Anabolic steroidAndrogenAnabolic steroidDHT derivative17-alpha-alkylatedOral

Oxymetholone (Anadrol)

Also known as Anadrol · Anadrol-50 · Oxymetholone · Anapolon · A-bombs · Drol

Written by enwyReviewed 15 Jul 20262 sources0 comments

Oxymetholone ('Anadrol', 'A-bombs') is a potent 17α-methylated oral DHT-derived steroid used clinically for anaemia and wasting and recreationally for extreme mass and strength. It causes strong water retention and marked hepatic strain, and despite not aromatising it produces pronounced oestrogen-like effects through a poorly understood mechanism.

01 Overview

Developed as a treatment for anaemias of deficient red-cell production and later studied in HIV wasting, oxymetholone has a substantial clinical literature. It is one of the strongest oral steroids for adding raw body weight quickly, favoured in the heaviest bulking and strength contexts.

Although a DHT derivative that cannot aromatise, oxymetholone causes water retention, bloating and gynaecomastia in many users; it is thought to act as an oestrogen-receptor agonist directly or via other pathways. Its hepatotoxicity is considered among the more severe of the oral steroids, and appetite suppression and lethargy are frequent complaints at higher doses.

02 Mechanism

Androgen-receptor agonist (DHT-derived, 2-hydroxymethylene substituted) that strongly stimulates erythropoiesis and protein synthesis; does not aromatise but exerts direct oestrogenic activity by an incompletely defined route.

03 Dosing

Tier	Dose	Route	Notes
Therapeutic	1–5 mg/kg/day	Oral	Clinical anaemia dosing, weight-based.
Common	50–100 mg/day	Oral	Typical bodybuilding range.
Heavy	100–150 mg/day	Oral	Little added benefit over 100 mg for most; side effects escalate.

Ester comparison

Ester	Half-life	Injection freq.	Testosterone by mass

04 Effects

Effect	Magnitude	Evidence
Rapid mass and strength gainOne of the strongest orals for fast increases in body weight and strength.	+5-10 kg possible	Clinical
Increased red blood cell massStimulates erythropoiesis; used therapeutically for anaemia.	Clinically meaningful	Clinical
Water retentionHeavy fluid retention inflates weight and blood pressure and blurs muscular definition.		Observational

05 Side effects

Effect	Severity	Frequency	Evidence
HepatotoxicityAmong the more hepatotoxic orals; associated with cholestasis, peliosis hepatis and, rarely, hepatic tumours with prolonged use.	Severe	Common	Clinical
Oestrogen-like effects (gynaecomastia, bloating)Gynaecomastia and water retention occur despite no aromatisation.	Moderate	Common	Observational
HPTA suppressionStrong suppression of endogenous testosterone.	Severe	Universal	Clinical

06 Legal status

United States

Schedule III controlled substance

Also FDA-approved (Anadrol-50) for select anaemias. · as of

United Kingdom

Class C controlled substance

as of

07 References

Oxymetholone for the treatment of HIV-wasting: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trialAIDS, 2003

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.