Anavar (Oxandrolone)
is a weak steroid with a high price-tag and low availability, but it
has a large popularity due to its safety. In sharp contrast to
oxymetholone, oxandrolone is quite generally considered to be the
safest of all steroids. Oxandrolone effects are more than
well-documented and have been for a few decades now. The medical
community values oxandrolone as a safe alternative for more harmful
steroids, which is why it is considered safe for use in children and
even in patients suffering hepa-toxicity as the result of alternate
steroid use.
It's most noted medical use has
been in the expediting of wound healing often practically applied to
the treatment of burns. But recently its gaining popularity again as a
means of keeping weight on HIV-infected patients suffering from wasting
due to the immuno-deficiency virus. It was also considered safe for use
in prepubescent children with a growth delay. No major harmful effects
were noted from this particular therapy, even though one study reported
that the use of Anavar did speed up the onset of puberty in these
children. Furthermore Anavar (Oxandrolone) has found frequent
applications in the treatment of other wasting symptoms for hepatitis
and cancer as well as the treatment of osteoporosis in both men and
women of all ages.
Oxandrolone was introduced in the
year 1964, when Searle came out with the original Anavar. Anavar
quickly became the popular drug in the sports crowd for people looking
for a safer alternative to the major steroid at the time, Dianabol
(methandrostenolone). It remained one of the best-sellers for well over
2 decades until it was indefinitely discontinued in the year 1989. Much
to the regret of the recreational bodybuilding and powerlifting
community.
The main reasons for the
wide-spread use of Anavar in sports is because it is very appealing to
female athletes as well as male athletes. It causes little or no
virilization properties, demonstrated by its medical uses to treat
women. This is rather surprising since Anavar does not aromatize
either. It's the only steroid that is both safe and convenient without
producing excess estrogen. That makes it particularly useful when
cutting up for a contest or preventing an increase in body-fat due to
estrogenic effects. In fact the main use of Anavar to a bodybuilder is
in the maintenance of lean mass while reducing body-fat. Anavar
(oxandrolone) itself may not actually reduce body-fat, but it too plays
a key role in the process. Like most non-aromatizing compounds it has a
repressing effect on the appetite making it easier for the user to
control cravings and stay strict with his diet.
Anavar also has little effect on
the body's own natural hormone production. The negative feedback was
found to be very minor, meaning that during short term use no
suppression of Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, start of natural
testosterone production) was noted. This meant that whatever gains
made, as little as they may have been, were very easily maintained
post-cycle. So there was also no use for products like Clomid or
Nolvadex in conjunction with Anavar consumption. The easy to maintain
low gains would indicate a low binding to the androgen receptor. While
not extremely high, it should actually be noted that it does have quite
decent binding to the androgen receptor. But the reason for its mild
effects is quite likely the low dose used. Rarely if ever are doses
higher than 20 mg used on a daily basis. Either because of convenience
or due to the high price. But comparing that the doses of other
steroids this is remarkably low. So its only logical the gains and
side-effects aren't particularly notable.
Of course a bodybuilder has
limited use for a compound that is both a weak androgen in the doses
mostly used and doesn't aromatize since no mentionable effect on mass
can be produced to satisfy the chemically enhanced athlete. Therefor it
is best noted that Anavar is most popular with power- and weightlifters
to enhance strength without increasing bodyweight. This is valued
highly since strength athletes often compete in weight-classes. Anavar
does not increase strength through androgenic stimulation, at least not
primarily. It stimulates the formation of phosphocreatine, a body
compound that can replenish ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) , the main
energy currency of the living organism. This gives an incredible
increase in short term anaerobic performance, the type needed for
explosive action such as sprinting and lifting weight.
For bodybuilders the best results
are seen when stacking Anavar with a highly androgenic compound. Either
during a mass stack with aromatizable products to boost strength a
little more, or in conjunction with a non-estrogenic compound. This is
most beneficial since it can maintain lean mass, decrease appetite,
improve sharpness of the muscle and keep strength levels up without
giving increased androgenic risk (acne, prostate hypertrophy, hair
loss) when stacked with pure androgens (stanozolol, drostanolone). For
those looking for safe maintenance of muscle mass a stack of Anavar
with Primobolan is not a bad investment (but a big investment). The
common use of Anavar is estimated, at 0.125 mg per pound of bodyweight.
For men it should be closer to 0.2 mg per pound, for women 0.08 mg per
pound per day.
The downsides to Anavar are minor.
The worst problem by far is the poor availability and high price. But
it has to be noted that, eventhough Anavar is nowhere near Halotestin
or anadrol in hepa-toxicity, it too is a 17-alpha-alkylated substance
that can cause liver damage if used for long periods on end. Other
common side-effects include headaches, loss of libido, diarrhea and
dizziness.
The conclusion to follow these
paragraphs is of course that Anavar is understandably still a popular
and very versatile steroid, much desired by both experienced athletes
and novice users because of its many properties. While few will say
this is the best or their favorite steroid, you won't find many that
will have anything negative to say about it either.
