Astra Zeneca Arimidex 1 mg - 28 tabs

Arimidex is the trade name used by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, for a drug called Anastrozole. Many bodybuilders like to refer to it as just ‘adex’ for short. Approved in the US for use in 1995, it is a non-steroidal aromatase inhibiting drug (acronym AI) and is approved for treatment of breast cancer after surgery and for metastasis in women. Since breast cancer can be heightened by the increase in estrogen, arimidex is used to inhibit the synthesis of estrogen.

Science

Almost 10,000 women with localized breast cancer from all over the world ran a trial of Arimidex, Tamoxifen (which also reduces estrogen but as a SERM, not an AI), alone or in combination. A Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM), like Tamoxifen (Nolvadex), binds with estrogen receptors, blocking some estrogen actions while at the same time allowing others. According to the study, they found that, after 5 years, the group who had received the arimidex had significantly better clinical results than any of the tamoxifen groups. Another study showed that when patients who were on tamoxifen two years after breast cancer and switched to arimidex they decreased their risk of breast cancer returning by 40%. A third study published by the BBC, showed that arimidex reduced the incidence of breast cancer in post-menopausal women verse a placebo group.

Use in Bodybuilding

When a man uses anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), certain compounds will aromatize into estrogen. The main culprits that will do this are all testosterone esters, such as: cypionate, enanthate, dianabol, deca durabolin, and less so Boldenone (EQ). If estrogen isn’t inhibited by using an AI (aromatase inhibitor), then high-estrogen side effects can occur. The most well-known side effect is gynecomastia or what is known commonly as ‘gyno’, ‘bitch tits’ or ‘man breasts’. A man may notice a lump forming within his breast(s) – or under the nipple area; if not treated quickly, this can require serious surgery to remove. The lesser known but very serious side effects are caused by water retention, which can give a bloated or ‘full’ look. Extra water weight to your body or face (commonly called “moon face for its round or full look) can ruin a nice physique by making a person look fat. Internally, carrying around extra water weight will strain the body’s lipids across the board. A person can expect a rise in blood pressure, heart strain, and loss in energy. Also, high estrogen can affect libido.

On the other hand, if you are too aggressive in inhibiting estrogen, by using compounds that are harsher than Arimidex, this can cause your estrogen to drop too low. As a result, you can expect erectile disfunction (ED), loss of energy, depression and low libido.

Arimidex vs Nolvadex

The main advantage in using arimidex over a SERM, like tamoxifen (nolvadex), is that arimidex blocks the aromatase enzyme; thereby, it prevents the production of estrogen in the first place. As a comparison, Tamoxifen will hinder the estrogen receptors from receiving the estrogen, rather than stopping production at the source. Therefore, you’ll still have estrogen floating around in your body when you use a SERM.