Turinabol Side Effects
Turinabol is considered to be one of the very 'mild' anabolic steroids when it comes to side effects.
Other similar anabolic steroids that fall into this category include Anavar (Oxandrolone) and Primobolan (Methenolone), both of which are considered almost perfect anabolic steroids due to their strong separation between anabolic and androgenic effects, as well as their inability to convert to estrogen at any dose.
Turinabol shares all of these characteristics and in fact has the lowest androgenic strength rating of the three compounds, 6 - 24 for Anavar and 44 - 57 for Primobolan.
Therefore, it can be said that Turinabol side effects are virtually non-existent, but there are still some considerations and risks to be aware of and understand.
There is no such thing as a 'perfect steroid', and while Turinabol comes close, it is not without potential risks and side effects.
However, Turinabol is considered to be part of a trio of 'near perfect' anabolic steroids (Anavar, Primobolan, Turinabol).
Estrogenic side effects
Turinabol is a modified form of Dianabol, and while Dianabol has a moderate affinity for aromatization into estrogen, Turinabol does not at all.
This is because the 4-chloro substitution (a chloro group attached to the 4th carbon of the steroid structure) blocks the aromatase enzyme from converting Turinabol to estrogen.
Therefore, Turinabol does not aromatize at all at any dose and estrogenic side effects should not be considered part of the Turinabol side effects.
Androgenic Side Effects
Turinabol has significantly reduced androgenic strength due to the chemical modification of retaining the double bond between carbons 1 and 2 and the 4-chloro modification.
However, this does not mean that Turinabol has lost its androgenic capabilities, and while it is much less androgenic than most other anabolic steroids, the risk of androgenic side effects still exists (especially for those who are highly sensitive to androgenic side effects).
At low to moderate doses, androgenic effects are rarely seen, but at higher doses it can cause greater androgenic effects, especially in women.
Also, while turinabol is indeed metabolized by 5-alpha reductase into more potent androgenic metabolites, the rate of 5AR reduction that turinabol is exposed to is known to be very minimal, so the use of 5AR inhibitors such as proscar, finasteride, dutasteride, etc. is unlikely to significantly reduce the androgenic activity caused by turinabol.
Androgenic Turinabol side effects include increased sebum secretion (oily skin), increased acne breakouts (associated with increased sebum secretion), body and facial hair growth, and an increased risk of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male pattern baldness (MPB), which may occur in individuals with the genetic traits necessary for these conditions to develop.
Women are more likely to experience masculinization symptoms at doses higher than 10 mg per day [1].
HPTA and Endogenous Testosterone Production Side Effects
All anabolic steroids have the ability to suppress and/or block the body's natural endogenous testosterone production, and Turinabol side effects are no exception to this fact.
Although Turinabol exhibits the lowest androgenic rating of all anabolic steroids, it is nonetheless still suppressive for the duration of a full cycle.
As such, it is highly recommended that all Turinabol users engage in a proper PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) protocol, which should always include the use of a testosterone production boosting ancillary compound such as Nolvadex and/or HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) for an average of 4 - 6 weeks after the end of an anabolic steroid cycle, regardless of how 'mild' its effects on the HPTA are claimed to be.
No anabolic steroid cycle, including compounds considered safe such as Turinabol, should ever be terminated without replacing the PCT protocol.
Failure to do so may result in permanent damage to the HPTA, which may prevent adequate levels of testosterone from being produced for the rest of one's life, and if left untreated, may ultimately require medical intervention in the form of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Hepatotoxic side effects
The fact is that turinabol is a C17-alpha alkylated oral anabolic steroid, which can have negative effects on the liver.
Clinical data regarding the level of liver toxicity of Turinabol is very difficult to come by, but logic would suggest that due to its very low androgenic strength, liver toxicity may be mild but still present.
This is supported by the fact that many East German Olympic athletes prior to 1990 took Turinabol for several years without serious liver problems1.
However, it is important to understand that for East German athletes, doses ranged from 5 to 35 mg per day and were often administered at the lower end of this range.
Therefore, there could be a significant difference in potential hepatotoxicity between someone who took turinabol at 15 mg/day for 8 weeks and someone who took turinabol at 80 mg/day for 8 weeks.
Even the original manufacturer's pamphlet on the prescription turinabol package recommended that regular liver function tests be performed during use, as liver function can be significantly affected by high doses.
However, although Turinabol is one of the oral anabolic steroids considered to be the least liver toxic (along with Anavar and Primobolan), the possibility of liver damage cannot be ruled out, especially when used in high doses.
Negative cardiovascular risks, side effects, and cholesterol changes are known side effects shared by all anabolic steroids, and these also apply to Turinabol side effects.
Negative cardiovascular side effects from anabolic steroid use include a decrease in HDL (good cholesterol) and an increase in LDL (bad cholesterol).
The result of these changes is an increased risk of atherosclerosis, and the degree to which these changes are exacerbated is generally dose dependent (higher doses increase the negative changes and risk).
Other factors that influence these negative cholesterol changes include duration of use and route of administration.
In terms of route of administration, oral anabolic steroids are known to have a much worse negative effect on cholesterol compared to injectable anabolic steroids.
This is because the liver acts as the body's cholesterol processing center, and the increased liver toxicity associated with anabolic steroids exacerbates the negative changes in cholesterol.
While little clinical data exists regarding the cardiovascular effects of Turinabol, it is widely recognized that it has a very potent effect on the liver's ability to process cholesterol.
This is likely due to Turinabol's strong resistance to hepatic metabolism, its non-aromatizing nature, and its status as a C17-alpha alkylated oral anabolic steroid.
Medical references
[1] Hormone doping and masculinization of athletes: a secret German program. Franke WW, Berendonk B. Clin Chem. July 1997;43(7):1262-79.
