Introduction to Anadrol
Anadrol, also known as Oxymetholone, is a popular steroid that is widely used by athletes and bodybuilders. It remains popular because it is strong and has excellent potency. Its downside is it has some serious side effects and it can be toxic to the liver.
History
In 1959, scientific journals first mentioned this steroid. A pharmaceutical manufacturer called Syntex began to market Oxymetholone and gave it the brand name called Anadrol-50 oxymetholone. The medicine was manufactured by Parke David & Co, a subsidiary of Pfizer. This drug began to be used in the medical field to fight infections and other conditions among adults and children. It was used to treat patients that had anemia, muscle wasting diseases, geriatric diseases, and certain types of breast cancer among women.
By far, the most popular use of this substance in the early days was for the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia as it boosts the red blood cell count in the body which helps to promote hemoglobin production. Its use in the medical scene has subsided over the years due to the side effects linked to medicine. Better drugs have also been developed that are better suited for the treatment of those conditions. Today, it is used as a performance enhancement drug in athletics and it’s also used by bodybuilders.
Benefits
One of the main benefits of Anadrol is that it can promote the production of red blood cells, and it can also protect the joints, which are impacted by heavy exercise. By taking this steroid, you can push heavier loads of weight when you are working out.
Bodybuilders can use this drug to improve nitrogen retention and their levels of protein synthesis. It can help athletes that have injuries or are prone to fatigue when they are working out because it allows them to perform more effective strength training, and they can take part in a more intense workout without having the fatigue that they might have had before. Anadrol is one of the more powerful steroids and is often used as a pre-workout drug. It can also help prevent the tearing of muscles that tend to occur during heavy lifting.
Trials have also shown that Anadrol can decrease the levels of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG). This protein is known to trap testosterone, thereby making it unusable. In essence, it reduces the amount of free testosterone available to the body, thus resulting in low t-levels that affect your erections and overall sex life, physical performance, and ability to grow lean muscle mass. This is a problem you won’t have to go through when cycling Anadrol.
In the medical field, this steroid is prescribed to children and other people that are malnourished or underdeveloped because it can help promote muscle growth in these individuals. It is also used for the treatment of anemia, osteoporosis, and other bone growth issues. The drug is actually certified for the treatment of osteoporosis and AIDs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Of course, you’ll need a prescription from a doctor to use it for such purposes.
Anadrol Side Effects
Despite the fact that Anadrol does a great job in providing the user with performance benefits or some medical benefits, there are severe side effects involved just like with any other steroid. Here are some of the adverse effects, as reported by most men.
In general, the more you use steroids, the more extreme the side effects can be. It is generally better to stick to short cycles whenever steroids are involved. Anadrol is known to cause nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, swelling of the lips, face or throat, insomnia, and dark urine. But that’s not the complete list; those are just but the mild effects. In severe cases, Anadrol can be toxic to the liver, and when an individual is on an Anadrol cycle, they may have cysts that form on their liver. After the cycle ends, they usually go away on their own, but they can also reach the cancerous stage. This happens when these materials remain after the individual has gone through their Anadrol cycle. If you use this compound for an extended period, one of the common outcomes is liver cancer caused by these cysts.
Along with the liver issues, the user may also experience jaundice (the skin color changes to a yellow tint). This is why it is vital to use Anadrol for a very short duration because you will reduce your chances of developing liver cancer and liver failure by a great margin. But even then, it’s advisable that you undertake liver function tests during or after each Anadrol cycle to make sure that no serious damage is done. Long-term use is never recommended! And that’s not it; you also need to watch your dose closely.
Extended or high usage of Anadrol can also result in a condition known as Polycythemia. This is a disease characterized by an insane increase in the production of red blood cells caused by excessive release of erythropoietin.
If you have any sort of heart disease or a family history of cardiovascular conditions, you should not take Anadrol. When an individual uses steroids, the lipid levels in their bloodstream can increase. If you use steroids on an ongoing basis, it can also increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases. Since Anadrol is a potent steroid, it can increase the risk for edema, congestive heart failure, heart attacks, and arteriosclerosis by a greater margin. If you have high blood pressure or if you’re taking medication for any sort of heart problem, you should avoid this compound. Individuals with prostate cancer, diabetes, and kidney disease are also discouraged from taking Anadrol.
Due to all the risks involved with using Anadrol, every bodybuilder and fitness enthusiast must seek medical advice from a licensed health care provider before starting your steroid therapy with this substance. This is particularly essential if you have a pre-existing medical condition.
Other Side Effects
- Gynecomastia
Anadrol increases estrogen in the body in certain cases which means you need to take an anti-estrogen supplement or medication to prevent estrogen-related effects such as gynecomastia or man-boobs (enlargement of breast tissues among men), mood changes, and oily skin.
- Water Retention
You may feel quite bloated when you take this drug as it causes water retention. You will have to pay attention to your blood pressure when you take this steroid. Diuretics which you can order over the counter, as well as anti-estrogen medications, can combat this issue.
- Body problems
If you take this steroid you may experience accelerated hair loss among postpubertal men and more acne not just on the face but almost throughout your skin. Male pattern baldness is especially common among men who are genetically predisposed to the condition. If you are prone to these conditions, you should not be taking this steroid.
- The suppression of testosterone
This drug will bind to the same proteins that the testosterone does causing testicular atrophy while your body will stop producing natural testosterone. You should use a maintenance dose of testosterone to avoid issues with low testosterone and poor testicular function. Signs and symptoms of low testosterone include depression, decreased libido, fatigue, and erectile dysfunction.
Most of the above side effects can be avoided by simply sticking to the recommended dose and cycle duration. However, there is never a guarantee that using these substances as directed is 100% safe. That explains why many people moved on from the use of AAS.
Anadrol is not recommended among female bodybuilders for various reasons. Due to the aggressive nature of the steroid, females taking oxymetholone are likely to experience testosterone-related side effects such as abnormal changes in hair growth like the growth of hair around the chest and chin, male pattern baldness, deepening of the voice (hoarseness), swelling, clitoral hypertrophy (enlargement of the clitoris), menstrual irregularities among others.
The Dosage
It’s important to speak to a healthcare provider before you take any dose of Anadrol. In general, a beginner wants to take around 25 to 50 mg daily. One tablet per day should be enough to see significant gains in muscle mass and strength. There should be no need to go above this dosage as a beginner and it is not recommended. The intermediate user would probably benefit hugely from a dose of around 50 to 100 mg of the drug on a daily basis without any need to go above this. Most users of an intermediate level will see great results if they take this amount. Doses of around 100 mg are more effective among advanced users. In only very rare cases would anyone have to go beyond these doses.
Conclusion
Anadrol can be a very effective AAS for both medical use as well as physical enhancement. It’s important to understand the steroid before you take it and that’s why you need to seek medical advice from a licensed doctor before you get buy Anadrol tablets or other anabolic steroids as the potential side effects can be severe. We also cannot stress enough about how crucial it is to stick to the recommended dose. For the women, you’ll have a better chance of getting the results you want without virilization and other side effects by trying out some of the other friendlier steroids.