Havoc

"Havoc," a name used in the bodybuilding and supplement community, is a brand or street name for methylepitiostanol. It is also known by other names like Epistane, Hemapolin, and Epi-Plex. This substance is a synthetic, orally active anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

It was first described in scientific literature in the 1970s, but it was never developed for medical use or approved as a pharmaceutical drug. Its status as a "designer steroid" means there is no official clinical data on its effects, and most of what is known comes from user reports and extrapolation based on its chemical structure.

Side Effects and Benefits

Claimed Benefits Proponents and users often claim the following benefits, which are largely anecdotal:

• Increased muscle mass and strength: It is believed to lead to "dry" gains, meaning muscle growth with minimal water retention.

• Fat-loss effects: Some users report that it can help reduce body fat while promoting muscle growth.

• Non-aromatizing: It is marketed as a compound that does not convert to estrogen, which is thought to reduce the risk of estrogen-related side effects like gynecomastia.

Known and Likely Side Effects Since it is a potent oral steroid, it is expected to carry many of the same risks as other similar compounds.

• Liver Damage (Hepatotoxicity): This is a significant risk. The 17α-methyl group in its structure is known to cause liver stress, and it can lead to elevated liver enzymes and potentially severe liver injury.

• Suppression of Natural Hormones: It suppresses the body's natural production of testosterone, which can lead to low testosterone levels, testicular atrophy, reduced fertility, and low libido. Recovery can be delayed or incomplete.

• Cardiovascular Issues: AAS misuse is associated with negative changes to cholesterol levels (lowering good HDL and raising bad LDL), increased blood pressure, and a higher risk of heart-related events.

• Androgenic Side Effects: These include acne, oily skin, increased body and facial hair, and male-pattern baldness in those with a genetic predisposition. In women, it can cause masculinizing effects like a deeper voice and clitoral enlargement.

• Psychological Effects: Mood swings, irritability, and aggression are commonly reported.

Pros and Cons

Dosage and Frequency

There is no clinically recommended or official dosage for methylepitiostanol. Dosing information comes from user reports and marketing materials, which often suggest a cycle of 4-6 weeks with a daily dose of 20 to 40 mg. Such regimens are not medically validated and should be considered experimental and high-risk.

Half-Life and Detection Time

• Half-Life: A precise half-life for methylepitiostanol in humans has not been officially published. Based on other oral steroids, its half-life is likely to be relatively short, on the order of several hours.

• Detection Time: While the compound itself may clear from the bloodstream quickly, its metabolites can be detected in urine for much longer. Detection windows in anti-doping tests could range from several days to a few weeks, depending on the dose, duration of use, and the specific test's sensitivity.

Sterogenic, Progestogenic, Prolactin, and Anabolic-Androgenic Ratio

• Sterogenic/Estrogenic Effects: Methylepitiostanol is widely marketed as non-aromatizing, meaning it is not supposed to convert to estrogen. However, some steroids can still have direct or indirect estrogenic effects, so a risk of breast tissue proliferation remains, especially when hormonal balance is disrupted.

• Progestogenic and Prolactin Effects: There is no reliable data on whether this compound has significant progestogenic activity or how it affects prolactin levels. It is an area of uncertainty and a potential risk, particularly if used with other compounds that can influence these hormones.

• Anabolic:Androgenic Ratio: A validated numeric anabolic-androgenic ratio for methylepitiostanol has not been published in scientific literature. Claims made in marketing materials are unreliable.