Dianabol is one of the strongest steroids for building leanmuscle mass and quickly gaining strength, stamina and energy. It will also help users recover faster from their workouts and train harder, more frequently. Learn more.

Dianabol is one of the most popular anabolic steroids used, and often abused, by bodybuilders and athletes around the world today.

Known by its nickname Dbol, it’s an oral anabolic steroid that bodybuilders swear by when it comes to accelerated muscle mass and strength gains.

However, be aware of its common usage, dosage recommendations, effectiveness, and most importantly, short-term and long-term side effects associated with use.

Before considering use of an anabolic steroid for bodybuilding, know that it is not recommended by medical professionals and communities around the world.

What is Dianabol?

Methandienone was created in 2005 as a synthetic steroid with anabolic properties.

The drug, under a variety of brand as well as generic names, is manufactured and sold by a number of pharmaceutical companies around the world including Sigma Aldrich.

The anabolic properties associated with Dianabol are greater than its androgenic effects, with little progestational activity.

As an anabolic agent, Dianabol stimulates anabolism while inhibiting catabolism. This results in the stimulation and development of muscle, muscle mass, strength, and power.

Much of the metabolic effects of anabolic and androgenic steroids in regard to mechanisms of action and function have been studied in animals, and some human groups.

In the animal study cases involving specific effects of anabolic steroids on various body systems, results can translate into human benefits, but so too do the potential side effects.

Anabolic steroids effectively reverse catabolic functions and processes and restore otherwise negative nitrogen balances.

This is achieved by catabolism of proteins and a stimulation of the appetite as long as adequate intake of calories and proteins is achieved.

Targeted organs of Dianabol include the liver, kidneys, central nervous system, circulatory system, and respiratory system.

Dianabol is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance, found in Section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812).

A Schedule III controlled substance is defined as one that has the potential for misuse, overuse, and abuse.

Mechanism Of Action And Use By Bodybuilders/Athletes

Therapeutic uses of Dianabol have been used in the past as part of a treatment plan for osteoporosis.

In a two-year study, use of the anabolic steroid increased total body potassium levels, although with no significant alteration in bone mass.

In veterinary usage, the drug may be recommended in oral form to enhance retention of nitrogen and increase protein serum values that can facilitate healing following a surgical procedure, burns, or skin grafts.

It is no secret that the medical community at large discourages the use of anabolic steroids for athletic performance or for increasing muscle size and strength.

Very little scientific evidence has found significant increases in either muscle or strength-building capabilities.

Some claims of weight gain are not muscular in nature, but rather due to retention of fluids, which is a side effect of anabolic steroid use.

Dianabol Dosage Recommendations

Dianabol tablets are available in 2.5 mg and 5 mg oral tablets. While no medical doctor will recommend dosage suggestions for nonmedical reasons, cycling dosages are often found on bodybuilding websites.

However, dosage will depend on whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced user.

Individual responses (physiologically and psychologically) are case-based and recommended dosages provided by non-medical experts may be dangerous for some users.

Dianabol is not generally used as a stand-alone steroid by experienced bodybuilders, but as part of a cycle.

Cycles, depending on goals, often combine Dbol with one or more forms of testosterone and esters, as well as anti-estrogenic drugs. For example, one 18 week cycle recommendation on the Internet included:

  • Dianabol – used week 1 through week 5 at approximately 40 mg daily
  • Testosterone enanthate/testosterone decanoate blend – weeks 1 through 12
  • Arimidex – weeks 1 through week 14
  • Clomid (post-cycle therapy or pct) weeks 15 through 18
  • Nolvadex – pct weeks 15 through 18

Another cycle combines approximately 40 mg daily of Dianabol for the first six weeks with Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca at 400 mg weekly from week 1 through week 8), along with Testosterone Enanthate/Testosterone Cypionate/or Sustanon 250 at approximately 500 to 600 mg weekly from week 1 through week 8.

A 10 week beginner cycle with a recommended eight week rest period may look like this. Another bodybuilding website sample for a beginner cycle:

  • Dianabol – starting with 30 mg daily for weeks 1 and 2
  • 40 mg daily for weeks 3 through 5 five, decreasing to 30 mg daily for week 6
  • Tamoxifen- 10 mg daily from week 3 through week 6
  • Clomid – 50 mg daily during the weeks 2 through 7 or 8
  • Liv52 – 4 tablets daily through entire cycle
  • N-Acetyl Cysteine – 2 g daily through entire cycle

You’ll find a variety of combinations and drugs used in stacking Dianabol to enhance results or to minimize side effects such as aromatization or conversion of testosterone into estrogen, resulting in estrogenic effects.

Combinations may also be used to help reduce androgenic (masculinization) effects of the steroids.

Stacking Combinations

Stacking combinations with drugs for other which they were designed can also contribute to unwanted and unexpected side effects.

Some of the most common drugs combined with Dbol (and their real medical uses) may prove interesting. This is just a handful of drugs used to counteract negative side effects of anabolic steroids.

Aromatase inhibitors – Used to reduce estrogen levels and in medical usage are often recommended in the treatment of gynecomastia (males) and breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Aromatase inhibitors inhibit actions of an enzyme known as aromatase, which converts androgens into estrogens. Common aromatase inhibitors, also known as anti-estrogens, may include:

  • Clomid – Clomid is, at its most basic definition, a fertility drug. It’s recommended in the treatment of infertility or inability to ovulate. It’s a synthetic form of estrogen that has antagonist and agonist properties.Men using Clomid may benefit from some anti-estrogenic effects, which are often employed to counteract aromatization of steroids that contributes to gynecomastia and water retention.
  • It’s often used at the end of a cycle to boost testosterone levels and help restore endogenous testosterone production and levels in the body.

  • Nolvadex (tamoxifen) – Medically used to treat metastatic breast cancer or to decrease high risk development of breast cancer. As an anti-estrogen it blocks estrogenic effects.

  • Arimidex (anastrozole) – Another anti-estrogen mainly used as a treatment for breast cancer and an adjuvant treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

  • Formestane (lentaron) – Not (legally) available in the US.

  • Femara (letrozole) – Often recommended to decrease estrogen levels in postmenopausal women and is often used in the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

It’s also important to build in some liver support to your Dianabol cycle.

Lipid/Liver Support:

  • Liv52
  • Liver Stabil
  • Essentiale Fore N (aka Compound N)

Testosterone Support:

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) – The hormone promotes stimulation of eggs during ovulation and is often recommended in the treatment of women dealing with infertility. It’s also used to increase sperm count in men.

Anti-prolactins:

Prolactin is a hormone found in higher levels in females. It’s also known as luteotropin or luteotropic hormone, manufactured in the pituitary gland.

During pregnancy, elevated levels of prolactin encourage women to produce breast milk. Because of this main function, it’s known as the “milk hormone”.

However, prolactin has effects on numerous body systems including the immune, metabolic, reproductive systems and even some behaviors.

Anti-prolactins act as dopamine receptor agonists, reducing levels of the hormone prolactin release from the pituitary gland and are often recommended in the treatment of hormone imbalances when high levels of prolactin are found in the blood (hyperprolactinemia).

Drugs like Dostinex (cabergoline) act as dopamine receptor agonists that inhibit (in animal studies) prolactin secretions.

Reductase inhibitors:

Known as five alpha (5?) reductase inhibitors, this class of drugs provides anti-androgenic effects to your Dianabol regimen. Some include:

  • Avodart (dustasteride)
  • Proscar (finasteride)
  • Jalyn (dutasteride/tamsulosin)

These drugs block mechanisms of action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone.

In medical scenarios 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are generally used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia, an enlarged prostate gland, and male pattern hair loss.

Antioxidants:

N-Acetyl Cysteine (or N-acetylcysteine) – Although considered beneficial in bodybuilding, it can be unstable. It’s also very insoluble. When used in large doses N-Acetyl Cysteine can contribute to the development of kidney stones.

Bodybuilders use the nutrient as a precursor in the synthesis of glutathione, a type of peptide that combines several bonded amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamate.

Mainly, its function in bodybuilding cycles is to aid liver detoxification, reducing the potential of negative effects of liver toxicity caused by many anabolic steroids.

Do you really want to have to take several of these in combination with anabolic steroids, just to counteract side effects of the steroid? If not, you might consider steroid alternatives.

The anti-estrogenic, anti-androgenic, anti-aromatizing drugs listed above are not suitable for every individual experimenting with Dbol.

Such recommendations are not provided by medical professionals, chemists, or researchers.

They’re provided by non-professionals who have gone through trial and error experimentation.

Some recommended milligram strengths, even at lower dosages, can contribute to side effects and adverse reactions.

Dianabol Results

Dianabol before and after results, aka Metandienone, Methandienone, and Methandrostenolone has not shown significant effects in regard to muscle building, performance enhancement, stamina, or endurance.

It is known that anabolic steroids like Dianabol can increase the production of red blood cells (erythropoiesis), which does increase flow of oxygen and nutrients to muscles that aid muscle building (as well as to the contributions of protein synthesis).

However, the side effects and studies of long-term and often irreversible damage to human health are more prevalent.

One study, “(Effects of metandienone on the performance and body composition of men undergoing athletic training“) determined that the test subjects did gain weight, muscle dimension, and increased potassium levels, but it was not determined whether those gains were caused by intracellular fluid or muscle tissue.

The test was repeated (six weeks with 100 mg of metandienone daily). Results determined that the weight gain was not only due to intracellular fluid, but that the weight gain that did develop was not that of normal muscle tissue.

While clinical trials regarding specific intricacies of anabolic androgenic steroids are lacking due to the potential for dangerous side effects, those interested in researching Dianabol may find a number of potentially dangerous effects of use.

For example:

  • “Bile acid nephropathy and a bodybuilder abusing an anabolic androgenic steroid.” (2014)
  • “Pulmonary embolism associated with the use of anabolic steroids.” (2008)
  • “Impact of anabolic androgenic steroids on adolescent males.” (2010)
  • “The Sturm und Drang of anabolic steroid use: angst, anxiety, and aggression.” (2012)

While bodybuilders swear by the physiological benefits of anabolic steroids, it’s important not to ignore the potential psychological effects that anabolic androgenic steroids have on the human psyche.

A 2015 study (“Neurotoxicity by synthetic androgen steroids: oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuropathology: A review.“) reported that unauthorized and nonmedical use of anabolic antigenic steroids have the potential to cause permanent neurodegenerative effects on the brain.

Common Dianabol Side Effects

Anabolic steroids do have a variety of side effects, and Dianabol side effects for men are similar to other steroids. Some of the most common include:

  • Virilization – potential for females to develop male characteristics such as a deeper voice, unnatural facial or body hair growth, development of or worsening acne conditions.

  • Testicular atrophy – shrinking testicles are a result of the cessation of endogenous production of testosterone.Testosterone production often ceases in the body when the hypothalamus (located in the brain) senses that levels of testosterone in the body are adequate.
  • It sends a message to the pituitary gland (also located in the brain and responsible for the maintenance and manufacture of hormones including testosterone in the testes), which sends signals to the testicles to cease production.
  • The term, “use it or lose it” also applies to numerous body functions. When the testicles cease production of testosterone, they will also decrease in size. Ergo, testicular atrophy.

  • Lack of sperm production. Testicular atrophy will have an impact on the sperm production and quality of sperm.

  • Women may experience disrupted or menstrual disturbances.

  • Liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity) or damage – including Peliosis hepatis and potential development of liver cancer.

  • Kidney damage and potential kidney failure.

  • Psychological impact (increased rate of aggression, irritability, and anger responses, i.e. “roid rage”)

Warnings

Dianabol or any generic form thereof should not be used by women who are pregnant, expecting to become pregnant, or breast-feeding.

Dianabol in any form is rated by the FDA in Pregnancy Category X , meaning that evidence exists of fetal developmental abnormalities.

Because it is not known how anabolic steroids including Dianabol may affect breast milk or the ability to pass on the effects of the drug to an infant, breast-feeding is also discouraged by any woman taking anabolic steroids.

Women should be aware that virilism which can trigger:

  • Development of acne or oiler skin
  • Enlarged clitoris
  • Hirsutism
  • Hoarseness, or a deeper voice

It should also be noted that some of these conditions are irreversible even after prompt discontinuation of the drug.

Using estrogens in combination with Dianabol (as is often recommended on bodybuilding sites) does not prevent virilization in females.

Males may also experience virilism that includes an enlarged penis, priapism (increased frequency of erections), which is often painful and of long duration, as well as unnatural hair growth and development of acne (especially in pre-pubertal males).

Dozens of studies have reported adverse side effects associated with anabolic steroids such as Dianabol and recent studies within the past few years have reported increased incidence of cardiovascular damage to younger adults with a history of anabolic steroid use, even if that use was short-term in nature.

Overuse and sometimes even a brief usage of anabolic steroids such as Dianabol can contribute to premature cardiovascular disease, prostatic hypertrophy, and liver damage.

While there is no doubt that use of anabolic steroids can serve to increase muscle bulk, it can also cause overemphasized or exaggerated male characteristics that are also affected by other male hormones.

Interactions

Dianabol (brand or generic) has been noted to interact with a variety of other prescription as well as nonprescription drugs.

It can interact with anticoagulants such as Coumadin (warfarin) due to alteration of its pro-coagulating factor synthesis, as well as catabolism, or because receptor affinity increases for anticoagulants.

It should be avoided with use of any anti-diabetic agent, such use may detrimentally decrease blood glucose concentrations and contribute to hypoglycemia.

Dianabol or any generic form of this anabolic steroid should not be used in combination with any glucocorticoids or corticosteroids.

Finally, the drug should also be avoided if an individual is taking any medication to treat liver conditions or by those who have been diagnosed with a history of liver disease.

Is Dianabol Legal

Dianabol is not legal for bodybuilding purposes. If you want to buy Dianabol, you’ll have to look to the black market. Prices can be exorbitant and quality may not be guaranteed. Be very careful before deciding to take.

Dianabol alternatives such as CrazyBulk D-Bal should be considered first.