When used in medicine to treat intrauterine growth retardation, dosages of 1-3 IU per day are typically used.
When used for performance enhancement purposes, 2-4 IU per day are taken, with a maximum dosage of 6 IU used by elite bodybuilders to promote further mass gain.
HGH cycles usually last anywhere from 6 to 24 weeks, with 16 weeks being the average duration for a standard bodybuilding cycle.
| Week | HGH |
|---|
| 1 | 4iu / day |
| 2 | 4iu / day |
| 3 | 4iu / day |
| 4 | 4iu / day |
| 5 | 4iu / day |
| 6 | 4iu / day |
| 7 | 4iu / day |
| 8 | 4iu / day |
| 9 | 4iu / day |
| 10 | 4iu / day |
| 11 | 4iu / day |
| 12 | 4iu / day |
| 13 | 4iu / day |
| 14 | 4iu / day |
| 15 | 4iu / day |
| 16 | 4iu / day |
We find that HGH is not typically taken by beginners, but by more experienced PED users, attempting to take their muscle gains to the next level.
Beginners with significant muscle size will typically take bulking steroids, such as Dianabol or Testosterone. Then, after hitting a plateau, they may introduce HGH for further growth and fat loss.
However, if beginners do not want to experience huge muscle gains but instead milder increases in hypertrophy (size), the above cycle may be taken.
In our experience, Anavar and Primobolan are mild steroids that can produce similar results (in a potentially safer manner) to HGH. We must stress that the long-term effects of HGH are still relatively unknown.
HGH and Testosterone Cycle
HGH and testosterone are a common cycle used to significantly enhance muscle building, strength, and fat loss. Thus, this stack could be used for bulking or cutting.
We see testosterone taken by beginners as a first steroid cycle, helping them to build exceptional amounts of muscle while reducing subcutaneous fat.
30 lbs of lean mass gained is a typical outcome in our patients when taking Testosterone for the first time in moderate dosages (combined with weight training).
Adding testosterone to this stack is optimal for users wanting more pronounced muscle gains compared to taking HGH alone.
Week
| Week | HGH | Testosterone |
|---|
| 1 | 4iu / day | |
| 2 | 4iu / day | |
| 3 | 4iu / day | |
| 4 | 4iu / day | |
| 5 | 4iu / day | |
| 6 | 4iu / day | |
| 7 | 4iu / day | |
| 8 | 4iu / day | |
| 9 | 4iu / day | 400mg |
| 10 | 4iu / day | 400mg |
| 11 | 4iu / day | 400mg |
| 12 | 4iu / day | 400mg |
| 13 | 4iu / day | 400mg |
| 14 | 4iu / day | 400mg |
| 15 | 4iu / day | 400mg |
| 16 | 4iu / day | 400mg |
Side Effects
The addition of testosterone will not cause a considerable decline in health, with it being one of the mildest AAS, based on our testing.
We find testosterone only causes mild cardiovascular strain when taken in moderate dosages (such as 300–400 mg/week). It also causes no notable hepatotoxicity, being an injectable.
However, androgenic side effects may occur with the addition of testosterone, such as accelerated MPB (male pattern baldness), acne vulgaris, or prostate enlargement.
These adverse effects occur due to heightened DHT levels damaging hair follicles on the scalp and the sebaceous glands becoming overstimulated, resulting in excess sebum secretion (blocking the pores).
Stacking HGH with testosterone will also have a transient effect on testosterone levels, initially spiking during a cycle but then crashing post-cycle. Consequently, low testosterone symptoms can persist for several months unless certain PCT medications are taken to restore the HPTA axis.
Note: We do not find testosterone suitable for women due to its androgenic nature, which causes high incidents of masculinization.
HGH / T3 / Anavar Cycle
This is a cutting cycle and one of the most potent combinations for rapid fat loss in our experience.
T3 (Cytomel) is a powerful fat-burning hormone used as a prescription medicine for treating obesity and hypothyroidism.
Bodybuilders often use T3 to raise their BMR (basal metabolic rate) and enhance lipolysis, maximizing fat burning before a competition.
We find the gradual tapering of T3 during this cycle (with steady increases and decreases in dosage) is optimal to reduce side effects and prevent endogenous T3 shutdown post-cycle.
Anavar is one of the most commonly used cutting steroids, dramatically enhancing fat loss while retaining (or adding) lean muscle.
The presence of Anavar is critical in this cycle, not only from a fat-burning perspective but also to prevent the body from shifting into a catabolic state. T3 can burn muscle tissue as well as fat stores when taken without anabolic agents; thus, running T3 by itself is a potential disaster for a bodybuilder.
100 mg/week of testosterone can also be added to this stack to increase anabolism without adding any notable water retention, due to this low dose. Testosterone may be run alongside T3 and Anavar for the last 8 weeks of this cycle.
| Week | HGH | Anavar | Cytomel |
|---|
| 1 | 4iu / day | | |
| 2 | 4iu / day | | |
| 3 | 4iu / day | | |
| 4 | 4iu / day | | |
| 5 | 4iu / day | | |
| 6 | 4iu / day | | |
| 7 | 4iu / day | | |
| 8 | 4iu / day | | |
| 9 | 4iu / day | 20mg / day | |
| 10 | 4iu / day | 20mg / day | |
| 11 | 4iu / day | 20mg / day | 25mcg / day |
| 12 | 4iu / day | 20mg / day | 50mcg / day |
| 13 | 4iu / day | 20mg / day | 75mcg / day |
| 14 | 4iu / day | 20mg / day | 75mcg / day |
| 15 | 4iu / day | 20mg / day | 50mcg / day |
| 16 | 4iu / day | 20mg / day | 25mcg / day |
Side Effects
We regularly see endogenous T3 levels become suppressed post-cycle after taking exogenous T3. It can take approximately 3–4 weeks for natural levels to return to normal. During this time, a person’s metabolism will become significantly slower, making it easier to overeat.
Thus, users must be cautious of this effect and lower their calories accordingly (as we see users typically gain weight back by eating in a caloric surplus).
Anavar is a very mild steroid, with few side effects reported by our patients. However, a mild alteration in cholesterol levels and blood lipids is still to be expected. We have found that supplementing with 4 grams of fish oil daily effectively lowers LDL cholesterol and reduces cardiovascular strain.
Anavar is an oral steroid and thus c-17 alpha-alkylated, enabling maximum absorption into the bloodstream.
Oral steroids may be convenient; however, they are hepatotoxic, and thus AST and ALT liver enzymes often rise, indicating stress or damage to the liver. The good news is that we have not found Anavar to be particularly hepatotoxic; therefore, liver inflammation is likely to be mild when sticking to moderate dosages.
The presence of Anavar will also cause some natural testosterone suppression. Our patients’ labs do not indicate this being an aggressive shutdown of the HPTA axis; however, it may take several weeks for peak testosterone function to return. A PCT may or may not be used, depending on how the user is feeling in terms of energy, libido, and mood.
Note: Women should only use 10mg of Anavar for the last 4-5 weeks of this cycle to prevent masculinization.
