Dianabol

Dianabol

Dianabol is the trade name for the anabolic steroid Methandrostenolone (also known as Methandienone). It is arguably the most famous and historically significant oral steroid in the history of bodybuilding.

Developed in the 1950s by Dr. John Ziegler for Ciba Pharmaceuticals, it was originally designed to help the US Olympic weightlifting team compete against the Soviet Union, who were dominating at the time with the help of testosterone. Dianabol quickly became the “breakfast of champions” and remains the standard baseline for oral bulking cycles.

1. Chemical Profile

• Nature: Dianabol is a derivative of Testosterone.
• Modification: It has a double bond added at the carbon 1 and 2 position (1-ene). This modification reduces its androgenic (masculinizing) properties compared to testosterone while retaining its anabolic (muscle-building) effects.
• C17-alpha Alkylation: Like Anadrol and Anavar, Dianabol is an oral steroid that has been chemically altered (C17-aa) to allow it to survive passing through the liver without being destroyed. This makes it hepatotoxic (toxic to the liver).

2. Effects and Mechanisms

Dianabol is prized primarily for its ability to produce rapid gains in size and strength.

• Rapid Mass Accumulation: Users often report gaining 10 to 20 pounds in the first 4 to 6 weeks of use. However, much of this is intracellular water retention (drawn into the muscle cells) rather than pure lean tissue.
• Glycogenolysis: Dianabol significantly enhances the body’s ability to break down glycogen. This means your muscles store more glycogen, giving you a “full” look and acting as a fuel source for intense workouts.
• Protein Synthesis: It dramatically increases the rate at which the body builds protein.
• The “Feel Good” Factor: Dianabol is unique among steroids for its effect on mood. It tends to increase confidence, aggression in the gym, and a general sense of well-being. It is known to influence dopamine and serotonin receptors.

3. Side Effects

While effective, Dianabol comes with a distinct profile of side effects that users must manage:

• Estrogenic Side Effects: Dianabol converts to estrogen (aromatizes) very rapidly. This leads to significant water retention (bloating) and a high risk of gynecomastia (development of breast tissue). Users almost always need to take an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) like Arimidex or Aromasin alongside it.
• High Blood Pressure: The water retention caused by estrogen conversion puts significant strain on the cardiovascular system, spiking blood pressure.
• Liver Toxicity: As a C17-aa oral steroid, it stresses the liver. Elevated liver enzymes are common, and long-term use (more than 6-8 weeks) is generally discouraged.
• Androgenic Effects: Although less androgenic than testosterone, it can still cause acne, oily skin, and accelerate male pattern baldness.
• Severe Back Pumps: Dianabol users often complain of painful “pumps” in the lower back during workouts. This is caused by the rapid expansion of muscle tissue cutting off blood flow (ischemia) during exertion.

4. Forms and Dosage

• Oral Tablets: The most common form. Historically, they were small, pink 5mg tablets (often referred to as “Pink D-Bols”). Today, underground labs produce them in 10mg, 20mg, and 50mg strengths, often in pink, blue, or yellow hexagonal shapes.
• Injectable: Injectable Dianabol exists (often called “Reforvit-B”), but it is rare and generally viewed as no more effective than the oral version. It still passes through the liver (because it is processed by the body after ingestion or absorption) and is often painful to inject due to the solvents used.
• Dosing: New users typically start at 20-30mg per day, while advanced users may take 50mg or more. Because of its short half-life (approx. 3-5 hours), the daily dose is usually split into multiple servings to keep blood levels stable.

5. Role in a Cycle

Dianabol is rarely used alone. It is most famous as a “Kickstart” compound.

• The Concept: Injectable steroids (like Testosterone Enanthate) take 4-6 weeks to reach peak blood levels and start working.
• The Solution: A user will take Dianabol orally for the first 4-6 weeks of the cycle. Since Dianabol works immediately, the user gains size and strength right away while waiting for the long-acting injectables to kick in. Once the injectables start working, the Dianabol is usually discontinued to spare the liver.

Summary

Dianabol is the classic mass builder. It offers the fastest and most dramatic strength and size gains of any oral steroid, accompanied by a significant boost in mood and energy. However, these gains come at the cost of high blood pressure, liver strain, and severe estrogenic bloating. It is primarily used as a short-term tool to launch a new cycle before switching to injectables.