Aromasin (Exemestane) Dosage
Among anabolic steroid users, Arimidex is more widely known as an aromatase inhibitor.
However, Aromasin tends to be regarded as a superior aromatase inhibitor due to its characteristics and effects.
Unfortunately, Aromasin is not well-known.
Approximately 1 in 6 anabolic steroid users tend to choose Arimidex over Aromasin as their first-choice aromatase inhibitor.
This is due to two reasons; the first is that, as mentioned earlier, Arimidex was the first aromatase inhibitor to gain popularity within the anabolic steroid user community.
As a result, Aromasin (Exemestane) was overlooked.
The second reason is the fact that Aromasin tends to be more expensive than Arimidex.
That is, the Aromasin dosage for the purpose of estrogen control during a cycle has proven to be significantly more effective than Arimidex, both in its ability to act as a suicidal inhibitor of the aromatase enzyme and for the purpose of endogenous testosterone and HPTA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis) recovery during PCT.
This will be discussed in more detail later in this section.
First, it must be understood that Aromasin is a very effective and potent aromatase inhibitor that can be applied in a very versatile manner in terms of estrogen control.
As an aromatase inhibitor, Aromasin possesses the ability to literally control all potential estrogen-related side effects that an anabolic steroid user seeks to avoid or eliminate.
The standard protocol (or general rule) for all aromatase inhibitor use should be as follows:
The use of aromatase inhibitors should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
If an aromatase inhibitor must be used, it should only be used when necessary and at the lowest possible dose for the purpose of estrogen control, not estrogen elimination.
This is extremely important and must be remembered by every reader reviewing aromatase inhibitor use.
The important fact is that aromatase inhibitors, whether the three main AIs (Arimidex, Aromasin, Letro) or any others, can negatively impact the body if used when not needed or if the Aromasin dosage is too high.
The purpose of an aromatase inhibitor should be to control estrogen, not to completely eliminate it.
The definition of estrogen control is to maintain normal physiological levels, not a complete reduction of estrogen.
A complete reduction of estrogen can and does have detrimental effects on the human body.
This will be detailed in the side effects section of this profile, but generally speaking, it can be explained that these compounds (aromatase inhibitors) deprive the body of a very important hormone (estrogen) that is crucial for various essential bodily functions at normal physiological levels.
Medical Aromasin Dosage
In the medical field, Aromasin (Exemestane) has received FDA approval as an adjunctive treatment for postmenopausal women with breast cancer who have failed primary therapy (such as Nolvadex).
The standard protocol in medical institutions is to initiate Aromasin administration approximately 2-3 years after the patient has failed on Nolvadex.
At this point, Nolvadex administration is stopped and Aromasin use is started, using Nolvadex and Aromasin (Exemestane) together for a predetermined period of 5 years.
The aforementioned prescribed Aromasin dosage for breast cancer treatment is a single daily dose of 25mg.
According to prescription guidelines, it is recommended that the Aromasin dose be administered after a meal.
Aromasin Dosage During Anabolic Steroid Use
Like most/all ancillary compounds, Aromasin cannot be classified into three tiers of users (beginner, intermediate, advanced) as is commonly described and listed in the profiles of other compounds and drugs.
This is because Aromasin is not specifically used for performance enhancement purposes, but rather as an ancillary drug used to prevent or mitigate various estrogen-related side effects when using aromatizable anabolic steroids.
Beyond its estrogen-blocking function, Aromasin can be used for various purposes, and its estrogen-blocking function is not only a step above other major aromatase inhibitors, but it also has the ability to increase testosterone levels.
This will be covered in more detail shortly in the section on Aromasin use during PCT (Post Cycle Therapy).
For the purpose of estrogen control during a cycle: It is well-established that Aromasin is very effective at lowering total estrogen levels through the inhibition of the aromatase enzyme.
However, the required dosage and frequency of Aromasin use depend heavily on the dosage of the aromatizable anabolic steroid being used, the individual’s sensitivity to the aromatase inhibitor, and the rate of aromatization of the anabolic steroid used.
Therefore, the general Aromasin dosage ranges from 12.5mg to 1mg per day.
As with all aromatase inhibitors, there is always room for adjustment regarding the user’s experience with a specific Aromasin dose and frequency of administration.
When using a potent and very powerful aromatase inhibitor like Aromasin, adjustments are often necessary.
Aromasin at 12.5mg taken every other day is often sufficient for estrogen control, and this is a commonly used dosage in the anabolic steroid using community.
Again, dose titration is a normal part of using aromatase inhibitors.
It must always be remembered that the use of an aromatase inhibitor is for the purpose of estrogen control – to return elevated circulating estrogen levels (due to aromatization) back to normal physiological levels.
Completely reducing or eliminating estrogen levels can have negative effects on the body.
Female Aromasin Dosage
Female anabolic steroid users rarely need to worry about elevated estrogen levels.
However, competitive bodybuilders who need to eliminate estrogen-related water retention that causes unwanted bloating may need to use an aromatase inhibitor like Aromasin (Exemestane).
It is important to remember that medically, Aromasin is approved for use only in postmenopausal women, whose hormone levels are very different from premenopausal women.
According to medical data, since aromatase inhibitors are much more effective in women than in men (depending on the AI used), an Aromasin dosage of 12.5mg every other day or every two days is sufficient, and in fact, this may often be too much, requiring a reduction in the dose or the frequency of administration.
Aromasin Dosage for Increasing Endogenous Testosterone Secretion and PCT (Post Cycle Therapy)
Research has proven that Aromasin can increase testosterone levels in men.
In one study, 12 healthy young male subjects were selected and randomly administered 25mg and 50mg of Aromasin for 10 days. The results showed not only a significant suppression of estrogen (by 38%), but also an observed 60% increase in the subjects’ testosterone levels.[1]
Increasing endogenous testosterone production in men by 60% is not the only major benefit of Aromasin.
Aromasin also holds additional benefits that make it inherently the ‘best’ aromatase inhibitor, cementing its status as the ‘king’ of aromatase inhibitors for the purpose of HPTA and testosterone recovery during PCT.
Stimulating endogenous testosterone secretion is a common feature of all aromatase inhibitors, attributable to the fact that excess estrogen causes a negative feedback loop response in the HPTA, initiating testosterone suppression.
In addition to significantly increasing endogenous testosterone production, Aromasin possesses several advantages and effects compared to other aromatase inhibitors that do not exhibit these traits.
For example, a common characteristic of all aromatase inhibitors is their unfortunate effect of altering cholesterol profiles in a very negative manner (decreasing ‘good’ HDL cholesterol and increasing ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol).
This is largely due to the reduction in estrogen levels and the action of the aromatase inhibitor itself.
Aromasin has been proven in several studies to have a much lesser impact on cholesterol levels compared to other aromatase inhibitors.
In a specific study on cancer patients, 24 weeks of Aromasin (Exemestane) administration showed no impact on cholesterol levels.[2]
Some of the same studies mentioned also found no impact on cholesterol levels from Aromasin use.[1]
However, some other studies did show cholesterol level changes from Aromasin administration, but they were not as significant or negatively impactful as with other aromatase inhibitors.[3]
Aside from not negatively impacting cholesterol levels, the same studies found that Aromasin, associated with increased endogenous testosterone production, is rare among aromatase inhibitors in that it also does not affect serum IGF-1 levels.
At worst, it might slightly lower IGF-1 levels, which is a significant difference from all other aromatase inhibitors, and Aromasin was also found to lower the concentration of IGF-1 binding protein-3 (a protein that binds to and inhibits IGF-1).
Since IGF-1 is very important for muscle growth, this is excellent news for anabolic steroid-using athletes who want to recover efficiently and quickly during the post-cycle PCT weeks.
But the advantages of Aromasin do not stop here.
There is one problem with incorporating the other two aromatase inhibitors (Arimidex and Letrozole), which involves the use of SERMs like Nolvadex and Clomid, known to be absolutely essential components of a PCT program.
The problem here is that Arimidex and Nolvadex directly counteract each other.
One study found that when Arimidex and Nolvadex are used together, Nolvadex reduces the plasma concentration of Arimidex (and Letrozole, another commonly used aromatase inhibitor).[4]
The conclusion is that using Arimidex or Letrozole together with Nolvadex is a very bad idea and can be counterproductive if used together in a PCT protocol.
Aromasin completely avoids this issue, as it has been proven to have no interaction whatsoever with Nolvadex, unlike the other two aromatase inhibitors mentioned earlier.
In one study, Aromasin’s effectiveness was not reduced when used with Nolvadex, nor were its plasma levels decreased.[5]
Nolvadex is also well-known for lowering plasma levels of IGF-1 during use.[6]
This could suggest that Aromasin may help keep IGF-1 levels stable, or at least not further exacerbate the IGF-1 effects of Nolvadex.
Therefore, compiling all the information gathered, when Aromasin and Nolvadex are used together in PCT, they are very complementary to each other, making Aromasin the ultimate aromatase inhibitor not only for general use but also for HPTA recovery during PCT (or at any other time).
A sufficient Aromasin dosage for HPTA recovery during PCT is 25mg daily for a period not exceeding 2 weeks, while Nolvadex is used at 20-40mg daily for a total of 4 weeks.
Proper Administration and Timing of Aromasin Dosage
There are no special considerations for administering Aromasin; it can be taken at any time of day (morning, evening, before, with, or after meals).
According to prescription guidelines and pharmacy information, taking Aromasin with a meal or after a meal (preferably a meal with high fat content) may increase its absorption rate and bioavailability.
One important point regarding Aromasin administration is that it takes one week (7 days) for Aromasin’s plasma concentration to reach optimal peak levels, yet its half-life is approximately 27 hours.[7]
Expected Effects and Results from Aromasin Use
Aromasin can significantly reduce estrogen levels depending on the individual, and Aromasin (Exemestane) users must be cautious not to let their estrogen levels drop so sharply that they cannot be considered healthy.
A reduction in estrogen levels can lead to a harder, more ‘ripped’ physique due to the loss of water retention provided by estrogen.
This results in little to no subcutaneous water, making muscles appear more prominent.
One exception to the issue of completely eliminating estrogen is for competitive bodybuilders on the day of competition, who need to eliminate almost all water retention.
In such situations, an aromatase inhibitor like Aromasin can be used at high doses until a few days before the competition, for the aforementioned reasons of physical changes.
A near-total reduction of estrogen should not be maintained for more than 48 hours for health reasons.
According to clinical evidence, individuals seeking to restore normal HPTA function after discontinuing anabolic steroids will find Aromasin to be very promising in this area.
It should be noted that using Aromasin alone for this purpose is not ideal and it should be used in conjunction with SERMs (e.g., Nolvadex) and HCG.
Medical References
[1] Pharmacokinetics and dose finding of a potent aromatase inhibitor, Aromasin (exemestane), in young males. Mauras N, Lima J, Patel D, Rini A, Di Salle E, Kwok A, Lippe B. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Dec;88(12):5951-6.
[2] No adverse effect on serum lipids of the irreversible aromatase inactivator Aromasin [exemestane (E)] in first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC): a companion study to a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (Breast Group) trial, done in cooperation with the pharmaceutical company, Pharmacia Upjohn. Lohrisch C., Paridaens R., Dirix L. Y., Beex M., Nooij M., Cameron D. Proc. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol., 20: 43a 2001.
[3] Plasma changes in breast cancer patients during endocrine therapy: lipid measurements and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Engan T., Krane J., Johannessen D. C., Kvinnsland S. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 36: 287-297, 1995.
[4] Comparative clinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetic interactions of aromatase inhibitors. Boeddinghaus IM, Dowsett M. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2001 Dec;79(1-5):85-91.
[5] Comparative effects of the aromatase inhibitor exemestane and tamoxifen on DMBA-induced mammary tumours in rats. 1993 Mar;44(4-6):677-80, Zaccheo T, Giudici D, Di Salle E. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol.
[6] Tamoxifen reduces serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Michael N. Pollack MD, Hung The Huynh PhD, Suzanne Pratt Lefebvre BSc. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 1992, Volume 22, Issue 1, pp 91–100.
[7] Pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of the new generation of aromatase inhibitors. Buzdar AU. 2003 Jan;9(1 Pt 2):468S-72S.
