Dianabol, also known as Methandrostenolone (and/or Methandienone), is an anabolic steroid widely used by bodybuilders and athletes today.
The half-life of Dianabol is between 4.5 and 6 hours. The drug has moderate estrogenic effects, and its conversion rate to a metabolite with more pronounced androgenic properties via the enzyme 5-alpha reductase is low. The benefits of Dianabol have made it popular with bodybuilders and athletes looking to gain muscle mass and strength.
Chemical properties
Dianabol’s structure contains a 17-alpha-methyl group. It is the C17-alpha alkylation that makes the oral use of this anabolic steroid possible, with a very noticeable effect on the body. Due to this modification, the compound does not undergo significant metabolism in the liver and enough of the anabolic steroid enters the bloodstream to achieve the full effects of this group of drugs.
Another structural feature of Dianabol is the double bond between carbon atoms at positions 1 and 2. Due to this modification, the drug has a “milder” androgenic potency than its ancestor, testosterone. Due to this double bond, the drug’s affinity for androgen receptors in various tissues is lower than that of testosterone. It is thanks to these structural modifications that the half-life of Dianabol, which varies from 4.5 to 6 hours, is superior to that of testosterone. Another advantage of these chemical transformations is the lower affinity of the drug for certain proteins, in particular sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).
These globulins bind to sex hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and others, temporarily inhibiting their activity. The result of this process will be the formation of a protein-hormone complex that circulates in the bloodstream and is either inactive, unable to bind to receptors, or active and essentially useless. These characteristics of Dianabol give it the status of a powerful anabolic agent. It should be noted that the interaction of methandrostenolone with androgen receptors is weaker than testosterone and other members of the steroid group, but this hormone has a stronger and more powerful effect.
Therefore, it is assumed that most of Dianabol’s effects are not mediated by receptors. At the same time, as you know, the anabolic index of Dianabol is 210, unlike the testosterone index, which is 100. It is obvious that methandrostenolone has twice the anabolic power, and this is due to the structural changes described above. .
Effects of Dianabol
Dianabol has some limitations related to C17-alpha alkylation. As mentioned earlier, the methylation process activates the drug when taken orally and also ensures its bioavailability; Due to this change, the anabolic steroid is not destroyed in the liver. However, the downside of the modification is the increased hepatotoxicity of the drug. Alkylation of C17-alpha increases the resistance of the anabolic steroid to hepatic breakdown and any compound with additional resistance to hepatic metabolism is more hepatotoxic.
Therefore, the duration of the course for many consumers should be 4-6 weeks. This will preserve normal liver function and ensure the restoration of the organ at the end of the cycle. Often, as a result of the use of Dianabol, an increase in the level of liver enzymes is observed, followed by a return to normal after stopping the drug. Due to the risk of hepatotoxic effects, methandrostenolone is mainly used as an auxiliary starting agent.
Neither this drug nor any other oral anabolic steroid should ever be used as monotherapy. It suppresses natural testosterone and thus depletes the body of testosterone. Users will need to use some form of testosterone, at a dose no lower than that of testosterone replacement hormone therapy (testosterone replacement therapy).