by Bill Roberts - Anadrol (oxymetholone)
is perhaps second only to Dianabol (methandrostenolone)
in importance as an oral anabolic in bodybuilding.
This is due to its undoubted efficacy.
Like methandrostenolone, oxymetholone does not
bind strongly to the androgen receptor (AR). Most
of the anabolism it provides is therefore presumably
via non-AR-mediated effects.
When using either Anadrol or Dianabol at maximum
recommended dose, adding more of the other seems
to yield no additional effect. For this reason,
generally one drug or the other is chosen, rather
than taking both at the same time.
In contrast, combining Anadrol with even a very
high dose of a Class I steroid such as
trenbolone,
oxandrolone, or
Primobolan yields a large increase
in effect Oxymetholone does not aromatize: there
is no conversion to estrogen.
Contrary to what many bodybuilders expect of
it, the drug can be mild in terms of side effects
when no aromatizing steroids are present.
Nonetheless, when oxymetholone is used in a cycle
yielding high estrogen levels, it is notorious for
worsening apparently-estrogenic symptoms. This may
be from its producing progestagenic symptoms which
are easily confused as being estrogenic; from altering
estrogen metabolism; by upregulating aromatase;
or perhaps by increasing prolactin. The actual cause
is not proven.
There is some indirect evidence that this may
be from progestagenic activity, as in some cases
concurrent use of stanozolol (Winstrol), which has
some anti-progestagenic effect, can avoid the problem.
Some have also reported cabergoline (Dostinex) usage,
which reduces prolactin, to yield a remedy.
It is primarily in the context of usage in high-estrogen
circumstances that Anadrol has earned a reputation
of being a harsh drug. An example such use would
be combination with high-dose
testosterone without
an aromatase inhibitor. Most do not find it harsh
when there are no concurrent problems with high
estrogen.
Regardless of being non-aromatizable, in those
who have developed gynecomastia already Anadrol
can be an aggravating agent, even with estrogen
levels kept normal. It may also be a causative agent.
For those with gynecomastia problems who are
considering Anadrol and are uncertain of their response
to it, rather than rely on cabergoline and/or Winstrol
for protection,
I recommmend instead using Dianabol with an aromatase
inhibitor or a selective estrogen receptor modulator
(SERM) such as Clomid or
Nolvadex.
Those not having pre-existing gynecomastia generally
do well with Anadrol provided estrogen levels are
not allowed to become excessive during the cycle.
The above protective measures generally will not
be required.
It is not unusual for a first time user to do
quite well on an oxymetholone-only cycle, but the
most effective use comes with stacking with a Class
I steroid. Typical use is 50-150 mg/day, which is
best divided into several doses per day. Higher
daily doses have been used but it is not at all
clear that there is any further anabolic effect
from doing this. It seems to me that there is not.
When used alone, testosterone production may
not completely suppressed, as there seems no indication
that estrogen levels drop abnormally low, as occurs
with completely suppressed testosterone production.
If stacking with a non-aromatizing injectable, some
amount of testosterone or other aromatizable steroid
should also be used; or alternately the testosterone
can be provided via low-dose
HCG usage. If injectable
testosterone is used, even 100 mg/week is sufficient
for this purpose.
Because oxymetholone is 17-alkylated, it is stressful
to the liver. It is better to limit use to no more
than 6 weeks before taking a break of at least equal
length.
While I cannot recommend anabolic steroid use
for women at all, contrary to what many expect based
on perception of men with regard to entirely differing
side effects,
Anadrol has been shown medically to have a low
rate of
virilization at doses considerably higher
than needed for non-extreme female bodybuilding
or strength training. A total dosage of 25 mg/day
is only half of the minimum medical dose ever routinely
used, but is remarkably effective for muscle anabolism
in women. Even 12.5 mg/day can be quite effective.
As with any female use of oral anabolic steroids,
divided doses across the day are probably safer
than single-dose use for given total dosage per
day, as peak levels will not be as high.
Oxymetholone is the
name of active ingredient in Anadrol. Anadrol
is a registered trademark of Unimed Pharmaceuticals
in the United States and/or other countries.
