Oxymetholone

Oxymetholone (Anadrol), is a synthetic anabolic steroid developed by Syntex in 1960. Its primary clinical applications include treatment of osteoporosis and anaemia, as well as stimulating muscle growth in undernourished or underdeveloped patients. The drug was approved for human use by the FDA. However, later non-steroidal drugs such as Epogen were developed and proven to be more effective as a treatment for anaemia and osteoporosis without the side-effects of oxymtholone. more...

The drug remained available despite this, and eventually found a new use in treating HIV wasting syndrome. While classified as a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act, it remains available via prescription as Anadrol (registered as a trademark of Unimed Pharmaceuticals.)

Presented most commonly as a 50mg tablet, Oxymetholone is the strongest androgenic steroid available. Similarly, it also poses the greatest risk of side effects of any steroid. Despite very low binding affinity with the androgen receptor, oxymetholone is highly effective in promoting extensive gains in body mass, mostly by greatly improving muscular water retention. For this reason, it is often used illegally by bodybuilders and athletes. Many athletes also use Oxymetholone as a method of protection for the joints under heavy loads. Due to the high water retention users experience from this drug, it similarily lubricates the joints and helps protect them from injury.

Side effects

The side-effects of short-term use of the drug itself include nausea, bloating, acne, and masculinising effects such as deepening of the voice, growth of facial hair and clitoral hypertrophy . In addition, oxymetholone is readily aromatized by aromatase to form a progestagen, and unless selective estrogen receptor modulators such as Nolvadex or Clomid are taken in conjunction with the drug, there is a significant risk of the appearance of estrogenic effects such as gynaecomastia over time. Because of its 17α-alkylated structure, oxymetholone is highly hepatoxic. Long term use of the drug can cause a variety of serious ailments, including hepatitis, liver cancer, and cirrhosis. It is very dangerous to take Oxymetholone in high dosages for periods of time exceeding six weeks, and is commonly used by bodybuilders during the start of a steroid cycle to help gain mass and increase serum levels of androgens quickly.

Use with other steroids

To further increase its effectiveness as an anabolic agent, bodybuilders typically stack (see steroid stack) oxymetholone with other anabolic steroids. Since it is already a very potent androgen, many users will combine it with drugs such as nandrolone, Boldenone and Oxandrolone to further their gains.

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