Tribex-500

[The Magus]

I was wondering if anyone's tried Tribex 500, by Biotest.

It's supposed to naturally increase your testosterone levels, and everything I've seen on it says the worst side effects are indigestion (which can be helped by taking Tribex with food) and in increased sex drive (side effect? Hm).

Because I'm suspicious and cynical by nature, I'd kind of like to know if others have tried it, and whether they found any side effects or draw backs that might make them think twice about trying it again.

It's a relatively pricey product - about $50 Cdn for a 1-2week supply - but the effects are supposed to be dramatic.

I've been on it for 2 days, and can't say I've noticed anything that can't be chalked up to a "placebo effect", but I -am- feeling more energy, and more of a drive to do physical things, like work out or toss a football around.

Thanks in advance...

[brent]

No, sorry never heard of it.

On a lighter note:
<SARCASM>
Maybe it's expensive, because you are buying it in Canadian dollars? Maybe you should buy it with a hard currency, like the US dollar. Everyone wants our dollars!
</SARCASM>

[Flexus Lee]

The key to finding out about the validity of any supplement is to first identify the active ingredient. Once you know this, you can begin searching the scientific literature to see what experiments have been conducted with the compound, what the conclusions were, how reliable and statistically significant these conclusions are and how reliable and significant other scientists view the work.

It is complicated because many factors are involved and it requires a scientific, logical and organised approach to a lot of reading.

I recommend using www.pubmed.org to access the world's medical literature sources. Some of you at universities or other research organisations may also have access to the full-text journal articles but the abstracts presented from the searches would be good enough. Please read all the articles with a skeptical eye and always be cautious of outstanding results.

In the case of this particular Tribex supplement, it contains Tribulus terrestris and Avena Sativa and thus belongs to the class of tribulus supplements. There is extensive literature on Tribulus terrestris that you can look up on pubmed, or you can do google searches to read the commercial hype.

The thing to be aware of when taking ANY herbal supplement is whether they have standardised the active ingredient. In the case of tribulus, they should show an assay on the label indicating the amount of saponins and also the amount of protodioscin (the currently presumed active ingredient of tribulus as far as my limited reading on the literature can tell). The higher this amount, the more active this is. If they don't tell you what this figure is, you will not know how much or, more importantly, how little you are getting and you don't want to be ripped off.

My opinion is that tribulus supplements do work with little to no side effects at the recommended dosages. I use them occassionaly myself and find that they do work to increase energy levels and overall well-being. Over time, I do notice an increase in my libido but it is nothing like viagra. For example, after supplementing for about 2 weeks I find that I get hard more frequently and easily.

Tribulus supposedly increases the body's natural production of testosterone with all the associated benefits and risks.

I have never heard of Avena sativa and a search on "avena sativa" did not reveal any results linked to men's health (i.e. "avena sativa testosterone", "~ muscle" "~ men").

[The Magus]

Just in case anyone is curious, here's an update on my Tribex experience.

First of all, I guess the Avena Sativa (which is, it seems, a type of oat) is supposed to unbind testosterone in the body. Unbound Testosterone is supposed to be more effective than bound testosterone.

The reason why I asked for some first-hand accounts is because I'd keep reading sentences like this:

Because Tribulus and Avena are both natural compounds, there are no documented side effects.

Which makes it seem like anything "natural" is safe, which is, as anyone who's ever had poison ivy or been bitten by a rattlesnake knows, not true.

Anyway, I've been taking 8 capsules a day (the bottle recommends 6, but from other people who've tried it, and from the website, they claim you'll get better results from 8 ), 4 in the morning, 4 at night, always with meals. I stopped for a week because I had to take a trip home for an old friend's wedding and knew I wouldn't be working out as much.

The major effects I've had are an increased libido (I'm horny quite often, now, beating off 3-5 times a day as opposed to only once or twice), I think I'm more aggressive, and I know I'm more aggressive in the gym (but not aggressive in a "mean" way...more like being more determined to push the weights up). I've added about 10 pounds to my squat, and every lift has gone up a little bit. When I'm not in the gym, I find I fidget a little bit more, and that I want to be more physically active. Luckily, I have some friends that toss the football around with me every few days. This extra energy is enough that I feel I could work out twice a day, at least once in a while, though so far my schedule hasn't really permitted it, and if given a choice I'd rather hang out with my friends than go alone to a gym after work. I also have a general sense of well-being, but I could just be happy these days in general. I don't have much lately to be unhappy about. *shrug*

Again, any of the effects I've experienced could have reasonably come from a placebo, but I'm happy enough to buy another bottle and at least see the Tribex through a 6-week "cycle". I'll post measurements and any further effects (if any) as they come...

[ottomun6]

Wow, it sounds exciting just to hear about the effects Tribex is having on you. You are gettin really horny out there, I bet the guys are already getting nervous around you and don't know why.

Maybe you should put up a warning sign for when you use the gym shower that says "WARNING ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK, I'M SERIOUSLY HORNY!!" (and put stamps on the bottom like the fighter aces did, except instead of airplane silhouettes show bent over people silhouettes) LOL

[The Magus]

....and officially today I have what I consider my first real measurable improvement. I'd been at a plateau with my deadlifts, mainly because my grip strength wasn't quite there yet. I would get to around my last set or two and wouldn't be able to push out all the reps because my grip would go.

Today, I managed to do all the sets, plus a few more, and added 10 pounds to the lift. Woohoo!

It was also pay day, so I'm finally able to make sure my cupboards are fully stocked, at least 'til the end of the month, with the suppliments I like to use (multivitamins, ZMA complex, Flax oil, protein powder, and now Tribex), so I'm expecting to make some serious gains over the next couple of weeks. I'm pretty psyched about it.

I feel like I'm turning a corner at this point in general...there've been a lot of little things that I've noticed, or comments I've received, that seem to say that I'm not an overweight chunky guy anymore, and that soon (within a few months, maybe?) you might be able to call my build "athletic".

Sorry for being so excited guys, but you know how it is....

[glammaman2000]

but when doing deadlifts;make sure you use the proper grip(one palm forward,one palm back)keeps the bar from turning in your hands.

[RadRx]

Glammaman:

Thank you for pointing out the reason for the deadlift grip.

Now if someone would only explain why it's so damn important to put the flat side of the plate facing out on a barbell the last of my dumb gym questions will be resolved. I only say this because it seems like a waste of time to flip them when I re-rack them so that other folks can read the poundages.

Well perhaps there is a tradition or a deep seated cultural issue here but I just think one puts the flat side facing out because it's easier and safer to hang onto a heavy plate when your fingers curl into the impressions . It also makes it easier to pull them off the bar afterwards. This is really obvious when you deal with 100 pound plates.

As for putting them on the rack with numbers facing out. That's another matter and I see no advantage except for the real newbies that can't identify the difference between a 45 and a 35 plate by sight. If they work real hard at it they'll understand it within 30 seconds or so though.

[The Magus]

Those are some good reasons, LG. I'd been wondering the same thing, because I like to keep the numbers facing out...

I'm gonna have to reconsider, now, but I'm stuck on the idea that "labels" need to face the front. I did used to work in a grocery store...

[ethernet_jock]

plate issues - having only recently started the true "gym experience" I thought this was commonplace but in reading your thread here I guess my gym must be special. We have these VERY cool "iron grip" 12-sided (not round) plates and DB's. They're all rubberized and super-easy to grab onto and have numbers on both sides:

http://www.irongrip.com/products/olympicplates_ig.asp

is a link from the manufacturer. They don't roll, they don't break your toe when you drop them unless you're really trying, and it doesn't matter which way you stack 'em. They also "clank" a hell of a lot less when you put them down.

I'll very seldom endorse a particular product but these are beyond cool. Convince your gym owner to get some!!

Also - they make 100lb plates? Damn, I didn't even know those existed! hehehe

Cool plates, built in handgrips, markings on both sides for the newbies, and they won't roll. Someone actually did a real design on iron plates.

However with that rubberized coating they have to cost more and will eventually chip and crack. Complexity is a house of cards.

Don't get me wrong, I think they're cool but in the long run they will probably never replace pure iron in clumsy awkward shapes.

Besides what real man wants iron that doesn't clank? It's the clank that lets people know your level of control. Not the deafening clank, but the subtle ring of dumbells just kissing each other, or the sliding rattle of iron plates rotating on a bar. It's the clank that announces your presence and skill. Denied our clank we'll just have to grunt louder. :-)

[ethernet_jock]

HAHAHHAHAA.... I don't make any "clanks" yet that I want people to notice so I guess that didn't occur to me. I don't really care to have people look over at me while benching and notice that I've only got one 45 and one 35 plate on each side and that's it. LOL

The gym is only about 4 years old and none of the plates I've seen are showing significant wear or chipping (yet) but I can definitely see your point there. Additionally, we don't have any 100lb'ers.... which I could care less about personally... but I've seen some guys on leg press and stuff with 5 or 6 plates on each side that could probably benefit from some 100lb'ers.

Right on....