Finaplex (also known as trenbolone) is a synthetic steroid which was once used in the agriculture industry to fatten livestock. The drug is a potent weight stimulant agent and can increase the appetite. Finaplex is an esterified steroid which enables it to act for a longer period of time.

Even though it was used as an anabolic agent, it is also a potent androgenic drug. It is only available as an intramuscular injection. As soon as it was realized that the drug had anabolic properties, the bodybuilders and other athletes started to consume it in large amounts. The drug does increase the body weight and muscle mass as long as the diet is rich in calories.

Pharmacology

Like many anabolic steroids, Finaplex has similar activities. Besides increasing protein synthesis and muscle mass, the drug can also increase the numbers of red blood cells. This leads to a higher hemoglobin level and a slightly increase oxygen carrying capacity. The higher the dose, the more significant the effects.

Finaplex has never been approved in the treatment of any medical disorder. In animals, Finaplex when administered at low doses is found to be pretty safe but at high doses does possess potent side effects. The drug is no longer manufactured anywhere in North America.

Bodybuilders

The drug is still widely abused by bodybuilders to increase muscle mass. The question is whether it is really Finaplex that is being injected. Since the drug is no longer manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, all the production is done in SE Asia, Mexico and Eastern Europe. There are some clandestine laboratories that do make the drug, but the quality and purity of the product is in question. The drug when injected is slowly absorbed in the body and remains in the body for 3-7 days. Finaplex has been shown to increase protein synthesis and induce positive nitrogen balance.
Most bodybuilders claim that it increases appetite, decreases muscle breakdown and also helps recovery after injury.

At low doses, it is safe. Only at the very high doses is it converted into estrogen- which causes water retention and gynecomastia.

Over the years, Finaplex injections have become available in various formulations. All of them have an ester bond attachment. The longer this aliphatic chain, the longer is the duration of action. The short action Finaplex is quickly absorbed in the body after an injection and is excreted within 2-5 days. The longer acting formulations stay in the body for 6-12 days. Most bodybuilders inject themselves 1-2 times a week for 4-6 weeks.

Dose

Finaplex is only available as an injection. The dose of Finaplex is 200mg/week and is gradually increased to 1200mg/week. Because of the ester, it accumulates in the fatty tissues and is slowly released over time.

On cyberspace there are also Finaplex pills available. However, the drug is very poorly absorbed and immediately metabolized in the liver when taken by mouth. Thus, an oral supplement is not recommended

The injection is usually done in the buttock area. One should not inject Finaplex in the arms or the abdomen because the injections can be painful and very uncomfortable. Because the drug is dissolved in an oily suspension, it is best to give small volumes of injections. Large volumes can cause pain. The site of the injection also has to be rotated to prevent the development of abscess. The other most common site of injection is the outer thigh.

Extraction from Pellets

Many years ago, Finaplex was manufactured as pellets which were placed under the skin of the livestock. These pellets contained the steroid which was then slowly released into the blood stream. Some bodybuilders have resorted to crushing the pellets and extracting the Finaplex with an organic solvent like DMSO. Once the extraction is done, the Finaplex is dissolved in a little oil – vegetable or sesame seed and injected. One can even apply the oil on to the skin. The extraction process is crude and home made recipes have never turned out to be effective. Applying Finaplex on the skin can result in absorption of the drug but this is unpredictable and the dosage absorbed remains unknown. And one has to apply it all over the body to get sufficient amount of Finaplex to be absorbed.

Cycling

Finaplex is used to build muscle; the majority of users suggest cycling it with other steroids for a period of 3-6 weeks. The most common other steroids used with trenbolone are Dianabol and Anavar. Further, one needs to eat a diet high in calories to gain the weight. Others recommend Finaplex with Growth hormone/thyroxin at low doses. The main thing to note is that one should not take Finaplex for more than 4 weeks at a time. This increases the side effects and also leads to a suppression of testosterone levels. To avoid the suppression of testosterone, some even recommend starting clomiphene after a 2 week washout period.

Unlike many other anabolic steroids, Finaplex does increase the muscle mass, but it does not provide the increased surge in performance. Many experts recommend starting on this drug at the start of the sports season and combining it with other anabolic steroids.

Side effects

Like all anabolic steroids, Finaplex is associated with a number of side effects. In general, the drug is well tolerated and has minimal estrogenic effects. That is why it is preferred by the bodybuilders. The side effects include:
insomnia
high blood pressure
increased aggression
sweats
decreased/Increased libido
virilization
kidney damage
clitoral enlargement
cough
mood swings
deep voice

The majority of these side effects reverse once the drug is stopped. Some virilizing effects in females are not irreversible.

One annoying side effect of Finaplex reported by many users is that of a dry cough. The cough starts 2 weeks after the injection and is persistent. It is not associated with any fever or sputum production but occurs all the time. The cause of the cough is not known but believed to be due to a contaminant in the product or some type of reaction with the oily suspension. In a few cases, the cough does persist for a few months even after the drug has been stopped. Since many of these anabolic steroids are prepared in unsterile environments, the quality and purity of the products remain questionable.