What is Anadrol?
Oxymetholone, marketed under the brand names Anadrol and Anapolon, among others, is an androgenic and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication used primarily to treat anemia. It is also used to treat osteoporosis and HIV/AIDS wasting syndrome, as well as for weight gain and muscle gain in certain situations. It is taken orally.
Side effects of oxymetholone include increased libido and masculinization symptoms such as acne, increased hair growth and voice. It can also cause liver damage. This drug is a synthetic androgen and anabolic steroid and therefore an agonist of the androgen receptor (AR), the biological target of androgens such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It has a strong anabolic effect and a weak androgenic effect.
Oxymetholone was first prescribed and introduced for medical purposes in 1959, but was quickly withdrawn from the market in 1961 due to its high lipid toxicity. It is primarily used in the United States. In addition to its medical use, oxymetholone is also used for fitness and performance enhancement. This drug is a controlled substance in many countries, so its use for non-medical purposes is generally illegal.
Medical Uses
The primary clinical indications for oxymetholone are the treatment of anemia and osteoporosis and the promotion of muscle growth in malnourished or underweight patients. However, in the United States, the only remaining FDA-approved indication is the treatment of anemia.
Since the introduction of oxymetholone, nonsteroidal drugs such as epoetin alfa have been developed and have proven to be more effective in treating anemia and osteoporosis without causing side effects of oxymetholone. However, the drug remained available and was eventually used to treat HIV/AIDS-induced wasting syndrome.
Oxymetholone, most commonly offered in 50 mg tablets, is considered one of the “strongest” and “most potent” AAS available for medical use. There is also a risk of side effects. Oxymetholone is very effective in promoting significant weight gain, particularly by significantly improving protein synthesis. For this reason, it is often used by bodybuilders and athletes.
As a derivative of DHT, oxymetholone is not a substrate for aromatase and therefore cannot be aromatized into estrogenic metabolites. However, oxymetholone, the only DHT derivative, is associated with relatively high estrogenicity and is known to cause estrogenic side effects such as gynecomastia (rare) and fluid retention, likely due to oxymetholone’s direct binding and activation of the estrogen receptor. Oxymetholone has no significant progestational effect.
Little is known about the pharmacokinetics of oxymetholone. It is well absorbed orally. The affinity of oxymetholone for human serum sex hormone binding globulin (hSPH) is very low, less than 5% for testosterone and less than 1% for DHT. The drug is metabolized in the liver by oxidation at the C2 position, reduction at the C3 position, hydroxylation at the C17 position and conjugation. The C2-hydroxymethylene group of oxymetholone can be cleaved to mestenolone (17α-methyl-DHT), which may contribute to the effect of oxymetholone. The elimination half-life of oxymetholone is not known. Oxymetholone and its metabolites are excreted in the urine.
Efficiency
Oxymetholone is appreciated in bodybuilding for its powerful anabolic effect. The preparation is not considered an elixir of AAS in vain: during a standard treatment (6 weeks), it is possible to gain up to 15 kg of total weight. Reviews confirm that this steroid beats all records in terms of value for money. It is important to know that at the end of the course you will lose about 30% of your weight, which is liquid. Anapolon binds a lot of water – which makes your muscles look swollen and larger.
Because the androgenic steroid greatly reduces the synthesis of the sex hormone globulin, the concentration of free testosterone in the blood increases. This inhibits all degradation processes and therefore greatly increases the rate at which new protein structures are built.
It is important to mention the effect of anapolone on the musculoskeletal system. This steroid stimulates the synthesis of synovial fluid in the joints, which greatly reduces the risk of injury during intense exercise. Oxymetholone protects against sprains and ligament tears and reduces pain during complex weight training exercises – bodybuilding athletes appreciate this steroid for its effects.
Oxymetholone for women
The product promotes virilization, meaning it makes women look more masculine. However, medical studies have confirmed that a daily dose of oxymetholone (up to 50 mg) has only a weak effect. The effect of anapolone on women’s appearance is even less than that of oxandrolone, stanazolone or metandrostenolone. Such a dose is obviously not enough to increase strength levels, but even 25 mg of oxymetholone per day is enough to achieve significant results in female bodybuilding. With this amount of steroid, the risk of side effects is virtually zero.
Dosage and Administration
The intake of anapolone depends on the individual characteristics of the athlete: weight, gender, activity level and diet. We have already mentioned that the dose for women should not exceed 25-50 mg/day. This amount is sufficient even for beginners at the beginning of the course. If you do not feel any effect after a few days, increase the dose to 50-100 mg (1-2 tablets/day). For professional athletes who want to gain mass quickly during the off-season, the maximum dose of oxymetholone is 150 mg/day. Some people try to take more, but experience has shown that there are no visible results. The duration of the course is 4 to 6 weeks.