Contraindications: Not indicated for individuals with pre-existing insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), active hepatic conditions, prostate or breast cancer, or hyperlipidaemia. Women of childbearing potential and individuals under 21 are excluded from use. Concurrent use with insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents requires medical supervision due to compound interactions on glucose regulation pathways.
Side Effects: Reported adverse effects include hepatotoxicity (elevated ALT/AST), HDL suppression with LDL elevation, erythrocytosis (increased haematocrit), acne, androgenic alopecia, and suppression of endogenous testosterone production. Metabolically relevant adverse effects include impaired post-prandial glucose clearance and potential triglyceride elevation — both markers should be tracked during the cycle.
Monitoring: Minimum monitoring schedule: liver enzymes (ALT, AST) and fasting blood glucose at baseline, week 4, and 6 weeks post-cycle; haematocrit at baseline and cycle end; lipid panel (HDL, LDL, triglycerides) at baseline and post-cycle. HbA1c measurement is recommended for cycles exceeding 4 weeks as a longer-window glucose exposure indicator.
PCT: Endogenous testosterone recovery requires structured PCT. A standard SERMs protocol — Tamoxifen 20 mg/day or Clomiphene 50/25 mg/day — initiated 3 days after the last tablet and continued for 4 weeks is the commonly referenced approach in sports pharmacology literature. LH and FSH levels should return toward reference range by the end of PCT; test at week 6 post-cycle.