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Cytomel
| Substance:
Liothyronine
Sodium |
| Description;
Dose; Brand Name: Cytomel;
25 mcg
tab;
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Cytomel is not an
anabolic/androgenic steroid but a thyroid hor-mone. As a
substance it contains synthetically manufactured
liothyronine sodium which resembles the natural thyroid
hormone tricodide-thyronine (L-T3). The thyroid of a
healthy person usually produces two hormones, the better
known L-thyroxine (L-T4) and the aforementioned L-triiodine-thyronine
(L-T3). Since Cytomel is the synthetic equivalent of the
latter hormone, it causes the same processes in the body
as if the thyroid were to produce more of the hormone. It
is interesting to note that L-T3 is clearly the stronger
and more effective of these two hormones. This makes
Cytomel more effective than the commercially available
L-T4 compounds such as L-thyroxine or Synthroid. L-T3 has
proven to be 4-5 times more biologically active and to
take effect more quickly than L-thyroxine (L-T4)." In
school medicine Cytomel is used to treat thyroid
insufficiency (hypothyroidism). Among other secondary
symptoms are obesity, metabolic disorders, and fatigue.
Bodybuilders take advantage of these characteristics and
stimulate their metabolism by taking Cytomel, which causes
a faster conver-sion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Bodybuilders, of course, are especially interested in an
increased lipolysis, which means in-creased fat burning.
Competing bodybuilders, in particular, use Cytomel during
the weeks before a championship since it helps to maintain
an extremely low fat content, without necessitating a
hunger diet. Athletes who use low dosages of Cytomel
report that by the simultaneous intake of steroids, the
steroids become mote effective, most likely as the result
of the faster conversion of protein.
To a great extent several bodybuilders who are pictured in
"muscle magazines" and display a hard and
de-fined look in photos, eat fast food and iron this out
by taking Cytomel. The over stimulated thyroid burns
calories like a blast furnace. Nowadays, instead of
Cytomel, athletes use Clenbuterol which is becoming more
and more popular. Those who combine these two compounds
will burn an enormous amount of fat. Cytomel is also
popular among female bodybuilders. Since women generally
have slower metabolisms than men, it is extremely
difficult for them to obtain the right form for a
competition given today's standards. A drastic reduc-tion
of food and calories below the 1000 caloric/day mark can
often be avoided by taking Cytomel. Women, no doubt, are
more prone to side effects than men but usually get along
well with 50 mcg/day. A short-term intake of Cytomel in a
reasonable dosage is certainly "healthier" than
an extreme hunger diet.
As for the dosage, one should be very careful since
Cytomel is a very strong and highly effective thyroid
hormone. It is extremely impor-tant that one begins with a
low dosage, increasing it slowly and evenly over the
course of several days. Most athletes begin by tak-ing one
25-mcg tablet per day and increasing this dosage every
three to four days by one additional tablet. A dose higher
than 100-mcg/ day is not necessary and not advisable. It
is not recommended that the daily dose be taken all at
once but broken down into three smaller individual doses
so that they become more effective. It is also impor-tant
that Cytomel not be taken for more than six weeks. At
least two months of abstinence from the drug needs to
follow. Those who take high dosages of Cytomel over a long
period of time are at risk of developing a chronic thyroid
insufficiency. As a consequence, the athlete might be
forced to take thyroid medication for the rest of his
life. It is also important that the dosage is reduced
slowly and evenly by taking fewer tablets and -not be
ended abruptly. Those who plan to take Cytomel should
first consult a physician in order to be sure that no
thyroid hyperfunction exists.
Possible side effects are: heart palpitation, trembling,
irregular heartbeat, heart oppression, agita-tion,
shortness of breath, excretion of sugar through the urine,
ex-cessive perspiration, diarrhea, weight loss, psychic
disorders, etc., as well as symptoms of
hypersensitivity." Our experience is that most
symptoms consist of trembling of hands, nausea, headaches,
high perspiration, and increased heartbeat. These negative
side effects can often be eliminated by temporarily
reducing the daily dosage. Those who use Cytomel over
several weeks will experience a decrease in muscle mass.
This can be avoided or delayed by simultaneously taking
steroids. For the most part, since Cytomel also
metabolizes protein, the athlete must eat a diet rich in
protein.
L-T3 can usually be found quite easily. 100 tablets of
0.05 mg each cost approx. $40. It is unlikely that there
will be fakes. |
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