Dynabolan

What is Dynabolan?

Dynabolan is a brand name for the anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) nandrolone undecanoate, also known as nandrolone undecylate. It is an ester of nandrolone, which is a synthetic form of the hormone testosterone. It was previously marketed in countries like France, Germany, Italy, and Monaco but has since been discontinued and is no longer commercially available. The purpose of esterifying the nandrolone with the undecanoate chain is to prolong the release of the drug after intramuscular injection, allowing for less frequent dosing.

Side Effects and Benefits

Like all anabolic steroids, Dynabolan has potential benefits and a wide range of significant side effects.

Benefits:

• Muscle Growth (Anabolic Effects): Anabolic steroids are designed to promote protein synthesis, which leads to increased muscle mass and strength.

• Appetite Stimulation: It can help with appetite, which is useful in treating conditions that cause muscle wasting, such as cancer and AIDS.

• Increased Red Blood Cell Production: Nandrolone can stimulate erythropoiesis (the production of red blood cells), which can be beneficial in treating anemia.

• Increased Bone Density: It can help to increase bone density, which is a potential treatment for osteoporosis.

Side Effects:

Side effects can vary greatly depending on the dosage, duration of use, individual genetics, and other factors. They can be short-term or long-term and range from mild to life-threatening.

• Hormonal and Endocrine Effects:

  • In men: Shrunken testicles, decreased sperm production and infertility, gynecomastia (development of breast tissue), and prostate problems.

  • In women: Virilization, which includes a deepened voice, male-pattern hair growth (including facial hair), a reduction in breast size, and an enlarged clitoris.

  • Both men and women can experience changes in sex drive and other hormonal disorders.

• Cardiovascular Effects: High blood pressure, high cholesterol (specifically, an increase in "bad" LDL cholesterol and a decrease in "good" HDL cholesterol), heart attack, and stroke.

• Psychological and Psychiatric Effects: Mood swings, aggression ("roid rage"), irritability, depression, and addiction.

• Physical Effects: Severe acne, male-pattern baldness, water retention and bloating, and liver damage.

Pros and Cons

Since Dynabolan is no longer on the market for legitimate medical use, this section will discuss the general pros and cons of using nandrolone-based steroids for performance enhancement.

Pros:

• High anabolic potential leading to significant muscle and strength gains.

• Reputation for being "milder" than some other steroids in terms of androgenic side effects like hair loss and acne, due to its chemical structure.

• Long half-life allows for less frequent injections compared to short-acting steroids.

Cons:

• Severe side effects: The risks associated with steroid use are numerous and can be life-altering or fatal, as listed above.

• Illegality: The non-medical use of anabolic steroids is illegal and a controlled substance in many countries.

• Hormonal disruption: Suppresses natural testosterone production, often requiring post-cycle therapy (PCT).

• "Deca-Dick": A well-known side effect of nandrolone is erectile dysfunction, often referred to as "Deca-Dick," due to the drug's effects on prolactin and progesterone.

Dosage and Frequency

Information on dosages for performance enhancement is not medically sanctioned and should be considered with extreme caution. However, according to sources discussing the illicit use of nandrolone decanoate (a similar nandrolone ester), a typical dose for muscle growth and athletic performance is around 200 mg to 400 mg per week, often for a cycle of 10 to 12 weeks. Medically, doses for certain conditions were much lower, such as 50 to 100 mg per month.

Half-Life and Detection Time

• Half-life: The half-life of nandrolone undecanoate is quite long, due to the large undecanoate ester. This means it releases slowly into the bloodstream. While specific data for nandrolone undecanoate is scarce, the half-life of the more common nandrolone decanoate is approximately 6 days.

• Detection Time: This is a crucial factor for athletes subject to drug testing. Because the nandrolone undecanoate ester is very long-acting and its metabolites are excreted over a long period, it has a very long detection time. Nandrolone decanoate, a very similar compound, has a detection time of up to 18 months, and in some cases even longer.

Sterogenic, Progestogenic, and Prolactin Effects

• Sterogenic Effects: This refers to its function as a steroid. It is a powerful anabolic steroid, meaning it promotes the building of tissue, particularly muscle.

• Progestogenic Effects: Nandrolone is a potent progestogen. It binds to the progesterone receptor with significant affinity. This progestogenic activity is what contributes to some of its unique side effects, such as the suppression of natural testosterone production and potential for gynecomastia (even without aromatization into estrogen).

• Prolactin Effects: The progestogenic activity of nandrolone can lead to an increase in the hormone prolactin. High levels of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) can cause side effects like erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, and in men, can contribute to the development of breast tissue (gynecomastia) and even lactation in rare cases.

Anabolic Androgenic Ratio

The anabolic-androgenic ratio is a way of comparing a steroid's muscle-building properties (anabolic) to its masculinizing properties (androgenic), relative to testosterone, which is set at 100:100.

For nandrolone, this ratio is often cited as being very favorable for anabolic effects. While the exact numbers can vary between studies and are often based on animal models, nandrolone is generally given a ratio of 125:37 (anabolic:androgenic), or even as high as 150:40. This means it is considered to be more anabolic and significantly less androgenic than testosterone.