Post Cycle Therapy (PCT): The Complete Guide

PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) is the most important part of any steroid cycle — and the most neglected. Many beginners and even intermediate users lose much of their gains, feel awful for months, and take a long time to recover natural testosterone simply because their PCT was incomplete or non-existent. This guide covers everything: why it’s mandatory, when to start, the best protocols, doses and duration.

What is PCT and why is it mandatory?

When you use exogenous anabolics (testosterone, Deca, Trenbolone, Dianabol, etc.), your body detects the excess and shuts down its own natural production — this is HPTA suppression (Hypothalamus–Pituitary–Testes axis).

After the cycle ends, your natural testosterone can stay very low for weeks or months, causing:

• Rapid loss of strength and muscle size
• Extreme fatigue and low energy
• Loss of libido and erectile issues
• Low mood, irritability, mood swings
• Increased body fat

PCT quickly stimulates your body to resume producing testosterone, minimizes lost gains, and helps you recover as fast as possible.

Golden rule: if you ran a cycle, you always do PCT. No exceptions.

When to start PCT

Timing depends on the half-life of your last compound:

• Testosterone Enanthate / Cypionate: wait 14 days after the last injection.
• Sustanon: wait 14–18 days.
• Deca Durabolin: wait 18–21 days (long half-life).
• Dianabol or orals: start 2–3 days after the last dose.

Example (12-week Enanthate cycle): last injection week 12 (day 84) → start PCT on day 98.

The most-used PCT protocols

1. Basic Nolvadex protocol (great for beginners)

• Weeks 1–2: Nolvadex 40 mg/day
• Weeks 3–4: Nolvadex 20 mg/day

2. Clomid protocol (very effective)

• Weeks 1–2: Clomid 50 mg/day
• Weeks 3–4: Clomid 25 mg/day

3. Combined protocol (strongest, recommended for moderate cycles)

• Weeks 1–2: Nolvadex 40 mg + Clomid 50 mg/day
• Weeks 3–4: Nolvadex 20 mg + Clomid 25 mg/day

4. Advanced protocol with HCG (longer cycles, Deca/Tren)

• Last 2 weeks of the cycle + first post-cycle week: HCG 500–1000 IU every other day
• Then continue with Nolvadex + Clomid as above

Clomid

Clomiphene Citrate

50mg 10 tablets

orals

• Stimulates testosterone
• Hormonal recovery
• Prevents gynecomastia
• Maintains gains
• Improves fertility
• Reduces estrogen

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$50.000

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Nolvadex

Taxus / Tamoxifen

20mg 10 tablets

orals

popular

• Prevents gynecomastia
• Stimulates testosterone
• Hormonal recovery
• Maintains gains
• Blocks estrogen
• Protects the cycle

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$20.000

Talk to an advisor

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PCT side effects and how to handle them

PCT isn’t comfortable. You may get mood swings, blurred vision or “flashes” (especially with Clomid), headaches, fatigue, and low libido at first (it improves).

To get through it better: sleep 8+ hours, eat high-protein at maintenance (don’t crash-diet), train lighter for the first 2–3 weeks, take B-complex and zinc, and avoid alcohol.

Keeping your gains during PCT

• Diet: maintenance or a slight surplus for the first 4 weeks — no aggressive cut.
• Training: reduce volume and intensity the first 2 weeks, then progress again.
• Sleep: critical — hormonal recovery depends heavily on deep sleep.
• Supplements: creatine, zinc, vitamin D, omega-3, a good multivitamin.

Recommended blood work

• Before the cycle: total & free testosterone, estradiol, full blood count, lipids, liver & kidney function.
• Mid-cycle (week 6–7): testosterone, estradiol, blood count.
• After PCT (4–6 weeks later): total & free testosterone, estradiol, LH and FSH (to confirm the axis recovered).

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip PCT if I only used 300 mg of testosterone? No. Suppression is milder but you still need to help your body recover.

How long until natural testosterone returns? With good PCT, many recover to normal in 4–8 weeks. Without PCT it can take 3–6 months or more.

Does PCT help me keep muscle? Yes — a good PCT with proper diet and training helps retain roughly 60–85% of gains.

Where do I get Clomid and Nolvadex in Colombia? We stock both — Clomid and Nolvadex — original with verifiable codes, delivered nationwide.

Common mistakes that ruin PCT

1. Starting too early or too late
2. Under-dosing Clomid or Nolvadex
3. Too-short PCT (only 2 weeks)
4. Aggressive calorie deficit during PCT
5. Training too heavy the first weeks
6. Skipping post-PCT blood work

Finished your cycle and need to put together your PCT? Build your order or message us on WhatsApp. New here? See our first testosterone cycle guide.