Deca Durabolin (Nandrolone)

Using Deca Durabolin the right way!

Irrespective of whether you dabble in steroids for recreational purposes or you compete professionally and are looking to dip your toes in the darker side of things, Deca Durabolin is a name that you’ll encounter frequently.

This first-generation anabolic steroid has been a staple in mass building stacks since the 1960s, when it was first introduced for therapeutic use.

Its usage was believed to be widespread during the golden era of bodybuilding, primarily due to its low androgenic rating, favorable side-effect profile and its slow-acting nature, which reduces the frequency of injections needed.

More recently though, it seems to have fallen out of favor, as athletes prefer faster-acting compounds with a shorter half-life, like Dianabol and Trenbolone.

Despite this, a Deca cycle can be tremendously useful if done the right way.

If you have always wanted to use it but were wondering whether it was worth the time, then here’s a brief guide that will explain to you, the basics of Deca Durabolin.

What is a Deca Durabolin?

Deca Durabolin is a testosterone-derived anabolic hormone called Nandrolone, with the Decanoate ester attached to it.

A simple modification to the Testosterone hormone gives us Nandrolone which is more anabolic and very less androgenic.

People who are familiar with the chemistry might be quick to notice that Nandrolone is the hormone in Trenbolone.

But Deca is anything like Tren.

The Decanoate ester is a slow-acting one that controls the release of the hormone over a two to three-week period, after administration.

This makes it one of the slowest acting anabolic steroids of all times, that’s more commonly used in the off-season rather than during the competitive season.

For a brief while, a shorter acting ester called Nandrolone Phenylpropionate was also used by athletes. But it hasn’t gained as much popularity as Deca Durabolin.

What does Deca Durabolin do?

Deca Durabolin has always been misunderstood as a mass building steroid.

In reality, it is a very versatile steroid that can be used for bulking, cutting as well as for therapeutic purposes.

In a bulking cycle, Deca Durabolin works pretty much like Testosterone, albeit in a slow fashion. It amplifies the release of IGF-1, increases nitrogen retention and also increases protein synthesis.

These three actions form the bedrock of anabolism and will greatly enhance the rate at which you build lean muscle tissue. However, due to the slow acting ester, the gains will not be as fast as what you’d get with other mass building steroids like Anadrol.

Instead, you will make quality muscle gains that can last for months after you stop using the steroid.

Deca Durabolin also increases the rate of recovery and heals the body, particularly if you have joint pains and aches. Many users consider adding low doses of Deca during their steroid cycles, purely as a therapeutic drug because unlike NSAIDs and Opioids, Deca does not merely mask the pain. It completely heals the tissue.

In a cutting cycle, Deca is used primarily for its healing properties and for its ability to preserve muscle during a calorie deficit. It suppresses the release of Glucocorticoid hormones, which can cannibalize hard-earned muscle.

The right dosage for Deca Durabolin?

That depends on the intended use. Deca Durabolin is a well-tolerated anabolic steroid which means that you can even increase the dose without too many side effects, barring Deca-Dick. (More on this in a bit)

For a bulking cycle, 400-500mg/week of Deca is the gold standard. If you hate pinning, you can use just one injection in a week. If you care a hoot about pins, you can divide this into two injections for the week.

For a cutting cycle, even 250-300mg/week of Deca is fine. You will gain quality muscle tissue without the risk of gaining too much water during the cycle.

For athletic or therapeutic use, even 200mg/week of Deca will suffice. This will lubricate your creaky joints bringing them to life and greatly improving your on-field performance.

Should I use Deca Durabolin solo or in a stack?

Due to the slow-acting nature of the steroid and due to its affinity to shut down your natural testosterone production, Deca Durabolin should never be used solo.

It must always be accompanied with some form of Testosterone. Usually, it is paired with the longer acting esters of Test like Enanthate and Cyp. However, there’s no reason why you cannot use it with short acting forms as well.

Deca pairs phenomenally well with most anabolic steroids including other 19-Nors.

There’s a common myth that you cannot pair two 19-Nor steroids since they end up competing to bind with the same receptors. That’s a load of bull.

If your bodybuilding goals require you to pair two 19-nor steroids, do it by all means.

One of the most popular bulking stacks of all times contains Testosterone, Deca Durabolin and Dianabol.

Similarly, a body recomp stack containing low dose of Test, high dose Deca and EQ is also quite popular.

What is Deca Dick?

Deca Dick is another name for the lack of libido and severe erectile dysfunction that seems to be particular with Deca Durabolin usage.

For a long time, it was believed that Deca Durabolin causes this due to estrogen or progesterone or because it is a 19-nor steroid.

However, none of these are true.

Deca Durabolin reacts with the 5-alpha reductase enzyme to produce DHN, which all but replaces DHT from androgen receptor sites.

DHN however cannot stimulate androgen receptors in the brain and in the penile muscle, which are critical to cause an erection.

Using a low dose of Finasteride seems to be an easy solution to Deca Dick. But it greatly amplifies the risk of causing severe acne and can also make your skin very oily.

What other side effects does Nandrolone cause?

Other than greatly suppressing the natural testosterone levels, Deca Durabolin will negatively affect your cardiovascular profile. It will greatly increase the levels of bad cholesterol or LDL while reducing the levels of good cholesterol or HDL.

These side effects can be controlled or mitigated by using cardiovascular support, adding HIIT cardio to your routine and supplementing with fish oil.