Testosterone + Undecanoate ester
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Molecular Weight (base) |
288.429 |
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Molecular Weight (ester) |
186.2936 |
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Formula |
C19 H28 O2 |
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Manufacturer |
Schering AG |
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Half-Life |
Approx. 6-9 hours |
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Effective Dose (Men) Effective Dose (Women) |
40-120mg per day
Not suggested |
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Detection Time |
Approx. 2-3 months |
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Anabolic / Androgenic Ratio |
100:100 |
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What is Andriol?
Andriol, the brand name and trade name for testosterone undecanoate, is an oral testosterone product. It is oil-based and manufactured in gel capsule form.
This product differs significantly from other oral anabolic steroids in several ways.
First and foremost, all of the other oral anabolic steroids are C-17 alpha alkylated (also known as methylated).
This is a process where a methyl group is attached to the 17th carbon of the testosterone (or other anabolic steroid) compound, which allows the hormone to survive the first pass through the liver, making it more orally bioavailable to the user.
The disadvantage of this modification is that C-17 alpha alkylation almost always results in some degree of hepatotoxicity and alteration, which limits the duration of use and/or maximum dosage.
Andriol, despite being an orally active form of testosterone, does not have C-17 alpha alkylation.
Instead, Andriol is an esterified form of testosterone (testosterone undecanoate), which is attached to a very long fatty acid chain ester.
Studies have shown that when ingested (especially when combined with dietary fat), andriol is at least partially absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and into the body's lymphatic system due to its highly lipophilic nature.
Although andriol is not hepatotoxic, there are some drawbacks to its properties.
Because it relies on fat solubility for absorption in the body, studies have shown that the oral bioavailability of andriol is only about 7%.
Andriol was originally developed and pioneered by pharmaceutical manufacturer Organon in the early 1980s.
In addition to the brand name Andriol, it has been marketed under the names Virigen, Undestor, Restandol, Pantestone, and Androsone in many regions and countries around the world.
Andriol's use has been as a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) drug for men with low natural testosterone levels.
Despite this fact, andriol is not yet approved in the U.S. prescription drug market, but is available in Canada and Mexico.
Andriol is a TRT product that can be used as an alternative to testosterone injections (such as testosterone enanthate or testosterone cypionate) and may serve as a much more convenient dosage form for some men who do not prefer injections.
Originally, Andriol required refrigeration for storage.
Fortunately, in the early 2000s, Organon developed a new androl product called Andriol Testocaps that can be stored at room temperature without degradation.
However, at room temperature, Andriol Testocaps have a shelf life of about three years (as opposed to the three-month shelf life of traditional andriol).
Andriol gel capsules are concentrated with a dose of 40 mg per gel cap.
Although andriol is fairly widespread, its use among athletes and bodybuilders is very rare.
This is due to the fact that the downside of andriol is that its oral bioavailability is very low, very low, and the price of this compound is relatively high.
Therefore, bodybuilders and athletes have always opted for injectable testosterone products and formulations, which have a much higher bioavailability (almost 100%), are cheaper and more accessible.
Andriol is designed to produce peak testosterone levels in the body within a few hours of ingestion, and after repeated administration during the first few weeks, a steady and stable peak plasma concentration should be maintained for 24 hours after administration.
Chemical Properties of Andriol
As mentioned earlier, andriol is merely an esterified variant of testosterone with an undecanoate ester attached to the 17-beta hydroxyl group.
It differs significantly from all other oral anabolic steroids because it does not contain a methylation (C-17 alpha alkylation) on the 17th carbon, and therefore does not exhibit the negative effects of C-17 alpha alkylated compounds on the liver.
It also doesn't exhibit the way that C-17 alpha alkylated oral compounds do, by avoiding the first pass through the liver and being absorbed.
Instead, because andriol is a very long chain fatty acid ester, it is very lipophilic and enters the body through the gastrointestinal tract via the lymphatic system.
Andriol Side Effects
Since andriol is a testosterone product, it generally carries all of the major side effects of testosterone.
In particular, estrogenic side effects are usually the first to affect users.
Testosterone is aromatized (converted) into estrogen in the body at a moderate rate through interaction with the aromatase enzyme.
This means that andriol use can lead to elevated plasma levels of estrogen, which can lead to estrogenic side effects.
Estrogenic side effects include body fat retention and/or gain, abdominal bloating and water retention, increased blood pressure (due to water retention), and the potential for gynecomastia (breast tissue).
It is recommended that individuals using Andriol explore the possibility of using some form of anti-estrogen during their cycle, or at least have an anti-estrogen on hand in case estrogenic side effects become prominent.
The next major andriol side effects are androgenic side effects.
These are side effects associated with masculinization and male secondary sex characteristics.
Since andriol is testosterone, and testosterone is the primary androgen in men, it directly contributes to androgenic side effects.
The high masculinizing effect of testosterone products is also due to their reduction (or conversion) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a much more potent androgenic hormone than testosterone itself.
In this case, the use of a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor can mitigate androgenic side effects by preventing or reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT.
Androgenic side effects include increased aggression, increased body hair growth, increased oily skin, deepening of the voice, and the possibility of male pattern baldness (MPB) in men with a genetic predisposition.
Testosterone, like all other anabolic steroids, can and does suppress natural endogenous testosterone production.
Because testosterone suppression is a very real fact of anabolic steroid use, it is important to limit cycle length and follow a proper post cycle therapy (PCT) protocol after the end of an anabolic steroid cycle.
Failure to do so can result in permanent testosterone suppression for the rest of your life.
Negative cardiovascular effects are also a concern.
Studies have shown that therapeutic doses of testosterone for TRT in men are unlikely to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (and may even improve cholesterol profiles), but using testosterone to enhance athletic performance can lead to a decrease in HDL, the "good" cholesterol.
Additionally, studies have shown that the negative cardiovascular effects increase dramatically when taken with aromatase inhibitors.
Andriol has a significantly different mechanism of action than C-17 alpha alkylated oral anabolic steroids, which is why it has no hepatotoxic effects.
For example, in one study analyzing the potential for liver toxicity of andriol, subjects were given high doses (400 mg daily) for 20 days, and andriol did not cause any notable changes in liver enzyme levels over the course of the study.
This included patients who had been taking the drug long-term for more than 10 years.
Dosage and administration of andriol
Medically, the dosage of Andriol is prescribed in the range of 120 to 160 mg per day for the first two to three weeks.
After this initial period, it is recommended that you reduce your Andriol dosage to 40 to 120 mg per day and maintain it according to your prescribing instructions.
Naturally, to improve athletic performance and physique, the dosage of Andriol will need to be much higher.
You'll need at least 250mg (6 or 7 capsules) per day to see measurable effects, and many people claim results in this range are on the low side.
Typically, andriol is used in doses of 400 to 500 (10 to 14 capsules) per day.
Advanced or experienced users may require higher doses than this.
Due to the lipophilic pharmacological properties of andriol, it is recommended to administer andriol with food/meal intake, ideally with foods high in fat, to maximize absorption into the body via the lymphatic system.
Studies have shown that when taken on an empty stomach, the absorption and bioavailability of andriol is very low.
Also, to maintain constant and stable serum concentrations of testosterone, Andriol should be taken in two evenly divided doses, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Andriol Cycles and Uses
An andriol cycle should generally follow the same guidelines as a cycle of any other testosterone product, although higher doses may need to be used due to the lower bioavailability of andriol.
Andriol can be used as a stand-alone cycle or as a base testosterone compound while using other anabolic steroids.
Cycle lengths for Andriol can vary from 8 weeks to over 12 weeks.
As mentioned earlier, it is not a popular testosterone product among bodybuilders and athletes for performance or physique enhancement purposes, and information regarding andriol cycles is very rarely available.
Beginners may be tempted to choose Andriol because of its convenience as an oral testosterone product, but this is rarely the case.
A beginner andriol cycle usually involves taking 300mg of andriol per day for 8 to 12 weeks.
If an experienced athlete decides to use andriol, it is common to run an andriol cycle with other powerful anabolic steroids as the main ingredient, with a low dose of andriol in the background simply to support essential body functions.
This could include compounds such as Winstrol (stanozolol), Nandrolone (deca durabolin), Trenbolone or Anavar (oxandrolone).
Andriol legality
South Korea: In South Korea, Andriol is classified as a specialty drug, and it is considered a crime to purchase Andriol or testosterone products without a valid prescription.
Thailand: In Thailand, Andriol is Schedule IV, which means it is legal to possess and use Andriol for personal use without a doctor's prescription. It is also not a felony to import andriol for personal use without a prescription.
United Kingdom: Similar laws to Thailand apply in the United Kingdom, and because Andriol is a Schedule IV drug, it is not a felony and legal to possess and use Andriol for personal use without a valid doctor's prescription.
These are three examples of the current laws governing andriol in three major countries.
Regardless of which route you decide to purchase andriol, you should familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations in your country.
It's important to do your research in advance so that you can make an informed decision and know what to expect.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
