Primobolan is an anabolic steroid derived from dihydrotestosterone or DHT. It is also popularly known by the name Methenolone. Like other steroids, Primo was intended for therapeutic purposes. It was supposed to be used in patients experiencing muscle wasting due to terminal illnesses. Initial studies showed it was effective for treating osteoporosis as well as malnutrition. However, it became more popular in the sports and bodybuilding scene than in the medical field.
Primobolan has been around for decades. It used to be a very popular bodybuilding drug in the 1970s and 80s. Some athletes were even reported to be using the drug to enhance performance before competitions. Primo, just like other steroids, was later on banned in all competitive sports. The United States Food and Drug Administration also banned the use and distribution of this and 39 other anabolic steroids in 1989.
But bodybuilders are notorious for not following safety or legal warnings. Primo is still available to date. A few professional athletes have also been reported to be using the performance enhancer. Most recently was American baseball player Alex Rodriguez.
Primobolan is very popular, but it is not the most potent anabolic steroid around. Its effects are totally dwarfed by the likes of Dianabol, Anadrol, and Tren. However, what makes it stand out is the significantly lower risk of adverse reactions.
Compared to the same anabolic steroids, Primo is so much safer, and that's why it has always looked like a viable option for the many bodybuilders who want the benefits of the drug but without the nasty side effects.
Sadly, even with its mild nature, Primo is still not entirely safe. Multiple cases of severe medical complications have been reported over the years.
Another general disadvantage of Primo is its insanely high price. A single vial of Primobolan Depot, the injectable version of the steroid, can cost up to $100! The oral form is also not cheap at all.
How does Primobolan Work?
Primobolan increases nitrogen retention and protein synthesis in the muscle tissues, increasing anabolic activities, which allows your body to build muscles at a faster rate. However, the general impact of this steroid is not very substantial. Therefore, the muscle gains it delivers are not very impressive.
What Primo is really good at is preserving lean muscle mass. This makes it an ideal option if you are entering the cutting phase and want to keep your existing muscle gains intact.
Primobolan may also be effective for boosting red blood cell count. Again, its impact is subtle but just enough to increase your RBC and the benefits that come with it.
Lastly, Primo is said to be good at inducing lipolysis. It reduces fatty tissues resulting in overall fat loss and an increase in energy and strength levels.
Primobolan Results
Some of the Primobolan results as reported by some trials and anecdotal experiences are:
Improved Cardio Performance
Primo is very popular for boosting cardio and overall athletic performance. Not only does it make light and medium intensity cardio workouts feel less-strenuous, but it also speeds up recovery after each of these training sessions.
Your everyday activities will also benefit hugely from the increase in energy, strength, and endurance.
Lean Muscle Growth and Preservation
As pointed out earlier on, Primo is not really the best option if you are looking for dramatic gains. That said, the drug can still be very helpful for a certain category of bodybuilders.
If you are looking for mild visible gains but without fluid or water retention, Primo may be ideal. These results fall somewhere between shredded and a bloated look. This is actually what many fitness enthusiasts try to achieve. It gives you gains that may appear natural when they are anything but. Perhaps that’s why the drug is so expensive.
Primobolan is also a decent choice for muscle preservation during cutting cycles. It's actually better at preserving lean muscle mass than it is at building muscles. However, this means Primo is used alongside a different, more potent drug responsible for burning fat. The stacks increase the risks of side effects drastically.
Fat Loss
Primobolan also promotes the breakdown of fatty acids. It can help reduce adipose around your abdomen. It can also reduce fat around your muscles, allowing your gains to pop out.
Primo fat loss results are not very impressive either, and that’s why some users stack it with testosterone and other steroids.
Enhanced Mood and Confidence
Primo has a delightful effect on your mood and confidence. Many people using this steroid report mood enhancement and higher levels of confidence. This is helpful inside the gym and in the real world, where everything seems to be taking a toll on everyone's mental health at the moment.
While the effect is subtle, it's still a huge bonus for a performance enhancer. Mood enhancement can also come in handy when stacking the steroid with other drugs known for producing anxiety, mood swings, and depression.
Primobolan Side Effects
Although not as aggressive as Dianabol and Deca, Primo also poses its own side effects that can get very serious. For instance, Methenolone has a few androgenic side effects like acne, oily skin, and male pattern baldness. It can also develop some cardiovascular issues, especially if you are already at risk. This means individuals that are genetically predisposed or have high cholesterol levels should avoid Primo.
Another side effect common with all anabolic steroids is endogenous testosterone suppression. The good news here is that the mild profile of Primo translates to reduced suppression if you are using the drug at low to medium dosages. Your testosterone production will still be affected but nowhere as terribly as it would with the other steroids. This means your PCT after taking Primo can be much shorter.
It’s worth noting that Methenolone does not aromatize, so estrogenic side effects like fluid retention and gynecomastia are very rare.
The mildness of Promobolan makes it a very enticing prospect for female athletes. While it is not the most androgenic steroid, Primo can still cause virilization in women. It can lead to facial hair growth, voice deepening, menstrual irregularities, and clitoral enlargement. The risks and severity are, however, very low, particularly to women following low dosages.
Oral Primobolan Vs. Primobolan Depot
Primo is available in oral and injectable form. Oral Primobolan is also called Methenolone Acetate. Other than the mere fact that it is orally administered, Methenolone Acetate is also popular because it’s not 17CAA which means it is not very liver toxic. However, this also affects the drug’s bioavailability, forcing users to take higher dosages to get enough Primo in the bloodstream.
Primobolan Depot or Methenolone Enanthate is the injectable form of the steroid. Bioavailability is not an issue here, and this makes it more efficient and generally better. But then you'll have to deal with frequent injections and the possibility of infections and swellings at the site of injection.
Dosage
The ideal Methenolone Acetate dosage is 100mg per day for men and 50mg per day for women. Men can increase the dose to 150 and 200mg per day if they are showing good tolerance.
Methenolone Enanthate is used at dosages of between 400 and 800mg per week by men and 150mg per week by women. Start with low dosages and make the increments gradually while monitoring your response.
Primobolan cycles can run for 6 weeks for women and 8 weeks for men.
Final Thoughts
Primobolan is safer than other steroids, but its results are also not very impressive. In fact, running Primo in a solo cycle isn’t feasible at all. The gains are usually minimal, and they disappear pretty fast. The only way to really enjoy its benefits is through stacks. But then its impact will be overshadowed.
So, who is this steroid made for then? Methenolone seems to be a good fit for women and men who have never used steroids before. That said, following the recommended dosage is still critical to avoid medical complications.