Dianabol is one of the most well known trading names for the drug methandrostenolone. It was first released as a prescription drug in the US in 1958, and is now the most widely used oral anabolic steroid for physique and performance enhancing purposes.
It was at this time that steroids were being introduced in to the world of strength sports, and the Russians in particular were heavily abusing testosterone on their strength athletes. However, the side effects that came with this testosterone abuse were extremely noticeable, and this is why Dr. Zeigler (a team physician for the US Olympic weight lifting team) set about working with Ciba Pharmaceuticals to alter the basic chemical structure of testosterone in a way that altered its metabolism and disposition in the body. Dianabol was developed and released by Ciba Pharmaceuticals, with the help of Dr. John Zeigler, and it rapidly became one of the most effective oral ‘anabolic’ steroid medicines ever known.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the use of steroids for enhancing performance in the world of bodybuilding grew at an alarming rate. It was speculated that at one point, all of the contestants in any given show were believed to be using one or more anabolic steroid. Many high profile body builders have since admitted to using steroids during their competitive career, incuding Arnold Schwazenegger, Larry Scott, Mike Matarazzo and Tom Platz.
With the help of Dianabol, athletes were making huge advances in their careers and the results were impressive. Unfortunately, Dr. Zeigler’s satisfaction in creating this powerful drug was short lived as soon after its release, athletes began to greatly misuse it. Dr. Zeigler’s dosage recommendations were being largely ignored, and he soon became a voice of opposition to sports doping due to his disgust in the misuse of the drug. Some athletes were taking as much as twenty times the recommended dose of Dianabol.
In as early as 1965, Dianabol was already beginning to fall under the scrutiny of the US Food and Drug Administration. The FDA began to press Ciba for clarification of Dianabol’s medical uses. Sufficient clarification never came, and in 1983 Ciba officially withdrew Dianabol from the US market. The FDA also pulled all generic versions of the drug off the market in 1985, finding its existence only to be justified by sports doping. Methandrostenolone is still produced today, and sold typically in countries with looser laws regarding prescription drug medication and on the black market.
Dianabol is available in an injectable format, however the most popular administration of the drug is by tablet. It is recommended that the tablets be taken with a meal to avoid any stomach upset. Modern brands usually contain 5 or 10 mg of steroid per tablet.
One cycle of Dianabol usually lasts between 4 to 6 weeks. The original prescribing guidelines with regards to dosage were 5 mg per day. This was to be administered intermittently for no more than 6 weeks at a time. The approximate dosage of Dianabol today would be around 30 mg each day, which leads to significant gains in muscle size and strength. Experienced users often increase this dosage, which is sometimes unhelpful as a dosage that is increased too much can often lead to no further significant gains, but substantially worse side effects. An experienced user will rarely take more than 80 mg per day to avoid this happening. Dianabol is often stacked with a number of other steroids, however it is also regularly used on its own by beginners who welcome the prospect of taking an anabolic steroid orally rather than injecting.
Dianabol is specifically suited to mass gaining goals, where the primary aim is to build as much muscle mass as possible. When aiming to achieve this, the user may have to adjust their calorie intake to as much as 5000 calories per day.
The controversy surrounding Dianabol is largely due to the side effects linked to its use. Androgenic side effects are common with the use of Dianabol. Some of these reported side effects include oily skin, acne and bodily and facial hair growth. Prolonged or high exposure to anabolic steroids can also have a detrimental effect on the liver, resulting in liver damage and in some cases, life threatening liver dysfunction. Water retention can also present itself as a problem when higher doses are taken, causing loss of muscle definition as water retention and fat levels build. Women are also warned of side effects, which include deepening of the voice and menstrual irregularities.
Legitimate pharmaceutical forms of Dianabol or methandrostenolone are very rare. The Western Market has largely done away with the drug, as it quickly became clear that its primary use was to support sports doping and performance enhancement. The drug is now made exclusively in areas such as Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, along with many other illegitimate brands from Italy and Spain.
Although Ciba Pharmaceuticals production ceased many years ago the brand name Dianabol lives on, and is still as popular as ever. Perhaps this continued popularity is owing to the fact that it is relatively cheap, and extremely effective in increasing muscle size and strength.
It was at this time that steroids were being introduced in to the world of strength sports, and the Russians in particular were heavily abusing testosterone on their strength athletes. However, the side effects that came with this testosterone abuse were extremely noticeable, and this is why Dr. Zeigler (a team physician for the US Olympic weight lifting team) set about working with Ciba Pharmaceuticals to alter the basic chemical structure of testosterone in a way that altered its metabolism and disposition in the body. Dianabol was developed and released by Ciba Pharmaceuticals, with the help of Dr. John Zeigler, and it rapidly became one of the most effective oral ‘anabolic’ steroid medicines ever known.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the use of steroids for enhancing performance in the world of bodybuilding grew at an alarming rate. It was speculated that at one point, all of the contestants in any given show were believed to be using one or more anabolic steroid. Many high profile body builders have since admitted to using steroids during their competitive career, incuding Arnold Schwazenegger, Larry Scott, Mike Matarazzo and Tom Platz.
With the help of Dianabol, athletes were making huge advances in their careers and the results were impressive. Unfortunately, Dr. Zeigler’s satisfaction in creating this powerful drug was short lived as soon after its release, athletes began to greatly misuse it. Dr. Zeigler’s dosage recommendations were being largely ignored, and he soon became a voice of opposition to sports doping due to his disgust in the misuse of the drug. Some athletes were taking as much as twenty times the recommended dose of Dianabol.
In as early as 1965, Dianabol was already beginning to fall under the scrutiny of the US Food and Drug Administration. The FDA began to press Ciba for clarification of Dianabol’s medical uses. Sufficient clarification never came, and in 1983 Ciba officially withdrew Dianabol from the US market. The FDA also pulled all generic versions of the drug off the market in 1985, finding its existence only to be justified by sports doping. Methandrostenolone is still produced today, and sold typically in countries with looser laws regarding prescription drug medication and on the black market.
Dianabol is available in an injectable format, however the most popular administration of the drug is by tablet. It is recommended that the tablets be taken with a meal to avoid any stomach upset. Modern brands usually contain 5 or 10 mg of steroid per tablet.
One cycle of Dianabol usually lasts between 4 to 6 weeks. The original prescribing guidelines with regards to dosage were 5 mg per day. This was to be administered intermittently for no more than 6 weeks at a time. The approximate dosage of Dianabol today would be around 30 mg each day, which leads to significant gains in muscle size and strength. Experienced users often increase this dosage, which is sometimes unhelpful as a dosage that is increased too much can often lead to no further significant gains, but substantially worse side effects. An experienced user will rarely take more than 80 mg per day to avoid this happening. Dianabol is often stacked with a number of other steroids, however it is also regularly used on its own by beginners who welcome the prospect of taking an anabolic steroid orally rather than injecting.
Dianabol is specifically suited to mass gaining goals, where the primary aim is to build as much muscle mass as possible. When aiming to achieve this, the user may have to adjust their calorie intake to as much as 5000 calories per day.
The controversy surrounding Dianabol is largely due to the side effects linked to its use. Androgenic side effects are common with the use of Dianabol. Some of these reported side effects include oily skin, acne and bodily and facial hair growth. Prolonged or high exposure to anabolic steroids can also have a detrimental effect on the liver, resulting in liver damage and in some cases, life threatening liver dysfunction. Water retention can also present itself as a problem when higher doses are taken, causing loss of muscle definition as water retention and fat levels build. Women are also warned of side effects, which include deepening of the voice and menstrual irregularities.
Legitimate pharmaceutical forms of Dianabol or methandrostenolone are very rare. The Western Market has largely done away with the drug, as it quickly became clear that its primary use was to support sports doping and performance enhancement. The drug is now made exclusively in areas such as Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, along with many other illegitimate brands from Italy and Spain.
Although Ciba Pharmaceuticals production ceased many years ago the brand name Dianabol lives on, and is still as popular as ever. Perhaps this continued popularity is owing to the fact that it is relatively cheap, and extremely effective in increasing muscle size and strength.