Stanozolol is one of the oldest anabolic steroids we have in existence. While far from the oldest it does date back to the 1950’s. The Stanozolol hormone was first developed by Winthrop Laboratories under the trade name Winstrol. The Stanozolol hormone has since been found under numerous brand names across the globe, but the Winstrol name has remained the most popular and well recognized.
A long standing favorite among athletes and bodybuilders, Stanozolol has also held a significant amount of success in the medical community and is still used fairly regularly today. As with many anabolic steroids Stanozolol is used to treat muscle wasting diseases, burn victims, over exposure to corticosteroids and osteoporosis. It has also been used to aid in healing bone fractures and has even been successfully used in obesity treatment when hormone imbalances exist. Specific forms of breast cancer, treating angioedema and even certain forms of delayed growth treatment in children have all proven successful. And unlike many anabolic steroids in the U.S. Stanozolol has never lost its FDA approval.
Stanozolol Functions & Traits
Stanozolol is a dihydrotestosterone (DHT) based anabolic steroid. Specifically, Stanozolol is a structurally altered form of the DHT hormone, two specific changes to DHT that give us Stanozolol. The first modification is the addition of an attached pyrazol group at the A-ring in place of the 3-keto group. This makes Stanozolol a heterocyclic steroid. The second change is the addition of a methyl group. This change takes places at the 17th carbon position and puts Stanozolol into the 17-alpha alkylated (C17-aa) category.
The structural changes made to DHT that give us Stanozolol reduce the hormone’s androgenicity dramatically and greatly increase its anabolic activity. Stanozolol carries an Anabolic Rating of 320 and an Androgenic Rating of 20 and real life use will match up to these structural ratings very well.
The functions and traits of Stanozolol are numerous and can be best understood by looking at each one individually:
[1] Reduction of SHBG:Stanozolol has the ability to significantly reduce Sex-Hormone-Binding-Globulin (SHGB). In fact, data has shown Stanozolol can reduce SHBG by as much as 50% making it one of the most effective medications available for such a function. SHBG is one of the primary factors that determine how much testosterone in the body is free or bound; higher SHBG means less free testosterone, which represents our active and usable testosterone. When SHBG is lowered more testosterone is available for use. Equally important for the steroid user is that other steroids that may be used are more effective when SHBG is lower. [2] Protein Synthesis:
Protein synthesis refers to the rate in which cells build proteins, the building block of muscle tissue. With Stanozolol the rate of protein synthesis is increased. [3] Nitrogen Retention:
All muscle tissue is comprised of 16% nitrogen and when adequate amounts are not retained we enter into a catabolic (muscle wasting) state. Higher rates of nitrogen retention results in a greater anabolic (muscle building) state. [4] Red Blood Cells:
Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen through the blood. Stanozolol will increase red blood cell count resulting in greater oxygen flow and thereby enhanced muscular endurance. [5] Glucocorticoids:
Glucocorticoids (stress hormones) often referred to as muscle wasting hormones (cortisol is the most well known) promote fat gain and muscle loss. Stanozolol inhibits glucocorticoids. It will not remove all from your body and you do need some for health reasons, but too much can be problematic. The reduction in glucocorticoids by Stanozolol is not as significant as many other anabolic steroids, but it’s still a trait the steroid possesses.
Effects of Stanozolol
Stanozolol is not an anabolic steroid most would label as a “bulking steroid” despite it being used to combat muscle wasting diseases. For the athlete that’s looking to bulk this isn’t a great choice. Some athletes will use it in an off-season bulking phase for the strong reduction in SHBG it can bring so that other hormones are more effective, but this isn’t a very smart practice. Stanozolol isn’t what we’d call the most dangerous steroid by any means, but it’s not the most side effect friendly either. Use is best saved for when the hormone will provide the most advantages.
Important Note: Female off-season use can be more effective than male off-season use as women are more sensitive to the hormone and can get more out of it. However, there are better off-season options for most women and they too will find it better saved for other periods of use.
Side Effects of Stanozolol
There are several possible side effects of Stanozolol that must be addressed. This is not what we’d call a horrible steroid in terms of side effects, but it can promote several negative reactions if it is not properly used. Many of the possible side effects, particularly the severity will revolve around genetic response. Some people respond better to certain things than others. This is a genetic fact of life that holds true with Stanozolol and truly anything we put into our body steroid or not. In order for you to understand the side effects of Stanozolol we have broken them down into their respective categories below.
Stanozolol does not aromatize and is not a progestin. Estrogenic side effects like gynecomastia and water retention are impossible with this anabolic steroid. [2] Androgenic:
Androgenic side effects of Stanozolol are possible and highly dependent on genetic predispositions. Stanozolol is well known for promoting hair loss, but can only do so in men predisposed to male pattern baldness. If you are not predisposed you will not lose any hair. If you are predisposed you were going to lose the hair anyway but the use of Stanozolol may speed it up. Acne is another possible side effect of Stanozolol but typically only in those who are acne sensitive to begin with. There are exceptions but they are not common. Acne will most commonly appear on the back, shoulders and chest. If this is an issue for the individual the best thing to do is to stay clean and dry at all times. When you sweat immediately take a shower or at minimum change into a clean, dry shirt and shower when you can.
Important Note: The use of a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor to combat androgenic side effects will not work with Stanozolol. Such inhibitors work by preventing the reduction of testosterone to DHT. In the case of Stanozolol it is already DHT and there is no reduction to inhibit.
The androgenic side effects of Stanozolol can also affect women in terms of virilization symptoms. Virilization symptoms refer to a deepening of the vocal chords, body hair growth and clitoral enlargement. Some women can use low doses of Stanozolol without such symptoms occurring. We can’t call this the most female friendly steroid, but it’s far from the unfriendliest. If it is a steroid that is used and virilization symptoms begin to show, if use is immediately discontinued they will go away. If the symptoms are ignored and use continues there is a very good chance the symptoms may become permanent.
[3] Cardiovascular:The cardiovascular side effects of Stanozolol are the most likely and carry the greatest risk. Stanozolol is well known for its ability to increase LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and reduce HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). This is something that holds true with most oral anabolic steroids. Stanozolol is available in both oral and injectable form, but in either case it is a C17-aa steroid making the cardiovascular strain equal in both oral and injectable form.
Stanozolol can be used without severe cardiovascular strain but should not be used if you already have cholesterol issues. It is imperative that cholesterol issues are monitored during use and that a cholesterol friendly lifestyle is followed. A healthy diet that is rich in omega fatty acids and low in simple sugars and saturated fats is very important. Equally important is regular cardiovascular activity. If these are things you cannot do you should not use this steroid. It is also recommended that a cholesterol antioxidant supplement be used.
[4] Testosterone:The use of Stanozolol will suppress natural testosterone production in all men and should only be used in conjunction with exogenous testosterone. Failure to supplement with exogenous testosterone will put the man into a low testosterone state. The form of testosterone is inconsequential.
Once all Stanozolol use is ended and any and all anabolic steroids have cleared the body natural testosterone production will begin again. It will not occur overnight and it is recommended that a Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) plan follow use. A PCT plan will aid in recovery. A PCT plan will not complete recovery, this will still take several months, but it will speed up the process and increase the odds of a successful recovery.
Important Note: Women do not need to supplement with testosterone during Stanozolol use.
Important Note: Natural testosterone recovery assumes no damage was done to the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular-Axis (HPTA) during use and that no prior low testosterone condition existed prior to use.
[5] Hepatotoxic:The Stanozolol hormone is toxic to the liver as are all C17-aa anabolic steroids. This is one of the more liver toxic steroids available, far more so than Oxandrolone, but somewhat less than Methandrostenolone.
Use of Stanozolol will cause liver enzymes to increase during use. Increased enzyme levels are a liver stress indicator. This will hold equally true with both oral and injectable Stanozolol. Injectable Stanozolol is one of the very few injectable anabolic steroids that are liver toxic. If you choose to use this steroid it is important that the following is adhered to:
– Stanozolol should not be used if you have liver disease or already suffer from liver damage.
– Heavy alcohol consumption must be avoided. Avoiding all alcohol during use is the best course of action.
– Over the counter medications should be avoided when possible as most carry some level of hepatotoxicity and any additional stress should be avoided.
– Total use should not surpass 8 weeks. No use should take place until liver enzymes have returned to normal.
– A liver detoxifying supplement should be used.