Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to steroid use.
Primobolan is the branded version of an anabolic steroid compound called methenolone enanthate. It’s typically used to increase muscle mass, cause fat loss and has some potential medical uses as well.
But has Primobolan been studied in medical trials and shown to be effective? Does it cause any dangerous side effects? Is it legal in the US? And how do real users of Primobolan rate and describe the effects they’ve experienced?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze medical studies on Primobolan to give our take on whether this compound is likely to be effective for muscle-building, as well as document its side effects.
We’ll also discuss its legality in the US and feature user reviews of the drug.
Does Primobolan Build Muscle?
Primobolan doesn’t appear to be as well-studied as other steroid compounds.
As we documented in our article on what is tren, the steroid trenbolone has actually been tested in humans and shown to increase muscle size and number of muscle cells.
The anabolic effects of Primobolan were studied in children in a 1965 clinical trial, but the study is so old that we cannot access the results.
Most of the medical studies that we can find on Primobolan involve use of the drug to normalize hormone function that has become dysregulated due to diseases like cancer.
A clinical trial published in the Journal of Investigative Surgery found that Primobolan may support bone healing after surgery when combined with a form of testosterone.
A 1975 clinical trial used Primobolan in cancer patients to determine its effects on cancerous tissue.
Overall, we cannot find a single clinical trial proving that Primobolan is effective for muscle building, although it may be due to its chemical nature as an anabolic steroid.
But is the drug dangerous? We’ll review in the next section.
Is Primobolan Dangerous?
At the time of publishing this article, Primobolan does not appear to be approved by the FDA for any health condition, which makes it a risk to consumer safety in our opinion.
Any drug (including steroids) that is not approved by the FDA is categorically an “unapproved” drug that exists outside of the scope of standard medical procedures in the US. Unapproved drugs may confer greater health risks than approved drugs where the side effects are better-understood.
The side effects of Primobolan have also been studied in clinical trials.
A 2013 animal study found that Primobolan has adverse effects on the heart, including heart enlargement, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular events.
A resource on Primobolan published in the National Library of Medicine describes the compound as “suspected of causing cancer” and having the potential to damage the fertility of an unborn child.
Based on the available research, we consider Primobolan to have a significant risk of side effects, and would strongly advise any patients to speak with their doctor prior to considering using this drug.
A YouTube video published by a creator named “Anabolic Doc” has over 150,000 views and overviews the side effects of Primobolan in more detail:
Real User Reviews of Primobolan
A YouTube creator named “Ed610” shared his experience using Primobolan for 6 weeks:
A bodybuilding influencer named Greg Doucette shared his experience taking Primobolan in an interview on the popular “More Plates More Dates” YouTube channel:
Is Primobolan Illegal in the US?
At the time of publishing this article, Primobolan appears to be illegal in the US, classified as a “Schedule III” drug in the Controlled Substances Act according to Wikipedia.
Keep in mind that Primobolan is an anabolic steroid, and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) currently classifies all steroids as illegal Schedule III substances.
A New York Times article describes Primobolan as a “black-market drug” that is not approved for use as hormonal therapy.
We would strongly urge patients considering use of this drug to speak with both a doctor and a lawyer first.
Our Testosterone Support Picks
MBG Vitamin D3 Potency+ is our top value testosterone support pick.
Vitamin D3 supplementation has been clinically shown to increase total testosterone levels by over 25%.
Performance Lab Magnesium is our top mineral testosterone support pick.
Magnesium is a mineral that is clinically shown to increase free and total testosterone in athletes and in sedentary individuals.
All of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients that we consider unhealthy.
