Tamoxifen 20mg (Nolvadex)

Tamoxifen Citrate is a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM), often referred to as an anti-estrogen. It acts as an anti-estrogen in certain areas of the body while acting as an estrogen in other areas. Even though it is used by many anabolic steroid users used during steroid use to help with estrogenic related side effects, it is most commonly used during Post Cycle Therapy (PCT). Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) is the 3-6 week period following steroid use implemented to help with natural testosterone production.

Tamoxifen effects

Tamoxifen Citrate prevents the estrogen from binding. It won’t help with water retention or gynecomastia for all men, but that depends on how high estrogen levels go as well as genetics. If more or stronger protection is needed, Aromatase Inhibitors (AI’s) are recommended. AI’s are anti-estrogens that inhibit aromatase activity and lower serum estrogen levels.

Tamoxifen has severe testosterone stimulating effects. When we use anabolic steroids, we suppress our natural testosterone production, and this will occur regardless of the steroids used. This is why almost all steroid cycles include exogenous testosterone so that the negative feedback doesn’t cause a low testosterone level. Once steroid use is complete, Tamoxifen can speed up the testosterone production.

It is important to note that anti-estrogen use may slightly reduce gains made during a steroid cycle, as many androgenic/anabolic steroids seem to exhibit their most powerful anabolic effects when accompanied by a sufficient level of estrogen (See Estrogen Aromatization). This may be one reason why gains made with a strong aromatizable androgen like testosterone are usually more pronounced than those achieved with anabolic steroids that aromatizes to a lower (or no) degree. Therefore, it is usually advised to identify a specific need for tamoxifen citrate before committing to its use during a cycle. Many people, in fact, find the use of an anti-estrogen unnecessary, even when utilizing problematic compounds such as testosterone or methandrostenolone. Others, however, find they are troubled by water retention and gynecomastia even with milder (less estrogenic) drugs like Deca-Durabolin and Equipoise. The estrogenic response to steroid use is very individual, and may be influenced by factors such as age and body fat percentage (adipose tissue is a primary site of aromatization).

Tamoxifen administration

For on cycle gynecomastia prevention, 10-20mg per day is the standard range. If this dosing range does not help, it is unlikely any dose will, and Aromatase Inhibitors (AI’s) should strongly be considered.

Most Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) plans will begin with Tamoxifen Citrate doses of 40mg per day and will continue at this dose for 2-3 weeks. The dose will then be reduced to 20mg per day and will continue at this dose for 2-3 weeks. For a proper PCT it will often include another SERM, Clomid.