Considered the grandfather of the modern steroid, Methandrostenolone has been used for more than sixty years to elevate some of the greatest bodybuilders of all time to new heights. But at what cost?
Let’s explore the history, legality, and side effects of the most popular and widely used bodybuilding steroid in the industry. We’ll also reveal a natural alternative to Methandrostenolone that can produce comparable gains without the danger.
What is Methandrostenolone?Just like Oxandrolone, Methandrostenolone is a synthetic steroid that is made from testosterone. Commonly referred to as Dianabol, it famously promotes an anabolic environment in the body, which means it sets the stage for muscle growth.
Once in the body and past the liver, Methandrostenolone seeks out and hooks up with androgen receptors, which control the release of growth hormones. By doing so, Methandrostenolone can tap into muscle building processes such as increasing muscle protein synthesis.
History and overview
Methandrostenolone was discovered in 1955 by researchers in Switzerland. A few years later, the drug was marketed by the name you’re most likely more familiar with: Dianabol.
Initially developed to treat hypogonadism, post-menopausal osteoporosis, and pituitary-deficient dwarfism, it didn’t take long for Methandrostenolone to wind up in the hands of muscle-bound bodybuilders.
During the time of Frank Zane, Bob Paris, and, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger, or what is better known as the Golden Age of Bodybuilding, Methandrostenolone was exploding on to the scene. You probably wouldn’t be surprised to find out that some of your Golden Age favorites had a personal relationship with Methandrostenolone pills. It’s this association with arguably the best time in bodybuilding history that has cemented Methandrostenolone as a classic and go-to anabolic steroid.
Given its reputation, this begs the question…
Is it legal?
You’re probably wondering whether you can buy Methandrostenolone for sale legally. While it is available for legal purchase in other countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom, in the United States, you’ll have no such luck. Methandrostenolone has been placed under the Controlled Substances Act, which means if you get caught with it, you’ll face fines, jail time, or both.
Just because it’s illegal in the U.S., that doesn’t mean you can’t find Methandrostenolone online or in back alley channels. However, buying Methandrostenolone pills on the street brings with it a risk of contamination, improper dosing, and a bad reaction requiring hospitalization.
What are the possible dangers and side effects of Methandrostenolone?
While it doesn’t possess the same level of androgenic effects as testosterone, there are plenty of Methandrostenolone side effects that are very serious. Here are the most common Methandrostenolone side effects that users have reported and medical professionals have documented:
Skin issues: Starting with the least worrisome of the side effects, Methandrostenolone can cause some basic to severe skin issues. Due to its androgenic properties, Methandrostenolone has been shown to make skin oily or worsen already oily skin. Naturally, this can lead to acne development. For women, an increase in facial hair and body hair growth is common.
Baldness: Methandrostenolone increases the presence of a highly anabolic hormone known as dihydrotestosterone. Increased levels of DHT have been associated with a dramatic increase in male pattern baldness. It’s no surprise that many men and women who use Methandrostenolone report some degree of balding. The more genetically predisposed you are to balding, the worse the severity of the balding.
Estrogenic side effects: Using an anabolic steroid such as Methandrostenolone, you’ll feel like you’re riding high when your growth hormones levels are artificially inflated. But when you stop your cycle, you’ll have to deal with estrogen-based side effects such as gynecomastia (man boobs), fat gain, water retention, and muscle loss.
Liver toxicity: One of the unique features of Methandrostenolone is its ability to survive several passes through the liver. Your liver and kidneys are the filtration centers of your body. Your liver cleans your blood of impurities and it doesn’t look too kindly on anabolic steroids.
Methandrostenolone can effectively pass through liver filtration to promote its anabolic benefits. Sounds great until you realize your muscle mass is coming at the expense of your liver health. Overdosing or over-cycling with Methandrostenolone can lead to severe liver damage and failure.
Shuts down Testosterone production: All anabolic steroids suppress or shut down your natural testosterone production. Since the anabolic steroid is taking your testosterone levels through the roof artificially, your body is quick to turn off its own supply. The problem is that once you finish your cycle, your natural testosterone production switch tends to stay in the OFF position.
Studies have found that a Methandrostenolone dosage of only 15 mg over the course of eight weeks was enough to drop natural testosterone production by 69%. Hello estrogen-based complications and goodbye to that muscle mass you were working towards.
How to use it – DosageMethandrostenolone (Dianabol) is taken orally and on average, the lowest dose of Methandrostenolone that you’ll find is 15 mg. People who have used Methandrostenolone before tend to increase the dosage with each cycle by 5 to 10 mg. With that said, even for the most advanced users, a dosage of more than Methandrostenolone 50mg is not advised because of the sharp increase of the severity of the side effects.
Since it has a half-life of up to six hours, most people take their daily dosage of Methandrostenolone in two separate servings. For example, if you are taking 30 mg of Methandrostenolone per day, you’ll most likely have 15 mg in the morning and another 15 mg in the evening.
Popular Methandrostenolone cyclesA Methandrostenolone cycle is not unlike the cycles of most anabolic steroids; it’s recommended that you do not exceed six weeks. Beginners are encouraged to stick to a four-week cycle. Even with such a short cycle, some degree of liver damage is to be expected.
Methandrostenolone tends to promote water retention, giving you that bigger, more swollen look so it’s often used during a bulking, rather than a cutting season.
We don’t encourage the use of Methandrostenolone – far from it – but to give you an idea of how a cycle is set up, here’s an example of two different Methandrostenolone cycles: one for beginners and one for experienced users:
Beginners
- Week One: 15 mg (8 mg in the morning / 7 mg in the evening)
- Week Two: 15 mg
- Week Three: 15 mg
- Week Four: 15 mg
Experienced (Two or more cycles)
- Week One: 30 mg (15 mg in the morning / 15 mg in the evening)
- Week Two: 30 mg
- Week Three: 30 mg
- Week Four: 30 mg
- Week Five: 30 mg
- Week Six: 30 mg
What are the alternative options to using Methandrostenolone?
If you want to capture the bulking power of Methandrostenolone (Dianabol) without having to worry about your testosterone plummeting or your liver taking a hit, we recommend giving D-Bal a try.
Based on the same principles of muscle mass growth by increasing nitrogen retention, D-Bal is an all-natural way to force your muscle tissue into an anabolic state. The result is a significant increase in size and strength.
D-Bal contains the following ingredients that have been scientifically shown to support muscle mass building:
Whey protein: One of the most important supplements in the last 50 years, whey protein is no longer a luxury item; it’s a requirement for anyone who is serious about muscle growth. Countless studies have demonstrated the effect that whey protein has on muscle tissue including recovery, growth, and performance.
Branched-chain amino acids: The very building blocks of muscle tissue, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) play an essential role in preventing muscle breakdown and promoting muscle growth. Every serving of D-Bal is packed with L-Isoleucine, L-Valine, and L-Leucine to support faster recovery and bigger gains.
Tribulus Terrestris: Found in many libido boosters, Tribulus Terrestris may also be an excellent way to naturally support muscle-building. Some studies have suggested that Tribulus Terrestris can contribute to positive gains in strength and muscle mass without the risk of failing a doping test.
For all its muscle-boosting bravado, Methandrostenolone is more of a danger to your body than a benefit. If you have your sights set on getting swole this season, do so safely and confidently with CrazyBulk’s legal alternative – D-Bal.
