Anavar (Oxandrolone)

Anavar History and Overview

Anavar is the trade name for the oral anabolic steroid Oxandrolone, which is the generic chemical name.

Anavar was developed and marketed during the height of anabolic steroid research between the 1950s and

the 1980s. It is the apex of the never-ending quest to discover and develop an anabolic steroid that could

be considered perfect. With this being said, Anavar is perhaps the closest that science has come to

developing what would be considered the perfect anabolic steroid. It is renowned for its remarkable safety

profile and side effect-to-benefit ratio – so much so that it is one of the few anabolic steroids deemed

suitable as a medication for females and children (two patient types that are known for responding quite

negatively to anabolic steroid therapies to begin with).

Anavar’s history begins in 1962 as Oxandrolone[1]. Not long afterwards, it was released onto the

prescription medication market under the trade name Anavar by G.D. Searle & Co. Laboratories, which is

today known as Pfizer Inc. Other trade and brand names have been utilized for Oxandrolone by other

pharmaceutical companies. These names include: Protivar, Anatrophil, Antitriol, Lipidex, and Lonavar.

Anavar was one of the pharmaceutical industry’s biggest successes on the prescription market due to the

plethora of medical reports indicating a vast amount of patients that tolerated the drug quite well.

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Anavar is a modified derivative of DHT (Dihydroteststerone), and possesses several modifications that

alter its activity in different ways. It is C-17 alpha alkylated in order to allow for oral administration, and

a substitution of its second carbon atom with an oxygen atom, granting it stronger anabolic capabilities. In

comparison with Testosterone, studies have demonstrated Anavar to have a minimum of 3 times and a

maximum of 6 times the strength of Testosterone[2].

Chemical Characteristics of Anavar

Anavar is a DHT derivative anabolic steroid, falling under the family of DHT derived anabolic steroids.

As such, Anavar is essentially Dihydrotestosterone with a methyl group attached to the 17th carbon

(known as C17 Alpha Alkylation), which is the chemical structural modification that allows the anabolic

steroid to survive the first pass through the liver when ingested orally, and allows the anabolic steroid to

be more resistant to hepatic metabolism. It also contains a modification at the 2nd carbon of the first

cycloalkane ring, whereby the 2nd carbon is removed and replaced with an Oxygen atom. This is what

structurally makes Anavar extremely unique among all anabolic steroids, as it is the only anabolic steroid

to possess a direct modification (the complete replacement of a carbon atom with a different atom) in its

ring structure. It is this modification that is believed to increase the anabolic strength of the hormone in

comparison to its parent hormone DHT. One of the methods by which this modification increases

Anavar’s anabolic strength (in comparison to DHT) is believed to be an increased resistance to the

enzyme 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which is the enzyme highly abundant in muscle tissue that is

responsible for the conversion of Dihydrotestosterone into a non-anabolic inactive metabolite. Hence this

is the reason as to why Dihydrotestosterone is not anabolic in muscle tissue, as it is essentially deactivated

by 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase before it can act on androgen receptors in muscle tissue.

Properties of Anavar (Oxandrolone)

Anavar is an anabolic steroid belonging to the Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) family of anabolic steroid

derivatives/analogues. Other compounds that belong in this ‘DHT family’ of anabolic steroids include

Winstrol, Primobolan, Masteron, as well as several others which are all derivatives of the parent anabolic

steroid DHT. The common factor among all of these anabolic steroids is that they are, in one way or

another, modified forms of DHT and thus DHT could be considered the ‘parent’ hormone of these

anabolic steroids. Anavar itself possesses a distinct favor of anabolic strength over its androgenic strength

(as seen by its anabolic rating of 322 – 630 in light of its androgenic rating of 24). In comparison with

Testosterone, which has an anabolic:androgenic ratio of 100:100 respectively, it is easily seen that Anavar

is far less androgenic and possesses a stronger anabolic strength of at least 3 times the strength of

Testosterone, and studies have demonstrated anabolic strength as high as 6 times that of Testosterone with

very little accompanying androgenic activity. Anavar does not possess any measurable estrogenic activity

(due to its nature of being a DHT derivative), nor does it hold any Progestogenic activity.

It can be easily seen how these characteristics make Anavar a favorable compound among athletes and

bodybuilders wishing to increase athletic performance, muscle gain, and strength gain where the

additional water weight gain is undesired. It is also an anabolic steroid used extensively by bodybuilders

wishing to shed body fat and maintain as much muscle as possible during a caloric deficit, where once

again extra water weight and possible fat retention/gain is not desired. As one may be able to easily see,

Anavar is quite a versatile compound in terms of its uses. For an anabolic steroid commonly touted as

being ‘mild’, it actually possesses some very impressive anabolic strength as we can see from Anavar’s

anabolic rating of 322 – 630 versus Testosterone’s rating of 100; and when compared to the other popular

‘mild’ anabolic steroid Primobolan, with its anabolic rating of 88, we can see how Anavar is not as ‘mild’

in the sense of anabolic strength as many have made it out to be. In regards to its reported anabolic rating

of 322 – 630, the reason why it is given this range as opposed to one solid number for its anabolic rating

(such as Trenbolone’s rating of a solid 500 or Testosterone’s rating of a solid 100) is due to Anavar’s

nature as an oral anabolic steroid. It is understood that anabolic steroids display a very poor percentage of

survivability through liver metabolism when ingested orally. As we know that oral anabolic steroids are

modified at the 17th carbon (known as C17 Alpha Alkylation) in order for the anabolic steroid to become

more resistant to breakdown in the liver, this grants a very high percentage for anabolic steroids to pass

through the liver into the bloodstream, but this does not ensure that 100% of the anabolic steroid makes it

through. Some percentage will still be unfortunately lost, and therefore that is the reason why instead of a

solid number, a general range is given for many anabolic steroids (mostly oral compounds for the reasons

stated, as strength can vary due to liver metabolism).

Anavar Side Effects

As previously touched upon, Anavar is hailed with praise among bodybuilders, athletes, and the medical

community for its incredible side effect-to-benefit ratio and its general lack of negative side effects in

comparison with many other anabolic steroids.

Estrogenic side effects are completely nonexistent with Anavar due to the fact that it is a derivative of

DHT, which is an androgenic hormone that is already unable to convert into Estrogen. As such, Anavar

retains this characteristic. In other words, the side effects typical of Estrogen (such as water retention,

bloating, fat retention/gain, and development of gynecomastia) are completely unseen. In addition to a

total lack of Estrogenic activity, Anavar also completely lacks any Progestogenic activity as well[3], thus

negating any potential negative effects there too.

Although Anavar is comparably less androgenic than Testosterone by a great deal, side effects here can

still surface especially in those individuals who may be sensitive to androgenic side effects. These can

include increased oily skin, acne, hair growth increases in the face and body, and risks involving male

pattern baldness (MPB) as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Despite what is commonly touted about Anavar being “mild on the endocrine system”, there is evidence

to the complete contrary where studies have demonstrated almost 40% suppression of endogenous

Testosterone production and testicular function after only 5 days of use at 15mg per day in healthy young

men[4]. Therefore, Anavar should not be taken lightly in the area of suppressed and disrupted hormonal

function. If it can suppress the HPTA (Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis) after a mere 5 days of use

at 15mg per day, it can and will induce complete shutdown over weeks of use at higher ‘bodybuilding

doses’.

In comparison with other oral anabolic steroids, studies have demonstrated that Anavar expresses the least

amount of hepatotoxicity and strain on liver function of all of them[5]. It should be noted that Anavar still

expresses a degree of toxicity in this area, so it is still advisable not to utilize Anavar for an 8 – 10 week

period at reasonable dosages. Proper supplementation with good liver support compounds is also always

essential when utilizing oral anabolic steroids, no matter how mild they may be claimed to be.

Anavar Cycles and Uses

Although Anavar has gained popularity as being a ‘cutting agent’ or ‘cutting steroid’ throughout the past,

its capabilities are not limited strictly to this. Although it can perform and assist quite well in the area of

achieving fat loss and physique definition, it is an excellent compound for mass gaining, strength, and

bulking. Being that it is 3 – 6 times the anabolic strength of Testosterone, Anavar cycles can indeed be

bulking cycles without issue.

However, because Anavar does impose some strain and toxicity in the area of liver function, it cannot be

utilized for the same length of time as those core injectable compounds can. Therefore, it is often included

at the beginning of any cycle for the first 6 – 8 weeks before it is discontinued. Anavar cycles can be

extended to a maximum of 10 weeks at a reasonable dosage, however, due to its lower degree of liver

toxicity than other oral compounds. For the purposes of bulking, Anavar cycles are normally run with

similar compounds used for bulking, such as a long-estered Testosterone (e.g. Enanthate) and possibly a

compound such as Deca-Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate).

For its use in fat loss and cutting, Anavar cycles are often shorter and utilized with compounds used for

achieving similar goals. These can be anabolic steroids such as Testosterone Propionate, Trenbolone

Acetate, Masteron (Drostanolone Propionate), etc. These compounds generally hold the same

characteristics as Anavar and promote very little to no water retention or bloating that is often not desired

during cutting and fat loss phases where it is important for the bodybuilder to observe changes in

physique definition.

Anavar Dosages and Administration

The vast majority of medical applications called for an Anavar dosage in the range of 2.5 – 20mg per day,

which was of course heavily dependent on the type of sickness, disease, or disorder that Anavar was

intended for. Within medicine, Anavar has been utilized as an example in AIDS patients within the range

of 20 – 80mg per day in order to combat and/or reverse muscle wasting[6]. The same has also been

demonstrated with burn victims[7]. This is a solid indication of the general dosage range that would be

effective for muscle growth and athletics. As Anavar is a drug with plenty of experience with different

ages of patients, the effects of Anavar are also not dependent on age[8].

Although Anavar has been wrongfully touted as being a ‘mild steroid’ in the area of anabolic capability,

studies have shown otherwise, and as previously mentioned thus far, it is a compound that is 3 – 6 times

the anabolic strength of Testosterone. Therefore, in the athletics and bodybuilding world, Anavar dosages

for beginners tend to start and stay in the 25 – 50mg per day range and should provide great results

whether bulking up or trimming down the fat. Advanced users tend to venture between 50 – 80mg per

day, and there is usually no need to exceed this range due to the dramatic results that such an Anavar

dosage can provide. Very rarely, however, experienced advanced Anavar dosages venture within the 80 –

100mg per day range.

Being that Anavar is a great anabolic steroid for the female athlete and bodybuilder that wishes to

minimize and eliminate androgenic virilization side effects as demonstrated in studies[9], most females

will utilize an Anavar dosage within 5 – 10mg per day. Advanced female users that may want to push the

envelope tend to rise up to 20mg per day, though it is recommended that any and all female use of Anavar

for bodybuilding or athletic purposes be limited to no longer than 4 – 6 weeks at a time.

There is also something to be said about combining an Anavar dosage with caffeine. One study has

demonstrated that just 300mg of caffeine administered alongside Anavar increased subjects’ blood plasma

levels of Anavar by 15 – 20x compared to baseline levels[10].