Is Trenbolone Safe? The Truth About Its Effects

Trenbolone is a popular anabolic steroid used by bodybuilders to build muscle and burn fat. Primarily, trenbolone is utilized during bulking cycles to add significant amounts of lean mass without the bloating and water retention of other anabolic-androgenic steroids.

As one of the most potent anabolic steroids, trenbolone has undeniable benefits. However, trenbolone is also notorious for its side effects, with users rarely being able to cycle it without compromising their short-term health.

Is Trenbolone Safe?

We cannot consider trenbolone safe as it is not an FDA-approved anabolic steroid in medicine.

Furthermore, we have seen physiological and psychological risks in its users.

However, we have various patients in our practice who have previously taken trenbolone and are still in relatively positive health. Therefore, lifestyle and genetic factors influence the outcome of a trenbolone cycle.

The Main Dangers of Trenbolone

From our tests, we see that trenbolone is the most dangerous for the heart and the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA).

Therefore, individuals with hypertension, high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and hypogonadism should refrain from using tren, as it can exacerbate each of these conditions. For such individuals, trenbolone should be considered unsafe due to the elevated risk of arteriosclerosis and myocardial infarction.

Other side effects are common too, such as:

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Hair loss
• Raised liver enzymes

However, we have not found the above adverse effects to be life-threatening.

Note: In our liver function tests, we see that injectable trenbolone does not raise liver enzymes significantly in comparison to oral anabolic steroids. However, taking oral trenbolone, also known as methyltrienolone, will cause an excessive rise in alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, posing risks to the liver.

How to Minimize the Risks from Trenbolone

The primary risk associated with trenbolone comes from a cardiovascular perspective. Thus, inhibiting excessive elevations of LDL cholesterol and blood pressure should be the main objective of a tren cycle.

Our patients have achieved notable success from:

• Taking 4 g/day of fish oil
• A reduced sugar diet
• Regular cardiovascular exercise (3–4 times per week)

Fish oil has a notably positive effect on cholesterol, preventing the buildup of plaque in the arteries (atherosclerosis).

We have found a high-sugar diet to be one of the leading causes of high cholesterol and blood pressure in research and in patients; thus, reducing such intake will cause reductions in LDL levels.

Equally, users may choose to adopt a ketogenic diet when cycling trenbolone, which will provide even greater cardioprotective effects (1). To enter a ketogenic state, users should aim for 30 grams of carbs or less per day. In one study, researchers found that forty people who followed a Mediterranean ketogenic diet (which involved a diet with red wine, olive oil, and less than 30 grams of carbs) reduced their systolic blood pressure score by 17 points and their diastolic score by 10 points (2).

A ketogenic diet will also enhance subcutaneous and visceral fat loss, which is advantageous for bodybuilders.

Trenbolone users should also be aware of their salt and saturated fat intake, as high amounts may contribute to increased blood viscosity and elevated LDL cholesterol during their cycle.

Avoid stimulants, like caffeine in energy drinks or pre-workouts, as they can cause a vasoconstrictive effect. Coffee is acceptable due to its rich antioxidant profile, which inhibits spikes in blood pressure.

Stacking Dangers

We observe that stacking trenbolone with other anabolic steroids increases its risks. Therefore, one should take trenbolone alone to minimize side effects.

However, some bodybuilders choose to cycle trenbolone with Anadrol or testosterone, which will exacerbate:

1. Testosterone suppression
2. Blood pressure
3. Liver toxicity readings

To keep ALT and AST levels as close to a normal range as possible when stacking trenbolone with a hepatotoxic oral steroid, take tauroursodeoxycholic acid (3).

The Least and Most Dangerous Doses

The safest dose of trenbolone is to take none. However, if someone is administering this anabolic steroid, lower doses will provide the least risk.

We have found high doses of trenbolone to be particularly damaging, even when taken in the short term.

We have found that a conservative dose of trenbolone of 150 mg/week produces notable results with the fewest side effects.

A standard dose would be 250 mg/week, and an aggressive dose is 500 mg/week or more.

A user’s first cycle of trenbolone should be on a lower dose to see how their body reacts to it. You typically will only see seasoned elite bodybuilders utilize the higher doses, as their bodies have become accustomed to the drug over many years, building up tolerance.

Is Tren Safer Than Other Steroids?

We have found trenbolone to be one of the most toxic anabolic steroids taken by bodybuilders today. Only Anadrol’s toxicity is arguably greater than its own when taken in typical bodybuilding doses.

However, trenbolone is not notably hepatotoxic, so liver inflammation is minimal.

Testosterone, in comparison, is considerably safer, having a less deleterious effect on cholesterol.

Other anabolic steroids, such as Dianabol, Winstrol, and Anavar, will also pose fewer risks; however, due to their oral nature, they will cause more inflammation in the liver.

Psychological Side Effects

Although rare, we have had a couple of users report significant depression and even suicidal thoughts when taking trenbolone. We understand that many underestimate the psychological effects of this steroid, as it commonly increases bouts of anxiety and depression.

If users develop suicidal tendencies, this could potentially be a dangerous side effect. Therefore, it is advisable to steer clear of trenbolone if you have poor mental health.

The cause of such well-being declines is unknown, but they disappear after cycle disruption.

The stimulative effects of trenbolone could lead to decreased mental health. This typically translates to a short-term increase in dopamine and adrenaline levels for the first few weeks and then significantly less dopamine from there onward. Our patients typically report initial euphoria at the start of trenbolone cycles and then a crash toward the end. Extreme endogenous testosterone suppression can also contribute to decreased well-being.

Summary

Research and our personal experience both demonstrate that trenbolone, an illegal steroid, has detrimental effects on the heart.

Trenbolone is undoubtedly not suitable for novices or those with a weak constitution. However, we do see elite bodybuilders take trenbolone sporadically with ample time off in between cycles and are healthy.

Thus, lifestyle, genetics, and dosages all play a role in how safe or dangerous taking trenbolone is for each individual.

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