No, it is not. Numerous studies have shown that Winstrol has minimal effect on the cardiovascular system, especially in therapeutic doses used for physique- or performance-enhancing purposes.
Winstrol (a.k.a Stanozolol) is a derivate of dihydrotestosterone, which means its chemical structure includes the 4-androstanediol (dihydrotestosterone) hormone. In addition, it is a modified form of dihydrotestosterone, which means it has been altered so that an oxygen atom was added at the 17β position, thus making it very similar to the naturally occurring steroid testosterone.
Winstrol’s similarities with testosterone mean that it can be aromatized (converted) into estrogen via the aromatase enzyme. The same goes for testosterone, but most steroids convert into estrogen much more quickly than Winstrol. This characteristic dramatically reduces water retention during this steroid by inhibiting fluid body retention and increasing fat loss due to inhibiting lipid uptake from adipose tissues.
As estrogen is present in both males and females, this is considered a female hormone (although men do produce it too); Winstrol is generally not recommended for women. In addition, as with most oral steroids, high doses of Winstrol may be hepatotoxic (damage liver tissue) if taken chronically; most women who are prescribed Winstrol will run some form of weekly liver support supplements like Liver Stabil or Liv-52 (more information on that here).
Why would you recommend that they don’t? Is there any danger to the heart at all?
There’s a danger of not following proper guidelines when using pharmaceutical-grade anabolic-androgenic steroids for non-medical purposes. However, there’s very little danger when using pharmaceutical-grade AASs for physique- or performance-enhancing purposes, especially under close medical supervision.
Just because something is available over the counter doesn’t mean it’s safe to use without a proper prescription from a licensed physician who can inform you about any possible risks involved with its use. Most available OTC medications (over the counter) should not be used without consulting your doctor first.
The medications in this class of drugs were approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) because they had less than 1% hepatotoxicity in animal studies; however, there is still risk involved, but only if one doesn’t follow strict guidelines when using them! The key phrase here is “pharmaceutical grade.”
Even most food products we eat and drink daily could be considered poisonous if taken in high doses. Remember, even water is toxic in high enough concentrations! If you take this type of drug so that it “hits your system” too quickly or without proper medical supervision, the increased rate at which the drug hits your system can cause hepatotoxicity (which can lead to liver problems). All OTC medications come with warning labels and dosage instructions; even Tylenol comes with these safety guidelines. Please follow them if using pharmaceutical-grade anabolic steroids for physique- or performance-enhancing purposes.
Another thing I’d like to add here is that when you read about Winstrol’s hepatotoxic effects, you’re reading about Stanozolol. Stanozolol is just one form of Winstrol. Other forms within the product line have less hepatoxic effects than Stanozolol, thus making them safer for humans. The reason this happens is that these other forms are not 17-alkylated.
The two significant alkylations used to make oral anabolic steroids more hepatotoxic are 17α-methylation and 17β-hydroxylation. This makes the steroid much more hepatotoxic by placing a significant added strain on your liver which can cause damage very quickly if dosage guidelines are not followed closely (which they should be).
So you’ll hear about Stanozolol being hepatotoxic more often than other forms of Winstrol because it’s 17-methylated. Other forms, like Stanozolol Dura, are methylated at the 17α position instead of the 17β position, which reduces stress on your liver but still has anabolic properties. If taken under close medical supervision, then the risks are extremely low. However, some people are naturally at a higher risk of experiencing certain things with any pharmaceutical grade medication; if you fit into one of those categories, please speak with your doctor before using these drugs for physique- or performance-enhancing purposes!
What is considered “high dosage?”
10mg+ per day orally, so don’t use it without medical supervision if you’re not getting this dosage yourself.
What are some other side effects of Winstrol?
High blood pressure, reduced good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein), increased risk for prostate enlargement/cancer, hair loss in men predisposed to male pattern baldness, reduced production of natural testosterone in the body, which can lead to a low sperm count or infertility, and to answer your question from earlier – yes it is terrible for the heart if misused!
I hope this helps clear up possible worries about using pharmaceutical-grade AASs for performance- or physique-enhancing purposes. Remember that they should only be appropriately used under close medical supervision because there’s always a risk involved with ANY drug!
