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Andriol
By: Road2HardCoreIron Date: May 2, 2018, 4:30 pm
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Andriol History and Overview
Andriol, which is the brand name and trade name for Testosterone
Undecanoate, is an oral Testosterone product. It is oil-based
and manufactured in the form of gel capsules. It is vastly
different from other oral anabolic steroids in a few different
ways. First and foremost, other oral anabolic steroid products
are almost always C-17 alpha alkylated (also known as
methylation). This is a process whereby a methyl group is
affixed to the 17th carbon on the Testosterone (or other
anabolic steroid) compound, which allows the hormone to survive
the first pass through the liver, thereby allowing it to be
orally bioavailable so that the user can use it orally. The
downside to this modification is that C-17 alpha alkylation
almost always presents a degree of liver toxicity
(hepatotoxicity) and strain, thereby limiting the length of use
and/or maximum dosage. Andriol does not possess C-17 alpha
alkylation despite it being an orally active form of
Testosterone.
Instead, Andriol is an esterified form of Testosterone
(Testosterone Undecanoate), whereby it is affixed to an
extremely long fatty acid chain ester. Research has demonstrated
that when Andriol is consumed (especially in the presence of
dietary fats), the high lipophilic nature of it allows at least
partial absorption via the body’s lymphatic system through the
gastrointestinal tract. Although Andriol is not liver toxic at
all, there are some disadvantages to its nature. Because it
relies on fat solubility to be absorbed in the body, research
has shown that Androl’s oral bioavailability is around 7%.
Andriol was originally developed and pioneered by the
pharmaceutical manufacturer Organon in the early 1980s. In
addition to its brand name Andriol, it was also branded under
the names Virigen, Undestor, Restandol, Panteston, and Androxon
in various regions and countries throughout the world. Its
intended use was that of a Testosterone replacement therapy
(TRT) drug for men that manufacture inadequate levels of natural
Testosterone. Despite this fact, Andriol is still not approved
on the prescription drug market in the United States, but it is
available in Canada and Mexico. Andriol is intended to be a TRT
alternative to Testosterone injections (such as Testosterone
Enanthate or Testosterone Cypionate), and thereby act as a much
more convenient form of administration for some that may not
prefer injections.
Originally, Andriol had to be kept under refrigeration when in
storage. Thankfully, in the early 2000s, Organon formulated a
new Androl product, known as Andriol Testocaps, which allowed
the drug to be maintained at room temperature without any
degradation of product. Individuals should keep in mind,
however, that at room temperature, Andriol Testocaps hold a
shelf-life of about 3 years (as opposed to the old Andriol
shelf-life of 3 months). Andriol gel capsules are concentrated
at a dosage of 40mg per gel cap.
Andriol’s availability is pretty widespread, but its use among
athletes and bodybuilders is very far and few in between. This
is due to the fact that Andriol’s disadvantage is that of very
poor and very low oral bioavailability combined with a
relatively high cost for this compound. Bodybuilders and
athletes have therefore always opted for the more dependable,
cheaper, and easily-accessible injectable Testosterone products
and formulations that provide far higher (near-100%)
bioavailability.
Andriol is designed to exhibit a peak Testosterone level in the
body only a few hours after ingestion, and after repeated dosing
over the first couple of weeks, steady and stable peak blood
plasma concentrations should be maintained for 24 hours after
each administration.
Andriol Chemical Characteristics
As previously mentioned, Andriol is merely an esterified variant
of Testosterone, whereby Testosterone has been affixed with the
Undecanoate ester at the 17-beta hydroxyl group. It is vastly
different from all other oral anabolic steroids because it does
not contain methylation (C-17 alpha alkylation) on the 17th
carbon, and therefore does not exhibit any of the negative
effects on the liver that C-17 alpha alkylated compounds do. It
also does not exhibit the same method of absorption and
avoidance of the first pass of the liver that C-17 alpha
alkylated oral compounds do. Instead, because of Andriol’s very
long-chain fatty acid ester, it is extremely lipophilic and
enters the body via the lymphatic system through the GI tract.
Andriol Side Effects
Being that Andriol is a Testosterone product, it does carry with
it all of the major side effects of Testosterone in general.
Estrogenic side effects are the first in particular to usually
affect the user. Testosterone undergoes a moderate rate of
aromatization (conversion) into Estrogen in the body via
interaction with the aromatase enzyme. This means that blood
plasma levels of Estrogen can and do build up with the use of
Andriol, and Estrogenic side effects can result. Estrogenic side
effects include: retention and/or gain of body fat, bloating and
water retention, heightened blood pressure (as a result of water
retention), and the potential for developing gynecomastia
(breast tissue). It is recommended that individuals using
Andriol look into the possibility of using some form of
anti-estrogen during a cycle, or at the very least have
anti-estrogens on hand in the event that Estrogenic side effects
become prominent.
The next major Andriol side effects include androgenic side
effects. These are masculinizing and male secondary sex
characteristic related side effects. Being that Andriol is
Testosterone, and Testosterone is the primary male androgen, it
has direct influence on androgenic side effects. Furthermore,
the high androgenicity of Testosterone products is more
attributable to its reduction (or conversion) into
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a far more potent androgen
than Testosterone itself. In this case, the use of a 5-alpha
reductase inhibitor can mitigate androgenic side effects by way
of preventing or reducing the conversion of Testosterone into
DHT. Androgenic side effects include: increases in aggression,
increased body hair growth, increased oily skin secretions,
deepening of the voice, and possible male pattern baldness (MPB)
in those men that are genetically predisposed to it.
Testosterone, like any and all other anabolic steroids, can and
will suppress natural endogenous Testosterone production.
Testosterone suppression is a very real fact of anabolic steroid
use, which is why it is important to limit cycle lengths and
engage in proper Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) protocol following the
termination of an anabolic steroid cycle. Failure to do so can
potentially result in permanent Testosterone suppression for
life.
Negative cardiovascular effects are also a concern. Research has
shown that while Testosterone used in therapeutic dosages for
the treatment of TRT in men are unlikely to increase the risk of
cardiovascular problems (and might even possibly improve
cholesterol profiles), the use of Testosterone at performance
enhancing dosages does result in a decrease of HDL (the ‘good’
cholesterol). Furthermore, when combined with aromatase
inhibitors, research and studies have shown that the negative
effects on the cardiovascular system increase by a dramatic
degree.
Andriol, due to its vastly different mechanism of action
compared to C-17 alpha alkylated oral anabolic steroids,
presents absolutely no hepatotoxic effects. For example, one
study analyzed Andriol’s potential for liver toxicity by
attempting high dosages on test subjects (400mg daily) for 20
days, and Andriol generated no notable changes in liver enzyme
readings during the study. This also includes patients who have
been administered the drug in the long-term (a decade or
longer).
Dosing and Administration of Andriol
Medically, Andriol dosages are prescribed in the range of 120 –
160 mg per day for the first 2 to 3 weeks. Following this
initial period, prescription guidelines call for a reduction of
Andriol dosage to a maintenance schedule of 40 – 120mg per day.
For performance and physique enhancement, the Andriol dosage
must understandably be far greater. A minimum of 250mg per day
is required (6 or 7 capsules) to see any measurable effect, and
many individuals claim that the results at this range are on the
low end. Commonly, Andriol is used at a dosage of 400 – 500 (10
– 14 capsules) per day. Advanced or experienced users may
require even higher dosages than that.
Due to the lipophilic nature of Andriol’s pharmacology, it is
recommended that Andriol dosages be administered with the
consumption of food / meals, ideally with a higher fat content
in order to maximize its absorption in the body through the
lymphatic system. When taken on an empty stomach, studies have
demonstrated extremely low absorption and bioavailability of
Andriol. Andriol dosages should also be split into two evenly
spaced dosages (e.g. morning and evening) in order to maintain
steady and stable blood serum levels of Testosterone.
Andriol Cycles and Uses
Andriol cycles should generally follow the same guidelines as
cycles of any other Testosterone products, though Andriol may
have to be dosed higher due to its poor bioavailability. It can
be used on its own in a solitary cycle, or used as a base
Testosterone compound while other anabolic steroids are used.
Cycle lengths of Andriol can range from 8 weeks to 12 weeks or
more. As stated earlier, it is not a very popular Testosterone
product for the purpose of performance or physique enhancement
among bodybuilders and athletes, and it is very rare to come
across much information in regards to Andriol cycles.
Beginners may be tempted to opt for Andriol due to its
convenience as an oral Testosterone product, but even this is a
rare occurrence. Beginner Andriol cycles would usually involve
Andriol dosed at 300mg per day for 8 – 12 weeks.
If any experienced athletes do elect to use Andriol, they
usually run Andriol cycles that involve a low TRT dosage of
Andriol in the background for mere support of essential bodily
function, while other stronger anabolic steroids are utilized as
the workhorse compounds of the cycle. These can include
compounds such as Winstrol (Stanozolol), Nandrolone
(Deca-Durabolin), Trenbolone, or Anavar (Oxandrolone).
Andriol Legality
USA: In the United States, Andriol is classified as a Schedule
III drug in the Controlled Substances Act whereby possession and
use of Andriol or any Testosterone product without a valid
prescription would be considered a felony. Needless to say,
trafficking, importation, and the purchase of Andriol or any
anabolic steroid is a criminal act.
UK/England: In the United Kingdom, Andriol falls under Schedule
IV, whereby possession and use of Andriol without a physician’s
prescription is legal for personal use. Importation of Andriol
for personal use without a prescription is also not a felony.
Advertisement
Canada: In Canada, a similar law to that of the UK runs true
where it is a Schedule IV drug, and as such, possession and use
of Andriol for personal use without a valid physician’s
prescription is not a felony and is legal. However, trafficking
of the substance is a felony.
These are 3 examples of the current state of laws under which
Andriol falls into within 3 major countries in the world.
Whichever route one decides to acquire Andriol through, he or
she must be aware of the legality and laws surrounding it in
whichever country the person resides. It is important to
research beforehand in order to make the appropriate decisions
and what to expect. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
How to Buy Andriol
Although Andriol is not extremely common or popular among
athletes and bodybuilders due to its limitations in
bioavailability as well as its cost, it is a common product on
the market. One particular benefit to buying Andriol is that
because the product formulation is very difficult to copy, fake
and counterfeit Andriol is not usually an issue. Similarly,
there exist no underground lab (UGL) formulations of Andriol
either, and so the only available Andriol product to buy on the
market is the original pharmaceutical grade Organon product.
Identification of legitimate Andriol is still very important,
however, and those looking to buy Andriol should watch for brown
and/or red colored capsules if looking at the older (pre-2003)
product. The new and current Andriol Testocaps are an oval
shaped glossy-looking gelatin capsule, containing an orange gel
that looks more like a yellowish oil. The markings DV3 and ORG
should be visible on the surface of both the old Andriol as well
as the new and current Andriol Testocaps.
Andriol runs an average of about $2.00 per capsule (40mg
capsules) if the individual is looking to buy the actual Organon
product from Greece. A blister pack box of 30 capsules is
therefore usually around $60. The Organon India product can be
bought for cheaper, at around $1.00 per capsule (40mg capsules),
which brings a box of 30 to $30. As one can see, Andriol tends
to be quite an expensive product even if the cheaper Indian
Organon product is sought after. Anyone can easily see how at a
typical dosage of 400mg per day (10 capsules) can run an
individual upwards of $700 for a 10 week cycle at that dosage,
which is considered a low to moderate end dosage for a product
such as Andriol.
Andriol
Andriol Information:
Testosterone + Undecanoate ester
Formula: C19 H28 O2
Molecular Weight (base): 288.429
Molecular Weight (ester): 186.2936
Manufacturer: Schering AG
Effective Dose (Men): 40-120mg per day
Effective Dose (Women): Not suggested
Half-Life: Approx. 6-9 hours
Detection Time: Approx. 2-3 months
Anabolic /Androgenic Ratio: 100:100
Dan Chaiet Author
Biomedical Science Graduate. After completing the educational
and research requirements for a PhD in Biomedical Science, Dan
is currently studying at York University in Toronto, Ontario,
Canada and has less than a year before joining the Medical Board
becoming an MD and qualified Doctor. Dan’s educational emphasis
is on performance enhancement drugs (PEDs), endocrinology,
nutritional supplements and strategies for health, fat
reduction, anti-ageing, muscle growth, disease control and
vaccinations. Dan has had an interest in learning and writing
about steroid use
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