Anadrol: Compound Profile & The Best Stacks in 2025

Anadrol is an oral, DHT-based compound suitable for bulking, lean bulking, and recomposition protocols. 

You’ve probably seen the guys who cycle Anadrol. They’re pretty easy to spot: full muscles, godsent pumps, immense strength, and a rapid increase in size ― like an additional 15-20 lbs throughout the cycle.

Anadrol isn’t about “steady & slow” gains, it’s a potent steroid with its own benefits and a list of adverse effects. But if you’re up for some growth and want to feel and look like you’re on steroids ― you should add Anadrol to your next cycle, it’s a no-brainer.

Anadrol Compound Profile

Like all anabolic steroids, Anadrol was developed in the 50s (1959, to be exact). It was indicated for severely underweight patients, people with muscle-wasting conditions (HIV, AIDS), or anemia. A classic tale.

As of 2025, Anadrol is one of the most popular bulking agents among male (and sometimes even female) bodybuilders:

Chemical Structure

Characteristics

Anadrol is a DHT derivative, so like most of the DHT-derived steroids, it has a high anabolic-to-androgenic index. We have to note: it doesn’t mean that it won’t cause androgenic side effects, just that they might be milder.

Even though Anadrol doesn’t directly convert into estrogen, it is an aromatizing compound, that can cause estrogen-related adverse effects, such as gyno, water retention, and elevated blood pressure. Here’s a little cheat sheet on Anadrol’s basic parameters for you:

Anadrol is a C17-alpha alkylated compound: an addition of a methyl group helps to increase the steroid’s bioavailability and avoid its inactivation by the liver. It means that Anadrol is hepatotoxic.

To prevent hepatic side effects, you should monitor your liver enzyme levels and take liver support supplements. For example, you can use Liv.52, UDCA or TUDCA.

If you are considering prolonging the cycle (run Anadrol for more than 6 weeks) or exceeding the recommended dosage (25-100 mg/day, with a 100 mg/day being quite harsh on the liver health already), you should think about it twice. There’s a chance you screw up your health and won’t be able to do your next cycle for quite a while.

Anadrol detection time

Anadrol’s maximal detection time has been established at a one-month mark. It sounds crazy because the active half-life of the drug is estimated at 12 hours, max. But it’s true, and if you’re a competing athlete or bodybuilder, you need to consider the risks before steroid administration.

To learn more about doping control, you can check out our article on steroid use in athletics.

Anadrol effects for athletes and bodybuilders

Anadrol is a versatile anabolic steroid, you can:

• Use it to kickstart your cycle: boost your muscle growth from the get-go;
• Add it later as a finishing touch: for strength & muscle gains;
• Establish new personal bests: Anadrol can help you break through strength plateaus even at the lowest dosage (25 mg/day);
• Increase your muscle mass: up to 15-20 lbs, depending on the dosage, training intensity & nutrition;
• Boost your endurance and recovery rate: there’s no soreness, high energy levels, sharp focus.

Sounds like a dream come true, especially when there are cosmetic effects in the mix too. Bodybuilders choose Anadrol because it helps to pack on size without too much water retention. If you add Tren, Mast, or EQ to your cycle protocol, water retention won’t be an issue at all.

Athletes also note that Anadrol provides great pumps, increases vascualrity and makes muscles look fuller through intracellular water retention. The last one isn’t just about your appearance. Water retention in muscle cells helps you to increase strength up to 10-20%.

Does Anadrol burn fat?

Anadrol isn’t your “classic cutting steroid.” It’s better for bulking & lean bulking cycles, and there’s not much point in opting for Anadrol on a cut. 

Let’s put it that way: if your body fat percentage is higher than 17%, there’s not much point in running a bulking cycle, you’ll be better on a calorie deficit. You can look up the best cutting steroid cycles in 2025 here.

If you’re at 12-15%, you need to understand that bulking won’t mess up your body composition. On the contrary, you’ll increase your muscle mass AND improve your muscle-to-fat ratio. Then, after the bulk, you’ll go for a cutting cycle, lose extra pounds you’ve put on, and achieve that dry, chiseled look.

Define what your goal is for the next cycle before choosing compounds. There are anecdotal reports of reducing body fat content on an Anadrol lean bulking cycle, but that’s not the best choice for cutting. Bulk, cut, or recomp ― choose one.

Are Anadrol gains keepable?

Yes, Anadrol gains are keepable. Of course, every pound you gain can’t be pure muscle mass. You’ll drop the water weight, and you’ll have to go for a cutting cycle to lose fat (it can be minimal if you’re watching your nutrient intake and opting for healthy foods).

The rest is lean muscle mass you’ve gained throughout the cycle. You’ll keep it, assuming your training frequency & intensity and diet are in order. 

Anadrol side effects

Some of the Anadrol side effects include:

• HPTA suppression;
• Androgenic side effects: acne, hair thinning, virilization symptoms (deepening of the voice, clitoris enlargement, amenorrhea in women);
• Estrogenic side effects: gynecomastia (man boobs), water retention;
• Hepatic side effects: elevated liver enzyme levels (AST, ALT, Bilirubin);
• Cardiovascular side effects: hypertension, nosebleeds, elevated cholesterol levels;
• Gastrointestinal side effects: nausea, acid reflux, appetite loss (in some cases, an individual may feel excessive hunger instead);
• Mental side effects: insomnia, sleep disturbances, aggression, and anxiety.

High blood pressure and headaches are the most common side effects of Anadrol. To lower blood pressure, you can use Lisinopril at 10 mg/day.

Can Anadrol cause gynecomastia?

Yes, Anadrol can cause gynecomastia. In fact, athletes who are prone to gyno note that the first signs start to appear 4 weeks into the cycle. 

To avoid gyno development, we recommend adding Arimidex (or any other aromatase inhibitor) from the third week of your cycle. Remember, preventing gynecomastia is WAY easier than treating it.

Does Anadrol cause roid rage?

Anadrol can cause roid rage. Most bodybuilders claim that there is some level of anxiety or irritation, but it’s manageable. 

Nothing crazy: no excessive jealousy or random bursts of aggression. But if you’re not even-tempered, it may affect you more, that would be your individual reaction to the compound. 

Anadrol alternatives

“Anadrol, Dianabol, Superdrol, what difference does it make? They’re all orals and can be used during bulking, that’s what’s important” ― if you think so, you couldn’t be more wrong:

• Superdrol is more suitable for lean bulking, recomposition, cutting, and strength-focused cycles: this dry compound provides great lean muscle gains and boosts your strength;
• Dianabol is useful in bulking and strength-focused cycles: it’s a “wet” bulking agent, but it’s not as good as Anadrol in packing on size.

If you want to increase your muscle mass without +100500 side effects, Anadrol is the best choice for you. When it comes to strength, it’s not as effective as Tren, but it’s way milder in terms of adverse effects as well.

Is Anadrol better than Anavar?

Anadrol and Anavar are too different to compare. They have two traits in common ―they’re both anabolic steroids, derived from DHT, and they come in oral form ― that’s it.

Anavar is suitable for cutting and recomposition cycles. It’s the safest option for female bodybuilders, so they can use it for every purpose there is. But it won’t provide the same increase in muscle mass as Anadrol ― ever. 

Is Anadrol better than Dbol?

Anadrol and Dianabol share many similarities. Anadrol definitely acts faster than Dbol, providing rapid muscle mass and strength gains. But they’re not that different. There are anecdotal reports claiming that:

• Anadrol suppresses appetite more, whereas Dianabol increases it;
• Dianabol can cause lower back pump ― Anadrol doesn’t;
• Depending on the individual’s response, both Anadrol and Dianabol can cause excessive fluid retention, but Dianabol’s slightly more “wet” & can cause a “moon face”;
• Cosmetic effects are better with Anadrol (like muscle fullness and vascularity).

Both compounds are aromatizable, so there’s a need for an aromatase inhibitor. You can’t use either of them without a Testosterone base, and you’ll need a proper PCT after the cycle.

How do you take Anadrol?

The recommended Anadrol dosage will vary between 25 and 100 mg/day. 

An appropriate dosage will depend on your experience with this compound. If you haven’t used Anadrol before, but you do have extensive experience with other steroid cycles, you’re still considered a beginner. 

When you add a new compound, always start with the lowest dosage. You can always increase it later:

How much Anadrol should I take?

The optimal dosage for Anadrol is 50 mg/day, but you’ll feel its effects on strength & endurance even at 25 mg/day. If your goal is to increase strength stats, there’s no reason to go higher: for more strength-focused cycles, you can check out this post.

For muscle mass gains, there’s little to no difference between 50 mg/day and 100 mg/day ― it’s a matter of 1-3 lbs max. Remember, increasing the dosage will lead to more pronounced side effects and can put a strain on your liver health. 

As for female bodybuilders, we should note that Anadrol isn’t the best choice for you, safety-wise. There are other cycles you can run. However, advanced female athletes can use Anadrol at 5-25 mg/day if they accept the virilization risks.

What’s the best PCT protocol for an Anadrol cycle?

The PCT protocol for an Anadrol cycle is pretty standard. You can use Clomiphene or Tamoxifen:

• Clomid dosage: 50 mg/day for the first 2 weeks, then 25 mg/day for the last 2 weeks;
• Nolvadex dosage: 40 mg/day for the first 2 weeks, then 20 mg/day for the last 2 weeks.

If you want to use a different protocol, you can check out our post on the best PCT in 2025.

Simple & effective: Anadrol and Testosterone bulking stack

The simplest protocols are one of the most effective ones, that’s for sure. You can achieve pretty much anything with two or three steroids, and an Anadrol & Testosterone bulking cycle is a great example.

Anadrol is used here to kickstart the cycle, providing rapid results, while Testosterone Enanthate isn’t active yet. It’s a safe and synergistic stack that can be used by beginners, assuming they’ve already run a Test-solo cycle:

If you’re prone to estrogenic side effects and have succesfully used Boldenone before, you can add it to the cycle for additional estrogen control. The recommended dosage would be 400-500 mg/week.

To get the most out of EQ, we recommend prolonging the cycle up to 16 weeks, dropping Anadrol after 6 weeks. In this case, HCG should be started from the third week: 250-500 IU/week during the cycle, and 1000-1500 IU/week during an off-cycle gap. 

An off-cycle gap would be two weeks, since it takes a little longer for EQ to clear out of the system.

Kevin Levrone's steroid cycle with Anadrol

Even though you may implement the same protocol as a famous bodybuilder, it won’t make you look exactly like him. Kevin Levrone has great genetics and impeccable discipline ― but he also had a well-designed steroid protocol. Give it a try and see how things turn out for you:

You can switch out Testosterone Cypionate for another long-ester solution or a Testosterone blend, for example:

• Test 400;
• Sustanon;
• Testosterone Enanthate.

Deca Durabolin can be replaced with NPP. The recommended NPP dosage would be 350-400 mg/week.

Testosterone, Anadrol, and Trenbolone lean bulking cycle

Athletes who prefer a drier look and aren’t as prone to Tren’s side effects can try to run Testosterone, Trenbolone, and Anadrol lean bulking cycle:

Combining Trenbolone and Anadrol can be extremely beneficial for powerlifters. Both compounds are well-known for their effects on strength gains.

Conclusion

Anadrol is one of the best options for bulking, lean bulking & strength-focused steroid cycles. It shouldn’t be used without a testosterone base, though, as it can result in greater HPTA suppression. You can stack it with pretty much any injectable ― Deca, Tren, Primo, EQ, or Masteron.

And if you’re searching for something different in your Anadrol cycle ― you can always ask our experts in a telegram chat. They’ll help you build the perfect protocol, free of charge.