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4-chlorodehydromethyltestosterone, or Turinabol as it’s most frequently referred to, is an anabolic steroid which was originally developed in East Germany.
Made public in 1962, the compound is essentially a modified form of Dianabol, another anabolic steroid, which was then combined with clostebol, 4-chlorotestosterone. This fusion created a new drug which did not have the aromatizing effects of Dbol, but retained the potency.
Originally produced by Jenapharm and marketed under the names of Tbol and Turinabol, the reviews from physicians were enthusiastic due to its ability to separate androgenic and anabolic effects.
This drug was used in the medical treatment of adult disorders but was also prescribed for children too, with 1 mg tablets available. The benefits included stimulating fat-free lean gains in muscle wasting disorders as well as enhancing bone strength.
But it wasn’t just the medical community who found uses for the drug. In fact, it was originally created for the purposes of enhancing performance, not to treat medical conditions. The therapeutic benefits were later identified as an added bonus.
From the late 1960s onwards, Turinabol was the anabolic steroid of choice for the East German state-sponsored drug program which was administered to all of their athletes. The athletes were given blue pills and many were unaware of their content, believing they were taking a vitamin.
This program is now thought to have been the driving force behind the great success that the East Germans enjoyed in many athletic competitions. The use of this steroid was a well-kept secret, only becoming public after the two halves of Germany reunited.
Although this drug was never cited as causing any specific health concerns, the FDA’s stance on anabolic steroids, and in particular their decision to list them as a controlled substance in 1990 brought an end to the easy availability of this steroid.
By 1994, the manufacturer Jenapharm stopped production. Despite Jenapharm being bought out, production of this drug was not resumed and currently, there are no manufacturers marketing pharmaceutical grade form.
It is also not presently being manufactured for veterinary use either, leaving the black market as the only available source for this anabolic steroid. This situation is not anticipated to change in the foreseeable future.
Can it be Taken on its Own?
It has the capacity to allow other anabolic steroids and compounds to exceed their usual potential by binding itself to the SHBG in the blood. Therefore, when Tbol is taken in isolation these unique binding qualities which optimize other steroids aren’t quite so valuable.
For this reason, it is often preferred as part of a stack where it can help to add dry gains and optimize the results from the rest of the drugs.
Nevertheless, it is still possible to take it on its own and for newcomers, this may be attractive. The side effects, especially at lower doses, are negligible and it’s one of the gentler steroids to start out on.
It’s not just beginners who could find a Tbol only cycle useful. The gains acquired are lean, hard and muscular, with no accompanying weight gain or fluid retention. It can, therefore, be particularly advantageous to take on its own during a cutting cycle or pre-competition.
Stacking Info
A Tbol stack can deliver very potent results but shouldn’t exceed 6 weeks and should always be followed by appropriate PCT.
Parabolan and Nandrolana D (or Boldaxyl) produce good results with Turinabol, while Trenbolone and testosterone can also be used during cutting cycles.
For women, optimal results can be achieved by stacking this steroid and Anavar. This dual combination is generally considered not to be as effective for men.
How it is Administered
This drug is available both in an oral form and in an injectable version too. Oral Turinabol leaves the body very quickly, returning a negative test within a matter of days. This can make it an attractive option for some users.
Like many anabolic steroids, there seems little difference between the injectable and oral form. Some studies have suggested there is less liver toxicity when injected but this has never been proven.
Dosage Info
The side effects are far less than other steroids so, at lower doses, it can be virtually free of any noticeable problems.
The lower doses of Tbol are typically taken by beginners, with around 15-30mg per day. The gains at this rate will be steady and slow, but they will also be lean with no androgenic complications. Women will normally take a lower dose than this, finding good results on around 5-10mg per day.
An intermediate user would normally take between 30-50mg per day, often settling at the higher end of this range for good results but minimal risk of side effects occurring. Those in a cutting cycle would take a dose at the lower end: below 40mg per day.
Advanced users could push the Tbol dosage too much higher levels, up to 80mg is common, or occasionally even higher. Use at this level is much rarer and although the lean muscle gains may be more marked, there’s an increased risk of complications developing.
Half-life Info
The half-life of Turinabol is 16 hours which means that options exist as to how to take the daily dose.
A 16-hour half-life is short enough to allow two doses to be taken each day, allowing blood levels to remain stable throughout. Conversely, it’s also just about long enough to take one daily dose without suffering extreme dips in the blood serum levels. Most users won’t divide the dose and will take the full amount just once per day but it’s not a universal approach.
Positive Effects
Turinabol is unique among anabolic steroids as it was originally developed to enhance performance rather than to provide medicinal benefit, and perhaps, for this reason, its benefits are much more closely related to athletic ability.
Although it’s possible to achieve lean gains with the assistance of Tbol, where it really excels is in enhancing strength and improving athletic performance.
For athletes, Tbol results can help to produce an extra burst of speed, slicing seconds off any personal best. For strength sports such as powerlifting and bodybuilding, Tbol can ensure that strength is retained even during the cutting cycle and that there’s no loss of muscle when calorific intake drops.
In a comparison of Tbol vs Dbol, the former won’t deliver such large gains but will provide excellent lean growth. This steroid will never offer mind-blowing bulk, but can help to build well defined, hard muscle which is easy to maintain, even after the cycle has finished.
Potential Side Effects
Turinabol is widely considered to be an anabolic steroid which has some of the mildest side effects, but yet without any corresponding drop in its effectiveness. Those taking high doses may require monitoring of their hematocrit and haemoglobin levels.
Androgenic Effects
The androgenic rating of this steroid is particularly low, even when compared to other steroids which only have mild side effects. As an example, the androgenic strength rating for Primobolan is 44-57 and Anavar 24, both considered to be low androgenic drugs.
However, Turinabol has an androgenic effect of just 6 on the same scale, just a fraction of what other anabolic steroids score. This doesn’t mean the risk is totally eliminated, particularly for those who are sensitive to androgenic effects, but it should be greatly reduced.
At low to medium doses, androgenic Tbol side effects are very unlikely but as the dose increases, there is a heightened risk of noticeable problems. These could include excessive growth of body hair, acne, prostate enlargement and male pattern baldness.
Genetics will play a significant part in whether any side effects manifest at higher doses. It’s not possible to neutralize any androgenic side effects with the use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors because there is no 5-alpha reductase enzyme metabolic involvement.
Estrogenic Effects
It will not aromatize at any dose, as the chemical makeup prevents it being turned into estrogen. This means that none of the unwanted estrogenic effects such as fluid retention, bloating or gynecomastia will occur even at high levels.
Cardiovascular
As there’s no estrogenic effect, the lack of excess fluid retention means the blood pressure won’t be pushed up. However, the cholesterol will be adversely affected, with the total cholesterol and LDL rising and the good HDL dropping.
This can lead to hardening of the arteries and ultimately cardiovascular disease, so if you have any history of, or medical conditions relating to raised cholesterol, Turinabol isn’t a suitable choice.
Hair Loss
Because the androgenic effects of this drug are extremely low, there’s a very good chance that individuals won’t be affected by any hair loss.
A remote possibility of hair loss still exists, but this will be primarily in those who already carry the gene for male pattern baldness. In these individuals, any hair loss which occurs is simply an acceleration of the process, but nevertheless cannot be reversed.
Liver Toxicity
As a C17 alpha-alkylated compound, Tbol automatically has a toxic effect on the liver. In order to survive being administered locally, the steroid has to prevent itself from being broken down by the liver. This causes the liver to continue to work harder to try and filter the steroid, and some sources suggest that if this occurs over a long period, serious damage could be caused.
The other issue is that Turinabol prevents the liver from being able to process cholesterol properly and in doing so, pushes up the levels of unwanted cholesterol within the blood.
Despite the potential for liver problems, the risk of any actually occurring is low. With this steroid, complications of the liver typically only occur at a much higher dose or when the drug hasn’t been properly cycled.
Other Effects
There are no significant other side effects of using this compound.
Contraindications
Any anabolic steroid use requires vigilance for signs of side effects, but in some individuals, the use of Turinabol is completely inadvisable.
If the individual has suffered from any of the following, use of this steroid is contraindicated:
• prostate cancer or tumors
• inflammation of the prostate
• breast cancer
• atherosclerosis
• inflammation of the kidneys
• nephrotic syndrome
• impaired kidney or liver function
• raised cholesterol
• problems with clotting or excessive bleeding
This has also not been proven to be safe in pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding.
Is this Steroid Best Suited to Cutting, Bulking or Both?
Because of its lack of side effects and because Tbol won’t pack on the muscle in vast amounts, it’s often been considered to be a relatively weak steroid in comparison to its peers. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
It’s not an ideal drug for a bulking cycle because it won’t add huge amounts of mass. Although lean gains will occur, there are other anabolic steroids which are better suited for this purpose.
But the one reason why Tbol may sometimes be included in a bulking stack is because of its ability to bind with SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin). By sticking to the SHBG, Tbol allows the other anabolic steroids being taken to work more efficiently. This is because SHBG normally binds to testosterone, hampering its full ability to build muscle. By binding with SHBG, Turinabol increases the amount of free testosterone circulating around the body unaided, which in turn leads to much bigger gains.
Quite aside from the ability of t-bol to assist with bulking in this unconventional manner, it is most often used during a cutting cycle. This steroid has a powerful ability to help maintain lean gains, even during calorific reduction, and can provide the user with unparalleled definition and muscle hardness. Many bodybuilder competitors consider this steroid to be an essential part of their pre-contest preparation.
Is it Safe for Women to Use?
Anabolic steroids can be difficult for women to use, but this is one of the gentlest on the system. At low doses, complications are unlikely to occur because of the low androgenic effect. However, more than 10mg per day increases the risk of virilization.
It’s essential to keep a close eye for any sign of virilization manifesting, such as deepening voice, body hair, enlarged clitoris and menstrual changes because if the steroid continues to be taken, these effects could become permanent. With immediate cessation, any androgenic effects should dissipate.
Is Turinabol Good for Beginners?
Turinabol is considered one of the most suitable steroids for beginners due to a number of different reasons which are listed below.
- Mild Anabolic Effects: This steroid provides moderate muscle growth compared to some others. The muscle gains will be less dramatic which may be beneficial if you don’t want it to look obvious that you are experimenting with steroids.
- Lower Androgenic Effects: Turinabol has a lower androgenic rating compared to some other steroids. Androgenic effects can result in side effects such as acne, hair loss, and increased aggression. These side effects are generally less dramatic on this compound.
- Less Water Retention: This compound is known for promoting lean gains without crazy water retention like Dianabol is known for. Muscle gains will be more defined and more pleasing to the eye.
- Lower Liver Toxicity: While all oral steroids will be toxic to the liver, Turinabol is believed to have less of an impact than some other orals. This is good for beginners who have any concerns about placing stress on their liver.
Type of PCT Needed After the End of the Cycle
Although it is considered one of the safest types of anabolic steroid with low androgenic activity, there is nevertheless still an impact on the production of testosterone. No anabolic steroid should ever be taken without a PCT cycle to follow.
Some sources may suggest that Turinabol alone can be used without the need for follow up PCT. However, PCT is essential to prevent long-term impairment of testosterone production in the body. Without PCT, testosterone levels may never return to normal and replacement therapy may be required permanently.
SERM therapy such as Nolvadex or Clomid together with HCG should be commenced after any Tbol cycle and continued for approximately 4-6 weeks. Although either Nolvadex or Clomid are acceptable for use as PCT, Clomid is generally preferred.
Typical Cost to Buy
Turinabol is not the most widely used anabolic steroid, nor one which is the easiest to obtain. Historically, this had been compounded by the fact that it was expensive by comparison, around $10 per 10mg tablet.
Prices have since dropped and when buying Tbol in bulk, it’s now possible to source the steroid from reputable suppliers for as little as $1 per tablet.
The difficulty with procuring t-bol is that it’s no longer produced by any pharmaceutical laboratory, meaning that the black market is the only real source of supply. The quality can, therefore, be very variable and the conditions under which it is produced may be unpredictable so buying from a trusted supplier is more important than ever.
Sports that Use it
Turinabol is extremely effective for use within sports and was allegedly the anabolic steroid of choice for the East German athletics team for many years.
Broadly speaking, any sport which requires a combination of strength and speed will find that this compound will provide a real boost to performance.
Documents of previous studies carried out suggest that up to 5 seconds can be shaved off a 400-meter race, with up to 10 seconds off an 800 or 1500 meter race when this steroid is used. Field athletics events also record significant improvements too with discus distance improving by 8 meters, as an example.
The use of Turinabol within bodybuilding is now far more common than in the past because of its ability to bring a shredded appearance to the muscles, emphasizing lean, hard mass without the unwanted side effects of bloating or fluid retention. The other benefit is that when taken orally, it exits the body and won’t show up on any tests after around 6-8 days.
Legality of Purchase and its Usage in the US
Like all other anabolic steroids, Turinabol is classed as a Schedule III controlled substance under the Steroid Control Act of 1990. This means that it’s not possible to purchase or procure the drug without a prescription from a physician, issued to treat a recognized medical condition.
In the case of this particular anabolic steroid, it is not approved by the FDA which means that within the US, there’s no scenario where it can be obtained legally.
Although the potentially harmful effects of anabolic steroid are recognized universally, the US has one of the strictest legal positions on the use and possession of it. Other countries such as the UK and Canada won’t penalize individuals for possession of this compound.
This is not the case in the US; it’s not possible to either buy or sell Tbol and possession is also considered a crime. If you’re caught in possession of Turinabol while in the US, you could face a hefty penalty or an even stiffer punishment.
It’s important to emphasize that even if you are returning from a country where you can legally buy and possess Turinabol, such as Mexico if you try to bring the steroid through customs, you will be breaking the law.