Bodybuilders use tamoxifen (Nolvadex) as part of post-cycle therapy (PCT) after a steroid cycle. Anabolic steroids can disrupt the body’s natural production of testosterone, and tamoxifen is believed to help restore hormonal balance by blocking estrogen receptors. This may help prevent or alleviate issues like gynecomastia (enlargement of male breast tissue) and other estrogen-related side effects associated with steroid use.
Gynecomastia
Within the bodybuilding and performance enhancement world, Nolvadex is primarily and commonly utilized as an ancillary aid to combating, reducing, and/or preventing the development of Gynecomastia. This is normally especially the case when a particularly moderate or aromatizable anabolic steroid is utilized in a cycle. Dosing of Nolvadex in this case is approximately 10 – 30mg per day. The common dosing tends to be 20mg per day of Nolvadex. It is very important to understand that higher and higher dosages of Nolvadex, greater than 20 – 40mg per day, does not produce any greater or faster effect on reducing or preventing gynecomastia, despite common misconceptions.
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
The other primarily utilized purpose for Nolvadex among bodybuilders and athletes is its ability to stimulate and increase the male production of endogenous Testosterone, as evidenced by many studies. It does so by acting on the pituitary and hypothalamus gland in the brain, and signaling an increase in production of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone), which then signal the testes to produce Testosterone. In this case, Nolvadex is usually administered during PCT, which is immediately after the anabolic steroid cycle is complete and all anabolic steroids are clear from the individual’s system.
In this application of administration, 20 – 40mg per day of Nolvadex per day for approximately 4 – 6 weeks. Studies have demonstrated that venturing higher than 20 – 40mg per day does not generate any significantly greater amount of Testosterone production.
