Anabolic steroidAndrogenAnabolic steroid17-alpha-alkylatedOralTestosterone derivative

Methandienone (Dianabol)

Also known as Dianabol · Dbol · Methandrostenolone · Averbol · Naposim

Written by enwyReviewed 15 Jul 20262 sources0 comments

Methandienone (methandrostenolone, 'Dianabol') is a 17α-methylated oral derivative of testosterone and one of the oldest and most widely used oral anabolic steroids. It produces rapid gains in mass and strength, driven substantially by water retention, and aromatises to a methylated oestrogen. Its speed made it a bodybuilding and strength-sport staple despite pronounced hepatic strain and oestrogenic side effects.

01 Overview

First introduced by Ciba in the late 1950s, methandienone was among the earliest steroids marketed explicitly for anabolic use and became the archetypal oral 'bulking' compound. The 17α-methyl group allows oral dosing by resisting first-pass hepatic breakdown but also imposes hepatotoxicity, while the added 1,2 double bond distinguishes it from methyltestosterone.

Users report fast increases in body weight, much of it intracellular and extracellular fluid, along with quick strength jumps. It aromatises to 17α-methyloestradiol, so gynaecomastia, blood-pressure rise and water retention are common without an aromatase inhibitor. Effects fade quickly on discontinuation as fluid is lost.

02 Mechanism

Binds the androgen receptor to increase muscle protein synthesis and nitrogen retention; the 1,2 double bond and 17α-methylation give oral bioavailability, and it aromatises to a methylated oestrogen contributing to water retention.

03 Dosing

Tier	Dose	Route	Notes
Light	10–20 mg/day	Oral	Common starting range.
Common	20–40 mg/day	Oral	Typical mass-oriented range; often split through the day.
Heavy	40–80 mg/day	Oral	High-dose use; hepatic and oestrogenic strain rises sharply.

Ester comparison

Ester	Half-life	Injection freq.	Testosterone by mass

04 Effects

Effect	Magnitude	Evidence
Rapid increase in body weightFast weight gain from combined lean tissue accrual and substantial fluid retention.	+3-7 kg in weeks	Observational
Increased strengthStrength rises quickly, often within the first one to two weeks.	Marked, early	Observational
Water retentionExtracellular fluid accumulation produces a smooth, bloated appearance and inflates scale weight.		Observational

05 Side effects

Effect	Severity	Frequency	Evidence
HepatotoxicityRaised transaminases and cholestasis; 17α-methylation makes the liver process the drug repeatedly.	Moderate	Common with dose/duration	Clinical
Oestrogenic effects (gynaecomastia, water retention)Aromatisation to a methylated oestrogen can cause breast tissue growth, bloating and raised blood pressure.	Moderate	Common	Observational
HPTA suppressionSuppresses endogenous testosterone via negative feedback.	Severe	Universal	Clinical

06 Legal status

United States

Schedule III controlled substance

as of

United Kingdom

Class C controlled substance

as of

07 References

Anabolic-androgenic steroids: mechanism of action and effects on performanceEncyclopedia of Sports Medicine

Hepatotoxicity associated with anabolic-androgenic steroid useLiverTox, NIH

08 Discussion0 comments

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This page is reference information, not medical advice. Doses and protocols are documented as they appear in the clinical literature and in practice — describing them is not a recommendation to use them. Countermeasures listed here are not a substitute for a physician. Legal status varies by jurisdiction and changes.