Boldenone Undecylenate (Equipoise)

Boldenone Undecylenate, commonly known by its veterinary brand name Equipoise, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS). It's a synthetic derivative of testosterone and was initially developed for veterinary medicine, primarily to treat and promote growth in horses. While it was once used in humans, it has been discontinued for that purpose and is now a controlled substance in many countries. The drug is administered via intramuscular injection.

Other Names

Boldenone undecylenate is also known by other brand names, including Boldane, Parenabol, and Vebonol.

Side Effects and Benefits

Benefits (in a veterinary context)

• Increased muscle mass and weight gain: It promotes protein synthesis and nitrogen retention.

• Improved appetite: It can increase a subject's appetite, leading to greater food intake.

• Increased red blood cell production (erythropoiesis): This can lead to increased oxygen-carrying capacity.

• Improved general physical condition: In debilitated horses, it has been shown to improve weight, coat, and overall vigor.

Side Effects (in both animal and human use)

• Androgenic effects: As with other anabolic steroids, it can cause masculinization, including acne, hair loss, and deepening of the voice. These effects may persist for several weeks after the drug is discontinued.

• Reproductive issues: In males, it can significantly decrease serum testosterone levels, seminal volume, sperm motility, and sperm count, potentially leading to infertility.

• Cardiovascular problems: Long-term and high-dose use can have negative effects on the heart and liver. It can lead to elevated liver enzymes, and a marker of heart muscle damage, CK-MB, has been shown to be higher in users.

• Behavioral changes: In animals, it has been shown to increase sexual and aggressive behaviors.

• Hormonal suppression: It can lead to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, which is a condition where the body's natural production of testosterone is suppressed.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Strong anabolic effects: It is effective at promoting muscle growth.

• Moderate androgenic effects: Compared to some other steroids, its androgenic effects are considered moderate.

• Low aromatization: It has a low rate of conversion to estrogen, which means it is less likely to cause water retention and gynecomastia (the development of breast tissue in males) than testosterone.

• Long-lasting: The undecylenate ester makes it a long-acting injectable, which is a pro for those who prefer less frequent injections.

Cons

• Illicit use and legal status: It is a controlled substance and its use for performance enhancement is illegal in most countries.

• Significant and irreversible health risks: Use can cause serious, permanent damage to the liver, kidneys, and cardiovascular system.

• Suppression of natural hormone production: It can severely suppress the body's natural testosterone production.

• Long detection time: Due to its long half-life, it is easily detectable in drug tests for a very long time, up to 1.5 years.

Dosage and Frequency

Information on dosage for human use is based on illicit sources, as the drug is not approved for human use. In a veterinary context, the dosage for horses is 0.28 to 1.10 mg/kg of body weight, administered intramuscularly, with treatment repeated every 2 to 3 weeks. The duration of treatment is determined by a veterinarian. In the context of performance enhancement, doses are often cited in the range of 200 to 400 mg per week, although some users may take as much as 800 mg per week.

Half-Life and Detection Time

• Half-life: The elimination half-life of Boldenone Undecylenate is approximately 14 days when administered via intramuscular injection.

• Detection time: Due to the long undecylenate ester attached to the boldenone molecule, the drug can be detected in a steroid test for an extended period, reportedly up to 1.5 years after the last use.

Sterogenic, Progestogenic, and Prolactin Effects

• Estrogenic effects: Boldenone has weak estrogenic effects, meaning it has a low rate of aromatization (conversion to estrogen). This is generally considered a positive attribute by users as it reduces the risk of estrogen-related side effects like water retention and gynecomastia.

• Progestogenic effects: Boldenone has little to no progestogenic activity.

• Prolactin effects: There is some evidence that progesterone and estrogen can influence prolactin levels. As boldenone has weak estrogenic effects, it is less likely to cause a significant increase in prolactin. However, it's important to note that the hormonal system is complex and interconnected.

Anabolic and Androgenic Ratio

The anabolic-to-androgenic ratio is a way to compare the muscle-building (anabolic) effects of a steroid to its masculinizing (androgenic) effects. This ratio is typically expressed relative to testosterone, which has a ratio of 100:100. Boldenone is known for its high anabolic activity and relatively low androgenic activity. The anabolic-to-androgenic ratio for boldenone is reported as 100:50. This indicates that it has a similar anabolic potency to testosterone but only half the androgenic potency.