Anadrol: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & Legal Alternatives

Vial of anadrol on white background.

What is Anadrol?

Anadrol, also known as Oxymetholone or “Oxy,” belongs to the class of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS). Anadrol works by binding to androgen receptors. Anadrol is administered orally or through intramuscular injection.

Unlike other androgen receptor agonists like testosterone, it only weakly promotes male sex characteristics and is much more powerful in its anabolic capabilities, which promote muscle growth and development.

Medical practitioners use Anadrol in androgen-anabolic steroid therapy to promote weight gain in patients with medical conditions (such as HIV/AIDS) that cause wasting of the body. It has also been shown to promote blood cell creation in patients with aplastic anemia.

However, its use for medical purposes has declined due to the availability of safer and more effective treatments.

Is Anadrol Legal?

Anadrol’s legality depends on the specific jurisdiction and the intended use of the substance. In some countries, Anadrol is a controlled substance and is available only through a valid prescription from a medical professional.

When it comes to non-medical use, such as bodybuilding or athletic performance enhancement, Anadrol is generally considered illegal in many countries.  In the United States, Anadrol is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance and is not legal to use for bodybuilding or performance enhancement purposes.

Most sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency, also ban the use of anabolic steroids like Anadrol due to their potential health risks and unfair competitive advantage.

Laws regarding anabolic steroids vary from country to country, so it is important to understand the specific regulations in your jurisdiction before attempting to obtain or use Anadrol or any other anabolic steroid.

Benefits

Anadrol stimulates the production of red blood cells and can boost energy levels. It allows the user to rapidly build muscle and gain muscle weight. This has made Anadrol useful for the treatment of some diseases that cause extreme thinning and weight loss.

Anadrol causes bodybuilders to bulk up in two ways: by promoting the growth of muscle tissue and by inducing the retention of water within muscle cells. While this causes a noticeable increase in strength, the retention of water in the muscle can lead to pain when exercising.

Anadrol increases bone calcium and serum levels of calcium. This could be beneficial for patients with osteoporosis but dangerous for people whose calcium levels are too high.

Side Effects

  • Anadrol is toxic to the liver and increases the risk of tumors or blood-filled cysts in the liver.
  • The drug increases the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer and can worsen an enlarged prostate.
  • Anadrol increases estrogen production, which causes fluid retention as well as the growth of breast tissue (gynecomastia in males).
  • Females who use Anadrol may experience a deepening of the voice, similar to the effect of testosterone.
  • Anadrol also causes the skin to become oily and increases the risk of acne.

The above is not intended to be a complete list of Anadrol’s side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Anadrol should not be used with other medications due to the risk of drug interactions. Drug.com lists medications associated with strong interactions. For some drugs, doctors may prescribe them together but lower the dose if side effects develop.

Withdrawal from Anadrol can cause nausea, fatigue, and pain in muscles and joints.

Legal Anadrol Alternatives

Anadrol is a highly effective anabolic steroid, but its legality and associated risks precludes it from being a viable option for most people. Fortunately, there are some legal Anadrol alternatives available that deliver many of the same effects without any of the adverse reactions.

Formulated with  100% safe and legal ingredients, these natural steroids are a smarter way to achieve anabolic-like results without actual steroid use. While these products may not produce the same potent effects of actual Anadrol, they provide many of the same benefits, but in a safer and less extreme way.

Some excellent Anadrol alternatives to Anadrol include:

Conclusion

Anadrol has limited medical efficacy in the treatment of select diseases. Its medical use has declined since safer alternatives have become available. It may be popular among some bodybuilders, but its use for bodybuilding is illegal and dangerous due to the risk of serious side effects.

Anabolic Research display of product bottles.


This drug information is meant for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the expertise of a medical professional.

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