Methandienone

an oral 17-alpha-methyl androgen with an old controlled weightlifter trial, withdrawn US approvals for lack of substantial efficacy evidence, and no validated systemic half-life.

tier B · androgens · 13 experienced weightlifters in a placebo-controlled trial

verdict

an old placebo-controlled trial shows weight and performance effects with frequent adverse effects, while systemic PK, modern efficacy, and contemporary safety evidence remain absent.

if you are asking whether Dianabol has a proven 3-to-6-hour half-life — no primary human plasma study supporting that range was located. urinary excretion peaks after oral dosing are not systemic terminal half-life.

if you are asking whether it was ever an approved drug — yes historically. FDA withdrew Par ANDAs 87-945 and 87-951 effective November 20, 1985, and Bolar ANDAs 87-465 and 87-466 effective January 13, 1986, after finding a lack of substantial evidence of effectiveness.

if you are asking whether the old weightlifter trial proved lean muscle — it reported weight and performance changes, but investigators warned that much of the weight could be water and recorded blood-pressure and adverse-effect problems.

No injectable methandienone identity or PK is inferred. This page concerns the oral free parent used historically.

why B-tier

B tier reflects a real controlled human performance study and a clear historical drug identity. Small sample size, old methods, efficacy-based approval withdrawal, no modern safety program, and no systemic PK are major limitations.

the core tension

Methandienone has a rare controlled study in trained humans, but the trial is small and old, the approvals were withdrawn for efficacy failure, and basic systemic half-life and modern organ-safety data remain missing.

what it is

Methandienone, also called methandrostenolone, is an oral 17-alpha-methyl, delta-1,4 androgen. It is the free steroid, not a depot ester. The 17-alpha methyl group supports oral activity and carries the class's characteristic hepatic liability.

what it does

It activates the androgen receptor and suppresses endogenous gonadal signaling. Its delta-1,4, 3-keto A-ring is structurally compatible with aromatization, but a quantitative human conversion rate was not located.

origin

Dianabol and generic methandienone products had historical US applications. FDA withdrew Par ANDAs 87-945 and 87-951 effective November 20, 1985, and Bolar ANDAs 87-465 and 87-466 effective January 13, 1986, for lack of substantial evidence of effectiveness.

why researchers are interested

Its rapid oral effects and weight gain made it a foundational performance drug. The controlled evidence is small and old, cannot separate water from lean tissue cleanly, and does not provide modern hepatic or cardiovascular risk estimates.

does it work

A placebo-controlled study in 13 experienced male weightlifters reported weight and performance changes at 10 or 25 mg/day. The study also recorded a systolic blood-pressure rise, many adverse effects, and three withdrawals. B tier reflects meaningful human evidence with major limitations.

claims vs the data

• methandienone has a proven 3-to-6-hour human half-life — unsupported — no qualifying plasma PK source was located.
• all weight gain in the trial was muscle — unsupported — the investigators explicitly considered water retention a major contributor.
• Dianabol remains an FDA-approved medicine — contradicted — the relevant approvals were withdrawn effective in 1986 for lack of substantial efficacy evidence.

key facts

• molecular formula: C20H28O2
• molecular weight: 300.44 g/mol
• amino acids: n/a (steroidal small molecule, not a peptide)
• half-life: unknown; no qualifying systemic plasma half-life located
• type: oral 17-alpha-methyl, delta-1,4 anabolic-androgenic steroid
• CAS: 72-63-9
• 13 experienced weightlifters in controlled trial
• 3 trial withdrawals
• 0 validated systemic half-life studies
• 1985-86 four US generic withdrawals effective

frequently asked questions

What is methandienone's half-life?

Unknown from qualifying primary systemic human PK. The widely repeated 3-to-6-hour range was not traced to a plasma concentration-time study.

Can urine excretion timing supply the number?

No. Urinary metabolite peaks and detection windows combine metabolism, conjugation, kidney handling, and assay sensitivity and are not plasma terminal half-life.

Was Dianabol ever approved?

It had historical US approvals. FDA withdrew two Par generic applications in 1985 and two Bolar applications in 1986 for lack of substantial evidence of effectiveness.

Is methandienone 17-alpha-alkylated?

Yes. The structural feature supports oral activity and carries serious cholestatic and hepatic risk.

related peptides

• Stanozolol — another oral 17-alpha-alkylated androgen with controlled human biomarker harm
• Oxymetholone — an oral comparator with stronger label and outcome evidence
• testosterone — the clinically characterized aromatizable androgen comparator

reptides grades the research record and cites the literature behind every call. research reference only; not medical advice.