Written by William Llewellyn
15 May 2018

 17anavar-ana101

Anabolics 101 - Anavar (Oxandrolone)

 

 

Description

Oxandrolone is an oral anabolic steroid derived from dihydrotestosterone. It was designed to have a very strong separation of anabolic and androgenic effect, and no significant estrogenic or progestational activity. Oxandrolone is noted for being quite mild as far as oral steroids are concerned, well tailored for the promotion of strength and quality muscle tissue gains without significant side effects. Milligram for milligram, it displays as much as six times the anabolic activity of testosterone in assays, with significantly less androgenicity. This drug is a favorite of dieting bodybuilders and competitive athletes in speed/anaerobic performance sports, where its tendency for pure tissue gain (without fat or water retention) fits well with the desired goals.

 

This steroid was developed back in the 1960s by pharmaceutical giant G.D. Searle & Co., now Pfizer. They first sold it in the United States under the Anavar brand name. Searle also sold/licensed the drug under different trade names in other markets, including Lonavar (Argentina, Australia), Lipidex (Brazil), Antitriol (Spain), Anatrophill (France) and Protivar. Oxandrolone was designed to be an extremely mild oral anabolic, one that could even be used safely by women and children. In this regard, Searle seems to have succeeded, as Anavar has shown a high degree of therapeutic success and tolerability in men, women and children alike. During its early years, Anavar had been offered for a number of therapeutic applications, including the promotion of lean tissue growth during catabolic illness, the promotion of lean tissue growth following surgery, trauma, infection or prolonged corticosteroid administration, or the support of bone density in patients with osteoporosis.

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How Supplied

Oxandrolone is available in select human drug markets. Composition and dosage may vary by country and manufacturer. Most brands contain 2.5 milligrams, 5 milligrams or 10 milligrams of steroid per tablet.

 

Effective Dosages

The usual dosage for physique- or performance-enhancing purposes is in the range of 15-25 milligrams per day (men). This is taken for six to eight weeks in order to minimize hepatic strain. For women, a daily dosage of five to 10 milligrams is usually applied. This is usually taken for no longer than four to six weeks to reduce the chance for virilization.

 

Side Effects

Estrogenic: Oxandrolone is not aromatized, and is not measurably estrogenic. It also offers no related progestational activity. An anti-estrogen is not necessary when using this steroid, as related side effects such as water retention and gynecomastia should not be a concern.

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Androgenic: Although classified as an anabolic steroid, androgenic side effects are still possible with this substance. This may include bouts of oily skin, acne and body/facial hair growth. Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) may also aggravate male-pattern hair loss. Women are warned of the potential virilizing effects of AAS. These may include a deepening of the voice, menstrual irregularities, changes in skin texture, facial hair growth and clitoral enlargement. Oxandrolone is a steroid with low androgenic activity relative to its tissue-building actions, making the threshold for strong androgenic side effects comparably higher than with more androgenic agents such as testosterone, methandrostenolone or fluoxymesterone.

Liver Toxicity: Oxandrolone is a c17-alpha alkylated compound. This alteration protects the drug from deactivation by the liver, allowing a very high percentage of the drug entry into the bloodstream following oral administration. C17-alpha alkylated AAS can be hepatotoxic. Prolonged or high exposure may result in liver damage. In rare instances, life-threatening dysfunction may develop. It is advisable to visit a physician periodically during each cycle to monitor liver function and overall health. Intake of c17-alpha alkylated steroids is commonly limited to six to eight weeks, in an effort to avoid escalating liver strain. It is of note that oxandrolone appears to offer less hepatic stress than many other c-17 alpha alkylated steroids, and tends to be better tolerated. The use of a liver detoxification supplement is still advised, however, as with all liver-toxic AAS.

Cardiovascular: AAS can have deleterious effects on serum cholesterol, increasing the risk of arteriosclerosis. They may also adversely affect blood pressure and triglycerides, reduce endothelial relaxation and support left ventricular hypertrophy, all potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction. People with high cholesterol or a familial history of heart disease should be especially careful when considering AAS abuse. It is of note that oxandrolone has a strong effect on the hepatic management of cholesterol due to its structural resistance to liver breakdown, non-aromatizable nature and route of administration.

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Testosterone Suppression: All AAS, when taken in doses sufficient to promote muscle gain, are expected to suppress endogenous testosterone production. Though there is much “gym lore” to the contrary, oxandrolone is no exception. Without the intervention of testosterone-stimulating substances, testosterone levels should return to normal within four months of drug cessation. Note that prolonged hypogonadism can develop secondary to steroid abuse, necessitating medical intervention.

The above side effects are not inclusive.

 

Availability

Pharmaceutical preparations containing oxandrolone are limited. The drug is unavailable in Europe, and with a handful of exceptions in the west, its production is increasingly being shifted to less regulated markets in Asia. Most black-market preparations are of underground origin.

 

References:

Atherosclerosis 19 (1974):337-46.
Artery 9 (1981):328-41.
Lipids 19 (1984):73-79.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf ) 1993 Apr;38(4):393-8.

 

About the Author:

William Llewellyn is the author of the anabolic steroid reference guide, ANABOLICS 10th Edition. He is also a longtime team member at Muscular Development, having been a regular monthly columnist since 2002. William adapted this steroid profile from his work at anabolic.org. He is also credited with helping to develop ROIDTEST™, an at-home steroid testing kit used to identify real and fake steroid products.

 

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