Methyltestosterone

Methyltestosterone, also known by the brand names Android, Metandren, and Testred, is an oral androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS). It's a synthetic derivative of testosterone that has been modified to be taken orally, making it one of the most androgenic AAS available.

Side Effects and Benefits

Methyltestosterone has a range of side effects and benefits. The severity and occurrence of side effects depend on the dose, duration of use, and individual response.

• Benefits:

  • Treating low testosterone (hypogonadism): It helps restore testosterone levels to a healthy range in men.

  • Delayed puberty in boys: It's used to initiate pubertal changes.

  • Hormone therapy: At low doses, it's used as a component of menopausal hormone therapy in women to manage symptoms.

  • Palliative breast cancer treatment: It can be used in some cases of breast cancer to lower estrogen levels.

  • Muscle and strength gains: Like other anabolic steroids, it can increase muscle size and strength, though this is considered a misuse of the drug.

• Side Effects:

  • Hepatic (Liver) Damage: One of the most significant risks is liver damage, including cholestatic jaundice, peliosis hepatis (blood-filled cysts in the liver), and, in rare cases, liver cancer. This is a major concern with oral AAS.

  • Cardiovascular Issues: Can lead to fluid retention (edema), which may cause or worsen congestive heart failure. It can also increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots.

  • Endocrine and Reproductive System:

    • Males: Can cause gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue), frequent or persistent erections, and suppressed sperm production.

    • Females: Can cause virilization, which includes a deepening of the voice, clitoral enlargement, and changes in menstrual cycles.

  • Psychological Effects: Misuse can lead to aggression, mood swings, depression, and psychosis.

  • Other: Acne, oily skin, hair loss (male-pattern baldness), and stunted growth in adolescents due to premature bone maturation.

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Pros and Cons

• Pros:

  • Effective for medical conditions: It's an effective treatment for approved medical uses like male hypogonadism and delayed puberty.

  • Oral administration: The oral form is convenient compared to injections.

• Cons:

  • High liver toxicity: The hepatotoxic nature is a significant drawback, especially with high doses or prolonged use.

  • High androgenic effects: The high androgenic activity leads to severe side effects such as virilization in women and gynecomastia in men.

  • Potential for misuse: Due to its anabolic properties, it is frequently misused, leading to a range of serious health risks.

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Dosage and Frequency

Dosages vary widely depending on the medical condition being treated and the patient's individual response.

• Androgen deficiency (males): 10-50 mg per day.

• Metastatic breast cancer (females): 50-200 mg per day.

• Delayed puberty (males): Typically in the lower range, for a limited duration of 4 to 6 months.

It's administered as a tablet or capsule, usually taken once per day.

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Half-Life and Detection Time

• Half-life: The elimination half-life of methyltestosterone is relatively short, around 2.5 to 3 hours. This means it's cleared from the body quickly.

• Detection time: Despite the short half-life, its metabolites can be detected in urine for a longer period. Detection times can vary widely based on the specific metabolite tested, but some can be detected for up to 3 weeks or more after a single administration.

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Sterogenic, Progestogenic, and Prolactin Effects

• Sterogenic (Estrogenic): Methyltestosterone is an oral steroid that can be converted to an estrogenic metabolite, leading to estrogen-related side effects like gynecomastia and fluid retention. It can also suppress luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion, affecting endogenous testosterone production.

• Progestogenic: Methyltestosterone is not a progestin and does not have significant progestogenic activity.

• Prolactin: Androgens like methyltestosterone are not known to directly increase prolactin levels. However, imbalances in sex hormones, particularly high estrogen from aromatization, can indirectly influence prolactin. Prolactin itself can suppress testosterone production.

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Anabolic-Androgenic Ratio

The anabolic-androgenic ratio is a measure of a steroid's anabolic (muscle-building) effects versus its androgenic (masculinizing) effects. Methyltestosterone has an anabolic-androgenic ratio of 1:1 to 2:1. This ratio is similar to that of natural testosterone, but methyltestosterone is considered one of the most androgenic AAS due to its high oral bioavailability.