Halotestin (Fluoxymesterone)

What is Halotestin (Fluoxymesterone)?

Halotestin, also known by its generic name fluoxymesterone, is a powerful synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS). It is a derivative of testosterone and is known for its strong androgenic effects and moderate anabolic effects. Medically, it has been used to treat conditions such as low testosterone in men (hypogonadism), delayed puberty in boys, and certain types of breast cancer and anemia in women.

Side Effects and Benefits

Benefits:

• Significant Strength and Aggression: Halotestin is not a mass-building steroid, but it is highly valued by powerlifters and strength athletes for its ability to dramatically increase strength and aggression in a very short period, often within 7-10 days. This makes it a popular choice for athletes looking for a performance boost right before a competition.

• Increased Muscle Hardness and Density: It is also used in bodybuilding for its ability to produce a "harder" and more defined look, especially during contest preparation phases. This is likely due to its strong androgenic nature and lack of aromatization (conversion to estrogen).

Side Effects:

Halotestin is considered one of the most hepatotoxic (liver-toxic) oral steroids. Its side effects are often severe and can be dangerous, especially with prolonged use.

• Severe Liver Toxicity: This is the most significant risk. It can cause cholestatic jaundice, peliosis hepatis (blood-filled cysts in the liver), and liver tumors. Regular liver function tests are critical for anyone using this drug.

• Cardiovascular Issues: It can negatively impact cardiovascular health by increasing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, particularly by lowering HDL (good) cholesterol and increasing LDL (bad) cholesterol.

• Androgenic Side Effects: These are very common due to its high androgenic rating. They include:

  • Acne and oily skin

  • Increased body and facial hair growth (hirsutism)

  • Male pattern baldness (in genetically predisposed individuals)

  • Voice deepening

  • Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy)

  • In women, it can cause irreversible virilization, leading to a deep voice, facial hair, and clitoral enlargement.

• Psychological Effects: Users may experience increased aggression, irritability, anxiety, and mood swings.

• Suppression of Natural Hormones: Like other anabolic steroids, it suppresses the body's natural production of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which can lead to testicular atrophy and infertility in men.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Rapid and significant increase in strength and aggression.

• Promotes a "hard" and "dense" muscular look.

• Does not aromatize, so there is no risk of estrogenic side effects like gynecomastia.

Cons:

• Extremely high liver toxicity.

• Severe negative impact on cardiovascular health.

• Strong and potentially irreversible androgenic side effects, especially in women.

• Does not promote significant muscle mass gains.

• Potential for severe psychological side effects.

Dosage and Frequency

Dosages for Halotestin are typically very low due to its high potency and toxicity. Medical dosages for hypogonadism or delayed puberty in males range from 5 to 20 mg per day. For palliative breast cancer treatment in women, dosages are typically 10 to 40 mg per day in divided doses.

For performance-enhancing purposes, common dosages are:

• Beginners: 10 mg per day, for 2-3 weeks.

• Intermediate users: 20 mg per day, for 2-4 weeks.

• Advanced users: Up to 30 mg per day, but rarely exceeding 4 weeks in duration.

Due to its short half-life, it is often recommended to split the daily dose into two or three administrations to maintain stable blood levels.

Half-Life and Detection Time

• Half-Life: The elimination half-life of fluoxymesterone is approximately 9.2 hours.

• Detection Time: The detection time for fluoxymesterone is relatively long. While the drug itself has a short half-life, its metabolites can be detected in urine for up to two months (approximately 60 days) after the last dose.

Sterogenic, Progestogenic, and Prolactin Effects

• Sterogenic: Fluoxymesterone is a potent androgenic and anabolic steroid. It has a high anabolic rating but is much more recognized for its androgenic effects in practice. It does not convert to estrogen, which is a key characteristic that differentiates it from many other steroids.

• Progestogenic: Halotestin does not have progestogenic activity and therefore does not directly stimulate the progesterone receptor.

• Prolactin: Halotestin does not directly cause an increase in prolactin levels. However, some anabolic steroids can indirectly affect prolactin through interactions with other hormonal pathways. The primary concern with high prolactin is often associated with progestogenic steroids like Trenbolone and Deca-Durabolin, not Halotestin.

Anabolic-Androgenic Ratio

The anabolic-androgenic ratio for fluoxymesterone is often cited as being very high, with some sources reporting numbers as high as 1900:850 (anabolic:androgenic), relative to testosterone's ratio of 100:100. However, these in-vitro (lab) numbers are often misleading. In a real-world, in-vivo (human) context, the anabolic effects are not as pronounced as the number suggests, and the drug is primarily used for its strong androgenic properties and ability to increase strength and aggression, not for building significant muscle mass.