Winstrol is an anabolic steroid derived from the male hormone testosterone through modification at the 17b position. Its intended use is for veterinary purposes, to improve muscle growth rate in livestock by increasing protein synthesis and appetite stimulation. Since its initial development, it has also been used by humans but was never approved by any government agency until recent times. As a result, Winstrol is approved only for treating hereditary angioedema, a condition characterized by periodic episodes of swelling due to accumulation of bradykinesia induced kinin (K+) within vascular spaces or tissues. Although it’s no longer regularly prescribed for this purpose now that C1 esterase inhibitors are commercially available, Winstrol can still be found on some veterinarian pharmacy shelves.
Winstrol has a relatively short half-life of approximately 9 hours, leading to intense blood concentration spikes throughout the day following dosing. This contributes to its psychological effects as users report feeling “amped” or on edge. Some athletes have been known to dose as many as four times per day to spread out this intensity and decrease the incidence of “crash”. However, the total daily dosage is more important than the frequency for this purpose, so planning usage into two doses daily is optimal for general use by those who don’t need a cycle shorter than eight weeks. One pill is taken in the morning and another later in the evening seems more effective at avoiding side effects than several smaller doses. Note that only the 5mg strength is available in pill form, while all other strengths are available in both tablet and liquid suspension for injection purposes.
The common consensus among steroid users is that Winstrol has a solid “side-effect profile”, which most use it at recommended dosages tends to be well tolerated. The exception to this appears to be individuals with high blood pressure or diabetes who may experience undesirable spikes in their readings when using Winstrol, so they should avoid using this compound if they fall into any of these categories. Otherwise, women who do not have a predisposition to masculine characteristics due to excessive testosterone hormone levels can usually benefit from taking Stanozolol safely without incident. However, it’s worth noting that the liquid form of the drug seems to be more hazardous for blood pressure and has been known to induce severe headaches in some users.
Individuals with liver disease should not use this compound under any circumstances, as its toxicity is well documented at even recommended dosages. Since its primary mechanism of action involves hepatic-based receptor inhibition, it will only further compromise liver function in already stressed individuals. This also means that Winstrol may not be a good choice for those with healthy livers but still struggle with higher than average cholesterol counts. There is anecdotal evidence that this drug can increase LDL (bad cholesterol) levels while decreasing HDL (good cholesterol) levels. In addition, some reports exist of mild acne breakouts by women who’ve used this compound. Still, it’s worth noting that a common side effect of supraphysiological testosterone levels in males is increased incidence of acne, so this cannot be linked to Winstrol use.
Some have suggested that Winstrol’s water retention may contribute to joint pain. The extra fluid held in connective tissues may place undue stress on tendons and ligaments, causing them to become inflamed or tear. In addition, those who suffer from migraine headaches will usually find their symptoms exacerbated by any oral steroid, including Winstrol. These compounds are well known for increasing plasma glucose concentrations, which many believe leads directly to enhanced serotonin synthesis in the brain during consumption. However, no scientific data exists to support this claim, and some anecdotal reports indicate that Winstrol usage may reduce the incidence of migraine headaches.
However, it should be noted that athletes have used the drug for multiple decades without any long-term side effects being documented to date. In particular, many coaches and bodybuilders recommend this compound over other commonly used or recommended steroids such as Dianabol or Anavar because anecdotally, it appears to have less influence on blood pressure and pulse while cutting down water weight gain in comparison. In addition, those who suffer from high cholesterol should also note that there is at least one study that demonstrated a daily 50mg dose of Stanozolol given over 12 weeks did not affect healthy males between the ages of 18-44 years old regarding lipoprotein profiles, while another study showed that it did not have any adverse effect on HDL/LDL ratios for young male weightlifters.
Due to the lack of liver toxicity associated with this drug, many physicians prescribe Winstrol Depot in moderate doses (2-5mg) for women suffering from anemia or other disorders who may benefit from mild anabolic therapy without the risk of significant virilization symptoms. In addition, as pointed out earlier, some bodybuilders claim that Winstrol depot is more effective at increasing strength levels than injectable forms of this compound due to its long-acting nature. Still, no definitive explanation for why there appears to be a slight difference in effects between these two forms of the drug.
Most individuals will find a weekly dosage of 50-100mg to promote muscle gain. This is a standard dosing range shared by many research projects and clinical studies. Regarding side effects, men who respond poorly to progesterone may have some additional issues with Winstrol depot as it has been known to increase levels of this hormone in those who already suffer from high estrogen and low testosterone to its mechanism of aromatization into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In addition, men with naturally higher levels of SHBG will find themselves less sensitive to the anabolic effects of Winstrol depot than those with lower baseline concentrations of this carrier protein. For this reason, many physicians will recommend injections 2-3 times a week as opposed to the standard once weekly pattern to minimize side effects and maximize gains.
Winstrol Depot or Stanozolol is an anabolic steroid that athletes have used for decades to increase their lean muscle mass and strength while reducing body fat levels. Due to its chemical structure, this compound does not carry any estrogenic properties. Still, it does have a solid binding affinity for the androgen receptor, which means it can be used effectively at shallow doses of only 50mg per day for men. In women, recommended dosages are significantly lower at only 5mg per day due to the increased risk of virilization symptoms caused by converting large quantities of testosterone into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Stanozolol is a modified form of testosterone, and as such, its effects can be classified as anabolic and androgenic. Some crucial differences between the two include: Winstrol Depot does not aromatize into estrogen and therefore cannot serve as a precursor for the production of estradiol like testosterone can; also, it carries no progestational activity meaning that acne and water retention are not concerns either. Finally, it’s worth noting that this compound does bind with high affinity to plasma proteins such as SHBG, which means there will still be some level of biological activity even if the circulating hormone is low or absent at any given time.
Winstrol Depot has been demonstrated to have a more comprehensive therapeutic index than other anabolic steroids, meaning that the difference between effective dosages and dangerous or toxic ones is more significant. In addition, it has been claimed anecdotally by bodybuilders to be helpful as an anti-catabolic agent under periods of extreme dieting.
While Stanozolol carries no estrogenic activity, it does have the ability to interact with aromatase in specific tissues due to its 17alpha-methyl group, which can lead to enhanced deposition of body fat if it’s not successfully kept under control through proper diet and exercise; however, many steroid users say that Winstrol depot is superior for cutting stacks compared to milder compounds such as Anavar (oxandrolone). The main reason for this is that it does not appear to convert into the more potent form of estrogen, 17beta-estradiol. There are also claims that when Winstrol depot is combined with Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) in cutting phases, the two compounds act synergistically to produce a distinct anabolic effect. It has been speculated that this may be due to its capacity for increasing erythropoiesis in the bone marrow, which enhances oxygenation throughout the body and stimulates muscle tissue growth by enhancing nutrient transfer.
Winstrol Depot can also increase collagen synthesis through high SHBG levels, giving it some anti-aging effects even though it’s generally considered a performance-enhancing drug of last resort. In addition, it has been demonstrated to increase bone mineral content in some studies, but this is probably more of a secondary benefit of using this drug for physical enhancement through enhanced muscular development.
Athletes can successfully use this compound during bulking and cutting phases because it can significantly reduce subcutaneous body fat levels without losing lean mass, even though its effects are milder than other similar drugs. It’s not unusual for individuals who run high doses or several types of steroids simultaneously to use an injectable only cycle consisting of only Stanozolol for six weeks at a time as opposed to stacking it with other compounds like Anadrol (Oxymetholone) and testosterone which tend to suppress natural testosterone production and/or convert into estrogenic metabolites.
Because this compound has no progestational activity, it cannot interact with estrogen receptors in breast tissue, therefore not putting men at risk of gynecomastia but further enhancing their physique by limiting water and fat retention and increasing vascularity during periods of high blood pressure from high dosage use. In addition, men interested in rapid muscular gain often use it with Primobolan Depot, Deca Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate), or Equipoise (Boldenone Undecylenate) while cutting because the drugs are effective at causing muscle growth without converting into estrogen or being readily stored as adipose tissue.
Winstrol Depot is an androgenic steroid, which means women may have some androgenic activity. Although its androgenic strength is much weaker than testosterone, it’s considered the most robust oral available today, so it would not be advisable for women to attempt this compound without proper supervision if they ever wanted to get involved with anabolic steroid use. Dosages commonly used by men range from 5-15mg per day, and it’s usually injected every 2-4 days, although many will take advantage of its long active life and inject once a week with 50 or 100mgs.
Subcutaneous injection is the most common with Winstrol Depot because it absorbs quickly and goes to work within a few days. It can be used for both cutting or bulking periods depending on what the user is attempting to accomplish. If the dosage of this drug is high enough, it will suppress natural testosterone production quickly. Still, most men find they can benefit from 50mgs/day without experiencing significant side effects, although some will limit their intake to less than this amount.
The side effects associated with Winstrol Depot can be lessened or eliminated using Equipoise, Primobolan Depot, Masteron (Drostanolone Propionate), Deca Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate), and/or Testosterone. However, this is one of the few steroids that seems to cause discomfort for some men who engage in high-intensity athletic activity due to its anti-catabolic solid nature. The dosage among male athletes typically falls within the 50-75mgs/day range, but 100mgs/day isn’t unheard of; however, dosages of Winstrol over 150mgs/day are reserved only for the most advanced and experienced athletes who demand a very high anabolic effect. Appetite suppression is familiar with this compound, so you need to provide enough nutrients to meet your daily caloric needs. Also, be advised that some male bodybuilders have reported noticing a significant decline in their sex drive while using this steroid, possibly due to its anti-androgenic solid nature.
