Dianabol, Danabol, DBOL (Methandrostenolone)

Methandrostenolone (Dianabol, Danabol, DBOL) is an anabolic steroid originally developed by John Ziegler and released in the US in the early 1960's byCiba.^[1][2] It was used as an aid to muscle growth by bodybuilders until its ban by the FDA under the Controlled Substances Act. However, methandrostenolone is readily available without a prescription in countries such as Mexico under the trade name Reforvit-b and is being manufactured in Asia and many East European Countries like in Republica Moldova by Balkan Pharmaceuticals, Romania by Terapia, Bulgaria, Russia, as well as Thailand and subsequently is still seen on the United States black market. Only production in most of Western Europe and the United States has ceased.

Biophysiology

Methandrostenolone does not react strongly with the androgen receptor but still exerts its effects through the androgen receptor in vivo^[3]. These include dramatic increases in protein synthesis, glycogenolysis, and muscle strength over a short space of time. However, due to its mode of action, it decreases the rate of cell respiration and decreases production of red blood cells^{[citation needed]}. In high doses (30 mg or more per day), side effects such as gynecomastia, high blood pressure, acne and male pattern baldness may begin to occur. The drug causes severe masculinising effects in women even at low doses. In addition, it is metabolized into methylestradiol by aromatase. This means that without the administration of aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole oraminoglutethimide, estrogenic effects will appear over time in men. Many users will combat the estrogenic side effects with Nolvadex or Clomid. In addition, as with other 17α-alkylated steroids, the use of methandrostenolone over extended periods of time can result in liver damage without appropriate care.

The 17α-methylation of the steroid does allow it to pass through the liver without being broken down (hence causing the aforementioned damage to the liver) allowing it to be taken orally. It also has the effect of decreasing the steroid's affinity for sex hormone binding globulin, a protein that de-activates steroid molecules and prevents them from further reactions with the body. As a result, methandrostenolone is significantly more active than an equivalent quantity oftestosterone, resulting in rapid growth of muscle tissue. However, the concomitant elevation in estrogen levels - a result of the aromatization of methandrostenolone - results in significant water retention. This gives the appearance of great gains in mass and strength, which prove to be temporary once the steroid is discontinued and water weight drops. You do not necessarily lose all your gains if you ween yourself off of dianabol. Because of this, it is often used by bodybuilders only at the start of a "steroid cycle", to facilitate rapid strength increases and the appearance of great size, while compounds such astestosterone or nandrolone with long acting esters build up in the body to an appreciable amount capable of supporting anabolic function on their own.

Usage

17α-methandrostenolone tablets confiscated by the DEA in 2008.

As tonic

In the early 1960s, doctors commonly prescribed a tablet per day for women as a tonic. This use was quickly discontinued upon discovery of the heavily masculinising effects of methandrostenolone.

Bodybuilding

However, despite the lack of any known therapeutic applications, the drug remained legal until the early 1990s. The ban by the FDA was not completely successful in eliminating its use by bodybuilders, and methandrostenolone continues to be used illegally to this day, typically being combined (stacked) with drugs that react strongly with the androgen receptor, such as Oxandrolone, in order to increase the overall effectiveness of steroid use.

Several successful athletes and professional bodybuilders have come forward and admitted long-term methandrostenolone use before the drug was banned, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sergio Oliva. ^{[4] [5]}