Androstanolone, or stanolone, also known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and sold under the brand name Andractim among others, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication and hormone which is used mainly in the treatment of low testosterone levels in men.[1] It is also used to treat breast development and small penis in males.[1] It is typically given as a gel for application to the skin, but can also be used as an ester by injection into muscle.[1][4]Side effects of androstanolone include symptoms of masculinization like acne, increased hair growth, voice changes, and increased sexual desire.[1] The medication is a naturally occurring androgen and anabolic steroid and hence is an agonist of the androgen receptor (AR), the biological target of androgens like testosterone and DHT.[1][5] It has strong androgenic effects and weak muscle-building effects, as well as no estrogenic effects.[1]
Androstanolone was discovered in 1935 and was introduced for medical use in 1953.[1][6][7][8] It is used mostly in France and Belgium.[1][9][10] The drug has been used by weightlifters to increase performance due to its powerful androgenic properties.[11][12] The medication is a controlled substance in many countries and so non-medical use is generally illicit.
