Beginner question on AI dosing - anastrozole or aromasin for first cycle?

[MunichMarc]

Hello, I am new here. I will start my first cycle in 4 weeks. Test e at 400mg per week. I have anastrozole and aromasin available. Which one is better to start with? I have read anastrozole is more predictable for beginners but aromasin is safer if you take too much. Is this correct? I do not want to crash my estrogen on my first cycle.

[Jock]

Welcome. Start anastrozole at 0.5mg twice a week if you need it at all. Don't start it from day one - wait until your second or third week and see if any symptoms show up. Water retention, sore nipples, moodiness. At 400mg test many guys need no AI whatsoever. Have it ready but don't rush to use it.

[Dutchman]

Your understanding of the two compounds is roughly correct. Anastrozole is a reversible inhibitor so if you take too much you can stop and estrogen returns relatively quickly. Aromasin is a suicide inhibitor so the effect lasts longer and you cannot simply undo it. For a beginner on 400mg test, anastrozole at a low dose if needed is the more forgiving starting point.

[Marc NL]

Main thing is don't over-AI. Most beginners on their first cycle crash estrogen trying to be too aggressive with adex. Symptoms of low E2 are often worse than high E2 - joint pain, dry skin, mood crashes, zero libido. Go slow with it and wait for actual symptoms before dosing.

[Davo]

Get bloodwork mid-cycle if you can. That is the only way to actually know where your E2 is sitting and whether the AI dose is appropriate. Going by symptoms is better than guessing, but bloodwork gives you the full picture and removes the guesswork.