IngredientsChlorodehydromethylandrostenediol (CDMA), also known as 4-chloro-17α-methylandrost-1,4-diene-3β,17β-diol, is a synthetic, orally active anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) and a 17α-alkylated derivative of 4-androstenediol that was never marketed as a pharmaceutical drug. The compound is most widely recognized by the trade name Halodrol-50, under which it was sold as a purported dietary supplement.
Additional synonyms and names that appear in the scientific and regulatory literature include:
4-chloro-17α-methylandrost-1,4-diene-3β,17β-diol, also known as Chlorodehydromethylandrostenediol (CDMA), is a 17-alpha alkylated steroid that converts to the steroid Oral Turinabol after interacting with 3-β-HSD enzyme.
There is a structural modification (17α-methyl) that allows the compound to survive the first pass through the liver. This is what makes it extremely orally bioavailable but also liver toxic.
CDMA is structurally and pharmacologically closely related to chlorodehydromethyltestosterone (CDMT), the pharmaceutical AAS marketed as Oral Turinabol. Halodrol, also known by its chemical name chlorodehydromethylandrostenediol (CDMA), is a synthetic, orally active anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS). It is a derivative of a well-known steroid, chlorodehydromethyltestosterone (Oral Turinabol). The key structural distinction between CDMA and Oral Turinabol is that CDMA bears a 3β-hydroxyl group in place of the 3-ketone found in CDMT, making CDMA a 3β-hydroxy (diol) compound rather than a classic ketone steroid.
CDMA has no natural botanical or herbal source. Chlorodehydromethylandrostenediol, often abbreviated as CDMA, is a synthetic derivative of androstenediol, historically related to the class of anabolic-androgenic steroids. While it is not a traditional herbal extract, CDMA and similar compounds have found their way into nutritional supplements. The compound does not occur in nature and is produced entirely through organic synthesis, beginning with androstenedione-based precursors.
The synthesis of Halodrol primarily relies on androstenedione-based precursors, with multiple established synthetic pathways demonstrating varying degrees of efficiency and selectivity. The most prevalent approach involves the direct functionalization of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (4-AD), which serves as the foundational starting material for subsequent chemical transformations. The predominant synthetic methodology employs electrophilic chlorination of 4-androstenedione at the C4 position, followed by 17α-methylation and subsequent reduction steps.
CDMA was sold commercially in tablet form. Halodrol-50, which cost $50 to $80 for a bottle of 30 tablets, is marketed by Gaspari Nutrition, a dietary supplements company based in Neptune, N.J., that sells bodybuilding and weight-loss products. The product was an oral preparation, relying on the 17α-alkyl modification to ensure adequate oral bioavailability.
It was first encountered in 2005 when it was introduced as a "dietary supplement" and putative prohormone under the name Halodrol-50 by industry veteran, Bruce Kneller while working with the dietary supplement company, Gaspari Nutrition.
Halodrol was briefly sold as a "dietary supplement" or "prohormone" in the mid-2000s before a 2014 prohormone ban. Despite being marketed as a prohormone (a precursor to a hormone), it is a potent anabolic-androgenic steroid in its own right.
The Halodrol-50 label stated that it contained "polydehydrogenated, polyhydroxylated halomethetioallocholane." Don Catlin of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory described that chemical descriptor as "hocus-pocus," saying the language was outdated and vague and appeared to be deliberately misleading.
The drug was the subject of a scathing and highly critical article by The Washington Post in November 2006. The supplement, which was sold under the name Halodrol-50, contains a steroid that closely resembles Oral-Turinabol, the principal steroid used to fuel East Germany's secret, systematic sports doping program, according to Don Catlin of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory.
CDMA was voluntarily discontinued by Gaspari Nutrition in mid-2006, likely fearing government sanctions if it continued to sell the product. Despite the withdrawal of the original product, copycat formulations proliferated. Though Halodrol-50 is no longer available on the Gaspari Nutrition Web site, the product continued to be marketed on other Web sites that sell bodybuilding substances.
On December 18, 2014, President Obama signed the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2014 — DASCA for short. Several years in the making, DASCA cracked down on the over-the-counter "prohormone" segment of the sports nutrition supplement market. DASCA listed 25 steroidal compounds as newly criminalized anabolic steroids. Like all the anabolic steroids that are already Schedule III drugs, these substances are now illegal not only to sell, but to possess. Possessing any quantity of any of the new substances on the list is now a federal misdemeanor. Distribution and possession with the intent to distribute are felonies.
Congress intended the DASCA to erase the distinction between the substances once called "prohormones" (steroidal substances unlawfully marketed as dietary supplement products that were either precursors of traditional anabolic steroids or steroidal substances that weren't specially listed in the ASCA) and the substances that were traditionally regarded as anabolic steroids.
CDMA's closest pharmaceutical analogue — Oral Turinabol (chlorodehydromethyltestosterone, CDMT) — has a documented history as a doping agent. CDMT was the first original product of Jenapharm, an East German pharmaceutical company. It was patented in 1961. The idea of combining the structures of 4-chlorotestosterone (clostebol) and metandienone originated with chemist Albert Stachowiak. At the time, this represented a unique dissociation of anabolic from androgenic effects after oral administration. The product was introduced for clinical use in 1965 and remained in use until 1994, when production was discontinued. CDMT was the key steroid administered to approximately ten thousand East German athletes as part of a secret doping program, known as State Plan Topic 14.25, often without them knowing the nature of the "vitamins" they were forced to take. CDMA, while structurally distinct, was presented to consumers partly by association with this lineage.
CDMA has no traditional medicinal use in any culture or historical period. It is an entirely synthetic compound first produced in a laboratory context and brought to consumer markets only in 2005. There are no records of its use in Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western herbalism, or any other system of traditional medicine. Any reference to "traditional" use of androstenediol derivatives in historical sources refers to different, naturally occurring compounds, not to CDMA specifically.
CDMA was marketed as a "prohormone," implying that it required conversion to a more active steroid in the body. In reality, the picture is more nuanced. 4-chloro-17α-methylandrost-1,4-diene-3β,17β-diol is a 17-alpha alkylated steroid that converts to the steroid Oral Turinabol after interacting with 3-β-HSD enzyme. However, although CMA was sold as a "prohormone" or "prosteroid," it is likely that the conversion is far from complete and that much of the activity of the drug may be attributable to its unchanged form. This same reasoning applies to CDMA, its close structural analogue.
Like other anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), oral steroids in this class enhance performance and physique by increasing lean body mass — both muscle and bone — through high-affinity binding to the androgen receptor (AR). When the AR is activated, it stimulates protein synthesis, leading to increased muscle hypertrophy and improved bone mineral density.
From a scientific perspective, CDMA is thought to promote muscle growth and strength by enhancing protein synthesis and nitrogen retention in the body, mechanisms similar to those of other anabolic steroids.
The reported anabolic-androgenic ratio for Halodrol is approximately 74:28. This means it is considered to have a strong anabolic effect with a moderate androgenic effect.
The 4-chloro group present on the steroid ring is a critical structural feature. Studies suggested the lack of progestational effects of Halodrol may be due to the 4-chloro group, where it restricts the interaction with aromatase enzyme to produce inactive 4-chloro-DHT metabolites, thus producing significantly less androgenic side effects.
Due to its chemical structure, CDMA cannot be aromatized into estrogen, which means it doesn't cause estrogenic side effects like gynecomastia (enlargement of male breast tissue). Halodrol does not have significant progestogenic activity.
CDMA is not extensively metabolized by 5α-reductase and exhibits relatively greater anabolic than androgenic activity, but is still capable of producing androgenic side effects. The 4-chloro modification also prevents conversion to a dihydro form via 5α-reductase, consistent with the behavior of structurally related compounds in this chlorinated androstane family.
Research into the closely related compound Oral Turinabol illuminates potential metabolic pathways relevant to CDMA. Research reveals the capability of human mitochondrial CYP enzymes to metabolize the xenobiotic steroid oral turinabol, which is a common doping agent. Furthermore, a study published in the journal Drug Metabolism and Disposition found that oral turinabol is a substrate of brain CYP46A1 (the cholesterol 24-hydroxylase enzyme). The single product formed by CYP46A1 was identified as 16β-hydroxy oral turinabol by HPLC and NMR analysis. Additionally, a decrease in the rate of the natural reaction of CYP46A1 — cholesterol hydroxylation — was observed when oral turinabol was added in vitro, and an inhibitory effect of oral turinabol on the natural reaction of CYP46A1 was observed in vitro. These findings are relevant to CDMA insofar as it is converted to Oral Turinabol in vivo.
The 17α-alkylation not only allows for oral bioavailability but also improves binding affinity to the androgen receptor. This structural modification is known to amplify lean muscle development and make the steroid resistant to hepatic metabolism, extending its anabolic effects.
CDMA itself has been the subject of no published, controlled human clinical trials. There is limited reliable scientific information about its use, and there is no safe or appropriate dosage established. Any dosage information is based on anecdotal reports from users and is not supported by scientific research.
The mechanistic rationale for anabolic effects is extrapolated from the broader AAS literature. AAS enhance performance and physique through high-affinity binding to the androgen receptor, stimulating protein synthesis, leading to increased muscle hypertrophy and improved bone mineral density. These effects are well documented across AAS research and represent the foundational mechanism of most muscle-building steroids.
In the review literature, while dietary supplement adulteration with a variety of drugs including controlled androgens remains an important problem, a number of bona fide AAS are listed openly on product labels. Despite this, many patients and physicians may be unaware that these products contain 'real' anabolic steroids that often come with side effects that are unique from their more thoroughly studied injectable pharmaceutical counterparts.
Evidence quality for CDMA specifically: No controlled human clinical evidence exists. All mechanistic claims derive from in vitro biochemistry and from studies on structurally related steroids, particularly Oral Turinabol.
No controlled studies on body composition outcomes for CDMA have been published in peer-reviewed journals. While there is limited direct clinical research specifically on CDMA, anecdotal reports and user testimonials suggest noticeable improvements in muscle mass, strength, and workout recovery. These anecdotal claims cannot be evaluated as scientific evidence.
Early investigations into androstenediol derivatives suggested potential benefits for individuals recovering from illness or injury, as enhanced anabolic activity could support tissue repair and boost energy. In some cases, such compounds were considered as adjuncts in therapies for age-related muscle wasting and other catabolic conditions. These explorations concerned the broader class of androstenediol derivatives, not CDMA specifically, and did not result in any approved medical application for CDMA.
Based on a systematic review of the available literature, there are no peer-reviewed clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, or prospective cohort studies specifically examining the efficacy of chlorodehydromethylandrostenediol in humans for any indication. The body of evidence is limited to:
The evidence base for claimed benefits is therefore absent at the clinical level.
CDMA's primary proposed mechanism involves androgen receptor activation in skeletal muscle, promoting nitrogen retention and protein synthesis. This is consistent with the general pharmacology of 17α-alkylated anabolic steroids, though no CDMA-specific human data confirm this in controlled trials.
Liver toxicity is the most clinically documented hazard. The aim of published case reports was to re-emphasize the hepatotoxicity associated with the use of anabolic androgenic steroids and to highlight the marketing and sale of AAS as dietary supplements. In a case series of two patients who developed a cholestatic liver panel after consumption of anabolic androgenic steroids, both individuals developed significant cholestatic liver injury. This was associated with considerable morbidity, although both patients recovered without the need for a liver transplant.
Of particular clinical significance: The second patient was a 31-year-old Caucasian male bodybuilder who presented with flu-like symptoms, weakness, and jaundice in early May 2006. In addition, he reported a 30-lb weight loss and debilitating pruritus. Three to four weeks before his hospitalization, he had consumed both Halodrol and Superdrol for a four-week period. This Halodrol product contains a steroid that resembles oral-turinabol, which was given to the East German athletes without their knowledge in the 1960s and 1970s.
AAS use including CDMA can suppress the body's natural production of testosterone, leading to hypogonadism (reduced function of the testes). Recent evidence suggests that anabolic steroid use may be the most common cause of hypogonadism in men of reproductive age.
Steroid use can increase the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and other cardiovascular issues. Numerous side effects — including cardiovascular risks and increased risks of breast and Leydig cell cancer as well as psychiatric disorders — are attributed to AASs.
Research into the conversion product Oral Turinabol has raised concerns about potential CNS effects. The human microsomal cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP46A1 plays a crucial role in cholesterol elimination from the brain. It performs a 24-hydroxylation of cholesterol and is of outstanding significance for memory and cognition. A decrease in the rate of the natural reaction of CYP46A1 — cholesterol hydroxylation — was observed when oral turinabol was added to the reaction in vitro. The potential neurological implications of CYP46A1 inhibition by oral turinabol (and by extension CDMA/its metabolites) remain an active area of preliminary inquiry.
Because of designer steroids, the impact of non-medical AAS exposure on the development of hypogonadism and infertility, especially in men of reproductive age, is likely underestimated by current published statistics. In women, Halodrol can cause irreversible masculine features, such as a deepened voice, increased facial hair, male-pattern baldness, and an enlarged clitoris.
CDMA was sold exclusively as an oral tablet (Halodrol-50). No injectable, topical, or other dosage forms were marketed. The following dosages appear in the published and documented record:
Important caveat: There is no reliable medical information on an appropriate dosage for Halodrol because it has never been approved for medical use. Any dosage information is based on anecdotal reports from users and is not supported by scientific research.
This is the most clinically documented and serious risk. As a 17α-alkylated oral steroid, Halodrol is known to be hepatotoxic, meaning it can cause liver damage. Liver toxicity is a major concern with Halodrol and other oral steroids. Long-term use can lead to liver tumors or blood-filled cysts. The clinical case series published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology documented severe cholestatic liver injury in a user of Halodrol, with hospitalization required. Despite being classified as class III controlled substances, anabolic androgenic steroids are still a cause for serious hepatotoxicity in the United States.
Severe side effects including hepatotoxicity, cholestasis, renal failure, hypogonadism, gynecomastia, and infertility have been reported secondary to the use of these products. While some of these side effects may be reversible, more aggressive use may result in more permanent end-organ damage.
CDMA can shut down natural hormone production, requiring post-cycle therapy to restore normal function.
While it has a relatively high anabolic-to-androgenic ratio, Halodrol can still produce androgenic side effects. These include oily skin, acne, and increased growth of facial and body hair.
Cardiovascular risks are attributed to AASs. Although several hypothetical models exist to describe the mechanisms behind the cardiovascular issues, their ability to explain all symptoms is still fragmentary.
Independent analytical testing of the original Halodrol-50 product revealed adulteration. Catlin said it also contains DMT (madol), a steroid federal authorities say was developed for BALCO, the California nutritional supplement company at the center of a scheme to provide prominent professional athletes with undetectable performance-enhancing drugs. The Halodrol-associated steroid would be undetectable in standard drug tests because it is not an exact match with Oral Turinabol. This adulteration underscores a systemic issue: dietary supplement adulteration with a variety of drugs, including controlled androgens, remains an important problem; many patients and physicians may be unaware that these products contain "real" anabolic steroids.
The WADA S1.1 category of prohibited substances includes anabolic androgenic steroids when administered exogenously, including but not limited to a broad list of compounds and their derivatives. All anabolic agents, including anabolic-androgenic steroids, are permanently banned due to their muscle growth and strength effects. This also covers all prohormones even if the drugs are not specifically listed. CDMA/Halodrol-50, as an AAS and as a compound that converts to Oral Turinabol (itself explicitly named in anti-doping registers), falls squarely within banned substance categories for competitive sport.
The Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act changed the federal steroid statute to add numerous existing compounds marketed as "prohormone" dietary supplements to the list of Schedule III controlled substances. It was intended to "protect consumers from potentially dangerous anabolic steroids falsely marketed as dietary supplements." Like all the anabolic steroids that are already Schedule III drugs, these substances are now illegal not only to sell, but to possess. Possessing any quantity of any of the new substances on the list is now a federal misdemeanor. Distribution and possession with the intent to distribute are felonies.
As noted above, research on Oral Turinabol (CDMA's active metabolite) showed that CYP46A1 is the first human microsomal steroid-converting P450 showing activity towards this xenobiotic compound. The inhibitory effect of oral turinabol on the cholesterol conversion has been investigated in vitro, demonstrating competition of the two substrates on the active site of CYP46A1, which might be of importance for potential pathogenic effects. This finding is preliminary and in vitro only; its clinical significance in humans is unknown.
Health conditions that Chlorodehydromethylandrostenediol may help support.
Body systems that Chlorodehydromethylandrostenediol may help support.
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