Superdrol (methasterone) is a potent oral steroid that was briefly sold as a “supplement” in the mid-2000s. It produces fast, dry gains in size and strength, and it has been linked in medical journals to serious liver injury, including cases needing hospital care.
- Never approved as a medicine anywhere, so there is no human dose.
- Severe cholestatic liver injury is the best-documented risk.
- It is not a beginner compound by any standard.
Superdrol has a reputation as one of the most effective orals for fast, lean size. It also has one of the worst safety records of any oral steroid. This guide covers both, with the honest conclusion that it is not a sensible place to start.
From supplement shelf to controlled steroid
Methasterone was first described by Syntex in the 1950s but never developed as a drug. In 2005 it appeared in the United States as “Superdrol”, sold over the counter as a supplement through a gap in the law. It became very popular, and reports of liver injury followed. The US Food and Drug Administration issued warnings, and methasterone was later scheduled as a controlled anabolic steroid. In Canada, it falls under anabolic steroids in Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Because it skipped the clinical trial process, there is no approved dose, no human safety data from trials, and no label warnings of the kind real medicines have.
What it does
Methasterone is a 17-alpha-methylated derivative of a DHT-type steroid (drostanolone, the hormone in Masteron). It does not convert to estrogen. Users report:
- Fast gains in size and strength
- A dry, dense look with little water retention
- Strong appetite suppression in some people
The liver problem
Multiple case reports and case series have described severe cholestatic hepatitis in people taking methasterone, sometimes after only a few weeks. Cholestasis means bile cannot drain from the liver properly. Symptoms usually start with tiredness and loss of appetite, then progress to:
- Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Intense, persistent itching
- Dark urine and pale stools
- Weight loss and nausea
Some patients needed weeks in hospital and months to recover, and kidney injury has been reported alongside very high bilirubin levels. These are reports, not trial data, so the true rate is unknown, but the pattern is consistent enough that hepatologists consider methasterone one of the highest-risk anabolic steroids.
Other side effects
- Cholesterol: large drops in HDL and rises in LDL
- Blood pressure increases
- Lethargy, often an early sign of liver strain
- Back pumps and muscle cramps
- Strong suppression of natural testosterone
- Acne and hair loss
Why it is not for beginners
Every factor that makes a compound unsuitable for a first experience applies here: no medical dosing history, a documented record of serious liver injury, large cholesterol effects, and strong suppression. A first course is about learning your response with the lowest risk, which is why most guidance points to testosterone alone. Read a first testosterone course and oral steroids compared for context, and our Halotestin guide covers another oral that belongs in the same “advanced only” category.
Monitoring if used
Liver enzymes and bilirubin are the priority, along with a lipid panel, complete blood count and kidney function (creatinine, eGFR). Test before starting and again within two to three weeks, because problems can develop quickly. Avoid alcohol, high-dose acetaminophen and any other oral steroid at the same time. Arrange tests through your doctor or privately at LifeLabs or Dynacare; see our bloodwork guide and liver support during orals.
If your liver tests come back high
Training hard raises ALT and AST on its own, so a mild rise is not always a sign of liver injury, especially the day after heavy lifting. Rising bilirubin, GGT or alkaline phosphatase point more clearly to the liver, and cholestasis typically shows high bilirubin. Practical steps if results are abnormal:
- Stop the oral and any alcohol straight away.
- Avoid lifting for two to three days before the repeat test so muscle enzymes settle.
- Repeat the tests within one to two weeks, or sooner if you feel unwell.
- Tell your doctor exactly what you took; it changes which tests they order and how they read them.
Most mild enzyme rises from oral steroids return to normal within weeks of stopping. Cholestatic injury can take months, which is why early detection matters.
Products and legal status
We carry Zionova Superdrol, with batch lab results on the product page. Methasterone is a Schedule IV controlled substance in Canada and is banned in sport.
Frequently asked questions
Is Superdrol a prohormone?
It was marketed as a supplement or “designer” prohormone, but methasterone is an active anabolic steroid in its own right and is now controlled as one.
Is Superdrol hard on the liver?
Yes. It has been linked in medical journals to severe cholestatic liver injury, sometimes after only a few weeks.
Does Superdrol cause water retention?
No. It does not convert to estrogen, so gains look dry. Side effects come mainly from the liver, cholesterol and suppression.
Photo: Direct Media, StockSnap (public domain).
General information, not medical advice. Methasterone was never approved as a medicine and is a Schedule IV controlled substance in Canada.
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