Anavar (oxandrolone) Androgenic 24 Anabolic 322-630 Standard Methyltestosterone (ora I) Chemical Names 17b-hydroxy-17a-methyl-2-oxa-5aandrosta ne-3-one Estrogenic Activity none

Progestational Activity none Description: Oxandrolone is an oral anabolic steroid deri ed !rom dihydrotestosterone"lt #as desi$ned to ha e a ery stron$ se%aration o! anabolic and andro$enic e!!ect& and no si$ni!icant estro$enic or %ro$estational acti ity" Oxandrolone is noted !or bein$ '(ite mild as !ar as oral steroids are concerned& #ell tailored !or the %romotion o! stren$th and '(ality m(scle tiss(e $ains #itho(t si$ni!icant side e!!ects" Milli$ram !or milli$ram it dis%lays as m(ch as six times the anabolic acti ity o! testosterone in assays& #ith si$ni!icantly less andro$enicity"3)* +his dr($ is a !a orite o! dietin$ bodyb(ilders and com%etiti e athletes in s%eed,anaerobic %er!ormance s%orts& #here its tendency !or %(re tiss(e $ain (#itho(t !at or #ater retention) !its #ell #ith the desired $oals" History: Oxandrolone #as !irst described in 1)62"3)) It #as de elo%ed into a medicine se eral years later by %harmace(tical $iant -"." /earle 0 1o" (no# 2!i3er)& #hich sold it in the 4nited /tates and the 5etherlands (nder the 6na ar trade name" /earle also sold,licensed the dr($ (nder di!!erent trade names incl(din$ 7ona ar (6r$entina& 6(stralia)& 7i%idex (8ra3il)& 6ntitriol (/%ain)& 6natro%hill (9rance)& and 2roti ar" Oxandrolone #as desi$ned to be an extremely mild oral anabolic& one that co(ld e en be (sed sa!ely by #omen and children" In this re$ard /earle seems to ha e s(cceeded& as 6na ar has sho#n a hi$h de$ree o! thera%e(tic s(ccess and tolerability in men& #omen& and children ali:e" .(rin$ its early years& 6na ar had been o!!ered !or a n(mber o! thera%e(tic a%%lications& incl(din$ the %romotion o! lean tiss(e $ro#th d(rin$ catabolic illness& the %romotion o! lean tiss(e $ro#th !ollo#in$

s(r$ery& tra(ma& in!ection& or %rolon$ed corticosteroid administration& or the s(%%ort o! bone density in %atients #ith osteo%orosis" 8y the 1)*0;s& the 9.6 had sli$htly re!ined the a%%ro ed a%%lications o! oxandrolone to incl(de the %romotion o! <illiam 7le#ellyn;s 6568O7I1/& 8th ed" O= o O~ O androlone #ei$ht $ain !ollo#in$ s(r$ery& chronic in!ection& tra(ma& or #ei$ht loss #itho(t de!inite %atho%hysiolo$ic reason" In s%ite o! its on$oin$ trac: record o! sa!ety& /earle decided to ol(ntarily discontin(e the sale o! 6na ar on >(ly 1&1)*)" 7a$$in$ sales and $ro#in$ %(blic concern abo(t the athletic (se o! anabolic steroids a%%eared to be at the root o! this decision" <ith the 6na ar brand o!! the mar:et& oxandrolone had com%letely anished !rom 4"/" %harmacies" /oon a!ter& oxandrolone %rod(cts in international mar:ets (o!ten sold by or (nder license !rom /earle) be$an to disa%%ear as #ell& as the leadin$ $lobal man(!act(rer o! the dr($ contin(ed its #ithdra#al !rom the anabolic steroid b(siness" 9or se eral years d(rin$ the early 1))0;s& it loo:ed as i! 6na ar mi$ht be on its #ay o(t o! commerce !or $ood" It #o(ld be a%%roximately six years be!ore oxandrolone tablets #o(ld be bac: on the 4"/" mar:et" +he %rod(ct ret(rned to %harmacy shel es in .ecember 1))5& this time (nder the Oxandrin name by 8io-+echnolo$y -eneral 1or%" (8+-)" 8+- #o(ld contin(e sellin$ it !or the 9.6 a%%ro ed (ses in ol in$ lean mass %reser ation& b(t had also been $ranted or%han-dr($ stat(s !or the treatment o! 6I./ #astin$& alcoholic he%atitis& +(rner;s syndrome in $irls& and constit(tional delay o! $ro#th and %(berty in boys" Or%han dr($ stat(s $a e 8+- a 7-year mono%oly on the dr($ !or these ne# (ses& allo#in$ them to %rotect a ery hi$h sellin$ %rice" Many %atients #ere o(tra$ed to learn that the dr($ #o(ld cost them (at #holesale %rice) bet#een ?3"75 and ?30 %er day& #hich #as many times more costly than 6na ar had been @(st se eral years bac:" +he release o! a 10 m$ tablet !rom 8+- se eral years later

did little to red(ce the relati e cost o! the dr($" OxandrinA contin(es to be sold in the 4"/"& b(t is no# (nder the /a ient label (!ormerly :no#n as 8+-)" It is c(rrently a%%ro ed by the 9.6 !or Bad@(ncti e thera%y to %romote #ei$ht $ain a!ter #ei$ht loss !ollo#in$ extensi e s(r$ery& chronic in!ections& or se ere tra(ma and in some %atients #ho #itho(t de!inite %atho%hysiolo$ic reasons !"# Willianl Llewellyn's ANABOLICS, 8th ed. !ail to $ain or to maintain normal #ei$ht& to o!!set the %rotein catabolism associated #ith %rolon$ed administration o! corticosteroids& and !or the relie! o! the bone %ain !re'(ently accom%anyin$ osteo%orosis"B /a ient remains hea ily in ested in Oxandrin& #hich as o! 2005 acco(nted !or 52C o! its net sales" -eneric ersions o! the dr($ are ex%ected to be a%%ro ed in the 4"/" ery shortly& ho#e er& and %romise to red(ce the %rice o! oxandrolone thera%y" O(tside o! the 4"/"& oxandrolone remains a ailable& altho($h not #idely" How Supplied: Oxandrolone is a ailable in select h(man dr($ mar:ets" 1om%osition and dosa$e may ary by co(ntry and man(!act(rer" +he ori$inal 6na ar brand contained 2"5 m$ o! steroid %er tablet" Oxandrin contains 2"5 m$ or 10 m$ %er tablet" Other modern brands commonly contain 2"5 m$& 5 m$& or 10 m$ o! steroid %er tablet" Stru tural Chara teristi s: Oxandrolone is a modi!ied !orm o! dihydrotestosterone"lt di!!ers byD 1) the addition o! a methyl $ro(% at carbon 17al%ha to %rotect the hormone d(rin$ oral administration and 2) the s(bstit(tion o! carbon-2 in the 6-rin$ #ith an oxy$en atom" Oxandrolone is the only commercially a ailable steroid #ith s(ch a s(bstit(tion to its basic rin$ str(ct(re& an alteration that considerably increases the anabolic stren$th o! the steroid (%artly by ma:in$ it resistant to metabolism by 3-hydroxysteroid dehydro$enase in s:eletal m(scle tiss(e)" Side !""e ts #!stro$eni %: Oxandrolone is not aromati3ed by the body& and is not meas(rably estro$enic" Oxandrolone also o!!ers no related

%ro$estational acti ity"400 6n anti-estro$en is not necessary #hen (sin$ this steroid& as $ynecomastia sho(ld not be a concern e en amon$ sensiti e indi id(als" /ince estro$en is the (s(al c(l%rit #ith #ater retention& oxandrolone instead %rod(ces a lean& '(ality loo: to the %hysi'(e #ith no !ear o! excess s(bc(taneo(s !l(id retention" +his ma:es it a !a orable steroid to (se d(rin$ c(ttin$ cycles& #hen #ater and !at retention are ma@or concerns" Oxandrolone is also ery %o%(lar amon$ athletes in stren$th,s%eed s%orts s(ch as s%rintin$& s#immin$& and $ymnastics" In s(ch disci%lines one (s(ally does not #ant to carry aro(nd excess #ater #ei$ht& and may !ind the ra# m(scle-$ro#th bro($ht abo(t by oxandrolone to be '(ite !a orable o er the lo#er '(ality mass $ains o! aromati3able a$ents" Side !""e ts #Andro$eni %: 6ltho($h classi!ied as an anabolic steroid&andro$enic side e!!ects are still %ossible #ith this s(bstance" +his may incl(de bo(ts o! oily s:in& acne& and body,!acial hair $ro#th" 6nabolic,andro$enic steroids may also a$$ra ate male %attern hair loss" <omen are #arned o! the %otential irili3in$ e!!ects o! anabolic,andro$enic steroids" +hese may incl(de a dee%enin$ o! the oice& menstr(al irre$(larities& chan$es in s:in text(re& !acial hair $ro#th& and clitoral enlar$ement" Oxandrolone is a steroid #ith lo# andro$enic acti ity relati e to its tiss(e-b(ildin$ actions& ma:in$ the threshold !or stron$ andro$enic side e!!ects com%arably hi$her than #ith more andro$enic a$ents s(ch as testosterone& methandrostenolone& or !l(oxymesterone" +he lo# andro$enic acti ity o! oxandrolone is d(e in %art to it bein$ a deri ati e o! dihydrotestosterone"+his creates a less andro$enic steroid beca(se the a$ent lac:s the ca%acity to interact #ith the 5-al%ha red(ctase en3yme and con ert to a more %otentBdi-hydroB!orm"+his is (nli:e testosterone& #hich is se eral times more acti e in andro$en res%onsi e tar$et tiss(es s(ch as the scal%& s:in& and %rostate (#here 5-al%ha red(ctase is %resent in hi$h amo(nts) d(e to its con ersion to O=+" In essence& oxandrolone has a more balanced le el o! %otency

bet#een m(scle and andro$enic tar$et tiss(es" +his is a similar sit(ation as is noted #ith 2rimobolan and <instrol& #hich are also deri ed !rom dihydrotestosterone and not :no#n to be ery andro$enic s(bstances" Side !""e ts #Hepatoto&i ity%: Oxandrolone is a c17-al%ha al:ylated com%o(nd" +his alteration %rotects the dr($ !rom deacti ation by the li er& allo#in$ a ery hi$h %ercenta$e o! the dr($ entry into the bloodstream !ollo#in$ oral administration" 117-al%ha al:ylated anabolic,andro$enic steroids can be he%atotoxic" 2rolon$ed or hi$h ex%os(re may res(lt in li er dama$e" In rare instances li!e-threatenin$ dys!(nction may de elo%" It is ad isable to isit a %hysician %eriodically d(rin$ each cycle to monitor li er !(nction and o erall health" Inta:e o! c17-al%ha al:ylated steroids is commonly limited to 6-* #ee:s& in an e!!ort to a oid escalatin$ li er strain" Oxandrolone a%%ears to o!!er less he%atic stress than other c-17 al%ha al:ylated steroids" +he man(!act(rer identi!ies oxandrolone as a steroid that is not extensi ely metaboli3ed by the li er li:e other 17-al%ha al:ylated orals& #hich may be a !actor in its red(ced he%atotoxicity" +his is e idenced by the !act that more than a third o! the com%o(nd is still intact #hen excreted in the (rine"401 6nother st(dy com%arin$ the e!!ects o! oxandrolone to other al:ylated a$ents incl(din$ methyltestosterone& norethandrolone& !l(oxymesterone& and methandriol demonstrated that oxandrolone ca(ses the lo#est s(l!obromo%hthalein (//2E a mar:er o! li er stress) retention o! the a$ents tested"402 20 m$ o! oxandrolone '() Willia* Llewellyn's ANAB+LICS, 8th ed. %rod(ced 720,0 less //2 retention than an e"'(al dosag~ o! !l(oxymesterone& #hich is a considerable di!!erence bein$ that they are both 17-al%ha al:ylated" 6 more recent st(dy loo:ed at escalatin$ doses (20 m$&40 m$&and *0 m$) o! oxandrolone in 262 =IFG men"+he dr($ #as administered !or a %eriod o! 12 #ee:s" +he $ro(% ta:in$ 20 m$ o! oxandrolone %er day sho#ed no statistically si$ni!icant trends o! he%atotoxicity in li er

en3yme (6/+,67+E aminotrans!erase and alanine aminotrans!erase) al(es" +hose men ta:in$ 40 m$ noticed a mean increase o! a%%roximately 30-500,0 in li er en3yme al(es& #hile the $ro(% o! men ta:in$ *0 m$ noticed an a%%roximate 50-1000,0 increase" 6%%roximately 10-11 C o! the %atients in the 40 m$ $ro(% noticed <orld =ealth Or$ani3ation $rade III and IF toxicity accordin$ to 6/+ and 67+ al(es" +his !i$(re @(m%ed to 15C in the *0 m$ $ro(%" <hile serio(s he%atotoxicity cannot be excl(ded #ith oxandrolone& these st(dies do s($$est that it is meas(rably sa!er than other al:ylated a$ents" +he (se o! a li er detoxi!ication s(%%lement s(ch as 7i er /tabil& 7i -52& or Hssentiale 9orte is ad ised #hile ta:in$ any he%atotoxic anabolic,andro$enic steroids" Side !""e ts #Cardio,as ular%: 6nabolic,andro$enic steroids can ha e deleterio(s e!!ects on ser(m cholesterol" +his incl(des a tendency to red(ce =.7 ($ood) cholesterol al(es and increase 7.7 (bad) cholesterol al(es& #hich may shi!t the =.7 to 7.7 balance in a direction that !a ors $reater ris: o! arteriosclerosis" +he relati e im%act o! an anabolic,andro$enic steroid on ser(m li%ids is de%endant on the dose& ro(te o! administration (oral s" in@ectable)& ty%e o! steroid (aromati3able or non-aromati3able)& and le el o! resistance to he%atic metabolism" Oxandrolone has a stron$ e!!ect on the he%atic mana$ement o! cholesterol d(e to its str(ct(ral resistance to li er brea:do#n& non-aromati3able nat(re& and ro(te o! administration" In the %re io(sly cited st(dy in =IFG males& 20 m$ o! oxandrolone daily !or 12 #ee:s ca(sed a mean ser(m =.7 red(ction o! 30C" =.7 al(es #ere s(%%ressed 330,0 in the 40 m$ $ro(%& and 50C in the *0 m$ $ro(%" +his #as accom%anied by a statistically si$ni!icant increase in 7.7 al(es (a%%roximately 30-33C) in the 40 m$ and *0 m$ $ro(%s& !(rther increasin$ athero$enic ris:" 6nabolic,andro$enic steroids may also ad ersely e!!ect blood %ress(re and tri$lycerides& red(ce endothelial relaxation& and s(%%ort le!t entric(lar hy%ertro%hy& all %otentially increasin$ the ris: o! cardio asc(lar disease and myocardial in!arction"

6t one time oxandrolone #as loo:ed at as a %ossible dr($ !or those s(!!erin$ !rom disorders o! hi$h cholesterol or tri$lycerides" Harly st(dies sho#ed it to be ca%able o! lo#erin$ total cholesterol and tri$lyceride al(es in certain ty%es o! hy%erli%idemic %atients& #hich #as tho($ht to si$ni!y %otential !or this dr($ as a li%idlo#erin$ a$ent"403 <ith !(rther in esti$ation it #as !o(nd& ho#e er& that any lo#erin$ o! total cholesterol al(es #as accom%anied by a redistrib(tion in the ratio o! $ood (=.7) to bad (7.7) cholesterol that !a ored $reater athero$enic ris:"404 405 +his ne$ates any %ositi e e!!ect this dr($ mi$ht ha e on tri$lycerides or total cholesterol& and act(ally ma:es it a %otential dan$er in terms o! cardiac ris:& es%ecially #hen ta:en !or %rolon$ed %eriods o! time" +oday #e (nderstand that as a $ro(%& anabolic,andro$enic steroids tend to %rod(ce (n!a orable chan$es in li%id %ro!iles& and are really not (se!(l in disorders o! li%id metabolism" 6s an oral c17 al%ha al:ylated steroid& oxandrolone is e en more ris:y to (se in this re$ard than an esteri!ied in@ectable s(ch as a testosterone or nandrolone" +o hel% red(ce cardio asc(lar strain it is ad ised to maintain an acti e cardio asc(lar exercise %ro$ram and minimi3e the inta:e o! sat(rated !ats& cholesterol& and sim%le carbohydrates at all times d(rin$ acti e 66/ administration" /(%%lementin$ #ith !ish oils (4 $rams %er day) and a nat(ral cholesterol,antioxidant !orm(la s(ch as 7i%id /tabil or a %rod(ct #ith com%arable in$redients is also recommended" Side !""e ts #-estosterone Suppression%: 6ll anabolic,andro$enic steroids #hen ta:en in doses s(!!icient to %romote m(scle $ain are ex%ected to s(%%ress endo$eno(s testosterone %rod(ction" Oxandrolone is no exce%tion" In the abo e-cited st(dy on =IFG males& t#el e #ee:s o! 20 m$ or 40 m$ %er day ca(sed an a%%roximate 45C red(ction in ser(m testosterone le els"+he $ro(% ta:in$ *0 m$ noticed a 66C decrease in testosterone" /imilar trends o! decrease #ere noticed in 7= %rod(ction& #ith the 20 m$ and 40 m$ doses ca(sin$ a 25-30C red(ction& and the *0 m$ $ro(%

noticin$ a;decline o! more than 50C" 6dditionally& st(dies on boys #ith constit(tionally delayed %(berty ha e demonstrated si$ni!icant s(%%ression o! endo$eno(s 7= and testosterone #ith as little as 2"5 m$ %er day"406 <itho(t the inter ention o! testosterone stim(latin$ s(bstances& testosterone le els sho(ld ret(rn to normal #ithin 1-4 months o! dr($ secession" 5ote that %rolon$ed hy%o$onadotro%hic hy%o$onadism can de elo% secondary to steroid ab(se& necessitatin$ medical inter ention" The above side effects are not inclusive. For more detailed discussion o!potential side effects, see the Steroid Side Effects section o! this book. '(' Willia* Llewellyn's ANABOLICS, 8'h ed. Ad*inistration #.eneral%: /t(dies ha e sho#n that ta:in$ an oral anabolic steroid #ith !ood may decrease its bioa ailability"407 +his is ca(sed by the !at-sol(ble nat(re o! steroid hormones& #hich can allo# some o! the dr($ to dissol e #ith (ndi$ested dietary !at& red(cin$ its absor%tion !rom the $astrointestinal tract" 9or maxim(m (tili3ation& this steroid sho(ld be ta:en on an em%ty stomach" Ad*inistration #/en%: +he ori$inal %rescribin$ $(idelines !or 6na ar called !or a daily dosa$e o! bet#een $%" m$ and $& m$ %er day '"(!& m$ bein$ most common)" +his #as (s(ally recommended !or a %eriod o! t#o to !o(r #ee:s& b(t occasionally it #as ta:en !or as lon$ as three months" +he dosin$ $(idelines recommended #ith the c(rrent ("/" %rod(ction !orm o! the dr($ (Oxandrin& /a ient 2harmace(ticals) also call !or bet#een $%" and $& m$ o! dr($ %er day& ta:en in intermittent cycles o! 2 to ) #ee:s" +he (s(al dosa$e !or %hysi'(e- or %er!ormance-enhancin$ %(r%oses is in the ran$e o! !"($" m$ %er day& ta:en !or * to * #ee:s" +hese %rotocols are not !ar remo ed !rom those o! normal thera%e(tic sit(ations" Oxandrolone is o!ten combined #ith other steroids !or a more dramatic res(lt" 9or exam%le& #hile b(l:in$ one mi$ht o%t to add in $&&()&& m$ o! a testosterone ester

(cy%ionate& enanthate& or %ro%ionate) %er #ee:" +he res(lt sho(ld be a considerable $ain in ne# m(scle mass& #ith a more com!ortable le el o! #ater and !at retention than i! ta:in$ a hi$her dose o! testosterone alone" 9or dietin$ %hases& one mi$ht alternately combine oxandrolone #ith a non-aromati3in$ steroid s(ch as !"& m$ %er #ee: o! a trenbolone ester or $&&(+&& m$ o! 2rimobolanA (methenolone enanthate)" /(ch stac:s are hi$hly !a ored !or increasin$ de!inition and m(sc(larity" 6n in-bet#een (lean mass $ain) mi$ht be to add in $&&()&& m$ o! a lo# estro$enic com%o(nd li:e .eca-.(rabolinA (nandrolone decanoate) or H'(i%oiseA (boldenone (ndecylenate)" Ad*inistration #Wo*en%: +he ori$inal %rescribin$ $(idelines !or 6na ar did not o!!er se%arate dosin$ recommendations !or #omen& altho($h it #as indicated that #omen #ho #ere %re$nant& or may become %re$nant& sho(ld not (se the dr($" +he c(rrent $(idelines !or Oxandrin also do not ma:e s%ecial dosin$ recommendations !or #omen" <omen #ho !ear the masc(lini3in$ e!!ects o! many steroids #o(ld be '(ite com!ortable (sin$ this dr($& as these %ro%erties are ery rarely seen #ith lo# doses" 9or %hysi'(e- or %er!ormance-enhancin$ %(r%oses& a daily dosa$e o! "(!& m$ sho(ld illicit considerable $ro#th #itho(t the noticeable andro$enic side e!!ects o! other dr($s" +his #o(ld be ta:en !or no lon$er than )(* #ee:s" Ha$er !emales may #ish to add another mild anabolic s(ch as <instrolA& 2rimobolanA or .(rabolinA" <hen combined #ith s(ch anabolics& the (ser sho(ld notice !aster& more %rono(nced m(scle-b(ildin$ e!!ects& b(t it may also increase the li:elihood o! seein$ andro$enic side e!!ects (or he%atotoxicity in the case o! <instrol)" A,aila0ility: Oxandrolone has been limited in s(%%ly&and scarce on the blac: mar:et& !or many years no#" +here are a n(mber o! le$itimate brands still made& ho#e er" 8elo# are some o! the more %o%(lar items on the blac: mar:et" 6tlantis (Mexico) %rod(ces an oxandrolone %rod(ct called Itendrol"lt carries $%" m$ o! steroid %er tablet& and comes in a box o! +& tablets each" +his is a le$itimate h(man-(se

%harmace(tical com%any& #ith %rod(cts sold thro($h real %harmacies in Mexico" 8ona ar !rom 8ody Jesearch (+hailand) seems to be in %rod(ction a$ain" 8e s(re yo(r %rod(ct loo:s li:e the le$itimate item in the %rod(ct identi!ication section& as co(nter!eits o! the 8ody Jesearch line are :no#n to exist" Oxandrolone is sold in the ("/" by /a ient 2harmace(ticals (nder the Oxandrin brand name" It comes in both $%" m$ and !& m$ tablet stren$ths" =i$h %rice at the %harmacy %recl(des any reasonable entry into the blac: mar:et"+his #o(ld be a hi$h-ris: item re$ardless& as real ("/" steroids rarely circ(late the blac: mar:et" 8al:an 2harmace(ticals in Moldo a %rod(ces an oxandrolone %rod(ct called Oxandrolon" It comes %ac:a$ed in !oil and %lastic stri%s o! $& tablets each" 1o(nter!eits ha e not yet been a %roblem" Oxandroland !rm 7anderlan in 2ara$(ay is a common %rod(ct in recent years& es%ecially thro($ho(t /o(th 6merica" It comes in bottles o! !&& tablets each" Ienion 2harma 1o" in Myanmar %rod(ces an oxandrolone %rod(ct called Oxanol"lt carries 5 m$ o! steroid %er tablet& and comes 60 tabs to a box"+he %ills themsel es are #hite in color& and are im%rinted #ith the characters nOI6 "%&, on one side and the com%any lo$o on the re erse" +#enty tablets are sealed in each !oil and %lastic stri%"