Oxymetholone
Encyclopedia
Oxymetholone is a synthetic anabolic steroid
developed in 1960 by Zoltan 'Anadrol Z' F. Its primary clinical applications include treatment of osteoporosis
and anaemia, as well as stimulating muscle growth in undernourished or underdeveloped patients. The drug was approved for human use by the FDA
. Later, non-steroid
al drugs such as Epogen were developed and proven to be more effective as a treatment for anaemia and osteoporosis without the side-effects of oxymetholone. The drug remained available despite this and eventually found a new use in treating HIV wasting syndrome
.
Presented most commonly as a 50 mg tablet
, oxymetholone is one of the strongest androgen
ic steroids available. Similarly, it also poses the greatest risk of side effects
of any steroid. Despite very low binding affinity with the androgen receptor
, oxymetholone is highly effective in promoting extensive gains in body mass, mostly by greatly improving protein synthesis. For this reason, it is often used by bodybuilders and athletes. Many athletes also use oxymetholone as a method of protection for the joints under heavy loads. Due to the high water retention
users experience from this drug, it similarly lubricates the joints and helps protect them from injury. Oxymetholone is widely considered by bodybuilders to have the strongest anabolic effect out of any oral steroid available.
, bloating
, acne
, and masculinizing effects such as deepening of the voice, growth of facial hair and clitoral hypertrophy. In addition, unless selective estrogen receptor modulator
s such as tamoxifen
or clomifene
are taken in conjunction with the drug, there is a significant risk of the appearance of estrogenic effects such as gynaecomastia over time. Because of its 17α-alkylated structure, oxymetholone is highly hepatotoxic. Long term use of the drug can cause a variety of serious ailments, including hepatitis
, liver cancer
, and cirrhosis
. It is dangerous to take oxymetholone in high dosages for periods of time exceeding four weeks, and is commonly used by bodybuilders during the start of a steroid cycle to help gain mass.
s. Since it is already a very potent androgen, many users will only use it for the first 3-4 week of the cycle, giving time for intra-muscularly injected products such as nandrolone
, boldenone
and testosterone
to reach maximum blood levels.
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
developed in 1960 by Zoltan 'Anadrol Z' F. Its primary clinical applications include treatment of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
and anaemia, as well as stimulating muscle growth in undernourished or underdeveloped patients. The drug was approved for human use by the FDA
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
. Later, non-steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
al drugs such as Epogen were developed and proven to be more effective as a treatment for anaemia and osteoporosis without the side-effects of oxymetholone. The drug remained available despite this and eventually found a new use in treating HIV wasting syndrome
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
.
Presented most commonly as a 50 mg tablet
Tablet
A tablet is a pharmaceutical dosage form. It comprises a mixture of active substances and excipients, usually in powder form, pressed or compacted from a powder into a solid dose...
, oxymetholone is one of the strongest androgen
Androgen
Androgen, also called androgenic hormone or testoid, is the generic term for any natural or synthetic compound, usually a steroid hormone, that stimulates or controls the development and maintenance of male characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors...
ic steroids available. Similarly, it also poses the greatest risk of side effects
Adverse drug reaction
An adverse drug reaction is an expression that describes harm associated with the use of given medications at a normal dosage. ADRs may occur following a single dose or prolonged administration of a drug or result from the combination of two or more drugs...
of any steroid. Despite very low binding affinity with the androgen receptor
Androgen receptor
The androgen receptor , also known as NR3C4 , is a type of nuclear receptor that is activated by binding of either of the androgenic hormones testosterone or dihydrotestosterone in the cytoplasm and then translocating into the nucleus...
, oxymetholone is highly effective in promoting extensive gains in body mass, mostly by greatly improving protein synthesis. For this reason, it is often used by bodybuilders and athletes. Many athletes also use oxymetholone as a method of protection for the joints under heavy loads. Due to the high water retention
Water retention
Water retention can refer to:*Water retention , an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the circulatory system or within the tissues or cavities of the body...
users experience from this drug, it similarly lubricates the joints and helps protect them from injury. Oxymetholone is widely considered by bodybuilders to have the strongest anabolic effect out of any oral steroid available.
Side effects
The side-effects of short-term use of the drug itself include nauseaNausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
, bloating
Bloating
Bloating is any abnormal general swelling, or increase in diameter of the abdominal area. As a symptom, the patient feels a full and tight abdomen, which may cause abdominal pain sometimes accompanied by increased borborygmus or more seriously the total lack of borborygmus.-Symptoms:The most common...
, acne
Acne vulgaris
Acne vulgaris is a common human skin disease, characterized by areas of skin with seborrhea , comedones , papules , pustules , Nodules and possibly scarring...
, and masculinizing effects such as deepening of the voice, growth of facial hair and clitoral hypertrophy. In addition, unless selective estrogen receptor modulator
Selective estrogen receptor modulator
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators are a class of compounds that act on the estrogen receptor. A characteristic that distinguishes these substances from pure receptor agonists and antagonists is that their action is different in various tissues, thereby granting the possibility to selectively...
s such as tamoxifen
Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen is an antagonist of the estrogen receptor in breast tissue via its active metabolite, hydroxytamoxifen. In other tissues such as the endometrium, it behaves as an agonist, hence tamoxifen may be characterized as a mixed agonist/antagonist...
or clomifene
Clomifene
Clomifene or clomiphene or Clomid or Clomifert is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that increases production of gonadotropins by inhibiting negative feedback on the hypothalamus...
are taken in conjunction with the drug, there is a significant risk of the appearance of estrogenic effects such as gynaecomastia over time. Because of its 17α-alkylated structure, oxymetholone is highly hepatotoxic. Long term use of the drug can cause a variety of serious ailments, including hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
, liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
, and cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
. It is dangerous to take oxymetholone in high dosages for periods of time exceeding four weeks, and is commonly used by bodybuilders during the start of a steroid cycle to help gain mass.
Use with other steroids
To further its effectiveness as an anabolic agent, bodybuilders typically "stack" oxymetholone with other anabolic steroidAnabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
s. Since it is already a very potent androgen, many users will only use it for the first 3-4 week of the cycle, giving time for intra-muscularly injected products such as nandrolone
Nandrolone
Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body, albeit in minute quantities of less than 0.4 ng/ml. Nandrolone is most commonly sold commercially as its decanoate ester and less commonly as a phenylpropionate ester...
, boldenone
Boldenone
Boldenone , also known under the trade names Equipoise, Ganabol, Equigan and Ultragan, is an anabolic steroid developed for veterinary use, mostly for treatment of horses...
and testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
to reach maximum blood levels.