Stanozolol is a synthetic steroid that is derived from testosterone and has anabolic and androgenic properties. It first came on the market in 1962. Over time, the marketing and labeling of stanozolol has been altered due to FDA requirements and changes in the drug market. In 2010, it was withdrawn from the U.S. market. It is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance under federal regulation under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 and the updated Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2014.

Uses

Stanozolol can be administered orally or intramuscularly. Some of its therapeutic uses include the treatment of aplastic anemia and hereditary angioedema. It has also been indicated as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of various other medical conditions such as vascular disorders and growth failure. Side effects of stanozolol include those commonly associated with anabolic steroids such as menstrual irregularities, acne, atrophy of the breasts in women, and impotence, testicular atrophy, prostatic hypertrophy in men. Risks of heart attacks, strokes, liver damage, and psychiatric disturbances could occur in both sexes.

Used illegally in bodybuilding, typically "stacked" with other testosterone-based anabolic steroids, Stanozolol is liked by many due to the fact it causes strength increases without excess weight-gain, promotes increases in vascularity, and will not convert to estrogen. It also does not cause excess water retention, and even sometimes is thought to have a diuretic effect on the body.

Stanozolol is commonly used by athletes and bodybuilders alike to lose fat while retaining lean body mass. It is usually used in a cutting cycle, to help preserve lean body mass while metabolizing adipose, although it has not been proven conclusively that it has any special fat-burning properties.

Pharmacokinetics

It is presented most commonly as a 50 mg/mL injection or a 5 mg tablet. However, recently 100 mg/mL versions have become available. A common dosage can be 25-100 mg/day, with optimal results usually seen at 50 mg/day. It is reduced to micrometer particles in aqueous suspension and does not have a typical elimination half-life. Authentic Stanozol can easily be seen, because it will separate in its container if left undisturbed for a number of hours (the micronized crystal will fall to the bottom, and the water suspension will rise to the top). It has a white, milky colour.

It should be taken no more than 48 hours apart, with some users preferring to inject every day, or even twice a day, to maintain serum levels.

An alternative to Stanzolol is Furazabol. Furazabol's effects are virtually identical to Stanzolol except that instead of having an extremely adverse effect on cholesterol values, Furazabol actually improves a person's blood lipid profile (at therapeutic doses, not performance enhancing ones). Sold under the trade name Mitolan, Furazabol is a standard treatment in Japan for hyperlipemia.