Primobolan (Metenolone)

What is Primobolan (Metenolone)?

Primobolan is an anabolic steroid with weak androgenic properties. It is naturally found in the adrenal glands of pregnant cats, and resembles the human male sex hormone, testosterone. It occurs in two forms, Metenolone Acetate, which is taken orally, and Metenolone Enthanate, also known as Primobolan Depot, for intramuscular injection.

Why Use Primobolan (Metenolone)?

Like many anabolic steroids, Primobolan has legitimate medical uses. This drug is used in some countries, under strict medical supervision, for the treatment of aplastic anaemia, and it has been trialled for its effect on bone density as a potential treatment for osteoporosis (1). It may also be used as a growth promoter in food producing animals (2).

Some athletes abuse Primobolan, generally to maintain muscle gains through a period of fat loss, and to prevent oestrogen formation.

What are the Side Effects of Primobolan (Metenolone)?

Like all anabolic steroids, Primobolan has a number of very serious side effects that can be debilitating, disfiguring, permanent or even fatal. These are surprisingly common, and can occur without warning in otherwise healthy young people.

Some of the best known, and most common side effects of steroids are hormonal. Primobolan is a derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a potent form of the male sex hormone. It is best known for its role in male pattern baldness, and like DHT, Primobolan can cause baldness, acne, priapism, and hirsutism (3). Introducing synthetic testosterone analogues has the ability to suppress the body's own testosterone production. In some cases, this ability is not recovered after cessation of the drug, which can cause permanent symptoms including impotence, accumulation of fat, testicular shrinkage, loss of libido, and depression. Women can expect symptoms such as virilization (development of male characteristics), amenorrhea, infertility, and increased libido (3).

Steroids can wreak havoc on the cardiovascular system, and Primobolan is no exception. It can raise the blood pressure, which places the user at risk for life threatening conditions such as aneurysm, kidney disease, and oedema or swelling, which is a very common side effect of this drug (4).

Steroid use raises the levels of serum lipids, including triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (5). Primobolan has been shown to thicken the walls of the heart muscle. This leads to a form of heart failure called ventricular hypertrophy, where the area within the ventricular chamber is reduced, meaning less oxygen-rich blood is pumped around the body, starving the organs and muscles (6). Steroid use is known to damage the organs, including the liver, kidneys and brain (4).

Steroids are known for having psychological effects. Most people are familiar with the term "Roid Rage" which describes the extreme aggresssion that may accompany steroid use in some people. Steroids are also addictive, and withdrawal symptoms are very common after use. Steroid users frequently experience conditions related to body dysmorphia (7).

On top of this, users of injectable steroids such as Primobolan depot (Metanolone) run the risk of infections at the injection site, which may lead to serious complications like blood poisoning and gangrene (4). There is a significant risk of purchasing counterfeit steroids on the black market – What is packaged as Primobolan may be contaminated, adulterated, or contain another drug entirely.

Alternatives to Primobolan (Metenolone)

Primobolan is used to maintain muscle mass, promote the effects of testosterone, and assist fat loss. There are a number of safe, legal alternatives that can achieve great results without any of the side effects.

Maintain Muscle Mass – Using a good quality shredding protein like Max's Supershred during a cutting cycle can help maintain a positive nitrogen balance in the body, which prevents muscle catabolism, even while burning fat. In addition, the thermogenics and fat metabolisers in this product will help your body burn the weight off fast.

Boost Testosterone – There are many legal and safe ways to boost testosterone levels. Elemental Nutrition Massive Muscle Fuel 2.0 is one of the most popular supplements on the market. Combining potent plant based ingredients like protodioscin, the active ingredient in tribulus, with ingredients that include amino acids and minerals, this product works to maximise hormone levels in a number of different ways.

Get Shredded – Fat burners offer support to people trying to lose weight. With fat burning, carb blocking, metabolism boosting, and focus enhancing ingredients, these type of products have helped many people get the body they have dreamed of. Oxyshred by EHP Labs is one of the most popular fat burners on the market, and packs a comprensive list of high quality ingredients.

(1) Urabe A, Ichiki S, Usukine K, Ijima K.Treatment of adult patients with aplastic anemia in Japan. Rinsho Ketsueki. 2005 Jun;46(6):389-93
(2) Kicman AT, Cowan DA, Myhre L, Nilsson S, Tomten S, Oftebro H. Effect on sports drug tests of ingesting meat from steroid (methenolone)-treated livestock. Clin Chem. 1994 Nov;40(11 Pt 1):2084-7.
(3) Hartgens F, Kuipers H. Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids in athletes. Sports Med. 2004;34(8):513-54.
(4) Takahashi M, Tatsugi Y, Kohno T. Endocrinological and pathological effects of anabolic-androgenic steroid in male rats. Endocr J. 2004 Aug;51(4):425-34.
(5) Labib M, Haddon A. The adverse effects of anabolic steroids on serum lipids. Ann Clin Biochem. 1996 May;33 ( Pt 3):263-4
(6) Ozdemir O, Bozkurt I, Ozdemir M, Yavuz O. Side effect of metenolone enanthate on rats heart in puberty: morphometrical study. Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2013 Sep;65(6):745-50.
(7) Brower KJ, Eliopulos GA, Blow FC, Catlin DH, Beresford TP. Evidence for physical and psychological dependence on anabolic androgenic steroids in eight weight lifters. Am J Psychiatry. 1990 Apr;147(4):510-2.