of time.
Common Q&A Related to Arimidex
What is the purpose of Arimidex?
The original purpose of Arimidex is to treat breast cancer in post-menopausal
women where the cancer is being promoted by estrogen, where Arimidex is able
to minimize the amount of estrogen in the body and slow or stop the growth of
breast cancers.
This estrogen lowering function of Arimidex is highly desirable to anabolic
steroid users as well, with excess estrogen levels being a side effect of steroids
that have aromatization properties – causing unwanted side effects like breast
growth (gyno) and water retention. The purpose of Arimidex for steroid users
then is to reduce estrogen levels while on steroids so these side effects don’t
occur or are minimized as much as possible.
Is Arimidex an estrogen blocker?
Arimidex blocks the aromatase enzyme which is a critical part of the estrogen
biosynthesis process – without this enzyme, production of estrogen can be
stopped. Compare this to SERMs which block estrogen receptors selectively.
Both can be considered estrogen blocks in some regards, but Arimidex and
other aromatase inhibitors do so on a much more systemic level compared with
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
SERM drugs which only affect particular parts of the body that they are targeted
to.
Can Arimidex cause weight gain?
Weight gain is not known to be a side effect of Arimidex either for women using
it for breast cancer or men using it for estrogen control when using steroids. Any
weight gain during cancer treatment under Arimidex is not thought to be directly
caused by the drug itself.
Can Arimidex cause hair loss?
The estrogen lowering effects of Arimidex and other hormone treatments taken
during breast cancer treatment can potentially cause hair thinning in women. But
this is not a known side effect for male steroid users who use Arimidex. A much
bigger concern is the side effect of many anabolic steroids of hair loss or male
pattern baldness.
Does Anastrozole lower testosterone?
Arimidex does not lower testosterone, but instead is known to potentially
increase testosterone levels while lowering estrogen levels. This is why the drug
is sometimes used to treat low testosterone in men in place of hormone
replacement therapy, usually where lowered testosterone is caused by aging.
Studies have shown that rather than decreasing testosterone, Anastrozole
effectively increases the available serum testosterone in elderly men with mild
hypogonadism, with results showing the testosterone levels can return to normal
range, while at the same time slightly reduced while staying within normal range
for males.
Does Arimidex raise testosterone?
Arimidex is sometimes used as an alternative remedy to testosterone
replacement therapy in men with low testosterone.
Studies have shown though that it’s still not certain whether aromatase
inhibitors are really effective at stimulating testosterone to a high enough level in
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
low testosterone men; and when using anabolic steroids your body will be in a
low testosterone state.
So while Arimidex does have some testosterone stimulating ability, it is not
considered to be strong enough to combat very low testosterone which is why
it’s not often included in PCT cycles.
How quickly does Arimidex lower estrogen?
Arimidex starts working quickly and has a half life of between 30 and 60 hours.
Despite this it can take some time for concentration of the drug to build up in the
blood plasma to reach the peak level, and this can take about a week.
Despite this, impressive amounts of estrogen levels reduction have been noted
in studies on the use of Arimidex in women at the medical dosage of 1mg daily,
with a 70% reduction within just 24 hours, and after 14 days estrogen levels had
lowered by 80%. Circulating estrogen levels remained this low for up to 6 days
after the last dosage of Arimidex.
How much does Arimidex cost?
Where you live will greatly determine the costing of Arimidex. For example in
some countries where pharmaceutical drugs are subsidized, 3 boxes of 30
tablets of Arimidex 1mg costs $20 or less. In the USA the same product can cost
over $1400 when buying with a prescription.
Most steroid users won’t have a prescription for Arimidex and will get them
through other suppliers or research labs. Buying on the black market is not legal
in the US, while it is legal to purchase from research labs only if used for
research purposes – so like all drugs we acquire for bodybuilding use, caution
should be taken when it comes to legalities. Here is a legit place to buy
Arimidex.
Can Anastrozole cause liver damage?
People with existing liver problems might see a worsening of the condition when
using Anastrozole due to inflammation. This is mostly a concern when women
are using the drug long term for cancer treatment; often over a period of years.
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
Medical information about Anastrozole indicate that the drug can cause liver
damage, and this can be considered the case with almost any type of oral
medication. Anyone using Arimidex who is concerned about its impact on the
liver can have liver function tests done by your doctor and to watch for signs of
jaundice or darkened urine which can indicate liver toxicity.