Oxandrolone – Anavar
Anavar is a mild anabolic steroid and widely used by many athletes and body builders. The chief reason for its use is that the drug can help one gain weight.
One of the main reasons why this drug is very popular among athletes is that it does not get converted into estrogen. This results in less gynecomastia. Some even claim that the water retention is much less with this drug.
Anavar was first introduced in the North American Market nearly 50 years ago. During the early days it was used to treat a variety of infertility disorders, anemias and those ill individuals in hospitals who were wasting away. However, the drug is not widely used in clinical medicine today. Anavar has two major advantages compared to other anabolic steroids. It does not get converted into estrogen and it does not significantly influence the hypothalamic pituitary tract at low doses. What this means is that because it is not broken down to estrogen, males will not develop breast enlargement. Secondly, because it does not affect the hypothalamic pituitary axis, it does not affect the suppression of testosterone. This means that the individual taking Anavar will not have such side effects like loss of libido, impotence or testicular atrophy- features that are commonly seen with other anabolic steroids.
Pharmacology
Oxandrin is a both an anabolic steroid and has all the properties of an androgenic drug. The actions of the drug are similar to those seen with testosterone. At low doses the drug has selective anabolic properties, but at high doses, it also has potent androgenic activity. When used at high doses, the drug can influence the hypothalamus and suppress the release of the Gonadotropins and this leads to a decrease in the synthesis of testosterone. Like all other anabolic steroids, Oxandrin also increases the levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and decreases the levels of “good” HDL cholesterol. Anavar is one of the few anabolic steroids which is not converted to estrogen at low doses.
Indications
The drug is rarely used in clinical medicine. In the past decades, it was used to treat individuals with a variety of anemias, weight loss in HIV patients and was once tried out as treatment for osteoporosis. However, the widespread abuse of this drug led Searle in 1989, to cease production of the drug. Today, the drug is made by Savient Pharmaceutical, under the trade name Oxandrin. Today, some physicians do prescribe Oxandrin to treat moribund patients gain weight after trauma, burns or serious infections. Sometimes it is combined with corticosteroids for the treatment of bone pain in cancer patients.
Dosage
For use in patients for anemia or to help individuals gain weight, the adult dose is 2.5- 20 mg/day in 2-4 divided doses. Some individuals see a response with the lowest dose and others require a large dose 30-150 mg/day. The duration of therapy is usually 3-6 weeks. The dose is increased gradually when no response is seen in the first 4 weeks. Oxandrin is available as a tablet in doses of 2.5 mg or 10 mg.
Like all anabolic steroids, Oxandrin also has some side effects. At the low doses, the majority of side effects are minor. The side effects at low dose may include some minor abdominal discomfort, nausea or diarrhea. However, at high doses the side effects include:
- jaundice
- rare hepatic necrosis
- liver cancers
- general malaise
- testicular atrophy
- hair loss
- breast enlargement
- stomach cramps, nausea, bloating
- acne, oily skin
- diarrhea
- menstrual irregularities
- testicular atrophy
The majority of these side effects are reversible when the drug is stopped.
Contraindications
There are a few conditions where Oxandrolone should not be used. These include patients with:
- suspected prostate cancer
- breast cancer in male or female
- pregnancy
- if there is evidence of hypercalcemia
- allergy to anabolic steroids
Bodybuilders
Many body builders take Anavar. The drug is easily absorbed after ingestion and should be taken with a meal. The typical dose for men is one tablet twice a day. Females need to take only one tablet a day. The majority of body builders usually start at the low dose. Many athletes combine Anavar with other drugs, since at low doses Anavar has minimal side effects. It is often combined with dianabol, winstrol or anadriol. The duration of treatment is anywhere from 4-8 weeks. The exact dosage to begin treatment is variable but most experts recommend 5 mg total per day and gradually increasing the dose over 2-3 weeks.
Anavar is heavily favored by women because it has minimal virilizing effects at low dose. However, if the dose is greater than 5 mg per day and if the duration of treatment is longer than 6 weeks, signs of musculanization will become evident. The weight gain by Anavar is slow and gradual. Most body builders see weight gain after 3-4 weeks.
Signs of Virilization include the following:
- Deep voice
- Decrease libido
- Clitoral enlargement
- Acne
- Excessive hair growth
Women who do develop virilizing signs should stop the drug immediately. While the acne and excessive hair growth may reverse, the other virilizing signs are not always reversible.
Warnings
All anabolic steroids have the potential to damage the liver and cause jaundice. There are many cases of individuals who have developed both liver dysfunction and ever growths on the liver. The most serious complication of any anabolic steroid is liver cancer and thus, all individuals who do take this drug should be aware of this complication. Perhaps routine liver enzymes and even an annual ultrasound of the liver would not be a bad idea.
Overdose
The majority of anabolic steroids are generally quite safe and overdose is very unlikely. Even if one were to take many pills, the acute effects of Anavar are not life threatening- but you won’t be feeling great for a long time. In any case, a visit to the Emergency room is highly recommended if such an event were to occur. The treatment of all steroidal overdose is supportive.
Costs
The price of Anavar for 100 tablets (2.5mg) ranges anywhere from $100-$150. However, the drug is in high demand and there are a lot of reports about counterfeit Anavar formulations. Many suppliers sell fake drugs and because the buyer is performing an illegal act to begin with, he/she has little recourse. Always get your supply from a reputable dealer. Many body builders also get their supplies from Mexico, but the purity or the quality cannot be guaranteed. On the other hand, if you want to be safe and have the money, the “real” Anavar sold from the pharmacies costs anywhere from $700-1200 for 100 tablets.
Levels
Anavar and its metabolites are easily detected in the urine. Most of the major sports organizations now regularly screen the urine for all anabolic steroids. Some metabolites of Anavar will remain in the body anywhere from 7-14 days after the last dose.
Legal
Anavar is a Controlled substance and its selling and distribution is forbiden in the USA. The DEA regularly monitors the sell of this drug both in pharmacies and over the internet. Since the drug is not for clinical use in the USA, even personal possession of Anavar is considered a crime.
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