The following article is for educational purposes only and does not promote or endorse the use of illegal steroids. For any questions or concerns, Dr. Touliatos is available for consultation.
Anavar (oxandrolone) is an oral anabolic steroid created in 1962 to promote lean muscle mass in those suffering from muscle-wasting conditions. The other main objective when formulating Anavar was to create a mild drug with few side effects so women and children could safely take it.
In 1964, an American pharmaceutical company named G.D. Searle and Co. brought Anavar to market.
It was successful in becoming an effective treatment for men, women, and children suffering from:
Anavar was also prescribed for treating osteoporosis due to its ability to increase bone mineral density.
As doctors’ understanding of Anavar evolved, it became a medicine deemed safe, with Anavar remaining FDA-approved until 2023.
Despite studies proving the safety of Anavar long-term, it is currently banned for recreational purposes. Anavar is classified as a Schedule 3 controlled substance.
G.D. Searle and Co. removed Anavar from the market in 1989. This was partly due to negative publicity stemming from athletes and bodybuilders using Anavar to cheat in sports, given the drug’s performance and muscle-enhancing effects.
However, in 1995, Anavar made a comeback, returning to pharmacies under the brand name Oxandrin, now produced by BTG (Biotechnology General Corp.). BTG arranged a deal with Searle where they would continue manufacturing the steroid but would distribute it exclusively to BTG, thus selling it under a new company name.
BTG was granted orphan drug designation for treating rare muscle-wasting diseases and conditions such as AIDS, Turner syndrome, and muscular dystrophy. This gave BTG seven years of market exclusivity, resulting in a pharmaceutical monopoly. Consequently, BTG was able to significantly increase the price of Anavar by 1,200%.
Oxandrin is still sold today, but under the recent company name, Savient. Generic Anavar is now produced and sold, with the orphan drug designation expiring, dismantling BTG’s monopoly. However, due to this previous elevation in price, in addition to high demand for Anavar and only a few laboratories in the world producing it, Anavar still remains expensive today. We know it to be the highest-priced pharmaceutical steroid, along with Primobolan.
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Anavar can significantly increase the body’s thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3) ratio. T3 is the active thyroid hormone that elevates a person’s metabolism and enhances fat loss. Similar to how free testosterone is the vital testosterone score for building muscle mass, T3 is the most crucial thyroid hormone for increased fat burning.
Anavar increases T3 by reducing TBG (thyroid-binding globulin) while simultaneously raising TBP (thyroxine-binding prealbumin). This process increases the uptake of T3 at a cellular level.
Anavar also reduces visceral fat. This is a unique effect compared to other anabolic steroids, which typically decrease subcutaneous fat while increasing visceral fat. We hypothesize that this is due to Anavar improving insulin sensitivity, while other steroids result in a person becoming less sensitive to insulin, potentially leading to steroid-induced diabetes.
Anavar and all anabolic steroids are essentially forms of exogenous testosterone; thus, Anavar will increase muscle mass. Due to the substitution of a carbon atom with an oxygen atom in the A ring in the C2 position, this molecular structure makes Anavar resistant to inactivation via the enzyme 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. This explains Anavar’s high anabolic rating of 322–630.
However, in practice, we do not see Anavar’s high anabolic rating translate into exceptional results in terms of muscle hypertrophy. Thus, if a user is aiming for large improvements in muscle mass, they may opt for other anabolic steroids, such as:
Alternatively, they may decide to stack the above steroids in conjunction with Anavar.
One benefit of Anavar is that it produces lean muscle gains. Thus, we rarely see users gain fat, water weight, or become bloated. This is due to Anavar being 5α-reduced; thus, it does not aromatize, meaning estrogen levels remain stable. This is beneficial for bodybuilders seeking a lean and defined physique. It is also appealing to athletes who do not want additional water weight when performing.
In our experience, women can typically experience superior results in muscle mass compared to men on Anavar, even with a modest dose of 5–10 mg per day.
Anavar has a significant impact on strength, despite being a cutting steroid and not causing dramatic weight gain.
Anavar’s ability to increase strength is mainly due to it being exogenous testosterone. However, we find that it also has a dramatic effect on adenosine triphosphate production and creatine content inside the muscle cell. Higher levels of ATP are beneficial for individuals wanting enhanced strength when bulking. It is also advantageous for users who are cutting and at risk of losing strength due to prolonged restriction of calories.
We have had patients report significant strength results on Anavar, even when consuming low calories. This is also why powerlifters often administer Anavar prior to a competition for maximum strength without significant weight gain.
Dr. Thomas O’Connor states that the elite powerlifters in the 1970s, whom he has treated, were practically “all on Anavar.” Therefore, the notion that Anavar is solely a female steroid is inaccurate, as some of the world’s strongest men have been known to cycle it.
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We have found Anavar to be one of the best steroids in regard to toxic side effects. Research has also shown it to possess safety in long-term medical settings.
Beginner bodybuilders seeking to add a modest amount of muscle frequently use it due to its less toxic nature.
A general rule with steroids is that the more pronounced the results, the more severe the side effects are.
Anavar’s benefits are not overly powerful, at least compared to other anabolic steroids; therefore, the side effects are more tolerable for most users. Thus, the risk-reward ratio on Anavar is positive for the majority of our patients.
Anavar is a C17-alpha-alkylated oral steroid, meaning the compound will be fully active after bypassing the liver. However, unlike other oral steroids, Anavar is not significantly hepatotoxic. This is because the kidneys, and not the liver, are primarily responsible for metabolizing Anavar. Therefore, a portion of oxandrolone will escape liver metabolism. However, we find this to be a smaller percentage compared to other C17-aa steroids.
Liver damage should not be discounted as a possible side effect of Anavar, especially if excessive doses are administered for prolonged durations.
As previously mentioned, Anavar does not aromatize; thus, incidents of Anavar-induced gynecomastia are rare in our clinic.
Progestational activity is also nonexistent in Anavar; therefore, progesterone-induced gynecomastia will not occur.
Furthermore, water retention is unlikely on Anavar, with the compound creating a dry and defined look. This diuretic effect is also likely to increase vascularity and muscle striations while contributing to a leaner appearance.
Anavar is a derivative of dihydrotestosterone; thus, there is no conversion to DHT via the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. Consequently, Anavar has mild androgenic properties and side effects in our experience. This is reflected in a low androgenic rating of 25.
Therefore, in theory, Anavar’s androgenic side effects should be mild. However, in practical settings, the following can occur due to Anavar being a DHT-based steroid:
We have found that DHT-related side effects are largely determined by genetics. Thus, some people may experience significant hair loss from a low dose of Anavar. In contrast, others may experience no hair loss while taking high doses of trenbolone.
Due to Anavar’s mild androgenic rating, it does not typically produce virilization side effects in women when taken in low to moderate doses. Thus, we have generally found Anavar to be a female-friendly steroid.
Virilization side effects include:
