Although other anabolic steroids are more likely to cause androgenetic alopecia, which is the shrinking of hair follicles, causing significant thinning and hair loss (on the scalp). Dianabol users can also experience low libido, decreased well-being, depression, lower levels of energy, and erectile dysfunction when testosterone levels plummet. In our experience, how shut down a user’s testosterone levels will be is determined by the dose and duration of the cycle. Consequently, when exogenous testosterone is removed, low testosterone levels can be experienced post-cycle, with the HPT axis being restored.
This is a steroid that has been used for decades, so hundreds of thousands of users have shared their results and experiences one way or another. Dianabol’s notorious ability to bring about water retention will be your enemy when your main goal is to lose fat. It’s one of the last steroids that most people will ever want to use for cutting and fat loss. So, including water weight, which is particularly noticeable at the start of the cycle, don’t be afraid to aim for a 30 lbs weight gain from a standard Dbol cycle. If we are talking about total weight, you must include water because there’s no escaping the fluid retention that Dianabol causes (but you can certainly mitigate it as much as possible).
Strength gains will be through the roof (Dbol is, after all, one of THE premier strength-boosting AAS). Despite the lost fluid weight, the lean mass you can keep on will still be more than what we can achieve with just about any other steroid. Once you start stacking with testosterone and other AAS compounds like Deca, you can see gains in the 30 lbs realm. Most guys going into a Dianabol cycle will, at a minimum, be looking to gain 20 lbs in mass. I’ve heard of guys using Dianabol for longer cycles, but you better watch out for your liver values closely.
"Stacking oral and injectable anabolic agents enhances outcomes but must be managed with appropriate androgen and estrogen support."— Evans, British Journal of Pharmacology Because Dianabol is a C-17 alpha alkylated oral steroid, it places considerable strain on the liver. Dianabol’s short half-life (4–6 hours) and powerful anabolic effects make cycle length and stacking decisions critical for both results and risk management.
We have seen first-time users of Dianabol gain up to 30 pounds in weight, combined with strength gains of 50 pounds or higher on compound lifts. Thus, testosterone is unlikely to strain the liver or increase cholesterol levels as much as Dianabol. Inside Bodybuilding does not condone the use of anabolic steroids via illegal means or for cosmetic use. Dianabol (methandrostenolone) first appeared in bodybuilding during the Golden Era, where bodybuilders were known to cycle it in the offseason. 10–20 lbs of size in just 4–6 weeks Major strength improvements Perfect for offseason bulking or as a cycle kickstarter
There are risks when taking Dianabol and other anabolic steroids, particularly to the heart, liver, and testes. Although these methodologies may have some cardioprotective effects, it is safer to avoid anabolic steroids for optimal cardiac health. Some bodybuilders will buy Dostinex via the black market before their prolactin levels rise and take it at the beginning of their Deca Durabolin cycle. In our experience, the inclusion of Deca Durabolin can increase the severity of side effects, albeit in a more manageable way than other anabolic steroids. This cycle is commonly utilized by users who have taken steroids previously, including Dianabol, without experiencing excessive deterioration in health. Low testosterone levels can create a catabolic environment, meaning users may retain less of the results made from a cycle.
In the most extreme and rare cases, prolonged and extensive use of Dianabol could bring about renal failure or other liver dysfunctions such as liver carcinoma. Tests that your physician takes will look at levels of Aspartate Transferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine Transferase (ALT), and bilirubin. However, its impacts on the liver should still be taken seriously. It’s the androgenic activity that causes problems for females who want to use Dianabol. However, if you’re considering using a drug like the 5a-reductase inhibitor (anti-androgen) Finasteride to treat hair loss, it is unlikely to be effective against Dianabol. When DHT levels are high, androgens are also high, and this can also lead to the development of acne.
Although milk thistle has demonstrated hepatoprotective effects in rats (2), further research is needed to establish similar success in humans. Milk thistle is another liver support supplement we have utilized with some success. In research, patients who took 500 mg of TUDCA per day for 3 months experienced a 44% and 49% reduction in AST and ALT enzymes, which are markers of liver stress (1).