Primobolan’s claim to fame is that it was ‘supposedly’ a staple in Arnold’s Schwarzenegger’s steroid stack.
Arnie was apparently so fond of the compound that he would add it in insane doses to every steroid cycle. Or so the legend goes.
Not that anyone’s seen Arnold use Primo. Nor has he ever accepted it publicly.
In bodybuilding circles though, Primobolan has a reputation of being an expensive, but very mild anabolic that derives mixed reviews.
Those who swear by it call it a weaker, side-effect free Tren.
The detractors though find it to be a waste of time and money.
At approximately $100 for a vial of Primobolan Depot, it certainly is one of the most expensive injectable anabolics.
And if you opt for the oral version instead, the cost is on par with Anavar.
The question is, does the high cost of the steroid justify its usage? Will you be able to generate any positive benefits from Primo?
What is it about the compound that made it a favorite with one of the best bodybuilders of all times?
Let’s find out.
Here’s what you can expect from a Primobolan cycle.
Great mood, increased confidence – Week 1 onwards

There are some anabolic steroids that could give SSRIs a run for their money. Primobolan is one of them.
It makes you feel so good that the mood enhancement alone is enough reason for a lot of steroid users to run it. Particularly when they are running stacks with 19-Nors which tend to play around with your mood a little, or a lot.
You feel confident, positive and your decision making ability is enhanced greatly. Again, this is not comparable to the ‘alpha male’ feeling that Dianabol gives you.
Instead, it’s like a steady feeling that you are ready to take on the world. Makes a whole lot of difference to your workouts as well.
Pumps and dryness – Week 2 onwards

That’s a paradox, isn’t it?
When you are pumped and full, you can’t really be dry. There’d always be some amount of water retention. Think a cycle of Deca.
And if you run a drying compound like Masteron, you’d be dry and shredded. But a lot of bodybuilders find that looks too flat for their liking. It’s like you work like a mule to gain some size and then get deflated like someone pinned a balloon.
Primobolan is the perfect middle ground. It keeps your muscles full. But it removes the water-filled look to a great extent.
There is a minimal amount of drying that adds to the aesthetics. Think of it like a weaker version of Masteron with the pumps of Deca.
A very unique compound indeed.
Libido Boost – Week 2 onwards

If you are running a low dose of Primo alongside Test or one of the stronger 19-Nors like Trenbolone, you should get a great boost to your sex drive.
Primo has that quality of enhancing your libido. Your erections are firmer as well.
But some people find that it’s quite the opposite.
Primo has an affinity to bind to E2 receptors and works as an E2 antagonist. If you are running Test, chances are that you are using an AI to further prevent conversion to E2.
This can cause your E2 levels to crash.
A sudden drop in E2 levels might tank your libido completely.
So, if you are using Primo and aren’t getting the libido enhancing effects, we suggest that you reanalyze your Estrogen levels with bloodwork.
If they are too low, you may want to dial down the AI dose a little and see if that helps.
Most people don’t need an AI when they are running Primo and Proviron.
Fat Burn – Week 2 onwards

Primo is a DHT derivative and just like other DHT compounds, it binds strongly to androgen receptors thereby promoting fat loss.
If you run Testosterone and Primo, you’d look full, pumped, dry, with noticeable fat loss around the abdomen.
Makes cardio better on Trenbolone

If you are running Tren, then you’d know better than to try cardio during the cycle.
Primo makes it a lot easier to perform light to medium intensity cardio even when you are running high doses of Trenbolone.
You recover sooner, you don’t feel like you’d need an inhaler while doing cardio. This is purely based on anecdotal reviews though.
Lean Muscle gain – Week 4 onwards (Very mild)

Being a DHT derivative that boosts recovery and increase nitrogen retention, it would be incorrect to say that Primobolan doesn’t build muscle.
It does increase lean muscle. But any muscle gain is so mild that most steroid users fail to notice it. Moreover, Primobolan is typically stacked with test, Deca, Trenbolone, Dianabol and other anabolic steroids that are way more strong.
So the results that you’d achieve with Primo get overshadowed.
Primo is also an excellent compound to run if you are in a cut. It preserves lean muscle tissue way better than it builds it.
Is it really the side effect free steroid?

Just like Proviron, Primobolan is often called the safest steroid or a side-effect free one.
To be fair, it does have a very mild side effect profile that allows users to run it in high doses for months at a time. (ref.)
It does not aromatize. So estrogenic side effects are out of the question.
It has a very weak androgenic rating. So, while there is a definite risk of acne, oily skin and increased hair loss, the chances of experiencing these sides are very low.
Hair loss or thinning will only occur if you are genetically predisposed to it.
The oral version is not 17CAA. So it’s not liver toxic either. And even in high doses, it doesn’t trash your lipids like other orals or SARMS.
The only hindrance that most people face is the cost and the possibility of it being faked.
Most experienced steroid users would buy raws and home brew. It’s always easier to find a reputed supplier for your gear though.