Oral Winstrol
Winstrol is the trade name and brand name for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, which is widely used in both human medicine and veterinary medicine.
It is also an injectable anabolic steroid and an oral anabolic steroid, which is the product at the center of our discussion here.
Details of oral Winstrol were first published in 1959, with the Winthrop Laboratories in the UK taking the lead in making it available as a prescription drug.
Shortly thereafter, in 1961, Sterling of the United States patented the drug, and in 1962, oral Winstrol (an injectable variant) was introduced to the U.S. prescription market under the well-known brand name Winstrol.
At launch, it was used for a variety of treatments, including stimulating appetite, promoting weight gain in wasting diseases and disorders, gaining weight after surgery, gaining weight during periods of sedentary inactivity such as coma or disability, strengthening weakened bones, and speeding recovery in burn victims.
As the FDA tightened its control over the prescription drug market in the 1970s and 1980s, the number of applicable treatments for oral Winstrol was drastically reduced.
As a result, the list of approved uses was reduced to a “possible” treatment for osteoporosis and the promotion and acceleration of growth in pituitary deficiency dwarfism in both children and adults.
By the late 1980s and into the 1990s, many anabolic steroids were removed from the market as a result of the public hysteria over anabolic steroids at the time and the general anti-steroid sentiment that swept the United States during that time.
While Dianabol (methandrostenolone), Anavar (oxandrolone), and many other anabolic steroids were being discontinued and/or removed from the U.S. prescription drug market, Winstrol maintained steady sales and production during this time.
In fact, oral Winstrol was surprisingly showing a lot of promise during this time when anabolic steroids were shunned.
During this time, its use expanded to include treating anemia, angioedema, and its ability to fight breast cancer.
In the years since, the manufacturer of oral Winstrol has changed several times, but it is still widely sold around the world under the brand name Winstrol and the generic name stanozolol.
However, it is currently not sold in the U.S. prescription market due to manufacturing issues.
Oral Winstrol is the third most popular anabolic steroid used by athletes and bodybuilders, the first two being
“Dianabol (methandrostenolone) and Nandrolone (Deca Durabolin).
Oral Winstrol ranks third in popularity and usage, making it the third most popular and most widely used anabolic steroid.
This anabolic steroid is most notable in the athletic world because Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson tested positive for the drug at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
It is currently unknown whether Ben Johnson used oral Winstrol or injectable Winstrol (also known as Winstrol Depot).
Oral Winstrol Effects and Characteristics
At its core, oral Winstrol is chemically and structurally no different from the injectable Winstrol Depot.
Winstrol is a dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-derived anabolic steroid that, through various modifications, has been shown to greatly amplify anabolic activity while significantly reducing androgenic activity.
Because it is a DHT derivative, it is not recognized as a proper substrate for the aromatase enzyme, which is the enzyme that converts androgens to estrogen (aromatization is the correct term).
Therefore, oral Winstrol cannot aromatize to estrogen at any dose, which allows Winstrol to promote significant levels of muscle growth and strength gains without the additional water retention and fat retention/gain that can occur with aromatization.
It is easy to see why oral Winstrol is a very popular anabolic steroid among speed athletes such as sprinters, boxers, wrestlers, etc. without the hindrance of weight gain and bloat that can impair performance and athleticism.
As such, oral Winstrol is typically used by those looking to experience lean mass gains without the potential for water retention or fat gain as a result of elevated estrogen levels due to aromatization (which Winstrol does not provide).
Instead, with proper adjustments to an individual's diet and training, the gains that can be expected from Winstrol are the addition of lean mass without the undesirable grotesque bulk that comes with Winstrol's ability to enhance the '3D' and 'hard, chiseled' look of muscles, as many users commonly report.
This is why Winstrol is often used by bodybuilders and athletes during their cutting and pre-contest phases, but it is also a great addition to any bulking cycle.
There are two main variations in the chemical structure that give oral Winstrol these benefits and capabilities.
The first is the attachment of a methyl group to the carbon 17-alpha (also known as C17-alpha alkylation).
This methylation of the 17th carbon, among other things, allows Winstrol to resist liver metabolism when ingested, allowing large amounts to enter the bloodstream and do their job in the body.
The second major change is the development of a pyrazole group attached to the A-ring of Winstrol's anabolic steroid structure.
The addition of this pyrazole group is to dramatically increase its anabolic capacity while simultaneously reducing its androgenic strength.
While oral Winstrol and injectable Winstrol are chemically identical in all respects, it is important to keep in mind that oral Winstrol has greater potential liver toxicity than the injectable form.
This is due to the C17-alpha alkylation, but more specifically to the fact that stanozolol must first pass through the liver when taken orally.
Injectable stanozolol (Winstrol) does not have this effect on the liver, but because the injectable form still has the C17AA modification, it is more hepatotoxic than almost all other injectable anabolic steroids, but once again not as much as oral stanozolol (Winstrol).
Types of oral Winstrol
Oral Winstrol was originally designed and manufactured as a 2 mg tablet, and several pharmaceutical companies have since manufactured higher-dose 5 mg and 10 mg tablets.
Today, it is common to find pharmaceutical-grade oral Winstrol in these dose ranges, but there are underlabs (UGLs) that manufacture higher-dose and higher-concentration formats, for example, where you can find 50 mg oral Winstrol tablets.
Although rare, some underlabs also make high-dose oral Winstrol tablets, as high as 75 to 100 mg.
These formulations are clearly designed specifically for athletes and bodybuilders looking to improve their physique and athletic performance, as such high concentrations are not really available for medical use (and in most cases, such high concentrations are not even necessary for the treatment of various disorders and diseases).
In addition, a newer type of liquid oral Winstrol product manufactured by underlabs is now available in 10mg vials, typically dosed at 25mg/ml, and is designed to be taken orally rather than injected.
Oral Winstrol side effects
The side effects of oral Winstrol do not convert to estrogen at any dose, so estrogen-related side effects can be completely ruled out.
Androgenic side effects should be less than with other anabolic steroids such as testosterone or trenbolone, although some particularly sensitive users may note a 'flare up' of various androgenic effects such as acne or hair loss (male pattern baldness), but most users should have no problems.
However, notable oral Winstrol side effects are solely related to the liver.
Because it is C17-alpha alkylated, it can exhibit a measurable degree of hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity), so liver function should be monitored regularly with blood tests and (if possible) supplemented with appropriate and effective liver support supplements such as NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) and/or tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA).
Because Winstrol has such a strong effect on the liver, there are additional side effects to be aware of, as it can have a more significant adverse effect on cholesterol levels than any other anabolic steroid.
In general, Winstrol is notorious for raising LDL (bad cholesterol) and drastically lowering HDL (good cholesterol).
As a result, the risk of cardiovascular disease is severely increased.
Because oral Winstrol interacts directly with the liver, these problems are even more severe, so you should keep your dosing cycles short, supplement with healthy omega-3 fats, and avoid oral Winstrol altogether if you have cardiovascular disease or cholesterol issues.
Finally, while oral Winstrol is commonly touted as a “mild” anabolic steroid, it is not at all mild on the HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis), and a “proper PCT (post cycle therapy) protocol” should be followed after completion of an oral cycle, as suppression and/or closure of the HPTA is guaranteed during use.
