Disclaimer: The following article is for educational purposes only and NOT to promote the use of illegal steroids. If you have any questions or concerns, Dr. Touliatos is currently available for consultations.
Anadrol (oxymetholone) is a bulking steroid, taken by weight lifters wanting to build large amounts of muscle size (hypertrophy) and strength.
Anadrol’s anabolic power is unrivaled, with it even having the ability to add exceptional size to ectomorphs or ‘hard gainers.
The only steroid that can stand toe to toe with anadrol, in terms of weight gain, is DIANABOL.
As Anadrol is best utilized in the off-season, the following cycles in this article are tailored for bulking. Anadrol can also be used for cutting; however, because of potential water retention and bloat — it is a less common protocol.
Anadrol is a very harsh steroid, thus it should only be cycled by experienced steroid-users (unless beginners take small doses). Beginners preferably should opt for lighter compounds, such as testosterone during their first few cycles.
Top 5 Anadrol Cycles
These cycles will be in the order of weakest to strongest. Thus, as the list goes down, the side effects will become harsher. The very bottom cycles are only for seasoned steroid-users, who have already taken powerful cycles before.
1. Anadrol-Only Cycle
This is a mildly-dosed cycle, tailored for beginners.
If a users’ side effects are quite significant on 50mg per day, refrain from increasing the dose to 75mg on week 4 (continuing with 50mg/day).
100mg doses should be strictly avoided during a first Anadrol cycle.
Despite a lower dose being administered during this cycle, massive increases in size and strength will be experienced, due to the body not having used this compound before.
A beginner taking this cycle is likely to gain 30lbs.
Anadrol-Only Cycle (Advanced)
This Anadrol cycle is for experienced users only.
If someone has previously used Anadrol and their body’s adapted to this compound, they may want to cycle it again, but at a higher dose and a longer period of time (for increased gains).
This cycle is only for those who are in good health and have regular checkups with their doctor, prior to taking this cycle.
If someone currently has bad health and then takes this cycle, it will deteriorate further.
Legal Steroid Alternatives That Work
“There is evidence, if you could use these (steroid alternatives) they would be much better than using anabolic steroids”.
Several of the herbs and amino acids, mentioned by Dr. Thomas O’Connor, are present in Crazy Bulk’s legal steroid alternatives.
CB’s products are backed with clinical research and are safe for men and women to use. You can view their product range (and receive 20% off) by clicking the link below.
2. Anadrol and Deca Durabolin Cycle
Deca Durabolin is an effective injectable steroid that users can stack with Anadrol, increasing muscle hypertrophy and strength.
Deca Durabolin is not a toxic steroid like Anadrol, thus side effects won’t be a lot more severe than running Anadrol by itself. However, testosterone will be more suppressed post-cycle, thus a powerful PCT should be used.
These are fairly modest doses, therefore this cycle may be utilized after cycling Anadrol a couple of times by itself.
The main side effect to prepare for on Deca Durabolin is very low libido and erectile dysfunction, notoriously known as ‘Deca dick’. Deca can cause this effect due to its stimulating effect on prolactin levels.
To combat this and maintain optimal sexual function, men can take Dostinex, otherwise known as Caberglobine. This is a drug that doctors use to effectively treat hyperprolactinemia, a condition where the body produces too much prolactin. Dostinex increases sexual libido and erection quality relatively quickly (1).
Anadrol and Deca Cycle (Advanced)
With this Deca and Anadrol cycle, the user is utilizing higher doses. Thus, results will be increased and so will the severity of side effects.
3. Anadrol and Testosterone Cycle
Testosterone is another powerful bulking steroid that will significantly enhance muscle and strength gains when stacked with Anadrol. This duo is one of the best combinations for mass.
Testosterone is an injectable steroid and thus there won’t be any (significant) additional liver strain with the inclusion of Testosterone.
However, natural testosterone levels will become more suppressed post-cycle, in contrast to taking Anadrol alone. Furthermore, the risk for gynecomastia (gyno), high blood pressure, acne and hair loss will increase.
To combat the onset of gyno during a cycle, a SERM may be taken (such as Nolvadex), to reduce heightened estrogen levels in the breast tissue.
anti-aromatase drugs will not be effective in combating high estrogen levels during this cycle, because Anadrol (unlike Testosterone) does not aromatize. Instead, Anadrol targets the estrogen receptors directly.
4. Anadrol and Winstrol Cycle
This stack could be used as a bulking or cutting cycle.
Winstrol will increase lean muscle gains, whilst drying users out and enhancing fat burning.
This initially seems like a strange stack, because:
- Winstrol is a cutting steroid
- Winstrol dries the body out, whereas Anadrol often causes significant amounts of water retention
However, when Anadrol isn’t used in conjunction with a high-calorie diet (with lots of sodium), water retention is minimal. If calories and sodium are low, users often report no additional water retention at all; hence why various men’s physique competitors cycle Anadrol before a show, making their muscles appear as full as possible.
Therefore, if your diet accommodates Anadrol in a way that doesn’t cause any fluid retention (low calories/low sodium), the body can remain to look relatively dry; whilst packing on large amounts of muscle.
The only problem with this cycle is that it will be very harsh on the body.
Winstrol and Anadrol are oral steroids, with both of them being hepatotoxic. These are also very suppressive compounds in regards to testosterone, and will have a deleterious effect on the heart; with elevated LDL and reduced HDL cholesterol scores.
This is possibly one of the worst cycles for a bodybuilder when weighing up the pros vs cons. This is because Winstrol won’t make a tremendous difference; yet will exacerbate the side effects of Anadrol significantly.
However, it remains a common cycle among bodybuilders who favour orals vs injectables.
5. Anadrol and Dianabol Cycle
Two of the best bulking steroids on the planet combined in one single cycle.
This cycle will produce the most weight gain and size of any two steroids. This stack will blow users’ muscles up to the point, where they will probably be afraid to perform supersets during their workouts.
It is likely users will lose a noticeable amount of size post-cycle; however, most of this will be water weight, gained from these two wet steroids.
This is one of the worst cycles for your liver, with both of these steroids being orals (and thus c 17 alkylated compounds). Therefore if your liver is not in great condition, do not perform this cycle.
However, there is research to suggest that Anadrol’s effects on the liver are not as bad as the bodybuilding community suggests. Furthermore, the liver can take a battering and still recover easily, compared to other organs. The key with steroids and the liver is to not take lengthy cycles, giving enough rest for it to regenerate post-cycle.
For those interested in this cycle, they should supplement with TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholic acid), with doses of 500mg per day, for up to 3 months, being very effective for inhibiting liver damage (2).
TUDCA should be taken during and after cycles to offer as much protection to the liver as possible. Also, alcohol should be strictly avoided.
Conservative dosages have been used in this sample cycle, with the risk of liver strain (and other side effects) in mind.
Regular cardio is highly recommended to minimize large increases in blood pressure. Blood pressure should be monitored regularly throughout this cycle, as large amounts of water retention and cholesterol shifts are inevitable.
6. Anadrol, Trenbolone and Testosterone Cycle
This trio of steroids stacked together will surely give users the best gains of their life; however, it will also produce very harsh side effects and thus should be used very sparingly (if at all).
Rich Piana stated this was the best cycle he had ever taken.
The main problems with this cycle are extreme testosterone suppression, very high elevations in blood pressure, the risk of gynecomastia and considerable hair thinning/loss on the scalp. There will also be some liver toxicity; however, with the presence of two injectable steroids (test and tren), it will be less hepatotoxic than the Dianabol/Anadrol cycle.
Anadrol and Trenbolone is another common and powerful steroid cycle, which can be taken together like Anadrol and test.
Female Anadrol Cycles
There is ample research to suggest that Anadrol is actually one of the best steroids for women — in regards to those who want to avoid virilization. However, many people believe the opposite to be true and that women should stay away from Anadrol.
In clinical research, when women take mega doses of Anadrol for extremely long periods of time, masculinization does not occur. In a study, doses of 100-150mg were taken for 30 weeks and no virilization effects were seen in any of the female subjects (3).
It is commonly believed that because Anadrol produces harsh side effects in men (some being androgenic), that it will also cause the same masculine effects in women. However, in practical settings, it does not.
The reason for this may be due to Anadrol simultaneously increasing estrogen levels, whilst failing to bind strongly to SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin). High SHBG levels in women are notorious for causing masculine side effects.
Women may cycle Anadrol alone, or in conjunction with Anavar, for further muscle gains (and fat loss).
Anavar is another female-friendly steroid, that is safe for minimizing the risk of virilization when taken in short cycles.
Anadrol-Only Cycle (Women)
This cycle contains cautious doses of Anadrol, despite research indicating higher doses could possibly be taken without any further risk of virilization.
However, these doses are sufficient for significant muscle and strength gains. This is also a very short cycle, in comparison to those conducted in studies.
If women have taken Anavar or Anadrol alone in cycles before and would like to build even more muscle; they can stack both compounds together.
Conservative doses are used for each of these steroids, in a 6-week cycle. Anavar doesn’t want to be run for too long, as masculinization has been seen in women running long cycles.
How to Take Anadrol
Anadrol typically comes in 50mg pills. To keep optimal levels of oxymetholone in your bloodstream, it is advised to take 2 doses throughout the day (instead of one).
Therefore, if you are taking 100mg per day you can simply take 2 pills.
For a total dose of 50mg per day, you can use a pill cutter to split the pills in half.
For a total dose of 75mg per day, the best practice would be to take 3 x 25mg pills.
Important: Anadrol pills should be taken on an empty stomach. This is because the tablets are fat-soluble (like other anabolic steroids). Thus taking it with foods, containing dietary fat, will reduce Anadrol’s bio-availability.
There is evidence to suggest the opposite is true when taking Anadrol with grapefruit juice, which potentially may increase its bio-availability, due to the fruit inhibiting CYP3A4, an enzyme in the liver which significantly reduces the absorption of many drugs (including anabolic steroids).
Therefore, if you do take Anadrol with grapefruit juice, be wary of overdosing, as a result of increased absorption.
Post Cycle Therapy
A powerful PCT is required when taking Anadrol to help restore endogenous testosterone production as quickly as possible.
Well-being, sexual health and results tend to suffer post-cycle; however, a PCT will help to reverse these adverse effects.
There are three recommended medications to take for a PCT, these are:
- Clomid
- Nolvadex
- hCG
All of these drugs will increase natural testosterone levels significantly.
If a user is shut down severely, it is recommended to take all three of these medications simultaneously. If someone has just taken Anadrol in moderate doses, they may only take one or two of these drugs.
Here is the most effective PCT protocol:
- hCG every second day (for 20 days), taking 2000 IU
- Nolvadex every day (for 45 days), taking 2 x 20mg doses
- Clomid every day (for 30 days), taking 2 x 50mg doses
Anadrol Before and After
This transformation was from a bodybuilder who was previously natural (left) and then took Anadrol (right). He stacked Anadrol with Deca Durabolin and after several cycles, gained a significant amount of size and mass.
Such a combination has the ability to add up to 40lbs to the scales. This number is likely to increase further with the addition of other steroids.
Anadrol is not the best steroid for maintaining a tight and tiny waist, especially when bulking on higher calories; however if the goal is to pack on as much mass as possible – it can work wonders.
If you are at a high body fat percentage, it might be worth cutting first or taking other steroids over Anadrol; due to the excessive bulking and puffiness that Anadrol can cause.
The heart will also be more protected when a lean person takes Anadrol, compared to someone overweight.
Summary
Any of these Anadrol cycles will produce massive gains in muscular strength and size. Anadrol is one of the most powerful and toxic steroids you can take, why is why users need to be cautious whilst cycling it.
Beginners ideally should stay away from it, until they have first used testosterone.
Intermediates can take it in moderate doses, and experienced users may stack it with other powerful compounds (with caution).
5 powerful Anadrol stacks are:
- Anadrol/Testosterone
- Anadrol/Trenbolone
- Anadrol/Winstrol
- Anadrol/Deca Durabolin
- Anadrol/Dianabol
However, any steroid stacked with Anadrol is going to produce better results, than taking it alone.
The stacks seen on this page are not the only compounds you can cycle with Oxymetholone. There are other effective compounds, such as Anavar, a commonly used cutting steroid, which can be combined with Anadrol. However, with it being an oral and having mild effects, it is less commonly used.
Post-cycle therapy should always be incorporated for mental and physical recovery.
Always consult a doctor before taking any steroids or medicines discussed in this article, and be sure to get regular health checkups.
