Sometimes human users may experience an event called "tren cough" shortly after or during an injection, where the user experiences a violent and extreme coughing fit, which can last for minutes and in some cases even longer.
"Tren cough", despite its name, is not exclusive to trenbolone. It can occur when injecting any oil-steroid solutions, if the solution accidentally is injected intravenously. When the oil-steroid solution gets into the bloodstream, the steroid oil solution travels into the lungs, therefore causing a coughing fit. There exist several theories on why this phenomenon happens.[9]
Trenbolone has both anabolic and androgenic effects.[6] Once metabolized, trenbolone esters have the effect of increasing ammonium ion uptake by muscles, leading to an increase in the rate of protein synthesis. It may also have the secondary effects of stimulating appetite and decreasing the rate of catabolism, as all anabolic steroids are believed to; however, catabolism likely increases significantly once the steroid is no longer taken.[13] At least one study in rats has shown trenbolone to cause gene expression of the androgen receptor (AR) at least as potent as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This evidence tends to indicate trenbolone can cause an increase in male secondary sex characteristics without the need to convert to a more potent androgen in the body.[14]
Studies on metabolism are mixed, with some studies showing that it is metabolized by aromatase or 5α-reductase into estrogenic compounds, or into 5α-reduced androgenic compounds, respectively.[15][16]
The potency of Trenbolone is not known, although it's often falsely believed to be five times high as that of testosterone.[17][18] This is based on a book by William Llewellyn but has not been definitively proven. Trenbolone was never approved for human use, and therefore limited data on the subject exists. The relevant literature, is usually done in rats, which makes the 500/100 potency number inaccurate. Rats respond differently to androgens and are less sensitive to androgens. While some literature report a 5 fold higher potency, two other scientific reviews report a 3 fold higher potency, which makes it unclear as to how large the relative potency actually is.[19][20] Trenbolone also binds with high affinity to the progesterone receptor,[6][21][22][23] and binds to the glucocorticoid receptor as well.[22]
Trenbolone and 17-epitrenbolone are both excreted in urine as conjugates that can be hydrolyzed with beta-glucuronidase.[24] This implies that trenbolone leaves the body as beta-glucuronides or sulfates.
Trenbolone is the generic name of the drug and its INNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name and BANTooltip British Approved Name.[2][3][4] It has also been referred to as trienolone or trienbolone or tren.[2][3][4][28]
Legal status
Some bodybuilders and athletes use trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate and other esters (acetate, enanthate) for their muscle-building and otherwise performance-enhancing effects.[29][6] Such use is illegal in the United States and several European and Asian countries. The DEA classifies trenbolone and its esters as Schedule III controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act.[30] Trenbolone is classified as a Schedule 4 drug in Canada[31] and a class C drug with no penalty for personal use or possession in the United Kingdom.[32] Use or possession of steroids without a prescription is a crime in Australia.[33]
^Fox AJ, Lalloo UG, Belvisi MG, Bernareggi M, Chung KF, Barnes PJ (July 1996). "Bradykinin-evoked sensitization of airway sensory nerves: a mechanism for ACE-inhibitor cough". Nature Medicine. 2 (7): 814–817. doi:10.1038/nm0796-814. PMID8673930.
^Fahey TD (March 1998). "Anabolic Steroids: Mechanisms and Effects". Encyclopedia of sports medicine and science. Internet Society for Sport Science. Archived from the original on 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
^Yarrow JF, McCoy SC, Borst SE (June 2010). "Tissue selectivity and potential clinical applications of trenbolone (17beta-hydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one): A potent anabolic steroid with reduced androgenic and estrogenic activity". Steroids. 75 (6): 377–389. doi:10.1016/j.steroids.2010.01.019. PMID20138077. S2CID205253265.
^Gettys TW, D'Occhio MJ, Henricks DM, Schanbacher BD (January 1984). "Suppression of LH secretion by oestradiol, dihydrotestosterone and trenbolone acetate in the acutely castrated bull". The Journal of Endocrinology. 100 (1): 107–112. doi:10.1677/joe.0.1000107. PMID6361192.
^"Controlled Substances Act". United States Food and Drug Administration. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2016.