Anabolic steroidAndrogenAnabolic steroidTestosterone derivativeOral17-alpha-alkylated

Oxymesterone

Also known as Oxymesterone · Oranabol · Theranabol · 4-hydroxymethyltestosterone

Written by enwyReviewed 15 Jul 20262 sources0 comments

Oxymesterone (4-hydroxy-17α-methyltestosterone) is a 17α-methylated oral androgen once marketed as a pharmaceutical (Oranabol) in some countries. It has a moderate, relatively balanced anabolic-androgenic profile with weak oestrogenic activity, and like other 17α-alkylated orals carries meaningful hepatotoxicity. It is little-used today and has thin modern human data.

01 Overview

Oxymesterone was sold in the 1960s-70s as an oral anabolic under names such as Oranabol and Theranabol, but never achieved the prominence of methandienone or stanozolol and largely disappeared from clinical use. Its 4-hydroxy group is a structural feature shared with formestane-type compounds.

Available descriptions indicate a mild-to-moderate mass and strength effect with some water retention and weak oestrogenic activity, and the standard hepatic burden of an orally active 17α-methylated steroid. Because it is obscure and poorly studied in modern terms, its effects are characterised conservatively.

02 Mechanism

Androgen-receptor agonist; 4-hydroxy and 17α-methyl substitutions on testosterone give oral activity with modest, relatively balanced anabolic-androgenic action and weak oestrogenicity.

03 Dosing

Tier	Dose	Route	Notes
Therapeutic	10–20 mg/day	Oral	Approximate historical clinical range.
Common	20–40 mg/day	Oral	Approximate range for anabolic effect.
Heavy	40–60 mg/day	Oral	Hepatic strain rises with dose.

Ester comparison

Ester	Half-life	Injection freq.	Testosterone by mass

04 Effects

Effect	Magnitude	Evidence
Moderate lean mass and strengthModest gains in lean tissue and strength.		Observational
Some water retentionWeak oestrogenic activity can produce mild fluid retention.		Observational
Relatively balanced profileAnabolic and androgenic effects are moderate and fairly balanced.		Observational

05 Side effects

Effect	Severity	Frequency	Evidence
Mild oestrogenic effectsWeak oestrogenic activity can cause mild water retention or gynaecomastia at higher doses.	Mild	Uncommon	Observational
HepatotoxicityRaised liver enzymes typical of 17α-alkylated orals.	Moderate	Common	Observational
HPTA suppressionSuppresses endogenous testosterone.	Moderate	Universal	Observational

06 Legal status

United Kingdom

Class C controlled substance

as of Jan 2026

United States

Schedule III controlled substance

as of Jan 2026

07 References

Oxymesterone - PubChem compound recordPubChem, NIH

Anabolic Steroids - LiverToxLiverTox, NIH

08 Discussion0 comments

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This page is reference information, not medical advice. Doses and protocols are documented as they appear in the clinical literature and in practice — describing them is not a recommendation to use them. Countermeasures listed here are not a substitute for a physician. Legal status varies by jurisdiction and changes.