Contents
Introduction
Welcome to the internet’s top trusted source for all information relating to anabolic steroids and their use.
If you want to learn everything needed to get the most from your cycles you should certainly spend some time reading through our many extensive reports.
Since their introduction in the middle of the 20th century, anabolic steroids have been a mainstay of the bodybuilding community.
But it’s not simply a case of popping a pill; you need to know what you’re doing if you want to stay safe. So if you’re thinking of buying anabolic steroids, don’t do anything until you’ve checked out our guides first.
A huge library of must-read info
Whether you’re a novice bodybuilder or an experienced pro, to get the best results you’ll need to do your research. But we can save you hours of trawling through endless sites on the internet trying to find facts you can trust.
We’ve got a comprehensive library of guides on many of the anabolic steroids on the market. And we’re constantly adding new products too so don’t forget to check back regularly for the latest updates.
All of our guides are written by experts in the field and answer the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. You can rely on us to provide you with nothing but the pure facts so you can decide for yourself which ones suit your needs and goals.
Getting optimum results
If you want to get the very best out of these drugs, you need to understand the best way to use them.
Whether you’re looking to bulk or cut, you’ll need to cycle your steroids and the length of this can vary between different drugs.
An effective post cycle therapy plan is also essential to minimize any unwanted side effects and keep your body in prime condition.
We’ve got everything you need to know about cycling as well as information about stacking and recommended dosages too.
A one-stop resource for all things relating to anabolic steroids, our guides cover everything from getting started to maxing out for peak performance.
Honest information
Using these drugs can come with a risk if they’re not used properly, so it’s vital to understand the side effects and how to manage them.
We have lots of information on the whole range of potential side effects, and how you can stack and use PCT to help keep your body balanced without sacrificing results.
You’ll also need to know what US law says, and we’ve got that covered too.
Our guides provide you with the complete, unbiased facts on every anabolic steroid so you can decide what’s right for you.
Some of the steroid compounds covered are as follows:
Anadrol
Anadrol, also known as Oxymetholone, is one of the most powerful anabolic steroids available and should always be used with caution. As a bulking steroid, it can produce results which are more or less unrivalled by other drugs providing big gains within a short space of time.
Potential Anadrol Side Effects
As a powerful drug, there should be no surprise that there can be considerable side effects meaning this steroid isn’t suitable for everyone. Anadrol is strongly androgenic and effects could include male pattern baldness, growth of body hair, acne and oily skin.
These side effects should be limited to individuals who are genetically predisposed. Unlike other androgenic steroids, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are ineffective.
There are also estrogenic effects too, including gynecomastia, bloating and fluid retention. The mechanism for the estrogenic effects appears to be different than in other steroids and as such, the usual treatment of aromatase inhibitors has little or no effect.
This fluid increase should be treated as soon as it arises as left unchecked, it can cause high blood pressure. This, together with the fact that Anadrol reduces “good” cholesterol, means that it is unsuitable for anyone with a history of cardiovascular problems or raised cholesterol.
Liver toxicity is arguably the most serious side effect as there are few steroids which are potentially as damaging as Anadrol. Long-term use can cause widespread damage and has been linked to the development of hepatic tumours. During Anadrol use, no alcohol should be taken and over the counter medications avoided to limit the stress the liver is put under.
Anadrol Dosage Guidelines
Although recommendations can be given for beginner doses, this is a steroid which is best left to experienced users as it’s much harsher than many others.
A dose of 25-50mg per day should be the limit for beginners; intermediate users may find that 50mg is sufficiently high to pack on gains but can increase the dosage to 100mg. Experienced users who are able to tolerate anabolic steroids well can take up to 150mg but will need to carefully monitor their body for signs of side effects.
The half-life of Anadrol is nine hours so this provides the option to either take the dose all at once, or in a divided dose of greater stability in the blood levels.
Also known as Oxandrolone, Anavar is a C17 alpha-alkylated steroid which was originally created to combat muscle-wasting associated with disease. Particularly well tolerated and suitable for use in women too, Anavar has an excellent risk to benefits ratio retaining lean muscle while eliminating body fat.
Anavar only causes a low level of androgenic activity; this means that for the majority of men there will be no issue of male pattern baldness, acne etc. However, in the individuals who are very sensitive to androgenic effects and who carry the gene for male pattern baldness, there is still a small risk. This is much lower than other types of anabolic steroids with androgenic activity.
There is no estrogenic effect for Anavar so the unwanted effects of gynecomastia, fluid retention and bloating do not occur. In turn, this eliminates the problem of increased blood pressure too. There is still a possible cardiovascular effect via the levels of cholesterol. Anavar has a tendency to lower healthy HDL cholesterol while simultaneously pushing up “bad” LDL cholesterol. A low-fat diet, regular exercise and antioxidant supplements are therefore recommended. Regular cholesterol tests should also be undergone.
As a C17 alpha-alkylated steroid, there are some risks of toxicity to the liver, but far less than in other drugs. Cycles of up to 10 weeks can be run, but it’s essential to have a break and PCT before cycling again. PCT returns testosterone production to normal levels (as it will be affected by taking any type of anabolic steroid).
Anavar can be used for cutting or bulking, but it’s primarily the former which the drug is best suited to.
Women on a cutting cycle will probably get the optimal results which can be achieved by taking 10-20mg per day. Although this steroid is one of the best tolerated, at the higher dose there is a risk of virilisation. It’s therefore recommended to start at 10mg and increase slowly in 5mg increments while monitoring for any potential side effects.
Anavar can be used for women on a bulking cycle too; the same dose applies. The steroid is unlikely to pile on huge gains but the bulk will be lean muscle with zero fluid retention.
For men on a cutting cycle, the recommended dose is significantly higher, typically starting at 50mg. For a gentler introduction, it’s possible to start at 30mg but few benefits are likely to be noted. It’s possible for men to increase to 80mg and gain maximum cutting results with only minimal side effects. This is because Anavar is widely accepted as being one of the best-tolerated steroids available.
Men who are bulking are unlikely to use Anavar as the gains aren’t comparable to those available from other steroids. However, at the higher dosage of 80-100mg, it is possible to achieve reasonable gains of lean, hard muscle.
The half-life of the drug is 8-9 hours and experts believe that creating a stable serum level yields the best results. For this reason, Anavar is normally taken in a divided daily dose.
Deca Durabolin
Deca Durabolin is a derivative of Nandrolone, which was first identified in 1960. Adding the decanoate ester with the hormone created an anabolic steroid which is powerful, and has excellent muscle building qualities.
Potential Deca Durabolin Side Effects
All anabolic steroids carry some potential for side effects but overall, Deca Durabolin is one of the mildest available which is well tolerated.
Androgenic effects are a concern with many steroids but the risk for Deca Durabolin is low, especially since it’s often stacked at a low dose with other drugs.
However, those who are particularly sensitive to the effects of androgenic activity and who carry the gene for male pattern baldness may experience some hair loss. Androgenic effects are not generally seen in the majority of men who take this steroid.
This drug is not estrogenic but as it contains progestin, it’s common to see similar side effects. Bloating, water retention and gynecomastia may all be seen particularly in individuals who have been prone to these side effects while on other steroids. If gynecomastia has been a problem in the past, Deca Durabolin may not be the right choice of steroid.
The increase in fluids can add pressure to the cardiovascular system, increasing blood pressure while simultaneously causing complications with cholesterol too. Unlike other steroids, Deca Durabolin does not cause a rise in “bad” LDL cholesterol even though it can depress healthy HDL cholesterol by up to 26% during a single cycle. Therefore although it isn’t ideal, the overall impact is typically less than with other steroids.
As a 19-nortestosterone steroid, Deca Durabolin doesn’t cause the same liver toxicity as C17-alpha-alkylated drugs. However, because of the cardiovascular side effects, there can still be some impact on hepatic function so it’s a good idea for your LFTs to be tested regularly.
Although Deca is a gentler anabolic steroid, there is still the risk of virilisation in women. As the half-life is considerably longer than others, and because it can take several months for the body to be completely free of any trace of the drug, it’s not generally recommended for women, and certainly not those who are new to taking steroids.
Deca Durabolin Dosage Guidelines
Deca Durabolin is a slow-burning steroid and takes a while to have an effect. For this reason, it’s usually taken off-season as part of a longer cycle where it’s injected 1-2 per week. Most men take between 300-600mg up to a maximum of 12 weeks. The exact dosage is calculated on body weight, with 2mg per pound of lean mass a decent guideline.
If any women do choose to take Deca Durabolin they should not use this formula and instead ensure the weekly dose does not exceed 50mg.
The decanoate ester is the reason that this drug is so long-acting, and it’s one of the reasons why it was created. Very convenient as it only has to be administered infrequently, the half-life of Deca is approximately 15 days.
If you are likely to be subject to testing, Deca is not recommended regardless of dose. This is because traces of it can sometimes be found in the body up to a year after taking it.
Dianabol
Also known as Methandrostenolone, but commonly shorted to Dbol, Dianabol has been one of the most popular drugs to ever hit the bodybuilding market. Allegedly used by the Russian Olympians to create their distinctive muscular physique, Dianabol is a steroid which packs on new muscle and increases strength.
Potential Dianabol Side effects
It’s possible to experience androgenic side effects with Dianabol, such as oily skin, hair loss and acne, but it typically only occurs in men who carry the male pattern baldness gene. Individuals who are particularly sensitive to androgenic actions may notice an effect but it won’t be the case for everyone.
Dianabol is an aromatising drug which means that estrogenic effects can start to accumulate, such as gynecomastia or water retention. Both of these can be well controlled with the use of either Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators or an Aromatase Inhibitor.
It’s essential to control the increase in fluid because it can go on to trigger a rise in blood pressure. This together with an increase in unhealthy LDL cholesterol means that it’s not recommended for anyone with a history of cardiovascular problems.
As an oral steroid, Dianabol has the potential to be extremely toxic to the liver. To prevent the drug from being completely metabolised by the liver shortly after taking it, the molecular structure has to be altered to 17-aa. This allows it to pass through the liver and into the body where it can be actively used for maximum effect.
Unfortunately, the liver doesn’t recognise it’s not able to metabolise it and continues to keep trying, working very hard with no effect. This produces raised liver enzymes and if taken for a prolonged period of time could cause hepatic failure.
As this drug is toxic to the liver, it’s only recommended to be taken during short cycles with a maximum length of six weeks.
Dbol is not recommended for women because of the potential for civilisation; many other drugs produce similar effects with far less risk.
Dianabol Dosage Guidelines
Dianabol is widely taken by both new and experienced bodybuilders, either on its own or stacked. For newbies, the dose typically doesn’t exceed 30-50mg per day while for experienced users, it can be increased up to 80mg per day.
The half-life of the drug is short, just 3-5 hours so the dose is typically split into three to be spread out over the day. Some individuals prefer the Dbol levels in their blood to be maximised to reach their peak so rather than taking divided doses, they take the entire day’s dose in one go.
The drawback of this is that your blood levels will not be stable so it’s up to you which approach you prefer.
Equipoise
Also known as boldenone undecylenate, Equipoise is a derivative of testosterone that was first created in the 1950s and released under the name of Parenabol. Discontinued for use in humans, it now remains only commercially available for animals but is widely used as a long-acting version of Dianabol, increasing endurance and building muscle mass.
Potential Equipoise Side effects
Equipoise is extremely well tolerated overall which is one of the reasons it’s still sought after despite the fact it’s no longer easily available for use in humans.
As an androgenic drug, the androgenic side effects of hair loss, oily skin and acne can manifest. In reality, it is so well tolerated that these effects are rarely seen other than in those who are particularly sensitive, or who carry the gene for male pattern baldness.
There is a mild aromatising action so mild estrogenic effects may be seen in some users, typically only at the higher doses. If gynecomastia and water retention are a problem, they may be counteracted with the use of drugs such as Proviron or Nolvadex. Arimidex would also work, but this is a much stronger drug and is rarely required with Equipoise.
The cardiovascular effects are far less with this steroid compared to others, and the only users who may need to exercise caution are those with pre-existing heart disease. Cholesterol may be affected but usually only at the higher doses when HDL may be suppressed. For this reason, it’s advisable to maintain a healthy diet and to undergo cholesterol tests on a regular basis.
Equipoise Dosage Guidelines
The typical dosage ranges from 400-600mg per week, but experienced steroid users may increase this up to a maximum of 800mg.
Equipoise has a long ester, giving it a half life of 12-14 days. It is typically used in cycles of 14-18 weeks with a weekly dose injected. As a particularly well-tolerated steroid, the cycle length may be extended up to 20 weeks in some cases.
Regardless of the dose taken, at the end of a cycle there can be a period where the steroid is active enough to prevent recovery but not strong enough to continue to have a positive effect. For this reason, users often opt to front load the dose into a cycle.
Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) isn’t an anabolic steroid but is often stacked alongside them as it offers benefits such as cell regeneration and an increase in lean muscle mass. Although produced naturally by the body, production tends to drop off from the teens onwards and supplementation to increase levels helps to achieve a leaner, more chiselled appearance.
Potential HGH Side effects
HGH is markedly different to anabolic steroids in this area as no fatalities have ever been linked to its use and the side effects are far fewer. In fact, it can even offer protective qualities in some areas. This is because HGH is a synthetic version of what the body naturally produces.
There is no androgenic action so hair loss, oily skin and acne is not a concern. In some cases HGH can even be a protective influence, reversing hair loss.
HGH has some interaction with estrogen which can lead to gynecomastia in users who are sensitive to hormonal effects. However, this can easily be combated with the use of Nolvadex, an aromatase inhibitor.
Fluid retention is the most commonly seen side effect but it can resolve after a few weeks of taking the drug. In those where fluid retention persists, raised blood pressure can develop.
If HGH is taken at a high dose for a prolonged period it can lead to a decrease in insulin sensitivity, which can go onto develop into hypoglycaemia and diabetes.
The liver can often struggle with the use of anabolic steroids but HGH appears to have a healing effect on the liver in most cases, quite the opposite to other drugs. The only exception is when HGH is taken at a very high dose for long periods; this carries a small risk of an increase to liver size, reducing its ability to function. This side effect however is exceedingly rare.
Although in many ways, HGH produces far fewer side effects than traditional anabolic steroids but there may be some lower-grade effects seen such as a decrease in exercise tolerance and fatigue. This can impact on the ability to train effectively, indirectly reducing the growth of muscle mass.
High doses of HGH can also produce a characteristic swollen stomach when the abdominal muscles are relaxed. This is due to enlarged intestines bulging against the wall of the stomach.
HGH Dosage Guidelines
HCG is usually measured using IU, with a typical bodybuilding dose of between 4-6IU per day. This can be increased to 8-16IU when recovering from an acute injury but this should be for short periods only.
For reference, 1mg is roughly equivalent to 3IU.
There are different forms of synthetic HGH available so the half life depends on whether an ester has been attached. This will dictate the frequency at which the dosage is taken.
Human Growth Hormone cannot be taken orally as it is metabolised before delivering the required result. Instead, it’s typically injected intramuscularly which also provides the quickest effect. Subcutaneous injection can also be used but this route of administration will take longer to kick in.
Masteron
Also known as Drostanolone, Masteron is an anabolic steroid which was first developed to treat advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women. It still holds an FDA licence today but is no longer produced commercially, having been superseded by newer drugs. However, within the bodybuilding community Masteron is still widely considered to be a potent aid, helping with conditioning and cutting, as well as acting as an aromatase inhibitor.
Potential Masterone Side effects
Masteron has a mild androgenic effect but this typically only causes symptoms such as acne, oily skin and hair loss in those individuals who are especially prone to the effects.
By contrast, there are no estrogenic symptoms because Masteron has almost the opposite effect, acting as an aromatase inhibitor. This means that there is no risk of gynecomastia or bloating.
Masteron can be used in a stack to counteract a mildly-estrogenic drug but for more pronounced estrogenic side effects, a stronger aromatase inhibitor will be required.
Many injectable steroids are fairly gentle on the liver, which means that the effect on cholesterol is typically far less significant. However, as Masteron is an anti-estrogenic drug this can have a harsher effect on the cholesterol. The desirable HDL cholesterol may fall by up to 25% so regular tests should be performed and a low-fat diet adopted. Anyone with a history of cholesterol problems should consider an alternate steroid.
Masteron Dosage Guidelines
Masteron offers the choice of two different esters: propionate and enanthate.
Propionate is a short-acting ester and needs to be injected every 1-2 days. The typical dose is 400mg per week, administered in divided doses. Experienced uses can increase the dose up to 600mg but the general consensus is that this provides very little additional benefits and just serves to increase the cost.
Enanthate is a long-acting ester and is a much rarer form of the steroid. Enanthate is injected 1-2 times per week, at the slightly higher dose of 500mg per week.
On paper, enanthate may seem like the preferable choice but propionate gets to work much quicker. It also leaves the body more rapidly with a shorter detection and recovery time. The clearance time for propionate is no longer than three weeks while enanthate can be traced for up to three months. For these reasons, propionate is often preferred especially by those taking part in competitions.
As an androgenic drug, albeit a weaker one, Masteron is not generally recommended for women. It is possible for females to take it with extreme caution, but only at a dose not exceeding 50-100mg per week. Higher doses will almost certainly cause virilisation.
Parabolan
Parabolan is derived from Trenbolone, and as such is one of the most powerful anabolic steroids to be found. Withdrawn from use in 1997 due to changes in legislation, the pharmaceutical grade of this drug is now very difficult to find. Despite the widespread lack of availability, Parabolan remains extremely popular for cutting cycles, used for burning fat while retaining lean muscle mass.
Potential Parabolan Side effects
Parabolan is one of the harshest steroids, being five times stronger than the granddaddy of them all, testosterone.
It is strongly androgenic and can produce androgenic side effects in many such as oily skin, acne and an excess of body hair. Hair loss will only occur in men who have the male pattern baldness gene but it can accelerate the process significantly, and is not reversible. Treatment with finasteride will not work with Parabolan as it doesn’t interact with the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme.
This steroid does not aromatise and there is no risk of estrogenic effects. This is one of the reasons why it’s so popular in cutting cycles, with the lack of bloating and fluids creating a hard, lean appearance.
Despite the absence of additional fluid, there can still be a marked impact on the cardiovascular system. As such, it’s not recommended for anyone with a history of raised blood pressure or high cholesterol.
There are no documented hepatotoxic effects of Parabolan.
Other miscellaneous side effects can be pronounced and severe. These could include night sweats, racing heart, anxiety and insomnia.
Parabolan Dosage Guidelines
Individuals who are new to using steroids are not advised to start with Parabolan because of its sheer strength. Even low doses have the potential to cause significant problems for new steroid users.
If you have used steroids successfully before but are taking Parabolan for the first time, an entry dose of 152-220mg is recommended. Despite being a relatively low dose, when coupled with the right training regime and a good diet, excellent results can be seen.
Those who have prior experience of Parabolan can increase the dose to 456mg pw while the most advanced users could up it further to more than 500mg. However, in reality very few individuals need to take such high doses because Parabolan is a very powerful steroid.
It is also worth noting that Parabolan is an esterified derivative of Trenbolone, with a half life of six days and a clearance of a minimum of five weeks. Trenbolone acetate is another version of the same base drug that has a shorter half-life so is often a good starting point, just in case of intolerable side effects.
Primobolan
First created in 1960, Primobolan is a rather unusual anabolic steroid because it was developed directly for use within bodybuilding, rather than for medical treatment. Boosted by claims that it was used by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Primobolan is hugely popular for use during cutting cycles and remains available on prescription for wasting conditions such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia.
Potential Primobolan Side effects
One of the reasons for the popularity of Primobolan is that it has a reputation for being one of the gentler anabolic steroids, with fewer side effects experienced.
There is still the potential for androgenic side effects such as oily skin and excess body hair, plus male pattern baldness in the men that carry the gene. However, as the effects are so mild they typically only cause problems in individuals who are especially sensitive. For those that carry the hair loss gene, Finasteride will not combat the problem as the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme is not active.
The hormone methenolone provides the base for Primobolan. As this doesn’t aromatise, no estrogenic effects will be produced regardless of dose. In other words, you will not suffer with either fluid retention or gynecomastia when you take Primobolan.
Although there is no corresponding increase in blood pressure, cholesterol levels still tend to respond negatively to this steroid. This involves the protective HDL levels dropping and unhealthy LDL levels rising. Regular cholesterol tests should therefore be undertaken and a healthy lifestyle adopted.
Although not conclusively tested, there is currently no evidence to suggest that Primobolan causes liver toxicity.
Primobolan Dosage Guidelines
Primobolan can offer some benefits even at the lowest entry dose of 100-200mg per week. This makes it a useful choice for individuals who find it hard to tolerate most anabolic steroids. However, most users will increase the dose to 600-800mg per week which delivers excellent results. At higher doses side effects are more common so many users lower the dose and stack this steroid instead.
- Turinabol
- Winstrol
- Clenbuterol
- Trenbolone
- Testosterone Cypionate
- Testosterone Enanthate
- Testosterone Propionate
We also discuss some SARMs such as:
Buying anabolic steroids
If you decide to buy anabolic steroids, you can use our site to get a rough guide to what you can expect to pay.
There are lots of unscrupulous dealers out there looking to exploit the market, so make sure you take a look at our guides first to find out the right price for your steroid pills to avoid getting scammed.
Your single source for anabolic steroids, we’ve got everything a serious bodybuilder needs to know on the subject, from experts you can trust to give you the facts.
