Nandrolone is an anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) classified as a performance enhancing drug. Find out everything you need to know about Nandrolone today.
What is Nandrolone Performance Enhancing Drug?
Nandrolone is a performance enhancing drug that goes by a number of different names – including Deca Durabolin, Eubolin, Retabolil, Durabolin, and Fenobolin.
The PED is classified as a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid, or AAS, derived from testosterone. That means it works in a similar way to the hormone testosterone that’s naturally present in your body.
Nandrolone routinely makes headlines among professional athletes and sports organizations. Olympians have been caught with Nandrolone in their systems. Baseball players, MMA athletes, and others have also been caught using Nandrolone as a PED.
The drug has a biological half-life of 6 days, and can be totally excreted in about 21 days. Taken orally, Nandrolone has a bioavailability of around 2.24%. Taking via intramuscular injection, however, bioavailability is 100%.
Interestingly, researchers have spotted trace amounts of Nandrolone in the urine of pregnant women in their first trimester. That’s why we know it’s possible for the human body to make Nandrolone on its own.
Benefits of Nandrolone
Nandrolone, like most anabolic steroids, comes with some powerful benefits. Here are some of the reasons why people take Nandrolone:
- Aids recovery from injuries
- Increases muscle size, strength, and power
- Helps you train harder and longer
- Increases aggression and competitiveness
Side Effects of Nandrolone Performance Enhancing Drug
And, like most anabolic steroids, Nandrolone also comes with some powerful side effects.
- Development of male features in women
- Loss of fertility in men
- Impotence
- Kidney damage
- Increased blood pressure, hardened arteries, and an increased risk of heart disease and liver disease
- Wild mood swings and anger problems
Nandrolone is popular because it doesn’t have the same side effects as other anabolic steroids. As far as anabolic steroids go, Nandrolone has surprisingly few side effects. If you keep doses low, Nandrolone can have a limited effect on your body. However, as with any steroid, the potential for abuse is high.
When abused or used in high doses, Nandrolone causes the same problems as other anabolic steroids. It can increase your risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and sexual dysfunction. It can cause testicular atrophy, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, and the development of male breasts. In females, it can cause an enlarged clitoris, increased facial and body hair, a disruption of the menstrual cycle, a deepened voice, and infertility.
Nandrolone is relatively common among teens and adolescents – including both male and female teens. Adolescents who use Nandrolone can suffer irreversible side effects, including stunted growth, accelerated puberty changes, and abnormal sexual development. In adolescent or teenage girls, Nandrolone can cause severe acne, excessive body and facial hair, a permanent enlargement of the clitoris, permanent infertility, and a disruption of the menstrual cycle.
History of Nandrolone
Nandrolone has been around since the 1950s, when it was first synthesized by researchers in a lab. By the 1960s, Nandrolone was used to supplement Dianabol or testosterone cycles.
Nandrolone was particularly popular among old school bodybuilders. They loved Nandrolone because it allowed them to take more steroids (including testosterone and Dianabol) without as many negative side effects. It added strength to a cycle without significantly increasing side effects.
How to Use Nandrolone Performance Enhancing Drug
Nandrolone is typically injected once a week by athletes and bodybuilders.
The solution is oil soluble, which means manufacturers have to use a lower percentage of solvents to create Nandrolone. This also makes the shot less irritating than others on the market.
Nandrolone Dosage
In terms of dosage, reports online typically recommend adding 400mg of Nandrolone per week to a testosterone or Dianabol cycle. Steroid fansite Evolutionary.org, for example, reports that most men take a dose of 400 to 600mg per week. On the low end, some men take as little as 200mg per week, while others take as many as 1500mg per week.
Celebrities and Athletes Who Have Used Nandrolone
A number of high-profile athletes and celebrities have been caught with Deca Durabolin or Nandrolone in their system. Some of the big names include:
- Pep Guardiola (Soccer)
- Roger Clemens (MLB)
- Barry Bonds (MLB)
- Royce Gracie (MMA)
- Sean Sherk (MMA)
- Linford Christie (Olympian)
- Juan Dixon (NBA)
- Greg Rusedski (Tennis)
- Alfredo Zambrano (MLB)
- Starling Marte (MLB)
Some of these athletes were caught with Nandrolone, while others were caught with metabolites of Nandrolone.
In 2017, MLB All-Star Center Fielder Starling Marte (Pirates) was caught with Nandrolone in his system, earning him an 80 game suspension. That’s why Nandrolone has been in headlines in recent weeks.
Nandrolone Performance Enhancing Drug Summary
Ultimately, Nandrolone is one of the best-known steroids in the bodybuilding and athletic communities. It continues to be popular among high-level athletes due to its lower risk of side effects and relatively short excretion period.
Nandrolone has undeniably powerful effects on the male and female bodies. It can significantly increase muscle mass, aggression, and recovery speeds. However, it’s also associated with some negative side effects – including the dreaded “Deca Dick” among others.
As long as Nandrolone is widely available among bodybuilders and athletes, we’ll continue hearing about the drug on a regular basis.
