Equipoise (Boldenone) Steroid – Uses, Side Effects, and More

Equipoise, often known simply as EQ, is a testosterone-derived anabolic steroid with a reduced androgenic nature compared with standard testosterone. Although EQ (or Boldenone) does not give us the sheer power in mass gains that testosterone can provide, it comes with a host of benefits both in terms of performance and a noticeable decrease in side effects compared with testosterone itself. This can make it one of the more appealing steroids for beginners who are not ready to deal with serious estrogenic side effects. At the same time, advanced users can use Equipoise in combination with other steroids to get very specific results.

Boldenone is a steroid that I come back to regularly. I know of guys who run it year-round because they love it. Equipoise (EQ) is what I would almost call a fun anabolic steroid to use. Not many AAS are all that pleasant to use when you balance the side effects. But EQ does what it’s meant to, and once you stick it out for the longer cycles it requires and start seeing the results it’s famed for (can anyone say VEINS?), the minimal side effects fade into the background. Want to know about all the pros and cons of using Equipoise? Let’s get started!

Medical disclaimer: The following guide is based on personal experience and does NOT promote the illegal use of steroids (PEDs). Consult a healthcare professional before using PEDs.

What is Equipoise?

Equipoise (Boldenone Undecylenate) is an injectable testosterone-derived anabolic steroid named after its use in horses (equine = relating to horses). It has an anabolic rating the same as testosterone (100) and an androgenic rating of half that of testosterone (50).

Equipoise (Boldenone Undecylenate) is based on the testosterone hormone with only a slight variation to the chemical structure, making it unique in its own right. The attached ester, Undecylenate, is a slow-release ester that causes Equipoise to continue being released into the body for up to three weeks after injection. It also takes several days for the maximum blood level to be reached after you start injecting Boldenone. You will find fans of EQ value this versatile steroid in all types of cycles: Bulking, cutting, and recomp. However, as you’ll find out, there can be some challenges with using Equipoise in cycles where you want to restrict your calories.

The effects of Equipoise are appealing for bodybuilders, and it’s not surprising to know that EQ shares many similarities with testosterone; after all, it’s only a slightly modified version of that original hormone. These similar functions include enhancing protein synthesis and muscle nitrogen retention and increasing red blood cell count. EQ can also increase the output of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and reduce stress hormones.

Most steroid users are familiar with the legendary compound Dianabol, which EQ shares a virtually identical chemical structure with. Still, a slight modification allows each one to have a different effect on the body. This makes it possible to use these very similar yet completely different-acting steroids together in a cycle with great benefit.

A Quick Look at Equipoise

• Other Names: Boldenone undecylenate (generic), EQ, others.
• Primary Use: Veterinary medicine (originally for horses). Off-label use for lean muscle growth, endurance, and bulking cycles in bodybuilding.
• Administration: Injectable form (long-acting ester: undecylenate). Typical Dosage: 300-600 mg/week (split into 1-2 injections). Half-life: ~14-16 days.
• Cycle Length: 12-16 weeks (due to slow-acting ester). Often stacked with testosterone or Deca-Durabolin.
• Benefits: Lean, sustainable muscle gains, enhanced endurance (from increased red blood cell count), improved appetite (useful for bulking phases), mild estrogenic side effects (compared to testosterone).
• Side Effects: Suppression of natural testosterone production, mild estrogenic effects (bloating, gynecomastia in sensitive users), androgenic effects (acne, hair loss in genetically prone users), increased blood pressure (from elevated red blood cells), cardiovascular strain (thickened blood, cholesterol imbalance), prostate enlargement (with long-term use).

Note: Equipoise is favored for its steady, “clean” gains and endurance benefits but requires patience due to its slow-acting ester. While milder than many steroids, its long-term use risks cardiovascular and hormonal health. Bloodwork (monitoring hematocrit and cholesterol) is crucial. Misuse can lead to irreversible side effects.

History and Overview

Like many AAS, Equipoise was first developed to treat conditions like muscle wasting and osteoporosis. Medical use of EQ in humans stopped during the 1970s, but this steroid is still used in the veterinary field today in horses. Boldenone is prescribed for veterinary use in horses to increase the appetite and influence the behavior of female and castrated male horses^[1]. It is sometimes used illegally in racehorses to enhance performance.

Equipoise is well known for enhancing strength, endurance, and other performance measures in humans, making it an attractive PED for athletes. There are several high-profile doping cases involving this steroid. Baseball, tennis, and martial arts are all sports where one or more professionals have tested positive for using Boldenone.

Mechanism of Action

Equipoise is chemically almost the same as Dianabol. But don’t be mistaken; EQ is not an injectable form of Dianabol! They are two very different AAS; Equipoise stands on its own regarding its effects and actions on the body.

Perhaps EQ’s foremost mechanism of action is its ability to increase red blood cell count significantly. All anabolic steroids will increase red blood cells to a degree, but EQ is known to be one of the most powerful in this regard – hence its ability to transfer more oxygen to the muscles and improve endurance. Equipoise has such a powerful ability to boost red blood cell count that this can become a problem and is something you should closely monitor while using this steroid.

As expected, EQ shares mechanisms and effects similar to testosterone. This includes:

• Increasing protein synthesis
• Improving nitrogen retention
• Reducing stress hormones
• Increasing the output of IGF-1

These functions make EQ a mighty preserver of muscle and an anabolic compound that can promote lean muscle growth.

Effects of Equipoise (Benefits)

Equipoise is what I consider one of the most versatile steroids because YOU shape the results you get from it through your diet, training, and whatever other PEDs you stack it with. EQ provides the tools to run a cutting, bulking, or recomp cycle as needed. Cutting and dieting on EQ can be a significant challenge if you experience a big appetite increase. Here are the main effects and benefits you can look forward to with Boldenone:

Endurance and stamina

The gains in endurance and stamina are incredible on EQ. It’s no wonder at all that this steroid has been (illegally) used by some elite athletes. This is one of the best performance steroids we can use, and the primary reason for its fantastic ability to supercharge your cardiovascular performance is because of the way it increases red blood cell count (sometimes too much).

Vascularity

Vascularity can be excellent and long-lasting with EQ, even more so when you stack with testosterone and finish with something like Anavar. But even on EQ alone, you’ll see some pretty unbelievable vein popping for what is often considered a “mild” steroid. This enhanced vascularity can also last well beyond your cycle.

Increased appetite

A desire to eat more is a big plus on any bulking cycle (provided you’re filling up with suitable calories). The majority of EQ users will see some extent of increased hunger. Still, people occasionally report no noticeable change in appetite, which can be good if you want to include EQ in a cutting cycle.

Muscle gains

Slow and steady gains are achievable with EQ. But this won’t be a first-choice bulking steroid if extreme mass gains are your primary aim. For more moderate gains (remember that not everyone wants extreme results), EQ is an excellent addition to a longer bulking cycle. EQ can provide moderate gains with minimal water retention. Frontloading EQ to get gains moving quicker at the start of a cycle is a strategy some people swear by, but an increase in side effects caused by higher doses makes this unrealistic for many of us.

Strength

EQ is not near the top of the list for strength-boosting AAS. Still, with the increased red blood cell production and the associated endurance boost, you can feel that strength is increasing more substantially because you can work out longer before feeling fatigued. EQ is often stacked with testosterone for more strength gains than an EQ-only cycle.

Preserving lean muscle

Possibly the most valued aspect of EQ is its ability to help retain lean tissue while you’re in a cutting cycle. Additionally, Equipoise can improve body conditioning while cutting, and this is enhanced when you use this steroid with other steroids that do not aromatize, with compounds like Masteron being a particularly effective cutting combination with Equipoise.

Equipoise Dosing and Administration

You will hear a lot of conflicting opinions about how to dose EQ. Some men will swear that anything under 1000mg/week wastes time. Others will never go anywhere near that dosage for good reasons. What works for you might not work as well for me. But as always, starting with a moderate dose is the best approach when using Boldenone for the first time until you know how YOU respond to it.

Doses

No human clinical dosage guidelines or trials are available for Equipoise, which has left dosing largely to personal experimentation. Over time, this has given us clear anecdotal dosing ideas and recommendations. As always, your response to one dose of EQ can differ significantly from mine regarding both positive and negative effects. Here’s a general guide to the EQ’s bodybuilding doses for different experience levels:

Beginner

300mg per week is the dosage I find to be the minimum to see the effects that make it worthwhile to use EQ. Beginners should tolerate 300-400mg of EQ well with satisfying results. Anything below this level (say 200mg, which some men consider doing) is not likely to be very productive besides a possible slight boost in endurance.

Intermediate

600mg per week is an average and very effective dose for most men. Many will not even find it necessary to go beyond 600-700mg, with this often being an ideal balance of sides and benefits.

Advanced

I would class any dose above 800mg per week as an advanced dosage. At this point, you start to get some diminishing returns, and taking the dose up to 900mg or even 1000mg (as some guys do) can often demonstrate that you’re not getting any additional benefits compared to a 700mg dose (but probably getting a good deal more in the side effect category).

Female

Some women will use Boldenone Cypionate instead of the more common and slower-acting Boldenone Undecylenate ester, so if side effects occur, the steroid leaves the body quicker.

With EQ’s lower androgenic rating, women will often take around 50mg/week and be able to keep virilizing effects at bay, with some known to take up to 80-100mg. However, this higher dose can have the effect of halting menstruation.

A maximum cycle length of 6 weeks is optimal for females, striking a balance between the benefits and minimizing or preventing side effects, which are more likely to develop with long-term usage.

Dosing schedule, half-life, and cycle length

Equipoise has a long half-life of about 14 to 16 days. So this isn’t a steroid you will need to be injecting frequently (suitable for those of us who dislike daily pinning). Injecting EQ once per week is an excellent method to keep levels stable.

With EQ being such a slow-acting steroid, this is one that we need to run for long cycles. At the very minimum, I go for 20 weeks, but 24 weeks or more is typical, and those of us who love EQ will often be found running it long-term.

Guys who do year-round TRT will sometimes blast and cruise with EQ to get the sought-after vascularity you can achieve even at lower doses.

Likely results

Equipoise is a versatile steroid that can be used for multiple goals. It is not a hugely potent mass-gaining steroid, so its best use is not as a main bulking compound. It can still deliver some nice clean gains in mass and gains that come with fewer of the issues of steroids with higher estrogenic effects like fluid retention.

However, there are many other benefits to EQ. These include strength gains, increased appetite (although the effects of this vary widely between individuals), and perhaps best of all is Equipoise’s ability to help preserve lean muscle during cutting cycles where you’re on a calorie-restricted diet and the loss of muscle is a real concern if the body falls into a catabolic state. Equipoise muscle retention capabilities are of great value and make it a popular addition to a cutting cycle for this specific purpose.

Although its mild estrogenic activity is relatively easy to control at moderate doses, any fluid retention is undesirable for cutting purposes, so EQ is often stopped in the weeks before the end of a cycle, and the cycle continues to compounds that have no aromatizing effects so zero fluid retention is achieved for maximum muscle hardness.

One thing you need to have to see the best results with EQ is patience! This AAS requires a longer-term outlook, but there’s nothing wrong with adding a kickstarter to the front of your cycle to get things going faster while EQ kicks in. This is going to change the type of results you get.

So what if you use EQ as the primary anabolic? What can you expect?

• You can expect subtle results that improve the longer your cycle goes on.
• You can also expect your appetite to increase like never before (in most cases, some users don’t experience this effect as much).

I like mentioning the appetite issue often with EQ because it can make or break your results.

• If you start filling up on simple carbs and empty calories, you can easily find yourself putting on fat.
• If you want to stay lean on EQ as most of us do, eat well and also consider stacking with low-dose Trenbolone to encourage further leaning out.

You can also expect your strength gains to be impressive. Everything will feel lighter, and specific gains are often in the range of 20-30lbs more on deadlifts and 20lbs and up on bench presses. More endurance, leaner, and harder are the primary physical and performance results you should notice by the 6-week mark, if not earlier.

One of, if not THE main reason many of us use EQ is for the great vascularity it promotes, and this should be a prominent feature of your results – but you’ll want to be relatively lean (15% or less body fat for men) to get the most out of it.

Equipoise Cycles

The amount of time it takes for EQ’s effects to become noticeable is as long as you’d often run a complete cycle of other AAS – it can take a good ten weeks or more until you start noticing the full potential of Boldenone. So, regardless of your dosage, I’d always run a minimum cycle of 20 weeks with EQ, but 24 is even better. As long as you’re monitoring your red blood cell count (and possibly donating blood regularly), you will find the longer cycles manageable with this steroid.

EQ is a steroid that does not have just one way to use it in a cycle. Being a versatile steroid in its properties and effects, it’s versatile in how you can include it in a cycle. It can be used for many goals. Still, one of the most common uses of Boldenone is in a cutting cycle. In these cases, it’s best used at the beginning of a cycle, where other steroids – particularly those that don’t aromatize at all – are then continued for a longer period. Masteron or Trenbolone are popular stacking options when using EQ for cutting.

Equipoise cycle for men

The results men get with EQ vary substantially. Why? Because it’s almost always stacked with other AAS influencing your results. But ALL EQ users will rave about the vascularity and the endurance. These are the core effects of Equipoise, and yes, they take some time to kick in, but guys will always be impressed when Boldenone is taking full effect anywhere from the 8th to the 12th-week mark.

So what are men saying about their Equipoise experiences? Not surprisingly, the majority of comments are very positive. Some men exclusively use EQ for performance gains and not necessarily for bulking or even cutting. Needless to say, EQ is a legendary AAS for increasing stamina and endurance.

“Cardio gains are amazing; I can run and run and run endlessly.” – This comment stood out. Even guys who aren’t generally that into cardio will find that EQ turns you into an endurance monster.

EQ makes you very hungry, which is excellent for bulking cycles. However, that appetite boost can become challenging even for the most enthusiastic eater. “I could just eat and eat and eat, especially when it came to carbs!” – This comment demonstrates the potential danger of that massive appetite increase. Bad carbs will set back your results, so you need to channel that appetite into the appropriate diet for the goals you’re trying to achieve. Quite amazingly, some EQ users report great vascularity on cycle and many years after running EQ. Some men have noted they now have “vascularity for life,” which we don’t see with other AAS.

“I thought it was weak until week 12.” – this comment perfectly summarizes many of our first-time experiences with EQ. Although I didn’t have to wait as long as 12 weeks to see effects, it makes you wonder if your cycle is doing anything for the first month or two. But it’s also a clear indicator of WHY we run EQ for long cycles or even cruising on it more permanently. Guys who want fast results will lose patience with Equipoise and decide that it’s not an AAS they want to continue using.

Equipoise cycle for women

EQ is not a steroid that ranks as the most popular AAS for women, but it’s a firm favorite among women who use it.

Why?

For a start, it has half the androgenic power of testosterone, so in theory, women should be able to run EQ with less risk of virilization. Females can get not only significant gains while on EQ, but many will find a significant improvement in the quality of nails, hair, and skin as well.

Many women can run EQ for long cycles at low doses with minimal to no side effects. I’ve even heard of some females running it year-round at very low doses of under 50mg per week. “A tiny bit more body hair after a couple of years” is a notable comment from a woman using EQ year-round in a cruising and blasting protocol.

Like men, women will see slow and steady gains with EQ, including strength and muscle gains. Women can potentially build more muscle as they will be more sensitive to the anabolic effects of Equipoise, and some excellent vascularity can be achieved if they are relatively low in body fat. More so than men, females notice some excellent benefits (reduced joint pain and increased joint stability/strength) with EQ.

There will always be negative comments from females who have used AAS and started to experience virilizing effects, and EQ is no exception. A deeper or hoarse voice is expected to develop in females taking higher doses (80mg, for example) for extended periods. With more than a few female users noting that Boldenone is a steroid that can be used with zero sides and extraordinary gains, it’s still an AAS that has not reached the same popularity with women as Anavar has.

Beginner Equipoise cycle

Most beginners will only look at including testosterone in a stack with EQ to combat the suppressive nature of Boldenone. But the testosterone will also serve to deliver some mass gains, as long as the beginner can adequately control estrogenic side effects, which will occur at this dosage.

The slow-acting effect of EQ will require this cycle to be run for a longer period than many other beginner cycles, with at least 12 weeks being suitable, but a 14-week cycle can also be considered. Using Testosterone Enanthate at 300mg to 500mg per week and Equipoise at 400mg weekly will provide excellent results for either lean mass gains or cutting, provided the diet and workout regime are suitable. This cycle delivers an excellent and safe introduction to anabolic steroids for any beginner user.

Intermediate Equipoise cycle

Most intermediate users will be confident in using some other anabolic steroids, and in this case, we can include the powerful Dianabol to the cycle alongside Equipoise and testosterone. Dianabol serves an important purpose in this cycle by kicking off gains for the first four weeks. Dianabol is then stopped while Equipoise and Testosterone are continued for the remaining eight weeks, making up a 12-week cycle in total.

While Dianabol kicks in fast at the start of the cycle, EQ takes much longer with its slower-acting nature. This means the start of your cycle isn’t spent waiting for gains. As an oral anabolic, Dianabol must only be taken at 25mg daily for four weeks to see excellent effects. For the entire 12 weeks, Equipoise at 500mg to 600mg weekly combined with 100mg weekly of Testosterone Enanthate to provide a baseline of testosterone will yield superb results.

Advanced Equipoise cycle

Hardcore steroid users will look at adding a non-aromatizing steroid to the cycle, and in this case, Trenbolone is a good fit when combined with Equipoise and Testosterone. The versatility of this cycle makes it highly suitable for just about any goal, from gaining lean mass and bulking to cutting.

Trenbolone is a very strong steroid that provides a big boost to muscle endurance and recovery. If using this cycle for cutting, Equipoise will promote the preservation of muscle while testosterone will take care of your testosterone requirements during the cycle at a maintenance dose.

This 12-week cycle can include Testosterone Enanthate at just 100mg weekly to provide for base testosterone, up to 600mg of Equipoise weekly, and 400mg of Trenbolone Enanthate weekly.

The big benefit of this cycle is the small amount of estrogenic effects that can be expected with Trenbolone not aromatizing, testosterone at a very low dose that is unlikely to cause any issues, and Equipoise having only mild aromatizing activity.

Equipoise vs. Other PEDs

EQ stands on its own, but it’s always a good idea to compare it with other AAS because it won’t always be the best option for your goals. I would also like to know how different AAS will bring additional benefits to a stack. Here, I want to focus on lining it up against two other popular anabolic steroids:

Equipoise vs. Trenbolone

EQ is often called a weak version of Trenbolone. While they’re pretty different, at the most basic level, we can say that EQ is the mildest AAS of the two, and virtually everything good that EQ does will be done by Trenbolone at a significantly amplified level.

Trenbolone will give you more significant muscle gains without a doubt. It will also boost strength into the stratosphere – much more so than Boldenone. But you also get the long list of Tren side effects that don’t exist with Equipoise.

• EQ is the winner when it comes to increasing endurance and stamina.
• Trenbolone use should be limited to short cycles: Around eight weeks. In comparison, we can (and should) safely and efficiently use EQ for three times that long or more.
• Both will provide excellent vascularity, but you can’t beat Trenbolone’s muscle hardness and overall aesthetics.

Being a Nandrolone steroid, Trenbolone can also suppress your testosterone for years or even for life. On the other hand, most men can recover normal testosterone function with a good PCT cycle after using Boldenone.

In my opinion?

It makes sense to compare EQ and Tren, but in the end, it’s like comparing apples and oranges, and these are two steroids that will appeal to very different users, with Tren being for the more advanced or high-risk user looking for extreme results.

Equipoise vs. Dianabol

Even though EQ is just a structurally altered form of Dianabol that makes it an injectable steroid, its effects on the body are remarkably different. So you should never interchange Dianabol for EQ, with the assumption that you’re doing the same AAS because your results with Dianabol will be very different from what we get with Boldenone!

The significant differences between these two include:

• EQ works very slowly, while Dbol is a very fast-acting AAS
• Dbol gives you plenty of water retention, but EQ doesn’t
• Dianabol cycles are always short, while EQ is run for very long cycles
• Dianabol is very liver-toxic (hence the short cycles)
• Most of your Dianabol gains will be lost post-cycle, while EQ gains are much better maintained.

Equipoise is superior for enhancing vascularity, while Dbol gives you a full, bloated look.

Stacking Equipoise

While EQ is beneficial for both cutting and bulking, it can be a difficult AAS to use while dieting due to its tendency to increase your appetite (to a very substantial level for some users). The most common stack is to combine Testosterone and EQ. This is how most men will use it; you can’t go wrong with the results!

EQ stacks very well with a whole range of other steroids, and since it’s a compound you are highly unlikely to be used alone, it will virtually always be stacked with at least one other steroid. Here is one of my favorite EQ cycles:

• Week 1-5 – 40-50mg/day Dbol
• Week 1-2 – 800mg/week EQ (split it into Mon/Wed/Fri shots)
• Week 3-12 – 400mg/week EQ (again split in 3x shots/week), 400-500mg/week Testosterone Enanthate injected once/week
• Week 1-14 – 0.5mg/e3d Arimidex (Arimidex PCT)

PCT:

• Week 13-14 – 2500iu/week HCG split up into 2x shots of 1250iu (Mon/Thur) for 2 weeks
• Week 15-17 – 100mg/day Clomid on days 1-10, then drop to 50mg/day on days 11-20

At the very least, a testosterone steroid must be added to a cycle that uses EQ because while its suppressive qualities are relatively mild, they still exist. Hence, you need to provide a testosterone source for the duration of the cycle.

When used in a cutting cycle, EQ is best stacked with other steroids that don’t aromatize. While Boldenone has mild aromatizing effects compared with many other steroids, they still exist, and those on a serious cutting cycle will want zero aromatization and associated estrogenic effects, particularly towards the end of a cutting cycle.

In these cases, EQ stacks well with steroids like Masteron. Still, Equipoise should be stopped several weeks before the end of the total cycle so any estrogenic activity is eliminated before you reach the end of the cycle. Common choices for stacking with Equipoise include Dianabol, which can boost mass gains, power, and strength at the start of the cycle. Another common choice is Trenbolone, a Nandrolone-based steroid that is well suited for use with Equipoise because it isn’t a hugely powerful mass gainer while not being an aromatizing compound, making it excellent for muscle hardening in cutting cycles.

Equipoise + Testosterone (bulking stack)

This is the most popular way to use EQ – in a simple, tried and tested stack with testosterone. It’s a guaranteed cycle for excellent gains and results with manageable side effects. If you want additional hardening effects, add something like Masteron or Anavar towards the end of the cycle, as I outline in another stack below.

Benefits:

• Muscle gains
• Strength gains
• More endurance
• Increased appetite
• Nice pumps
• Enhanced vascularity and muscle fullness
• Fast recovery
• Improved mood and motivation

Dosing and cycle length:

• Equipoise: 500mg/week
• Test: 500mg/week
• Cycle length: 20 weeks minimum

Possible side effects:

• Testosterone suppression
• High blood pressure
• High red blood cell count
• Anxiety
• Water retention
• Hair loss and acne in sensitive individuals

Results

Your diet will determine your gain potential, and while it will be by no means extreme, your gains should be well maintained with controllable water retention. 15lbs of gains are possible, and testosterone will boost strength while EQ enhances endurance, providing a noticeable improvement in training performance and increased lifting ability.

PCT

Optionally, HCG at 500iu every other day starting from the end of the cycle to get a head start on stimulating natural test production. After two weeks, continue with Nolvadex for 4-6 weeks at 20mg/day, decreased to 10mg/day for the final week.

Equipoise + Testosterone + Anavar (lean bulk/recomp stack)

Adding Anavar to the final weeks of this cycle will supercharge the already incredible vascularity you get with EQ on its own. You’ll be drier, leaner, and more defined than a standard EQ/Test cycle.

Benefits:

• Muscle gains
• Vascularity
• Muscle hardening
• Dry, shredded physique
• Increased strength
• More endurance
• Increased appetite
• Fast recovery

Dosing:

• Equipoise: 600mg/week (Weeks 1-20)
• Testosterone: 500mg/week (Weeks 1-20)
• Anavar: 50mg/day (Weeks 16-20 only)

Possible side effects:

• Testosterone suppression
• High red blood cell count and blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Cholesterol
• Liver toxicity (mild)

Results

Vascularity is a highlight of this powerful stack. It can be equivalent to what you see with Trenbolone, but the vascularity stays with you long after the cycle (often for years). Anavar will provide a welcome strength boost in the final weeks and fantastic muscle hardening, whether it’s for contest prep or your personal goals. Although muscle gains won’t be massive, they will be quality and maintainable post-cycle.

PCT

Nolvadex for 4-6 weeks at 20mg/day, decreased to 10mg/day for the final week.

Equipoise + Anadrol (bulking stack)

Anadrol is an oral bulking steroid often stacked with EQ for a short portion of the cycle. EQ is not a big strength booster, so Anadrol takes the lead and pumps up strength gains, while EQ enhances endurance – making for a killer performance combo.

Benefits:

• Muscle gains
• Strength and endurance
• Joint support
• Appetite increase
• Huge, full appearance
• Increased vascularity
• Quicker recovery

Dosing:

• Anadrol: 50mg/day (Weeks 1-4)
• Equipoise: 800mg/week (Weeks 1-24)
• Testosterone: 200mg/week (Weeks 1-24)

Possible side effects:

• Testosterone suppression
• Water retention
• High blood pressure
• High red blood cell count
• High cholesterol
• Liver toxicity
• Anxiety
• Acne
• Hair loss
• Gyno
• Lower back pumps

Results

Anadrol is not a dry AAS, and it will cause water retention for that portion of the cycle. But the upside is the pumped-up, complete look Anadrol provides while EQ takes its time to kick in to start leaning you out and enhancing vascularity. Anadrol’s strength boost can be felt almost instantly and will power your workouts from the start of this cycle.

PCT

Enclomiphene for six weeks, starting two weeks after your final injection. 25mg/day for five weeks, 12.5mg/day for one week. Alternatively, a 4-6 week Nolvadex PCT at 20mg/day can be effective.

Equipoise PCT

Because EQ will bring about suppression of natural testosterone production, post-cycle therapy is needed after your cycle to stimulate the normal functioning of testosterone again.

There are many more highly suppressive steroids out there than this one. Still, since most users will also be combining EQ with other steroids with their suppression effects, PCT becomes even more critical to avoid falling into a state of low testosterone, which brings about serious adverse effects ranging from loss of gains to an increase in fat, low energy, and mood, loss of sex drive and a general decline in health.

If your cycle ends with EQ being the last steroid used, PCT should start two weeks following your last injection due to Boldenone’s long half-life. Starting PCT any earlier than this is futile because EQ is still going to be actively suppressing your testosterone until enough of it has cleared your system.

You can get PCT going earlier using HCG, which I recommend. This can be started as soon as your cycle ends with dosing according to your preference, but I usually aim for 1000iu per week (two injections). Then, you can follow with a regular SERM PCT using your choice’s SERM(s). Enclomiphene is my preference nowadays – it’s a newer SERM with fewer side effects. A standard dosing schedule is 25mg daily for weeks 1-5 and 12.5mg for week 6.

Equipoise Side Effects

The small modification to the testosterone hormone that has resulted in EQ brings some great benefits. In particular, EQ has only about half the aromatizing power of testosterone, which can greatly reduce its estrogen-related side effects when compared with normal testosterone steroids.

The side effects of EQ are not what would be considered particularly harsh when we compare it to some other AAS, but there are things to monitor concerning blood pressure and red blood cell count. Here are the most common side effects you can expect while on Equipoise:

Estrogenic side effects

The possible estrogenic side effects include gynecomastia and water retention, as well as high blood pressure if fluid retention becomes excessive. Regular measures to control these side effects with the use of AI or SERM drugs work well for the vast majority of men, and it’s only at the highest doses of EQ that estrogenic effects can start becoming severe.

The use of any other more powerful aromatizing steroids in a cycle alongside EQ will require a more stringent approach to controlling these estrogenic side effects, as boldenone itself is fairly moderate in this area.

Androgenic side effects

Androgenic side effects are another area that steroid users will be familiar with, and once again, EQ is comparatively mild in this regard compared to many other anabolic steroids. However, those who have a genetic predisposition to problems like acne or male pattern baldness might see some activity in these areas.

There is less risk of these side effects occurring at all or occurring at a severe level than there is with other steroids that are much more androgenic than Boldenone. However, it’s still important to know that androgenic effects are possible in some users. Androgenic effects are a more serious concern for female users of Equipoise, and virilization is a real possibility, especially where higher doses are taken.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is another area to watch when using Boldenone, but once again, it has a much less serious effect here than many other steroids. EQ can cause a reduction in HDL levels while you’re using it, but only those with existing cholesterol issues will potentially find this a problem; for most healthy people, it is unlikely to cause issues.

Combining EQ with any other steroids that hurt cholesterol will require you to take a more proactive approach to keeping cholesterol levels healthy throughout your cycle through diet and cardiovascular activity.

Testosterone suppression

Equipoise will suppress your natural testosterone and requires men to run post-cycle therapy following a cycle. Because EQ doesn’t aromatize into estrogen, low estrogen symptoms (similar to some low testosterone symptoms) can also occur in men without using a testosterone base on the cycle.

Blood pressure

Some EQ users see a bit of a hit to blood pressure, even at lower doses when stacked with nothing else besides testosterone. Kidney damage can develop from ongoing high blood pressure, which is one reason you’ll want to monitor your blood pressure regularly throughout an EQ cycle. There are some basic actions you can take to help reduce blood pressure:

• Try and do some cardio training each day
• Drink lots of water
• Keep sodium in your diet to a minimum

High red blood cell count

Equipoise can increase your red blood cell count substantially. This raises your hematocrit levels (volume of red blood cells compared to the total blood volume or plasma). Many people who use EQ will regularly donate blood (if eligible), which can reduce your levels back to a normal range; however, this isn’t a long-term fix because your RBC will bounce back quickly if you continue using EQ.

Appetite Increase

Although I make a point here that an increase in your appetite will benefit many EQ users, some people find it so intense that being hungry dominates your whole day (and night even). If you’re using EQ while cutting, this is going to present significant challenges, and the fact is that some people can’t use Boldenone on cutting cycles for this reason alone.

Anxiety

One of the more mysterious side effects that only some users have reported is an onset or increase in anxiety. I say mysterious because we don’t know what causes it, although some other AAS can also induce anxiety and similar feelings.

The severity can range from extreme at one end to non-existent for some users, and you won’t know whether anxiety will be an issue for you until you’ve started using EQ for at least a few weeks. There’s some anecdotal evidence that anyone who has existing anxiety issues when not using AAS is more likely to suffer from it on EQ.

I’ve certainly read some guys saying that anxiety is a bit of a myth with EQ and that it could just be a result of not managing estradiol correctly with EQ’s similar function to an AI.

Low estrogen

Equipoise can crash your estrogen (relevant to males) if you’re not careful. Using a high EQ dose and only a low testosterone dose can cause havoc with estrogen levels due to EQ having AI-like effects. You won’t necessarily feel horrible, and getting blood is needed to confirm low estrogen. Left unchecked, symptoms like fatigue/lethargy, low libido, and depression can develop.

Female-related side effects

With half the androgenic power of testosterone, EQ, at least on paper, looks to be a steroid that women can run with reduced side effects. As with any AAS, virilizing effects will always be possible on Boldenone, with the risk increasing with higher doses and longer-term use. These side effects can include:

• A deepened voice
• Clitoral enlargement
• Growth of body and facial hair
• Changes or cessation of the menstrual cycle

Keep in mind that because of the slow-acting nature of EQ, once symptoms start showing, they can take some time to disappear even if the steroid is stopped, and this makes it crucial to start with a very low dose for first-time female users.

Where to Buy Equipoise?

There is no approval for human use of EQ by the FDA in the United States, so the only pharmaceutical quality Equipoise available is that sold on the veterinary market in some countries. Several brand names for this steroid are used or have been used, including Equipoise, Parenabol, Boldane, Vebonol, Ganabol, and Boldebolin.

Availability of Equipoise

Most suppliers will carry Equipoise, so you won’t likely have problems finding it for sale. The main challenge will be finding good quality EQ with no human pharmaceutical-grade products available. You have two choices when buying EQ:

• Veterinary grade (the equivalent to human pharma grade)
• Underground labs

Virtually all Boldenone brands are regularly faked or counterfeited, so if you’re looking for genuine stuff, due diligence and a good amount of research are required. Underdosing can be a big problem, and you’ll only suspect this is the case if you’re not getting the effects you expected after using the product for a few months.

Swapping legitimate EQ for a cheaper testosterone steroid is, unfortunately, another tactic of unscrupulous sellers. Thankfully, all the suppliers with a positive reputation in the bodybuilding community sell high-quality UGL Boldenone. This is why it pays to ask around for recommendations from people who have experience buying anabolic steroids from the best suppliers.

Is Equipoise legal?

EQ is listed as a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States, making it illegal to possess, buy, sell, manufacture, or use outside of its legal veterinary uses in horses. Very similar laws apply in Australia, which also prohibits manufacturing, buying, selling, and possessing all anabolic steroids for personal use.

The USA and Australia are the only two major countries where Equipoise is approved for veterinary use. The UK and Canada are two major countries where laws surrounding anabolic steroids, including EQ, are very lenient regarding personal use.

Many countries allow the purchase of Equipoise legally and openly, but beware if you are traveling overseas and attempting to bring your newly bought EQ back home. It’s essential to know the laws in your country on import or cross-border travel with Boldenone.

WADA and all worldwide sporting authorities prohibit Equipoise. Several high-profile professional athletes have tested positive for Boldenone over the years, with drastic consequences for their careers.

Typical pricing

Counterfeit or fake EQ is everywhere, and the pricing you’re looking at is not going to give you any clues about the legitimacy of the Equipoise being sold (which is why I can’t say enough times to do your research on suppliers).

Maybe more than any other injectable AAS, EQ is sold in many different vial sizes and concentrations, making it tricky to compare pricing. Small 10ml vials up to large 500ml vials and many different volumes in between are sold.

The best underground lab quality EQ concentrated at 200mg/ml can cost you over $150 for just a 10ml vial. The cheapest UGL can cost you less than half that amount. If you’re fortunate enough to find veterinary-grade EQ for sale, you might find it at a 50mg/ml concentration in ampoules as small as 1 ml. This can cost anywhere from $10 to $20 per ml.

Equipoise FAQs

Can Equipoise be used alone?

Any steroid can be used alone, but when it comes to a steroid that has aromatizing properties like Equipoise, then using it alone is almost sure to bring about a state of low testosterone.

Even though EQ has a comparatively mild level of testosterone suppressive effect compared with some of the more potent steroids, it is still a high risk to use it without the addition of exogenous testosterone in the cycle. Therefore, anyone looking to use Equipoise, no matter what your experience level, should be pairing at least with a testosterone steroid rather than using it alone.

How long does it take for EQ to kick in?

Equipoise reaches its highest levels in the blood within three to four days of taking the injection. This steroid has a long half-life and slow-release ester, which takes three weeks or so to release the hormone completely into the body. This means that to see the maximum effects of EQ, you need to use it for at least eight weeks, as its actions take some time to kick in. Even better is a 10-12-week cycle of EQ to make the most of what this steroid can deliver.

What is a good Equipoise stack?

EQ is a steroid that stacks particularly well with just about any other anabolic steroid. It can be used for bulking or cutting, where it is superb at helping retain lean muscle. You can, therefore, stack Boldenone with other steroids that suit your specific goals, whether they be cutting, mass gains, or performance enhancement.

A standard stack is to use Testosterone along with Trenbolone and EQ. Winstrol is another cutting steroid that stacks well with EQ. For mass-gaining cycles, stacking EQ with Anadrol or Sustanon is an effective strategy for great results. Dianabol, Testosterone, and Equipoise are also often stacked with proven results.

Does EQ cause hair loss?

Boldenone comes with a much lower rate of androgenic activity compared with the hormone it is derived from, testosterone. This means the risk of androgenic side effects is reduced, but it is still possible for some users of Equipoise to experience androgenic effects like hair loss.

This side effect, male pattern baldness, is highly genetically determined. Some guys are genetically certain to go bald later in life, and steroids like EQ can bring this on sooner. However, those without a genetic predisposition to hair loss are almost certain not to experience this side effect with Equipoise or any other anabolic steroid.

What are the side effects of Equipoise?

EQ has relatively mild side effect risks compared to the more powerful steroids out there. This means it is well tolerated by most men and women when used at lower doses. The higher your dose of EQ, the higher the risk of side effects and the more severe they can be. This is a rule that applies to all anabolic steroids.

Possible side effects with Equipoise include mild estrogenic effects like water retention and gyno, possible androgenic effects like acne and hair loss, moderate or low suppression of natural testosterone, and possible negative changes to cholesterol levels. These side effects are considered relatively easy to manage when using EQ.

Is EQ good for cutting?

This is an excellent steroid to include in a cutting cycle, particularly at the beginning of the cycle. Many users will choose to stop using Equipoise for the remaining weeks of a cutting cycle while continuing with non-aromatizing steroids to eliminate all fluid retention. Equipoise is particularly good at retaining lean muscle tissue, making it valuable for cutting.

However, one of the downsides to using Equipoise for cutting is how it can boost your appetite, but this only occurs in some people. So, a first-time user of EQ would need to evaluate its impact on appetite. Clearly, during a cutting cycle, you don’t want a huge boost in appetite, and if this is the case, you need to weigh up the pros and cons of using this particular steroid during cutting cycles. It is often used only at the start of a cutting cycle, so the appetite increase may not negatively impact your final results.

Is Equipoise illegal in the USA?

Like all anabolic steroids, Equipoise is not legal to purchase or use in the USA or most other countries. It is also banned by all sports doping authorities as a performance-enhancing drug. Buying EQ online comes with great risks, both legally and for your health, as many fake, low-quality products are being sold under this name. As Equipoise is a veterinary product, vet-grade is the best and most desirable form, but it is not always easy to find.

EQ has a long detection time once you stop using it, and this can be up to 5 months after your last injection. This makes this steroid not so appealing for professional athletes or competitors who are likely to undergo drug testing since steroids that clear the system much quicker are preferred.

Final Thoughts

Equipoise is one of the most versatile steroids available to us. You really can’t call EQ a bulking or cutting steroid. EQ can be anything you want it to be. You shape what it does through your dosage and diet. The results can be phenomenal, so I’ve constantly shaken my head at people who claim it’s not worth using or were disappointed in their results.

The fact is that you have to understand EQ and know what it can and can not provide. There’s a lot more to any AAS than just how much mass it can give you, and plenty of others tick that box if that’s what you’re looking for. Equipoise has its place in a carefully planned cycle, and it’s one of very few AAS I’m comfortable using for extended lengths of time. Only you can decide whether EQ suits your goals, but I love the look I get with it, as do plenty of other happy Equipoise users.

— Furious Joe