Winstrol (Stanozolol)

Winstrol (commonly called Winny) is the trade name for Stanozolol. It is a DHT-derived anabolic steroid that is unique because it exists in both oral (tablet) and injectable (water-based suspension) forms.

It is arguably the most popular cutting steroid next to Anavar. It creates a "dry," hard look to the muscle, making it a staple in contest prep and summer cutting cycles.

Quick Specs

Mechanism of Action

Stanozolol is a Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derivative with two modifications:

1. A pyrazole group attached to the A-ring, replacing the 3-keto group.
2. C-17 alpha-alkylation.

These changes make Winstrol highly anabolic while reducing its androgenicity. Notably, Winstrol significantly lowers SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin). By binding to SHBG, it frees up more free testosterone in the body, potentially making other compounds in a stack more effective.

Pharmacokinetics & Dosing

Half-Life

• Oral: ~9 hours. Typically dosed twice daily to maintain stable levels.
• Injectable: ~24 hours. Often injected daily or every other day (EOD). Note that injectable Winstrol is often water-based and can be painful ("pip").

Primary Effects

1. The "Dry" Look

Winstrol does not aromatize, so there is zero water retention. In fact, it often has a diuretic effect, pulling water out of the skin and creating a grainy, hard, vascular appearance.

2. Athletic Performance

Unlike other bodybuilding drugs, Winstrol produces significant strength and power output increases without adding body weight. This makes it popular among track and field athletes (most famously Ben Johnson).

3. SHBG Reduction

As mentioned, its ability to crush SHBG increases the efficiency of the Testosterone base used alongside it.

Side Effects & Harm Reduction

1. Hepatotoxicity

Winstrol is one of the more liver-toxic steroids, even in its injectable form (as it still possesses the C-17aa modification).

• Management: Keep cycles short (6 weeks max). High-dose NAC/TUDCA is mandatory.

2. Lipid Profile (Cholesterol)

Winstrol is notoriously harsh on cholesterol, often crashing HDL into single digits and raising LDL.

• Management: Cardio is non-negotiable. Diet must be clean and rich in Omega-3s.

3. Hair Loss

Being a DHT derivative, Winstrol can accelerate male pattern baldness in those genetically predisposed. Finasteride is generally ineffective here because Winstrol is not converted to DHT; it is already a DHT derivative.

Tracking Winstrol

Using the Anabolic Tracker app:

1. Inventory: Add Winstrol to your inventory.
2. Scheduling: Daily or Twice Daily dosing.
3. Metrics: Track Joint Pain using the custom metric feature (1-10 scale) to monitor if the "drying out" effect is becoming dangerous for training.
4. Injection Sites: If using the injectable version, track rotation carefully as water-based suspensions are prone to causing inflammation/pip.