Overview & History
Primobolan Overview & History
Methenolone is marketed under the trade name of Primobolan. Primobolan is available as an orally administered form and an oil-based injectable form. When looking at the injectable form of Primobolan, it is called Methenolone Enanthate. When looking at the orally administered variant, it is called Methenolone acetate. Due to the extremely mild androgenic and anabolic nature, it is commonly compared to a similar anabolic steroid, Anavar. However, Anavar and Primobolan different when it comes to the anabolic strength rating, with Anavar being far stronger.
Testosterone sets the measurement for all anabolic steroids with its baseline of 100. Looking a, it has a rating of 88 which makes it reasonably weak in comparison. When compared to the androgenic rating of Testosterone, which is 100, Primobolan has a rating of between 44 and 57. Obviously, this comes with both positives and negatives. Many people appreciate that the androgenic strength is weaker than Testosterone. However, the androgenic weakness makes it less than desirable for athletic and bodybuilding use.
More often than not, the majority of people opt to Primobolan in cycles where the preservation of lean muscle mass is required during cutting. As it lacks strength with its anabolic capabilities, it is almost never used as part of a bulking cycle. Looking at the history of Primobolan, the first published and release details were in 1960. Two years later, injectable methylone and Enanthate was released, quickly followed by Methenolone acetate.
The injectable format was marketed as Nibal Depot while the oral format was marketed as Nibal. The tablet form came as a 20 mg tablet. Not long after its release, manufacturing rights were purchased by Schering in West Germany. It was at this point in time that Nibal disappeared from American markets and was relaunched under the new brand name of Primobolan for both oral and injectable variants.
It became the manufacturers most popular anabolic steroid. It was marketed on an international level and disappeared from the American market, never to return. While it was never marketed in the United States, it still holds on to it’s listing as an FDA-approved drug. This has made it possible for doctors in America to import Primobolan on special order.
Looking at Primobolan’s medical use, it is commonly used for treating muscle wasting conditions with extreme weight loss as one of the major symptoms. It also has uses as an immunostimulant and for counteracting the effects associated with chronic corticosteroid therapy. Other uses include treating osteoporosis and age-related muscle loss. As the negative effects are so mild, it is able to be used and infants and children as a means of encouraging weight gain.
It is easy to see why it possesses an allure for those and the bodybuilding and athletic community. The fact that it exhibits weakened androgenic effects with very few side effects makes it highly desirable. As is a common pattern with many anabolic steroids the 1990’s saw it removed from markets around the world and production ceased. This was all down to growing levels of hysteria and anti-steroid sentiments portrayed in the media. This resulted in Primobolan being manufactured and sold to a tiny selection of countries such as Ecuador, Paraguay, Japan, Turkey and Spain.
Looking at the orally administered Methenolone acetate, it also ended up being removed from nearly every market and production was stopped. However, it can still be found in South Africa and Japan. As a general rule, orally administered Primobolan is rarer than the injectable variant. Tablets consisting of 5 mg and 25 mg from Shchering can still be found, but it’s extremely rare and the amounts are limited.
Primobolan (Methenolone) Chemical Characteristics
Primobolan belongs in the DHT derivatives and analogs family. Looking at the Dihydrotestosterone structure, Primobolan has modifications between carbon atoms one and two, where it possesses a double bond. This has been shown to help stabilize the three keto group. The 3 keto group increases the hormones anabolic strength. It should also be noted that the hormone has an added 1 methyl group. This allows the hormone to resist hepatic breakdown and metabolism.
When taking a closer look at the oral format, the 17 beta hydroxyl group has an acetate ester bonded to it. This provides the anabolic steroid resistance against hepatic breakdown and oxidation. It has also shown itself to offer effective bio-availability both as the non esterified and acetate formats.
The injectable variant consists of Methenolone. At the 17 beta hydroxy group, it has the Enanthate ester bound to it. Enanthate is also called carboxylic acid and ethanoic acid. The ester changes the hormones half-life and release rate to a longer period of time. This works due to the amount of time that it takes for enzymes in the bloodstream to break the bond between the hormone and the ester. Once the Esther has been removed from the hormone, pure Methenolone remains behind.
Primobolan (Methenolone) Properties
As it is a dihydro-Testosterone derivative, Primobolan possesses a lot of identical properties all of it. To give you an idea of what we mean, Primobolan is not aromatized into estrogen regardless of the dose size. Therefore, those using Primobolan will never experience estrogen related side effects from it. This means that the individual will never experience high blood pressure, gynecomastia, fat gain, bloating or water retention.
Many aromatizable anabolic steroids produce a soft and puffy look. However Primobolan does not, which makes it a favorable option for athletes and bodybuilders looking for a compound for use during The cutting cycle. It is most often utilized for cutting phases, fat loss and pre-contest cycles. However, the weakness of its anabolic strength means that it is not often favored for bulking cycles, strength gains or lean mass cycles.
Used as part of a stack alongside other anabolic steroids, Primobolan offers several benefits. Used as a standalone steroid, it is seen as almost useless. The only effects that will be seen are when it is taken at extremely high doses, which is not viable due to the high cost of it. Therefore, it should be run alongside other anabolic steroids as part of a stack.
Side Effects
Side Effects of Primobolan
As we have already noted earlier on in this article, Primobolan is a dihydro-Testosterone derivative. This means that it possesses many characteristics and properties similar to DHT. One of the most comforting facts about Primobolan is that it is unable to be converted into estrogen even at extreme doses. Therefore, estrogenic side effects are eliminated and should not be experienced.
Primobolan in its oral form is C-17 Alpha alkylated. Normally, this can increase the risk of liver damage, but no hepatotoxic effects have ever been shown by Primobolan. While it does not possess any measurable adverse effects in the liver, it does still come with a small level of hepatotoxicity. This is important to understand as very high doses and extended cycles increase the risk of hepatotoxicity. To date, there has been one reported fatality from an anemic individual who was prescribed Primobolan. It is important to reiterate that extremely long length of use and high doses may be a cause for concern.
While many bodybuilders and athletes tout Primobolan for it mild anabolic effects, it still prevents the body from naturally producing Testosterone and interferes with the HPTA function. Studies have shown that a 15% to 65% suppression of natural Testosterone can be experienced with as little as 30 to 45 mg of Primobolan each day. As these doses are far below what is needed for performance enhancement, it is a good idea for the individual to undertake proper Post Cycle Therapy at the end of use.
Cycling & Uses
Uses and Cycles of Primobolan (Methenolone)
For the most part, Primobolan is used as a part of a cutting or fat loss cycle. It is extremely rare for it to ever be used as a mass gaining or bulking agent. The majority of individuals use it in the weeks before a photo shoot or competition. It is commonly used alongside other compounds that possess similar half-lives, properties and qualities. In fact, many athletes and bodybuilders use Testosterone cypionate, Testosterone Enanthate and Primobolan together. Primobolan will be used for the first 8 weeks to help retain muscle mass when conducting a low calorie diet.
Other individuals will use it with compounds such as Trenbolone Acetate and Testosterone propionate due to the fact that they all work in synergy, especially when looking at the half life. It is not uncommon for Primobolan to be used with some form of Winstrol or Testosterone, normally as the injectable variant if orally administering Primobolan. You should remember that it is never a good idea to use 2 different orally administered compounds during any given cycle.
Injectable Primobolan can be used in a cycle of between 10 to 12 weeks, while the oral form should be discontinued after approximately 8 weeks.
Administration
Dosing and Administration of Primobolan (Methenolone)
The dose that is used depends on the type of Primobolan being used. Prescription dosages outline a first dosage of 200 mg, which is followed on with a weekly 100 mg dose for the duration of treatment. The actual dosage will depend on the medical condition that it is prescribed for. Looking at orally administered Primobolan, a dose of between 100 mg and 150 mg each day for a maximum period of 8 weeks is recommended.
For bodybuilders and athletes, beginner doses for injectable Primobolan begin at 400 mg a week. For intermediate doses, anywhere between 400 mg and 700 mg a week are deemed as adequate. Advanced doses range from 800 mg to 1,000 mg a week. For females using the compound, the average dose is between 50 mg to 100 mg once a week. The injectable form is not as popular as the oral form when it comes to female use.
To avoid virilization side effects, women typically begin with a starting dose of 50 mg a day. Anything up to 70 mg should eliminate the risks of virilization from occurring. When looking at oral Primobolan there is no need to split the doses throughout the day. Injectable Primobolan should be split between two injections a week with evenly spaced days to help maintain steady and stable plasma levels in the bloodstream.
Buying & Legality
Legality of Primobolan (Methenolone)
If you were looking for pharmaceutical grade Primobolan, you are out of luck. This means that the only way you will find it will be from an underground lab. However, there is a small amount of human grade pharmaceutical compound available, this is typically the injectable form as the orally administered form is extremely rare.
As Primobolan is an anabolic steroid, it carries classification as a class 3 scheduled drug in the United States. This means that possessing it without a genuine and valid doctor’s prescription is a felony and could result in severe punishments. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, it is legal to possess and use Primobolan without a prescription. For this reason, it is always a good idea to know the laws of the country that you live in to prevent any problems or legal action being taken against you for illegally importing banned substances.
When it comes to purchasing Primobolan, the majority of people turn to the internet. Other ways that people purchase it is from somebody in their local gym. The amount that you actually pay will depend on where you purchase it from. For a 10 ml vial consisting of 100 mg per ml of active compound from an underground lab, you can expect to pay between $200 and $230.
The oral variant tends to be a lot more expensive and a 15 mg tablet from an underground lab low cost anywhere between $2.50 and $3.50. If you are lucky enough to find pharmaceutical grade Primobolan, 50 tablets consisting of 25 mg each will set you back approximately $120. A 10 milligram tablet from an underground lab will cost approximately $2.50 each.
References & Medical Data:
-
- Wiechert R. et al. Chem Ber. 93 (1960):1710.
- Methenolone acetate, Summary of information for clinical investigators, New Brunswick, NJ. The Squibb Institute for Medical Research, May 30, 1962.
- Anabolic effects of methenolone enanthate and methenolone acetate in underweight premature infants and children. New York State Journal of Medicine March 1, 1965, 645-8.
- Kruskemper H L et al, Exc Medica (Amsterd.) Congr. Ser. No. 51 (1962), 209.
- Weller O. Arzneimittelforsch. 12 (1962):234.
- Intern. Congr. Hormonal Steroids, Milan, 1962. Excerpta Med. Intern. Congr. Ser No. 51, p. 209. Excerpta. Med. Found., Amsterdam, 1962.
- Failure of non-17-alkylated anabolic steroids to produce abnormal liver function tests. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1964 Dec;24:1334-6.
- Fatal outcome of a patient with severe aplastic anemia after treatment with metenolone acetate. Ann Hematol. 1993 Jul;67(1):41-3. Tsukamoto N, Uchiyama T, Takeuchi T, Sato S, Naruse T, Nakazato Y.
- Comparative studies about the influence of metenolone acetate and mesterolone on hypophysis and male gonads. Trenkner R, Senge T, Hienz H et al. Arzneimittelforschung. 1970 20(4):545-7.
-
Proc. Intern. Congr. Hormonal Steroids, Milan, 1962. Excerpta Med. Intern. Congr. Ser No. 51, p. 209. Excerpta. Med. Found., Amsterdam, 1962.
11. Comparative studies about the influence of metenolone acetate and mesterolone on hypophysis and male gonads. Trenkner R, Senge T, Hienz H et al. Arzneimittelforschung. 1970 20(4):545-7.