hormoneInjectableControlledSchedule III (US)Not FDA-approvedNo FDA-approved drostanolone product remains marketed in the USHuman literature is limited to case reports of adverse effects and forensic/fatality analyses; no published dosing trial
Drostanolone PropionateBenefits, Dosage & Interactions
Also known as: Masteron
Drostanolone propionate, commonly known by its brand name Masteron, is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Research on Drostanolone Propionate focuses on muscle and strength. Drostanolone Propionate is administered by injection rather than orally. Drostanolone Propionate is a controlled substance in some jurisdictions.
Researched by DoseRoutine Research TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSE, SO, PMPLast updated Educational reference only — not medical advice. Always confirm dosing and safety decisions with a licensed clinician.
Evidence: Limited — Human observational or case data only — no randomized trials.
Evidence strengthLimited · 2/4
PreclinicalStrong human evidence
Human observational or case data only — no randomized trials.
Plasma half-life
Not established
Default unit
mg
What published protocols report
Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.
Reported for Drostanolone Propionate in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.
Mixing Drostanolone Propionate: bacteriostatic water and syringe units
The vial arrives as dry powder. How much water you add sets the strength, and the strength sets the mark you draw to on the syringe. The table assumes a 5 mg vial and a 250 mcg example draw on a U-100 insulin syringe, where 100 units is one millilitre. If your vial is a different size, scale it — the arithmetic is the same.
| Bacteriostatic water added | Resulting strength | 250 mcg draws to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 5 mg/mL | 5 units |
| 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 10 units |
| 3 mL | 1.67 mg/mL | 15 units |
Units, not millilitres. Insulin syringes are marked in units, and mixing up mcg and mg on a peptide label is the single most common error people report. Check the label twice. Run your own vial through the calculator.
Storage and stability
- Before mixing
- Sealed and still as a dry powder, Drostanolone Propionate vials are normally kept in the fridge at 2–8 °C, out of light. Short spells at room temperature during shipping are the norm for lyophilized peptides and are not, on their own, a sign the vial is spoiled.
- After mixing
- Once bacteriostatic water goes in, the vial belongs in the fridge and is generally treated as good for about 28 days — that is how long the benzyl alcohol in bacteriostatic water is relied on to hold back bacterial growth. Plain sterile water has no preservative, so a vial mixed with it is a single-session vial. Never freeze a reconstituted vial.
- When to throw it out
- A properly mixed vial is clear. Cloudiness, floating strands, a color change or powder that will not go into solution after gentle swirling all mean the vial should be discarded rather than used. Shaking a peptide vial hard is the usual cause — swirl it, or run the water down the inside wall of the vial instead of onto the powder.
Handling and shelf-life figures describe general practice for lyophilized peptides. They are not a dose and not medical advice — your prescriber or the product label sets the amount.
References & evidence
Documents the Drostanolone Propionate entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.
- [1]The dark side of beauty: acne fulminans induced by anabolic steroids in a male bodybuilderKraus SL, Emmert S, Schön MP, Haenssle HA · Archives of Dermatology · 2012 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 23069972
- [2]The Power of Keratinous Matrices (Head Hair, Body Hair and Nail Clippings) Analysis in a Case of Death Involving Anabolic AgentsGheddar L, Blanchot A, Ameline A, et al. · Journal of Analytical Toxicology · 2023 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 36516229
References & Evidence
Sources on this page that document Drostanolone Propionate dosing, timing and safety.
- [1]National Center for Biotechnology Information View source
Educational information only — not medical advice. Dose ranges vary by person, indication and prescriber.
What is Drostanolone Propionate studied for?
What is Drostanolone Propionate?Sources for this section: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Drostanolone propionate, commonly known by its brand name Masteron, is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is characterized by the addition of a methyl group at the carbon 2 position, which enhances its anabolic properties and makes it resistant to metabolic breakdown in the body. The propionate ester attached to drostanolone regulates its release rate, resulting in a half-life of approximately 48 hours.
Historically, drostanolone propionate found medical application in the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. However, due to the availability of more effective and less virilizing treatments, its clinical use for this purpose has largely ceased. Today, its use is primarily within the realm of performance enhancement, particularly among bodybuilders and athletes.
Drostanolone is recognized for its unique profile among anabolic steroids. It possesses moderate anabolic and low androgenic properties, and notably, it is not aromatized into estrogen. This characteristic is a key differentiator, as it prevents estrogen-related side effects such as gynecomastia (enlargement of male breast tissue) and water retention, which are common with many other anabolic steroids. This makes it particularly favored during cutting cycles, where the goal is to reduce body fat while preserving muscle mass, often leading to a 'harder' and more defined physique.
Despite its perceived benefits in performance enhancement circles, it is a highly controlled substance and its non-medical use is illegal in most countries. It carries significant risks and potential side effects, similar to other anabolic androgenic steroids. Its use should be under strict medical supervision due to its controlled status and potential health implications. (DrugBank, PubChem)
What does the research say about Drostanolone Propionate?
Tap a section to expand.
Drostanolone propionate functions by binding to androgen receptors within muscle cells, similar to other anabolic androgenic steroids. Upon binding, it initiates a cascade of molecular events that lead to increased protein synthesis and nitrogen retention. Enhanced protein synthesis is crucial for muscle repair and growth, while increased nitrogen retention indicates a positive nitrogen balance, a state conducive to anabolism (muscle building).
Its derivation from dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is central to its mechanism. DHT itself is a potent androgen, and drostanolone largely retains DHT's non-aromatizible nature. This means that drostanolone propionate is not converted into estrogen by the aromatase enzyme, which is a significant factor in preventing estrogenic side effects. This lack of aromatization is often cited as a reason for users experiencing a 'drier' and 'harder' look, as water retention associated with estrogen is minimized.
Additionally, drostanolone has been suggested to possess anti-estrogenic properties, although this is more often attributed to its ability to competitively inhibit the binding of other aromatizable steroids to the aromatase enzyme, rather than direct anti-estrogen activity. This means it may help reduce the conversion of other steroids into estrogen when used in conjunction.
Its anabolic effects primarily contribute to muscle preservation and a subtle increase in muscle mass, particularly when combined with proper nutrition and training. The androgenic effects, though considered moderate, can still lead to typical androgenic side effects. (DrugBank, PubChem)
Source for this section: Sources for How does Drostanolone Propionate work?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Historically, the primary medical benefit of drostanolone propionate was in the treatment of advanced inoperable breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It was used as a palliative agent to slow the progression of the disease. However, due to the development of more effective and safer alternative treatments, its clinical use for this indication has been largely discontinued.
In the context of performance enhancement, users often report the following perceived benefits:
* **Muscle Hardness and Definition:** Due to its non-aromatizing nature and potential anti-estrogenic effects, users frequently report a reduction in subcutaneous water retention. This can lead to a more 'hard' and 'defined' muscular appearance, making it popular during cutting cycles in bodybuilding.
* **Muscle Preservation:** During periods of calorie deficit, users aim to lose body fat while retaining as much muscle mass as possible. Drostanolone is often utilized for its ability to help preserve muscle tissue in such states, contributing to a lower body fat percentage while maintaining a muscular physique.
* **Mild Anabolic Effects:** While not considered a primary mass-building steroid, drostanolone can contribute to modest increases in lean muscle mass, especially when combined with other compounds.
It is crucial to understand that these 'benefits' in sports and bodybuilding are not medically recognized indications and are associated with significant health risks. This is educational information, not medical advice - consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
The medical evidence for drostanolone propionate primarily stems from its historical use in the treatment of breast cancer. Studies in the mid-20th century demonstrated its efficacy as a palliative treatment for advanced, inoperable breast carcinoma in postmenopausal women, noting its ability to induce tumor regression in some cases. However, these studies are older, and the landscape of breast cancer treatment has significantly evolved. (DrugBank)
For its use in performance enhancement, evidence is largely anecdotal and comes from user experiences and bodybuilding communities. There are limited peer-reviewed studies investigating the effects of drostanolone propionate specifically for athletic performance or muscle building in healthy individuals, as ethical considerations and legal restrictions preclude such research. The general understanding of its anabolic and androgenic properties is extrapolated from its chemical structure and comparison to other AAS, combined with observational data from its historical medical application.
Regulatory bodies like the FDA in the United States classify drostanolone propionate as a Schedule III controlled substance due to its potential for abuse and dependence, indicating a recognition of its non-medical use and associated risks. This classification is a strong indicator of the lack of medical endorsement for its use outside of very specific, approved clinical contexts (which are now largely obsolete). (FDA label)
Drostanolone propionate, like all anabolic androgenic steroids, carries a significant risk of side effects. These can range from mild to severe, and are often dose-dependent and individual-specific:
* **Androgenic Side Effects:** Despite being considered only moderately androgenic, side effects such as acne, accelerated hair loss in individuals predisposed to male pattern baldness, and increased body hair growth can occur.
* **Cardiovascular Issues:** AAS use is associated with adverse effects on cardiovascular health, including alterations in cholesterol levels (decreased HDL 'good' cholesterol, increased LDL 'bad' cholesterol), increased blood pressure, and potential for cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart).
* **Reproductive System Suppression:** Drostanolone suppresses natural testosterone production. This can lead to testicular atrophy (shrinking of the testicles), reduced sperm count, and infertility. Post-cycle therapy (PCT) is often attempted by users to restore natural hormone function, but success is not guaranteed.
* **Virilization in Women:** Even at low doses, women are at high risk of virilization, which includes deepening of the voice, clitoral enlargement, disruption of menstrual cycles, and increased body and facial hair. These effects are often irreversible.
* **Liver Toxicity:** While drostanolone is not C17-alpha alkylated (a modification common in oral steroids that significantly increases liver strain), prolonged high-dose use of any steroid can still potentially impact liver health.
* **Psychological Effects:** Mood swings, aggression (often termed 'roid rage'), irritability, and depression can occur.
This is educational information, not medical advice - consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Drostanolone propionate is a potent anabolic androgenic steroid with significant health implications. Its use should be approached with extreme caution, and under strict medical supervision due to its controlled status.
* **Legal Status:** Drostanolone propionate is a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States and similarly regulated in many other countries. Non-medical possession, distribution, or use is illegal and can lead to severe penalties.
* **Cardiovascular Risks:** Users should be particularly aware of the potential for adverse cardiovascular effects, including detrimental changes in lipid profiles and increased risk of heart disease. Individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions should absolutely avoid its use.
* **Hormonal Imbalance:** Administration of drostanolone propionate will suppress natural testosterone production. This can lead to a state of hypogonadism upon cessation of use, requiring medical intervention to restore hormonal balance.
* **Virilizing Effects in Women:** Women are strongly advised against using drostanolone propionate due to the high risk of irreversible virilizing side effects, even at low doses.
* **Adolescent Use:** The use of anabolic steroids in adolescents can lead to premature epiphyseal plate closure, resulting in stunted growth.
This is educational information, not medical advice - consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Drostanolone propionate is contraindicated in several situations due to the high risk of adverse effects:
* **Men with prostate carcinoma or breast carcinoma:** Anabolic androgenic steroids can exacerbate these conditions.
* **Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding:** Due to the potential for severe adverse effects on the fetus or infant.
* **Individuals with severe hepatic (liver) impairment:** Although not C17-alpha alkylated, steroid use can still stress the liver.
* **Individuals with severe renal (kidney) impairment:** Steroid use can affect fluid and electrolyte balance.
* **Individuals with known hypersensitivity to drostanolone or any component of the formulation.**
* **Individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions**, including uncontrolled hypertension, history of myocardial infarction, or stroke, due to the increased risk of cardiovascular adverse events.
* **Healthy individuals for performance enhancement:** Due to its classification as a controlled substance and the significant health risks, its use for non-medical purposes is not endorsed by medical professionals and is illegal.
This is educational information, not medical advice - consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
While specific drug-drug interaction studies for drostanolone propionate in a performance enhancement context are scarce, based on its nature as an anabolic androgenic steroid, certain general drug interactions and considerations apply:
* **Anticoagulants (e.g., Warfarin):** Anabolic steroids can enhance the anticoagulant effects of Coumarin-type anticoagulants, increasing the risk of bleeding. This interaction requires careful monitoring of coagulation parameters if co-administered.
* **Corticosteroids:** Concomitant use with corticosteroids may increase the risk of edema (fluid retention).
* **Insulin and Oral Hypoglycemics:** Drostanolone can potentially affect glucose metabolism and alter insulin requirements in diabetic individuals.
* **Other Hepatotoxic Substances:** Although drostanolone is not C17-alpha alkylated, combining it with other substances known to be hepatotoxic (damaging to the liver) could increase the risk of liver injury.
* **Other Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS):** Combining multiple AAS significantly increases the risk and severity of side effects, as the body's hormonal system is further disrupted, and the burden on organs like the liver and cardiovascular system is amplified.
* **Alcohol:** Heavy alcohol consumption, especially with any substance that can affect liver function, is generally discouraged due to increased liver strain.
This is educational information, not medical advice - consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Drostanolone propionate is typically administered via intramuscular injection. Due to its propionate ester, it has a relatively short half-life of approximately 48 hours. For medical applications, the dosing frequency would be determined by a licensed clinician based on the specific condition and patient response. For non-medical use, individuals typically administer it every other day or every third day to maintain stable blood levels, but this is a user-directed approach and must be set by a licensed clinician. The specific dose and duration of use are highly individualized and determined by the user's goals, experience, and tolerance, underscoring the critical need for medical supervision given its controlled status. (DrugBank)
Source for this section: Sources for When should you take Drostanolone Propionate?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Put it into practice
Reading about Drostanolone Propionate is the first step — DoseRoutine helps you act on it. These free tools turn what you just learned into a routine.
What interacts with Drostanolone Propionate?
| Interacts with | Severity | Type | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any peptide + hormone | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | Injectable peptides plus hormones can have overlapping or compounding effects that aren't always well characterized.Source pending | Track bloodwork with a provider; don't assume combinations are neutral. |
Frequently asked questions about Drostanolone Propionate
Historically, it was used medically to treat advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. In contemporary contexts, it is primarily used illicitly by bodybuilders and athletes to enhance muscle definition, hardness, and preserve muscle mass during cutting phases, exploiting its non-aromatizing nature and perceived anti-estrogenic effects. However, its use for performance enhancement is illegal and carries significant health risks.
In most countries, including the United States, drostanolone propionate is classified as a controlled substance (e.g., Schedule III in the US under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act). Its non-medical possession, use, or distribution is illegal and subject to severe penalties.
No, drostanolone propionate does not aromatize into estrogen. This means it does not cause estrogen-related side effects such as gynecomastia (enlargement of male breast tissue) or significant water retention, which are common with many other anabolic steroids. This characteristic is often why it's favored during cutting cycles.
Common side effects include androgenic effects like acne, hair loss (in predisposed individuals), and increased body hair. It can also cause cardiovascular issues (negative impacts on cholesterol, increased blood pressure), suppression of natural testosterone production, and virilization in women. Psychological effects like mood swings and irritability are also possible.
Drostanolone Propionate is administered via intramuscular injection. Due to its relatively short propionate ester, injections are typically performed every one to three days to maintain stable blood concentrations. Dosing and frequency for medical purposes must be determined by a licensed clinician.
Drostanolone Propionate is a hormone, and interactions are possible with prescriptions, hormones, peptides and other supplements in the same routine. Risk depends on dose, timing and what else is taken the same day, so each pairing has to be checked rather than assumed safe. The free checker at https://doseroutine.com/interaction-checker covers Drostanolone Propionate with no sign-up.
Drostanolone Propionate is administered by injection, so the measured volume — not a tablet count — is the unit that matters. It is a controlled substance in some jurisdictions, so the prescribed amount is the only appropriate one. Ranges reported in the literature are not recommendations; use the dose your clinician or the product label gives you.
Combining a hormone like Drostanolone Propionate with TRT is usually a question of labs rather than a blanket yes or no: the ester, injection interval and any aromatase inhibitor all change the answer. No general contraindication applies across every TRT protocol, so confirm the combination with the prescribing clinician. See the free TRT interaction reference: https://doseroutine.com/trt-supplement-interactions
Each peptide class carries its own profile against Drostanolone Propionate: a healing peptide raises different questions than a GLP-1 agonist or a growth-hormone secretagogue. Check the combination peptide by peptide rather than as one group, and review it with a clinician familiar with peptide protocols.
Published frequency for Drostanolone Propionate varies by protocol and formulation, so the label or prescription is what sets it. Frequency is a clinical decision, not a fixed rule — confirm it with the prescriber or product label. Comparison of apps that keep a schedule like this: https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps
The effect of a missed dose of Drostanolone Propionate depends on the protocol and formulation you are on. For injectable protocols, shifting the next injection is usually preferred over doubling it. Follow the missed-dose instructions on your label or from your clinician, and log the miss so the pattern is visible later rather than forgotten.
For an injectable like Drostanolone Propionate the record needs more than a checkbox: vial concentration, the measured volume, and which site the last injection went into. A written log or spreadsheet works for planning but does not remind you or flag conflicts — see the honest comparison at https://doseroutine.com/vs/spreadsheet and the wider roundup at https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps — DoseRoutine tracks the schedule, the remaining supply and interactions with the rest of your routine in one place.
Which studies looked at Drostanolone Propionate?
Peer-reviewed research indexed in PubMed. Each entry links to the original record.
- 1.A comparison of drostanolone propionate (Masteril) and nandrolone decanoate (Deca-durabolin) in the treatment of breast carcinoma(opens PubMed in a new tab)Clin Oncol · 1976 · PMID 1036981 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1036981/
Sources cited on this page
Specific documents referenced by the numbered markers above. Each number matches the marker in the text.
- PubChem CID 224004(opens in a new tab)National Center for Biotechnology Information · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/224004
Verify at
Publisher search links for Drostanolone Propionate. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.
- DrugBank(publisher search, opens in a new tab)DrugBank Online · publisher search
- FDA-approved labeling (DailyMed)(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · publisher search
- PubMed literature search(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- Wikipedia entry(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · publisher search
DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.
What is the short answer on Drostanolone Propionate?
Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:
Drostanolone propionate, commonly known by its brand name Masteron, is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Research on Drostanolone Propionate focuses on muscle and strength. Drostanolone Propionate is administered by injection rather than orally. Drostanolone Propionate is a controlled substance in some jurisdictions.
Source: DoseRoutine — https://doseroutine.com/library/drostanolone-propionate
Drostanolone Propionate cheat sheet
DoseRoutine cheat sheet · Hormone
Drostanolone Propionate
Drostanolone propionate, commonly known by its brand name Masteron, is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Evidence
Limited
Human observational or case data only — no randomized trials.
Route
Intramuscular injection in the case reports
Schedule III (US)Not FDA-approvedNo FDA-approved drostanolone product remains marketed in the USHuman literature is limited to case reports of adverse effects and forensic/fatality analyses; no published dosing trialMuscle
Studied ranges, not dosing advice. Not medical advice — talk to a clinician. doseroutine.com/library/drostanolone-propionate
Cite this page
Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:
DoseRoutine. (2026). Drostanolone Propionate — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/drostanolone-propionate
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