What is Oxandrolone?
Oxandrolone (Anavar) is an oral anabolic and androgenic steroid. It possesses high anabolic activity, equal to 400% of testosterone, and low androgenic activity, around 25%. It is considered the "safest" steroid as it shows a complete absence of side effects in practice. It has gained particular popularity in amateur bodybuilding, fitness, and professional sports. There is no injectable version of oxandrolone.
The chemical formula of the drug was developed within the pharmaceutical company GD Searle & Co. in 1964. That same year, oxandrolone hit the shelves of US pharmacies under the brand name Anavar.
The drug was commercially successful due to its many therapeutic qualities. It was and still is the safest anabolic steroid on the market.
The active substance in oxandrolone is a derivative of dihydrotestosterone, which has been structurally modified. It is DHT with an added oxygen atom replacing carbon-2 in the A-ring.
This modification resulted in a steroid with outstanding anabolic properties (400% of testosterone) and minimal androgenic effects: The anabolic activity of oxandrolone exceeds that of testosterone by 3-4 times, while its androgenic activity is only 25% of testosterone.
These qualities allowed oxandrolone to be used in medical practice for treating children without risking the closure of growth zones and to be safely used by women without the risk of masculinization side effects.
Medical Uses
Oxandrolone has been used to treat osteoporosis, accelerate recovery after burns, major surgeries, in complex HIV therapy, hepatitis treatment, growth delays caused by growth hormone deficiency in children, and to increase muscle mass in conditions accompanied by rapid muscle loss.
Anavar was produced until 1989 and was available in any pharmacy. However, due to the abuse of this steroid in bodybuilding and subsequent pressure from the FDA to control the anabolic steroid market, its production was halted.
Official production of oxandrolone in the US was restarted in 1995 by Bio-Technology General Corp (BTG). BTG had exclusive rights to produce oxandrolone, significantly increasing its cost. Oxandrolone remains the most expensive oral steroid in the US. The price per 0.25 mg tablet often reaches $1.
It is worth noting that the exclusive rights to the "Anavar" trademark on the world market belong to Searle. No legal pharmaceutical company in the world produces oxandrolone under the name "Anavar." Nevertheless, the name "Anavar" has become a generic term for all steroids containing the active substance oxandrolone.
Currently, oxandrolone is produced by many illegal companies under different trade names.
Oxandrolone: Effects
In bodybuilding, oxandrolone is one of the most popular steroids used for "cutting"—enhancing muscle definition and hardness, or as a "bridge" between cycles.
It is the primary steroid used by women to improve athletic performance and gain quality muscle mass without risking masculinization and virilization side effects.
Oxandrolone is less effective for gaining muscle mass in men. Although it is often recommended on specialized forums as a safe steroid for a solo cycle to increase muscle mass for those trying anabolic steroids for the first time but fearing side effects from more potent anabolic steroids.
We have already mentioned that oxandrolone is four times more powerful than testosterone in anabolic activity. It would seem that with such anabolic properties, this steroid should show outstanding results in muscle mass gain. But it is quite the opposite. Oxandrolone is a steroid with a pronounced ability to reduce fat deposits, not only by accelerating metabolism but also by increasing growth hormone production.
Compared to other oral steroids, oxandrolone ranks last in its ability to grow muscle mass, following stanozolol.
Main Effects:
-
Increased muscle hardness and definition
-
Fat burning
-
Increased strength
-
Elevated growth hormone levels
-
Preservation of muscle mass under low-calorie diets
Oxandrolone Side Effects
Like any other oral steroid, oxandrolone undergoes 17-alpha-alkylation, which protects the active substance from liver destruction. Potentially, oxandrolone can create a toxic load on the liver.
However, practical use and medical research have shown that therapeutic doses of oxandrolone at 20 mg over 12 weeks do not significantly affect liver enzyme levels.
In bodybuilding, dosages range from 40 to 100 mg. Even at these levels, athletes using oxandrolone have not reported liver toxicity, which can manifest as pain in the right upper quadrant, light stool, and dark urine.
As mentioned earlier, oxandrolone is the safest steroid. It does not convert to estrogen (aromatize), so it does not cause side effects associated with high estrogen levels such as gynecomastia, high blood pressure, fluid retention, and muscle bloating.
Additionally, the drug, in small doses, almost does not suppress the production of one's own testosterone. This is because the excess level of estrogens resulting from the aromatization of testosterone and other anabolics, which is absent in oxandrolone, directly influences the production of luteinizing hormone in the brain and hypothalamus, and thus the production of testosterone.
Studies show that prolonged use of oxandrolone at 80 mg over 12 weeks reduced testosterone production by 67%.
Therefore, if you use high doses (50-80 mg) on an oxandrolone cycle and plan to continue for more than 8 weeks, it is advisable to include hCG from the third week of the cycle.
Androgenic Side Effects
The theoretical likelihood of androgenic side effects exists. However, in practice, the occurrence of such side effects is negligible and is less than 0.1%, especially at doses above 80 mg and cycle lengths over 8 weeks.
There are reports of decreased libido and poor erection on oxandrolone cycles, but these are isolated cases.
This is likely due to a relatively low level of natural testosterone before the cycle, leading to excessive suppression of its production by oxandrolone due to individual body characteristics.
This is why I recommend mandatory testing before an AAS cycle to select a drug that suits you.
How to Take Oxandrolone
Most authoritative online resources suggest that oxandrolone is not suitable for a solo muscle mass gaining cycle. The high cost and low effectiveness in muscle gain compared to other oral steroids make purchasing this drug for a mass gain solo cycle impractical.
However, if you want to try sports pharmacology for the first time, have a sufficient budget, and wish to minimize the risk of steroid side effects to zero, you can use oxandrolone solo for muscle mass gain.
The oxandrolone cycle is recommended for athletes who already have good muscle mass with moderate fat deposits and want to make their body more defined, with clearly outlined and hard muscles.
Oxandrolone Cycle for Men
The duration of an oxandrolone "solo" cycle is 6-8 weeks. It is best to take oxandrolone immediately after a meal.
For cutting and improving definition, use 40 mg of the drug, divided into two doses, half in the morning and the other half 8 hours later. Including clenbuterol in the cycle at doses up to 120 mcg is common.
To maximize the fat-burning effect, strictly follow a diet for weight loss: Minimize carbohydrate intake to 1.5-2 grams per kg of body weight and increase protein intake to 2.5-3 grams per kg of body weight.
For muscle mass gain, the oxandrolone dosage should be increased to 50-80 mg per day, divided into 2-3 doses.
Since oxandrolone has an active duration of 16-24 hours in the body, to maintain stable blood levels, take the tablets every 8-10 hours. Also, you must follow a mass-gaining diet: Increase complex carbohydrate intake to 4 grams per kg of body weight and protein intake to 2-3 grams.
Combined Oxandrolone Cycles
To prevent some side effects of oxandrolone (reduced libido, weak erection) and improve results, it is recommended to include highly androgenic drugs in the cycle:
-
Testosterone
-
Primobolan
Points to Note:
-
When combined with other drugs, the oxandrolone dosage should not exceed 40 mg per day.
-
Combined cycles not only achieve definition but also increase muscle mass.
-
For maximum effectiveness, take a comprehensive sports nutrition complex for mass gain and follow a mass-gaining diet.
Oxandrolone Cycle for Women
There are several regimens for women taking oxandrolone.
Women typically take oxandrolone according to their menstrual cycle. Oxandrolone is taken from the end to the beginning of the menstrual period (cycles of 26-28 days).
Another option is a continuous cycle of 6-8 weeks.
Practice has shown that regardless of the goals, 5-10 mg of oxandrolone once a day is enough to improve athletic performance in women. The maximum safe dosage is considered to be 15 mg per day.
If you are using oxandrolone for the first time, 5 mg per day is sufficient. Subsequently, from cycle to cycle, the dosage can be increased.
Taking 20 mg per day carries a high risk of virilization side effects.
"Bridge" on Oxandrolone Between Steroid Cycles
Since oxandrolone in small doses and for short periods hardly affects the body's own testosterone production, it is often used as a "bridge" between cycles of "heavy" steroids.
A bridge in a combined AAS course is the transition between full steroid cycles, allowing the hormonal system, blood biochemistry, and androgen receptor sensitivity to recover after discontinuing the main AAS.
Using oxandrol
one after discontinuing the main drugs and transitioning to recovery therapy with hCG and anti-estrogens helps maintain the mass and strength gains achieved on "heavy" steroids. Essentially, a bridge between cycles is a component of the "eternal cycle."
Use dosages of 40-50 mg during the necessary recovery period (individually).
Oxandrolone Cycle for Fighters, Boxers, MMA, and Athletes
Athletes in cyclic sports, fighters of various martial arts, take oxandrolone in more modest doses than bodybuilders.
Usually, 20-30 mg of oxandrolone per day is enough to progress in speed-strength indicators without increasing body weight, which is especially relevant for competitive athletes needing to improve their performance while staying within their weight category.
Note that athletes who must undergo doping control before competitions should stop using oxandrolone at least 45 days before the doping test. Long-lived metabolites of Anavar can be detected in an athlete's blood during this period.
PCT After Oxandrolone
Very often, on various internet resources, you can find information stating that PCT after a solo oxandrolone cycle is unnecessary, as everything will recover on its own.
I disagree with this statement, and here’s why:
Although oxandrolone is considered a mild steroid, studies of its effect on the male body have shown that oxandrolone moderately suppresses the body's own testosterone production.
It has been established that suppression of natural testosterone production is 67% with a 12-week cycle and a dosage of 80 mg of oxandrolone per day.
Therefore, to prevent suppression of the HPG axis and for cycles longer than 8 weeks, hCG should be used.
PCT with anti-estrogens should start 3 days after taking the last dose of oxandrolone.
Both clomid and tamoxifen are suitable for PCT after this steroid.
Since a solo oxandrolone cycle is considered very "light," PCT after the cycle will look as follows:
PCT Duration : 30 days.
Clomid Dosages : First 15 days at 50 mg per day, followed by 25 mg per day for the next 15 days.
Tamoxifen Dosages : First 15 days at 20 mg per day, followed by 10 mg per day for the next 15 days.
At this point, PCT should be considered complete.
Important Considerations During PCT:
-
Maintain a high protein intake of about 1.75 grams per kg of body weight.
-
Reduce carbohydrate (caloric) intake if it was high (mass gain).
-
Reduce training volume (intensity) by half but try to maintain the same training weights as during the cycle.
-
Prefer strength-style training during PCT. This helps preserve muscle mass and minimize "rollback" after the cycle.
Typical Mistakes When Using Oxandrolone
-
Not monitoring health indicators before the cycle
-
Using with gastrointestinal issues
-
Using low dosages (less than 50 mg) for mass gain (resulting in no muscle gain)
-
Not conducting PCT after the cycle (resulting in prolonged recovery and rollback)
-
Using for more than 6 weeks without hCG (resulting in post-cycle rollback)
-
Combining with other oral steroids
-
Not following a diet (not controlling caloric intake) depending on the goal (resulting in no results)
User Reviews on Oxandrolone Use
In general, reviews of oxandrolone (Anavar) are positive.
Users of this steroid note a gain of dry muscle mass during the oxandrolone cycle—about 2-3 kg. In rare cases, muscle gain reaches 5 kg. There is also a marked reduction in fat deposits and a complete absence of any side effects.
A few user reviews of oxandrolone:
-
"I ordered two packs of Anavar, it's a great steroid. I use it for cutting to maintain muscle, it well controls catabolic processes and boosts anabolism. I recover faster and can train more intensively."
-
"I trained my girlfriend using Anavar, it helped her cut and gain some muscle without any side effects at all. She will 'cycle' again."
-
"My favorite combo is oxandrolone and testosterone propionate. It's great for cutting, and you can gain a bit as well."
-
"On my first cycle, I took it for six weeks and gained five kilograms, only losing one kilogram after the cycle."
Conclusion
Although oxandrolone is not the best anabolic steroid for muscle mass gain in men, it can be a great and safe drug for improving muscle quality, reducing subcutaneous fat, enhancing muscle definition, or increasing athletic performance when used correctly.
For women, oxandrolone can be the only steroid on which they can consistently progress and achieve good results, depending on their goals.
As a steroid option for a first cycle, it may not be the best choice, but such cycles are legitimate and often used by those for whom the safety of using anabolic steroids is the top priority
What is Oxandrolone?
Oxandrolone (Anavar) is an oral anabolic and androgenic steroid. It possesses high anabolic activity, equal to 400% of testosterone, and low androgenic activity, around 25%. It is considered the "safest" steroid as it shows a complete absence of side effects in practice. It has gained particular popularity in amateur bodybuilding, fitness, and professional sports. There is no injectable version of oxandrolone.
The chemical formula of the drug was developed within the pharmaceutical company GD Searle & Co. in 1964. That same year, oxandrolone hit the shelves of US pharmacies under the brand name Anavar.
The drug was commercially successful due to its many therapeutic qualities. It was and still is the safest anabolic steroid on the market.
The active substance in oxandrolone is a derivative of dihydrotestosterone, which has been structurally modified. It is DHT with an added oxygen atom replacing carbon-2 in the A-ring.
This modification resulted in a steroid with outstanding anabolic properties (400% of testosterone) and minimal androgenic effects: The anabolic activity of oxandrolone exceeds that of testosterone by 3-4 times, while its androgenic activity is only 25% of testosterone.
These qualities allowed oxandrolone to be used in medical practice for treating children without risking the closure of growth zones and to be safely used by women without the risk of masculinization side effects.
Medical Uses
Oxandrolone has been used to treat osteoporosis, accelerate recovery after burns, major surgeries, in complex HIV therapy, hepatitis treatment, growth delays caused by growth hormone deficiency in children, and to increase muscle mass in conditions accompanied by rapid muscle loss.
Anavar was produced until 1989 and was available in any pharmacy. However, due to the abuse of this steroid in bodybuilding and subsequent pressure from the FDA to control the anabolic steroid market, its production was halted.
Official production of oxandrolone in the US was restarted in 1995 by Bio-Technology General Corp (BTG). BTG had exclusive rights to produce oxandrolone, significantly increasing its cost. Oxandrolone remains the most expensive oral steroid in the US. The price per 0.25 mg tablet often reaches $1.
It is worth noting that the exclusive rights to the "Anavar" trademark on the world market belong to Searle. No legal pharmaceutical company in the world produces oxandrolone under the name "Anavar." Nevertheless, the name "Anavar" has become a generic term for all steroids containing the active substance oxandrolone.
Currently, oxandrolone is produced by many illegal companies under different trade names.
Oxandrolone: Effects
In bodybuilding, oxandrolone is one of the most popular steroids used for "cutting"—enhancing muscle definition and hardness, or as a "bridge" between cycles.
It is the primary steroid used by women to improve athletic performance and gain quality muscle mass without risking masculinization and virilization side effects.
Oxandrolone is less effective for gaining muscle mass in men. Although it is often recommended on specialized forums as a safe steroid for a solo cycle to increase muscle mass for those trying anabolic steroids for the first time but fearing side effects from more potent anabolic steroids.
We have already mentioned that oxandrolone is four times more powerful than testosterone in anabolic activity. It would seem that with such anabolic properties, this steroid should show outstanding results in muscle mass gain. But it is quite the opposite. Oxandrolone is a steroid with a pronounced ability to reduce fat deposits, not only by accelerating metabolism but also by increasing growth hormone production.
Compared to other oral steroids, oxandrolone ranks last in its ability to grow muscle mass, following stanozolol.
Main Effects:
-
Increased muscle hardness and definition
-
Fat burning
-
Increased strength
-
Elevated growth hormone levels
-
Preservation of muscle mass under low-calorie diets
Oxandrolone Side Effects
Like any other oral steroid, oxandrolone undergoes 17-alpha-alkylation, which protects the active substance from liver destruction. Potentially, oxandrolone can create a toxic load on the liver.
However, practical use and medical research have shown that therapeutic doses of oxandrolone at 20 mg over 12 weeks do not significantly affect liver enzyme levels.
In bodybuilding, dosages range from 40 to 100 mg. Even at these levels, athletes using oxandrolone have not reported liver toxicity, which can manifest as pain in the right upper quadrant, light stool, and dark urine.
As mentioned earlier, oxandrolone is the safest steroid. It does not convert to estrogen (aromatize), so it does not cause side effects associated with high estrogen levels such as gynecomastia, high blood pressure, fluid retention, and muscle bloating.
Additionally, the drug, in small doses, almost does not suppress the production of one's own testosterone. This is because the excess level of estrogens resulting from the aromatization of testosterone and other anabolics, which is absent in oxandrolone, directly influences the production of luteinizing hormone in the brain and hypothalamus, and thus the production of testosterone.
Studies show that prolonged use of oxandrolone at 80 mg over 12 weeks reduced testosterone production by 67%.
Therefore, if you use high doses (50-80 mg) on an oxandrolone cycle and plan to continue for more than 8 weeks, it is advisable to include hCG from the third week of the cycle.
Androgenic Side Effects
The theoretical likelihood of androgenic side effects exists. However, in practice, the occurrence of such side effects is negligible and is less than 0.1%, especially at doses above 80 mg and cycle lengths over 8 weeks.
There are reports of decreased libido and poor erection on oxandrolone cycles, but these are isolated cases.
This is likely due to a relatively low level of natural testosterone before the cycle, leading to excessive suppression of its production by oxandrolone due to individual body characteristics.
This is why I recommend mandatory testing before an AAS cycle to select a drug that suits you.
How to Take Oxandrolone
Most authoritative online resources suggest that oxandrolone is not suitable for a solo muscle mass gaining cycle. The high cost and low effectiveness in muscle gain compared to other oral steroids make purchasing this drug for a mass gain solo cycle impractical.
However, if you want to try sports pharmacology for the first time, have a sufficient budget, and wish to minimize the risk of steroid side effects to zero, you can use oxandrolone solo for muscle mass gain.
The oxandrolone cycle is recommended for athletes who already have good muscle mass with moderate fat deposits and want to make their body more defined, with clearly outlined and hard muscles.
Oxandrolone Cycle for Men
The duration of an oxandrolone "solo" cycle is 6-8 weeks. It is best to take oxandrolone immediately after a meal.
For cutting and improving definition, use 40 mg of the drug, divided into two doses, half in the morning and the other half 8 hours later. Including clenbuterol in the cycle at doses up to 120 mcg is common.
To maximize the fat-burning effect, strictly follow a diet for weight loss: Minimize carbohydrate intake to 1.5-2 grams per kg of body weight and increase protein intake to 2.5-3 grams per kg of body weight.
For muscle mass gain, the oxandrolone dosage should be increased to 50-80 mg per day, divided into 2-3 doses.
Since oxandrolone has an active duration of 16-24 hours in the body, to maintain stable blood levels, take the tablets every 8-10 hours. Also, you must follow a mass-gaining diet: Increase complex carbohydrate intake to 4 grams per kg of body weight and protein intake to 2-3 grams.
Combined Oxandrolone Cycles
To prevent some side effects of oxandrolone (reduced libido, weak erection) and improve results, it is recommended to include highly androgenic drugs in the cycle:
-
Testosterone
-
Primobolan
Points to Note:
-
When combined with other drugs, the oxandrolone dosage should not exceed 40 mg per day.
-
Combined cycles not only achieve definition but also increase muscle mass.
-
For maximum effectiveness, take a comprehensive sports nutrition complex for mass gain and follow a mass-gaining diet.
Oxandrolone Cycle for Women
There are several regimens for women taking oxandrolone.
Women typically take oxandrolone according to their menstrual cycle. Oxandrolone is taken from the end to the beginning of the menstrual period (cycles of 26-28 days).
Another option is a continuous cycle of 6-8 weeks.
Practice has shown that regardless of the goals, 5-10 mg of oxandrolone once a day is enough to improve athletic performance in women. The maximum safe dosage is considered to be 15 mg per day.
If you are using oxandrolone for the first time, 5 mg per day is sufficient. Subsequently, from cycle to cycle, the dosage can be increased.
Taking 20 mg per day carries a high risk of virilization side effects.
"Bridge" on Oxandrolone Between Steroid Cycles
Since oxandrolone in small doses and for short periods hardly affects the body's own testosterone production, it is often used as a "bridge" between cycles of "heavy" steroids.
A bridge in a combined AAS course is the transition between full steroid cycles, allowing the hormonal system, blood biochemistry, and androgen receptor sensitivity to recover after discontinuing the main AAS.
Using oxandrol
one after discontinuing the main drugs and transitioning to recovery therapy with hCG and anti-estrogens helps maintain the mass and strength gains achieved on "heavy" steroids. Essentially, a bridge between cycles is a component of the "eternal cycle."
Use dosages of 40-50 mg during the necessary recovery period (individually).
Oxandrolone Cycle for Fighters, Boxers, MMA, and Athletes
Athletes in cyclic sports, fighters of various martial arts, take oxandrolone in more modest doses than bodybuilders.
Usually, 20-30 mg of oxandrolone per day is enough to progress in speed-strength indicators without increasing body weight, which is especially relevant for competitive athletes needing to improve their performance while staying within their weight category.
Note that athletes who must undergo doping control before competitions should stop using oxandrolone at least 45 days before the doping test. Long-lived metabolites of Anavar can be detected in an athlete's blood during this period.
PCT After Oxandrolone
Very often, on various internet resources, you can find information stating that PCT after a solo oxandrolone cycle is unnecessary, as everything will recover on its own.
I disagree with this statement, and here’s why:
Although oxandrolone is considered a mild steroid, studies of its effect on the male body have shown that oxandrolone moderately suppresses the body's own testosterone production.
It has been established that suppression of natural testosterone production is 67% with a 12-week cycle and a dosage of 80 mg of oxandrolone per day.
Therefore, to prevent suppression of the HPG axis and for cycles longer than 8 weeks, hCG should be used.
PCT with anti-estrogens should start 3 days after taking the last dose of oxandrolone.
Both clomid and tamoxifen are suitable for PCT after this steroid.
Since a solo oxandrolone cycle is considered very "light," PCT after the cycle will look as follows:
PCT Duration : 30 days.
Clomid Dosages : First 15 days at 50 mg per day, followed by 25 mg per day for the next 15 days.
Tamoxifen Dosages : First 15 days at 20 mg per day, followed by 10 mg per day for the next 15 days.
At this point, PCT should be considered complete.
Important Considerations During PCT:
-
Maintain a high protein intake of about 1.75 grams per kg of body weight.
-
Reduce carbohydrate (caloric) intake if it was high (mass gain).
-
Reduce training volume (intensity) by half but try to maintain the same training weights as during the cycle.
-
Prefer strength-style training during PCT. This helps preserve muscle mass and minimize "rollback" after the cycle.
Typical Mistakes When Using Oxandrolone
-
Not monitoring health indicators before the cycle
-
Using with gastrointestinal issues
-
Using low dosages (less than 50 mg) for mass gain (resulting in no muscle gain)
-
Not conducting PCT after the cycle (resulting in prolonged recovery and rollback)
-
Using for more than 6 weeks without hCG (resulting in post-cycle rollback)
-
Combining with other oral steroids
-
Not following a diet (not controlling caloric intake) depending on the goal (resulting in no results)
User Reviews on Oxandrolone Use
In general, reviews of oxandrolone (Anavar) are positive.
Users of this steroid note a gain of dry muscle mass during the oxandrolone cycle—about 2-3 kg. In rare cases, muscle gain reaches 5 kg. There is also a marked reduction in fat deposits and a complete absence of any side effects.
A few user reviews of oxandrolone:
-
"I ordered two packs of Anavar, it's a great steroid. I use it for cutting to maintain muscle, it well controls catabolic processes and boosts anabolism. I recover faster and can train more intensively."
-
"I trained my girlfriend using Anavar, it helped her cut and gain some muscle without any side effects at all. She will 'cycle' again."
-
"My favorite combo is oxandrolone and testosterone propionate. It's great for cutting, and you can gain a bit as well."
-
"On my first cycle, I took it for six weeks and gained five kilograms, only losing one kilogram after the cycle."
Conclusion
Although oxandrolone is not the best anabolic steroid for muscle mass gain in men, it can be a great and safe drug for improving muscle quality, reducing subcutaneous fat, enhancing muscle definition, or increasing athletic performance when used correctly.
For women, oxandrolone can be the only steroid on which they can consistently progress and achieve good results, depending on their goals.
As a steroid option for a first cycle, it may not be the best choice, but such cycles are legitimate and often used by those for whom the safety of using anabolic steroids is the top priority.
