Winstrol Cycle – The Ultimate Guide

What Is Winstrol?

Winstrol (stanozolol), otherwise known as Winny, is a commonly used steroid in bodybuilding.

This is due to it being an oral steroid that produces powerful fat-burning and muscle-building effects.

Winstrol’s anabolic effects come without a notable surge in water weight, allowing lean and aesthetic gains instead of bloated-looking muscles. Thus, Winstrol can be used in the summer to help users reduce their body fat, or it can be used in the off-season to add lean muscle.

Due to its versatility, Winstrol is thought to be the second most acquired oral steroid, behind Dianabol. Given the popularity of Anavar, a rival cutting steroid, this is indicative of Winstrol’s anabolism.

Below is a list of the most common Winstrol cycles that bodybuilders take to burn fat and build muscle.

How Toxic Is Winstrol?

The following cycles (except the first) are not suitable for beginners due to Winstrol’s high toxicity (1). An Anavar cycle is a less deleterious option for novices.

If you are a woman interested in taking Winstrol, read this article.

Disclosure: We do not accept any form of advertising on Inside Bodybuilding. We monetize our practice via doctor consultations and carefully chosen pharmaceutical recommendations, which have given our patients excellent results.

5 Common Winstrol Cycles

1. Winstrol-Only Cycle

Winstrol Cycle for Beginners

Although Winstrol is not commonly used as a first steroid cycle due to its tendency to cause harsh side effects, the following protocol on rare occasions has been taken by beginners (utilizing lower doses).

All Weeks:

• Fish oil (4 g/day)
• TUDCA (500 mg/day)

PCT:

• Nolvadex (tamoxifen): 40 mg x 45 days

This Winstrol cycle was a standard protocol when it was initially released, with more conservative dosages being utilized. Based on what modern-day bodybuilders take now, this is considered a light cycle—with decreased toxicity for beginners.

How Much Muscle Can Be Gained?

We have seen users gain notable amounts of lean muscle (up to 10 lbs) from this cycle while decreasing their body fat percentage considerably.

Winstrol used to come in bottles made up of 2 mg pills; however, 5 mg and 10 mg pills are more common today. Thus, in the case of the latter, 7.5 mg may be a more feasible dose for the first 2 weeks (taking 1.5 x 5 mg pills).

How Can Users Reduce Harm to the Liver and Heart?

TUDCA is a liver support supplement proven to reduce liver damage in clinical studies (2).

Fish oil is used to manage cholesterol and blood pressure (3), helping to blunt an inevitable spike when taking Winstrol.

Nolvadex is a SERM used to treat low testosterone levels post-cycle (4). This has helped our patients’ hormonal profiles return to normal levels within several weeks of cycle cessation, which otherwise can take several months.

Winstrol Cycle for Intermediates

The below Winstrol cycle is optimal for someone who’s already taken Winstrol or milder steroids, such as testosterone or Anavar. This is due to the higher dosages outlined below.

With this cycle, enhanced muscle gains and fat loss will be experienced; however, we also see side effects being more pronounced.

All Weeks:

• Fish oil (4 g/day)
• TUDCA (500 mg/day)

PCT:

• Nolvadex (tamoxifen): 40 mg x 45 days

This is a higher-dosed cycle capable of notably transforming a person’s body composition in a matter of weeks.

Testosterone levels will become more suppressed, and cholesterol levels and blood pressure will spike, as well as liver values, when running this intermediate cycle. We find these to be the main side effects users need to manage when cycling Winstrol.

2. Winstrol/Testosterone

All Weeks:

• Fish oil (4 g/day)
• TUDCA (500 mg/day)
• Nolvadex (tamoxifen) 20–40 mg/day or anastrozole 0.5–1 mg/day

PCT:

• HCG (2,000 IU every other day for 20 days)
• Clomid (100 mg/day x 30 days)

The above cycle can be seen as a bulking or cutting one, as significant amounts of muscle will be gained in combination with notable fat loss.

However, due to some likely water retention from the addition of testosterone, it’s more suitable for bulking.

When Winstrol is stacked with testosterone, strength and muscle gains will be enhanced.

What Are the Side Effects?

It is a complementary stack because testosterone is not an overly harsh steroid, so it will not dramatically worsen Winstrol’s already toxic nature. However, gynecomastia is now a concern (5), as is lower endogenous testosterone post-cycle. Users can reduce estrogen side effects, such as water retention and gynecomastia, by taking an anti-aromatase inhibitor or a SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator).

Can AIs and SERMs Control Estrogen?

Anti-aromatase inhibitors (such as anastrozole) block the conversion of testosterone into estrogen, thus reducing water retention and the risk of gynecomastia. One downside we have found in regard to AIs is that they can worsen blood pressure.

This is why we prefer our patients to utilize SERMs, which block estrogen activity directly in the breast tissue itself. However, water retention may still occur with a SERM as estrogen levels remain circulating throughout the body.

Testosterone is an injectable steroid; thus, it is not an ideal cycle for those wanting to avoid needles.

We find a more aggressive PCT is needed with this cycle to kickstart natural testosterone production. The duo of Clomid and HCG has also been used in research to treat hypogonadism by Dr. Michael Scally with success.

3. Winstrol/Anadrol

All Weeks:

• Nolvadex (tamoxifen) 20–40 mg/day
• Fish oil (4 g/day)
• TUDCA (500 mg/day)

PCT:

• HCG (2,000 IU every other day for 20 days)
• Clomid (100 mg/day x 30 days)

Winstrol combined with Anadrol makes for a surprising stack for some, due to Winstrol being viewed as a cutting steroid that can add lean mass without water retention. Meanwhile, Anadrol is classified as a bulking steroid, often resulting in significant fluid retention in the offseason.

Can Anadrol Be Utilized Pre-Contest?

We have seen bodybuilders successfully cycle the two together just before a competition, looking lean, dry, and full. The trick is to consume low amounts of sodium, which prevents the bloating effect that Anadrol can cause.

Anadrol is very estrogenic, so cycling this steroid in conjunction with a high-sodium diet is a recipe for water retention and smooth muscles.

However, when used diligently, Anadrol creates a full look onstage, which can catch the judge’s eyes when other competitors are glycogen depleted.

Even on low calories when cutting, bodybuilders can expect to burn fat and build muscle with this stack.

If a person is not cutting and uses this stack, mass and strength gains will be significant, given the powerful nature of Anadrol.

Side Effects

The downside to this cycle is that it contains two of the most toxic oral steroids available. This cycle is one of the harshest we have seen for cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and liver enzymes.

Thus, it is rarely run, often and typically only by experienced steroid users.

Can Anadrol Cause High-Estrogen Symptoms?

Gynecomastia is a concern with the addition of Anadrol; thus, a SERM such as Nolvadex is recommended to keep the accumulation of breast tissue at bay. We have found aromatase inhibitors to be ineffective at preventing gynecomastia from Anadrol, as it does not convert testosterone to estrogen. Instead, Anadrol stimulates the estrogen receptors directly.

Testosterone levels will almost certainly be shut down post-cycle, needing a powerful PCT to get endogenous testosterone back to normal levels.

Due to the harshness of this cycle, it does not last beyond 6 weeks to maintain optimal long-term health.

4. Winstrol/Trenbolone

In our experience, Winstrol and trenbolone cycles are highly toxic AAS and only suitable for advanced steroid users.

In terms of gains, our patients have described Winstrol and trenbolone as “two of the best steroids you can take for transforming your body in a short space of time” (when used as a cutting or bulking cycle). Trenbolone, like Winstrol, has muscle-building and fat-burning attributes, with it also creating a dry and grainy look to the muscles.

All Weeks:

• Fish oil (4 g/day)
• TUDCA (500 mg/day)
• Letrozole (1.25 mg every other day) is optional and not suitable if blood pressure is high.

PCT:

• HCG: 2,000 IU administered every other day for 20 days
• Nolvadex: 2 x 20 mg for 45 days
• Clomid: 2 x 50 mg for 30 days

When Winstrol/trenbolone is used as a bulking stack, it is an aesthetic duo, increasing lean muscle gains, limiting water retention, and reducing body fat.

How Do Winstrol and Trenbolone Differ?

The main differences between Winstrol and trenbolone are:

1. Trenbolone will build significantly more muscle.
2. Trenbolone is harsher on the body.
3. Trenbolone is an injectable steroid.
4. Trenbolone is regarded more as a bulking steroid due to its superior anabolic effects.

This cycle is appropriately dosed for an experienced steroid user. However, the cycle is just 6 weeks to minimize damage to the body. If users tolerate this cycle well, they may extend the duration to 8 weeks for further gains.

The trenbolone dose increases by 50% at week 5 to continue making significant gains for the last 2 weeks. However, if users are concerned about the side effects by week 4, they should not increase the dose of trenbolone.

We have found this cycle to build similar amounts of muscle to the Winstrol/testosterone cycle, but with less water weight gain.

Side Effects

We often see trenbolone/Winstrol cycles cause very high LDL cholesterol levels, resulting in a notable spike in blood pressure. Our patients also experience damage to the HPTA, with testosterone levels shutting down post-cycle. Androgenic side effects are common, such as:

1. Oily skin
2. Hair loss
3. Acne (the extent of which is determined by a user’s genetics).

Is Gynecomastia Possible?

There is a possibility for progesterone-induced gynecomastia from trenbolone. Progesterone acts similarly to estrogen and thus can stimulate the mammary glands. However, we find that trenbolone’s estrogen-like side effects are more noticeable when stacked with steroids that aromatize.

Users can take an AI (aromatase inhibitor), which we have found to be successful in decreasing progesterone-related side effects. However, AIs can further spike blood pressure, as estrogen plays a role in raising HDL (good cholesterol levels).

What Medication Can Be Taken to Decrease Progesterone Levels?

Some of our patients have utilized SERMs, like Nolvadex, to try and combat progesterone-induced gynecomastia from trenbolone. However, Nolvadex made their gynecomastia worse. The reason is not certain; however, there is research to suggest that Nolvadex can increase progesterone levels, at least in the short term.

Therefore, it may be worth regularly monitoring your nipples during this cycle to see if they become swollen. If you do experience enlargement of your breast tissue, letrozole can be taken—an effective AI.

However, letrozole should not be taken without first monitoring your blood pressure, as we find it increases blood pressure.

5. Winstrol/Anavar

Anavar is a very similar steroid to Winstrol, being an oral steroid used in cutting cycles. Both compounds have fat-burning and muscle-building properties.

We have found Winstrol to be more powerful than Anavar; thus, gains may be a little more noticeable, yet side effects are considerably more.

Winstrol is a lot more affordable compared to Anavar, with the latter sometimes costing hundreds of dollars to run a cycle.

The only main advantage Anavar has over Winstrol, other than its safety profile, is that it’s more suitable for women to take. Anavar is low-risk for causing virilization side effects in females, whereas Winstrol’s risk is considerably higher.

How Does This Cycle Affect Body Composition?

When cycled together, fat loss, muscle gains, and strength will be enhanced (as opposed to running a Winstrol-only cycle). This is a powerful cutting cycle when trying to drop body fat levels quickly without losing muscle or strength.

One downside of Winstrol is that sometimes users can become depleted in their muscles due to a loss of intracellular fluid.

However, Anavar can counteract this temporary shrinkage as it increases cellular volume, creating a full and pumped look to the muscles.

Side Effects

Anavar, despite being an oral steroid, is not the most liver-toxic anabolic steroid. This is due to the kidneys processing much of the compound, and thus TUDCA can reduce strain on the organ.

In our testing, testosterone suppression is moderate when taking Anavar alone. Thus, Winstrol stacked with Anavar will cause testosterone to shut down, requiring a PCT.

Cholesterol levels will rise a little higher on this stack, as opposed to taking Winstrol alone.

Gynecomastia is seldom an issue, as none of these steroids aromatize.

FAQ

Can Users Drink Alcohol on Winstrol?

Alcohol is not to be consumed when taking Winstrol as a precaution for the liver. When someone takes hepatotoxic oral anabolic steroids like Winstrol, AST and ALT enzymes will rise significantly, indicating hepatic inflammation. Thus, consuming alcohol will only cause further oxidative stress.

We have seen some patients drink small to moderate amounts of alcohol without liver injury when taking anabolic steroids. However, long-term, this is not optimal, with this duo notably increasing the chances of cholestasis and peliosis hepatis.

Summary

Winstrol is a cutting steroid that produces significant results, especially when stacked with other steroids. However, we know Winstrol’s side effects are just as potent as the results it yields. Therefore, Winstrol is typically only cycled in moderate doses by intermediate steroid users who tolerate it well.

What Precautions Should Be Taken?

Always consult a doctor before running a Winstrol cycle, and be sure to take the recommended liver, heart, and PCT supplements to keep your body as healthy as possible during and after a cycle.

Co Authors :