The Clear (THG)

The information provided is about Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), a synthetic and orally active anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS). It was never approved for medical use and is considered a "designer drug" due to its development in secret to evade doping tests.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the information requested:

The Clear (THG) - Detailed Explanation / Different Name

• Primary Name: Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG)

• Nickname/Different Name: The Clear

• Chemical/Systematic Names:

  • 17α-Ethyl-18-methyl-δ9,11-19-nortestosterone

  • 17α-Ethyl-18-methylestra-4,9,11-trien-17β-ol-3-one

• Drug Class: Androgen, Anabolic Steroid, Progestogen.

• Mechanism: THG is a highly potent agonist of the androgen receptor (AR) and the progesterone receptor (PR). It is structurally similar to the banned anabolic steroids trenbolone and gestrinone. It promotes the growth of muscle tissue by binding to the AR with an affinity similar to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Side Effects and Benefits

Benefits (Effects of Misuse):

• Enhanced Athletic Performance: Primarily used to increase muscle bulk, strength, and enhance performance.

• Muscle Tissue Growth (Anabolic effect): Highly potent in producing muscle tissue growth.

• Weight Loss: Unlike most other anabolic steroids, THG also binds with high affinity to the glucocorticoid receptor, which may cause additional weight loss.

Side Effects (Risks of Misuse):

• General Steroid Side Effects: Acne, hirsutism (excessive hair growth), infertility (in both men and women), liver or kidney problems or failure, high blood pressure, fluid retention, high cholesterol, heart attack or stroke.

• Unique Side Effects: The high affinity binding to the glucocorticoid receptor is likely to cause additional side effects such as immunosuppression, which is not common with most other steroids.

• In Women: Facial and body hair growth, loss of breasts, swelling of the clitoris, deepened voice, problems with periods.

• Psychological/Emotional: Aggressive behavior, mood swings, paranoia, manic behavior, hallucinations, and delusions.

• Hepatotoxicity: It is noted to be more hepatotoxic (toxic to the liver) than many other anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS).

Pros and Cons

Dosage and Frequency

There is no established or legitimate medical dosage and frequency for THG, as it was never approved for clinical use.

• Reported Misuse (Anecdotal): Due to its extreme potency, it was anecdotally reported that "just a couple of drops under the tongue" (oral liquid administration) was a sufficient dose for users.

• Routes of Administration: By mouth (orally), intramuscular injection.

Half-Life and Detection Time

Specific, peer-reviewed data on the half-life of THG in humans is not widely available in the public domain, as it was an illicit designer drug. However, its detection in drug tests is a key historical point.

• Detection Time: THG was developed to be undetectable. When it was discovered, new testing methods had to be created. Its structure is known to allow it to be metabolized quickly, which was part of its original "benefit" as a designer steroid to evade detection.

  • Note: Designer steroids like THG are typically detectable for weeks to months in urine or hair samples, depending on the dosage, frequency, and the specificity of the test. Accurate and current detection windows are complex and proprietary to anti-doping agencies.

Sterogenic, Progestronic, and Prolactin Effects

• Estrogenic (Sterogenic) Effects: None. THG has been found to have no estrogenic activity. This means it is not converted into estrogen (aromatized) and should not cause estrogen-related side effects like gynecomastia directly (though general steroid use can sometimes lead to such issues through other mechanisms).

• Progestronic Effects: Highly Potent. THG is a potent agonist of the progesterone receptor (PR). This progestogenic activity is a major property of the drug, which can lead to suppression of the natural production of reproductive hormones.

• Prolactin Effects: Indirectly, compounds with progestogenic activity can sometimes contribute to elevated prolactin levels (hyperprolactinemia), or the hormonal imbalance (hypogonadism) caused by potent steroids can sometimes be associated with prolactin issues. However, specific, direct actions of THG on prolactin are not explicitly detailed in the search results, though the progestogenic and androgenic effects will certainly disrupt the normal hormonal axis, potentially leading to related issues like decreased libido or infertility.

Anabolic:Androgenic Ratio (AAR)

The Anabolic:Androgenic Ratio (AAR) is a metric that compares the muscle-building (anabolic) properties of a steroid to its masculinizing (androgenic) properties, relative to testosterone (which is 1:1).

• THG Anabolic:Androgenic Ratio: The search results indicate that THG has both significant anabolic and androgenic activity. Although a precise, consensus AAR is not directly stated in a single numerical format like 1:X, THG is generally classified as a highly potent anabolic agent. For comparison, other powerful anabolic steroids are often listed with high ratios (e.g., Nandrolone at 10:1 or Stanozolol at 30:1). Given its extreme potency on the androgen receptor and its primary use for muscle growth, it would have been developed to have a favorable, high AAR, likely well above 1:1.