Oxymetholone, sold under the brand name Anadrol, is a type of anabolic steroid. In the UK, it’s licensed as a treatment for some types of anaemia. But unfortunately, it’s sometimes misused in sports as a performance-enhancing drug.
Even though Anadrol mimics the effects of testosterone, it’s not recommended as a low T treatment. Here’s what you should know.
Key Takeaways
- What it is: Anabolic steroid
- How it’s used: Oral tablet
- Who it’s for: People with anaemia
- Pros: Can help hard-to-treat anaemia
- Cons: Risk of harmful side effects
- Availability: Limited. Prescription only
Oxymetholone, sold under the brand name Anadrol, is a type of anabolic steroid. In the UK, it’s licensed as a treatment for some types of anaemia. But unfortunately, it’s sometimes misused in sports as a performance-enhancing drug.
Even though Anadrol mimics the effects of testosterone, it’s not recommended as a low T treatment. Here’s what you should know.
What is Anadrol?
It’s a lab-made anabolic steroid, which is a modified version of testosterone. Anabolic steroids are involved in metabolic processes to do with building, such as building muscle.
Anadrol is considered one of the most potent anabolic steroids out there. But while it may drive more gains, it comes with a higher risk of side effects—some of which are serious. Plus, as we’ll get into later, it’s not the most sustainable way to build muscle.
In the UK, a (registered, qualified) clinician wouldn’t prescribe Anadrol for low T. We certainly wouldn’t.
What is Anadrol used for?
Anadrol was originally created as a treatment for anaemia, osteoporosis, and muscle wasting.
Today, it’s only approved as a medicine for a rare form of anaemia that doesn’t respond to standard treatments. You might see it referred to as Anadrol-50.
Though Anadrol is rarely used in practice. There are safer treatments available.
And, as we mentioned, oxymetholone is also abused in sports as a performance-enhancing drug (more on this below).
How does Anadrol work and what are the benefits?
Like other anabolic steroids, oxymetholone mimics the effects of testosterone.
It increases levels of erythropoietin (EPO), which is a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production. This can be helpful for people with some types of anaemia, since they cannot make enough healthy blood cells.
But it’s also why Anadrol is abused in sports. Increased red blood cells means more delivery of oxygen around the body, including to the muscles. For athletes, that boosts stamina, endurance, and recovery, so they can push themselves harder for longer.
Plus, anabolic steroids increase body weight, strength, and muscle bulk. Which is also why they’re sometimes misused by bodybuilders.
Because of the risk of side effects, men with low T don’t stand to benefit from oxymetholone. There are much safer treatments available.
Anadrol vs testosterone replacement therapy
While Anadrol and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) both bring on the effects of T, they’re two different medicines.
For one, TRT is designed to bring your testosterone within a healthy, normal range. It replaces the T that your body isn’t producing.
Whereas oxymetholone creates an enhanced effect, beyond what would naturally happen in the body. This comes with serious health risks like heart problems and infertility. That’s why Anadrol isn’t recommended for low T.
Anadrol side effects
Compared to TRT, Anadrol comes with a higher risk of side effects across more areas of the body. Oxymetholone side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Insomnia
- Breast tissue growth (gynaecomastia)
- Acne
- Fluid retention
- Infertility (low sperm count)
There’s also a risk of developing serious health problems, like:
- Liver problems
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease, including heart attack and stroke
- Addiction
At the risk of sounding like a broken record: you shouldn’t take Anadrol for low T. The risks greatly outweigh the benefits and it’s just not worth it.
Is Anadrol available in the UK?
In rare cases, Anadrol is available on prescription for some types of anaemia. It’s extremely unlikely that you would get a legal prescription for muscle building.
Don’t buy Anadrol from the black market. We can’t stress enough how risky this is: these products aren’t regulated and we can’t guarantee they’re safe to take, or that they are what they say they are. In fact, it’s estimated that 36% of anabolic steroids on the black market are fake.
If you are wanting to bulk up, we suggest avoiding oxymetholone anyway:
- Growth in mass can be temporary, which can cause anxiety around losing your gains
- Gains are mostly down to fluid and don’t translate into a boost in strength
- The effects will wear off once you come off the medicine. Whereas if you build muscle via strength training, you’re much more likely to maintain your results
- Risk of serious side effects
It’s an unsustainable approach that won’t set you up for long-term success. Instead, focus on building a healthy routine: lifting weights regularly, eating well, getting good sleep, and managing stress.
FYI: muscle loss can be a sign of low T. If that’s you, it’s worth getting your levels checked.
Boost your T safely
There are safe ways to boost your T and build up your strength. We can help with that. At Voy, you can get a personalised, science-backed plan to treat low T—and get you feeling like yourself again.
Ninety percent of people on our programme had improved symptoms within three months.
Take our quiz or arrange a testosterone blood test to get started.
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