09 March 2009

Oxandrolone

Pronunciation: ok-SAN-droh-lohn
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number: 53-39-4
Formal Names: Anatrophill, Anavar, Lipidex, Lonavar, Oxandrin, Provitar, Vasorome
Type: Anabolic steroid.
Federal Schedule Listing: Schedule III (DEA no. 4000)
USA Availability: Prescription
Pregnancy Category: X

Uses.
This drug is used to encourage return of adequate heaviness in persons who have lost too much weight from illness, injury, or medical therapy. Experiments with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patients measured substantial improvement in weight and strength. Oxandrolone may diminish pain from a bone disease called osteoporosis, although the drug has potential for worsening the underlying bone affliction. In rats and in humans the drug has hastened healing of wounds. Experimental therapy using oxandrolone against Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been successful.

Drawbacks.
Nausea and diarrhea are among the less serious reports of unwanted effects. The substance can masculinize female users and interfere with menstrual periods. In immature rats oxandrolone has drastically interfered with the male reproductive system, a finding that may be relevant to young athletes using the compound without medical supervision. In humans the substance
can promote prostate disease and should be avoided by men with breast cancer and generally by anyone with kidney disease (although doctors sometimes give oxandrolone to dialysis patients). The drug has been used to treat hepatitis in alcoholics despite its ability to interfere with bile flow and to cause jaundice or liver malfunction. Fluid retention can occur and be a serious problem for heart patients. Other unwanted effects may include overall higher cholesterol levels (accompanied by reduction of the HDL “good cholesterol”), although unlike some other drugs of this type, oxandrolone has been seen to reduce levels of triglycerides (which are associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke), and in some cases oxandrolone reduced overall
cholesterol as well. Such effects may, however, depend upon what causes the original levels.

Oxandrolone can bring about premature bone maturation in children, preventing attainment of normal adult height. Nonetheless, the compound is used to treat delayed puberty in boys, increasing their height and weight. Turner’s syndrome interferes with height and sexual maturation in girls, deficits that have improved with oxandrolone therapy.

Abuse factors.
Sports competitors are forbidden to use the substance. Violation of the ban may risk punishment for nothing: Even though oxandrolone can promote muscle mass, a study examining users and nonusers of oxandrolone found no difference between the two groups in muscle mass, strength,
and general fitness. Athletes who abuse oxandrolone may suffer bad psychological effects. In one case a person became hyperactive and had racing thoughts. In another case someone abusing this and other steroids became suspicious of other people, rageful, and occasionally suicidal.

An addiction case report mentioned not only psychological craving for oxandrolone and other anabolic steroids but physical dependence as well. When the bodybuilder in question received a dose of a substance that provokes withdrawal symptoms in opiate addiction, he responded with classic opiate withdrawal signs.

Drug interactions.
Oxandrolone can alter insulin needs of diabetics and boost actions of anti–blood clot medicines. The steroid can help rats survive an overdose of meprobamate or nicotine.

Cancer.
Potential for causing cancer is unknown. A case report associates oxandrolone with development of colon cancer in a 27-year-old bodybuilder.

Pregnancy.
Potential for causing birth defects is unknown. In animal studies testing oxandrolone at nine times the normal human dose, fetal injury has occurred, including introduction of male characteristics into a female fetus.

Pregnant women are advised to avoid the drug. Oxandrolone’s ability to pass into milk of nursing mothers is unknown.

Additional scientific information may be found in:
Frasier, S.D. “Androgens and Athletes.” American Journal of Diseases of Children 125
(1973): 479–80.

Freinhar, J.P., and W. Alvarez. “Androgen-Induced Hypomania.” Journal of Clinical
Psychiatry 46 (1985): 354–55.

Levien, T.L., and D.E. Baker. “Reviews of Trimetrexate and Oxandrolone.” Hospital
Pharmacy 29 (1994): 696–702.

Mendenhall, C.L., et al. “Short-Term and Long-Term Survival in Patients with Alcoholic
Hepatitis Treated with Oxandrolone and Prednisolone.” New England Journal
of Medicine 311 (1984): 1464–70.

Rosenfeld, R.G., et al. “Six-Year Results of a Randomized, Prospective Trial of Human
Growth Hormone and Oxandrolone in Turner Syndrome.” Journal of Pediatrics
121 (1992): 49–55.

Taiwo, B.O. “HIV-Associated Wasting: Brief Review and Discussion of the Impact of
Oxandrolone.” AIDS Patient Care and STDs 14 (2000): 421–25.

Wilson, D.M., et al. “Oxandrolone Therapy in Constitutionally Delayed Growth and
Puberty.” Pediatrics 96 (1995): 1095–1100.

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