Dianabol (Methandrostenolone): The world’s most widely used steroid is very successful in giving size and strength quickly

Methandrostenolone, or Dianabol as its more commonly known as, is an anabolic steroid which has been the mainstay of the bodybuilding community since its introduction more than half a century ago.

But what exactly is Dianabol? Technically a brand name (frequently abbreviated to Dbol), it was first created by the Swiss firm CIBA who manufactured methandrostenolone and gave it a more public friendly name. Despite CIBA no longer producing methandrostenolone, the name stuck and remains the term most commonly used among users.

Physician, Dr John Ziegler is widely credited with the introduction of the drug to the market in 1960, following his collaborative research with CIBA during the previous decade.

Dr Ziegler was on the coaching staff for the US weightlifting team and during the Olympics became increasingly suspicious of the gap between the performance of his own team of athletes and the Russians. In particular, the exceedingly muscular physique of the Russian weightlifters pointed to the possibility that some artificial pharmaceutical help had been provided.

Later on, the discovery that some of the Russian weightlifting team were unable to urinate without the use of a catheter was more or less confirmation there was more to it than simply effective training.

According to popular history, Dr Ziegler took the Russian team physician out and got him inebriated, and in doing so wheedled out the information that testosterone was being used as a supplement.

On his return to the US, with technical assistance from CIBA Dr Ziegler experimented at length with testosterone, even testing it on a willing group of athletes but initially was unable to produce a drug which was acceptable and still yielded the required results.

Eventually, methandrostenolone was created which not only enhanced strength and subsequently muscle growth, it did not prevent the user from being able to urinate normally. The results were impressive: a new era was about to dawn.

The chemists from from CIBA are officially credited with the invention of the anabolic steroid, but Dr Ziegler had played a significant role in the process too. CIBA then took on the responsibility for marketing the drug which was released under the brand name of Dianabol in 1960, and quickly became a success.

Danabol 25 SidebarCan it be taken on its own?

Although it is perfect for stacking with other steroids, it can also deliver very significant benefits when used on its own.

This is helpful for those just beginning to use steroids to complement their bodybuilding program and want to closely monitor the effects that each individual drug has.

A Dianabol only cycle typically lasts no more than 6 weeks and gains will appear relatively quickly. With the right accompanying diet and exercise regime, impressive results can be seen in just four weeks.

picture of before and after a dbol only cycle

Although the steroid can be used on its own, some individuals find that the positive cycle results can be quickly lost once they stop taking the pills. This leads to the temptation to continue taking this steroid for extended periods, which is not recommended due to the risk of hepatic damage.

For this reason, as individuals become more experienced with using Dianabol, stacking may be a more attractive alternative.

Dianabol Stack Info

The fast acting nature means that it’s an excellent complement for other steroids, and stacking can really optimize the results for maximum benefit.

A testosterone and Dianabol stack is a popular choice, because the latter can repress the body’s own production of testosterone levels. Taking an injectable form of testosterone can combat this problem. In addition, many forms of injectable testosterone – such as Sustanon, Propionate and Enanthate – have long lasting esters which means their use can be continued over a 12 week cycle. This prevents the losses which can occur when a Dianabol only cycle ends, as the testosterone will ensure the gains are sustained.

For those who want the gains but without the accompanying water retention, stacking this compound with a cutting steroid such as Trenbolone can deliver leaner, more ripped results.

Taking two different oral steroids together is generally inadvisable because of the potential harm to the liver, but stacking them in such a way that their cycles overlap is possible. Dianabol and Anavar are two oral steroids which can be taken together, with some testosterone added as a base for the best result. A typical stack would be to start the cycle with Dbol for two weeks, continue with Anavar for six weeks and accompany with a 10 week testosterone base.

Depending on where you frequent, when you buy this steroid you might be given some recommendations for other steroids you could use to stack. The above are just a few of the more frequently used, but there are many viable combinations.

How it is administered

This steroid can be injected but the the most common and convenient way to take it is orally.

You can buy in pill form which are easily swallowed, typically with food. This can help to prevent the gastric side effects which can occur when steroids are taken on an empty stomach.

picture of pink dianabol tablets

It won’t have an instant effect, unlike an injection, but the oral form of this drug is still considered to be a fast acting.

Dianabol Dosage info

This steroid can be taken by both new and experienced bodybuilders, as well as other athletes looking to improve their results.

The typical maintenance dose for new users is around 30-50mg total per day. This is then split into divided doses as required. For new users, this dosage level will produce significant results including marked increases in muscle mass and greater strength.

The benefit to taking a lower dose means that the side effects will be kept to an absolute minimum. However, more experienced users will probably find this dose too low and will need around 80mg each day to break through their plateau and move onto the next level.

Half-life info

The half-life is approximately 3-5 hours, varying from one individual to another. For this reason, most users take it three times a day, typically in the morning, prior to a workout and after.

By splitting the total recommended daily intake over several doses, the serum level of Dianabol remains much more stable, preventing dips.

Although there’s a variance in the half-life between individual users, there’s no daily fluctuation so once the optimal regime is established, the frequency shouldn’t need to be changed even with dosage increases.

The only drawback to taking a divided dose is that a peak level of steroid will never reach the bloodstream which means that the individual will never reach their absolute full potential. For some, the benefit of keeping blood levels stable make this worthwhile but for others a single dose of Dianabol is preferable in order to gain the absolute maximum training advantage.

Positive effects

The benefits of this steroid to athletes is manifold, with rapid gains in strength and muscle mass. The anabolic steroid achieves this by improving the nitrogen balance within the cells, thus allowing the body to retain greater amounts of protein which enhances muscle growth.

Dbol also increases strength, which in turn allows the individual to work out harder and for longer, which also improves muscle mass. These aspects combined account for the huge gains in bulk and muscle which are possible with the use of this steroid.

Although Dbol was originally created to enhance performance within sport, it was later discovered to have some medicinal benefits too.

Although it’s currently not legal in the US for recreational or sports use, it can still be prescribed by physicians, but not for the purposes of bodybuilding or improving athletic ability. It can help to treat a number of different medical conditions including:

  • hereditary angioedema (a condition which causes the swelling of many parts of the body including the organs and the windpipe)
  • certain strains of anemia
  • some types of breast cancer
  • to assist with weight maintenance in AIDS
  • growth problems such as dwarfism
  • Turner’s syndrome
  • clotting disorders

Potential Dianabol side effects

Like any anabolic steroid, this has potential side effects but many of these can be controlled either by adding another drug, or with an effective PCT regime.

Danabol 25 SidebarAndrogenic effects

This drug suppresses the body’s own production of testosterone and without the addition of a testosterone supplement, levels can fall to a symptomatic level. This means that you could temporarily experience atrophying of the testicles, with a lack of fullness felt upon examination. When your cycle finishes and your levels return to normal, the shrinkage in the testicles will reverse; this isn’t a permanent feature.

Estrogenic effects

Due to the moderately high levels of aromatase activity, estrogen levels within the body can begin to accumulate, leading to unwanted effects. These could include gynecomastia and water retention. Both of these side effects can appear rapidly, but once again are easily resolved with the addition of a combative therapy.

Anti-estrogen treatment includes either Aromatase Inhibitors or Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators.


It’s particularly vital to get water retention under control as excessively high levels can push up blood pressure, exacerbating the undesirable cardiovascular effects which can occur. A rise in both blood pressure and “bad” LDL cholesterol can occur, together with a concurrent drop in “good” HDL cholesterol.

These potential side effects can normally be controlled by sticking to a healthy lifestyle and treating the water retention. Any individual who already suffers from raised cholesterol or hypertension shouldn’t consider taking Dianabol.

Hair loss

For many men, the potential for hair loss is a particular concern when taking any anabolic steroid, and this is no exception. The risk of male pattern baldness is present, but it will only accelerate it among men who already carried the gene.

Male pattern baldness is largely a genetic condition and Dbol and other high-risk steroids simply trigger the response which would have occurred anyway, albeit possibly much later.

picture of how steroids & dht accelerate hair loss

Unfortunately stopping the cycle won’t necessarily return the hair to its pre-steroid condition but it will slow down or prevent further thinning, at least in the short term. Hair loss treatments can be very effective in improving the loss or thinning which has occurred.

Men who don’t carry the male pattern baldness gene will not suffer hair loss as a result of taking this steroid.

Liver toxicity

Another major consideration for many users is the potential effect that it could have on the liver.

Hepatotoxicity is a much debated issued but it’s essential to properly understand the process that the body goes through when faced with Dianabol. Being an oral steroid, it must pass through the gastrointestinal system which also means being filtered by the liver before it’s able to reach the bloodstream and have the desired effect.

To prevent the liver metabolizing the Dianabol, the molecular structure has been altered to something known as a 17-aa (alpha-alkylated) steroid. These changes mean that it is able to pass through the liver without being broken down, making it available for use within the body.

The problems occur because the liver won’t readily accept that the substance can’t be metabolized and will continue to work extremely hard in trying to break this steroid down. This leads to an increase in the activity of the liver and gives rise to raised liver enzymes in blood tests.

There’s no concrete proof about what extended periods of increased activity will do, and the harmful effects it will have. Anecdotal evidence suggests the liver could become so overwhelmed it’s unable to produce bile, leading to a condition known as cholestasis. If the situation continues, it’s been suggested that the liver will lose its ability to effectively deal with other toxins and develop lesions and permanent damage. This will lead to irreversible impairment of liver function and potentially liver failure.

Some cases have been cited where long-term use of Dianabol has taken place, with no accompanying liver damage. Certainly in the short term, if cycles are kept to the recommended length, liver enzymes will rapidly return to normal. The potential for long-term damage, particularly in those cases where usage extends beyond the recommended cycle appears to be connected to other liver stressors, such as heavy alcohol intake or binge drinking.

In summary, reviews do not document any long-term damage to the liver when the steroid is taken at the recommended levels for the prescribed period of time.

Other effects

There are no significant other side effects in addition to those listed above.


Like any type of anabolic steroid, it’s important to consider the risk-reward ratio, and in particular, any pre-existing health concerns.

Any individuals who have been diagnosed with any of the below conditions should not consider taking this compound:

• high cholesterol
• raised blood pressure
• cardiovascular disease including hardening of the arteries
• strong history of male pattern baldness
• liver disorders
• breast cancer in men or women
• prostatitis
• enlarged prostate
• impaired kidney function

It is also not recommended for any women who are either pregnant or breastfeeding.

In addition, any individual who has a high alcohol intake should not commence Dianabol until they have been able to seriously limit or stop drinking.

Is Dianabol best suited to cutting, bulking or both?

At first glance, cutting and bulking would seem to require a very different approach but many user reviews reveal that when used in the right way, the drug has a unique advantage of being useful during both types of cycle.

It’s probably known best for being an extremely effective bulking steroid, packing on the muscle quickly and gaining mass. Some reports have suggested that in four weeks as much as 40 lbs can be packed on. For that reason, Dianabol remains one of the most popular steroids for the bulking cycle.

Despite this, it can still be used very effectively during the cutting cycle too. During a restricted diet and while cardiovascular exercise is increased to get that lean, shredded look, it can help to maintain muscle mass. This drug is sometimes associated with bloating because of its aromatizing effect; this is obviously contradictory to the aims of a cutting cycle. Taking an aromatase inhibitor at the same time will reduce any water retention while still retaining the lean muscle gain.

Is it safe for women to use?

Some women do opt to take Dianabol but care needs to be exercised because there is still the potential for androgenic side effects.

For women these could include enlargement of the clitoris, thinning of scalp hair, acne, development of body hair and deepening of the voice. Collectively these side effects are known as virilization.

It can sometimes be possible for Dianabol to be taken by women at a lower dose without attracting too many unwanted side effects, but in general, it’s usually recommended that an alternative steroid with a lower degree of androgenic activity is used.

Type of PCT needed after the end of the cycle

The extent of the side effects experienced with the use of Dianabol has been shown to vary greatly, with some individuals more susceptible than others.

Studies have demonstrated that with appropriate PCT, the side effects even in those most affected will resolve completely within a very short time.

When you buy this steroid, a suitable PCT plan is essential to re-establish the natural production of testosterone and eliminate the estrogenic effects which can occur during the cycle. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators such as Clomid and Nolvadex are the most effective and safe to use.

Danabol 25 SidebarTypical cost to buy Dianabol

Although oral Dianabol remains one of the most effective anabolic steroids, it is also one of the cheapest to buy. The cost of the raw materials to synthesize plus the continuing high demand means that the price is extremely affordable.

Depending on the manufacturer, you can expect to pay around $1-2 per capsule, with the strength of each capsule up to 50mg. Bulk Dianabol pills can also be found for around $100 for 1000 x 5mg capsules.

Sports that use it

After its release to the market, Dianabol was a huge success and was taken by some of the leading bodybuilders of the time, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and the triple Mr Olympia winner Sergio “The Myth” Oliva. Dbol was considered to be such an integral part of a bodybuilder’s regime that Schwarzenegger referred to it as being the “breakfast of champions”.

But although the bodybuilding community adopted the use of Dianabol readily, it wasn’t restricted to just this one discipline. Other sports, particularly those where strength was an attribute, latched on to the potential benefits of the steroid.

American football was a sport where Dianabol provided huge benefits, and it was credited with almost single handedly turning around the fortunes of the San Diego Chargers in 1963. The year before they’d limped to a record of just 4-10 but thanks to the introduction of steroids by their coach, the following year they were virtually unbeatable, trouncing their opponents in the AFL championship.

As the positive reviews increased, athletics also began to realize the potential advantages that could be gained. However, the use of Dianabol wasn’t quite so universal in athletics because the steroid’s main benefits are to enhance protein synthesis and promote glycogenolysis, but at the same time, it can reduce cell respiration.

This means that it wasn’t appropriate for use in events which required superior aerobic performance. Nevertheless, in field events especially where the primary demand was strength, Dbol was once again considered an elite supplement which no other could rival.

Legality of purchase and its usage in the US

Although there is no doubt over the potential power of the drug, the question remains: is Dianabol legal? At the time that Dr Ziegler and CIBA discovered the benefits of this compound and its subsequent release onto the market, it was considered to be entirely legal.

Originally it was lauded for its fast acting power, but by 1967 the use of all steroid compounds – including Dianabol, was banned in the Olympics and by the 1980s nearly all other sports had followed suit.

Concerns about potential side effects started to gather pace and by the 1980s, the FDA was keen to see the drug banned. This finally took place in 1990

It’s now classed as a Schedule III drug in the US under the Controlled Substances Act and possession of it without a valid prescription can result in a hefty fine, or potentially a prison sentence if individuals are convicted of trafficking it. This is no different to any other anabolic steroid; none are legal for recreational use in the US.

Although this is a controlled drug, not all countries have the same restrictions on use. The US is largely considered to have the strictest laws relating to its use. Just south of the border in Mexico, Dianabol is legal and many US citizens have crossed over in the past to acquire a supply. Bringing back this supply would, however, be an against the law, despite being purchased legally in Mexico.

In other countries such as Canada, this steroid is covered by the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. It is illegal to purchase within Canada and can’t be found for sale. However, the law does allow personal use of the drug and providing quantities of less than 200mg are held, possession of this is not considered a crime. The injectable form is subject to slightly different rules. This means that Dianabol can be bought legally online and shipped into Canada, but it cannot be brought over the border via Customs. The UK and Europe also have less strict laws.

Therefore, where to buy this drug remains a dilemma for many bodybuilders who want to continue to use the steroid. For many, the before and after effects are sufficiently impressive to continue to seek out the steroid. It is possible to buy this steroid online, but finding real genuine forms of this steroid isn’t always easy.

The Dianabol for sale online isn’t always of the best quality which can lead to not just substandard results, but also the potential for unexpected side effects. It’s therefore important to search for online sellers that can be trusted to sell what’s stated.