by – Masteron (dromostanolone propionate, also known as drostanolone propionate) after a long period of time as a rare drug is now enjoying greater popularity, and deservedly so.
Where one does not wish to use a large amount of injectable testosterone and wishes to use either no trenbolone or only a modest amount of that drug, Masteron is often an ideal choice for inclusion in a steroid stack, or in some cases for use as the sole injectable for a steroid cycle.
Masteron Side Effects
Masteron undergoes no aromatization (conversion to estrogen), no conversion to DHT or potentiation by the 5-AR enzyme, and as an unalkylated steroid it poses no liver issues. In these regards and also in overall side effects, Masteron is best compared with Primobolan Depot.
In terms of positive effects in an anabolic steroid cycle, Masteron is at least as effective as Primobolan per milligram for mass gain and for fat loss, and appears better for hardening.
Masteron as an Anti-Estrogen
Dromostanolone has some reputation for anti-estrogenic activity, but in actuality this effect is fairly subtle. If due to use of aromatizing steroids a steroid cycle would produce substantially excessive levels of estrogen, adding Masteron to the cycle will not fix that. Instead, an anti-aromatase such as letrozole or anastrozole should be used. However, where only a moderate amount of aromatizing steroid is being used, Masteron can in many instances be sufficient as the sole anti-estrogenic agent.
How Masteron Compares to Other Steroids
Many have called Masteron a “weak” steroid, but this definitely is not the case. What often has been weak has been the doses! Doses of this drug have historically been low because of rarity, price, and low concentration of the preparations (100 mg/mL.) However, both availability and price have improved markedly in recent years.
When included as part of a steroid stack, Masteron’s contribution per milligram is at least as great as that of testosterone, boldenone (Equipoise), nandrolone (Deca), or methenolone (Primobolan.) But of course, if only 100 or 200 mg is added per week, there will be no large change seen from such a small addition.
Masteron Stacks
Masteron can be used as the sole injectable: in this case, I prefer to see dosing of 500-700 mg/week. A Masteron/Dianabol stack is more effective however, as is a Masteron/Anadrol stack. Testosterone also combines well with Masteron.
Another use of Masteron which has become more common lately is combination with trenbolone. Unlike combination with Dianabol or Anadrol, there is only an additive effect, not a synergistic effect. However, including Masteron allows a lower trenbolone dosage while achieving very similar or equal physique benefit with less potential for trenbolone-specific side effects of night-sweats, increased tendency to aggression, and/or insomnia.
Masteron also is useful in combination with testosterone for self-prescribed hormone-replacement therapy (HRT.) For example, 100 mg/week each of Masteron and testosterone can be superior for physique benefits to 200 mg/week testosterone alone, while being milder in side effects due to lower resulting levels of estradiol (estrogen) and DHT.
Problem with Masteron-Only Cycles
I don’t recommend using Masteron alone for a steroid cycle or HRT because estradiol levels typically fall too low when this is done. Inclusion of for example at least 100 mg/week testosterone, at least 10 mg/day Dianabol, or at least 700 IU/week total HCG will maintain normal estradiol levels during a Masteron-only cycle, should one wish to do this.
Masteron Recommendations
As a propionate ester, Masteron has a half-life of probably two days and therefore is preferably injected at least every other day, and more preferably daily. An enanthate ester version having a half-life of probably 5 days has become available. This version of Masteron may be injected as infrequently as twice per week.
The traditional (propionate) form of Masteron is also advantageous for brief cycles or for use at the end of a longer cycle, giving quick transition from high, anabolically-effective blood levels to levels sufficiently low to allow recovery of natural testosterone production.
Very simply, Masteron does very well what it’s supposed to do, and has as mild a side-effect profile as is possible for an anabolic steroid. I have never known anyone to be disappointed with this steroid, provided sufficient dosing was used.
Dromostanolone propionate is the chemical name of the active ingredient in Masteron. Masteron was a registered trademark of Sarva-Syntex in Belgium and/or other countries prior to cancellation.
About the author
Bill Roberts is an internationally-recognized expert on anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). He received a bachelor degree in Microbiology and Cell Science and completed the educational and research requirements for a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at a major American university.
Bill entered the nutritional supplement industry prior to completing his doctoral thesis but his education was invaluable so far as being able to design/improve nutritional supplement compounds, since it was in the field of designing drug molecules and secondarily some work in transdermal delivery.
His education was not specifically "geared" toward anabolic steroids other than expertise with pharmacological principles having broad applications. This has allowed Bill to provide unique insight into the field of anabolic pharmacology with knowledge of points which he would not have known otherwise.