Triacana

Triacana Substance: t1ratricol Triacana belongs to the group of thyroid hormone
preparations. Its substance tiratricol is a precursor of the iodiferous thyroid
hormone, L-triiodthyronine (L-T3). L-T3, together with another iodiferous
thyroid hormone, L-T4 (L-thyroxine), is produced in the thyroid and is the
distinctly stronger and more effective of these two hormones. School medicine
use Triacana in the treat-ments of obesity and hyperthyroidism (e.g. Jod-Basedow
phenom-enon-, goiter). Hyperthyroidism is an abnormal function of the thy-roid
gland in which the amount of secretion by the thyroid hor-mone is above average.
The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulates the thyroid gland to produce
more L-T3 and L-T4. By the use of Triacana an excessive release of TSH can be
avoided. In the medical arsenal of bodybuilders Triacana has had a firm place
since the late 1970's. After all, its lipolytic (fatburning) ef-fect is
sufficiently known. This is due to the hypermetabolic state, increased
irritability, and especially higher body temperature (gen-eration of heat)
during the intake of Triacana. These are factors, which help the competing
bodybuilder break down fat more eas-ily. By a caloric intake which is higher
than usual it is still pos-sible to obtain a lower body fat content together
with good muscle hardness. Although Triacana enjoys the reputation among
ath-letes as a strong and especially effective fatburning thyroid hor-mone
preparation, this preparation is a rather mild, well-toler-ated and relatively
harmless compound. The often-made com-parison with the two L-T3 thyroid gland
hormone compounds, Cytomel and Thybon, is a poor comparison since Triacana,
mi-crogram for microgram, has a considerably lower effect. Even the more
moderate L-T4 thyroid hormone drugs such as Synthroid or L-thyroxine are
stronger than the substance tiratricol. In order to achieve a visible
fat-reducing effect most athletes must usually take 10-14 tablets/day.
Generally, two 0.35 mg tablets are taken on the first day of intake and with two
tablets added each successive day until 10-14 tablets/day are taken. The
half-life time of tiratricol is 5-7 hours, so Triacana is usually taken 3-4
times daily. This guarantees a constant quantity of the sub-stance in the blood
and thus a continued effect. Many athletes, in the meantime, are combining
Triacana with Clenbuterol or Ephe-drine and report considerably better fat
breakdown than when Triacana alone is taken. Among competing female bodybuilders
and participants at the Miss Fitness pageant, in particular, the simultaneous
administration of 8-10 Triacana tablets/day and 80-100 mcg Clenbuterol/day is a
favorite. A series of bodybuild-ers use Triacana in combination with growth
hormones in order to meet the body's increased thyroid hormone need during STH
treatment (see chapter "Growth Hormones"). The theoretical ap-proach seems to be
correct but Triacana is not an "ideal" thyroid hormone drug. The preparation
Thyreocomb from the German Berlin-Chemie Company taken with a combination of the
iodiferous L-T3 and L-T4 thyroid hormones would be more suit-able. As for the
duration of application the opinions of athletes vary greatly. Some use Triacana
for only 4 weeks, mostly because they are afraid of a thyroid dysfunction.
Others take it over a period of months. When looking at the physiological
character-istics of the substance tiratricol, it becomes easier to make more
accurate indications as to a possible duration of intake and the potential
health risks that go along with the use. When taken in a dosage of 0.6 mg/day
the reduction in the body's own TSH release can be obtained; with increased
dosages it can be com-pletely suppressed. The fear that the TSH release will be
continu-ously disturbed or suppressed after using the medication is with-out
reason since this is a reversible, temporary process. 'Already 2-3 weeks after
the intake is discontinued the TSH release is com-pletely normalized" (from
Vidal 1994, page 1498). With this back-ground knowledge and based on the
experiences of several ath-letes we would choose an intake interval of 10- 12
weeks. Potential side effects such as palpitations, tremors, irregular
heartbeat, dizziness, restlessness, nervousness, and excessive perspiration
occur mostly during the first few days of intake. Those who in-crease their
dosages slowly and evenly over several days as sug-gested usually have few
problems with Triacana. Toward the end of the intake period a step-by-step
reduction in the daily tablet dosage is better than abruptly discontinuing the
substance. In summary one can say that Triacana is a (mild) alternative to the
strong L-T3 thyroid hormone compounds such as Cytomel or Thybon with their
strong side effects. It has only a lower lipolytic effect but can be taken over
a prolonged period of time. Mistakes made during the intake are forgiven with
Triacana rather than with Cytomel. Ambi-tious bodybuilders and athletes who are
able to responsibly use strong medication choose Cytomel; persons who, however,
fear side effects, who do not know much, or believe that "more is better,"
should select Triacana. One hundred tablets are packaged in a box containing
four push-through strips of 25 tablets each. The tablets are white and have
neither an imprint nor a break indentation. The price on the black market is
usually $ per box.