Dianabol (Methandrostenolone, Danabol, DBOL): Bodybuilding Anabolic Steroid Profile

The steroid was originally developed by John Bosley Zeigler, an American physician, and was released in the United States by Ciba in the 1960's.  The medication was used for muscle growth by bodybuilders until is was banned by the Food and Drug Administration under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. 

Dianabol is considered a Schedule III medication by the Drug Enforcement Agency, which means when it is obtained by a physician, the prescription is refillable up to five times within a six month period.

The medication is currently illegal in the United States without a prescription, and must be obtained by a physician for medical use only.  Production of Dianabol has ceased in most of Western Europe and the United States, however the drug is still manufactured in Mexico, Romania, Republic Moldava, Russia, Thailand and Bulgaria.

What is Dianabol?

Methandrostenolone/Methandienone is an oral anabolic steroid that goes by the brand or slang names of Dianabol, D-Bol, Anabol (pinks), Methanabol, Naposim, Danabol or Reforvit B.  Dianabol is a strong anabolic steroid which has high androgenic qualities.   The medication is also capable of interacting with the enzyme aromatase, which results in the possibility of estrogenic side effects. 

Dianabol: Effects on the Body

As with any type of medication, anabolic steroids such as Dianabol have a large number of side effects, including but not limited to the following:

• Estrogenic tendencies:  promotes the production of estrogen, which results in development and promotion and maintenance of female sexual characteristics.
• Gynecomastia: female breast development in males.
• Water retention
• Loss of muscle definition
• Acne on face, neck, thorax, shoulders and back
• Body/facial hair growth
• Male pattern baldness
• Liver damage
• Increases in protein synthesis
• Decrease in cell respiration
• Decrease red blood cell production
• Masculinization effects in women (facial hair, body hair, deepening of voice)
• High blood pressure
• Jaundice (an obstruction of the bile ducts, which produces a back up of bilirubin in the body)
• Cancer (from long term exposure to c17 alpha alkylated)
• Increased aggression levels