Dianabol (methandrostenolone / methandienone)
Muscle & Strength · Oral anabolic steroid (C17-aa)
Tier C+
High-risk evidence profile
Bottom line
Read Off Label grades Dianabol (methandrostenolone / methandienone) as C+ (5.6/10) based on strong evidence, high benefit magnitude, and a high-risk safety profile.
Its high-risk evidence profile reflects a Safety score of 2/10; reported benefits and harms can differ by indication, dose, route, duration, and population.
Developed by Ziegler for US weightlifters in the 1950s to counter Soviet testosterone use.
Studied, labeled, or reported-use context: Typical illicit: 25-50 mg/day PO for 4-6 weeks — Schedule III US; banned sport; Rx history discontinued; not individualized guidance.
Citation correction in progress
1 PubMed link was found to be unrelated to this entry and removed from public output. The remaining sources are shown below, but this row's claims and score still need a full source-by-source revalidation.
What the evidence says
Developed by Ziegler for US weightlifters in the 1950s to counter Soviet testosterone use. Classic 'kickstart' of injectable cycles. Short half-life (~5 hr) — often dosed multiple times daily. Severe hepatic strain if used >6 weeks. High Benefit reflects rapid performance effects; low Safety reflects nonmedical C17-aa steroid use.
Mechanism
17-alpha-alkylated oral anabolic; AR agonist; moderate aromatization to methylestradiol; rapid strength/size gains via increased protein synthesis and glycogen retention
Studied, labeled, or reported dose & route
Typical illicit: 25-50 mg/day PO for 4-6 weeks
This records doses and routes described in studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use. It is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety; context changes with indication, formulation, health history, monitoring, and other medicines.
Citations
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Common questions
- What does the evidence show about Dianabol (methandrostenolone / methandienone)'s effects?
- Read Off Label rates the evidence for Dianabol (methandrostenolone / methandienone) as Strong and the benefit magnitude as high, producing an overall grade of C+ (5.6/10). Developed by Ziegler for US weightlifters in the 1950s to counter Soviet testosterone use.
- What safety findings are reported for Dianabol (methandrostenolone / methandienone)?
- Dianabol (methandrostenolone / methandienone) has a high risk profile in the database. High (hepatotoxicity from C17-alkylation; water retention, BP, gyno from aromatization; HPG suppression; estrogenic side effects) Legal status: Schedule III US; banned sport; Rx history discontinued.
- What does the low Safety score for Dianabol (methandrostenolone / methandienone) represent?
- The Safety score is 2/10. It records the substantial harms described for one or more use contexts; the Benefit score, indication, dose, route, duration, population, and legal status remain separate parts of the evidence profile.
- What doses or routes are reported for Dianabol (methandrostenolone / methandienone)?
- Typical illicit: 25-50 mg/day PO for 4-6 weeks This is context from studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use; it is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety.
- How does Dianabol (methandrostenolone / methandienone) work?
- 17-alpha-alkylated oral anabolic; AR agonist; moderate aromatization to methylestradiol; rapid strength/size gains via increased protein synthesis and glycogen retention
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.