Anadrol (oxymetholone) is perhaps only second to Dianabol (methandrostenolone) in importance as an oral anabolic in bodybuilding. This is due to its undoubted efficacy. Like Dianabol, Anadrol 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, Anavar, 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 Winstrol (stanozolol), which has some anti-progestagenic effect, can avoid the problem. Some have also reported Dostinex (cabergoline) 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.
About the author
Bill Roberts is an internationally-recognized expert on anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). He received a bachelor degree in Microbiology and Cell Science and completed the educational and research requirements for a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at a major American university.
Bill entered the nutritional supplement industry prior to completing his doctoral thesis but his education was invaluable so far as being able to design/improve nutritional supplement compounds, since it was in the field of designing drug molecules and secondarily some work in transdermal delivery.
His education was not specifically "geared" toward anabolic steroids other than expertise with pharmacological principles having broad applications. This has allowed Bill to provide unique insight into the field of anabolic pharmacology with knowledge of points which he would not have known otherwise.
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