Anavar is gaining popularity all over the world for being one of the safest anabolic steroids to use!

Its non-toxic effect on the liver and pronounced positive results i.e. immense muscle building and fat burning capacity are quite praiseworthy. This has made it quite a favorite among everyone (the medical and bodybuilding industry alike!)

But what you need to ask yourself is

What more do I know about Anavar?
Will it interact with any medicine I am taking?
Am I familiar with all the uses and side effects of Anavar?

(Because my friend, this is absolutely necessary to know before you start taking Anavar!)

Read along to find out everything you need to know about Anavar such as its usage, dosage, benefits, side effects, interactions, and the necessary precautions before its use.

What is Anavar?

Anavar is the brand name for the compound Oxandrolone. Anavar is an androgen and anabolic steroid (Read the next section to know what it means).

This AAS was released in 1962 by researchers at Searle laboratories. They described the revolutionary effect of Anavar in their paper. What made Anavar stand out the most among other androgen and anabolic steroids is its ability to cause a muscle-building effect with very little androgenic effects! (Yup, Anavar was one of the first to do that!)

This caught the world’s attention. The supernations started to consider if this miraculous steroid can actually solve the muscle wasting syndrome that occurs in people suffering from diseases such as AIDS. The U.S. then officiated its release in the market in 1964.

And believe it or not, Anavar left everyone impressed by its results. The anabolic effect was prominently visible in frail patients, and they felt stronger than ever. Not only this, but its positive effect on bones also did not go unnoticed. It was found to be extremely beneficial for children with idiopathic Turner syndrome and also proved somewhat beneficial for osteoporosis.

Anavar’s sales were at an all-time high during the 1970s. However, Anavar’s unregulated use by bodybuilders and athletes halted its free availability.

Nevertheless, after much trial and error, Anavar was approved as an ‘orphan drug’ by the U.S. and EU countries. Its results were so amazing that they were unable to ban its use completely.

P.S. Orphan drugs are those that play a major role in treating rare disorders i.e., those that occur in 1 person for every 200,000 people in the U.S.

What is AAS?

Androgenic and Anabolic Steroids (AAS) are the derivatives of testosterone. These man-made alternatives to male hormones are designed for one cause: to maximize the anabolic nature of testosterone.

AAS work by increasing the anabolic activity within your body, which includes:

• Increased production of cells
• Enhanced muscle protein synthesis
• Improved absorption of amino acids from food (they are the building blocks of protein)
• Nitrogen retention and promote skeletal muscle formation

All of these characteristics come in quite handy when treating patients with catabolic disorders. AAS help them turn from extremely frail and tired beings to somewhat muscular and energetic people. AAS provides them with the pump of energy they desperately need to stop their muscles from wasting away completely and destroying their mobility in the process.

However, there is a problem with androgenic and anabolic steroids. Such steroids also initiate male puberty-like characteristics in its female users such as deepening of voice, hirsutism, male-pattern baldness, and much more. Male users of AAS also suffer from disturbed hormonal balance, making them prone to gynecomastia, prolonged erection, and even infertility in extreme cases.

The most astonishing fact about Anavar is that it significantly improves the anabolic activity while limiting the androgenic character to the max. It is one of the most ideal AAS ever produced. This is because it has a 10 times less androgenic effect on you as compared to its parent hormone, testosterone.

Yes, 10 freaking times!
Insane! Right?

Benefits of Anavar

Anavar is truly a wholesome anabolic steroid if you consider the benefits you get from this wondrous drug.

The most sought-after benefit of Anavar is its ability to prevent frailty that might occur in old age (sarcopenia) or due to catabolic clinical disorders such as HIV-linked muscle wasting syndrome, muscle loss due to burn injury or after a major operation, and hepatitis.

The benefits of Anavar include:

• Reduction in fat all over the body (including visceral fat)
• Increased protein absorption from food.
• A boost of energy due to better digestion of food.
• Enhanced skeletal muscle production
• Boosted nitrogen retention in muscles
• Improved muscle strength, growth, and function
• Acts as a moderate substitute for the loss of sex hormones i.e., androgen and estrogen.

Usage of Anavar

Anavar is an FDA-approved drug that has been employed by the medical industry (and also the bodybuilding community to some extent) to boost anabolism.

Anavar, since its release, has come a long way in terms of appropriate use, dosage, and benefits. This simple AAS has helped multiple people cross their derogatory hurdles merely by using Anavar as prescribed by their physician.

Let’s look at both its medical and non-medical uses in detail so you can realize the important role of Anavar.

Medical usage

Medically, Anavar is used for three main purposes:

• To subsidize bone pain
• To promote weight gain by muscle building.
• To increase height in certain conditions for children only

This steroid is so efficient in what it does that the FDA was compelled to approve its use. (The plethora of side effects are something you need to be cautious of — I have discussed them later in the article, don’t forget to read them in detail, my friend).

Anavar is used to prevent bone pain that may occur in osteoporosis due to consistent bone loss. (Trust me mate, the pain is next-level. You will feel a never-ending pain within your bones, something that becomes so significant that women mostly give up on performing any task by themselves (the majority of osteoporosis patients are females, who suffer from bone loss after menopause)).

On the other hand, Anavar is also used to induce weight gain/muscle gain in burn patients, those who suffer from a trauma post-surgery, chronic infection, or muscle loss due to extended use of corticosteroids (like hydrocortisone), and people who suffer from HIV-related muscle wasting.

Not only this but this multifunctional AAS is also used to treat idiopathic short stature in children. However, note that it is only effective in prepubescent kids. There is no evidence that the same effect will occur in you, an adult for the case.

Anavar is also approved for use in girls with Turner syndrome. It aids their proper growth in this case. Anavar is also referred to patients with anemia, hypogonadism, and alcoholic hepatitis.

Non-medical usage

Non-medical usage of Anavar is mostly limited to its use by bodybuilders and sometimes athletes.

Anavar’s pronounced effect on muscle gain is what garnered the attention of the bodybuilding industry. People are using it more and more to achieve gains in a short amount of time. Bodybuilders also value its low hepatotoxicity, something which is quite common for oral steroids. (Yup, steroids taken orally mess up your liver pretty bad!)

Moreover, its minimized androgenic effects have made it quite popular among females. The majority of its users include women and people who want to experience a less intense steroid regimen for muscle gain.

What is the recommended Anavar dosage?

The recommended dosage of Anavar differs according to the condition you are taking it for as well as your tolerance level. The dose also significantly varies among children and adults too.

Note: Keep in mind that Anavar is used adjunctively to conventional therapy. This steroid can, by no means, replace the prescribed medications.

The dosage information for Anavar is listed below:

• For osteoporosis-related bone pain

2.5 to 20 mg 2 to 4 times a day. The cycle should be intermittent, with a 2 to 4-week cycle each.

• For weight gain

2.5 to 20 mg per day, divided into 2 to 4 doses.
Fortnightly and monthly cycles are generally recommended for patients.

• For muscle gain in prolonged corticosteroid users

2.5 to 20 mg 2 to 4 times a day.
Each cycle should be of 2 to 4 weeks.

• For children use

For children, the recommended dosage is ≤0.1 mg per kilogram of their body weight or ≤ 0.045 mg per pound of body weight. For instance, if the child weighs 11 pounds, the recommended dose of Anavar for him will be 0.495 mg (~0.5 mg) per day.

• For geriatric use

For geriatric patients, 0.5 mg of Anavar is enough for daily consumption.

What is the best time to take Anavar?

For Anavar, there is no recommended best time for its intake. However, you should pay special attention to the timings at which you take Anavar every day.

It is best to take Anavar at the same time each day for its thorough absorption in your digestive system. Since Anavar rarely gets metabolized by the liver, oral doses are recommended for this steroid.

Note: The peak concentration of Anavar in your body is achieved after 1 hour of its consumption. Almost all of the Anavar (approximately 95%) gets attached to the skeletal muscles on absorption. (Brace yourself for some side effects too if it’s your first time taking Anavar. Monitor yourself closely after 1 hour of its intake and immediately visit your doctor if your condition worsens)

What if I miss the dose of Anavar?

If this happens, you should take Anavar as soon as you remember. However, if the time of the next dose is near, skip the missed dose and take the next dose on its time.
(Do not try to act smart by doubling up your dose to compensate for the missed one. Overdosing on Anavar does more harm than good.)

Does Anavar interact with any drug?

Yup, it does.

Just like any other anabolic steroid, Anavar tends to react with particular prescribed drugs. You need to be extra careful when choosing Anavar for personal use.

The most common drug interactions of Anavar are:

• Anticoagulants such as warfarin

Anavar augments the function of anticoagulants. It makes you more sensitive to anticoagulants such as warfarin, making you prone to unwanted bleeding and easy bruising.
It was noted in a study that concomitant use of Anavar and warfarin increased the half-life of the anticoagulant by 1 to 2 days. In order to maintain the warfarin level within the safe limits, you should decrease the dose by almost 80 to 85%.
Therefore, you should always consult your doctor before starting Anavar when on warfarin. Your doctor will also need to regularly monitor your blood through INR or PT tests so that a balance between the dose of Anavar and the anticoagulant you are taking can be established. There is a risk of occult bleeding (bleeding which cannot be seen by the eye) in such patients.

• ACTH or adrenal steroids

Simultaneous use of adrenal corticosteroids (ACTH) and Anavar can worsen the edema in patients who already suffer from body swelling.

• Hypoglycemic drugs (oral)

Anavar inhibits the oral hypoglycemic drugs from being digested in your body.

• Laboratory test interaction

Anavar can decrease the level of thyroxine-binding globulin, which can lead to decreased T4 serum levels and increased resin uptake by T3 and T4. To prevent these distorted test results, notify your doctor and lab beforehand about your Anavar use.

What are the side effects of Anavar?

Just like any other androgenic and anabolic steroid, Anavar also has side effects. They are unpleasant and can be potentially dangerous if not paid attention to.

Anavar side effects in adults:

Some common side effects experienced by adults taking Anavar are:

• Acne
• Increased sebum production on the face
• Abdominal discomfort
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hair loss
• Edema (due to increased water retention)
• Insomnia or disturbed sleep
• Irritability
• Increased/decreased sexual desire
• Darkening of the skin (occurs infrequently)

Edema can lead to heart failure risk if not treated. The major symptoms to look for are breathlessness, sudden or unusual weight gain, swelling of ankles and feet, and unexplainable lethargy.

Side effects in males:

A common side effect noted in males is priapism (elongated erection of the penis). Priapism can extend to 4 hours and more and is extremely uncomfortable and painful to deal with. I would suggest you visit a healthcare service as soon as this occurs.
You can also experience difficulty in urination and breast tenderness while on Anavar.

Gynaecomastia is not a commonly reported side effect. However, a study found that prolonged use of Anavar caused irreversible gynecomastia in boys, all of whom needed mastectomy to remove the unwanted breast tissue.

Other rare side effects in men include decreased testicular size, low sperm count(oligospermia), and even infertility in some cases.

Note: Testicular size decrease and oligospermia is linked to Anavar’s androgenic properties. Since your body is receiving testosterone from outside, it balances your hormone level by destroying your gonadotropin tissues responsible for testosterone production.

Side effects in females:

The most common side effect in women is virilism i.e., the development of unwanted male characteristics. This includes hirsutism (facial hair growth), deepening of the voice, unusual body hair growth, hoarseness of voice, and enlargement of the clitoris. You may also experience disturbed menstrual cycles on Anavar use.

Anavar side effects in children:

Anavar can sometimes lead to decreased adult height in children.

What precautions should you take before or during Anavar use?

There is a list of precautionary measures that you should take to stay safe before using Anavar

For Adults:

Remember that Anavar is a significantly potent steroid. It dramatically shifts your internal system once it starts working. So, you need to be at the best of your health before starting the Anavar cycle.

You cannot take Anavar if you suffer from

• Breast cancer (men)
• Prostate cancer
• High calcium level in blood.

Not only this, but you should always consult your doctor before taking Anavar alone or in a combo cycle. The things you should mention specifically about your medical history are

• Any type of cancer
• Heart problems (heart failure, heart attack)
• Consistent liver issues
• Kidney function problems
• Diabetes
• Low blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Sleep issues (such as COPD, and sleep apnea)

Since all of your organs are engaged in the absorption and subsequent digestion of Anavar, any weak organ can further deteriorate your health rapidly. You will feel your health crashing down if you do not act safe and smart before starting Anavar!

Especially if you have diabetes, you can become prone to low sugar levels when on Anavar. Low sugar is not safe and consists of major symptoms that you must note and report to your doctor if taken place.

These include

• Shaking
• Breathlessness
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Sudden sweating
• Hunger

For old age people:

If you are planning to use Anavar, always get your doctor’s approval beforehand.
Remember that you are at a greater risk of developing grave complications such as liver or prostate problems as well as swollen limbs.
You must tell your doctor if you were bedridden while on Anavar so that your physician can check your calcium levels promptly.

For pregnant/breastfeeding women:

Anavar is a big NO-NO for women who are either pregnant or breastfeeding!

There is a risk that Anavar can pass through your placenta and harm your unborn baby. (I know that this is the last thing you would want for your child.)
Therefore, use all protective mechanisms to prevent conceiving while on Anavar.
And if you already are pregnant and got to know this later after starting Anavar, then stop your cycle immediately and go to your doctor.

As far as breastfeeding is concerned, this steroid doesn’t pass through milk but reduces your milk supply significantly. This can indirectly harm your precious one. Hence, it’s best to avoid using Anavar during breastfeeding too.

For children:

Children taking Anavar are at a greater risk of developing a short adult height. Therefore, their doctor must continuously check their bone development and overall growth to prevent any mishap to happen in the future.