Methandrostenolone (Methandienone) – properties and administration schemes

Author: Vasiliy Roldugin - coach and Master of Sports in Powerlifting.
2014-03-20

Important! We do not advocate for the use of steroids and other potent substances. All information is provided so that those who still decide to take them can do so with minimal health risks.

A very powerful androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS), developed by D. Ziegler in 1956 with the assistance of the company "Ciba-Geigy." It first became available in the United States in 1960 and has since been very popular among strength sports enthusiasts as an excellent substance for gaining strength and mass.

Methandrostenolone (commonly known as methan) is widely available on the black market for AAS under numerous trade names. The most common oral forms are: anabol, dianabol, danabol, methandienone, and naposim. They contain the active ingredient at doses ranging from 5 to 10 mg per tablet.

There is also an injectable form; however, the active ingredient is always methandrostenolone, and if someone tries to convince you that dianabol and naposim are different substances, be assured that this person does not know the subject. Methan, like any other AAS, is a synthetic derivative of the male hormone testosterone. The intake of just 10 mg of methandrostenolone results in a fivefold increase in the average testosterone level in men. This has a powerful effect on protein metabolism, enhancing protein synthesis and accelerating the production of protein by the body.

Pros and Cons of Taking Methan

When taking methandrostenolone, the user, on one hand, experiences a rapid and reliable effect. It consists of increased strength, muscle mass, and improved overall, including psychological, condition.

On the other hand, the user risks experiencing certain side effects. Such unpleasant issues include:

• Liver problems;
• Acne;
• Increased blood pressure;
• Gynecomastia;
• Gastrointestinal disorders;
• Excessive aggression;
• Water retention;
• Significant suppression of natural testosterone production.

All of these can occur if the "reasonable" dosages or duration of use are exceeded. That is why when using not only methan but AAS in general, it is essential to try to maintain a balance of "benefit-harm." Ideally, the "benefit" should outweigh the harm.

How Much to Take to Maintain Balance

Maintaining the "benefit-harm" balance will be quite simple for most users. The key is to stay within a reasonable effective dosage of 15-40 mg of the substance per day. For beginners, an even lower dose of 20 mg per day would be optimal. The duration of use should not exceed 6-8 weeks.

Of course, if you decide to try methan, no one can restrict you from the number of tablets you take. However, know that taking 15 tablets will not work better than taking 5, but you will experience a multitude of side effects.

Dosage Schemes

Since methan is one of the oldest substances, there are several dosage schemes available. The most well-known are "hump," "wave," and "3+1." All of these are presented in the table with respect to the number of 10 mg tablets taken daily.

Each of these schemes is effective and will allow you to gain both strength and mass, but do not forget that the action of methan in the body lasts from 3 to 5 hours. That's why to maintain a sufficiently high concentration of the substance in the blood, it’s better to divide the daily dose into two parts, and on training days, into three doses. This is practically most convenient when dosing two or more tablets a day. But always remember to take them with food to avoid the possibility of gastrointestinal distress.

Results of Use

After just 6-8 weeks of taking methandrostenolone, even as the sole substance in your cycle, you can expect to gain between 6 to 10 kg of your own weight. Additionally, you will notice a significant increase in your training weights.

In my time, I knew people who added 40 kg to their bench press and gained 8 kg in body weight during 6 weeks of taking methan at doses of up to 30 mg per day. They experienced no side effects except for increased appetite, heightened potency, and slight water retention.

Still, when taking methandrostenolone, one needs to be very careful about their health. First and foremost, it is advisable to ease the burden on the liver by taking hepatoprotectors, such as Essentiale Forte. Also, I would not recommend methan for women due to the very high likelihood (almost 100%) of masculinization – the process of developing secondary male sexual characteristics.

Discontinuation

With all the positive aspects of gaining mass and strength, sooner or later, the intake of methan needs to be stopped. The most unpleasant consequence after discontinuation is the loss of muscle mass. This primarily occurs due to the loss of the water accumulated in the body during the use of the substance. As weight decreases, strength decreases as well. Of course, not everything will go away, but in the "dry residue," it may not be as much as you would like. The solution in this situation is enhanced organization of nutrition, training processes, and recovery.

Summing Up

So, if you want to quickly increase your strength indicators and muscle mass, then methandrostenolone will effectively help you achieve your goals even on its own. This is why the spheres of use for this substance are bodybuilding and powerlifting. In bodybuilding, methan is best used during the mass gain phase, while its use in powerlifting may be limited only by weight categories or doping controls, at which it can be detected even 3-6 months after the end of the cycle.

When taking methandrostenolone, try not to exceed optimal dosages. Do not use the substance for more than eight weeks. Eat adequately and train hard. Monitor your health and take hepatoprotectors. After finishing the methan cycle, optimize your training process to retain the results you have achieved.

In conclusion, I would like to note that it is challenging to cover all the nuances of using methan in just one article, so I am ready to answer any questions from readers.