Bodybuilders are always looking for shortcuts to success. It’s not considered cheating, as everyone is doing it. Perhaps a better title would be “chemical engineering”. This is a part of the sport, even at the non-competitive level, and everyone is looking for an advantage, an edge. One such edge that many bodybuilders are seeking is the advantage of using Cialis for their bodybuilding efforts, for both training intensity and testosterone level improvements. But does it work? Read more!
The basics
Simply put, Cialis is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. With a half life of over 17 hours, Cialis increases vasodilation on a much longer term basis than Viagra or Levitra, causing a great deal of blood flow to the body. This delivers what many bodybuilders consider to be excellent pumps. And of course, it is also suspected testosterone levels are positively affected. For this reason, many athletes use Cialis on a regular basis for training performance supplementation. But is it a good idea?
Cialis & training capacity
Studies have shown that the use of Cialis certainly does increase blood flow to the body. However, in a number of studies where the participants were given a 20 mg dose of Cialis, there was no measurable increase in performance ability in sprinting nor long term running capacity. Time to reach peak power was in fact reduced (due to greater blood flow) but the performance itself (the peak force) was not affected. In other words, athletes trained the same but reached their peak abilities a few seconds faster.
Cialis & testosterone levels
New research indicates Cialis does increase T levels in participants. However, there is also an increase in the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which has a negative effect upon muscle. So while athletes using Cialis will have boosted T levels, they probably will not see much in terms of greater muscle mass as a result. They’ll feel stronger, but the higher agitations to the central nervous system will probably cancel out any potential muscle mass gains.
The bottom line
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! If you are in your twenties and are a regular user of anabolic steroids, there is a good chance you are at a higher risk of needing medication for erectile dysfunction at a later date unless you are very careful with your post-cycle therapy. It is a self-inflicted problem that affects may athletes. Mixing with your blood flow and creating pathways with Cialis is a road one should not take until it is medically necessary. While it may be an exciting prospect for recreational use, and perhaps to improve gym performance, one should avoid the use of Cialis until it is absolutely medically necessary.
