Also named chlorodehydromethyltestosterone (say that three times fast), Turinabol is a strong anabolic steroid with a unique past as it is the only anabolic-androgenic steroid made for non-medical purposes.
Rather, Tbol was formulated to deviously lead East Germany to victory in the 68 and 89 Olympic Games.
This scheme was actually carried out by the government, which launched a program named State Plan Research that aimed to outperform all other teams from competing nations, and that goal succeeded!
Those who took it also did so unknowingly as they would take supplements labeled as vitamins when in reality, they were actually being given Turinabol! In total, around ten thousand people who acted as lab rats without knowing it took the steroid, some of whom being as young as ten years old.
It was noted that all people given this potent steroid achieved huge muscle and strength gains with greater levels of endurance. Fast forward decades later and we arrive to the 90s when it was finally learned Turinabol was used in secret by contestants to win the Olympics but what exactly is Turinabol? Should it be used for bulking? Is it a safe steroid to cycle? And should you use Turinabol to gain muscle?
Great questions! Join us below to learn all you need to know about this steroid that is gaining rise again!
The potent effects of Dianabol were first observed by German scientists once it was used by athletes in the Olympics, this is a steroid created by Dr. John Ziegler, and was the first one to be more anabolic than the most popular steroid at the time – Testosterone!
However, it was soon learned Dianabol caused high amounts of water retention due to its much higher levels of aromatization, which decreases performance and physical functionality. As such, it became the goal of German scientists to synthesize and formulate a new steroid that could bring the muscle- and strength-building effects of Dianabol but without the fluid gain.
The mission was soon successful made possible with a Dianabol-derived compound that had a similar molecular structure except it has an added 4-chloro alteration of clostebol – a weaker anabolic steroid utilized in medicine for dermatological applications.
This slight yet major change in its structure means it is unable to produce the estrogenic effects of Dianabol so yes! This means bodybuilders can cycle Turinabol to achieve dry muscle gains but without the added water retention Dianabol is known to bring.
Thanks to its chemical structure, Turinabol is often nicknamed Baby Dbol among bodybuilders as its anabolic and androgenic effects are much less potent than the father steroid.
For those who are curious, Tbol was uniquely formulated to enhance the performance of gymnasts and swimmers so they can more easily excel world and gold medal records, and to this day, it is still used by:
Fun Fact: Jon Jones is the most famous of all athletes to test positive for traces of Turinabol metabolites.
Benefits of Turinabol make it a popular choice among modern bodybuilders, these include:
Turinabol is mildly anabolic and does not cause water retention. As such, it is mostly used during cutting cycles to maximize fat burn and muscle mass retention, but this requires a calorie-deficit diet for worthy results.
Like other anabolic steroids, Tbol burns away subcutaneous fat as it acts as exogenous testosterone that reduces adipose tissue. It is also not androgenic given the 4-chloro alteration in its molecular makeup so fluid retention and gynecomastia are unlikely to occur.
It also has a Zero as an androgenic score so the effects below are rare to arise:
Many beginners use Tbol as a bulking agent as it is not as potent as others yet helps bodybuilders to gain fifteen pounds of new lean muscle in the first cycle. However, seasoned bodybuilders with many steroid cycles under their belt will not see as large of gains.
If you want out-of-this-world gains, Turinabol is not your best pick given its anabolic rating of fifty-four.
Instead, aspiring bodybuilders wanting to stack on as much muscle mass as possible should cycle one of these compounds given their higher potency:
Many scientists and bodybuilders claim Turinabol is more potent than Anavar but less so than Winstrol, in terms of its impact to physique and body composition.
Results from Tbol tend to be slow yet steady and noticeable, and with a sixteen-hour half-life, it can stay in the system twice as long as Winstrol and about fifty percent longer than Anavar.
As such, Turinabol brings rapid fat loss and muscle gains as it is not an oral steroid that is quick to peak in the bloodstream. Given this, bodybuilders often take Tbol in longer cycles than Anavar and Winstrol as it needs more time to build up its effects and presence in the system.
All this said, strength gains from Turinabol are superior and profound! One study from 1973 claimed a woman who received ten milligrams of Tbol daily was able to boost her throw distance by nearly seven feet within eleven weeks. This reflects the incredible strength gains Turinabol is capable of delivering!
There are some traits and side effects of Turinabol to be aware of, namely:
Despite Tbol having a Zero as an androgen rating, it still holds the power to bring virilization effects in women, as made clear in the 76 Olympics when woman swimmers taking Turinabol developed deeper voices and broader shoulders.
These results were not obvious or noticeable until ten years passed, which is likely due to the Tbol doses being gradually raised over time. Virilizing steroids still remain popular though, as many women still use testosterone esters and Deca Durabolin, also known as Nandrolone.
Despite research on the topic, how potent the masculinization effects of Tbol are remains a little fuzzy as German athletes who popularized this steroid were also stacking other compounds alongside it. But even so, aspiring female bodybuilders tend to tolerate Turinabol well if used in low and moderate doses.
While cycling Turinabol, liver stress and enzymes rise as it is a c-17 alpha-alkylated steroid. This means it passes through the liver and can cause influxes in bad and good cholesterol levels.
Despite it traversing the liver, its hepatotoxic effects are rather mild so it is often well-tolerated by even new bodybuilders trying steroids for the first time. However, precautions, moderate doses, and a cycle of eight weeks or under should be followed as excessive Tbol use may lead to jaundice and liver failure.
One infamous doctor, Dr. Thomas O’Connor, had one patient who ran a Tbol-only cycle for one to two years in belief it was safe based on the routine doses taken by the East German team during the 1960s and 1970s. Long story short, he thought wrong as he later developed peliosis hepatis, which is a serious vascular condition in which the liver fills with bloody cysts. However, the man lived to tell his story as he underwent emergency surgery to have parts of his liver removed – a process no person wants to endure!
Known as good cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels can drop while cycling Turinabol, which in turn can cause mild spikes in blood pressure.
This negative effect on blood lipids is not exclusive to Turinabol as all anabolic steroids have this impact.
However, oral steroids tend to impose much less strain on the cardiovascular system as they stimulate hepatic lipase enzymes in the liver; the one con of this is it causes greater influxes in cholesterol levels.
If you or your family have a history of heart disease or high blood pressure, it is best to avoid anabolic steroids as they strain and stress the heart. If you cycle Tbol, you can lower the chance of hypertension by performing daily cardio workouts after taking four grams of fish oil for each day of the cycle as it aids endothelial function and helps reduce the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
No matter the anabolic steroid cycled, natural testosterone levels (endogenous) drop while exogenous testosterone levels rise.
The severity of effects to follow varies based on the:
When cycled alone and not stacked, Tbol, like Anavar, tends to only cause a mild drop in the production of natural testosterone. But be warned, test suppression can be much more severe in those who stack it with compounds that are more potent.
To help the body recover from test suppression, an aggressive post-cycle therapy treatment is highly advised. Clomid (Clomiphene) and Nolvadex(Tamoxifen) are both viable options as these help return male hormone levels to normal heights.
During post-cycle treatment, those who use Nolvadex usually take thirty milligrams daily while those on Clomid often run a hundred milligrams per day. Since Tbol is a milder steroid, you will likely only need one SERM during PCT if you cycled it alone. If you indeed stacked it with another steroid, there is a good chance you will need to take two SERMs during post-cycle therapy in order for symptoms and hormones to stabilize. For an aggressive, after-cycle PCT, you may also take a 2,000 IU dose of hCG every other day for three weeks as doing so can help treat testicular atrophy, which can help stimulate spermatogenesis.
The most common Turinabol dose is fifteen to forty milligrams per day.
Low doses are ideal for athletic performance enhancements while smaller ones are more geared for bodybuilders who want to stack on tons of lean muscle mass.
This oral compound is most often cycled for six to eight weeks at a time as its structure of longer esters, which makes it slower to act, requires more time to build up in the body for effects and results to show.
Turinabol-Only Cycle for Men
Bodybuilders with a cycle or two under their belt may opt for a longer cycle of eight weeks but this is only advised if enzyme and blood pressure levels are stable. Some also up the dose to eight milligrams daily for even bigger gains but this may cause excess strain on the liver, as well as side effects that are intense and longer-lasting.
Despite being a milder steroid, a person who takes forty milligrams of it should most surely feel it! As such, if you take a dose this size and feel nothing, odds say the Turinabol you got is a fake or placebo.
Turinabol-Only Cycle for Women
Low, five-milligram doses are not likely to cause masculinization in women. Remember, females have just a small fraction of the endogenous testosterone found in men; this is significant as it means women can take a smaller amount than men to achieve similar results and enhancements to body composition.
Turinabol and Testosterone Cycle
Tbol and Test complement the other quite well as Testosterone poses none to very little stress on the liver, this means influxes in cholesterol levels are often modest.
This duo is versatile and can be used while cutting or bulking as they work synergistically to accelerate fat loss and lean muscle gain. Of all bulking agents, Testosterone is among the most effective as it puts huge mass and strength gains within easier reach. Some bodybuilders also use Cypionate or Enanthate during cycles too as these help gains to arrive more quickly.
Keep in mind, if you cycle Turinabol and Testosterone together, you may need to take an anti-estrogen as it helps prevent high levels of test from causing water retention. Good anti-estrogens are Letrozole and Anastrozole as these inhibit aromatization and prevent testosterone from converting into estrogen.
One thing men should be aware of before trying Turinabol is erectile function can diminish in the final stages of a cycle. This is due to Tbol having weak androgen, which lowers DHT levels and sexual drive as a result. Since Dihydrotestosterone plays a huge part in the production of nitric oxide, lower levels of it mean the penis will not have ideal amounts of blood flow and circulation. As such, erectile dysfunction is common and entirely possible when cycling Turinabol but if you stack it with Testosterone, which is a highly androgenic steroid, nitric oxide production can stabilize and healthy sexual function may resume.
Bear in mind though that high levels of DHT in the body can cause side effects like:
Here are some reviews on Turinabol gathered from various sources and anonymous Tbol users:
“Large mass gains in a short amount of time. Shoulders bulked more than I anticipated and my arms grew noticeably larger, they went from 13 1/2 to 14 3/4 while my waist went from a 32 to a 33 1/2. Back muscles also came in nicely and most of the fullness remained once the cycle ended. Good stuff!”
“Was able to bench press 280 pounds before my Turinabol cycle and can now bench 320 after the first four weeks. I have also had no libido or issues like bloating so my gains stuck. Highly recommended, especially for those who hate needles! This was my first cycle on Turinabol and very much suggest it!”
“In my opinion it is the most underrated steroid in the market today. I got fast and clean gains with my benching capacity going up by five or so pounds per week. There was very little water retention too and my estrogen levels stayed pretty normal throughout, Turinabol will be my go-to cycle from now on out.”
Each of these compounds is similar as both are oral and androgenic.
They also support growth of lean muscle mass, and accelerate fat loss and strength gain in the process.
However, mass gains from Tbol tend to be more pronounced than those of Anavar but its side effects can be more intense, common symptoms of Turinabol use include:
In contrast to Anavar, Tbol is much cheaper on black and illegal markets while Oxandrolone ranks in as one of the most expensive – a single cycle of it can run hundreds of dollars!
A benefit of Tbol is it is less likely to cause synovial fluid dehydration so it does not pose as much harm to joints and ligaments as steroids like Winstrol and Anavar. This is essential to know, especially if you are a new or seasoned bodybuilder who wants to lift heavy weights as this Tbol trait can prevent injury.
When it comes to Anavar, it is indeed a woman-friendly steroid as it very rarely results in virilization and masculinization effects in women, as is the case with Turinabol in most cases.
Turinabol, however, is a little more potent. So it is safe to say Anavar is best out of the two for women. Anavar has been around a long time – since 1962 – so its effects on women have been studied for a long time but research on its use continues to be reviewed and carried out. On the other hand, Turinabol is not an FDA-approved steroid – so it is not often taken by females as less is known about the compound.
Turinabol was first used and created in Germany but the country banned its use and production in 1994. It was about this time when it was discovered that Tbol was the secret compound issued by the government-funded program known as the State Plan Research Agenda.
Since then, few Pharma brands have made it so the only real way bodybuilders get their hands on it is in the black market, where Turinabol is made in unregulated, underground labs that pose risks like hygiene and contamination, not to mention the risk of buying a spiked or diluted product. This is not suggested!
The best way is to ask for a laboratory test beforehand. Sources, like us have most of the products laboratory tested.
