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Muscle & performance

Dianabol Oil (Methandrostenolone)

A classic C17-alpha-alkylated anabolic steroid with strong anabolic and androgenic effects, in oil form for injections.

2 min read 8 sources

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Glass vial with golden oil and a black TPD label on a white podium, next to it a large glossy blue 3D steroid molecule with four rings in a bright lab, symbolic image for methandienone
Formerly approved · withdrawn in 1982

Summary

At a glance

Sources checked on 26 Oct 2026

Body weight in 6 weeks
+3.3 kg

11 men in strength training, compared with the placebo period, only in the lean part1

Weight in weightlifters
+2.3 kg

7 weightlifters, 6 weeks; according to the authors not normal muscle tissue2

Dropouts due to side effects
3 of 13

Weightlifters in a double-blind trial, blood pressure rose significantly3

Trials in the registry
0 trials

no trial with methandienone on ClinicalTrials.gov, as of 25 Oct 20267

  • Dianabol oil contains methandienone, an old 17-alpha alkylated anabolic steroid. It acts on the androgen receptor and was withdrawn from the market in several countries in 1982 because of misuse.8
  • In two small double-blind trials with athletes body weight rose by 3.3 and 2.3 kg in 6 weeks. In the first, the gain was confined to the lean part of the body.12
  • Whether this is real muscle remained open: the authors found too much potassium and nitrogen for normal muscle tissue and also considered stored fluid possible.12
  • Strength and performance did not rise more than on placebo in one trial, in two others they did. Blood pressure rose, 3 of 13 weightlifters stopped because of side effects and natural testosterone fell.123
  • There is no study on injecting it as an oil, only case reports and animal data on the liver. Everything here is the state of research, not a recommendation.756
Profile

Updated June 2026

Class
Anabolic Steroid

C17-alpha-alkylated

Use
Research compound

classic steroid

Half-life
4-6 hours

oil depot prolongs effect

Status
WADA banned

controlled substance

Sizes
30mg/ml

1 size in the shop

Contents 13 sections
  1. At a glance
  2. What is Dianabol Oil?
  3. How it works
  4. Application and dosing
  5. What the research shows
  6. Research status
  7. Side effects
  8. Storage
  9. PCT / after coming off
  10. Related compounds
  11. FAQ
  12. Glossary
  13. Sources

What is Dianabol Oil?

Dianabol (methandrostenolone) is one of the oldest and most classic anabolic steroids, first synthesized in 1956. The injectable oil form is used to achieve faster and more potent effects than the oral variant. The C17-alpha alkylation enables stomach acid protection for oral administration but makes the oil version hepatotoxic.

Dianabol oil is injected intramuscularly as a depot formulation, slowly releasing the steroid over time and extending the short half-life of free methandrostenolone.

This information is for research and educational purposes only. No medical advice.

Comparison

Methandienone and relatives

The same compound in another form and related 17-alpha alkylated steroids, as described in the TPD lexicon. Tap a card to open its entry.

Methandienone as oil Dianabol Oil (Methandrostenolone) AR
Oral methandienone Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) AR 17-alpha alkylated, DHT derivative Anadrol (Oxymetholone) AR 17-alpha alkylated testosterone Methyltestosterone AR Testosterone with ester, not alkylated Testosterone Enanthate AR

How it works

Dianabol works primarily through androgen receptor activation and shows moderate aromatization to estrogen. Its anabolic:androgenic ratio is often described as 90-210:40-60 (i.e., strong anabolic, moderate androgenic activity).

  • Protein biosynthesis strongly enhanced - rapid muscle gain
  • Nitrogen retention and phosphate retention increased
  • Aromatization to estrogen prominent - estrogenic side effects likely
  • Strong HPG axis suppression - endogenous testosterone production suppressed
  • Glycogenic effects - muscle glycogen storage improved

Where it acts

One receptor, several organs

Tap a point or a card. Colour = receptor, grey = effect seen in trials.

  1. Skeletal muscle

    Muscles got bigger, weight only in the lean part1

    AR
  2. Testes

    Blood testosterone fell, cortisol rose1

    Observed in trials
  3. Heart and circulation

    Systolic blood pressure rose significantly3

    Observed in trials
  4. Liver

    Case report: cholestasis with jaundice after 8 weeks5

    Observed in trials
  5. Kidney

    Same case: acute kidney injury5

    Observed in trials
  6. Pancreas

    Same case: acute inflammation5

    Observed in trials
  7. Bone

    In osteoporosis no clear gain in bone mass over 24 months4

    Observed in trials

Targets in the ChEMBL database8

Compound CHEMBL1418176: one recorded mechanism, agonist with direct binding to the human receptor.

Androgen receptor
Gene
AR
UniProt
P10275
ChEMBL
CHEMBL1871
Action
Agonist, direct binding
Glossy blue 3D steroid molecules float between transparent twisted fibre bundles full of blue beads, one slides through a glass ring
Methandienone acts through the androgen receptor. Symbolic image.

Application and dosing

Dosing

Dosing, titration and syringe

Loading the dosing information …

  • Getting started and stepping up, drawn as a staircase
  • Units on the U-100 syringe for every step
  • How long one vial lasts
Glass vial with golden oil and a black TPD label, next to it an empty disposable syringe on a white surface
Symbolic image.

What the research shows

Dianabol is the most well-studied anabolic steroid with classic studies from the 1960s and 1970s. Findings show:

  • Lean mass gain: 3.3 kg on average in a double-blind crossover study with 100 mg/day for 6 weeks (Hervey, 1976), with the authors leaving open whether this reflects muscle growth or intracellular fluid
  • Strength and performance rose with training in the same study, but not significantly more on the drug than on placebo
  • Both estrogenic and androgenic side effects prominent
  • Hepatic effects: Liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT) elevated - reversible upon cessation
  • Return to baseline after cessation relatively quick due to short half-life

Study results

What the trials measured

Interactive: switch tabs, tap points, show or hide arms. Arms are named relative to each other, no dosing advice.

Weight gain in 6 weeks12

Gain in kg, two double-blind trials with a placebo period (crossover)

Trial 19761 11 men in strength training
Methandienone daily (highest study dose, 100 mg per day) +3.3 kg
Trial 19812 7 weightlifters
Methandienone daily (highest study dose, 100 mg per day) +2.3 kg

1976 compared with the placebo period, only in the lean part; strength and performance did not rise more than on placebo. In 1981 weight, muscle size and leg strength and performance rose only on the drug.

Rise in total body potassium12

Gain in mmol, same trials

Trial 19761
Methandienone daily (highest study dose, 100 mg per day) +420 mmol
Trial 19812
Methandienone daily (highest study dose, 100 mg per day) +436 mmol

Potassium is used as a measure of cell mass. In 1981 total body nitrogen also rose by 255 g. Both were too large for the weight gain, the authors conclude a nitrogen-rich substance rather than normal muscle tissue.

Row of test tubes with clear liquid, in two of them floats a glass figure of a flexed upper arm
The human trials are old and small. Symbolic image.

Research status

Where the research stands

Methandienone predates today's trial registries, the human studies date from 1975 to 1981. As of 25 Oct 2026. 7

  1. Preclinical Liver cells and mice
  2. Phase 1 no registered trial
  3. Phase 2 no registered trial
  4. Phase 3 no registered trial
  5. Approval withdrawn in 1982
Formerly approved as a drug. According to ChEMBL withdrawn in 1982 in France, the USA, the UK and Germany because of misuse.8

The approval predates today's trial registries, so the register shows no current trial for this form. 7

Side effects

Dianabol has a well-known side effect profile with both estrogenic and androgenic components.

  • Estrogenic: Gynecomastia, fluid retention, blood pressure elevation
  • Androgenic: Acne, alopecia (in genetically susceptible individuals), facial/scalp oiliness
  • Hepatic: C17-alpha alkylation makes hepatotoxicity likely - liver function should be monitored
  • Cardiovascular: Blood pressure elevation (through fluid retention), LDL cholesterol increase, HDL reduction
  • HPG axis: Testosterone decline, testicular atrophy possible
  • Psychiatric: Mood swings, aggression (in rare cases)
  • Other: Headaches, nausea, gastrointestinal upset

Tolerability

Dropouts in the weightlifter trial

Out of 100 participants, how many had to stop because of side effects. 3 of 13 weightlifters, small trial with two lower levels.

23 of 100 Methandienone daily (two lower levels)
Event Methandienone daily (two lower levels)
Stopped due to side effects3 23%

3 of 13 is 23.1 percent (calculated). The trial reports many side effects and a significant rise in systolic blood pressure. All side effects disappeared after stopping.3

Storage

Dianabol oil must be stored at room temperature, protected from light.

  • Temperature: 15-25°C ideal
  • Light: Store in dark (original vials or amber glass)
  • Moisture: Keep dry
  • Shelf life: 2-3 years stable with proper storage
  • Note: Oil-based steroids are more robust than water suspensions; crystallization rare
Four glass vials with golden oil on a white shelf, next to them a folded light blue cloth
Oil solution at room temperature, dry and protected from light. Symbolic image.

Related

Related compounds

Same receptors or blends with Dianabol Oil (Methandrostenolone): all in the TPD lexicon.

Dianabol Oil (Methandrostenolone)
Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) The same compound taken orally Anadrol Oil (Oxymetholone) Another 17-alpha alkylated steroid as oil Anadrol (Oxymetholone) 17-alpha alkylated, oral Methyltestosterone 17-alpha alkylated testosterone Testosterone Enanthate Testosterone with a long ester

FAQ

Common questions about Dianabol Oil (Methandrostenolone)

Short answers, each backed by the sources below.

What is the difference between Dianabol oil and oral Dianabol?

The compound is the same, methandienone. The known human trials used daily dosing, there is no study on injecting it as an oil, not on ClinicalTrials.gov either. How long the oil depot lasts has therefore not been measured.17

Is methandienone approved?

Not any more. The ChEMBL database lists methandienone as a drug that was withdrawn in France, the USA, the UK and Germany in 1982 because of misuse. No new trials are on the registry (as of 25 October 2026).87

What did the trials with athletes show?

In 1976, 11 men in strength training took methandienone for 6 weeks, alternating with a placebo period. On the drug they gained 3.3 kg on average, only in the lean part. Their muscles got bigger. Strength and performance did not rise more than on placebo, though. In 1981 weight (2.3 kg), muscle size and leg strength and performance rose only on the drug in 7 weightlifters. In a trial with 13 weightlifters and two lower levels performance was also better than on placebo.123

Is the gain real muscle?

That remained open. In 1976 the authors also considered more fluid inside the cells possible. In 1981 total body potassium rose by 436 mmol and nitrogen by 255 g, both too much for 2.3 kg of normal tissue; they conclude a nitrogen-rich, phosphate-poor substance and write that the gain is not normal muscle. In the weightlifter trial the weight gain seemed to be linked to water retention.123

Which side effects were seen?

In the trial with 13 weightlifters methandienone caused many side effects, 3 participants had to stop because of them and systolic blood pressure rose significantly. All side effects disappeared after stopping. In 1976 blood testosterone fell and cortisol rose.31

What is known about the liver?

A case report describes a 50-year-old man who was admitted with cholestasis and jaundice, acute kidney injury and acute pancreatitis after 8 weeks of methandienone. In liver cells the share of dying cells rose to 25.08 instead of 4.94 percent, in mice the liver became fatty and ALT and AST rose.56

Glossary

Terms explained briefly

Dotted words in the text open these explanations directly.

17-alpha alkylation
A methyl group on carbon atom 17. It protects the steroid from rapid breakdown in the liver but puts strain on the liver.
Androgen receptor
Protein inside the cell that androgens bind to. Genes are then read, for example for muscle building.
Aromatization
Conversion of an androgen to estrogen by the enzyme aromatase.
Cholestasis
Bile does not drain properly from the liver. This causes jaundice, itching and rising liver markers.
Depot
The oil solution stays in the tissue after the injection and releases the compound gradually.
Double-blind crossover study
Each participant receives the drug and placebo one after the other, without them or the researchers knowing which is which.
Gynecomastia
Enlargement of the male breast gland, usually from too much estrogen relative to testosterone.
Half-life
Time after which only half of the compound is left in the blood.
Hormone axis
Hypothalamus, pituitary and testes together control the body's own testosterone production. Anabolic steroids from outside suppress this axis.
Nitrogen retention
The body excretes less nitrogen than it takes in. Seen as a sign of more protein building.
Placebo
Dummy preparation without active substance. Comparing against it shows what is due to the substance itself.

Practice

PCT / after coming off

Anabolic substances suppress the body's own testosterone production in the research context. Anyone who comes off a cycle (rather than running it continuously) typically uses a post-cycle therapy (PCT) to restart the natural axis (HPTA).

The standard scheme in the research/literature context combines a SERM (tamoxifen and/or clomifene, alternatively enclomiphene) over roughly four weeks, optionally preceded by HCG to re-sensitise the testes before the SERM block. An aromatase inhibitor (anastrozole/exemestane) belongs more to on-cycle estrogen control than to the PCT itself.

Tip: order the PCT items together with the cycle so they are already on hand when you come off.

This information serves research and educational purposes only. Not medical advice.

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) SERM, core of PCT View Clomid (Clomifen) SERM, core of PCT View Enclomiphene (Androxal) SERM alternative View HCG testicular restart before PCT View Arimidex (Anastrozole) aromatase inhibitor, on-cycle View Aromasin (Exemestane) aromatase inhibitor, on-cycle View

Evidence

Sources

Show all 8 sourcesHide sources 6 Studies1 Trial registry1 Database checked 26 Oct 2026

Studies

  1. Methandienone in men in strength training, double-blind crossover

    Hervey et al., The Lancet, 1976

    DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(76)90001-5 PMID 61389
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  2. Repeat with weightlifters: potassium, nitrogen, performance

    Hervey et al., Clinical Science, 1981

    DOI 10.1042/cs0600457 PMID 7018798
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  3. Double-blind crossover with 13 weightlifters

    Freed et al., British Medical Journal, 1975

    DOI 10.1136/bmj.2.5969.471 PMID 125133
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  4. Body composition in osteoporosis over 24 months

    Aloia et al., Metabolism, 1981

    DOI 10.1016/0026-0495(81)90050-0 PMID 7026971
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  5. Case report: cholestasis, kidney injury and pancreatitis

    Rosenfeld et al., Journal of Medical Case Reports, 2011

    DOI 10.1186/1752-1947-5-138 PMID 21470406
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  6. Liver damage in liver cells and mice

    Ye et al., Journal of International Medical Research, 2026

    DOI 10.1177/03000605261448774 PMID 42286859
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed

Trial registry

  1. Search on ClinicalTrials.gov

    ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2

Database

  1. Mechanism and withdrawal in ChEMBL

    ChEMBL, EMBL-EBI (CHEMBL1418176)

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ChEMBL

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