Fherbolico (nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate)

Description:

Nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate is an injectable form of the anabolic steroid nandrolone. The cyclohexylpropionate ester used here is very similar in structure to cypionate (cyclopentylpropionate). It differs only by the use of a 6carbonatom cyclohexane ring, instead of cypionate’s 5carbon-atom cyclopentane ring. This agent is slightly longer acting than nandrolone cypionate, and could be comfortably injected on a biweekly basis in a clinical setting. As a nandrolone injectable, this drug is highly similar in appearance to Deca-Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate), exhibiting relatively strong anabolic properties and a low level of relative androgenicity and estrogenicity. Nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate is favored by athletes and bodybuilders for its ability to promote significant strength and lean muscle mass gains without excessive side effects.

History:

Nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate was first described in 1962. It was developed into a medicine shortly thereafter, although its adoption by pharmaceutical companies was not as rapid and widespread as the phenylpropionate and decanoate esters of nandrolone. The most notable brand name of reference for nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate was Fherbolico, which was manufactured by Fher in Spain, It has also been sold under such brand names as Anabolicum ‘Sanabo’, Androl, Megabolin, and ProteronDepot. The drug was used principally as an anabolic to aid in the gain of lean bodyweight, as well as to combat osteoporosis. Given its mild androgenic nature, it was often applied to androgensensitive patients, including women and the elderly.

Most of the early preparations containing nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate have been removed from the market over the years. Given the high relative safety of nandrolone preparations, such decisions were probably voluntary ones by the manufacturers, likely based on financial considerations.

By the 1980’s and 1990’s, nandrolone decanoate, and to a lesser extent nandrolone phenylpropionate, dominated the global nandrolone market, and there was not a great deal of money being made with the lesser-known esters. Some isolated preparations containing nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate are still being manufactured, however, so the drug remains available in commerce. More recent products known to still use this steroid are Sanabolicum by the Nile Company in Egypt, Sanabolicum-Vet by Werfft-Chemie in Austria, and Genadrag by Drag Pharma in Chile, the latter being the most commonly located form of the drug in recent years.

How Supplied:

Nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate is available in select human and veterinary drug markets. Composition and dosage may vary by country and manufacturer, but usually contain 25 mg/mL or 50 mg/mL of steroid dissolved in oil.

Structural Characteristics:

Nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate is a modified form of nandrolone, where a carboxylic acid ester (cyclohexylpropionic acid) has been attached to the 17beta hydroxyl group. Esterified steroids are less polar than free steroids, and are absorbed more slowly from the area of injection. Once in the bloodstream, the ester is removed to yield free (active) nandrolone. Esterified steroids are designed to prolong the window of therapeutic effect following administration, allowing for a less frequent injection schedule compared to injections of free (unesterified) steroid. Nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate provides a sharp spike in nandrolone release 24-48 hours following deep intramuscular injection, which steadily declines to near baseline levels approximately 2 weeks later.

Side Effects (Estrogenic):

Nandrolone has a low tendency for estrogen conversion, estimated to be only about 20% of that seen with testosterone.1

This is because while the liver can convert nandrolone to estradiol, in other more active sites of steroid aromatization such as adipose tissue nandrolone is far less open to this process.2 Consequently, estrogen-related side effects are a much lower concern with this drug than with testosterone. Elevated estrogen levels may still be noticed with higher dosing, however, and may cause side effects such as increased water retention, body fat gain, and gynecomastia. An anti-estrogen such as clomiphene citrate or tamoxifen citrate may be necessary to prevent estrogenic side effects if they occur. One may alternately use an aromatase inhibitor like Arimidex® (anastrozole), which more efficiently controls estrogen by preventing its synthesis. Aromatase inhibitors can be quite expensive in comparison to anti-estrogens, however, and may also have negative effects on blood lipids.

It is of note that nandrolone has some activity as a progestin in the body.3 Although progesterone is a C-19 steroid, removal of this group as in 19-norprogesterone creates a hormone with greater binding affinity for its corresponding receptor. Sharing this trait, many 19-nor anabolic steroids are shown to have some affinity for the progesterone receptor as well.4 The side effects associated with progesterone are similar to those of estrogen, including negative feedback inhibition of testosterone production and enhanced rate of fat storage. Progestins also augment the stimulatory effect of estrogens on mammary tissue growth. There appears to be a strong synergy between these two hormones here, such that gynecomastia might even occur with the help of progestins, without excessive estrogen levels. The use of an antiestrogen, which inhibits the estrogenic component of this disorder, is often sufficient to mitigate gynecomastia caused by nandrolone.

Side Effects (Androgenic):

Although classified as an anabolic steroid, androgenic side effects are still possible with this substance, especially with higher doses. This may include bouts of oily skin, acne, and body/facial hair growth. Anabolic/androgenic steroids may also aggravate male pattern hair loss. Women are warned of the potential virilizing effects of anabolic/androgenic steroids. These may include a deepening of the voice, menstrual irregularities, changes in skin texture, facial hair growth, and clitoral enlargement. Nandrolone is a steroid with relatively low androgenic activity relative to its tissue-building actions, making the threshold for strong androgenic side effects comparably higher than with more androgenic agents such as testosterone, methandrostenolone, or fluoxymesterone. It is also important to point out that due to its mild androgenic nature and ability to suppress endogenous testosterone, nandrolone is prone to interfering with libido in males when used without another androgen.

Note that in androgen-responsive target tissues such as the skin, scalp, and prostate, the relative androgenicity of nandrolone is reduced by its reduction to dihydronandrolone (DHN).5 6 The 5-alpha reductase enzyme is responsible for this metabolism of nandrolone. The concurrent use of a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor such as finasteride or dutasteride will interfere with site-specific reduction of nandrolone action, considerably increasing the tendency of nandrolone to produce androgenic side effects. Reductase inhibitors should be avoided with nandrolone if low androgenicity is desired.

Side Effects (Hepatotoxicity):

Nandrolone is not C-17 alpha alkylated, and not known to have hepatotoxic effects. Liver toxicity is unlikely. Note that one case of intrahepatic cholestasis has been documented in a patient receiving long-term nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate.7

Side Effects (Cardiovascular):

Anabolic/androgenic steroids can have deleterious effects on serum cholesterol. This includes a tendency to reduce HDL (good) cholesterol values and increase LDL (bad) cholesterol values, which may shift the HDL to LDL balance in a direction that favors greater risk of arteriosclerosis. The relative impact of an anabolic/androgenic steroid on serum lipids is dependant on the dose, route of administration (oral vs. injectable), type of steroid (aromatizable or non-aromatizable), and level of resistance to hepatic metabolism. Studies administering 600 mg of nandrolone decanoate per week for 10 weeks demonstrated a 26% reduction in HDL cholesterol levels.8 This suppression is slightly greater than that reported with an equal dose of testosterone enanthate, and is in agreement with earlier studies showing a slightly stronger negative impact on HDL/LDL ratio with nandrolone decanoate as compared to testosterone cypionate.9 Nandrolone injectables, however, should still have a significantly weaker impact on serum lipids than C-17 alpha alkylated agents. Anabolic/androgenic steroids may also adversely affect blood pressure and triglycerides, reduce endothelial relaxation, and support left ventricular hypertrophy, all potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction.

To help reduce cardiovascular strain it is advised to maintain an active cardiovascular exercise program and minimize the intake of saturated fats, cholesterol, and simple carbohydrates at all times during active AAS administration. Supplementing with fish oils (4 grams per day) and a natural cholesterol/antioxidant formula such as Lipid Stabil or a product with comparable ingredients is also recommended.

Side Effects (Testosterone Suppression):

All anabolic/androgenic steroids when taken in doses sufficient to promote muscle gain are expected to suppress endogenous testosterone production. For sake of comparison, studies administering 100 mg per week of nandrolone decanoate for 6 weeks have demonstrated an approximate 57% reduction in serum testosterone levels during therapy. At a dosage of 300 mg per week, this reduction reached 70%.10 It is believed that the progestational activity of nandrolone notably contributes to the suppression of testosterone synthesis during therapy, which can be marked in spite of a low tendency for estrogen conversion. 11 Without the intervention of testosterone-stimulating substances, testosterone levels should return to normal within 2-6 months of drug secession. Note that prolonged hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism can develop secondary to steroid abuse, necessitating medical intervention.

The above side effects are not inclusive. For more detailed discussion of potential side effects, see the Steroid Side Effects section of this book.

Administration (Men):

When used for physique- or performance-enhancing purposes, a dose of 200-400 mg per week is most common, taken in cycles 8 to 12 weeks in length. This level is sufficient for most users to notice measurable gains in lean muscle mass and strength, which should be accompanied by a low level of estrogenic and androgenic activity. Although higher doses (450-600 mg) may produce a stronger anabolic effect, given the relatively low concentration this drug is found in (25 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL), doses above 400 mg are not commonly applied. Instead, the drug is often stacked with another agent, usually an androgen such as an injectable testosterone, which also helps offset the very low level of androgenicity of nandrolone. An oral steroid with pronounced androgenicity, such as methandrostenolone or oxymetholone, is sometimes used as well, but will also present some hepatotoxicity and have a stronger effect on serum lipids (negatively).

Administration (Women):

When used for physique- or performance-enhancing purposes, a dosage of 50 mg per week is most common. Although only slightly androgenic, women are occasionally confronted with virilization symptoms when taking this compound. Should virilizing side effects become a concern, nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate should be discontinued immediately to help prevent their permanent appearance. After a sufficient period of withdrawal, the shorteracting nandrolone Durabolin® might be considered a safer (more controllable) option. This drug stays active for only several days, greatly reducing the withdrawal time if indicated.

Availability:

Nandrolone cyclohexylpropionate is not commonly in circulation, but can be found on occasion. There are at most a few low-dose products in manufacture worldwide to choose from, which have the added benefit of being very low on the radar for importers, dealers, and buyers alike. Counterfeiters presently have just as little interest in this steroid as consumers, so should you find one of the available products, the odds it will be fake are probably much lower than with most steroids. At this time you probably have the best chance of finding the Genadrag brand, which is produced by Drag Pharma in Santiago Chile. Genadrag comes packaged in a bright orange and white box, and bears a relatively simple-looking orange and white or blue and white sticker on a dark amber 10 mL vial.

1 Biosynthesis of Estrogens, Gual C, Morato T, Hayano M, Gut M and Dorfman R. Endocrinology 71 (1962):920-25.

2 Aromatization of androstenedione and 19-nortestosterone in human placental, liver and adipose tissues (abstract). Nippon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi 62:18-25,1986.

3 Competitive progesterone antagonists: receptor binding and biologic activity of testosterone and 19-nortestosterone derivatives. Reel JR, Humphrey RR, Shih YH, Windsor BL, Sakowski R, Creger PL, Edgren RA. Fertil Steril 1979 May;31(5):552-61.

4 Studies of the biological activity of certain 19-nor steroids in female animals. Pincus G, Chang M, Zarrow M, Hafez E, Merrill A. December 1956.

5 Different pattern of metabolism determine the relative anabolic activity of 19-norandrogens. J Steroid Biochem Mol Bio 53:255-7,1995.

6 Relative binding affinities of testosterone, 19-nortestosterone and their 5alpha reduced derivatives to the androgen receptor and to other androgenbinding proteins:A suggested role of Salpha-reductive steroid metabolism in the dissociation of ‘myotropic’ and ‘androgenic’ activities of 19nortestosterone. Toth M, Zakar T. J Steroid Biochem 17 (1982):65360.

7 A non-C17-alkylated steroid and long-term cholestasis. Gil VG, et al. Ann Intern Med 1986; 104: 135-6.

8 Metabolic effects of nandrolone decanoate and resistance training in men with HIV. Sattler FR, Schroeder ET, Dube MP, Jaque SV, Martinez C, Blanche PJ, Azen S, Krauss RM.Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 283(6) Dec (2002):E1214-22. Epub 2002 Aug 27.

9 Lipemic and lipoproteinemic effects of natural and synthetic androgens in humans. Crist DM, Peake GT, Stackpole PJ. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 1986 Jul;13(7):513-8.

10 The administration of pharmacological doses of testosterone or 19nortestosterone to normal men is not associated with increased insulin secretion or impaired glucose tolerance. Karl E. Friedl et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 68:971, 1989.

11 Influence of nandrolonedecanoate on the pituitary-gonadal axis in males. Bijlsma J., Duursma S, Thijssen J, Huber O. Acta Endocrinol 101 (1982):10812.