Last updated: March 2026
Methasterone (Superdrol) was sold as a legal dietary supplement from 2005 to 2012, producing extreme dry muscle gains before the FDA intervened. It remains one of the most hepatotoxic orals ever used, with multiple case reports of acute liver failure. This reference covers the pharmacology, risks, and harm-reduction evidence.
Methasterone (2α,17α-dimethyl-5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one) is a structurally modified DHT derivative with two key methylations that make it potent, dry, and exceptionally liver-toxic.
Superdrol has methylation at both the 2α and 17α positions. The 17α-methyl allows oral survival (same as Anadrol, Dianabol). The 2α-methyl dramatically increases anabolic potency. Together, they create a compound with an anabolic rating ~4× testosterone — but the combined methylations impose extreme hepatic stress that exceeds most other oral steroids.
Methasterone is a DHT derivative and does not undergo aromatase-mediated conversion to estradiol. This produces characteristically dry, dense muscle with minimal water retention — a contrast to Anadrol or Dianabol. Gynecomastia risk is low, but estrogenic suppression of HDL still occurs via androgenic mechanisms.
Case reports document Superdrol causing cholestatic hepatitis (bile flow disruption) progressing to acute liver failure within 4-12 weeks of use. This pattern is more severe than typical 17α-AA hepatotoxicity and is not reliably prevented by standard liver support. The 2α-methyl group appears to amplify bile salt export pump inhibition.
Superdrol causes rapid, near-complete suppression of LH and FSH, shutting down endogenous testosterone. This requires a full PCT protocol post-cycle. HDL cholesterol drops sharply (50-70% in community reports), while LDL increases. This lipid impact compounds cardiovascular risk beyond what liver function tests capture.
Limited clinical trial data exists — most evidence comes from case reports, in vitro studies, and community-reported outcomes (labeled).
Liver protection and lipid monitoring are critical harm-reduction practices for any oral steroid research.
Dosing schedules, interaction warnings, and cycle protocols for 50+ compounds — all in one place.
This page is for educational and harm-reduction purposes only. Methasterone (Superdrol) is a Schedule III controlled substance under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act and was banned as a dietary supplement by the FDA in 2012. Possession without a valid prescription is illegal in the United States and many other countries. This content does not constitute medical advice. Multiple documented cases of serious liver injury, including acute liver failure, have been associated with this compound. Always consult a licensed physician before using any anabolic agent.