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 $60 - 80 per box.