Andronaq — testosterone suspension

Testosterone suspension is an injectable preparation containing testosterone (no ester), usually in a water base. Among bodybuilders, “suspension” is known to be an extremely potent mass agent. It is often said to be the most powerful injectable steroid available, producing very rapid gains in muscle mass and strength. This is largely due to the very fast action of the drug. When using a slow-acting oil-based steroid like Sustanon 250, it can take weeks before a peak testosterone level is reached. With suspension, it is just a matter of hours. This will usually result in the athlete starting to notice size and strength gains by the end of the first week. By the time the athlete is 30 days into a cycle of suspension, the length it will usually take for Sustanon 250 to really begin working consistently, the mass gains are already (generally) very extreme.

	Brand name		Testosterone suspension, Sterotate, Aquaspension testosterone, Injectable aqueous testosterone, Virosterone, Testosterone aqueous
	Androgenic		100
	Anabolic		100
	Standard		Standard
	Chemical Names		4-androsten-3-one-17beta-ol 17beta-hydroxy-androst-4-en-3-one
	Estrogenic Activity		moderate
	Progestational Activity		low

Testosterone Suspension History

Testosterone suspension is one of the oldest anabolic/androgenic steroids, dating all the way back to the 1930’s. Used generically to describe any injectable form of free testosterone, testosterone suspension predates the development of slow-acting (depot) injections of esterified testosterone by several years. Even after the development of esterified derivates, testosterone suspension remained on the U.S. and other select drug markets. For example, testosterone propionate and testosterone enanthate were both commercially available by the 1950’s, yet testosterone suspension remained a regularly produced item in the U.S. for decades more. Previous American trade names for the drug have include Sterotate (Ulmer), Andronaq (Central), Aquaspension Testosterone (Pitman-Moore), Injectable Aqueous Testosterone (Arlington-Funk), Virosterone (Endo), and Testosterone Aqueous (National Drug). A full accounting of the former generic manufacturers and brand names for this drug would be too numerous to list.

Testosterone suspension shares a clinical application history similar to that of other testosterone products. Early prescribing guidelines called for its use to ameliorate a loss of sex drive, impotence, and general loss of vitality in aging males with declining hormone levels. Testosterone was/is also used to treat pubertal adolescents with undescended testicles. With women, the drug was commonly prescribed for the treatment of excessive or painful lactation following childbirth, as well as inoperable mammary cancer. By the 1990’s, however, the FDA had refined the approved uses for testosterone suspension slightly, which began to focus more tightly on the treatment of male androgen insufficiency. The drug may, however, still be used as a secondary therapy in inoperable breast cancer, although its high tendency to produce virilization makes it an uncommon choice.

Although the number of products containing testosterone suspension steadily dwindled over the years, the drug enjoyed uninterrupted availability on the U.S. prescription drug market all the way up to 1998. That year, the FDA had taken action against Steris Laboratories (a subsidiary of Henry Schein), which at the time was the principal U.S. supplier for testosterone products (manufacturing them for their label and several other brands). The firm was also the last remaining producer of testosterone suspension. The dispute arose over Steris’ inventory reports for their Class III drugs. The FDA forced the company to suspend production of all C-III pharmaceuticals until certain “discrepancies” could be addressed. Years later, Steris was able to resume producing testosterone drugs again, but by this time had made the decision not to resume making testosterone suspension. Currently, testosterone suspension is still available in the U.S., but only through private compounding pharmacies, which may produce the drug on special order from a licensed doctor.

How is Testosterone Suspension Supplied

Testosterone suspension is available in select human and veterinary drug markets. Composition and dosage may vary by country and manufacturer, but usually contain 50 mg/ml or 100 mg/ml of steroid mixed in a water-based solution. Testosterone has low water solubility, so the steroid will noticeably separate from a water-based solution when a vial or ampule is left to sit. A quick shake will temporarily place the drug back into suspension, so that the withdrawn dosage should always be consistent.

Structural Characteristics of Testosterone Suspension

Testosterone suspension contains (free) testosterone in a water-based suspension, although oils are sometime also used as carriers. Without esterification, testosterone has a short halflife in the body. Testosterone suspension may require a minimum of 2-3 injections per week to maintain consistent hormone elevations. When calculating dose, especially when moving from one testosterone preparation to another, it is also important to remember that testosterone suspension contains more active testosterone per milligram than its esterified derivatives. For example, when the weight of the ester is taken into account, 100 mg of testosterone enanthate actually only provides 72 mg of raw testosterone.

Testosterone Suspension Side Effects (Estrogenic)

Testosterone is readily aromatized in the body to estradiol (estrogen). The aromatase (estrogen synthetase) enzyme is responsible for this metabolism of testosterone. Elevated estrogen levels can cause side effects such as increased water retention, body fat gain, and gynecomastia. Testosterone is considered a moderately estrogenic steroid. An anti-estrogen such as clomiphene citrate or tamoxifen citrate may be necessary to prevent estrogenic side effects. One may alternately use an aromatase inhibitor like Arimidex (anastrozole), which more efficiently controls estrogen by preventing its synthesis. Aromatase inhibitors can be quite expensive in comparison to anti-estrogens, however, and may also have negative effects on blood lipids.

Estrogenic side effects will occur in a dose-dependant manner, with higher doses (above normal therapeutic levels) of testosterone more likely to require the concurrent use of an antiestrogen or aromatase inhibitor. Since water retention and loss of muscle definition are common with higher doses of testosterone, this drug is usually considered a poor choice for dieting or cutting phases of training. Its moderate estrogenicity makes it more ideal for bulking phases, where the added water retention will support raw strength and muscle size, and help foster a stronger anabolic environment.

Testosterone Suspension Side Effects (Androgenic)

Testosterone is the primary male androgen, responsible for maintaining secondary male sexual characteristics. Elevated levels of testosterone are likely to produce androgenic side effects including oily skin, acne, and body/facial hair growth. Men with a genetic predisposition for hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) may notice accelerated male pattern balding. Those concerned about hair loss may find a more comfortable option in nandrolone decanoate, which is a comparably less androgenic steroid. Women are warned of the potential virilizing effects of anabolic/androgenic steroids, especially with a strong androgen such as testosterone. These may include deepening of the voice, menstrual irregularities, changes in skin texture, facial hair growth, and clitoral enlargement.

In androgen-responsive target tissues such as the skin, scalp, and prostate, the high relative androgenicity of testosterone is dependant on its reduction to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The 5-alpha reductase enzyme is responsible for this metabolism of testosterone. The concurrent use of a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor such as finasteride or dutasteride will interfere with site-specific potentiation of testosterone action, lowering the tendency of testosterone drugs to produce androgenic side effects. It is important to remember that anabolic and androgenic effects are both mediated via the cytosolic androgen receptor. Complete separation of testosterone’s anabolic and androgenic properties is not possible, even with total 5-alpha reductase inhibition.

Testosterone Suspension Side Effects (Hepatotoxicity)

Testosterone does not have hepatotoxic effects; liver toxicity is unlikely. One study examined the potential for hepatotoxicity with high doses of testosterone by administering 400 mg of the potential for hepatotoxicity with high doses of testosterone by administering 400 mg of the hormone per day (2,800 mg per week) to a group of male subjects. The steroid was taken orally so that higher peak concentrations would be reached in hepatic tissues compared to intramuscular injections. The hormone was given daily for 20 days, and produced no significant changes in liver enzyme values including serum albumin, bilirubin, alanine-amino-transferase, and alkaline phosphatases.

Testosterone Suspension Side Effects (Cardiovascular)

Anabolic/androgenic steroids can have deleterious effects on serum cholesterol. This includes a tendency to reduce HDL (good) cholesterol values and increase LDL (bad) cholesterol values, which may shift the HDL to LDL balance in a direction that favors greater risk of arteriosclerosis. The relative impact of an anabolic/androgenic steroid on serum lipids is dependant on the dose, route of administration (oral vs. injectable), type of steroid (aromatizable or non-aromatizable), and level of resistance to hepatic metabolism. Anabolic/androgenic steroids may also adversely affect blood pressure and triglycerides, reduce endothelial relaxation, and support left ventricular hypertrophy, all potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction.

Testosterone tends to have a much less dramatic impact on cardiovascular risk factors than synthetic steroids. This is due in part to its openness to metabolism by the liver, which allows it to have less effect on the hepatic management of cholesterol. The aromatization of testosterone to estradiol also helps to mitigate the negative effects of androgens on serum lipids. In one study, 280 mg per week of testosterone ester (enanthate) had a slight but not statistically significant effect on HDL cholesterol after 12 weeks, but when taken with an aromatase inhibitor a strong (25%) decrease was seen. Studies using 300 mg of testosterone ester (enanthate) per week for 20 weeks without an aromatase inhibitor demonstrated only a 13% decrease in HDL cholesterol, while at 600 mg the reduction reached 21%. The negative impact of aromatase inhibition should be taken into consideration before such drug is added to testosterone therapy.

Due to the positive influence of estrogen on serum lipids, tamoxifen citrate or clomiphene citrate are preferred to aromatase inhibitors for those concerned with cardiovascular health, as they offer a partial estrogenic effect in the liver. This allows them to potentially improve lipid profiles and offset some of the negative effects of androgens. With doses of 600 mg or less of testosterone per week, the impact on lipid profile tends to be noticeable but not dramatic, making an anti-estrogen (for cardioprotective purposes) perhaps unnecessary. Doses of 600 mg or less per week have also failed to produce statistically significant changes in LDL/VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B/C-III, C-reactive protein, and insulin sensitivity, all indicating a relatively weak impact on cardiovascular risk factors. When used in moderate doses, injectable testosterone esters are usually considered to be the safest of all anabolic/androgenic steroids.

To help reduce cardiovascular strain it is advised to maintain an active cardiovascular exercise program and minimize the intake of saturated fats, cholesterol, and simple carbohydrates at all times during active AAS administration. Supplementing with fish oils (4 grams per day) and a natural cholesterol/antioxidant formula such as Lipid Stabil or a product with comparable ingredients is also recommended.

Testosterone Suspension Side Effects (Testosterone Suppression)

All anabolic/androgenic steroids when taken in doses sufficient to promote muscle gain are expected to suppress endogenous testosterone production. Testosterone is the primary male androgen, and offers strong negative feedback on endogenous testosterone production. Testosterone-based drugs will, likewise, have a strong effect on the hypothalamic regulation of natural steroid hormones. Without the intervention of testosterone-stimulating substances, testosterone levels should return to normal within 1-4 months of drug secession. Note that prolonged hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism can develop secondary to steroid abuse, necessitating medical intervention.

Testosterone Suspension Administration (General)

Testosterone suspension contains undissolved testosterone particles, which form a shortacting repository in the muscle following injection. Depending on the size of the particles and other agents present, injections of testosterone suspension may result in local irritation, pain, and redness. Veterinary testosterone suspensions may use large particles that require a needle as large as 21 gauge for injection, for example, and can be very uncomfortable to use. Modern testosterone suspension preparations made for human use often contain microcrystalline steroid particles. These crystals are highly refined, and are too small to see with the naked eye. This design provides significantly more patient comfort than less refined products, and is generally well tolerated.

Testosterone Suspension Administration (Men)

To treat androgen insufficiency, the prescribing guidelines for testosterone suspension recommend a dose of 25-50 mg, which is given 2-3 times per week.

When used for musclebuilding purposes, testosterone suspension is often administered at a dose of 100-200 mg per injection, which is given every 2nd or 3rd day. Athletes looking to achieve an extremely rapid bulk gain will inject as much as 100 mg daily. In most cases this higher dose can be amazing, the user seeming to just inflate with bloated muscle mass in a very short period of time. Back when they were being manufactured, the U.S. 30 mL vials (100 mg/mL) were always the most sought after for this procedure, as each would run the cycle for about a month. Although this drug does require a frequent injection schedule, a well-refined suspension should pass through a needle as fine as 27 gauge (insulin). This allows the user more available injection sites, hitting the smaller muscle groups such as the deltoid, triceps, and calves.

Those looking for only a potent mass agent are often extremely happy with the results provided by testosterone suspension; this product certainly has a strong reputation for performing. But those athletes who want not just quantity but quality are likely to be disappointed, as the muscle mass gain is not going to be a hard, dense one. In fact, the user will often have to contend with excessive fat and water-weight gains when building their physique with this drug, and will often seek the benefit of cutting agents soon afterwards to clean up the look of muscularity. Alternately, one could make use of a smaller dosage of testosterone suspension, which would allow for less estrogen buildup. In such a scenario, one could stack it with any of a variety of other less or non-aromatizable steroids, depending on the desired goals.

Testosterone Suspension Administration (Women)

Testosterone suspension is rarely used with women in clinical medicine. When applied, it is most often used as a secondary treatment for inoperable breast cancer. Doses given for this application may reach 100 mg three times per week, a level well into the threshold likely to cause strong virilizing side effects. Testosterone suspension is not recommended for women for physique- or performance-enhancing purposes due to its strong androgenic nature and tendency to produce virilizing side effects.

Testosterone Suspension Availability

Pharmaceutical preparations containing testosterone in an aqueous suspension remain scarce. The bulk of the supply presently comes from underground and export steroid manufacturers. In reviewing some of the remaining products and changes in the global pharmaceutical market, we have made the following observations.

Testosterone suspension has been unavailable in the United States for many years now. No old products should still be in circulation. Because the FDA never officially withdrew this drug from, it can be specially ordered through a small number of compounding pharmacies. Anything else bearing a U.S. manufacturer name is counterfeit. Testosterone suspension is still produced in India under the Aquaviron brand name, now by Piramal HC. It comes in the strength of 25 mg/mL, and is packaged in 1 mL ampules.

Testosterone uspension is produced in India under the Testoxyl Suspension brand name, now by Kalpa Pharmaceuticals. It comes in the strength of 100 mg/mL, and is packaged in 10 mL vials.

	Brand name		Product name
	Axiolabs		Testaplex S 100
	British Dragon		Aquabol Suspension
	Dragon Pharm		Suspension 100
	Sciroxx		Testodex 100
	7Lab Pharm		Testolab-S 100

Bodybuilders reference

Testosterone suspension is Testosterone crystals suspended in sterile water. The product becomes active about 1 hour after injection. Those who used suspension noted an unbelievable elevation in strength and aggression coupled with a rapid build-up in muscle mass. Women bodybuilders commonly reported the use of use 25-50mg daily during the last 1-4 days before competition to cause a rapid increase in androgens to over ride high estrogen levels and the resulting aldosterone levels. Since Aldosterone is the body’s water regulating hormone this method improved hardness significantly.

Males usually administered 50-200mg daily for the same purpose. Testosterone suspension significantly boosts glycogen storage in muscle tissue. After carb depletion and during a 2-4 carb-loading phase, the results of suspension use have been amazing: Increased muscle striation and separation combined with a fall hard look to the tissue. Suspension was rarely reported to be used by novice testosterone users even during mass gaining cycles simply because it “hurt like hell” and maintained plasma levels required daily administrations. (But it actually produced better results than other testosterones). As with other testosterones, prolonged use led to a serious decrease in natural androgen production.

*Suspension is more androgenic and anabolic than either Enanthate or Cypionate only because it is not testosterone joined to an ester. This simply means 100mg of suspension actually has 100mg of active testosterone that enters the circulatory system at a fairly rapid rate. (More testosterone = more activity!)

Newbies Research Guide reference

This drug in injectable testosterone suspended in a water solvent. This product is one of the oldest androgens available; it was originally developed some 40 years ago. this drug has been used by athletes for decades and still has quite a following who like the fast action of the drug. Since it is in a water base, it gets in the blood in a matter of hours and has a life of around a day. This requires that the compound be administered frequently. The worst thing about this is that shots are often painful which can lead to a very uncomfortable cycle. Still, hundreds of athletes sacrifice comfort to reap its rewards which often include dramatic gains in size and strength. I know for a fact that hundreds of powerlifting records have been obtained with the help of testosterone suspension. many championship physiques were aided by the long term use of this drug as well. Unfortunately, this drug is very hard on the system. It is high in androgens, aromatizes easily and it is hard on the liver. The prolonged use of testosterone suspension will severely suppress the natural pituitary hormone axis, resulting in serious atrophy of the testicles and infertility. Although these symptoms are reversible, many athletes find them unacceptable. Due to the large percentage of exogenous testosterone that is converted to DHT in the system, acne and male pattern baldness can result. As with other testosterones, users often find that the rapid gains increased aggression is another common side effect associated with the use for some users that it is grounds for avoiding this item altogether. Another very noticeable effect from this drug is that it can dramatically increase the sex drive when it is used in the short term, but, as with other testosterones, the long term use can lead to impotence and sexual dysfunction. It is still very popular for powerlifters to use testosterone suspension every day for the last couple weeks before a contest. This has reportedly yielded some unbelievable last minute strength increases. A few bodybuilders find that this fast-acting androgen helps harden them up proir to a bodybuilding competition. Some even take the drug the morning of a contest and claim it makes their muscles look harder and fuller.
I consider this product to be in the same class as Anadrol – It yields dramatic gains in size and strength yet it has so many potential side effects that it does not fall into an aceptable range in terms of risk-to-benefit. (Just because I see it as an unacceptable risk, does not mean that athletes are going to stop using it.) Average dosages of testosterone suspension have been in the range of 100mg every other day.

References

Wlliam Llewellyn (2011) – Anabolics
L. Rea (2002) – Chemical Muscle Enhancement Bodybuilders Desk Reference
Newbies Research Guide

Your experience with Andronaq — testosterone suspension