Primobolan: How Does It Work? Benefits & Side Effects

It is claimed that Primobolan is one of the steroids that Arnold Schwarzenegger used when he was most successful as a bodybuilder.

This steroid also hit the headlines more recently when New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez tested positive for it in 2003. The year when he was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player.

So what is Primobolan, how does it work, and what benefits and side effects will you experience through its use?

The following article will look more closely at this steroid. Would we recommend its use? [toc]

History Of Primobolan

Primobolan was first created in 1960, before both the injectable and oral versions being released to the public in the year 1962.

Originally called Nibal Depot (for the injectable) and Nibal (oral), Primobolan was created to treat muscle wastage and weight loss.

It was also used as an immunostimulant that helps to stimulate your immune system, for individuals fighting infections. For fighting wasting conditions, and to counter the effects of prolonged corticosteroid therapy, the treatment of osteoporosis as well as sarcopenia (the loss of muscle linked with ageing).

Due to its weak nature, Primo has been used to treat children and infants struggling to gain weight.

It wasn’t long before the manufacturer of Nibal sold the rights to the compound to Schering, based in West Germany.

Nibal was subsequently removed from sale, and remarketed under a new name, Primobolan.

While never returning to the American market, as it was FDA approved it was allowed to be imported when needed.

Due to the anabolic benefits and weak androgenic effects Primobolan became popular amongst athletes and bodybuilders up until the early 1990s when manufacturing was halted following the mass hysteria that started to surround anabolic steroid usage.

These days Primobolan is only sold to a small selection of countries. For the injectable version, it is available in Spain, Turkey, Japan, Paraguay, and Ecuador. The oral variety is available in Japan and South Africa.

Chemical Characteristics Of Primobolan

Primobolan is non-17-alkylate steroid with the chemical name 17ß-hydroxy-1-methyl-5a-androst-1-en-3-one acetate. It has an anabolic/androgenic ratio of 88:44-57.

The molecular weight of Primobolan is 344.488 g/mol at the base and this anabolic compound has the molecular formula is C22H32O3.

Both the oral and injectable versions have methenolone as the active base. The only difference between the two is the esters attached to them.

Methenolone is a dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derivative that has a double-bond between carbon atoms 1 and 2.

This adds stability to the 3-keto group and increases the anabolic potential of Methenolone.

Both the oral and injectable versions are partly protected against the first liver pass as there is a 1-methyl group added to its structure.

Benefits Of Using Primobolan

Using Primobolan is likely to offer the following benefits:

Increased Fat Burning

As Primo is effective at binding with the androgen receptor it helps to increase the rate of lipolysis (the breakdown of fat).

With an increase in fat burning, your overall body fat percentage will be lower leaving your muscle looking more defined and vascular.

Better Nitrogen Retention

By increasing the amount of nitrogen retained within your muscle your body will naturally move into a highly anabolic state, which helps to build and protect muscle.

When you are undergoing a cut this process is incredibly important to ensure those hard-earned muscles are not lost.

Improved Muscle Protein Synthesis

To build and repair damaged muscle fibres you need to consume plenty of protein in your diet.

With poor muscle protein synthesis much of this protein consumed will be lost. However, Primo can increase the rate the protein is synthesised therefore ensuring you are better able to repair that damaged muscle.

This process will also aid recovery, helping you to return to the gym much faster between workouts.

Raised Red Blood Cell Count

By increasing your red blood cell count you will be able to increase the amount of oxygen sent around your body.

This has numerous benefits that include:

• Better stamina
• More muscle growth
• Increased energy levels
• More strength

It is these benefits that make Primobolan attractive to athletes looking for an edge over their competitors.

Potential Side Effects Of Primobolan

Even though Primobolan is said to be one of the safest steroids to use, its use is not completely without danger.

Primo does not aromatise to oestrogen, therefore you won’t experience any oestrogen related side effects, which include acne, water retention and gynecomastia.

The side effects you may experience using this steroid include:

• Hair loss – especially amongst those with a genetic history of hair loss
• Enlarged clitoris
• Lower HDL (good) cholesterol, with higher LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease – due to the cholesterol
• Stroke – also because of the cholesterol
• Less testosterone produced naturally

Primobolan Dosage And Cycle Information

When looking at the dosages for Primobolan, more is definitely better than less. As it is a weak steroid the risk of side effects is lower than most.

If using Primo alone without stacking then a dosage of 600-800 mg a week should suffice.

For bulking you can choose to stack with Testosterone at a dosage of 400-800 mg per week.

As for cutting, Primobolan and Trenbolone are good when stacked together, or Primobolan (600-800 mg weekly) and Anavar too (60-80 mg daily).

When it comes to cycling Primobolan, you should cycle for at least 8 weeks. With 12 weeks being the optimum time.

As with any steroid cycle you should always undertake PCT afterwards. This is to ensure your testosterone levels return to normal.

If you are wondering how much Primobolan should a woman take then I would recommend opting for a dosage of between 50-100 mg a week. This is to ensure virilization symptoms are kept to a minimum.

Primobolan FAQs

Here are some questions that have been submitted by our readers. If you have have any questions on Primobolan then you can submit them using the comment form found below this article.

Is Primobolan Legal?

You may be able to buy steroids in various countries, but in certain countries like the UK, Canada and the USA you will struggle.

Steroids like Primobolan are classified as Schedule III controlled substances in the USA.

This means that it is illegal to buy without a prescription, and those who violate this law may face harsh penalties that may include heavy fines and possibly a prison sentence.

Before you attempt to buy a steroid like Primobolan it is important that you know what the law is where you live.

Are Primobolan Gains Permanent?

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as “permanent muscle”, whether you gain muscle naturally or through the use of steroids you can still lose these gains if you do not work hard to maintain it.

You will find that sometimes using steroids will cause water retention, which will give the illusion of more mass. This can be quickly lost after you discontinue using an AAS.

As Primo does not cause water retention, this effect will be less noticeable.

Is Primobolan Suitable For Women?

It is not just men that use steroids, and steroids like Primo are one of the better choices for the female looking to build muscle and burn fat.

Unlike steroids like Masteron that can potentially cause virilization symptoms (hair loss, body hair growth, deeper voice, enlarged clitoris etc), Primobolan does not cause these effects.

This is because it is mostly an anabolic rather than androgenic.

To reduce the risk of encountering virilization women should try to keep the dosages to a reasonable level. 50-100 mg a week should suffice, or opting for the oral version.

How Long Does Primobolan Stay In Your System?

Primobolan has a half-life of 4-6 hours, however, it can still be detected in your system between 4-5 weeks after your last use.

Where Can You Buy Primobolan?

The best bet when looking to buy Primobolan is to look online, however, this comes at risk too.

Prices will vary depending on the quality and whether you choose to buy an injectable or an oral variant.

Injectable tends to be the more expensive option.

Before you buy there are a few questions you should ask. For example, is the Primobolan available of low quality, and can the seller be trusted?

You should always be cautious when buying steroids online and make sure you do your research before committing to buying.

Alternative To Primobolan

You do not have to resort to using steroids in order to build muscle, there are other options available to you.

While not as effective as steroids, there are natural alternatives available, such as those sold by Crazy Bulk.

One of their more popular supplements is D-Bal, which is a safe and natural alternative to the banned anabolic steroid Dianabol.

Made from ingredients that include Whey Protein Concentrate, Tribulus Terrestris and various BCAAs. D-Bal can build muscle by increasing nitrogen retention and protein synthesis.

Benefits you can experience through its use include:

• Muscle and strength gains
• Better endurance levels, allowing you to work out for longer
• Improved nitrogen retention
• Improved blood flow. Helps transfer extra oxygen and nutrients to your muscles

If you have any doubts about these claims then I would suggest that you pay a visit to the Crazy Bulk website. They have plenty of user testimonials available to back up these claims.