Trenbolone Side Effects

Trenbolone is widely regarded as an anabolic steroid with more 'harsh' side effects than any other anabolic steroid.

While there is a fair amount of truth to this, there is also a fair amount of myth, exaggeration, and rumor, which will be covered in detail in this section of this profile.

Throughout the decades since its development, trenbolone has always been considered a mythical, mysterious, scary, and feared compound.

Indeed, many people are very fearful when they first read about trenbolone, and for good reason.

However, this is because the nature of trenbolone, its properties and effects were not always properly understood and in many cases still are in the anabolic steroid community.

The fact of the matter is that there are other compounds, such as anadrol, that are literally much more mysterious and mysterious than trenbolone.

Once trenbolone is well understood, it is not the scary compound it was once thought to be.

Due to the complexity of the unique trenbolone side effects that need to be covered in depth, we will only cover these specific side effects in the trenbolone side effects portion of this profile.

Trenbolone Unique Side Effects

The first trenbolone side effects we'll cover here are those that are unique to this compound.

These specific trenbolone side effects are not actually seen with other anabolic steroids, and this is one of the many reasons why trenbolone is categorized as a 'harsh' anabolic steroid.

It is important to note that not all individuals will experience these unique trenbolone side effects, but most will.

Side effects of any kind are highly dependent on the individual's response to the compound, their personal genetics, lifestyle, age, and gender.

Some people experience certain side effects and others do not.

This rule applies to all side effects of any drug or food in existence.

Increased sweating

Also known as excessive sweating.

A well-known fact about Trenbolone is that it exhibits an incredibly powerful nutrient splitting effect, more so than all other anabolic steroids.

This ability to split nutrients is how virtually all anabolic steroids work, but some have a greater effect than others, and trenbolone is one of them.

The result is an increase in the individual's metabolic rate, although not an extreme amount.

Excessive sweating can be experienced by many users at any time of the day, but is particularly notorious for occurring at night when the user is asleep.

Of course, this is not a life threatening or serious trenbolone side effect, but it is indeed a very uncomfortable one.

Individuals should make sure to drink plenty of fluids, as excessive sweating can lead to dehydration.

Insomnia/Sleep Disorders

Known as 'insomnia', this is another frequently reported side effect of trenbolone.

While reports of insomnia are very rare with other anabolic steroids, Trenbolone is far more prone to this side effect than any other compound, and the number of reports from users who have experienced insomnia with Trenbolone is staggering.

The origin and cause of this trenbolone side effect is unknown at the time of writing this profile, but it has been hypothesized that trenbolone may act in some sort of stimulant fashion on various components of the body's nervous system.

A common result reported by users is an inability to fall asleep, feel tired, or have consistently restless sleep, including tossing and turning throughout the night and waking up frequently every few hours.

Many people experience uncomfortable insomnia due to trenbolone and resort to sleep aids and medications (both prescription and over-the-counter).

Not everyone experiences these side effects, but most do.

Progesterone and prolactin-related gynecomastia issues

Gynecomastia and its causes are a complex topic and process that is not yet 100% fully understood.

The way estrogen and progesterone interact with each other is a very complex function.

In theory and in vitro, progestins are thought to inhibit prolactin secretion in the body (specifically the pituitary gland in the brain).

However, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support the claim that 19-NOR compounds such as trenbolone and nandrolone actually increase prolactin in the body from the pituitary gland.

Trenbolone itself is a progestin and therefore acts on progestin receptors located in the breast tissue.

Both estrogen and prolactin receptors are present in breast tissue, and the activity of estrogen receptors is known to exacerbate the sensitivity of progesterone receptors (and vice versa, as progestins can increase the sensitivity of estrogen receptors).

This means that if a progestin like trenbolone binds to and activates progesterone receptors in breast tissue, the progesterone receptors may become more sensitive to circulating estrogen levels, increasing the likelihood of developing gynecomastia.

The result is an environment where even very low levels of estrogen can cause gynecomastia to develop.

The intricate combination of estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin creates a complex network where gynecomastia can become a problem.

The effect of prolactin on gynecomastia caused by trenbolone use often manifests itself in the form of nipple engorgement (the leaking of fluid from the nipple, especially when the nipple is squeezed or pressed).

Increased levels of prolactin in men also cause problems with erectile dysfunction and anorgasmia (inability to reach orgasm).

There are several ways that individuals can treat or prevent this problem

- Prolactin antagonists (aka dopamine agonists) such as cabergoline, pramipexole, or bromocriptine can be used.

These medications work as dopamine receptor agonists to reduce and/or eliminate prolactin levels.

- Estrogen levels can be controlled by using aromatase inhibitors with compounds that tend to aromatize, such as testosterone, or by reducing testosterone to TRT doses to minimize aromatization to estrogen.

- The use of vitamin B6 to control prolactin levels has been demonstrated in studies using 600 mg daily[1].

However, it is important to understand that while controlling estrogen levels correlates with controlling prolactin levels in the pituitary gland, it does not work for all users.

Some users have been found to still experience an increase in prolactin despite maintaining low estrogen levels while using trenbolone.

Therefore, it is highly recommended that all individuals using a 19-NOR compound such as trenbolone, regardless of the situation or use, use a prolactin antagonist such as pramipexole or cabergoline.

Erectile dysfunction and libido issues

These trenbolone side effects are commonly known in the anabolic steroid community by the nickname 'trendic' or in the case of nandrolone, 'decadic'.

This is once again related to the issue of increased prolactin due to the effect of trenbolone stimulating the secretion of prolactin from the pituitary gland.

Increased prolactin levels in men can lead to side effects such as lactation in the nipples, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and anorgasmia (the inability to have an orgasm).

An interesting point mentioned above is that progesterone itself is known to inhibit prolactin production, and 19-NORs such as nandrolone and trenbolone, which are classified as progestins, are actually supposed to act to suppress prolactin levels.

However, this is not true, as nandrolone and trenbolone are not progesterone itself, but rather anabolic steroids that exhibit progestogenic activity due to chemical modification, making it very likely that these hormones will exhibit activity that is opposite to that of similar hormones or their parent hormone.

Nandrolone and Trenbolone can actually increase prolactin levels in the body and have been found to do so.

Once again, individuals should always use testosterone during a trenbolone cycle, or at the very least have a prolactin antagonist compound on hand to control any prolactin related side effects.

Tren-Cough

This is the nickname given to the symptom of experiencing a cough, which can range from very mild to severe, immediately after an injection.

About half of this side effect is a misconception and rumor, while the other half is true.

This Trenbolone side effect is mostly caused by the needle hitting a vein or capillary when it passes through the tissue during the injection.

What happens here is that when injecting an oily substance, a small amount of oil flows into the ruptured capillary or vein and then into the bloodstream.

As a result, the body tries to expel the foreign object from the bloodstream through coughing by transporting it to the lungs.

This is where coughing occurs, but it should be made clear that all injectable oil-based anabolic steroids can and do cause coughing when oil-based substances enter the bloodstream.

However, little is known about why trenbolone itself causes coughing more severely than other anabolic steroids.

Several hypotheses exist to explain why, but none have been proven to be accurate, and many of them range from completely implausible to plausible.

These coughing attacks are rarely life-threatening, but they can be quite frightening, especially for first-time users, especially if they're not sure why they're happening.

The intensity of coughing attacks can range from a mild “tickle” in the throat/lung area to a full-blown coughing fit, and the more severe coughing attacks can be accompanied by profuse sweating, which will subside once the coughing attack subsides.

Decreased cardiovascular and lung capacity

Many users claim to experience a temporary decrease in cardiovascular and lung capacity during trenbolone use, which seems to subside shortly after discontinuing trenbolone.

This particular side effect, like most side effects, is dose dependent, with many users experiencing little to no limitation in cardiovascular and pulmonary capacity at lower Trenbolone doses, while others report more severe reductions in the same functions at higher doses.

This is a result of the effect that Trenbolone has on the body by increasing the amount of the prostaglandin F2Aplha.

As a result, bronchoconstriction occurs, making it more difficult for the user to draw large amounts of oxygen into the lungs, especially during aerobic exercise.

Some individuals do not experience this particular trenbolone side effect at all, while others experience the side effects when their trenbolone dosage is administered below a certain dose.

This trenbolone side effect is not considered life-threatening, and often at its worst, users may notice that their breathing becomes more labored and heavier during periods of physical activity that did not occur prior to trenbolone use.

As mentioned earlier, this particular side effect is temporary and will disappear shortly after the trenbolone cycle ends.

The only caveat regarding this side effect is that individuals suffering from asthma should be aware that this potential side effect can cause serious problems, especially if a severe asthma attack occurs.

Therefore, asthma sufferers should make an appropriate and responsible decision on whether or not to use trenbolone.

Increased aggression and irritability

Trenbolone is as potent an androgen as it is anabolic, and its androgenic strength is five times that of testosterone.

With an androgen level of 500, trenbolone can and has been known to cause increased irritability and aggression in most users.

This side effect is highly dose dependent, with more pronounced aggression being seen at higher (and often unnecessary) trenbolone doses.

Also, depending on the individual's reaction, this side effect may not be present at all.

Users who are known to have a short temper and anger control issues prior to trenbolone use should exercise extreme caution, as the use of trenbolone will undoubtedly amplify these traits.

Such individuals should avoid trenbolone use as a responsible decision.

In general, all Tren users should always exercise caution and maintain a proper stable psychological state at all times and ensure that the user is constantly aware of their actions at all times.

Proper discipline is of utmost importance when using any anabolic steroid, especially Trenbolone (special consideration is required at high doses).

It should be made clear to the reader that the use of any type of drug relieves the individual of all personal responsibility and that there is absolutely no reason to blame the drug (in this case trenbolone) when the user does something regrettable.

Always remember this!

Increased Kidney and Liver Stress

Another half-rumor, half-truth trenbolone side effect, liver and kidney strain is a frequent claim in the anabolic steroid community.

The truth about this side effect is as follows

Trenbolone does not put more stress on the kidneys or liver than most other injectable compounds.

Although trenbolone is not C17-alpha alkylated, it does put a very minimal amount of liver strain due to its resistance to hepatic breakdown and metabolism, but the degree to which it exhibits this toxicity is not worth noting.

However, all individuals should take appropriate precautions with regard to liver and kidney problems and should be aware that anyone with kidney or liver problems should not use trenbolone or any anabolic steroid.

Rumors of kidney damage from trenbolone stem from the fact that while using trenbolone, the urine becomes much darker and has an orange rusty color.

This has commonly been mistaken for bloody urine due to the claim of “trenbolone-induced kidney damage”.

In fact, trenbolone does not cause kidney damage, and the reason for the change in urine color during trenbolone use is due to the oxidation of trenbolone to a dark green color, even when refrigerated, which often occurs in individuals with no signs of renal (kidney) toxicity.

Other evidence from long-term use of trenbolone in cattle (to increase meat yield for the purpose of increasing feed production) indicates that there has never been a problem with kidney toxicity in cattle given trenbolone.

The same is true for the small number of human test subjects in studies where trenbolone was administered.

In the end, what people mistake for blood in their urine is actually trenbolone and its metabolites that are excreted in the urine, which is what gives the urine its rustier, darker color.

Liver stress

This was touched on a bit above, as kidney and liver issues are often interrelated.

As mentioned earlier, Trenbolone does not possess C17-alpha alkylation, a chemical modification necessary to increase anabolic steroid oral bioavailability.

This modification unfortunately results in varying degrees of hepatotoxicity, but again, Trenbolone does not possess this feature.

However, Trenbolone itself is known to have a very small amount of hepatotoxicity.

This is due to the nature of Trenbolone's chemical structure, which makes it more resistant to hepatic metabolism and breakdown, despite the fact that Trenbolone is not C17-alpha alkylated.

Small amounts of liver toxicity from trenbolone are not a great cause for concern at all, as they do not reach the toxic amounts exhibited by oral C17-alpha alkylated anabolic steroids.

Mild liver toxicity can be problematic for individuals with pre-existing liver issues (known or unknown), so this should be kept in mind.

All potential trenbolone users should always undergo blood tests to monitor liver enzyme levels, and proven liver support supplements (such as UDCA/TUDCA) can be used during a trenbolone cycle to further ensure proper liver function.

Trenbolone References

[1] Effects of pyridoxine administration on the circadian rhythms of plasma ACTH, cortisol prolactin and somatotropin in normal subjects. Valletta C, Cellini M, Bartoli A, Bigi C, Buzzetti R, Giovannini C. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper. 1984 Feb 28;60(2):273-8.