Oxymetholone
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| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
| 17β-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethylidene- 17α-methyl-3-androstanone |
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| Clinical data | |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Consumer Drug Information |
| Pregnancy cat. | X |
| Legal status | Schedule III (US) |
| Routes | Oral |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | 95% |
| Metabolism | Hepatic |
| Half-life | 8-9 hours |
| Excretion | Urinary:95% |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 434-07-1  |
| ATC code | A14AA05 |
| PubChem | CID 5281034 |
| ChemSpider | 4444502  |
| UNII | L76T0ZCA8K |
| KEGG | D00490 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1200585 |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C21H32O3 |
| Mol. mass | 332.48 g/mol |
| SMILES | eMolecules & PubChem |
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Oxymetholone, marketed as Anadrol, is a synthetic anabolic steroid developed in 1960 by Zoltan 'Anadrol Z' F.[citation needed] Its primary clinical applications include treatment of osteoporosis and anaemia, as well as stimulating muscle growth in malnourished or underdeveloped patients. The drug was approved for human use by the FDA. Later, non-steroidal drugs such as epoetin alfa were developed and proven to be more effective as a treatment for anaemia and osteoporosis without the side effects of oxymetholone. The drug remained available despite this and eventually found a new use in treating HIV wasting syndrome. Presented most commonly as a 50 mg tablet, oxymetholone is one of the strongest androgenic steroids available.[1] Similarly, it also poses the greatest risk of side effects of any steroid. Despite very low binding affinity with the androgen receptor, oxymetholone is highly effective in promoting extensive gains in body mass, mostly by greatly improving protein synthesis. For this reason, it is often used by bodybuilders and athletes.[2] Many athletes also use oxymetholone as a method of protection for the joints under heavy loads. Due to the high water retention users experience from this drug, it similarly lubricates the joints and helps protect from injury.[citation needed] Oxymetholone is widely considered by bodybuilders to have the strongest anabolic effect out of all oral steroids available.
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[edit] Side effects
The side-effects of short-term use of oxymetholone include nausea, bloating, acne, and, in women, masculinizing effects such as deepening of the voice, growth of facial hair and clitoral hypertrophy.[citation needed] In addition, unless selective estrogen receptor modulators such as tamoxifen or clomifene are taken in conjunction with the drug, there is a significant risk of the appearance of estrogenic effects such as gynecomastia over time.[citation needed] Because of its 17α-alkylated structure, oxymetholone is highly hepatotoxic. Long term use of the drug can cause a variety of serious ailments, including hepatitis, liver cancer, and cirrhosis.[citation needed] It is dangerous to take oxymetholone in high dosages for periods of time exceeding four weeks, and is commonly used by bodybuilders during the start of a steroid cycle to help gain mass.
[edit] Use with other steroids
To further its effectiveness as an anabolic agent, bodybuilders typically "stack" oxymetholone with other anabolic steroids. Since it is already a very potent androgen, many users will only use it for the first 3-4 week of the cycle, giving time for intra-muscularly injected products such as nandrolone, boldenone and testosterone to reach maximum blood levels.
[edit] References
- ^ "Anadrol-50". Meda Pharmaceuticals. December 2006. http://www.meda.us/products/pi/Anadrol-50_PI.pdf. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ "Oxymetholone 50mgs Anadrol 50". http://www.oxymetholone.net/. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
