#-065 Raloxifene (Evista)

As with other similar SERMs such as Nolvadex (Tamoxifen), its use extends past the primary medical indications and is frequently applied by anabolic steroid using bodybuilders as an ancillary drug to combat and/or prevent Estrogen related side effects and issues. Although Raloxifene is not as popular as Nolvadex for this purpose, growing amounts of evidence in the form of research indicates that it is almost or equally effective for this purpose. Although Raloxifene does not have anywhere near as much of a history of research and clinical data compared to more well-established SERMs such as Nolvadex, it is quickly gaining popularity and interest among the bodybuilding and anabolic steroid using community, and many within said community have regarded Raloxifene as a somewhat safer alternative.

 

The estrogenic side effects that Raloxifene is used to combat in the arena of anabolic steroid use is primarily gynecomastia, with little assistance for other estrogenic side effects. This is due to the fact that, as mentioned in the introduction of this profile, Raloxifene does not serve to reduce total Estrogen levels in the body, but merely serves to block Estrogen’s activity in select tissues. This is a commonality among all SERMs, and is an intrinsic method by which all SERMs operate. This should be kept in mind by anabolic steroid users, as any attempt to combat other estrogenic side effects such as bloating and water retention with Raloxifene doses will be inevitably met with failure. Aromatase inhibitors are best suited for those purposes instead.

 

Aside from its use in mitigating Estrogen, Raloxifene has demonstrated considerable use as an endogenous Testosterone stimulating compound, as studies have demonstrated an increase of serum Testosterone levels by 20% from 120mg of Raloxifene per day. Although this level and amount of endogenous Testosterone stimulation is not quite as efficient as Nolvadex, it is still considerable enough to warrant its use as a viable ancillary during post cycle therapy (PCT).

 

 

In many instances, Raloxifene doses might possibly also be utilized to increase the endogenous secretion of Testosterone in men, which allows this compound to be utilized as an ancillary medication during PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) phases after the end of an anabolic steroid cycle.

 

For the purpose of gynecomastia prevention/reduction during a cycle: Raloxifene dosages are normally utilized for either the prevention of the development of gynecomastia during an anabolic steroid cycle that includes the use of aromatizable anabolic steroids, or as an interceptive medication shortly after the development of gynecomastia has begun. For both conditions, the Raloxifene doages are the same, in which 30 – 60mg daily is utilized during an anabolic steroid cycle, though the standard is most usually 30mg per day.

 

It is very important to know that the use of Raloxifene can possibly impact performance, muscle, and strength gains during an anabolic steroid cycle negatively. Like Nolvadex, Raloxifene too has demonstrated to reduce serum levels of IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) in the body, which is known to be a very important mediator of muscle growth that is responsible for increased nitrogen retention, protein synthesis, and new muscle cell growth (hyperplasia). Other studies conducted have found a statistically significant reduction in IGF-1 levels of patients who were administered Raloxifene when pre and post-administration IGF-1 levels were measured.

 

The conclusion here is that SERMs such as Raloxifene and Nolvadex do exhibit a detrimental effect on muscle growth through the reduction of blood plasma levels of important hormones (namely, IGF-1) required for muscle growth. It is therefore advised that the administration of Raloxifene for whatever reasons (either for PCT or gynecomastia control/reduction) should be only as long as necessary to mitigate any Estrogen-related side effects during the use of aromatizable anabolic steroids. Short-term administration of Raloxifene doses should not mark a dramatic impact, but long term administration would indeed exhibit negative effects on muscle growth and performance. When long-term use of Raloxifene was examined in one study, after 24 months of Raloxifene treatment, test subjects’ IGF-1 levels were measured to be significantly lower than controls. 

 

Raloxifene is of very little to no use for female anabolic steroid users, as the primary use of a drug such as Raloxifene among anabolic steroid users is for males that wish to mitigate and/or prevent the development of gynecomastia as well as for the stimulation of endogenous Testosterone production. Females have no particular need for either of these functions, and Raloxifene as it pertains to females should only be for medical indications for which it is deemed necessary for. The use of Raloxifene in females outside of any medical necessities can possibly result in further physiological complications due to the nature of Raloxifene’s Estrogen antagonism/agonism concerning female endocrine physiology.

 

The documentation on the effect of Raloxifene dosages as it pertains to the endogenous production of Testosterone in men has been documented fairly well. This occurs via Raloxifene’s Estrogen antagonistic effects on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which results in the significant release of FSH and LH (the two hormones responsible for signaling the testes to begin and/or increase the production and secretion of Testosterone). This is not surprising, as the majority of SERMs express this effect in males to begin with. It is for this reason that Raloxifene, as well as its relative SERMs such as Nolvadex and Clomid, are known to be very essential components to a properly constructed PCT program for the purpose of hormonal recovery after an anabolic steroid cycle ended.

 

 

Raloxifene’s administration restrictions (or a lack thereof) are quite flexible, and Raloxifene dosages can be administered before, during, or after meals. It can also be consumed in the morning or at night time, as per the user’s preference. The partitioning and splitting up of Raloxifene dosages are unnecessary due to its long half-life of 27.7 hours.

 

Raloxifene is an efficient solution for the prevention and mitigation of problematic estrogenic side effects, especially for gynecomastia in particular. It does hold an advantage over other SERMs such as Nolvadex in that it will maintain or even increase bone density and strength through its Estrogen agonistic activity in bone tissue, whereas Nolvadex on the other hand expresses the opposite activity in bone. Furthermore, Raloxifene dosages are considerably efficient at stimulating endogenous natural Testosterone production in males, leading to the conclusion that it can be utilized quite effectively during post cycle therapy in the restoration of endogenous Testosterone production.

 

Bodybuilders and anabolic steroid users are attracted to the use of Raloxifene due to its nature as an anti-estrogen in the fight against Estrogen-related side effects that are usually caused by the use of aromatizable androgens that result in high blood plasma levels of Estrogen in the body. A common estrogenic side effect as a result of this is the development of gynecomastia. In the realm of gynecomastia in particular, Raloxifene has actually demonstrated more promising effectiveness than Nolvadex (Tamoxifen).

 

As is common with all SERMs and anti-estrogens, Raloxifene has also demonstrated considerable benefit in stimulating endogenous natural Testosterone production in males, as studies have demonstrated an increase of serum Testosterone levels by 20% from 120mg of Raloxifene per day.