Anavar and dbol are both a gem of steroids. Both of them are quite popular in the bodybuilding industry and are always trending for their easy use, shorter cycles, and faster results.
These extremely potent steroids are individually used to gain muscles and strength, however, the final results of both Anavar and Dbol vary tremendously.
So, what will happen if you stack both of them?
Will you be able to get the best of both worlds (i.e. benefits of both steroids in one package)?
Or are you going to be disappointed in this combo?
Well, you will get to know all the answers in the article below! First, let us understand what Anavar and Dbol are respectively, then I will explain their use as a stack.
What is Anavar?
Anavar, commonly referred to as Var, is the safest androgenic and anabolic steroid. Its scientific name is Oxandrolone, and it is a testosterone derivative.
Now, why is it considered the safest steroid?
This is because Anavar is the only oral steroid that damages your organs least (especially your liver, where anabolic steroids are metabolized).
This fast-acting steroid has a half-life of roughly 9 hours. However, it can be detected in your blood for 3 to 4 weeks.
The anabolic effect of Anavar, in comparison to its slight androgenic side effects, is much greater than others. This is why it is legally approved to be used for medical purposes. (But oh boy is it expensive! Be ready to invest a significant sum of money on each cycle of Anavar!)
As far as bodybuilding is concerned, Anavar does cause a modest anabolic effect on its users. Although you do not get significant muscle gains as you can on other anabolic steroids, Anavar is best suited for those who want to play safe. (The side affects you face on steroids are no joke. They create quite a havoc in your system, to say the least!)
Anavar is also a good choice for females who want substantial mass enhancement gains.
How does it work?
Anavar is absorbed through the digestive system and becomes directly attached to the skeletal muscles by traveling through the bloodstream.
The main purpose of Anavar is to prevent muscle wastage, promote fat loss and improve the muscle-building capacity of your body. Since Anavar does not aromatize, the muscles you gain on Anavar are lean and dense. You gain significantly less water weight as compared to bulking steroids. It enhances your strength and accelerates weight loss.
Anavar is more suited for cutting cycles as it assists in fat loss and gain of lean muscle mass. Nevertheless, these cycles need to be short i.e., no more than 6 weeks. This is so that your body does not suffer irreparable damage on this steroid (I have explained it in detail in the cons section.)
Note: As evident from this discussion, Anavar is a dry steroid. It produces dry, lean muscles that modestly improve your physique. Therefore, if Arnold Schwarzenegger of the Golden Era is your ideal body shape (i.e., puffed up body and ripped muscles are your jam), then sadly Anavar will not help you achieve your dream.
Appropriate dosage of Anavar
The appropriate Anavar dosage ranges from 2.5 to 20 mg, considering your tolerance level and your desired outcome.
The thing with Anavar is that, if possible, you need to take more than one dose a day to keep the concentration of this steroid maintained in your blood. For instance, if you are taking 20 mg of Anavar a day, you need to divide your dose into two for a better effect.
Note: Taking less than 10 mg of Anavar is a complete waste. 10 mg is the minimum threshold dose you need to take to experience the anabolic effect of Anavar in your body!
Besides the dosage, timings of Anavar intake are also very important. Having a shorter half-life, you need to make sure that you are taking Anavar at the same time each day. Missed dose can be skipped if it’s almost time for your next dose. But do not make the mistake of doubling your dose in any scenario!
Pros of Anavar
The benefits of using Anavar are multiple. I have listed them in the order of Anavar’s potency:
- Fat reduction
- Increased strength
- Improved protein absorption from food
- Muscle gain
As you can see, Anavar is much more potent at helping you lose weight than increasing your lean muscle mass. There are multiple steroids in the market that are much more effective in muscle enhancement than Anavar itself. You will, however, feel stronger on Anavar and have a better tendency to absorb your food.
Cons of Anavar
The first and foremost disadvantage of using Anavar is that it is expensive. Another fact about androgenic and anabolic steroids is that they act as an androgen but not fully. This characteristic leads to different side effects in males and females.
In males, since Anavar poses itself as an androgen, the natural production of testosterone gradually decreases to maintain a specific hormone level within the body. But since Var does not bind with all cell receptors, a cascade of side effects result with its extended use.
The most common side effect of Anavar on males is priapism (i.e., elongated erection of 4 hours or more). Others are
- Gynecomastia (in some)
- Hair loss
- Acne
- Difficulty in urination
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Unexplained edema
- Reduction in testicular size and sperm count
- Infertility (on long term use)
In females, intake of Anavar (although a mild androgen) can lead to virilism i.e., the development of male like characteristics. The side effects of Anavar in females include:
- Hirsutism (facial hair growth)
- Voice deepening
- Hoarseness
- Hair loss
- Body hair growth
- Irregular periods
- Clitoris enlargement
Note: Do you remember when I said that Anavar is the “safest” steroid? Well, reading these side effects of Anavar will surely make you baffled about this claim. But trust me, my friend, these are the most basic side effects you can face when taking an anabolic steroid. You need to be mentally prepared to tackle a cascade of health problems if you decide to venture into the bodybuilding world through steroids! Androgenic and anabolic steroids are no joke. While they do help you bulk up or enhance muscle cutting capacity, you must take your time to ponder if they are truly the right choice for you!
What is Dbol?
Dianabol or Dbol is one of the most popular anabolic steroids of all time. Its scientific name is methandrostenolone and is one of the first anabolic steroids approved for commercial use.
If you are already a gym enthusiast or love to pump up your muscles, then you must have heard about Dbol. This fascinating drug is famous for its effectiveness (it helps you bulk up tremendously) and also for its affordability.
(It matters a lot, you know. When you have to complete a cycle and continue dosing up, affordability (hands down!) plays a major role for us strugglers out here!)
Dbol helps you build up lean muscles, improves your endurance and gives you immense strength for an intense workout. Dbol is regarded as a “dummy proof” steroid. It means that it will work on any body type, and you will see noticeable results just within a few weeks…
The best part of all is that it’s an oral steroid!
(Its popularity during the golden era is also credited to this fact! Those who were sick of injecting steroids or simply were afraid of needles (Ehmm, like me.) found Dbol as a great and competent alternative.)
How does it work?
Once taken orally, Dbol starts working as soon as it enters your bloodstream. Dianabol causes nitrogen retention in your body, which is then broken down and converted into muscle protein. Dianabol also causes a dramatic increase in red blood cells production.
As soon as the RBCs increase in number, more and more oxygen and nutrients are transferred to your muscles, which gives you immense strength and endurance, the likes of which you never had before!
Dbol, being a derivative of testosterone, also binds to some androgenic receptors and makes your body gain tremendous muscles in a short amount of time. These huge gains, if desirable for you, can drastically improve your overall build and image. You will see yourself bulking up without any appreciable diet changes.
Note: Dianabol is a wet steroid, i.e., it promotes water retention in your muscles. The swollen effect is also partially due to the excess intramuscular fluid you get while on Dbol. Therefore, Dbol is regarded as a bulking steroid. You cannot use Dianabol for a cutting cycle.
Appropriate dosage of Dianabol
The recommended dosage of Dianabol by fitness enthusiasts is 10 mg to 25 mg. It is best to start by taking a smaller dose and gradually make your way up.
The good thing about Dianabol is that it makes you gain almost 15 to 30 lbs of muscle within the first month of its cycle. However, for maximum effect of Dianabol, you need to divide your dosages (if possible) as its half-life is quite short (5 to 6 hours max). Dosing on Dbol twice a day will be the best option for you!
You also need to make sure that you keep your cycle short. A 4-week cycle or a 6-week cycle in some cases is most suitable for all. Elongating the cycle further can induce grave side effects including severe liver damage.
Just as Anavar or any other steroid you need to take care about the timings of the dose as well as properly tackling a missed dose. (For detailed guidance, follow the dosage instructions I mentioned in Anavar)
Pros of Dbol
The claimed benefits of Dbol are many, most of which are backed up by its regular users. These include
- Highly affordable
- You hit plateaus more often
- Increased nitrogen retention
- Boost in protein synthesis
- A bulking effect in muscles
- Improved strength
- Better mood
- Unbelievable pumps!
- Fat loss to some extent
Cons of Dbol
The disadvantages of Dbol are the same as that of all the AAS (androgenic and anabolic steroids).
The side effects in males are:
- Gynecomastia
- Libido changes
- Prostate issues
- Decreased testosterone levels
- Reduced sperm count
- Infertility (in extreme cases)
The side effect of Dbol in females is virilism, which includes
- Deepening of voice
- Hirsutism
- Increased body hair growth
- Decreased libido
- Menstrual changes
- Infertility (in most cases)
The side effects common to both sexes are quite serious too. You can experience aggression, irritability, and sudden mood changes on extended use of Dbol.
Because of the increased blood volume, you also put a strain on your heart on Dbol. You also become prone to increased blood pressure and frequent bloating issues.
Last but not the least, Dbol causes significant damage to your liver. Its hepatotoxic effect is so pronounced that its users are recommended to take liver healing drugs in the PCT (Post Cycle Therapy). You can develop blood filled cavities in your liver as well as liver neoplasms in extreme cases.
Anavar and Dianabol cycle:
Well, its high time that we address the elephant in the room…
Now that you know all about the goods and bads about these two powerful steroids, let’s come to the main question:
Can Anavar and Dianabol be stacked?
Will they cancel out each other’s results or will they act synergistically to improve your lean muscle mass?
With Anavar being a cutting steroid and Dianabol being a bulking one, their end results are quite different from each other. So yes, my friend, there is a possibility that they might neutralize each other’s results IF not taken appropriately.
For detailed guidance about every aspect of this peculiar stack, continue reading below to find out how you can stack Anavar and Dbol in a cycle to make them work for you!
Anavar and Dbol cycle – does it work?
Anavar and Dbol do work.
But unfortunately, not so significantly.
This peculiar stack is made by essentially combining a cutting steroid and bulking steroid. Although you may expect to get the best of both worlds, the results are quite contrary. Anavar and Dianabol stack will work for those who want to build lean muscle mass or essentially not go into a catabolic phase when losing weight.
Who is better suited for Anavar and Dbol stack?
The Anavar and Dbol stack is best for those who are looking for a cutting stack, so that they can lose weight without wasting their muscles.
I know what you must be thinking.
“How can this stack be more suitable for cutting when Dbol is a bulking steroid?“
Well, this is because both Anavar (a cutting steroid) and Dbol(a bulking steroid) act exclusively on your skeletal muscles. While Dbol causes your muscles to swell by retaining water, Anavar expels most of it when it reaches the respective cells.
However, since usage of Anavar and Dbol together compels your body to burn stored fat for energy and promote muscle cell synthesis by nitrogen retention; you lose weight without losing your muscles! This combined effect makes it impossible for a dramatic increase in muscle size (hence no bulking effect) but your muscles will appear more pumped and toned (with veins popping out!!) after this cycle.
(The usage of Anavar and Dbol together surely has its ups and downs!)
Note: Anavar is a dry steroid but causes little water retention too. This is why the vein popping effect is seen on this cycle.
Pros of Anavar and Dbol stack
An Anavar and Dbol stack gives you pumped up muscles with bulging veins. You will feel very energetic and full of stamina on completing this cycle.
The final result is influenced by both Dbol and Anavar. Dianabol is responsible for the bulking effect as it causes water retention in your skeletal muscles. This bulking effect is somewhat reduced by Anavar when taken simultaneously with Dbol.
But that’s not the end.
Anavar creates a diuretic effect too. It therefore brings in water within your muscle cells, making them look fuller than usual.
However, as far as the competency of this effect is concerned, I would say that there are other steroid stacks that provide a much-enhanced bulking effect than the use of Anavar and Dbol together.
Regardless, being quite safe and short term, this Anavar and Dbol stack is quite often used by bodybuilders for a moderate change.
This stack’s results show a significant decrease in body fat. The users also reported that the muscle loss (a common side effect of weight loss) was also significantly less on this cycle.
Hence, the Anavar and Dbol cycle’s result will be highly satisfactory for those who want to lose excess fat without compromising their muscles. Both Dbol and Anavar work together to burn the unnecessary fat cells and provide your body with energy and strength.
Anavar And Dbol Cycle – how to use both for stacking?
There are two ways you can take an Anavar and Dbol stack:
- Either take them together simultaneously
- Or start with a Dbol-only cycle and add Anavar after a few weeks.
As per most of the bodybuilding experts, the second option is more suitable one if you want a praiseworthy ripped effect on your muscles. (Who doesn’t want more pumps?!)
If you go for the second option, the dosage of Anavar and Dbol cycle is as follows:
| Week 1-2 | Week 3-8 |
|---|---|
| Dbol 20 mg every day (10 mg in the morning and 10 mg in the evening) | Anavar 50 mg every day (25 mg in the morning and 25 mg in the evening) |
Note: Please have a look at the section where essential products are mentioned for this cycle. You need to take those supplements or drugs without fail or else this cycle can become unsatisfactory (or even deadly) for you!
There are also multiple brands that sell this combo cycle and promote their users to take them simultaneously. You can try whatever you feel right for you and take the chances to lose fat, build lean muscles and boost your workout performance at the same time!
Note: Be extremely cautious of the brands that claim that you do not need any supplementary drugs on Anavar and Dbol cycle. Both co-supplementing as well as PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) is recommended by every professional fitness enthusiast.
The cons of Anavar and Dbol stack
The cons of the Anavar and Dbol stack are
- Hard on the pocket
Yup, this cycle will cost an arm and a leg!
(Just kidding.)
But you will feel the difference in price if you have used any other combo cycle before.
The thing is you wouldn’t bother much if the cycle was of 1 or 2 weeks. But taking multiple doses a day for 6 consecutive weeks does make you realize how expensive this cycle is.
The primary factor for this hiked up price is Anavar. Despite being dubbed as the safest steroid, it’s hard to find and is rather expensive too. Dbol, on the other hand, is famous for its affordability; but the combined price of this duo makes people think twice before starting this cycle.
- Reduced bulking effect
As I have explained earlier, you wouldn’t experience any pronounced bulking effect on your muscles on the Anavar and Dbol cycle as you would experience on a Dbol only cycle.
This characteristic may be unappealing to some of you, especially those who focus on physical effect excessively, rather than looking at the effect of this cycle as a whole.
- Possible liver damage
Taking two oral steroids has its vices too.
While Anavar is regarded as the least damaging anabolic steroid, taking it for extensive periods can prove derogatory for your health. The thing is oral steroids are metabolized in the liver, therefore strain on liver function can occur if you keep on taking Anavar for long periods.
On the other hand, Dbol itself is quite damaging to the liver. Its oral intake makes it impossible to skip the liver, which becomes quite damaged and sensitive on its continual use. It is reported that ASP/ALT liver enzymes shoot up when you are taking Dianabol, indicating the stress that your liver is facing. This is one of the reasons why it is not recommended to continue the cycle for more than 6 weeks.
Who should avoid the Anavar and Dbol stack?
Now this is a very important part.
Because not everyone is eligible for using this Anavar and Dbol stack.
It is highly recommended that women and people who are suffering from liver and kidney issues should avoid this stack.
The androgenic effect of this combo is quite strong. This is why it is recommended that females should avoid this stack all together. The hormonal imbalance as well as the virilism issues that women face are far more serious than the results they might achieve on this stack. For women, an Anavar-only cycle is better and safer than the combination of both Anavar and Dbol.
Moreover, those who have liver and kidney problems should also stay away from this stack as far as possible!
With both Anavar and Dbol being oral steroids, their metabolization takes place within the liver. Kidneys are also involved in filtering out the hormone from the blood serum. Therefore, any pre-existing condition can put your organs in more stress if you start this cycle without proper consultation.
Side effects of the Anavar and Dbol stack
You must have read the Anavar and Dbol side effects I have mentioned individually.
The biggest concern when using this stack is testosterone suppression. This leads to a myriad of side effects in men (for details, see previous sections).
Another concerning fact about this steroid stack is that it is not affordable by all. And the toll this cycle takes on your liver is a whole another discussion. You must avoid this combo cycle if you want to avoid damage to your liver.
Things you need to do while on Anavar and Dbol stack
The things you must do while on an Anavar and Dbol cycle are
- Ample rest
Yup, resting is more important than you think! And I am not just talking about post workout rest, rest in-between sets is actually very important on this cycle. The more you rest, the more you will feel the steroids kicking in!
- Regular check ups
There are no ifs and buts here!
Visiting your doctor once or twice a month is the bare minimum you can do for your health. You must get yourself assessed in detail to make sure that the Anavar and Dbol cycle is not messing you up internally.
- Intake appropriate supplements
Supplementation is the key to the missed nutrients from your diet. Try to incorporate a certified protein supplement as well as fish oil (4g per day) to keep your muscle building smooth and your joints elastic.
- Add Testosterone for better results
Both Anavar and Dbol can lead to testosterone suppression in a male’s body. While you can’t reverse it while on this cycle, taking exogenous testosterone can help you tackle most of the side effects you face due to decrease in natural testosterone production. A 500 mg dose of test from week 1 to week 10(i.e., in the PCT too) will help you cope up and recover from this combo cycle effectively.
- Add TUDCA to protect your liver
TUDCA is a liver support supplement that will be a perfect fit for this oral steroids’ stack! The risk of liver damage on the Anavar and Dbol cycle is huge. TUDCA can help you prevent much of the damage. It is known to reduce liver inflammation, reduce AST/ALT liver enzyme levels and prevents the occurrence of steroid-induced cholestasis.
- Never skip a PCT!
Always keep this in mind: Never end a steroid cycle without a PCT.
Post cycle therapy or PCT is very essential to bring your hormone levels (esp. testosterone level) back in place and reversing the damage done to your body as much as possible. The 3 most recommended PCT drugs are Hcg, Clomid and Nolvadex. Set up the doses of these with your physician. You need to take these meds for 1 month or 45 days to reverse the damage done by this steroid stack.
The final verdict:
Although Dbol and Anavar are quite a potent stack, they are suitable for achieving specific goals only.
You cannot expect to have monstrous gains at the end of the cycle. It works best in helping you retain muscle during a cutting cycle. (Hence, don’t get your hopes high up!)
Nevertheless, always get proper consultation and blood tests done before you decide to go for the Anavar and Dbol stack.