|
Reported Characteristics
-
Pharmaceutical Name: Oxymetholone
-
Chemical name:17-beta-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethylene-17 alpha-methyl-5
alpha-androstan-3-one
-
Cutting/Bulking:Bulking
-
Anabolic
Rating:320
-
Active -
Life: Less than 16 hours
-
Drug Class: Highly Androgenic / Anabolic Steroid (Oral)
-
Average Reported Dosage: Men 50-200 mg daily.
-
Acne: Yes
-
Water
Retention: Extreme
-
High Blood
Pressure: Yes
-
Liver Toxic:
High
-
DHT
Conversions: DHT-Derived
-
Decreases
HPTA Function: Yes
-
Aromatization: No
By Bill Roberts:
Anapalon/Anadrol (oxymetholone)
is perhaps second only to
Dianabol
(methandrostenolone)
in importance as an oral anabolic in bodybuilding. This is due to its undoubted
efficacy.
Like methandrostenolone,
oxymetholone 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 Anapalon/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
Anapalon/Anadrol with even a very high dose of a Class I steroid such as
trenbolone,
oxandrolone, 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
stanozolol (Winstrol),
which has some anti-progestagenic effect, can avoid the problem. Some have also
reported
cabergoline (Dostinex)
usage, which reduces prolactin, to yield a remedy.
It is primarily in the
context of usage in high-estrogen circumstances that Anapalon/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 Anapalon/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 Anapalon/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 Anapalon/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,
Anapalon/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
Anapalon. Anapalon is a registered trademark of
CS Balkan
Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in CIS Countries.
|