Nandrolone Phenylpropionate (Methandriol Dipropionate)

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate is an anabolic steroid that is very similar to the popular Nandrolone Decanoate compound. However, Nandrolone Phenylpropionate was the first Nandrolone compound ever commercially sold. Nandrolone Phenylpropionate hit the shelves in the 1950’s and was brought to the market by Organon under the name Durabolin. Soon after Organon would release its Decanoate cousin under the name Deca Durabolin.

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate is a small ester base anabolic steroid and is commonly referred to as NPP. This product has never been as popular as the larger ester Decanoate version, in part due to availability; however, in the modern era it has begun to see a resurgence in both use and availability thanks in part due to underground labs.

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate carries with it numerous therapeutic and performance benefits. The Nandrolone hormone is the most commonly prescribed anabolic steroid other than testosterone, but the Decanoate version is the most commonly prescribed Nandrolone form. It is one of the most well tolerated steroids in both performance and medical settings, although possible side effects most certainly exist.

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate Functions & Traits

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate is a 19-nortestosterone (19-nor) anabolic androgenic steroid. The 19-nor classification refers to a structural change of the testosterone hormone in that the carbon atom has been removed at the 19^th position. This simple structural change gives us Nandrolone, and by adding the short Phenylpropionate ester we have Nandrolone Phenylpropionate.

On the basis of the hormone’s function, Nandrolone Phenylpropionate is identical to Nandrolone Decanoate. Both forms are comprised of the same active hormone. In the case of NPP we have a shorter ester version that gives a larger burst of Nandrolone after injection, but also carries a much shorter half-life. This means Nandrolone Phenylpropionate has to be injected more frequently than its larger ester counterpart if blood levels are to remain stable.

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate is slightly more anabolic than testosterone with a rating of 125 compared to testosterone’s rating of 100. It is also significantly less androgenic with a rating of 37 compared to testosterone’s rating of 100. The reduced androgenicity is due to the Nandrolone hormone reducing to dihydronandrolone (DHN) instead of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This is one of the reasons Nandrolone Phenylpropionate can be well tolerated at higher doses in some men than higher doses of testosterone.

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate is also significantly less estrogenic than testosterone. Both Nandrolone and testosterone aromatize, but Nandrolone only does so at approximately 20% the rate of testosterone.

Important Note: Nandrolone Phenylpropionate carries a progestin nature, and this will play into the side effects of this hormone.

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate carries many positive traits that are similar to many anabolic steroids. However, this compound also carries functional traits that will far outweigh what some steroidal hormones can do. The positive functional traits of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate include:

• Increased IGF-1 Production: Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is a potent anabolic hormone that is also essential to our body’s ability to recovery. This is a hormone that affects nearly all cells within the human body.
   
• Inhibition of Glucocorticoids: Known as stress hormones (cortisol) these hormones are essential to our health and wellbeing. However, glucocorticoids can also promote muscle loss and fat gain when they become dominant. Vigorous activity can lead to increases in stress hormones. Hormones like Nandrolone can reduce the production of stress hormones.
   
• Increased Nitrogen Retention: All muscle tissue is comprised of 16% nitrogen. If retention falls we fall into a catabolic state. The more we retain the more anabolic we remain.
   
• Increased Protein Synthesis: This refers to the rate in which cells build proteins, the building blocks of muscle tissue.
   
• Increased Red Blood Cell Count: Red blood cells carry oxygen to and through the blood. Greater efficiency results in enhanced muscular endurance and recovery.
   
• Increased Collagen Synthesis & Bone Mineral Content: This refers to the strength of bones and cartilage and the ability to strengthen and provide healing relief. This will hold true in joints more so than anywhere else.

Important Note: It’s often said Nandrolone forces water into the joints, thereby providing relief. This is not physically possible. It is not water, it is the enhancement of collagen synthesis and bone mineral content that provides relief.

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate is also well-suited for medical treatment in a host of areas. Although Nandrolone Decanoate is more commonly used, the Phenylpropionate version is still used with some regularity. The use of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate has been proven useful in the treatment of the following:

• Muscle Wasting Diseases: Cancer, HIV, etc.
• Improving Geriatric Weakness & Fatigue
• Anemia
• Breast Cancer
• The Treatment of Burn Victims
• Ulcers
• Pituitary Dwarfism
• Development Retardation in Children
• Osteoporosis

Despite a host of benefits and purposes of use, in the U.S. Nandrolone is generally only prescribed for HIV, AIDS and anemia. Its rate of success in other areas is high, but typically use for such areas of medicine is found outside the U.S. Some U.S. physicians have begun to prescribe it for anti-aging purposes, but this still represents a very small fraction of the total prescriptions.

Effects of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate

Through a thorough understanding of the functions and traits of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate we already have a good understanding of the positive effects of this steroid. However, to put it in terms that a performance athlete can appreciate we can be a little more specific.

For the off-season athlete, a bulking cycle, Nandrolone Phenylpropionate is one of the best steroids he can choose to enhance muscularity and size. This is one of the best mass builders available and for many bodybuilders is used in every bulking plan. Despite being a faster acting Nandrolone form growth will not occur rapidly, but it will be steady, even and significant. This is assuming you are eating enough to grow. In order to grow you must consume more calories than you burn. No steroid in the world can change this truth. But you will get more out of your growth with a steroid like Nandrolone Phenylpropionate if you are doing things properly. You should also notice you stay leaner in your off-season due to the significant metabolic effects of the hormone. And when it comes to recovery from strenuous training very few things will beat Nandrolone Phenylpropionate.

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate can also be used for cutting cycles, although it’s not commonly thought of as a cutting steroid. This steroid will significantly protect lean muscle mass better than many steroids. When we diet we must burn more calories than we consume. This is the only way body fat can be lost. Unfortunately, this puts lean muscle tissue at risk. When we diet some lean tissue will be lost, but successful dieting limits this loss, and Nandrolone can provide this protective measure. And once again the recovery benefits will be tremendous, especially when recovery can already be incredibly difficult when dieting due to the caloric deficit.

The final benefits for performance surround the athlete. Many athletes use low doses of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate for the recovery and joint relief benefits. These are not masking benefits like painkillers provide but true relief. Some may also find strength increases to a degree, although this isn’t a steroid well known for tremendous strength increasing properties. Regardless, this is one of the more common steroids used by athletes.

Side Effects of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate

There are several possible side effects of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate use, but it is also one of the more side effect friendly. The key to managing and avoiding side effects is understanding how they occur and proper use of the hormone. For most men serious side effects should be completely avoidable. In order to understand the side effects of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate we have broken them down into their individual categories.

[1] Estrogenic:

Estrogenic side effects of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate are possible. Estrogenic side effects of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate include gynecomastia, water retention and high blood pressure caused by severe water retention. These side effects can be avoided by the use of an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) such as Anastrozole (Arimidex).

The reason for estrogenic side effects is due to the Nandrolone hormone aromatizing. Aromatization refers to the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. However, the rate of aromatization with this hormone isn’t high, but high enough to cause issues in some men. It is also a progestin, and progesterone can activate the mammary tissue and promote gynecomastia in very sensitive men. Estrogenic or progesterone based, AI’s will provide the needed protection.

[2] Androgenic: 

There are possible androgenic side effects of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate, but they are not extremely likely in men. Hair loss in men predisposed to male pattern baldness is possible as is acne in sensitive men. However, when it comes to such effects this is one of the most well tolerated steroids of all. Genetic predispositions will play the largest role.

Important Note: The use of a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor will not reduce the androgenicity of Nandrolone; in fact, it will increase it and should be avoided.

Although not extremely androgenic the Nandrolone hormone can promote virilization symptoms in women. Virilization symptoms may include body hair growth, a deepening of the vocal chords and clitoral enlargement. Some women can use low doses without issue, but if symptoms occur use should be discontinued immediately. If discontinued at the onset of symptoms they will fade away. If symptoms are ignored and use continues they may become irreversible.

[3] Cardiovascular:

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate can have a negative impact on HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and it can be somewhat more significant than testosterone. This negative effect may be exasperated by the use of an AI.

It is more than possible to use Nandrolone Phenylpropionate without cholesterol issues or cardiovascular incident, but a healthy lifestyle is imperative. Regular cardiovascular activity is important as is a cholesterol friendly lifestyle.

[4] Testosterone:

The use of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate will suppress natural testosterone production. As with all Nandrolone compounds, one injection will suppress nearly if not all your natural testosterone production. Your genetics will not prevent this and it is something that’s completely unavoidable with use. Because of this fact, it is imperative that all men who use this steroid do so in conjunction with some form of exogenous testosterone. This will prevent the individual from falling into a low testosterone condition, which comes with a host of very undesirable symptoms.

Once the use of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate has been discontinued and all anabolic steroids have cleared the body, natural testosterone production will begin again. However, it will not occur overnight and will come slowly. Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) is recommended. This will help stimulate the production of natural testosterone and increase the odds of a successful recovery. PCT will not complete recovery, it will still take several months post PCT, but it will give you a better start.

Important Note: Natural recovery assumes no damage was done to the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular-Axis (HPTA) during use and that no prior low testosterone condition existed.

[5] Hepatotoxicity:

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate is not toxic to the liver.

Nandrolone Phenylpropionate Administration

In a medical setting standard male Nandrolone Phenylpropionate doses will normally fall in the 50-100mg per week range. For female use, although not commonly prescribed if prescribed it will normally be the 50mg per week range. In almost all medical settings the Decanoate version is what will be prescribed.

For the athlete or bodybuilder doses can vary greatly. 100mg per week will provide significant therapeutic advantage with 200mg per week being more common as this will ensure significantly improved recovery. In most performance circles 300-400mg per week will be the common dosing range, and this is a perfect range for building or preserving muscle tissue. Some will use more, but this will increase the risk of side effects.

Regardless of the dose use the total dose is normally split into three equal injections per week or planned out on an every other day basis for optimal results. 8-12 weeks is the normal period of use for most athletes. The exception is female athletes who may use the steroid for 4-6 weeks and normally at a dose no more than 50mg per week if virilization is to be avoided.