Dbol: The OG Oral

Dianabol (commonly known as Dbol) was the first ever oral androgenic anabolic steroid (AAS). Other names you can find it under are, Methandienone, or methandrostenolone, or sometimes simply “methan”. Dbol has been a crazy popular steroid in the bodybuilding world for the past 40 years. Dbol is mostly used in bulking cycles, as it helps users gain significant muscle size and strength. 

 

Interestingly, Dr. John Bosley Ziegler developed dianabol after meeting a Russian physicist who revealed that the Olympic Soviets were taking exogenous testosterone during the 1952 Olympics. The Soviets had dominated and set world records in the weightlifting events. By 1955 dianabol was created. The objective was to create a substance more powerful than testosterone which would help defeat the Russians in the Olympics. By 1958, dianabol was released in the US, and it had more than double the anabolic rating of testosterone (210 vs 100 rating) and less androgenic than testosterone (60 vs 100 rating).

 

 In the 1960s, peak of the Golden Era of Bodybuilding, dbol became more mainstream with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, Lou Ferrigno, and other bodybuilders were thought to be using dbol. Physiques became huge in size but remaining aesthetically pleasing was equally important. During this era, it was common for bodybuilders to be able to go to their doctors and simply ask for dianabol. Doctors easily granted their requests and handed out dbol and other mass and strength improving steroids liberally. Steroids were easy to get, legal, and adverse effects were not commonly known, so using them was common in the bodybuilding world. In 1990, Dianabol was banned by the FDA and today remains banned in the US and most other countries. However, it is relatively easy to obtain dbol and other steroids especially in online pharmacies or in countries where they are still legal. 

 

Dianabol causes a surge in free testosterone levels, protein synthesis and glycogenesis, resulting in massive gains in muscular strength and size. Free testosterone is the testosterone that is unbound and free for the body to synthesize new muscle tissue from. The surge in protein synthesis means that muscle fibers increase in size and repair quicker thanks to enhanced recovery levels, allowing for longer training sessions. Dbol also increases intracellular water retention, a sign of increased lean body mass, thus increasing strength and functional performance. In the first 30 days of use, it is common to gain up to 20 lbs. or more on dianabol, most of which is muscle mass plus some water retention. A typical 6-week cycle can yield more than 30 lbs. in gains.