Anadrol (Oxymetholone) is a dehydrotestosterone (DHT) derivative, so it cannot be converted to estrogen. However, unlike other steroids in the DHT class, due to some minor changes in the chemical structure, anadrol can increase, and in fact increases, lean muscle mass. This substance has no progestin activity, which, theoretically, should prevent the manifestation of estrogenic side effects. It also lacks any significant androgenic binding affinity.

Anadrol is an oral steroid, so it has a 17-alpha-alkyd (17aa) group in its structure, which helps it maintain its integrity when passing through the liver, and, accordingly, is better absorbed into the system. Therefore, as with all steroids in the 17aa category, care must be taken to protect the liver while taking oxymetholone with drugs such as N2Guard.

Medical applications

Anadrol has been prescribed to children to stimulate growth, in cases of osteoporosis, and wasting syndromes of various origins. Due to its incredible ability to significantly increase the number of red blood cells in the blood, oxymetholone has been one of the main tools in the treatment of severe cases of anemia. Anadrol was used to treat these diseases until the medical community realized that sometimes its side effects were more harmful than the disease itself.

At present, many would consider it crazy to treat children with this androgenic anabolic steroid (AAS), but at that time there were few alternatives, and probably not everything was known about the side effects of oxymetholone.

Bodybuilder Application

In terms of sports, for those who are looking for a very fast and noticeable increase in muscle mass, the positive results of anadrol more than outweigh its side effects. Very often you can hear comparisons like: “Anadrol is three times more anabolic than testosterone” or “Compared to Dianabol, Anadrol gives twice the volumetric muscle mass.” In the case of most anabolic steroids, such comparisons are meaningless, since the results of steroid use cannot be objectively measured, and any assessments are purely subjective. However, when it comes to oxymetholone, no comparison is an exaggeration – it is actually more powerful than anything else.

Of all the anabolic steroids available today, Anadrol is by far the most powerful. This means that if you want a voluminous and curvy mass, Anadrol should be your number one choice. Unlike most dehydrotestosterone derivatives, oxymetholone does not give relief and dried muscles. What it gives is extreme volume coupled with extreme strength.

That is why it is preferred by athletes competing in those sports where power and mass are a priority (for example, powerlifting). Those who compete in the weight divisions usually lean towards anabolic steroids such as Winstrol or Anavar. The same goes for bodybuilders who need more defined muscle mass and avoid bulky muscles. Despite this, there are bodybuilders who use Anadrol in combination with other steroids to add some stiffness to the muscles.

Cycle planning

Since anadrol requires special precautions to combat side effects, it is recommended for more experienced athletes. Moreover, you need to know how to deal with incredibly fast and huge muscle growth. One problem that may arise is the possibility of serious injury to the binding tissues. Despite the fact that Anadrol makes muscles grow quickly, it does not strengthen the ligaments. The ligaments take longer to adapt to the increased load from the fact that the muscles lift significantly more weight than usual. Although puffiness partially solves this problem through additional lubrication of the binding tissues, special attention must be paid to this issue.

Carefully planned post-cycle therapy (PCT) is essential when consuming anadrol. First of all, we must remember that a significant part of the mass gained with anadrol is the fluid retained in the body, and as soon as the cycle is completed, a lot of mass will be lost along with water. Although this is a minor health issue, it is significant for performance because all athletes want to maintain as much mass as possible.

A more health and safety concern is the natural production of testosterone. When planning a PCT for anadrol, one must be very careful about restoring the natural production of testosterone, for which drugs such as HCGenerate ES and Nolvadex can be included in therapy.

Side effects

As mentioned in the introduction, in addition to the extreme growth of muscle mass, anadrol provokes significant side effects that quickly manifest themselves. Estrogenic fluctuations are one of the most notable side effects of oxymetholone, as their origin is still a mystery to the scientific community, and should be a major concern for those who are particularly sensitive to estrogen.

Anadrol does not turn into estrogen, and its progesterone activity tends to zero. So what causes estrogenic manifestations such as puffiness, facial bloating, and gynecomastia, among others? Some studies claim that oxymetholone itself can bind to estrogen receptors without changes in its structure, and this is precisely the cause of estrogenic manifestations. However, these claims have not yet been confirmed, and therefore, this is not a generally accepted discovery. Due to the fact that anadrol does not aromatize, taking estrogen inhibitors does not make sense. Instead, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) such as Tomaxifen are recommended during the course of Anadrol to keep the estrogenic manifestations described above under control.

Perhaps the most pronounced side effect of oxandrolone can be called liver toxicity. It is an oral 17 alpha alkylated steroid that is also taken in very high doses. Because of this, the liver suffers from the very beginning of the course, and in order to alleviate the load on this organ, it is recommended to take plenty of drugs to protect the liver, such as N2Guard.Hepatotoxicity and estrogenic side effects are just the beginning. Due to the fact that anadrol exhibits significant androgenic activity, acne is one of the most common androgenic side effects. Sometimes it is so severe that medication is required to keep it under control. Those with a predisposition to baldness should think twice before taking anadrol. All of the above means that for women taking anadrol is a very risky undertaking, since the symptoms of masculinization can be very serious and irreversible.

Undoubtedly, anadrol is the most powerful anabolic steroid available today, which makes it very popular among athletes who want to get incredible strength and mass. As a result of puffiness, it gives the athlete a very lush and massive appearance. But at the same time, it contributes to the manifestation of a large number of side effects, which requires a very careful selection of additional drugs and well-planned post-cycle therapy. Among the side effects of anadrol are edema, swelling of the face, high blood pressure, androgenic activity, and severe hepatotoxicity. This is a very powerful AAS that requires experience and good planning to achieve good and long term results.