Fast muscle gains and a way to improve their endurance hold significant appeal to athletes and bodybuilders. Owing to its fast-acting nature, many take Dianabol to meet their fitness goals during a bulking cycle. However, it is important to structure the Dianabol cycle properly to achieve the targeted results.
Scientifically called Methandrostenolone, Dianabol is an anabolic steroid that offers quick muscle gains. Its fast-acting nature and ability to accelerate muscle hypertrophy make it popular for bulking cycles. However, with the benefits it offers, there are also certain precautions that people need to take to cycle Dianabol safely.
This Dianabol cycle guide is here to help you have a safe and effective Dianabol cycle.
Understanding How Dianabol Works
Dianabol is available as 10 mg, 99.5% pure oral pills. When ingested, they bind to the androgen receptors present in the muscle cells. In doing so, it creates a strong anabolic environment in the body.
This promotes protein synthesis in the muscle cells and facilitates nitrogen retention. Further, it also boosts glycogenolysis (conversion of glucose to glycogen), which increases the levels of available energy. Thus, it aids muscle growth, tissue repair, and recovery, three things that allow athletes and bodybuilders to increase their endurance and take up intense training sessions and bulk up.
With its quick absorption property and short half-life of three to six hours, the Dianabol cycle shows effects early. The timeline of effects when undergoing a Dianabol cycle is as follows:
- Day 3 to 5: A fuller muscle volume and ability to train more.
- Week 1: Strength gains, faster recovery, improved endurance, and enhanced output.
- Week 2 to 4: Rapid weight gain, mostly lean tissue with some water retention.
- Week 4 to 6: Significant increase in muscle mass and strength, with increased chances of liver stress.
For sustained gains, Dianabol is often paired with Deca Durabolin or Testosterone Enanthate by intermediate and advanced users.
Planning Your Dianabol Cycle
Dianabol is a 17α-alkylated oral steroid and can be hepatotoxic with long-term use. Thus, ideally, the steroid cycle should last no longer than 4 to 6 weeks.
The recommended dosages for Dianabol are as follows:
- Beginner: 20 – 30 mg per day
- Intermediate: 30 – 40 mg per day
- Advanced: 50 – 60 mg per day for 4 weeks max (with caution regarding liver strain)
Further, the total dose should be split into 2 to 3 doses and taken multiple times a day to maintain a stable level of Dianabol in the system. This can be as follows:
- Morning: 10 mg
- Pre-workout: 10 mg (45 to 60 minutes before training)
- Post-workout: 10 mg
Not every person responds the same way to anabolic androgenic steroids, and the same is true for Dianabol. This makes it important to start at a lower dose and monitor the effects. In a Dianabol cycle for beginners, you may slowly increase your dose as per the following table:
| Week | Daily Dose | Notes |
| 1 and 2 | 20 mg | Assess tolerance |
| 3 and 4 | 30 mg | Increase the dose if there are no issues |
| 5 and 6 | 20 mg | Taper the dose and end the cycle |
Table 1: Dianabol Cycle Guide With Dosages for a Beginner
However, altering our dose of any AAS should be done only under medical advice. Thus, be sure to consult your doctor if you are planning to increase the dose of Dianabol mid-cycle for better gains.
Stacking Dianabol with Other Compounds
Though optional, many bodybuilders opt for steroid stacking to get the most out of their steroid cycle. Some of the most common steroid stacks with Dianabol are:
| Stack Components | Aim |
| Dianabol + Testosterone Enanthate | Bulking, i.e., strength and size gain |
| Dianabol + Deca-Durabolin | Heavy-duty mass stack, increasing nitrogen retention |
| Dianabol + Trenbolone | For advanced users seeking hard mass (side effects) |
| Dianabol + Anavar or Winstrol | For balancing wet/dry gains |
Table 2: Steroid Stacks That Can Be Made With Dianabol
However, steroid stacking is not recommended for beginners when they are using Dianabol. The primary reason is that anabolic steroids can disrupt hormonal balance, cause suppression of natural hormone production, and impact the health parameters, such as blood pressure and liver function. Thus, the severity of side effects can be higher in the case of beginners, making a Dianabol-only cycle the safer choice.
Side Effects and Risks of Dianabol and How to Manage Them
The following side effects can be observed due to Dianabol use (sorted as per the user range):
- Beginners
- Acne
- Water retention
- Slight bloating
- Elevated blood pressure
- Mild testosterone suppression
- Intermediates
- Moderate water retention
- Acne and oily skin
- Mood swings
- Possible gynecomastia
- Elevated liver enzyme values
- Moderate testosterone suppression
- Advanced
- Severe estrogenic effects, such as breast tenderness, water gain
- Hypertension
- Hepatotoxicity
- Possible testicular atrophy
- Reduced libido
This makes it important to monitor all health parameters, such as blood pressure and testosterone levels, during your steroid cycle. Further, one should also support their liver health through supplements like milk thistle, NAC, etc. However, any supporting supplements should be taken with medical advice.
Importance of Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
Dianabol impacts LH and FSH. potentially stopping testosterone production. Further, it aromatises to estrogen, the levels of which can stay elevated in the system, post the steroid cycle. Additionally, once you end the Dianabol cycle, without any recovery support, the high cortisol and low natural testosterone levels can lead to muscle loss.
To restore your testosterone levels and help your system recover after steroid use, while maintaining the gains, it is important to undergo the PCT cycle. Usually, the PCT cycle will start 2 to 3 weeks after the Dianabol cycle ends. Further, it will continue for approximately 4 weeks.
The common PCT medications prescribed for Dianabol are:
- Nolvadex (Tamoxifen): 20 – 40 mg/day
- Clomid (Clomiphene): 25 – 50 mg/day
- DHEA: 100 mg daily
This will help restore natural testosterone production in your body and prevent the effects of withdrawal.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Dianabol is a Class C controlled drug in the UK and can be obtained from licensed pharmacists and online stores with a valid prescription. Before you obtain Dianabol, visit your doctor for a thorough health check-up and seek medical advice plus a prescription.
Further, while taking Dianabol for bodybuilding and athletic purposes, do remember that you may be tested and Dianabol remains detectable in the system for approximately 6 weeks. Alternatively, you can opt for legal supplements that offer similar results to Dianabol with medical advice.
Also, obtain Dianabol from reputable sources only. Do not go for black-market or counterfeit products since these may lead to underdosing, severe side effects, and possible overdosing.
How to Cycle Dianabol: Tips
Dianabol is not injected but taken orally. Thus, it is important to take the medication as prescribed and on time. Further, it is not recommended for women due to high androgenic effects. Anavar, with its milder androgenic effects, is a much safer alternative for women.
What to Take with the Dianabol Cycle
During your steroid cycle, it is best to support your health with supplements such as those that aid muscle bulking and liver health. Further, seek advice from your doctor and trainer regarding the diet to follow. In case of steroid stacking, take the additional medication prescribed, in their exact dosage and on time.
What to Take After the Dianabol Cycle
Once the Dianabol cycle is over, consult your physician and start PCT. This will help prevent severe side effects such as gynecomastia, testicular atrophy, and changes in libido. During PCT, you will have to take Clomid, Nolvadex, or another medication of their class. Further, stay on top of your diet and workouts to maintain the gains from Dianabol use.
Wrapping Up
Safe Dianabol cycles should be short, low-dosed, and paired with adequate support and PCT. Only then can the user get the most benefits in bodybuilding and be able to manage the side effects. Health should always be the priority when taking anabolic steroids, and as such, take Dianabol only with a valid prescription and in the recommended dose.
Having a Safe Steroid Cycle with Dianabol
Thinking about using Dianabol? Schedule a consultation with your doctor and follow your prescription to the letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Long is a Dianabol Cycle?
Ideally, the Dianabol cycle will range between 4 to 6 weeks. However, seek your doctor’s advice and follow the prescription.
2. How to Cycle Dianabol for Beginners?
Beginners are usually prescribed 20 mg to 30 mg of Dianabol. You can take 10 mg doses at 12-hour intervals to maintain a sustained level in the bloodstream. For best results, follow the prescription.
3. Is Dianabol Safe to Take if I Am a Woman?
While you may take Dianabol if prescribed, Anavar might be a better alternative since it is a milder androgen.
4. How Do I Maintain Liver Health While Taking Dianabol?
You may take supplements to support your liver health, such as Milk Thistle, N-Acetyl Cysteine, or TUDCA, based on your doctor’s recommendation.
