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Surface here is educational only; do not use without medical supervision. Our editorial verdict is SKIP-FOR-NOW — current cost / risk / redundancy puts it below the line.

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Anadrol

Well Researched

Oxymetholone (Anadrol-50, A50, A-Bombs, Anapolon) — oral 17α-alkylated DHT-derivative AAS; FDA-approved for anemias of bone-marrow failure; among the most hepatotoxic AAS in clinical use.

Aliases (8)

oxymetholone · Anadrol-50 · A50 · A-Bombs · Anapolon · Anasteron · Plenastril · 17β-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethylene)-17-methyl-5α-androstan-3-one

TYPICAL DOSE

50-100 mg/day (bodybuilding); 1-5 mg/kg/day (FD…

Daily, oral

ROUTE

Oral (tablet, 50 mg)

Oral tablet (50 mg standard)

CYCLE

4 weeks max (prudent ceiling); 6 weeks absolute…

4 weeks prudent ceiling for bodybuilding; 16 weeks for medical wasting indication

STORAGE

Room temp; original container; protect from lig…

Room temp

Overview

What is Anadrol?

Anadrol (oxymetholone) is a synthetic 17α-alkylated DHT-derivative anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS), FDA-approved (Anadrol-50, Alaven Pharmaceutical) for anemias caused by deficient red cell production — acquired and congenital aplastic anemia, myelofibrosis, and hypoplastic anemias due to myelotoxic drugs. Schedule III in the US under the Anabolic Steroids Control Act; WADA-banned S1.1a. Famous in bodybuilding culture for producing the fastest oral mass + strength curve of any AAS — and the most severe hepatotoxicity, with ALT >5× ULN documented in 27-35% of subjects on 100-150 mg/day in the Hengge/Schroeder 2003 Phase 3 trial.

Key Benefits

Rapid mass + strength gains (15-25 lb scale gain in 4-6 weeks; 5-10 lb true LBM after water sheds). Pronounced glycogen storage and 'fullness.' Strong erythropoietic effect (FDA-approved indication) — directly stimulates EPO production. Aggressive appetite increase. Mood elevation / drive in many users. Effective for severe medical wasting (AIDS-cachexia, aplastic anemia, Fanconi anemia) under specialist supervision.

Mechanism of Action

Direct androgen receptor (AR) agonist (anabolic:androgenic ratio ~320:45). The 17α-methyl group enables oral bioavailability but obligates first-pass hepatic burden — cholestasis, peliosis hepatis, hepatic adenoma, hepatocellular carcinoma at chronic high-dose use. The 2-hydroxymethylene A-ring substitution blocks aromatase yet oxymetholone produces estrogenic side effects (gynecomastia, water retention) via direct estrogen receptor binding (Pavlatos 2001) — exact mechanism still debated, may include weak progesterone receptor or mineralocorticoid activity. Profound HPG-axis suppression at any therapeutic dose. Stimulates erythropoietin (FDA-approved mechanism).

Pharmacokinetics

PeakHalf-life

Approximate curve — visual aid only, not data-precise PK

Research Indications

Most Effective

Structure

Oxymetholone is 17β-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethylene)-17-methyl-5α-androstan-3-one — a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid derived from dihy…

Effective

Receptor activity

Oxymetholone is a direct androgen receptor (AR) agonist, with binding affinity at peripheral AR (skeletal muscle, bone). The published an…

Investigational

The "non-aromatizing yet estrogenic" paradox

This is the mechanistic detail that defines Anadrol's clinical and bodybuilding profile. Most aromatizable AAS (testosterone, methyltesto…

Investigational

HPG suppression

Oxymetholone produces rapid and complete HPG-axis suppression at any therapeutic dose: - AR activation at hypothalamic neurons → suppress…

Investigational

Pharmacokinetics

- Oral bioavailability: Near-complete; the 17α-methyl modification protects from first-pass deactivation - Half-life: ~9 hours (allows on…

Peptide Interactions

Injectable testosterone enanthate/cypionate

Synergistic

(300-500 mg/week, "TRT base") — Standard bodybuilding pairing. The injectable T provides foundational androgen (preventing complete HPG-driven androgen crash…

HCG

Synergistic

(250-500 IU 2× weekly during cycle) — Maintains testicular volume / Leydig responsiveness; eases PCT.

Liver protection stack:

Synergistic

TUDCA 500-1000 mg/day, NAC 1.2-2.4 g/day, milk thistle 600 mg silymarin extract/day, choline 500 mg/day. Mandatory if running Anadrol despite recommendation.…

SERM during cycle:

Synergistic

Tamoxifen 10-20 mg/day OR raloxifene 60 mg/day — Required for Anadrol-driven gyno control because AIs don't work (Anadrol doesn't aromatize but binds ER dire…

Other 17α-alkylated AAS

Avoid

(oxandrolone, stanozolol, methandrostenolone, methyltestosterone, fluoxymesterone, danazol) — Additive hepatotoxicity. Stacking two oral 17αAA is one of the …

Aromatase inhibitors

Avoid

(anastrozole, letrozole) — Mechanically ineffective for Anadrol gyno (because Anadrol doesn't aromatize); may crash systemic E2 from background T conversion,…

Alcohol

Avoid

Dramatically additive hepatic load. Avoid entirely during cycle.

Acetaminophen/paracetamol at therapeutic dose

Avoid

Additive hepatotoxicity. Use ibuprofen for acute pain control if absolutely necessary, but minimize.

Statins

Avoid

Additive lipid disruption + hepatic load. Notable because the lipid crash from Anadrol may prompt a statin script in poorly-counseled users — that compounds …

NSAIDs (chronic)

Avoid

Renal + hepatic compounding; additive BP load; relevant for combat athletes who often use chronic NSAIDs for joint/training pain.

Modafinil / adrafinil / other prodrugs with hepatic processing

Avoid

Additive hepatic load.

Hormonal contraceptives, HRT (in female partners co-managed contexts)

Avoid

Not directly relevant to user but worth noting for partnered scenarios.

Quality Indicators

✓

Pharmacy-dispensed in original sealed packaging

Anadrol-50 (Alaven Pharmaceutical) prescription tablets in original sealed packaging from a licensed US pharmacy. Verify NDC and lot number.

✓

International generic with verifiable manufacturer

Generics from established international manufacturers (Anapolon by Galenika; Plenastril historically) acceptable if manufacturer + lot + COA verifiable. Quality risk significantly higher than US Rx pharmacy.

Generic vs branded

Generic Anadrol from international pharmacy is generally fine if manufacturer is established, but bioavailability and dosing accuracy can vary. Track LFTs more frequently if switching products.

✗

Underground lab (UGL) product without third-party testing

Common UGL issues: under-dosed (cost-cutting), substituted (dianabol or methyl-1-testosterone instead), or contaminated. Lab testing services (Janoshik, AnaboLab) recommended for any UGL product before use.

✗

Counterfeit pharmaceutical packaging

Counterfeit Anadrol is a known issue in international markets. Verify pharmacy, NDC, and lot number against manufacturer database.

What to Expect

Week 1
Tolerability and dose-response.
Week 2-4
Early effect window.
Week 4-8
Peak benefit assessment.
Week 8+
Cycle decision point.

Side Effects & Safety 18

Side Effects

1Markedly elevated ALT/AST — most consistent finding. Hengge/Schroeder 2003: 27-35% of subjects developed ALT >5× ULN within 16 weeks at 100-150 mg/day. Lower at 50 mg/day but still typically 2-3× ULN within 4-6 weeks.
2Elevated GGT and alkaline phosphatase — cholestatic pattern.
3HDL crash — often 50-80% reduction within 6-8 weeks; among the most adverse of any AAS on lipid markers.
4LDL elevation — additive CV risk.
5Substantial water retention — 5-10+ lb fluid weight in week 1 alone; visibly puffy face/abdomen; not controlled by AIs (because not aromatization-mediated).
6Hypertension — combined fluid retention + direct vascular effects. BP elevation 10-30 mmHg systolic common.
7Gynecomastia — uncontrollable by AIs; requires SERM (tamoxifen 10-20 mg/day or raloxifene 60 mg/day). Can become irreversible if untreated past nodule formation.
8HPG axis suppression — testicular atrophy, ↓endogenous T, ↓libido on/post cycle.
9Acne, oily skin, accelerated androgenic alopecia — direct AR effects. Anadrol is among the worst AAS for acne.
10Mood changes, irritability, aggression, sleep disruption — Anadrol has a particularly notable mood/aggression profile in user reports.
11Increased hematocrit / polycythemia — direct EPO stimulation. Hematocrit can exceed 54% within 6-8 weeks at 100 mg/day. Stop-rule at HCT >54%.
12Increased appetite ("Anadrol hunger") — pronounced; useful for bulking, contributing to weight gain efficacy.
13Cholestatic jaundice — yellowing of skin/sclera, dark urine, pruritus, RUQ discomfort. Onset typically 4-8 weeks at 100 mg/day. Reversible with discontinuation in most cases; can require hospitalization.
14Erectile dysfunction during cycle — paradoxical at supraphysiologic dose due to HPG suppression + estrogenic side effects overriding direct androgen drive.
15Voice changes in females (irreversible vocal cord thickening). Anadrol is severely virilizing for women.
16Prostate hypertrophy / accelerated BPH in older males.
17Insomnia, night sweats — partly from BP/HCT elevation, partly from mood/cortisol effects.
18Marked aggression / "roid rage" — Anadrol has a reputation in bodybuilding culture for the most pronounced aggression effect of any oral AAS.

When to Stop

Peliosis hepatis — blood-filled cystic spaces in liver parenchyma. Multiple historical case reports specifically linked to oxymetholone (PMIDs 433907, 666906, 4132832, 577673). Can rupture → fatal hemorrhage. Often asymptomatic until advanced. Detected on imaging (US, MRI).
Hepatic adenoma → hepatocellular carcinoma — chronic high-dose use. Specifically documented in Fanconi-anemia patients (PMID 168333: 6-year-old developed HCC 2 months after starting oxymetholone) and chronic AAS users. Anadrol is among the most-associated agents.
Stroke, MI, sudden cardiac death — via combined hypertension + adverse lipid + polycythemia + LV hypertrophy effects. Acute risk meaningful for combat-sport athletes who already train near cardiovascular ceiling.
Thromboembolic events (DVT, PE) — driven by polycythemia + altered coagulation balance.
Psychiatric — mania, psychosis, suicidality (rare but documented in AAS literature; oxymetholone has notable mood-effect signal).
Sleep apnea exacerbation — soft tissue effects + polycythemia.
Baseline (before starting): Full LFT panel, lipid panel, CBC w/ HCT, total + free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol (sensitive assay), LH, FSH, prolactin, BP, ECG, abdominal US for liver/biliary architecture. Hepatitis B/C serology.
Week 2: full LFT — stop drug if ALT/AST >3× ULN. Symptom check (jaundice, RUQ pain, pruritus, dark urine).
Week 4: full LFT, lipid panel, CBC — monitor cholestatic markers, HDL nadir, HCT trajectory, BP. Tactile chest/breast exam for early gynecomastia.
Week 6: full LFT, lipid, hormonal panel, BP, gyno check.
HCT >54% = stop drug, consider therapeutic phlebotomy.
Months 3-12 post-cycle: peliosis hepatis / adenoma surveillance — abdominal imaging for chronic users.
Indefinite: hormonal recovery monitoring — total + free T, LH, FSH at 4 weeks post, 12 weeks post, and 24 weeks post. PCT decision based on trajectory.

References

Hengge UR et al. 2003 — Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trial of oxymetholone for the treatment of HIV wasting (AIDS)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · 2003

landmark Phase 3 RCT establishing efficacy + 27-35% ALT >5× ULN safety signal

Anadrol

Overview

What is Anadrol?

Key Benefits

Mechanism of Action

Pharmacokinetics

Research Indications

Structure

Receptor activity

The "non-aromatizing yet estrogenic" paradox

HPG suppression

Pharmacokinetics

Peptide Interactions

Quality Indicators

Pharmacy-dispensed in original sealed packaging

International generic with verifiable manufacturer

Generic vs branded

Underground lab (UGL) product without third-party testing

Counterfeit pharmaceutical packaging

What to Expect

Side Effects & Safety 18

Side Effects

When to Stop

References

Hengge UR et al. 2003 — Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trial of oxymetholone for the treatment of HIV wasting (AIDS)

Schroeder ET et al. 2003 — Oxymetholone for the treatment of HIV-wasting: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trial in eugonadal men and women (companion analysis)

Hengge UR et al. 1996 — Oxymetholone promotes weight gain in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection (British Journal of Nutrition)

Pavlatos AM et al. 2001 — Review of oxymetholone: a 17α-alkylated anabolic-androgenic steroid (Clinical Therapeutics)

Zhang QS et al. 2014 — Oxymetholone therapy of Fanconi anemia suppresses osteopontin transcription and induces hematopoietic stem cell cycling (Stem Cell Reports)

Wang J et al. 2022 — Efficacy of Oxymetholone in Severe and Nonsevere Acquired Aplastic Anemia: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Bacigalupo A et al. 1993 — Treatment of aplastic anaemia (AA) with antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) and methylprednisolone (MPred) with or without androgens: a randomized trial from the EBMT SAA working party (Br J Haematol)

Anadrol-50 (oxymetholone) FDA label, Alaven Pharmaceutical

Anabolic Steroids — LiverTox NCBI Bookshelf NBK548931

Anabolic androgenic steroid-induced liver injury: An update — PMC9331524

Peliosis hepatis case reports — PMID 433907 (oxymetholone, "clinically benign")

Peliosis hepatis case reports — PMID 666906 (oxymetholone, JAMA 1978)

Peliosis hepatis — PMID 577673 (12 cases, oral androgen therapy)

Hepatic adenoma in Fanconi anemia treated with oxymetholone — PMID 168333

Saberi MR et al. 2009 — Oxymetholone ameliorates insulin sensitivity in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Pope HG Jr et al. 2014 — Adverse Health Consequences of Performance-Enhancing Drugs (Endocrine Reviews)

Kanayama G, Pope HG Jr — Long-term cardiovascular consequences of AAS (Am J Cardiol)

Rasmussen JJ et al. 2016 — Former AAS users with persistent hypogonadism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab)

Vanberg P, Atar D 2010 — Androgenic anabolic steroid abuse and the cardiovascular system (Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology)

DEA Diversion Control: Anabolic Steroids

WADA 2026 Prohibited List

Oxymetholone — DrugBank DB06412

Oxymetholone — Wikipedia

Oxymetholone — 15th Report on Carcinogens, NCBI Bookshelf NBK590816

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