Halotestin (AKA Fluoxymesterone)
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Chemical Name |
9a-fluoro-11b, 17b-dihydroxy-17a-methyl-4-androsten-3-one, 9a-fluoro-11b-hydroxy-17a-methyltestosterone |
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Molecular Weight |
336.441 g/mol |
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Formula |
C20H29FO3 |
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Original Manufacturer |
Upjohn |
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Half Life |
9.5hours |
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Detection Time |
2months |
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Anabolic Rating |
1,900 |
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Androgenic Rating |
850 |
Overview and history of Halotestin
Halotestin is a synthetic derivative of testosterone, but specifically of methyltestosterone (methylated testosterone).
It is generally considered to be a very potent oral anabolic steroid, unable to aromatize to estrogen, and exhibits very strong androgenic strength as well.
Specifically, Halotestin has an anabolic strength rating of 1900 and an androgenic strength rating of 850.
Compare this to the dubious hormone testosterone and it's easy to see how powerful Halotestin is in both anabolic and androgenic capacities.
Testosterone has an anabolic and androgenic strength rating of 100, respectively, so it's easy to see that Halotestin is a whopping 19 times stronger than testosterone, and 8.5 times the androgenic strength of testosterone.
Halotestin is therefore a very powerful anabolic steroid and a very powerful androgen, more powerful than trenbolone, which is considered the most powerful anabolic steroid on the market.
The first details of Halotestin were published in 1956 under the name fluoxymesterone, and shortly thereafter the compound was studied and evaluated in the laboratory and found to have almost 20 times the anabolic strength of methyltestosterone[1],[2].
However, the anabolic strength of Halotestin in humans was found to not be as strong as theoretically stated, and in humans, Halotestin was found to be up to 5 times the anabolic and androgenic strength of methyltestosterone (note that we are using methyltestosterone as a reference here, not testosterone itself, and it should be understood that methyltestosterone is slightly stronger than testosterone itself).
After the information and details became public, Upjohn sold it in the U.S. prescription drug market under the trade name Halotestin, and shortly thereafter, Ciba created and launched its own Halotestin product under the name Ultandren.
In prescription descriptions, Halotestin was called a halogenated analog of methyltestosterone.
Halogenation refers to a specific chemical modification/process in organic chemistry that will be explained shortly.
The first medical prescribing instructions and medical indications were for the maintenance and increase of lean body mass and tissue repair following various traumatic conditions (burns, fractures, malnutrition, muscle wasting diseases, treatment of paralyzed patients, and as an adjunct to chronic administration of corticosteroids).
Herotestin was used medicinally in both men and women, and in men it was used to treat a lack of male hormone production (hypogonadism or male menopause).
In women, halo was approved for use in the treatment of chronic dysfunctional uterine bleeding and female breast cancer.
As with all anabolic steroids, in the mid-1970s and 1980s, Halotestin's list of approved treatments for various medical conditions was limited due to the FDA's increased control over the prescription drug market.
The list of approved treatments for halotestin has since been narrowed to include the treatment of androgen deficiency in men, breast cancer in women, and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Today, the list of approved medical uses for halotestin has been further narrowed to include only the treatment of androgen deficiency in men and breast cancer in women.
The problem with halotestin is its high level of liver toxicity and its potential to negatively alter cholesterol profiles.
For these reasons, doctors and medical professionals have decided to avoid using halotestin for all but male hormone deficiencies.
Even the use of halotestin for male menopause or hypogonadism is limited in the face of simple testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), as simple testosterone administration is not as liver toxic as halotestin.
Halotestin is currently still available on the prescription drug market in the United States, still marketed by the original manufacturer (Upjohn), but now under a new company name, Pharmacia, and in very small quantities.
Chemical Properties of Halotestin
As mentioned earlier, Halotestin is a testosterone derivative with a few modifications.
Halo has a methyl group added to the 17th carbon (called carbon 17-alpha).
It is also halogenated at carbon 9-alpha.
Halogenation is when an organic compound (in this case, testosterone) reacts with a halogen, usually resulting in that halogen being bonded to the compound.
Halogens represent a specific category of five related elements on the periodic table (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine).
In the case of Halotestin, this is essentially testosterone with a fluorine (fluorine group) halogenated to it, meaning that a fluorine atom is bonded to the carbon 9-alpha.
The final modification of Halotestin is the addition of a hydroxyl group (an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom) to carbon 11-beta of the testosterone molecule.
The addition of a methyl group at carbon 17-alpha gives the hormone the ability to survive metabolism in the liver, allowing most of the hormone to successfully reach the bloodstream and do its job in the body when taken orally.
Unfortunately, this modification also increases the hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity) of anabolic steroids, as this modification makes the hormone more resistant to liver metabolism, and when a substance becomes more resistant to liver metabolism, the liver burden increases and toxicity occurs.
The aforementioned halogenation is responsible for the significant increase in androgenic and anabolic strength compared to testosterone and methyltestosterone.
Finally, the addition of a hydroxyl group to the carbon 11-beta limits the ability of halotestin to interact with the aromatase enzyme, preventing it from being converted to estrogen in the body
Properties of Halotestin
As mentioned earlier, Halo is a very strong and potent anabolic steroid analog, with 19 times the anabolic strength of testosterone and 8.5 times the androgenic strength of testosterone.
However, it has actually been found to have slightly lower anabolic strength in humans than this.
Athletes and bodybuilders should love to experience increased strength, muscle growth, and definition.
Size gains are known to be moderate but not extreme.
The methylation of the 17th carbon (also known as C17-alpha alkylation) has the disadvantage that Halotestin causes some degree of hepatotoxicity in the body, which has already been covered.
The extent of this hepatotoxicity will be discussed in more detail in the Halotestin side effects section of this article.
This is a factor that must be considered and kept in mind by potential users of halotestin.
Finally, because it does not interact with the aromatase enzyme and thus avoids estrogen conversion, Halo should not pose a risk of estrogen-related side effects at any dose.
This means that water retention, which often leads to an undesirable swollen, bloated, and flabby appearance, especially during periods of fat loss or in the pre-contest phase of competitive bodybuilders, will not occur.
Halotestin Side Effects
The properties, characteristics, and statistics of Halotestin will immediately show the likelihood of the various potential Halotestin side effects that may appear.
Halotestin itself has two main concerns when it comes to side effects.
Namely, it is considered a more potent androgenic compound than trenbolone, which is considered the most potent androgen available on the market, and it has a high risk of liver toxicity.
We will discuss this in more detail here.
Estrogenic side effects
Due to the chemical modifications mentioned in the introduction to this profile, halotestin side effects do not include any estrogenic activity or estrogen-related side effects at any dose.
Halotestin is unable to interact with the aromatase enzyme to form estrogen through the conversion process, so all of the side effects typically associated with estrogen are not seen with halotestin alone.
Estrogenic side effects include water retention and bloating, increased blood pressure (due to water retention), increased likelihood of fat retention/gain, and gynecomastia.
Androgenic side effects
It goes without saying that Halotestin is an androgen, and a very potent androgen at that.
As such, the incidence of potential androgenic side effects is very high, especially in those who are sensitive to androgenic side effects.
Anyone sensitive to androgenic side effects (especially androgen-induced male pattern baldness) should exercise caution, and the best decision possible is to avoid using such a powerful androgen altogether.
In fact, many bodybuilders and athletes aim to experience increased competitiveness and aggression, which are specific androgenic side effects associated with Halotestin.
Notably, Halotestin is not only a very potent androgen in its own right, but it is also an anabolic steroid with a very high affinity for interacting with the 5-alpha reductase (5AR) enzyme, which is the enzyme responsible for converting androgens into (typically) even more potent androgenic metabolites (for example, the 5AR enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone into the even more potent androgenic metabolite dihydrotestosterone).
Studies have shown that Halotestin is converted into a very potent androgen via 5-alpha reductase [1].
Therefore, using a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor such as finasteride, dutasteride, or propecia can reduce the intensity of androgenic side effects by inhibiting the 5AR enzyme, preventing the androgen from being converted to more potent androgenic metabolites.
However, it is important to note that using these 5AR inhibitors may not result in a noticeable reduction in the androgenic strength of Halotestin, as Halotestin itself is a very potent androgen.
In fact, halotestin has been shown in studies to promote phallic (penile) growth to a much greater degree than other androgenic side effects [2].
Androgenic 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) (in individuals with the genetic traits necessary to develop this condition).
HPTA and Endogenous Testosterone Production Side Effects
All anabolic steroids have the effect of suppressing the endogenous production of testosterone through the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA) negative feedback loop.
Halotestin side effects are no exception to this rule, as are all anabolic steroids.
When Halotestin is administered exogenously, natural endogenous testosterone production is suppressed or halted for the duration of use.
Halotestin in particular has been shown to be a very potent suppressor of natural endogenous testosterone production in a study in which 9 male subjects were given 10mg, 20mg, and 30mg of Halotestin for 12 weeks [3].
In this study, it was found to have little effect on gonadotropin secretion compared to other anabolic steroids, which typically suppress gonadotropin secretion first (gonadotropin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland that signals the testes to start producing testosterone).
This is interesting as it suggests that the HPTA suppressing effects of Halotestin directly affect testosterone production in the testes rather than suppressing gonadotropin release from the pituitary gland, something that is not yet fully understood.
Decreased endogenous testosterone by anabolic steroids
Immediately following the completion of an anabolic steroid cycle, it is highly recommended that the user participate in an appropriate post cycle therapy (PCT) protocol that includes the use of an anabolic compound to stimulate testosterone production, such as Nolvadex and/or human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), for 4-6 weeks after the end of the cycle.
Failure to do so may result in permanent damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA), which may prevent you from producing adequate levels of testosterone for the rest of your life, eventually requiring medical intervention in the form of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Hepatotoxic side effects
Halotestin is a C17-alpha alkylated anabolic steroid, and as with all C17-alpha alkylated anabolic steroids, it can be hepatotoxic to the body.
In particular, halotestin has been shown in a study of nine male subjects to be toxic to the liver, with six of the nine subjects showing elevated levels of sulfobromophthalein (BSP), a marker of increased liver strain, in blood tests after just two weeks of daily use at a dose of 20 mg [4].
For this reason, we recommend limiting Halotestin use to no more than 6-8 weeks. We also highly recommend supplementing with proven liver support and supplements such as TUDCA/UDCA while using oral anabolic steroids.
Cardiovascular side effects
Negative cardiovascular risks, side effects and cholesterol changes are known side effects shared by all anabolic steroids and this applies to Halotestin side effects.
Negative cardiovascular side effects from anabolic steroid use include a decrease in HDL, the good cholesterol, and an increase in LDL, the 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.
Halotestin Dosage and Administration
Halotestin is not a very popular anabolic steroid and is not considered a commonly sold anabolic steroid, it is quite difficult to find, although it can be found if you search in the right places.
It is also very specific in its use and purpose.
The dosage of Halotestin itself is also very unusual or very different from the dosage of most anabolic steroids on the market.
Although Halotestin has significant anabolic strength, in practice it has been found to not be as anabolic in humans as theory would suggest.
However, it does significantly increase strength without significantly increasing muscle size, which is very beneficial for athletes in sports where weight gain is undesirable, such as wrestling, sprinting, and boxing.
Halotestin can provide athletic performance enhancing effects without causing unwanted weight gain, such as sprinters, making it possible for athletes who need to stay as lean as possible to maximize their speed efficiency, while still reaping the benefits of performance enhancing effects.
Medical Halotestin Dosage
Prescribing guidelines for halotestin administration vary depending on the medical indication for which halotestin is being used as a treatment.
For the treatment of male androgen deficiency (male menopause or hypogonadism), originally prescribed halotestin doses ranged from 2 to 10 mg daily.
However, more recently prescribed halotestin doses are known to range from 5 to 20 mg daily, and in most cases when administered to patients with androgen deficiency, a 20 mg halotestin dose is prescribed at the beginning of treatment and thereafter the dose is adjusted according to the patient's needs based on analysis and discussion with a healthcare professional.
Although these prescription indications call for indefinite long-term use, halotestin can be discontinued at any time if cholesterol levels or liver enzyme levels begin to reach levels of concern and the side effects of halotestin administration outweigh the benefits of the prescribed therapy.
When used as an adjuvant treatment for female breast cancer patients, ironically, much higher doses are often administered for this purpose, ranging from 10 to 40 mg daily.
Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Halotestin Dosages
Because Halotestin is a very potent compound, with a fairly high potential for hepatotoxicity, the dosage of Halotestin for athletic performance and physique enhancement purposes is on average much lower than most commonly used anabolic steroids.
This makes it very difficult to assign dosage guidelines for users in the three tiers (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) because Halotestin's dosage range is so narrow.
Additionally, because this particular anabolic steroid is not commonly used in the same way as all other commonly used anabolic steroids, it is also very difficult to demote separate dosage guidelines from the three tiers of users due to the highly specialized and specific nature of its use.
If it were possible to provide separate herotestin dosages for the three tiers of users, it could be adequately described as follows:
Beginner halotestin users can reliably increase their athletic drive, aggression, and strength by taking 10 to 20 mg of halotestin daily.
Intermediate users can gain greater strength and drive by taking 20 to 30 mg of Halotestin per day.
Finally, advanced users will typically have enough experience to take up to 30-40mg daily, but with the utmost caution.
The upper end of the halotestin dosage range is considered to be on the edge of unnecessarily high and potentially dangerous doses where liver toxicity is a concern.
Another issue is that, as mentioned earlier, Halotestin is a compound with unique purposes and properties that allow users of all levels - beginner, intermediate, and advanced - to achieve desired strength gains and effects at doses as low as 10-20mg daily.
Once again, this is because Halotestin is often utilized for its favorable androgenic effects to enhance competitiveness and aggression, as well as its ability to improve strength without adding large amounts of mass.
Halotestin Dosage for Women
Female athletes are not recommended to use Halotestin because it has a very strong androgenic strength rating.
As a result, halotestin has a much higher probability and incidence of masculinizing symptoms in female users.
As such, halotestin is rarely used among the female athletic population, and as a result, little anecdotal data exists to determine an appropriate female dosage for the purpose of performance and physique enhancement.
“Therefore, it is best for female athletes to avoid the use of this compound.”
The right dose of halotestin and when to take it
Halotestin has a half-life of 9.5 hours, which is quite long for an oral anabolic steroid (especially when compared to other oral anabolic steroids such as Dianabol, which has a much shorter half-life of around 4.5 hours).
However, the half-life of Halo Halotestin is short enough that you can split your Halo doses over the course of the day, but it is generally recommended that you take it no more than twice a day (although more frequent doses are not harmful).
Because of its longer-than-average half-life, it is also possible to take halotestin once daily.
In general, plasma blood levels should be kept constant for optimal results.
The single dose protocol of Halotestin will not cause undesirable blood spiking effects like Dianabol, for example, due to its much shorter half-life.
Expectations and Results from Taking Halotestin
Halotestin falls into a unique category and purpose of use because, as mentioned earlier, it is a very potent androgenic compound.
Halotestin Cycles and Uses
There is very limited information about Halotestin cycles and how it should be utilized in a cycle.
This is partly due to the compound's relatively low popularity among athletes and bodybuilders, but more so due to the very limited and varied ways in which it can be utilized.
We mentioned earlier that Halotestin is an anabolic steroid that provides very potent androgenic effects with less anabolic effects, greatly increasing aggression, motivation, drive, and strength gains while having less effect on weight gain.
As such, its utilization is very limited and specific.
Halotestin is rarely run as the primary anabolic compound in a halotestin cycle for the reasons mentioned above.
For example, the use of Halotestin in high doses as a low dose testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is very rare and almost unheard of.
This is because halotestin is typically included in cycles to provide additional androgenic effects in cycles using milder androgens such as nandrolone or equipoise, to 'harden' the physique in a cutting or pre-contest phase, and of course to increase aggression and strength.
Because of this, there are many different areas where Halotestin can be utilized.
Halotestin is probably one of the most restrictive of the anabolic steroids with a wide range of uses.
Halotestin cycles are also limited by the fact that halotestin can only be used for a few weeks (6-8 weeks, often less).
The weight gain caused by Halotestin itself is moderate enough that, unlike other oral anabolic steroids, it doesn't really show up until about 3-4 weeks after use, which is quite a long time.
This is another reason why Halotestin should not be considered a desirable mass gainer compound.
Beginner Halotestin Cycle
Example Beginner Halotestin Cycle (12 weeks total cycle time)
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1-12Weeks |
- Testosterone Enanthate 300~500mg /week |
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1-6Weeks |
- Halotestin 20mg /day |
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This is a very basic and simple beginner Halotestin cycle, where the main concern is to gain muscle mass.
Testosterone Enanthate is used at a typical beginner dose of 300 - 500mg per week to provide a satisfactory amount of mass gain for the beginner, and Halotestin is utilized for the first 4 - 6 weeks or so of the cycle to provide the excellent strength and lean muscle mass gains desired.
To all readers, this cycle is clearly an example of a bulking and/or lean mass gain cycle.
Intermediate Halotestin Cycles
Intermediate Halotestin Cycle Example (12 weeks total cycle time)
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1-12Weeks |
- Testosterone Enanthate 100mg /week -Nandrolone Decanoate 400mg /week |
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1-6Weeks |
- Halotestin 30mg /day |
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This type of halotestin cycle offers the intermediate user the ability to use a 'mild' anabolic steroid (such as Deca Durabolin or Equipoise) with the addition of halotestin to provide a very satisfying anabolic effect for those lacking estrogen in the body.
Compounds such as Nandrolone and Equipoise convert to estrogen at a much lower rate than other anabolic steroids such as testosterone, which is why testosterone is used in TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) doses.
When testosterone is used in TRT doses, the body's ability to convert testosterone to estrogen is eliminated or greatly reduced (which is what typically happens at supraphysiologic doses, not typical physiologic TRT doses).
This eliminates the need for an aromatase inhibitor, as estrogen is controlled without the need for an aromatase inhibitor.
When testosterone is relegated to a supporting role in TRT at a dose of 100mg per week, it is only present to maintain normal and proper physiologic functions dominated by testosterone in the absence of natural endogenous production of testosterone due to anabolic steroid use in this cycle.
This allows other anabolic steroids (in this case deca durabolin and halotestin) to act as the primary anabolic compounds).
Advanced Halotestin Cycles
Advanced Halotestin Cycle Example (10 weeks total cycle time)
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1-10Weeks |
- Testosterone Propionate 100mg /week (25mg every other day) – Trenbolone Acetate 400mg /week (100mg every other day) |
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6-10Weeks |
- Halotestin 40mg /day |
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This is a perfect example of a pre-contest cycle stack that includes not only an advanced Halotestin cycle, but also Halotestin for the last 6 weeks of the cycle virtually leading up to the contest show.
This is considered a very androgenic cycle, and due to the presence of the two most powerful androgens (trenbolone and halotestin), it is perfect for individuals who want to come out of the cycle with a very hard and defined 3D physique at the end of the cycle while the show is ongoing.
Testosterone is once again utilized in a TRT dose to eliminate the possibility of estrogen conversion while maintaining normal functioning of physiological levels of testosterone.
Halotestin also provides dramatic strength gains during the final six weeks of the cycle.
This cycle can easily be utilized as a bulking or cutting cycle during a fat loss phase.
