Mesterolone

Mesterolone

Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
ATC code	G03BB01 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	CA: Schedule IV US: Schedule III Prescription Only (AU)
Pharmacokinetic data
Metabolism	Liver
Identifiers
IUPAC name 1α-Methyl-17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one
CAS Number	1424-00-6
PubChem (CID)	15020
ChemSpider	14296
UNII	0SRQ75X9I9
KEGG	D04947
ChEMBL	CHEMBL258918
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C20H32O2
Molar mass	304.467 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
SMILES O=C4C[C@@H]3CC[C@@H]2[C@H](CC[C@]1(C)[C@@H](O)CC[C@H]12)[C@@]3(C)[C@@H](C)C4
InChI InChI=1S/C20H32O2/c1-12-10-14(21)11-13-4-5-15-16-6-7-18(22)19(16,2)9-8-17(15)20(12,13)3/h12-13,15-18,22H,4-11H2,1-3H3/t12-,13-,15-,16-,17-,18-,19-,20-/m0/s1 Key:UXYRZJKIQKRJCF-TZPFWLJSSA-N
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Mesterolone is a synthetic, orally active anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) and derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is sold under the brand names Proviron (as Provironum in Asia-Pacific region) and Mestoranum, by Bayer Schering Pharma (earlier by Schering). In the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was used with some success in controlled studies of men suffering from various forms of depression. Mesterolone is a relatively weak androgen and is rarely used for replacement therapies.^[1]

Trials

In one small scale clinical trial of depressed patients, an improvement of symptoms which included anxiety, lack of drive and desire was observed.^[2] In patients with dysthymia, unipolar, and bipolar depression significant improvement was observed.^[2] In this series of studies, mesterolone lead to a significant decrease in LH and testosterone levels. In another study, 100 mg mesterolone cypionate was administered twice monthly. With regards to plasma T levels, there was no difference between the treated vs untreated group, and baseline LH levels were minimally affected.^[3]

Bodybuilding

Mesterolone had seen widespread use in bodybuilding primarily for antiestrogenic activity in anabolic steroid stacks but such use has declined after introduction of aromatase inhibitors and SERMs. Most significant benefits of current Mesterolone use are considered by bodybuilders to be maintaining libido off-cycle and also relatively and temporarily improving vascularity.^[4]

See also

• Metenolone
• Metenolone acetate
• Metenolone enanthate
• Rosterolone (17α-propylmesterolone)^[5]

References

1. Nieschlag E, Behre HM, Bouchard P, et al. (2004). "Testosterone replacement therapy: current trends and future directions". Hum. Reprod. Update. 10 (5): 409–19. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmh035. PMID 15297434.
2. Itil TM, Michael ST, Shapiro DM, Itil KZ (June 1984). "The effects of mesterolone, a male sex hormone in depressed patients (a double blind controlled study)". Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 6 (6): 331–7. PMID 6431212.
3. Kövary PM, Lenau H, Niermann H, Zierden E, Wagner H (May 1977). "Testosterone levels and gonadotrophins in Klinefelter's patients treated with injections of mesterolone cipionate". Arch Dermatol Res. 258 (3): 289–94. doi:10.1007/bf00561132. PMID 883846.
4. Meso-RX Steroid Profiles - Proviron (Mesterolone)
5. Brooks, J. R.; Primka, R. L.; Berman, C; Krupa, D. A.; Reynolds, G. F.; Rasmusson, G. H. (1991). "Topical anti-androgenicity of a new 4-azasteroid in the hamster". Steroids. 56 (8): 428–33. doi:10.1016/0039-128x(91)90031-p. PMID 1788861.

Further reading

• Morrison, Mary Chase (2000). Hormones, Gender and the Aging Brain: The Endocrine Basis of Geriatric Psychiatry. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 134. ISBN 0-521-65304-5.