Sustanon 250
(testosterone)

This product was developed by Organon as an ideal HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) solution, and it was thought at the time that the different esters would be able to provide a constant release of Testosterone over a months time. Sustanon is a blend of different estered testosterones (4 of them): testosterone propionate - 30 mg, testosterone phenylpropionate - 60 mg, testosterone isocaproate - 60mg, and testosterone decanoate -100 mg.

This drug was highly sought after as a "superior" version of testosterone in the late 80´s and through the mid 90´s. No doubt this is partly due to the very nice write-up Dan Duchaine gave it in his newsletters. However, lets keep in mind that this drug was designed for convenience, not athletics or bodybuilding. The advantage to this drug, according to the manufacturer, is that it can be injected once a month, and the different esters would provide different timed releases over that month, and the patient would therefore only need to visit the doctor once a month for his shot. For athletes or bodybuilders (who routinely use between half a gram and a gram of testosterone per week), this product is really no better than any other form of injectable testosterone.

Lately, it seems that this product has fallen out of favor with Steroid.com members, as many feel that the inclusion of the Propionate and phenylpropionate estered forms of testosterone in this blend would necessitate shooting every other day. This stems from the fact that testosterone propionate would be shot every other day at least, and testosterone phenylpropionate would generally be shot every third day.

Sustanon will do exactly what other forms of testosterone will do:

Testosterone will cause both muscle growth as well as fat loss. It sends a message to muscle cells to store more contractile protein (called actin and myosin), thus making your muscles grow. It also protects your muscles from catabolic (muscle wasting) glucocorticoid hormones(1). Thus it is often said that testosterone is not only anabolic, but it is strongly catabolic. Not only does it cause an increase in size of the muscle fibres (hyperfascia) but it also can change the appearance and the actual number of muscle fibres (Hyperplasia)(2). Testosterone has the ability to increase erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) in your kidneys(4), and a higher Red Blood Cell (RBC) count may improve endurance by producing more highly oxygenated blood. More RBCs can also improve recovery from strenuous physical activity. Agression levels often rise dramatically with the use of any exogenous testosterone (3). Testosterone improves muscle contraction by increasing the number of motor neutrons in muscle(5) and improves neuromuscular transmission(6). It also promotes glycogen synthesis(7)

And, since Sustanon is simply a form of (well actually 4 forms of) testosterone, we also know that administration of this compound will produce a dose respondant curve. (10)A what? Yeah...basically a "dose respondant curve" is the fancy way of saying "the more you take, the bigger you get..."

This is true of Sustanon as well as for every form of testosterone, up to a point.

Unfortunately, Sustanon will also do all of the bad things that any form of testosterone is known for:

It will convert to the female hormone estrogen (via a mechanism known as aromatization) by the (you guessed it) aromatize enzyme. Excessive estrogen can lead to unwanted side effects, such as acne, the growth of breast tissue (gynecomastia), fat gain and reduced fat breakdown, loss of sex drive, testicular shrinkage and water retention. Water retention can increase blood pressure weakening blood vessels over time. Unfortunately, this isn´t all it does& it can also interact with the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme. This interaction converts the testosterone to Dihydro-testosterone (DHT), a more androgenic form of the parent hormone. DHT has a high binding affinity to the tissues of the scalp resulting in hair loss in loss in users who suffer from male pattern baldness. DHT can affect the prostate as well, making it larger. This swelling can cause the gland to press against the bladder causing urinary problems. Drugs called 5alpha-reductase inhibitors can prevent these symptoms without blocking testosterone´s anabolic effects.(8) Higher dosages of test can also negatively impact cholesterol, lowering HDL(9). Testosterone is probably the safest steroid around, but it can´t be taken lightly, and Sustanon is no different.

The principal drawback to Sustanon is it´s cost. It can cost between $5 an ampule and $12 an ampule. Compared with Omnadren, Testoviron, or even Sten (other testosterone products featuring various blends of Testosterone), the cost makes it prohibitive. An equal amount of an of the aforementioned products can be had for less than half the average cost of an amp of Sustanon. Sustanon, therefore, is no better or worse than any other form of testosterone... if the price is right.

17b-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one
Testosterone base + 4 different esters
Propionate, Phenylpropionate, Isocaproate, Decanoate
Formula (base): C27 H40 O3
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Molecular Weight, Esters:
Propionate: 362.5082
Phenylpropionate: 438.6058
Isocaproate: 404.5886
Decanoate: 460.6958
Formula (base): C19 H28 O2
Melting Point (base): 155
Manufacturer: Organon
Effective Dose (Men): 500-2000mg/ week
Effective Dose (Women): Not recommended
Active life: Up to 3 weeks
Detection Time: 3+ months
Anabolic/Androgenic ratio:100/100


References:

Human Anatomy and Physiology, 6th Edition, John W. Hole jr.
J Appl Physiol 94: 2273-2281, 2003. First published February 14, 2003; doi:10.1152
Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 77, Issue 1 23-29,
EFFECTS OF RECOMBINANT GROWTH HORMONE ON VISCERAL FAT ACCUMULATION: PILOT STUDY IN HIV-INFECTED ADOLESCENTS. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Apr 19; [Epub ahead of print]
Measures of submaximal aerobic performance evaluate and predict functional response to growth hormone (HGH) treatment in HGH-deficient adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Dec;84(12):4570-7.
Hormonal responses to consecutive days of heavy-resistance exercise with or without nutritional supplementation. J Appl Physiol, Oct 1998; 85: 1544 - 1555.
Hormonal and growth factor responses to heavy resistance exercise protocols. J Appl Physiol, Oct 1990; 69: 1442-1450
High dose growth hormone exerts an anabolic effect at rest and during exercise in endurance-trained athletes.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Nov;88(11):5221-6.
Christ ER, Cummings MH, Westwood NB, Sawyer BM, Pearson TC, Sonksen PH, Russell-Jones DL. The importance of growth hormone in the regulation of erythropoiesis, red cell mass, and plasma volume in adults with growth hormone deficiency., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997 Sep;82(9):2985-90
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 87, No.8 3573-3577
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Mar;282(3):E601-7.
Testosterone blunts feedback inhibition of growth hormone secretion by experimentally elevated insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Mar;90(3):1613-7. Epub 2004 Dec 7.
Comparison of the Metabolic Effects of Raloxifene and Oral Estrogen in Postmenopausal and Growth Hormone-Deficient Women.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Apr 26; [Epub ahead of print]
Serum insulin-like growth factor I levels in growth hormone-deficient adults: influence of sex steroids.Horm Res. 2004;62 Suppl 1:73-6.
Growth hormone enhances effects of endurance training on oxidative muscle metabolism in elderly women. Am J Physiol Endocrinol

Sustanon 250
Chemical Name: (Testosterone Blend)
Drug Class: Injectable Anabolic Steroid
1 milliliter of Sustanon 250 Contains:
30 mgs Testosterone Propionate
60mgs testosterone Phenylpropionate
60mgs testosterone Isocaproate
100mgs testosterone Decanoate -100 mg

This product was the first multi-estered blend of testosterone available on the market, and was developed by Organon as an ideal HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) solution. To this day, most multi-estered blends are often referred to as the “(drug name) version of Sustanon” and many underground labs produce their own testosterone blends with a different number at the end (ex: “Sustanon 350” or whatever). It was meant to give the user consistently elevated blood levels of testosterone over the course of a month, and thus eliminate the need for frequent trips to the doctors office for injections.

This drug was very popular in the 80’s and 90’s, and was often thought of as being a “stack” in one drug. This isn’t really accurate, because, in the end all you have is testosterone once your body has metabolized it.Lately, it seems that this product has fallen out the radar for the most part, as it’s a bit expensive compared to other, single ester, testosterone products.Sustanon will do exactly what any other form of testosterone will do, no more and no less. This means that it will cause muscle growth as well as fat loss, by sending a message to your muscles to store more protein (that’s its primary anabolic effect), while also protecting your muscles from catabolic (muscle wasting) (1). It will also change both the appearance and the actual number of muscle fibers in your body(2).

We also find that aggression levels rise with the use of any form of testosterone (3), and it also increases erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) in your kidneys(4). This higher Red Blood Cell (RBC) count may actually improve endurance. Thus, it’s appropriate to say that Sustanon will increase strength, size, aggression, and maybe even endurance but certainly work capacity and recovery. More RBCs can also improve recovery from strenuous physical activity. In addition, Testosterone improves muscle contractile ability by two mechanisms: increasing the number of motor neutrons in muscle(5) and improving neuromuscular transmission(6). Also, testosterone is a well known promoter of glycogen synthesis.(7)As with any form of testosterone, Sustanon will convert to the primary female hormone estrogen (via a mechanism known as aromatization) when it is metabolized by the aromatize enzyme. Estrogen can lead to side effects, such as acne, the growth of breast tissue (called gynocomastia), as well as fat gain and reduced fat breakdown, testicular shrinkage and water retention. Testosterone is also metabolized into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the 5alpha-reductase enzyme. This is a more androgenic form of Testosterone, and DHT has a high binding affinity to the tissues of both the prostate and the scalp resulting in hair loss in loss in users who may suffer from male pattern baldness. Prostate enlargement is also possible.

The only real downside to Sustanon is its relatively high cost. When compared with other forms of testosterone, you’re typically not getting a very good buy for your money when you choose to use any multi-estered product. However, as long as Sustanon remains easily accessible on the black market, it’s going to be found in cycles for a long time to come.References:1. J Lab Clin Med. 1995 Mar;125(3):326-33.2. Anat Histol Embryol. 2003 Apr;32(2):70-9.3. Health Psychol. 1990;9(6):774-91.4. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2003;9(4):248-515 Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2004 May;7(3):271-7.6. J Appl Physiol. 2001 Mar;90(3):850-6.7. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1999 Apr;77(4):300-4.