Ask Bill Roberts: What is the Purpose of Frontloading in a Steroid Cycle?

Question:
I’ve heard some talk about front loading injectables. What exactly is frontloading and what is the purpose? For instance I am going to use a test only cycle, would it be appropiate to run 1.2 g for two weeks if I planned on using 600mg for 14 weeks?


Answer:
Frontloading really doesn’t, or at least not as I use the word, mean running higher levels of steroids in the earlier part of the cycle.

It means employing a dosing protocol where levels almost immediately reach what will be the later steady-state levels of the drug.

When not frontloading — simply using the drug at the same dosing as will be used throughout — it takes several to many half-lives for levels to build up to where they will ultimately arrive.

Instead, one can inject on the first day an amount equal to that which is on average injected per half-life, plus what will be the ongoing dose. This will lead to fairly promptly having the same levels that will be the case throughout the cycle.

E.g., if a drug’s half-life is two days and the ongoing plan is to inject daily, then to frontload the first day’s injection is three days’ worth.

If a drug’s half-life is six days and the ongoing plan is to inject every other day, then to frontload the first day’s injection is four times the ongoing amount. (As there would be three injections per half-life, and then add one.)