Introduction
If you are new to the world of competitive bodybuilding and steroid use, but you have been opportunistic to hang-out with experienced bodybuilders, you may have heard them talk about the half-life of a number of steroids.
The reason why bodybuilders may be concerned about the half-life of steroids such as Sustanon 250, is because if they are participating in a competitive bodybuilding competition they are most likely to be drug tested.
So it then becomes imperative that these bodybuilders are fully aware of the half-life of the steroid compounds that they inject or orally consume during a cycle, such as the Sustanon 250 half-life.
What exactly is a Steroid Half-life ?
The half-life of a synthetic steroid like Sustanon 250 refers to the duration that it takes for half of the synthetic steroid compound that has been injected into the body to actually be flushed out of the user’s system. In essence the half-life is important as it determines the effectiveness of the synthetic steroid compound.
There is a “short half-life” and a “longer half-life”. With the former, the synthetic steroid compound is flushed out of the body system within a short duration of time and the effect of the drug on the body will only be glaring after large doses are administered. On the other hand, with the “longer half-life”, half of the steroid used will take a longer time within the body system and the effects of the drug on the body will be quicker.
What is the Sustanon 250 Half-life ?
Sustanon 250 is a steroid that consists of four different testosterone esters. These four testosterone esters are:
- Testosterone propionate,
- Testosterone phenylpropionate,
- Testosterone isocaproate, and
- Testosterone decanoate.
So in order to understand the Sustanon 250 half-life, you have to also know the half-life of the different testosterone esters contained in a Sustanon 250 vial. However, in general when you inject Sustanon 250 you normally would expect a half-life in the region of four (4) days. By the 10th day, you may have a quarter level while by the 16th day you have a further drop to about one-eighth and by the 23rd day will see the level fall to about one-sixteenth.
Below is a breakdown of the half-life of the testosterone esters in Sustanon 250:
- Testosterone propionate: This ester has a half-life ranging from 2 to 3 days. This half-life is regarded as the shortest of the four testosterone esters. Bodybuilders will start to feel the effects of testosterone propionate in just 24 hours after injecting the steroid.
- Testosterone phenylpropionate: Also referred to as propionic acid phenyl ester, testosterone phenylpropionate has a half-life ranging from 4 to 5 days. In effect this compound has a longer effect on the body system than testosterone propionate.
- Testosterone isocaproate: Otherwise referred to as isohexane, 4-methylvaleric acid, and isocaproic acid, this compound has a half-life range of between 7 and 9 days.
- Testosterone decanoate: This compound offers the longest half-life of all four testosterone esters in Sustanon. It is therefore the compound with the most potency. It has a half-life of more than two weeks.
With the varying testosterone esters in Sustanon with each offering a different half-life, Sustanon 250 as a whole will give bodybuilders a longer lasting effect due to the seeming abundant supply of testosterone hormone in the body system.