Anadrol vs Dbol: Which is the Better Steroid?

Anadrol (Oxymetholone) and Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) are perhaps the two most potent bulking steroids when trying to gain mass.

They are also very similar, being wet and oral compounds; however, there are a few distinct differences that we’ll cover in this article.

Anadrol Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Exceptional strength increases
• Big increases in muscle mass
• Trapezius and deltoid hypertrophy
• Big pumps
• Suitable for women

Cons:

• Very high blood pressure
• Extremely liver toxic
• Hair loss is common
• Acne is common
• Can suppress appetite
• Water retention

Dbol Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Big strength gains
• Big increase in muscle mass
• Less likely to experience hair loss
• Big pumps

Cons:

• High blood pressure
• Liver toxic
• Water retention
• Unsuitable for women

Similarities

Muscle Size and Weight Gain

Anadrol and Dianabol will both cause hefty weight gain in users, being approximately 20-30lbs in those new to these compounds. Approximately 30% of this weight gain will be in the form of water, and thus temporary; however, the lean muscle will stay post-cycle (if the person continues lifting weights).

Strength

Both steroids will cause significant increases in strength; however, Anadrol has the edge in this department being a DHT (dihydrotestosterone) derivative — a potent androgen.

Anadrol and Dianabol can add 30-50+lbs of strength to users’ main lifts, with Anadrol being at the higher end of this range and Dianabol towards the lower end.

Pumps

Both anabolic steroids will increase intracellular water retention and glycogen, thus enhancing pumps in and out of the gym.

During workouts, this may even be a drawback as pumps can become painful. It isn’t unheard of for someone to deadlift and experience an excessive pump in the lower back. To reduce this, users can take longer rests in between sets, as well as taking potassium and taurine supplements.

High Blood Pressure

Both steroids will significantly increase blood pressure, due to them both being c-17 alpha-alkylated compounds; and thus stimulating hepatic lipase — a liver enzyme that has an adverse effect on HDL/LDL cholesterol.

Equally, they are both estrogenic steroids causing the body to retain water. This is problematic from a cardiac perspective, as water retention causes blood to become more viscous; effectively impeding blood flow to vital organs.

Liver Toxicity

Both are orals and thus hepatotoxic steroids that will cause inflammation and damage to the liver. Taking 500mg/day of TUDCA can help to reduce hepatic inflammation, and is advised to offer maximum protection to this organ.

ALT and AST markers will rise significantly on-cycle but commonly drop back down to normal levels (in users with otherwise healthy livers).

However, taking large doses or excessively long cycles increases the risk of liver injury.

Both Can Cause Gynecomastia

Dianabol has the aromatase enzyme present, thus converting testosterone to estrogen — potentially causing gynecomastia in users.

Anadrol is also estrogenic, albeit with a different chemical structure. It doesn’t aromatize, however it does directly stimulate the estrogen receptors.

Thus, an AI (aromatase inhibitor) would be effective at preventing gynecomastia on Dianabol — but not on Anadrol. Instead, a SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator) should be used to inhibit estrogenic effects directly in the mammary glands.

Differences

Trapezius and Deltoid Hypertrophy

Anadrol will cause greater muscle growth in the trapezius and deltoids, due to both muscle groups possessing a higher number of androgen receptors.

Thus, with Anadrol being more androgenic than Dianabol — these muscles are more likely to blow up.

The Severity of Side Effects

Anadrol typically causes slightly harsher side effects than Dianabol, causing higher elevations in blood pressure and liver enzymes in comparison.

This is most likely due to Anadrol being taken in significantly higher dosages compared to Dianabol. A typical dosage of Anadrol is 50-100mg/day, whereas Dianabol’s is 20-40mg/day.

Thus, Dianabol is actually the more potent steroid mg for mg, but because Anadrol is typically taken in higher quanitites; side effects can be more troublesome.

Anadrol can also cause acne vulgaris and accelerate male pattern baldness, due to it elevating DHT.

Although it is not recommended, some beginners can take Dbol and remain relatively unscathed. However, beginners rarely take Anadrol with its side effects being more notorious.

Appetite

Anadrol can suppress appetite, which is indicative of its destructive nature on the liver.

As the liver becomes strained processing Anadrol, the body as a self-defense mechanism reduces hunger; in a bid to reduce the workload on this organ.

However, because Dianabol’s hepatotoxicity is lower, users can often experience the opposite effect — being an increase in appetite.

Users are typically taking Anadrol or Dianabol for bulking purposes, where a calorie surplus can complement their gains. Thus, a stimulated appetite is advantageous.

Fat Loss

All anabolic steroids burn subcutaneous fat, as they are all forms of exogenous testosterone (a fat-burning hormone).

Anadrol will however burn slightly more fat than Dianabol, as it is more androgenic — with the AR (androgen receptor) playing a crucial role in adipose tissue atrophy.

This more pronounced fat-burning effect with Anadrol may not be obvious to some users, especially as it can be disguised with water retention ( on cycle).

Also, users typically will eat in a calorie surplus when bulking on both of these steroids; thus fat accumulation is common via their diet. In this instance, Anadrol will do a better job at minimizing fat gain when eating generously.

Due to its fat-burning properties and ability to fill out the muscles, Anadrol is sometimes utilized as a cutting steroid; especially among Men’s physique competitors. To avoid water retention they will typically lower their sodium intake, as the combination of estrogen and moderate amounts of sodium is what causes extracellular water distribution.

Suitability for Women

Dbol has been shown to cause virilization in women, resulting in clitoral hypertrophy and deepening of the voice (1).

Anadrol however is very well-tolerated by women, with females experiencing zero virilization side effects, even when taking mega doses of 100-150mg/day for 30 weeks (2).

The reason for this is likely related to Anadrol’s low affinity when binding to SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin). High levels of SHBG can cause masculinization in women, as their testosterone becomes free or more active.

Winstrol is a good example of a steroid that has a high affinity when binding to SHBG, consequently causing high virilization rates in women.

Anadrol vs Dbol: Which is the Better Steroid?

The answer to this depends on what the user hopes to achieve.

For example, if a person has lagging deltoids/trapezius muscles and wants them to grow as big as possible — Anadrol is the best choice.

However, if someone wants to maintain the hair on their scalp, keeping it as thick as possible — Dianabol is a better option, due to decreased androgenicity.

Generally though, Dianabol remains the more popular steroid for men as it can match the anabolic nature of Anadrol, but with less severe side effects.

For women, Anadrol is the only suitable option out of the two.

It is very much a battle of Anadrol vs Dbol, instead of being able to take them both in a stack together. This is because liver toxicity and cholesterol values would rise dangerously high, thus taking them both simultaneously should be avoided.