Stanozolol
Pronunciation: sta-NOH-zoh-lol.
- Generic name
- stanozolol
- Drug class
- Anabolic-androgenic steroid (synthetic derivative of testosterone/dihydrotestosterone)
- Form
- Historically an oral tablet (e.g. 2 mg, as the discontinued US Winstrol brand) or an injectable suspension; no currently active, regulator-confirmed product formulation was found in this research
- Route
- Historically oral (tablet) or intramuscular injection
- Legal status
- Historically prescription-only where authorised; currently a controlled substance in multiple countries (e.g. Schedule III in the United States) with very limited or no active medical marketing found in the 6 markets reviewed
Availability and supply rules vary by country
Trade names by country: United States
Australia: · Full directory
What stanozolol is and how it works
Stanozolol is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid. Its main historical medical use was to reduce the frequency and severity of swelling attacks in hereditary angioedema, a rare genetic condition. It is not a first-line or commonly prescribed medicine today: the branded US product was withdrawn from the market around 2010, and stanozolol is now classed as a controlled substance in several countries because of its history of non-medical, performance-enhancing misuse. (1)
If you have been prescribed stanozolol, this is very likely for a specialised, individually assessed reason -- discuss your specific diagnosis, monitoring plan, and any alternative treatments with the prescriber managing your care, since this medicine is used far less often today than in the past.
Mechanism of action: how stanozolol works
Stanozolol is a synthetic derivative of dihydrotestosterone with combined anabolic and androgenic activity. In hereditary angioedema, androgens of this type are understood to raise hepatic synthesis of C1-esterase inhibitor and C4 complement levels, which is the presumed mechanism behind reducing attack frequency and severity, though newer, more targeted C1-esterase-inhibitor-based and other therapies are now generally preferred where accessible. (1)
What stanozolol is used for
Hereditary angioedema (historical/legacy use)
Historically used to help prevent attacks of hereditary angioedema (recurrent swelling of the face, limbs, airway, bowel wall, or genitals caused by a genetic C1-esterase-inhibitor deficiency). This use has become far less common as newer, more targeted hereditary angioedema treatments have become available, and it is now generally reserved for situations where those newer options are not suitable or accessible. (1)
Before taking stanozolol
Do not take / not appropriate for
- Do not take stanozolol without a prescription and direct medical supervision -- in most countries it is a controlled substance, and non-prescribed use (including for bodybuilding or athletic performance) is illegal and carries real health risks. (all countries) (1)
- Anabolic-androgenic steroids as a class are generally avoided in people with prostate or breast cancer, significant liver disease, or during pregnancy. (all countries) (1)
Tell your clinician about
- Any personal or family history of liver disease.
- Any history of heart disease, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.
- Whether you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
- Any history of prostate or breast cancer.
- All other medicines you take, including blood thinners (anticoagulants) and diabetes medicines.
How to take stanozolol
- Stanozolol dosing is individualised and clinician-directed -- there is no standard over-the-counter or self-managed dose, and this page does not provide a fixed dosing schedule.
- Follow the exact dose, schedule, and monitoring plan set by the prescriber managing your specific condition.
- Because stanozolol is not widely, currently marketed in the markets reviewed for this page, how it is obtained (a licensed pharmacy product versus a compounded preparation) varies and should be clarified with your prescriber and pharmacist.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Missed dose
Contact the prescriber managing your treatment for specific guidance if you miss a dose, since stanozolol regimens are individually tailored.
Overdose
Seek urgent medical attention if you think too much stanozolol has been taken, particularly if you develop severe abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or symptoms of a heart problem. (1)
Side effects
Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.
Changes in cholesterol levels (lipid profile), which a clinician can monitor with blood tests.
What to notice: Changes in cholesterol levels (lipid profile), which a clinician can monitor with blood tests.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)
Acne and oily skin.
What to notice: Acne and oily skin.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)
In women, masculinising effects such as voice deepening, increased body/facial hair, or menstrual changes (virilisation) can occur and may be permanent even if treatment is later reviewed by a clinician.
What to notice: In women, masculinising effects such as voice deepening, increased body/facial hair, or menstrual changes (virilisation) can occur and may be permanent even if treatment is later reviewed by a clinician.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)
In men, changes to natural testosterone production and testicular size.
What to notice: In men, changes to natural testosterone production and testicular size.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)
Serious warnings
Signs of liver problems (hepatotoxicity) — high caution
Symptoms: Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, or pain in the upper right abdomen.
Action: Tell your prescriber promptly. Anabolic steroids including stanozolol carry a real risk of liver toxicity, and liver function is usually monitored during treatment; a clinician will decide on any change to your treatment based on the results. (1)
Signs of a heart or blood vessel problem — high caution
Symptoms: Chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, or unusually high blood pressure readings.
Action: Tell your prescriber promptly. Anabolic steroids can adversely affect cholesterol and cardiovascular risk; a clinician or emergency service will decide on next steps for urgent symptoms. (1)
New or worsening masculinising changes (in women or children) — high caution
Symptoms: Voice deepening, excess facial or body hair growth, significant acne, or menstrual changes.
Action: Tell your prescriber -- some of these changes can become permanent, and a clinician will weigh the ongoing risks and benefits of continuing treatment with you. (1)
Interactions
- Blood-thinning medicines (anticoagulants such as warfarin): anabolic steroids can increase their effect, raising bleeding risk -- closer monitoring is usually needed. (1)
- Diabetes medicines, including insulin: anabolic steroids can affect blood sugar control and may require dose adjustment by a clinician. (1)
- Other medicines affecting the liver or cholesterol levels may compound stanozolol's own effects on these systems -- tell your prescriber about all medicines you take. (1)
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Pregnancy
Anabolic-androgenic steroids including stanozolol are generally avoided in pregnancy, given the risk of masculinising effects on a female foetus and limited safety data. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Breastfeeding
Not generally recommended while breastfeeding, due to limited safety data for anabolic steroids in this setting. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Children
Use in children is highly specialised and individually assessed, given effects on growth and puberty; not a routine paediatric medicine. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Elderly
Cardiovascular and liver risks are particularly important to weigh in older adults, who more often have existing heart or liver conditions. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Hepatic_impairment
Anabolic steroids including stanozolol are generally avoided or used with great caution in significant liver disease, given their own hepatotoxic potential. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Renal_impairment
Specific renal-impairment dosing guidance was not identified in the sources reviewed for this dossier; any use would be individually assessed by a specialist. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Source_ids
Monitoring
Before starting
- Baseline liver function tests
- Baseline lipid (cholesterol) profile
- Cardiovascular risk assessment
During treatment
- Periodic liver function tests.
- Periodic lipid profile and blood pressure checks.
- Monitoring for masculinising side effects, particularly in women and children.
Storage
Follow the storage instructions on the specific product's label or provided by the dispensing pharmacy, since no single currently active, regulator-confirmed product label was identified across the 6 markets reviewed for this page.
Professional information
Clinician-facing context only, drawn from secondary clinical/regulatory summaries of the historical FDA-approved Winstrol (stanozolol) product, since no currently active primary regulator label was located across the 6 markets reviewed. Verify current local availability, legal status, and any current label before prescribing or dispensing.
United States (historical)
Indication: Hereditary angioedema prophylaxis (historical; brand withdrawn from active marketing circa 2010)
Dose summary: Historical starting dose reported in secondary sources was around 2 mg three times daily, later reduced to 2 mg once daily or every other day as tolerated -- individualised and clinician-directed; no current, live-verified label confirms this remains current practice.
Renal context: Not established in the sources reviewed for this dossier. (1)
Hepatic guidance
Hepatotoxicity, including reports of liver enzyme elevation, cholestatic jaundice, and, rarely, more serious liver injury, is a recognised risk of anabolic-androgenic steroids as a class, including stanozolol; baseline and periodic liver function monitoring is standard practice where these medicines are used.
Overdose note
Specific overdose data are limited in the sources reviewed; general management would focus on monitoring for hepatic, lipid, and virilising effects and supportive care. (1)
Frequently asked questions
Is stanozolol currently available as an approved medicine in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand?
Not straightforwardly. In the United States, the branded product (Winstrol) was FDA-approved historically but was withdrawn from active marketing around 2010, and stanozolol is now a controlled substance there. A direct check of Canada's official drug product registry found no currently registered stanozolol product. For the UK, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, this review could not confirm a currently authorised medicinal product one way or the other -- rather than guess, this is disclosed honestly as unable to verify. (1) (3)
Is stanozolol the same as the anabolic steroids used illegally in bodybuilding or sport?
Stanozolol is the same substance sometimes misused illegally for muscle-building or athletic performance without a prescription. That non-medical use is illegal in most countries, is not a medical use, and carries real health risks including liver, hormonal, and cardiovascular harm. This page describes its legitimate, prescribed historical medical use only. (1)
Why is stanozolol used so much less often today?
Newer, more targeted treatments for hereditary angioedema (its main historical use) are now generally preferred where available, and the branded US product was withdrawn from active marketing around 2010. Stanozolol is now mainly encountered as a controlled substance associated with non-medical misuse rather than as a routinely prescribed medicine. (1)
What is the mechanism of action of stanozolol?
Stanozolol is a synthetic derivative of dihydrotestosterone with combined anabolic and androgenic activity. In hereditary angioedema, androgens of this type are understood to raise hepatic synthesis of C1-esterase inhibitor and C4 complement levels, which is the presumed mechanism behind reducing attack frequency and severity, though newer, more targeted C1-esterase-inhibitor-based and other therapies are now generally preferred where accessible. (1)
What is the generic name of Stanozolol?
The generic name is stanozolol. (1)
What class of drug is stanozolol?
Stanozolol is classed as: Anabolic-androgenic steroid (synthetic derivative of testosterone/dihydrotestosterone). (1)
References
- Winstrol (stanozolol) tablets -- historical FDA approval, prophylactic use in hereditary angioedema, and voluntary withdrawal from the US market circa 2010Multiple independent secondary clinical/regulatory sources (USADA substance profile, Angioedema News clinical review, PharmaCompass FDA Orange Book mirror) describing the historical FDA-approved Winstrol (stanozolol) product and its withdrawal from active US marketing · United States · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 1
- Search of MHRA Products database for stanozolol; review of Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 classificationMHRA Products database search (products.mhra.gov.uk) and general UK controlled-drug legislation review · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 2
- Health Canada Drug Product Database -- brand-name search for 'stanozolol'Health Canada Drug Product Database (DPD) API, official government drug-product registry · Canada · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 3
- Search of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) for stanozolol; review of Poisons Standard scheduling and Sport Integrity Australia prohibited-substance listingTGA ARTG search (tga.gov.au) and Poisons Standard (SUSMP) general scheduling review · Australia · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 4
- Search of Medsafe data sheets and medicine classification database for stanozolol; review of Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (NZ) Class C controlled drug scheduleMedsafe datasheet/classification database search and Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (NZ) classification review · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 5
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient stanozolol names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
United States
- Winstrol (historical) (1)historically FDA approved withdrawn from active marketing circa 2010 · 2 mg tablet (historical) · historical US rights holder; brand discontinued