Dianabol (Methandrostenolone)

Overview

Dianabol History & Overview

Dianabol is the trade / brand name for the anabolic steroid Methandrostenolone (sometimes also referred to in Europe as Methandienone). It is well-known and ranked as the most popular and most widely used anabolic steroid in all history. Dianabol is also one of the youngest anabolic steroids and has obtained unparalleled popularity among athletes, bodybuilders, and the average recreational anabolic steroid user looking to enhance their physique and athletic performance in the gym. Dianabol is ubiquitous in the bodybuilding and athletic world, and first took hold in what is commonly known as “the Golden Era” of bodybuilding, referring to the bodybuilding scene in the 1960s – 1970s. It was originally presented by Dr. John Ziegler around 1955 as the American anabolic steroid, in response to the Russian / Soviet discovery and utilization of Testosterone in their Olympic athletes[1]. Although the reality of the history and story behind this compound is complex with hints of corporate espionage and drama, the long story made short is that Dr. Ziegler and a team of doctors and scientists presented Methandrostenolone as first and foremost a drug for athletic performance enhancement. However, it was not long before it was adopted into the prescription market as a medicine and drug under the name Dianabol by the pharmaceutical company known as Ciba. Dianabol was groundbreaking in that it was also the very first oral anabolic steroid to be created and enter the market.


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Chemical Characteristics

Dianabol Chemical Characteristics

Dianabol is a moderately estrogenic anabolic steroid with a half-life of around 4.5 – 6 hours[2]. It is also considerably less androgenic than Testosterone, as Dianabol undergoes reduction into a stronger androgen at a far lesser rate[3]. These are but a few of the reasons as to why Dianabol is considered a favorite among the bodybuilding and athletic circles.

Dianabol is modified at its 17thcarbon by way of methylation (also known as alpha-alkylation), which grants the compound the advantage of being absorbed and active through oral administration. Without C-17 alpha alkylation, the compound would not be able to survive what is known as the ‘first pass’ through the liver, resulting in ineffective quantities of the drug making it through the first pass, and therefore does not reach the bloodstream to perform its work in the body. Dianabol also holds a double-bond between its first and second carbon atoms. This is what allows it to be measurably less androgenic than other anabolic steroids, such as Testosterone. This modification is what is also responsible for its fairly short half-life of 4.5 – 6 hours.

These tweaks to its chemical structure also allow Dianabol to avoid binding proteins in larger amounts (such as Sex Hormone Binding Globulin – SHBG). These binding proteins are what are responsible for binding to and rendering different androgens ineffective in the bloodstream, albeit for a temporary period of time. The lower an affinity for binding globulins like SHBG that a compound has means that more anabolic hormones such as Testosterone and even Dianabol itself can be free to perform their activity in the body and muscle tissue. This is one of the several reasons as to why Dianabol is a stronger anabolic steroid.

What is peculiar about Dianabol, however, is that it actually possesses a lower affinity for interaction with the androgen receptor in tissues compared to something like Testosterone or other compounds. At the same time, Dianabol is a very strong hormone. The most likely reasoning behind this is that some or much of Dianabol’s activity may be non-receptor mediated, meaning it may be anabolic via pathways outside of direct androgen receptor interaction. Dianabol’s anabolic rating is 210, which is just over double that of Testosterone, which holds an anabolic rating of 100.

Side Effects

Dianabol Side Effects

Dianabol might be the most popular anabolic steroid ever, but it is not without its downsides and negatives. As previously mentioned, it possesses C17 alpha alkylation, which allows it to survive liver metabolism. However, this is at the expense of increased liver toxicity. This is the case with any compound that has a resistance to liver metabolism – the greater the resistance to liver metabolism, the greater the potential of hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity). Thus, Dianabol should not be run for periods longer than 4 – 6 weeks at a time so as to avoid negative effects accumulative on the liver. This is why compounds like Dianabol should be used in a supplementary manner to anabolic steroid cycles, usually as a kickstarting compound, for example. High doses of Dianabol are also not recommended.

It has been mentioned already that Dianabol is moderately estrogenic in the body[6]. This is evidenced by the fact that anecdotal reports from bodybuilders and users demonstrate evidence of water retention, as well as other potential estrogenic effects such as gynecomastia, high blood pressure, and fat gain as well as fat retention related to estrogenic effects. Blood pressure increases are usually the result of water retention[7]. Anti-estrogens can be used to help minimize and/or avoid these side effects, such as the use of SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators) such as Nolvadex (i.e. Tamoxifen Citrate) or Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate). Aromatase inhibitors can also be used, which serve to disable the aromatase enzyme and prevent or reduce estrogen conversion at the root cause. These include compounds like Exemestane (Aromasin) and Arimidex (Anastrozole).

Androgenic side effects are still a present concern with Dianabol even though its androgenic side effect profile is generally low. It still holds an androgenic rating of 40 – 60, which is considerably lower than Testosterone’s rating of 100. But this means that the risk of these side effects is still present. These can include increased probability of developing MPB (Male Pattern Baldness) if the genetics are present, increased oily skin, increased acne development, and increases in facial hair and body hair growth. Although Dianabol possesses a much lower affinity for the 5-alpha reductase enzyme responsible for the conversion of Testosterone into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), Dianabol still does interact with it and although it does not convert into DHT, it does convert into its own different reduced stronger androgen.

Dianabol, like any and every other anabolic steroid, imposes negative effects on the feedback loop for the HPTA (Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis). This results in either a complete shut-down of endogenous natural Testosterone production, or a suppression of it. Studies have clearly demonstrated its ability to inhibit the HPTA in dosages as low as 15mg daily over the course of 8 weeks, which dropped Testosterone levels in test subjects by 69%[4].

Not only does Dianabol by its very nature as an anabolic steroid impose negative effects on cholesterol and the cardiovascular system, it is even worse in this regard due to its nature as an oral anabolic steroid. Oral anabolic steroids have been shown to impose more detrimental negative changes on cholesterol levels than injectable anabolic steroids alone.

Administration

Dosing and Administration of Dianabol

Because Dianabol is a very strong and very potent anabolic steroid, it is unnecessary to utilize very high dosages. This is also recommended in order to avoid negative effects on the liver due to its liver toxicity. As with almost anything, the higher the dose equals higher incidence of negative side effects.

DANABOL DS – 10mg

Initially upon release to the market, Dr John Ziegler recommended prescription dosages of 5mg per day for a maximum of 6 weeks. 5mg is considered on the very low end of the dose spectrum, especially where athletics are concerned. Therefore, most Dianabol dosages tend to in reality range between 15 – 30mg daily. Towards the higher end of this range, Dianabol can be quite strong and usually does not generate a need for higher dosages, even after years of use (in cycles, of course). Some intermediate and advanced bodybuilders have been known to venture up to 30 – 50mg daily, and it is never recommended to venture higher than the maximum dose of 50mg per day. Although some advanced users have touted using as high as 80mg per day, this is highly ill-advised and shouldn’t even be attempted as this dose is sure to generate an unnecessarily high number of stressors on the body’s organs and subsystems.

Whether it be an advanced, intermediate, or beginner user, 15mg per day should actually be enough to provide desired anabolic effects necessary for strength and physique performance increases. There are plenty of advanced users that remain on the low end of the dose range without any complaints. However, with this having been said, studies have examined adverse side effects resulting from 100mg daily of Dianabol and have found no serious health complications as a result[5].

In this particular study, 100mg of Dianabol per day for a total of 6 weeks resulted in a 40% drop in Testosterone levels, Luteinizing Hormone was reduced by 80%, Follicle Stimulating Hormone dropped by 33%, and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) levels rose by 30%, and lean muscle mass increased from 2 to 7 kg.

Females are recommended to avoid Dianabol, and it is not a frequently used anabolic steroid among women because it is not suited to female physiology. This is because of the potential for heavier virilization side effects. Those that do tend to use it do so at around 2.5 – 5mg daily, with the rare occurrence of 10mg per day being used at the uppermost end of the dosing limits for females. Because of its potency and strength, Dianabol use among women can generate pretty dramatic changes for those who do use it.

Cycles

Dianabol Cycles & Uses

DIanabol cycles are very simple and straightforward. It is usually used during bulking and strength-gain phases of training where there is no concern for getting lean or ‘ripped’. Likewise, there should be no concern for a little bit of bloat or water gain. Thus, this is why Dianabol tends to be used by bodybuilders in their off season, and is normally combined with an injectable anabolic steroid in a cycle. Usually, it is combined with injectable anabolic steroids that are suited towards the same goals and have the same properties – Testosterone, for example.

Most commonly, Dianabol is used as a kickstart, which is where a compound is used at the beginning of a cycle (usually the first 4 – 6 weeks of the total cycle length). This is done in order to experience the quick anabolic effects while the bodybuilder waits for the longer acting injectable compounds to take effect and ‘kick in’. As previously mentioned, this kickstart period should be normally around 4 weeks. This is also to avoid its liver-toxic effects as a result of its 17thcarbon methylation. It is also beneficial to do this to avoid dramatic changes in cholesterol profiles over time.

ANABOL – British Dispensary 5mg

Dianabol is very flexible and cycles can be short, but in this case should be combined with a similar short-acting injectable compound, such as Testosterone Propionate. DIanabol should still be limited to a period of 4 – 6 weeks, however, while Testosterone Propionate is used for a total of 10 weeks.

Although it is not suited for cutting or fat loss, Dianabol can be used for it. It is very difficult to do due to its estrogenic effects that promote water retention and fat gain, but it can be used to cut and should be used in no different cycle manner than previously mentioned. It is instead the individual’s nutrition and diet that should be adjusted to facilitate the fat loss.

Buy Dianabol

How to Buy Dianabol Online

Dianabol is ubiquitous among the athletic and bodybuilding communities and it is therefore as ubiquitously available anywhere one looks in the market. As with all products, there are two grades or versions commonly available: pharmaceutical grade and UGL (underground laboratory) grade, and prices will differ depending on the source type as well as which grade of product is available. Because of its popularity, it is a very, very cheap compound – perhaps the cheapest on the market. With that being said, there are some considerable variations in price for Dianabol on the market. This is also due to the fact that there are laboratories out there that manufacture Dianabol is many different concentrations and variations (for example, it is available in tablets of 5mg, 10mg, 50mg, and even 100mg). By comparison, pharmaceutical grade Dianabol is usually only manufactured in 5mg tablets.

Underground Dianabol can be found anywhere from $1 – $1.50 per 50mg tablet. By comparison, pharmaceutical grade Dianabol can be found in the range of $2.80 per 50mg tablet. The difference in price between the two grades for Dianabol is not that significant, but this is also because of how widespread, popular, and cheap Dianabol is.

References:

  1. Vischer E, Meystre C, Wettstein A. Helv Chim Acta 38 (1955):1502 https://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/1892
  2. Kruskemper, H L, Anabolic Steroids, Academic Press, New York, 1968 https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f982/b68b6eae2dac05e70e7ad00e81d5fb986bfb.pdf
  3. Relative importance of 5alpha reduction for the androgenic and HL-inhibiting activities of delta-4-3-ketosteroids, Steroids 29 (1997):331-48. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23880372
  4. Effect of anabolic steroid (metandionon) on plasma LH-FSH, and testosterone and on the response to intravenous administration of LRH. Holma P. Adlecreutz. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1976 Deca;83(4):856-64. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/793272
  5. Clin Sci (Lond). 1981 Apr;60(4):457-61. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7018798
  6. Brain Res. 1998 May 11;792(2):271-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9593936
  7. Br Med J. 1975 May 31;2(5969):471-3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/125133