Dihydroboldenone (DHB / 1-testosterone cypionate)
1-testosterone (5-alpha-dihydroboldenone), a non-aromatising androgen usually sold as the cypionate ester. It combines a strong anabolic effect with a lean, 'dry' physique and is not oestrogenic, but is notorious for severe post-injection pain and lethargy. Human data are minimal, so its profile is drawn largely from anecdote and structural analogy.
01 Overview
Dihydroboldenone (DHB) is the 5-alpha-reduced form of boldenone, equivalently named 1-testosterone. Because it is already 5-alpha reduced it cannot aromatise, so it produces no oestrogenic water retention — the appeal is a hard, dry look with good strength gains. It was briefly sold as a prohormone (1-testosterone/1-AD) before control, but proper human clinical characterisation is essentially absent, hence a low research score.
The defining practical drawback is injection-site reaction: DHB is unusually prone to severe, prolonged post-injection pain and swelling, which limits tolerability. Users also frequently report lethargy. It is strongly suppressive like other injectables and, being non-aromatising, can worsen the mood and joint effects associated with low oestrogen if run without an aromatising base.
02 Mechanism
Potent androgen-receptor agonist that is already 5-alpha reduced, so it cannot aromatise to oestrogen; drives protein synthesis and nitrogen retention while producing a dry, non-oestrogenic profile.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common | 200–400 mg/wk | IM | Injection-site pain often limits practical dosing. |
| Heavy | 400–500 mg/wk | IM | Lethargy and PIP frequently reported at higher doses. |
Ester comparison
| Ester | Half-life | Injection freq. | Testosterone by mass |
|---|
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lean, dry muscle gainReported hard, dry gains with little water retention; no controlled human data. | Anecdotal | ||
| Increased strengthUsers report good strength progression relative to mass gained. | Anecdotal | ||
| No oestrogenic bloatNon-aromatising structure means no oestrogen-driven water retention. | Preclinical |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LethargyFrequently reported fatigue during use, mechanism unclear. | Mild | Common | Anecdotal | |
| Severe post-injection pain (PIP)DHB is well known for intense, prolonged injection-site pain and swelling. | Moderate | Very common | Anecdotal | |
| HPTA suppressionSuppresses endogenous testosterone production. | Severe | Universal | Observational |