Bolasterone
A potent 7-alpha,17-alpha-dimethyl testosterone derivative developed in the 1960s (Myagen). It is strongly anabolic and androgenic and orally active, but was withdrawn early and is essentially uncharacterised in the modern literature, surviving mainly as a doping-control reference and grey-market curiosity.
01 Overview
Bolasterone is 7-alpha,17-alpha-dimethyltestosterone. The 17-alpha-methyl group confers oral activity, and the 7-alpha-methyl substitution markedly increases potency, making it one of the stronger classic oral androgens on paper. It was briefly marketed (Myagen) and studied for anabolic therapy in the 1960s before being withdrawn.
It is frequently confused with calusterone (a related dimethyl androgen) in older literature, and its structural similarity to methylated compounds like 7-alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENT) is often noted. Because it left the market so early, controlled human data are almost nonexistent; what is known comes from a handful of vintage reports, its use as an anti-doping analytical target, and structure-based inference. As a 17-alpha-alkylated oral it is expected to be hepatotoxic.
02 Mechanism
A potent androgen receptor agonist. 7-alpha-methylation resists metabolic inactivation and increases receptor activity, while 17-alpha-methylation provides oral bioavailability at the cost of hepatic strain.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anecdotal | 5–20 mg/day | Oral | Potent compound; no reliable modern dosing data, treat with caution. |
Ester comparison
| Ester | Half-life | Injection freq. | Testosterone by mass |
|---|
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong anabolic responseReputed to be highly anabolic on the basis of vintage assay data and structure. | Anecdotal | ||
| Strength and mass gainAnecdotally rapid mass and strength gains typical of potent oral androgens. | Anecdotal |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HepatotoxicityExpected liver strain from 17-alpha-methylation; poorly documented for this specific agent. | Severe | Class effect of 17aa orals | Anecdotal | |
| Marked androgenic effectsAcne, oily skin, aggression and strong virilisation risk in women. | Moderate | Expected | Anecdotal | |
| HPTA suppressionStrong suppression of endogenous testosterone expected. | Severe | Expected | Anecdotal |