Winstrol (stanozolol)
Muscle & Strength · Oral/injectable anabolic steroid
Tier C+
High-risk evidence profile
Bottom line
Read Off Label grades Winstrol (stanozolol) as C+ (5.4/10) based on strong evidence, med-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.
Famous for Ben Johnson's 1988 Seoul 100m disqualification.
Studied, labeled, or reported-use context: Oral: 20-50 mg/day; injectable: 50 mg EOD — Schedule III US; Rx history discontinued in most countries; banned sport; 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
Famous for Ben Johnson's 1988 Seoul 100m disqualification. Severe HDL suppression — often single-worst AAS for lipid profile. Tendon/joint complaints very common. Low affinity for AR but stacks well by displacing other AAS from SHBG.
Mechanism
DHT derivative; C17-aa (oral) or aqueous suspension (injectable); strongly binds SHBG (freeing other AAS in a stack); no aromatization; poor for joints
Studied, labeled, or reported dose & route
Oral: 20-50 mg/day; injectable: 50 mg EOD
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 Winstrol (stanozolol)'s effects?
- Read Off Label rates the evidence for Winstrol (stanozolol) as Strong and the benefit magnitude as med-high, producing an overall grade of C+ (5.4/10). Famous for Ben Johnson's 1988 Seoul 100m disqualification.
- What safety findings are reported for Winstrol (stanozolol)?
- Winstrol (stanozolol) has a high risk profile in the database. High (hepatotoxicity — notorious even for C17-aa class; joint pain/dryness; severe adverse lipid effects — HDL crash; tendon rupture risk) Legal status: Schedule III US; Rx history discontinued in most countries; banned sport (Ben Johnson 1988).
- What does the low Safety score for Winstrol (stanozolol) 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 Winstrol (stanozolol)?
- Oral: 20-50 mg/day; injectable: 50 mg EOD This is context from studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use; it is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety.
- How does Winstrol (stanozolol) work?
- DHT derivative; C17-aa (oral) or aqueous suspension (injectable); strongly binds SHBG (freeing other AAS in a stack); no aromatization; poor for joints
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.