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Muscle & performance

Anadrol (Oxymetholone)

The strongest oral mass steroid - brutal gains, lots of water, very liver-loading.

1 min read 13 sources

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White tablet bottle with a black TPD label for Anadrol (Oxymetholone) on a white podium, next to it a large blue 3D steroid molecule in a bright lab
Compound approved · as a tablet for anaemia

Summary

At a glance

Sources checked on 26 Oct 2026

Fat-free mass in 12 weeks
+4.2 kg

Older men, higher of two study levels, placebo 0.0 kg4

Lat pull-down strength
+18.4 %

Maximum strength after 12 weeks at the higher level, placebo -0.6 percent4

Weight in HIV wasting
+3.5 kg

Phase 3 trial with 89 participants, 16 weeks, placebo +1.0 kg5

Liver enzyme above five times
35 %

ALT above five times baseline at the highest level, placebo 0 percent5

Controlled trials
5 trials

one in the ISRCTN registry, four published without a registry number, as of 26 Oct 202611

  • Oxymetholone is a 17-alpha-alkylated derivative of testosterone. As a tablet it is approved in the USA for anaemia caused by too little red blood cell production.313
  • In a trial in older men fat-free mass and strength rose within 12 weeks while trunk fat fell. HDL cholesterol dropped markedly and the liver enzyme ALT rose at the higher level.4
  • In HIV wasting participants gained 3.0 to 3.5 kg in 16 weeks, on placebo 1.0 kg. Up to 35 percent had strongly raised liver enzymes.5
  • The liver is the weak point: reviews name jaundice from bile congestion, blood-filled cysts in the liver and liver tumours, plus falling HDL and rising blood pressure.32
  • The registry lists one completed trial in dialysis, the other controlled trials are older papers without a registry number. Everything here is the state of research, not a recommendation.1011
Profile

Updated June 2026

How long does it stay in the body?

Share left after one dose, calculated with a half-life of ~8.5 hours

Half-life ~8.5 hours
After 17 hours: 25 %
Hour 9 · 48 %Hour 17 · 25 %Hour 24, next dose · 14.1 %Hour 26 · 12 %Hour 43 · 3 %

Simplified model without an absorption phase, half-life from the TPD lexicon. The lexicon gives 8 to 9 hours, we calculate with the middle.

Class
Oral anabolic

17a-alkylated, DHT derivative

Use
Oral

1x per day

Half-life
about 8-9 hours
WADA
banned

anabolic

Sizes
25 to 50 mg

2 sizes in the shop

Contents 12 sections
  1. At a glance
  2. What is Anadrol?
  3. How it works
  4. Use and dosing
  5. What the research shows
  6. Research status
  7. Side effects
  8. Storage
  9. Related compounds
  10. FAQ
  11. Glossary
  12. Sources

What is Anadrol?

Anadrol (Oxymetholone, A50) is one of the strongest oral mass steroids. It delivers very fast, large gains in strength and weight but comes with a lot of water retention and, as a 17a-alkylated substance, is strongly liver-loading. Clinically oxymetholone is approved to treat anemia.

This information is for research and educational purposes only. No medical advice.

Comparison

Oral steroids compared

Steroids as tablets and as oil, as stated in the TPD lexicon. Tap a card to open its entry.

Oxymetholone as a tablet Anadrol (Oxymetholone) AR
Oxymetholone as oil Anadrol Oil (Oxymetholone) AR Methandienone as a tablet Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) AR Oxandrolone as a tablet Anavar (Oxandrolone) AR

Simplified: all act via the androgen receptor and differ in form, strength and liver strain. Oxymetholone and methandienone are 17-alpha-alkylated. 31

How it works

Oxymetholone activates the androgen receptor and strongly raises protein synthesis and erythropoiesis - hence the clinical use in anemia. It does not aromatize but still has estrogen-like effects (water retention, gyno risk) via another pathway, which is why classic aromatase inhibitors do not help here.

Where it acts

Where oxymetholone acted in studies

Tap a point or a card. Colour = androgen receptor, grey = observed in studies.

  1. Skeletal muscle

    Fat-free mass and strength rose, depending on the amount (older men, dialysis)4

    AR
  2. Blood

    Approved for anaemia caused by too little red blood cell production3

    AR
  3. Liver

    Liver enzymes rose, up to 35 percent with ALT above five times baseline5

    Observed in trials
  4. Fat tissue

    Trunk fat fell by up to 2.2 kg in 12 weeks4

    Observed in trials
  5. Heart and blood lipids

    HDL cholesterol fell markedly at both study levels4

    Observed in trials
  6. Testes and hormone axis

    Anabolic steroids suppress the body's own testosterone and gonadotropin production, sometimes for months2

    Observed in trials

Targets in the ChEMBL database13

Compound CHEMBL1200585: one recorded mechanism, agonist with direct binding to the human receptor.

Androgen receptor
Gene
AR
UniProt
P10275
ChEMBL
CHEMBL1871
Action
Agonist, direct binding
Two blue steroid molecules docking onto glossy glass muscle fibres, a brightly glowing bone structure in the background
Action via the androgen receptor in muscle and bone marrow. Symbolic image.

Use and dosing

Dosing

Dosing, titration and syringe

Loading the dosing information …

  • Getting started and stepping up, drawn as a staircase
  • Units on the U-100 syringe for every step
  • How long one vial lasts
White tablet bottle lying on its side with a black TPD label for Anadrol (Oxymetholone), a few white tablets next to it on a bright surface
Oxymetholone as a tablet to swallow. Symbolic image.

What the research shows

Oxymetholone has a real clinical history as an anemia drug. The AAS pharmacology (Kicman 2008, Hartgens & Kuipers 2004) classes the fast mass and strength gains of oral 17a-alkylated steroids.

Study results

What the trials measured

Interactive: switch tabs, tap points, show or hide arms. Arms are named relative to each other, no dosing advice.

Fat-free mass and trunk fat after 12 weeks4

31 men aged 65 to 80, change in kg

Fat-free mass4
Placebo 0.0 kg
Lower level +3.3 kg
Higher level +4.2 kg
Trunk fat4
Placebo -0.2 kg
Lower level -1.7 kg
Higher level -2.2 kg

Two study levels against placebo. The gain depended on the amount. HDL cholesterol fell markedly at both levels and the liver enzyme ALT rose at the higher level.

Maximum strength after 12 weeks4

Change in maximum strength in percent

Chest press4
Placebo -0.8%
Lower level +8.2%
Higher level +13.9%
Lat pull-down4
Placebo -0.6%
Lower level +8.8%
Higher level +18.4%

Values from the abstract. The spread was wide (lat pull-down at the higher level plus or minus 21 percentage points). Without strength training, community-dwelling men.

Weight and body cell mass5

Phase 3 trial, 89 women and men, gain in kg

Body weight5
Placebo +1.0 kg
Twice daily +3.5 kg
Three times daily (highest study dose, 150 mg per day) +3.0 kg
Body cell mass5 Placebo value not given in the abstract
Twice daily +3.8 kg
Three times daily (highest study dose, 150 mg per day) +2.1 kg

The highest level gave no more gain but more liver strain. Appetite and well-being improved. An earlier open study saw an average gain of 8.2 kg at the peak.

Cut-open glass long bone with red bone marrow from which red blood cells are falling out
Approved for anaemia, studied in older men, HIV wasting and dialysis. Symbolic image.

Research status

Where the research stands

ClinicalTrials.gov lists no trial with oxymetholone, not under the brand names either. The WHO search portal, which pools the other registries, lists one completed trial in dialysis (ISRCTN). Four published controlled trials without a registry number come on top. All used oxymetholone as a tablet. As of 26 Oct 2026. 1211

  1. Preclinical Hardly any studies on kinetics and tolerability before approval
  2. Phase 1 no registered trial
  3. Phase 2 no registered trial
  4. Phase 3 1 trial, 1 completed
  5. Approval as a tablet for anaemia
89 participants in phase 3 Approved as a tablet for anaemia: ChEMBL lists oxymetholone with phase 4 and first approval in 1972, a review names the 1960s.13
Show all 5 trials on a timelineHide timeline 5 completed 0 running 5 with results
Phase 3
Without phase

Bar: start to primary endpoint (planned for running trials), for published trials without a stated period the year of publication. Green = completed, blue = progress until 26 Oct 2026.

Side effects

  • Liver: 17a-alkylated, strong - short cycles, liver support.
  • Water/gyno: estrogen-like effects despite no aromatization - classic AIs do not help.
  • Blood pressure: rises markedly from water retention.
  • Lipids: HDL drops strongly.
  • HPTA suppression - PCT topic.

Tolerability

Liver enzymes in the HIV trial

Out of 100 participants, in how many the liver enzyme ALT rose above five times baseline.

0 of 100 Placebo
27 of 100 Twice daily
35 of 100 Three times daily (highest study dose, 150 mg per day)
Event PlaceboTwice dailyThree times daily (highest study dose, 150 mg per day)
ALT above five times5 0%27%35%

In older men ALT also rose markedly at the higher level and HDL fell at both levels. Reviews name jaundice from bile congestion as the most important liver damage, less often blood-filled liver cysts and liver tumours, plus rising blood pressure.5432

Storage

Store dry and cool, protected from light. Out of reach of children.

Three white tablet bottles and a folded light blue towel on a white shelf
Store dry, cool and protected from light. Symbolic image.
Level · Anadrol (Oxymetholone)

How the level builds up

One dose per day: each dose adds to what is left of the previous one.

Lexicon: Oral, 1x per day
Peak 1.16×Trough 0.16×
Day 1 · 2. dose
1.14× of the first dose
Plateau
from Day 1

98 % of the plateau after dose 2

Peak
1.16×

of the first dose

Trough
0.16×

before the next dose

Simplified model, values relative to the first dose, no dosing information. Dashed: the first dose alone, green: the plateau.

Related

Related compounds

Same receptors: all in the TPD lexicon.

Anadrol (Oxymetholone)
Anadrol Oil (Oxymetholone) The same compound as oil Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) Another 17-alpha-alkylated steroid as a tablet Anavar (Oxandrolone) Another oral steroid, also studied in wasting Superdrol (Methasterone) Another oral steroid Testosterone Enanthate Testosterone itself, long ester

FAQ

Common questions about Anadrol (Oxymetholone)

Short answers, each backed by the sources below.

What is oxymetholone?

Oxymetholone is a derivative of testosterone with a methyl group at position 17 (17-alpha-alkylated). This makes it work as a tablet but strains the liver. In the USA it is approved for anaemia caused by too little red blood cell production.313

What did the study in older men show?

31 men aged 65 to 80 received placebo or one of two oxymetholone levels for 12 weeks. Fat-free mass rose by 3.3 and 4.2 kg, trunk fat fell by 1.7 and 2.2 kg. Maximum strength rose by 8 to 18 percent depending on the exercise. In return HDL cholesterol fell markedly and ALT rose at the higher level.4

What did research in HIV wasting show?

In a phase 3 trial with 89 women and men the oxymetholone groups gained 3.0 to 3.5 kg in 16 weeks, on placebo 1.0 kg. Appetite and well-being improved. Twice daily worked as well as three times daily but strained the liver less. An earlier open study saw an average gain of 8.2 kg at the peak.56

How much does oxymetholone strain the liver?

Considerably. In the HIV trial ALT rose above five times baseline in 27 and 35 percent, on placebo in nobody. Liver enzymes also rose in older men and in dialysis. Reviews name jaundice from bile congestion as the most important liver side effect, less often blood-filled liver cysts and tumours.5473

Which other side effects are described?

Like all anabolic-androgenic steroids oxymetholone can cause acne, more body hair, hair loss, voice changes, breast growth in men, missed periods and changes in libido and potency. Reviews in athletes add rising blood pressure, falling HDL and suppressed own hormone production that can last for months.32

Are there data in dialysis?

Yes. In a trial with 43 dialysis patients fat-free mass and grip strength rose more than on placebo over 24 weeks and fat mass fell. Liver enzymes rose there too.7

Are trials running now?

No. As of 26 October 2026 no registered trial with oxymetholone is running. ClinicalTrials.gov lists none, the WHO search portal only completed entries: a trial in dialysis and a retrospective analysis in anaemia from Thailand. The other trials are older papers without a registry number.121110

Glossary

Terms explained briefly

Dotted words in the text open these explanations directly.

17-alpha alkylation
An extra methyl group on the steroid. It makes it active by mouth but strains the liver.
ALT
Alanine aminotransferase, a liver enzyme in the blood. If it rises sharply, liver cells are damaged.
Anaemia
Too little red blood pigment or too few red blood cells.
Androgen receptor
Protein inside the cell that testosterone and its derivatives bind to. Genes are then read, for example for muscle building.
Aromatisation
Conversion of an androgen into oestrogen by the enzyme aromatase. Aromatase inhibitors block this step.
Erythropoiesis
Production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Androgens stimulate it.
Gynaecomastia
Growth of breast gland tissue in men, often called gyno for short.
HDL cholesterol
The so-called good cholesterol. If it falls, the risk of vessel plaque rises.
Hormone axis (HPTA)
Hypothalamus, pituitary and testes together control the body's own testosterone production. Steroids from outside suppress this axis.
PCT
Post-cycle therapy: the phase after a cycle in which the body's own hormone production is meant to restart.
Placebo
Dummy preparation without active substance. Comparing against it shows what is due to the substance itself.

Evidence

Sources

Show all 13 sourcesHide sources 9 Studies3 Trial registry1 Database checked 26 Oct 2026

Studies

  1. Review of the pharmacology of anabolic steroids

    Kicman, British Journal of Pharmacology, 2008

    DOI 10.1038/bjp.2008.165 PMID 18500378
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  2. Review of effects and side effects of anabolic steroids in athletes

    Hartgens und Kuipers, Sports Medicine, 2004

    DOI 10.2165/00007256-200434080-00003 PMID 15248788
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  3. Review of oxymetholone: kinetics, uses and side effects

    Pavlatos et al., Clinical Therapeutics, 2001

    DOI 10.1016/s0149-2918(01)80070-9 PMID 11440282
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  4. Oxymetholone in older men: muscle, strength and metabolism

    Schroeder et al., American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2003

    DOI 10.1152/ajpendo.00363.2002 PMID 12388137
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  5. Placebo-controlled phase 3 trial in HIV wasting

    Hengge et al., AIDS, 2003

    DOI 10.1097/00002030-200303280-00008 PMID 12646793
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  6. Open pilot study in advanced HIV infection

    Hengge et al., British Journal of Nutrition, 1996

    DOI 10.1079/bjn19960116 PMID 8785183
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  7. Oxymetholone in dialysis: muscle mass and grip strength

    Supasyndh et al., Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2013

    DOI 10.2215/CJN.00380112 PMID 23124786
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  8. Oxymetholone plus epoetin in peritoneal dialysis, placebo-controlled

    Aramwit et al., International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2010

    DOI 10.5414/cpp48803 PMID 21084036
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  9. Aplastic anaemia: immunotherapy with or without oxymetholone, randomised

    Bacigalupo et al., British Journal of Haematology, 1993

    DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1993.tb04645.x PMID 8435323
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed

Trial registry

  1. Registry entry ISRCTN41591818 (oxymetholone in dialysis)

    ISRCTN-Register, Eintrag vom 16.04.2012 (nachträglich registriert)

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ISRCTN API, WHO ICTRP
  2. Search on the WHO portal ICTRP (all partner registries, oxymetholone, Anadrol, Anapolon)

    WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Suche vom 26.10.2026

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via WHO ICTRP
  3. Search on ClinicalTrials.gov (no trial with oxymetholone)

    ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2

Database

  1. Oxymetholone in ChEMBL (mechanism and approval)

    ChEMBL, EMBL-EBI (CHEMBL1200585)

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ChEMBL

In the shop

Anadrol (Oxymetholone) in the catalog

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