Stanozolol (Veterinary Winstrol-V)
Winstrol-V is the veterinary formulation of stanozolol, a DHT-derived anabolic marketed for horses and dogs to improve appetite, condition and recovery. Both the injectable aqueous suspension and oral forms have been heavily diverted to human PED use, giving stanozolol its long-standing 'cutting' reputation.
01 Overview
Stanozolol is a 17-alpha-alkylated dihydrotestosterone derivative with a pyrazole ring. In veterinary medicine (Winstrol-V, Stanabolic) it was used to promote weight gain, appetite and vigour in debilitated horses and dogs. The injectable version is a microcrystalline water suspension rather than an oil.
Diverted to humans it produces lean, hard gains without aromatisation, which made it popular for cutting cycles, but at the cost of significant hepatotoxicity (even the injectable is 17-alkylated), joint dryness and adverse lipid changes. This entry focuses on the veterinary product and its diversion; the molecule is identical to human stanozolol.
02 Mechanism
17-alpha-alkylated DHT-derived androgen-receptor agonist; does not aromatise. Lowers SHBG, raising free androgen fraction, and produces hard, dry muscle gains.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diverted human use (anecdotal) | 20–50 mg/day | Oral | Illicit human oral dosing |
| Diverted human use (anecdotal) | 50–100 mg/wk | IM | Illicit human dosing of the injectable; approved use is equine/canine |
Ester comparison
| Ester | Half-life | Injection freq. | Testosterone by mass |
|---|
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lean, dry muscle gainProduces hard gains with no water retention, favoured for cutting when diverted. | Observational | ||
| Appetite and condition (veterinary)Approved veterinary effect: improved appetite, weight and vigour in debilitated animals. | Clinical |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adverse lipid changesMarked HDL suppression and LDL elevation, a recognised risk of oral non-aromatising androgens. | Moderate | Common | Clinical | |
| Hepatotoxicity17-alpha-alkylation causes liver strain even in the injectable suspension form; raised transaminases and cholestasis reported. | Severe | Common with oral/injectable | Clinical |