Anadrol is known to be one of the most potent oral anabolic steroids on the market. It is in constant competition with Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) and there is debate in the steroid bodybuilding community as to which drug is stronger.
Description and history of the drug
Anadrol is the brand name and trade name of an anabolic steroid better known as Oxymetholone. However, this should not be confused with Oxandrolone, which is also known as Anavar. Oxymetholone is Anadrol. The Anadrol formula was first developed and introduced in 1959. Almost immediately, Syntex started selling Oxymetholone under the brand name Anadrol-50. At the same time, Parke Davis & Co also manufactured the drug but sold it under the Anadroyd name. Shortly after entering the drug market, Anadrol was used to treat a variety of conditions, from geriatric atrophy to fighting infections. But Anadrol has gained fame and popularity as a remedy to treat anemia. Anadrol patients are prescribed Anadrol to increase the red blood cell count and increase their hemoglobin levels in the blood. With the development of drugs, less dangerous drugs were used in therapy, and the release of Anadrol decreased significantly.
Anadrol has the ability to rapidly stimulate erythropoiesis (hematopoiesis). Despite the fact that all anabolic steroids have similar properties, Anadrol shows better indicators of hematopoiesis than other drugs. For a more accurate characterization, it should be noted that Anadrol increases the production of red blood cells by 5 times. Research has shown that Anadrol has an apparent anabolic effect on patients with muscular dystrophy and AIDS. Patients taking Anadrol gained up to 8 kg in body weight, while the placebo groups not only lost weight, but also showed increased mortality. With the discovery of new drug properties, production has resumed and Anadrol is now mainly prescribed to patients suffering from malnutrition caused by the immunodeficiency virus.
Chemical characteristics of Anadrol
Anadrol is a derivative of the anabolic steroid dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In fact, Anadrol is a modified dihydrotestosterone. Compounds that belong to the DHT family of anabolic steroids include: Winstrol, Primobolan, Masteron, Anavar as well as a number of other drugs that are derivatives of the parent anabolic steroid DHT. What all these analogues have in common is that they belong to the group of modified forms of DHT. Dihydrotestosterone can be considered the “parent” or “grandfather” hormone for these anabolic steroids. What sets Anadrol apart from the parent hormone DHT is the extra methyl group as well as the 2-hydroxymethylene group attached to the carbon in the first steroid cycloalkane ring. Under the influence of the enzyme 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (which is found in large quantities in muscle), dihydrotestosterone, penetrating muscle tissue, becomes inactive and reduced to other metabolites. Due to its structure, Anadrol does not interact with the enzyme 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and remains active in muscle tissue. This gives Anadrol very high potential – it has an anabolic index of 320, which is a little over three times higher than testosterone, which has an index of 100. Anadrol has also been shown to have reduced androgenic potency. Compared to testosterone, which has an androgenic index of 100, the androgenic index for Anadrol is 45.
One of the unique unexplored properties of Anadrol is that it has very high estrogenic activity as a dihydrotestosterone derivative. Anabolic steroids – DHT derivatives – generally cannot be converted to estrogen via the enzyme aromatase and therefore do not exhibit estrogenic activity. In this sense, Anadrol is clearly different from others. Anadrol is known to even convert to estrogen leading to fluid retention, gynecomastia and other estrogenic side effects. Anadrol is believed to act as an estrogen in certain tissues. This feature is described and discussed in detail below. However, those who closely monitor Anadrol should understand that the drug is a derivative of DHT, but it does not exhibit the effects and effectiveness associated with dihydrotestosterone. Anadrol cannot convert to estrogen since aromatase inhibitors cannot treat drug-specific estrogenic symptoms.
Anadrol is an oral anabolic steroid. This means that the substance must pass through the liver before entering the bloodstream. The C17-alpha-alkyd group, which maintains the integrity and penetrability of the drug, helps Anadrol not to degrade under the influence of metabolic processes. Severe hepatotoxicity is a well-known property of Anadrol. The chemical structure and modification of the drug (including the presence of a C17-alpha-alkyd group) make it exceptionally resistant to hepatic metabolism. Simply put, Anadrol is not broken down as it passes through the liver. But the greater the resistance of a substance to destruction under the influence of biochemical processes, the greater the load it exerts on the body. This is a sign of the extreme toxicity of Anadrol, which is known to be one of the most harmful oral anabolic steroids.
Side effects
Being a potent C-17-alpha-alkylated oral anabolic steroid, Anadrol exhibits high liver toxicity and adverse effects on the liver. In terms of toxic effects, the drug really turns out to be the most dangerous of all anabolic steroids available for sale. This characterization of the drug is common among bodybuilders and is probably exaggerated, but even so, this information should be taken very seriously. Interestingly, Anadrol has a chemical structure believed to reduce liver toxicity. In fact, when you use Anadrol, the level of liver enzymes increases. This has been shown in studies of patients diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. To avoid irreversible effects, it is strongly recommended to limit the intake of the drug for a period of 4-6 weeks and use Anadrol in combination with a large number of proven liver enhancers.
When you look at the other side effects of Anadrol, things get even more confusing. Anadrol is known to be a derivative of DHT and does not convert to estrogen. However, anadrol is characterized by side effects that occur when taking estrogen: water retention in the body (often occurs in extremes) with a concomitant increase in blood pressure and the development of gynecomastia. The use of selective estrogen receptor modulators (or Nolvadex) reduces the manifestations of gynecomastia, but does not solve the problem of edema and arterial hypertension. Aromatase inhibitors will also not work with Anadrol because it does not interact with this enzyme in the first place. Anadrol can probably act as a progestogen, causing similar side effects. It is very likely (but not certain) that Anadrol can interact directly with the estrogen receptor or that the metabolite Anadrol has a similar property.
The evidence for abnormalities in the metabolites of Anadrol becomes even more compelling after researching other side effects. The manifestation of androgenic side effects is much weaker than, for example, testosterone. However, Anadrol does not convert to DHT, but rather metabolizes to 17-alpha-methyldihydrotestosterone (mestanolone). Mestanolone is the strongest androgen, therefore the use of Anadrol causes a number of androgenic side effects such as: oily skin, acne (very pronounced), baldness (in both men and women), benign hyperplasia prostate, etc.
Finally, like all oral anabolic steroids, Anadrol has an extremely negative effect on the cardiovascular system, causing significant changes in blood cholesterol levels.
Application and dosage of Оxymetholone
Oxymetholone course is suitable for male athletes over 21 years old. The duration of the course is 6-8 weeks.
It is not recommended to increase the duration of taking oxymetholone for example. the main results are obtained in the first 3 weeks. It is better to take a break for a couple of weeks, and then repeat the course.
The maximum daily dose of the drug is 100 mg. Athletes using anabolics for the first time are not recommended to use more than 50mg per day.
At the end of the course, it is desirable for the athlete to undergo PCT – post cycle therapy: the natural level of testosterone must be restored.
