Anavar (Oxandrolone) is a potent anabolic steroid which is a synthesized form of testosterone. This anabolic supplement helps boost strength, build lean muscle, and cut away at body fat when used in combination with a proper diet and exercise regime. Anavar is recommended for first time steroid users because the side effects are few and far apart.
It was developed in 1964 by Searle Laboratories. It was initially used to help build muscle for people suffering from conditions that cause weight loss and was used as part of the treatment plan for HIV/AIDS. It was also at least a little successful as a treatment for osteoporosis.
Searle Laboratories discontinued production of Anavar in 1989, partly due to the bad publicity the steroid received after many bodybuilders abused it. Bio-Technology General Corporation, now known as Savient Pharmaceuticals, picked up Anavar for themselves. They re-released it under the name Oxandrin in 1995 after completing clinical trials.
The FDA would give it orphan drug status, and it was used to treat hepatitis, Turner Syndrome, and the weight loss HIV patients suffered. It also helps to offset protein catabolism caused by long-term use of corticosteroids. It also helps to treat anemia and hereditary angioedema. It is currently classed as a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States thanks to the potential for abuse.
Brand/Trade Names: Anavar, Protivar, Provitar, Oxandrin, Xtendrol, Lonavar, Lipidex, Anatrophill, Antitriol, Vasorome
Chemical Structure: 17 -hydroxy-17a-methyl-2-oxa-5a-androstan-3-one
The Molecular Formula: C19H30O3
About Anavar
Anavar is made using Oxandrolone and is more commonly known as a Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) anabolic steroid with almost no androgenic qualities and with some mild anabolic properties. Anavar is an oral steroid that, much like many other oral steroids, is a C17alpha-alkylated medication (17-aa). This means that it’s been altered at the 17th carbon position so that it survives passing through the liver after digestions. If it wasn’t for this alteration, it would never even make it to the bloodstream and would just be destroyed in the liver.
Instead, the steroid enters the bloodstream where it activates, and you receive the benefits. This 17-aa process can damage the liver, which is the reason that oral steroids are typically avoided, but Anavar should be an exception. It doesn’t affect the liver as much as other 17-aa medications and the rise in liver enzymes is barely noticeable, if it happens at all.
Anavar activates very quickly once it has entered the bloodstream, a trait shared by most oral steroids, and particularly with DHT steroids. This burst of speed is also due to the short half-life of just nine hours.
This short half-life for Anavar also means that it should be taken twice a day to get the best results. It’s possible to take the medicine only once per day and still get a lot of benefits, but you should take it twice to keep it active in the body for as long as possible. Taking it once will give you a nice boost, but there will barely be any of the product in your bloodstream after 24 hours. If you’re only taking a little amount, especially women, once per day will be enough.
The Benefits of Anavar
Because Anavar is a mild anabolic steroid, it’s not supposed to be used during bulking or gaining cycles. When used as a performance enhancer you won’t gain a lot of lean muscle tissue. Instead, what Anavar produces is solid muscle tissue.
This steroid is mostly used to preserve muscles and affect metabolic activity. Anavar is used to reduce body fat while still preserving muscle while you’re on a calorie-controlled diet. More muscle also means a greater metabolic rate, which increases the use of body fat as an energy source.
As Anavar is great at reducing fat and preserving muscles, athletes use it during the time they prepare for competition. It’s also used by gym rats who are looking to get the best body for the beach.
Anavar Side-Effects
Negative side-effects can occur when you abuse steroids. Some people are also more sensitive to steroids and suffer from ill-effects despite using only small amounts. This can happen with any medication; even aspirin.
While many anabolic steroids have the potential to cause negative side-effects, in particular, estrogen related ones due to aromatization, Anavar doesn’t. It doesn’t aromatize at all, so the more common side-effects such as Gynecomastia are not likely.
Anavar is also far less suppressive of natural testosterone than other steroids.
People taking Anavar are still able to produce testosterone naturally. However, the production of testosterone will still be suppressed somewhat. How much it is suppressed depends on the dose.
Anavar and Women
Anabolic steroids can be particularly damaging to women as they can cause masculine effects, a process is known as virilization. This includes a deeper voice, unwanted body hair, and an enlarged clitoris. Anavar is a little different due to the mild nature of the steroid. This means that both men and women are not likely to suffer from adverse side-effects. Anavar is as safe for women as it is men. It even has a reputation as being “The Girl Steroid” because it’s so female friendly, despite having male users too.
Anavar Cycles and Doses
Many men who take Anavar may need to take large doses to see a noticeable difference as the steroid is extremely mild. If you want to see a difference, the minimum recommended dose is 50mg, but the most common dose is 80mg a day.
Women need to take smaller doses because they are more sensitive to anabolic steroids overall. These smaller doses also practically guarantee that you won’t suffer from an adverse side-effect. Women will be able to get by on just 10mg a day of Anavar. 20mg is the most many women could need.
Whether you’re a man or a woman you can take Anavar for longer than you can take other oral anabolic steroids. Even so, 6-8 weeks is still the normal cycle, as it is with those other steroids. It also usually doesn’t matter at which point in your cycle you take Anavar but, if you want to get lean, then it’s best to use Anavar near the end of the cycle. This is a steroid that has enhanced effects when you’re already lean, rather than making you leaner.