Also known as Oxandrolone, this oral anabolic steroid was made in 1962 and marketed as an express lane to lean muscle gains for those with muscle atrophy. Another main goal of Anavar was to be mild enough that it had few side effects as scientists aimed for it to be safe for use by women and children.
Two years later, American pharma company – G.D. Searle & Co. – brought the steroid to market for the first time in 1964. Soon after it was a success and popular treatment prescribed to men, women, and children with:
Aside from being used to treat these conditions, it was also prescribed to help treat osteoporosis given its ability to enhance the density of minerals in the bones.
As time went on, doctors and scientists learned more about this compound and eventually deemed it safe to use, and at the time of writing, it is still an FDA-approved medicine. This makes it unique to most steroids that get approved for medical use but then banned at a later date due to the FDA deeming their side effects to be overly harsh.
Despite many studies proving Anavar to be safe in the long run it remains banned for recreational use in many countries but while deemed a Schedule III controlled substance it is still widely utilized in medicine to this very day.
Anavar was pulled from the market in 1989 by G.D. Searle & Co. as bad publicity, like athletes and bodybuilders taking it to cheat in sports, plagued its reputation and forced them to remove it for sale but it was not long after its comeback was made! Six years later, Anavar hit the scene again to be sold in pharmacies under a new brand name; Oxandrin, which was being made by Bio-Technology General Corp.
The new name came from a deal struck by BTG and Searle, in which, Searle would be the sole supplier and manufacturer of the steroid for Bio-Technology General Corp.
Soon after, BTG got orphan drug designation that let them sell the steroid as a treatment for muscle-wasting diseases like AIDS, Turners syndrome, and muscular dystrophy. This gave them exclusive rights to sell it in the market for the next seven years to come, which not only resulted in a monopoly of the market but a soaring price of Anavar that grew by over twelve hundred percent!
To this day, Oxandrin is sold but under control of a newer company named Savient, formerly known as Bio-Technology General Corp. However, Anavar now comes in many generic forms as the orphan drug designation BTG once held expired long ago. This caused the company to go under due to losing market share. All this said, Anavar is still in high demand and its price remains high too! In fact, it is one of the priciest steroids a person can buy in the market today, with Primobolan trailing close behind in second.
Anavar is often used in cutting cycles as it accelerates fat burn and muscle growth, some bodybuilders do cycle it before events and competitions though given its strength-boosting, muscle-filling properties that put a defined physique within easier reach.
Despite its high price, Anavar is a highly coveted and beloved steroid!
Bodybuilders are often eager and excited to try out Oxandrolone as it:
Anavar greatly raises thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels in the body, with T3 being a thyroid hormone that stimulates the metabolism and the body’s ability to burn off fat.
Like how natural testosterone is the most vital test score in terms of bulking and building mass, T3 is the thyroid that most matters as it relates to burning fat. Anavar raises T3 but lowers TBG (thyroid-binding-globulin) in the process. At the same time, it also spikes TBP (thyroxine-binding prealbumin), and in turn makes T3 easier to uptake at the cellular level. Those who take Anavar no doubt see a reduction in body fat as those who take twenty milligrams daily for three months often shred four pounds of stubborn fat!
Studies say the anabolic effects of Anavar outweigh its fat-burning traits as each participant in this study gained an average of seven pounds. These results are consistent with the gains bodybuilders achieve as most weigh more after their Anavar cycle comes to an end.
One thing that makes Anavar unique to most other steroids is it helps the body to burn both visceral and subcutaneous fat; most other compounds burn subcutaneous fat but increase visceral fat in the process.
The most likely reason Anavar can burn both fat types is it raises insulin sensitivity while other steroids can actually cause a person to be less sensitive to it; a reaction that may spur steroid-induced diabetes.
As with all anabolic steroids, Anavar is simply a form of exogenous testosterone, which is how it delivers the impressive muscle gains it is known for!
What makes Anavar unique is its A-ring has an oxygen atom instead of a carbon atom in the C2 position.
This renders Anavar resistant to enzyme-induced activation and is why it scores so high on the anabolic scale with a rating 322–630. In comparison, ones like Testosterone have a low rating of only a hundred!
However, it does not bring herculean muscle gains as its high anabolic rating may lead you to believe. If that is your goal you will be better served by another anabolic steroid, such as one of these compounds:
Note: Some bodybuilders stack Anavar with these compounds to produce bigger gains at faster speeds.
One perk of Anavar is lean muscle gains that stick around once the cycle is over. Seldom does bloating from Anavar occur, and very rarely do people gain fat or weight from cycling it. This is thanks to Anavar being a 5α-reduced compound, this means it does not aromatize so estrogen levels will not be elevated.
Anavar not only makes muscle gains easy for men but women too, and females can often achieve bigger gains than men on even a mild dose of five to ten milligrams daily.
Anavar has a huge impact on the strength one builds despite it being deemed by many to be a cutting steroid with no real drastic effect on weight or muscle gains.
However, it can indeed boost strength – quickly too – as it is a form of exogenous testosterone but it does have an elevating impact on ATP production and can cause creatine to build inside muscle cells.
If you want to smash personal records when bulking then you will find greater levels of ATP helpful.
It is also beneficial for those cutting as it can retain muscle and strength that would otherwise be lost to a low-calorie diet. Even if you take in little calories you can still experience superb strength gains, this is why many powerlifters use it right before events as it raises strength and adds none to very little weight.
In the heyday-70s of bodybuilding, athletes and powerlifters were all over Anavar, and despite it often being nicknamed a girl steroid, some of the strongest, most physically capable men in the world take it!
Anavar is one of the best steroids for newcomers to take as its side effects are milder than most others.
Studies say it is very safe in medical settings, and its mild side effects make it ideal for new bodybuilders who want to build subtle amounts of muscle without the enhanced side effects of more potent steroids.
For the most part, the better the results from a steroid the more intense its side effects will be.
Given this, the modest gains Anavar delivers also means its side effects are mild and often well-tolerated by those cycling it. This makes its risk-reward ratio highly alluring to those who do not want pronounced side effects that may be hard to cope with.
As an oral, c17-alpha-alkylated steroid, it will remain active in the system even once it bypasses the liver.
And unlike many oral steroids, it is less hepatoxic in nature, and will not pose as much stress on the liver; this is thanks to the kidneys as they take over for the liver to metabolize the compound. Per research, a 20mg dose of Anavar, in comparison to a dose of fluoxymesterone can cause BSP (sulfobromophthalein) to drop by over seventy percent.
This means Anavar can cause liver enzymes (AST/ALT) to rise but jumps are usually very mild. Especially when compared to the enzyme level influxes of potent steroids like Anadrol and Dianabol. There is little to worry about as increased liver enzymes will usually recover quite quickly once the cycle is completed.
Note: While highly unlikely, liver damage from Anavar can occur if cycled in large doses for a long time.
As shared above, Anavar does not aromatize so gynecomastia and water retention are rare to occur.
Furthermore, progestational activity does not take place with Anavar so it is causing Gyno is unlikely.
Per studies, the only time gynecomastia occurs from Oxandrolone use was when it was taken by young males. During the study, over thirty cases of gynecomastia were reported but these findings contradict the results of adults in similar research trials.
As such, the chance of Gyno occurring seems to be greater in children than adults but it should be noted children in this study were taking mild doses on a steady basis for six month to eight years. On the other hand, bodybuilders tend to cycle it for no more than eight weeks at a time so Gyno is less likely to occur.
On a final note, water retention is rare with Anavar as the compound brings a dry and ripped physique, a diuretic effect that may enhance vascularity, muscle striations, and lean muscle gains that truly impress!
Anavar is derived from dihydrotestosterone so its 5-alpha reductase enzyme does not convert it to DHT.
As such, Anavar has mild androgenic effects and traits, as shown by its androgenic rating of twenty-five.
Even though its androgenic rating is much lower than most steroids, it can still cause the following effects as it is a DHT-derived compound:
Note: Side effects a person has from DHT has lots to do with their genetics, so even a small dose may cause hair loss for some while others who cycle Anavar year round may lose none at all. Good news, though, androgenic effects like hair loss and thinning usually reverse and subside post-cycle, and even sooner if you undergo effective PST treatment.
As said above, Anavar has a low androgenic rating so rarely does it cause virilization or masculinization in women, especially when taken in moderate and tolerable doses. As such, Anavar is widely deemed a safe and suitable steroid for women who want to burn fat and build moderate amounts of lean muscle.
However, side effects from virilization can still occur for some women with possible symptoms including:
Anavar rarely causes these side effects so it is easy for women to keep their femininity. If you are a female who wants to build muscle and burn stubborn fat Anavar is worthy of your goals!
Note: Doses greater than ten milligrams daily can result in masculinization with one study of nine-year-old girls showing each to have such effects after taking 0.125mg per day for a year straight.
Anavar is a proven treatment for burning as it accelerates recovery and helps athletes and bodybuilders enhance the duration, intensity, and frequency of workouts. This is thanks to it stimulating ATP production as this elevates red blood cell counts, and in turn improves muscular growth and endurance.
The added strength and endurance Anavar brings is not only useful to athletes and bodybuilders but to boxers, sprinters, and swimmers who usually stack it with other steroids for even more strength gains.
Results from Anavar are astounding! One study, in which rats were given anabolic steroids, showed it increased run and sprint speed by nearly thirty percent with a rise in endurance of over forty percent!
Anavar makes it easy to maintain full muscles that look pumped all day as it enhances intracellular water retention, an advantage to bodybuilders who want to look as bulked as they possibly can. Added muscle fullness, along with its dry properties, may also lead to defined muscle groups and increased vascularity.
These results are possible as Anavar causes water to fill inside muscle cells, but once water expels from them, the water will no longer obscure superficial veins and in turn make them visible and pronounced.
Note: While not common, some Anavar users report having large and painful pumps in the lower back. This can lead to a sensation that leaves the person feeling locked or cramped for a few hours or longer. If this takes place the workout may need to come to an early end due to intolerable pain or discomfort.
Anavar is widely deemed safe and effective, even when it is used over a long period of time. In clinical trials or settings where it is had in low doses, very rarely does it yield harmful or dangerous side effects.
However, high doses, as well as abuse in recreational settings, can lead to adverse side effects like:
Around ten years after its rollout, there were talks of Anavar being useful at treating high cholesterol as during the 1970s, many doctors observed reduced cholesterol levels in many Anavar users they treated.
However, this was deceiving as later research proved Anavar to be a bad influence on cholesterol levels.
Note: LDL is bad cholesterol while HDL is the good one; rising LDL levels is never a beneficial occurrence.
There was one study in which HIV-positive men took twenty milligrams of Anavar daily for twelve weeks. At the end of three months, suppression of HDL cholesterol levels in each male soared by thirty percent!
A second group of men took a larger dose of forty milligrams daily for the same length of time and had a thirty-three percent drop in HDL levels and around a thirty percent rise in LDL cholesterol, which is much lower than the fifty percent decline in HDL levels the men who took eighty milligrams daily experienced.
All this said, Anavar raises the risk of clogged arteries (arteriosclerosis) which can cause blood pressure to spike. In big doses, it can cause cardiovascular effects like strokes, heart disease, and hypertension.
Note: Once an Anavar cycle comes to an end cholesterol levels often quickly rebound to pre-cycle levels.
Large doses of Anavar may cause the skin to be a bit red as it may cause flushing in the face and body, a possible sign of high blood pressure and body temperature. While these side effects are rare, those who have high blood pressure, or medical predispositions to conditions like heart disease, should never use Anavar, or any other steroid for this matter, as they often have a negative impact on cholesterol levels.
As a form of exogenous testosterone, testosterone levels drastically climb when Anavar is being cycled.
However, once the body detects a hormonal imbalance, it stalls the production of natural, endogenous testosterone in aim to limit cardiovascular strain.
In one study, the impact of Oxandrolone on testosterone levels was measured. This study lasted twelve weeks, and in the end, participants who took 20–40 milligrams daily had a near fifty percent reduction in their testosterone levels, while people taking eighty milligrams daily saw a near seventy percent decline.
Studies also say that even small Oxandrolone doses of two and a half milligrams can halt the production of endogenous testosterone when it is taken by adolescent males who are dealing with delayed puberty.
Bodybuilders who use Anavar often feel a greater sense of well-being and confidence with heightened aggression and motivation. These sensations arise when exogenous testosterone kicks into gear though once it wears off, fatigue, tiredness, and low libido will likely follow, so plan a daily schedule accordingly!
One sign of lower testosterone is testicular atrophy as Oxandrolone can cause a slow-down of sperm production. It can also have a negative impact on fertility as it can damage sperm by limiting hormonal regulatory functions. However, these adverse side effects tend to quickly improve once the cycle ends.
Note: Testosterone levels return to normal within one to four months of cycle completion. Post-cycle therapy is suggested as this accelerates recovery. The longer your cycle, the longer recovery will take!
Anavar is an oral steroid, and like all other ones, it is metabolized by the liver.
However, Anavar is quite unique as it is mostly processed by the kidneys instead.
This means kidneys can be put under enough stress that acute kidney injury occurs.
Anavar causes the body to stimulate endothelin production as the compound engages the RAA system.
When this occurs, proteins in the kidneys known as cytokines become inflamed, which is a sign of stress!
All this said, little research has been done on the damage anabolic steroids can cause to the kidneys. As such, if you or your family have a history of kidney failure or issues it is best to avoid steroids altogether.
Being a DHT-sourced steroid, hair loss and recession can be accelerated and most so for those who are genetically predisposed to conditions with such symptoms. Also known as dihydrotestosterone, DHT is a potent, herculean androgen that binds to hair follicles on the scalp; this can thin hair and inhibit growth.
Genetics of the person using Anavar determines their sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone and the amount of hair they lose. If you or your family has a history of hair loss and thinning Anavar is not your best pick.
How to Prevent Hair Loss On Anavar
There are a couple of ways to prevent hair loss when using Anavar to bulk or strengthen:
Treating the scalp can be easy as some shampoos are specially formulated to place a barrier between DHT and hair follicles. However, shampoo is least effective of the two options as it only targets the scalp and not the body’s production of it. In other words, it treats the scalp but does not address the root and source of the problem.
This is often an advantage for bodybuilders though as high DHT levels enable the hormone to bind with androgen receptors five times more effectively than leading steroids like Testosterone. The next way to avoid hair loss on Anavar is to block DHT internally at the cellular level – the most effective way to do so.
One medicine for this is Finasteride, an FDA-approved compound shown effective at reducing hair loss by ridding DHT from the body altogether. It comes in pill form and is available by prescription but men who want to use it should know it causes muscle loss for around fifty-two percent of male Anavar users.
Some men also endure muscle hypertrophy from Finasteride which can undo the positive gains achieved from an Anavar cycle. For this very reason, many men and bodybuilders are reluctant to use Finasteride.
When Oxandrolone was first made it was fully legal to buy and possess with bodybuilding intent. Simply put, doctors would write a prescription for it to patients who wanted to build strength and muscles with the ability to burn fat. But years later the Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 passed and made Anavar and most steroids illegal to those with no qualifying medical condition – bodybuilding is not one of them!
This meant bodybuilders could no longer get prescriptions, which helped to spur a thriving black market.
To this very day, recreational use of Anavar remains illegal in every country except Mexico, where it may be bought off the shelf with no prescription required.
The only other country where Anavar may be bought without a prescription is Thailand. Despite it being classified there as a Class S Controlled drug, many bodybuilders who visit there say it is easy to buy it for a low fee at local pharmacies.
According to the FDA, no one has ever been prosecuted for personal drug importation (importing small quantities of medication for personal use).
While the law allows the FDA and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to detain and refuse international prescription orders arriving through the mail, less than one percent are actually stopped.
Those taking Anavar can burn fat and build muscle at the same time but if cycled alone during a cutting cycle, it will not burn away as much fat as most aim for. So, as you may have guessed, weight lost while on Anavar is often due to the diet and not Anavar itself. In other words, if you want to lose considerable amounts of weight while on Anavar you will want to do your very best in sustaining a calorie-deficit diet.
Male patients taking Anavar in clinical settings tend to burn away four pounds of fat by taking twenty milligrams of Anavar daily for twelve weeks. Combine this stat with the seven pounds of muscle gains most bodybuilders achieve and it is easy to see why Anavar is a go-to during bulking season. Women have lots to gain too as they can reap even bigger gains than men as their body produces endogenous testosterone in lower supply. Results and side effects of Anavar are rather mild for an anabolic steroid but the muscle and strength gains it brings are still worthy enough for any stack and workout schedule.
If the aim is to bulk to hulk-like physique, stack Anavar with another compound, such as Testosterone, as this can bring superior gains to muscle mass and strength. While cutting, Anavar rids fat and fortifies the size and girth of muscles in the process. If a low-calorie diet is kept, lean muscle will be retained but none to little new muscle tissue will develop. Losing size and strength is a worry of many bodybuilders, and understandably so though this concern can be laid to rest as Anavar prevents this from taking place.
Huge gains in the shoulders are common with Anavar as deltoids may have more androgen receptors than other muscle groups. Given this, and the fact it is a DHT-sourced steroid and dihydrotestosterone that binds to androgen receptors more strongly than testosterone, this could be the reason why Anavar causes such muscular hypertrophy in the shoulders.
This is a picture of a man before and after taking Anavar. 8 weeks cycle, 40mg a day.
Another transformation is male in his 30’s after using Anavar for 6 weeks, only 30mg a day. Evidently a good genetic type.
38 years old female before and after using Anavar.
Upon release, most people took five to ten milligrams of Anavar per day but now, six decades later, it is not uncommon for athletes and bodybuilders to take fifteen to twenty-five milligrams per day, and for a period of six to eight weeks.
The longer a cycle is the more hepatotoxic the steroid can be, and the greater LDL cholesterol levels can soar, which can decrease the production of free testosterone in the body.
Note: Those who buy Anavar from the black market may think these doses are small when they are not. The reason they think this can be due to them taking 20mg of Anavar that is falsely labeled as 40mg, this is not uncommon as many dealers cut doses in half in the name of profit, which means you need to take twice the amount of genuine Anavar to get similar effects. Buying from the black market is not advised.
Oral Anavar is usually sold in the following doses:
With a short half-life of 9.4–10.4 hours, Anavar pills are best split and evenly dosed throughout the day as this will keep enough in the system for effects to be felt. Some bodybuilders take two ten milligram doses per day while some split two 10mg pills in half to take four 5mg doses at certain times during the day. If you get your hands on two and a half gram pills there will be no need for you to splice your pills!
Tip: Take an Anavar dose an hour before the gym to elevate focus, energy, aggression and motivation.
When Anavar released to the public it did so without dosage guidelines for females.
The only mention of a woman was a warning label that said pregnant women should not use it.
Fast forward over sixty years later and many women now use Anavar, albeit, with lots of trial and effort.
Five to ten milligrams daily for four to six weeks is what women dose for noticeable fat loss and muscle growth. This dose amount is ideal as it is strong enough to bring results but moderate enough to negate virilization; making it perfect for women who would like to keep masculinization at bay where it belongs.
Join us below as we cover popular Anavar cycles that have helped many bulk to new heights of strength.
Anavar is mild in nature so rarely do we see bodybuilders cycling it alone. More times than not, Anavar is stacked with another compound like Testosterone as while this enhances side effects, the muscle and strength gains to come will be enhanced too.
Anavar can be effective when used alone, and it is a common starter cycle for beginners who are going into a steroid cycle for the first time. If you are new to steroids, an Anavar-only cycle is a good pick as its mild nature makes it a safe way to introduce the body to steroids as it is less toxic than most other ones.
Note: Those after colossal muscle gains will be let down by Anavar as it only gives moderate results. If a ripped physique with huge muscles is the aim, you will be best helped by cycling Test or Dianabol alone.
The above cycle is ideal for beginners but once it ends and a tolerance is built, most will take twenty milligrams daily on an eight-week cycle instead. Only do this if side effects are mild at a lower dose.
This cycle is great for women who are trying steroids for the first time as it starts with a low dose that slowly rises so the body has time to adjust and process it; this lowers the risk of side effects occurring.
Women who build a tolerance and feel comfortable with higher doses will usually take ten milligrams per day for six weeks to enhance results even more. Feel free to run this after your first smaller cycle.
As an injectable steroid, Test reaches the blood quickly and brings instant results and exceptional gains to strength and muscle groups. When Testosterone is stacked with Anavar, anabolism is enhanced, and in turn, the ability to burn fat too. Esters often used in this stack are Cypionate and Enanthate but keep in mind, stacking Test and Anavar can worsen cholesterol levels and cause a slowdown in endogenous testosterone production.
If you run the above cycle but feel results can be better, feel free to graduate to this cycle as many do:
It should be known that a Test and Anavar stack is NOT ideal for women as it greatly increases the production of testosterone, so the chance of virilization and masculinization are greater than when either is cycled alone. That said, some pro-level female bodybuilders stack the two together but with the knowledge masculinization can occur in even low doses. It all depends on the goals of the person!
Testosterone is often injected but Andriol, a form of Testosterone known as Testosterone Undecanoate, comes in oral, easy-to-take form. For this reason, this is a great cycle for those who do not like needles.
Injectable Testosterone is more popular than the oral counterpart, among bodybuilders that is, as it less expensive than Testosterone Undecanoate and has greater biological availability. But even so, this stack is still a great pick if you want bigger gains than an Anavar-only cycle but without having to use needles.
There are cheaper and more powerful oral steroids than Testosterone Undecanoate, like Dianabol and Anadrol 50 that are more toxic to the liver, but it is a rather mild and safe oral androgen with minimal side effects that are not nearly as intense, as learned by one study that analyzed its effects on patients.
Per research, Test Undecanoate does not cause a rise in liver enzymes so the chance of gynecomastia or prostate enlargement occurring is minimal.
In one study cited in this guide, thirty-five men took eighty to two hundred milligrams of Testosterone Undecanoate daily for three years. By the final month, none of the men, whom of which, never received androgen treatment, developed excess growth in breast tissue or the condition known as gynecomastia.
In yet another study shared in this guide, thirty-three men took Testosterone Undecanoate for ten years and only two from the group observed a small drop in urine flow.
So in terms of side effects, we can Anavar is like Anavar as both have very mild symptoms (if any at all) and are deemed safe by many scientists and bodybuilders alike. If you do try Test Undecanoate, keep in mind LDL cholesterol levels will rise so test levels might decline and suppress for a short time post-cycle. If you feel symptoms of this, you should do PCT treatment to accelerate recovery and hormonal balance.
Note: If you cycle Anavar and Andriol together, be sure you take Andriol with food as its effectiveness and bioavailability will be very low on an empty stomach. To help the body absorb it the best it can, take it with a meal that has at least nineteen grams of fat and enough calories to cover a third of daily suggested intake as these may be effective in helping Andriol to be fully absorbed by the bloodstream.
Given the mild nature of Anavar it can be stacked with nearly any steroid but beginners who have never cycled one before should ones that are more potent and harmful to the liver, like:
Keep in mind, wet steroids that aromatize and increase water retention can counteract the dry and hard effects of Anavar – this means you want to avoid ones like:
So if you want to stack Anavar with the goal to burn fat and build muscle, you want to do so with a dry compound like Turinabol or Trenbolone. As a dry steroid, Winstrol too can be cycled but as a harsher one like Trenbolone these are often used by seasoned steroid users and not those running a cycle for the first time.
The aim of PCT is to restore the production of endogenous testosterone to pre-cycle levels. This is done to help the body preserve gains from the cycle and to bring hormonal balance and harmony – which can lead to an improved state of mental health and sense of well-being.
Free testosterone – the natural test produced in the body – will drop when Anavar is in the body but it is very unlikely to halt production of it altogether.
In one study of men who took twenty milligrams of Anavar daily for three months, each saw a forty-five percent decline in testosterone levels. But to be clear, the length they cycled Anavar was lengthy at six to eight weeks. As such, we can say the production of free test will stay high if only low doses are taken.
Given its gentler nature, many who cycle Anavar do so without needing post-cycle therapy treatment but it can take one to four months for the production of natural testosterone to return to normal levels.
However, if Anavar is stacked with anabolic steroids that are harsher and more impactful on cholesterol and testosterone levels, PCT is advised and often required as it helps symptoms of reduced testosterone and imbalanced hormones to subside. For effective Anavar PCT treatment, here are ones worth trying:
These PCT plans are suitable for those stacking Anavar with compounds that are harsh and hepatotoxic.
However, if you cycle Anavar alone, you can take one of these PCT drugs instead of all three as it should still be strong enough to help revitalize the production level of endogenous testosterone pretty quickly.
If you want to undergo PCT, begin it the moment Oxandrolone leaves your body; a timeframe you can calculate by multiplying its half-life by five and a half. For example, Anavar has a half-life of 9.4–10.4 hours but it gets longer the older a person is, it can have a thirteen-hour half-life in some older users.
As such, if we take the 10.4-hour, half-life figure, PCT should start fifty-seven hours after the final dose.
Women not needing PCT after an Anavar cycle is a misconception as many do have signs or symptoms of lower testosterone levels upon cycle completion. As such, it is wise for women to use PCT as their body creates lower amounts of testosterone than men – a vital hormone that influences libido and well-being!
Testosterone in males is produced by the testicles while in women it is made via the ovaries. Women who experience low testosterone post-cycle often feel depressed or down and out, which makes sense as test and estrogen levels can be very low during an Anavar comedown – and more so if it was stacked!
Some women utilize Nolvadex post-cycle for test and hormonal recovery as it can accelerate recovery and help feelings of sadness and depression subside. But even with it taken, it may still take three to six months for menstrual cycles to return, but to many women, this is more of a blessing than it is a curse.
Women often cycle Anavar in smaller doses and lower cycle lengths than men, and they often take Nolvadex in lower doses during PCT treatment too. Here is a common Anavar PCT treatment plan:
DHEA PCT for Women
The most trusted and prescribed, PCT medication for women is DHEA, and this is a common cycle:
In some trials, DHEA was taken by patients for up to six months so it can say it is safe to take for as long as needed for effects to subside as long as it is not used for more than a hundred and eighty days that is.
Women are rarely advised to take hCG as a PCT treatment as there is evidence it can cause virilization by inflaming and enlarging ovaries. Clomid should also be avoided as it can cause oversensitivity in ovaries.
We scoured the web and perused bodybuilding forums and sub-Reddits to collect recent Anavar reviews for your convenience and consideration. Let us get to them so you may choose if Anavar is right for you!
“By far the best results I’ve had so far even though I never took fish oil or supplements for liver support. Lipids drastically improved after my first Anavar cycle.”
“Oxandrolone is my hands-down favorite! The dry gains are superior for being liver-friendly as you can cycle it longer and in bigger doses.”
“Anavar works but I dealt with short-lived symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Happy with my results but will likely not take it again.”
“Awesome! From my experience, Anavar is a costly but worthwhile investment as it brought very nice gains with virtually no negative side effects. I highly recommend it to those trying steroids for the first time.”
“Anavar is amazing if you are getting the real thing. The dry-solid gains I had from cycling Anavar with NPP and Testosterone were unlike anything I’ve achieved before. Also reached 6% body fat which is my new all-time lowest!”
“Excellent results with a nice boost to pumps and strength! I suggest you take a few grams of fish oil before cardio workouts as this is helped me keep cholesterol levels unbothered.”
First things first, Anavar is illegal to possess and purchase for bodybuilding and strengthening purposes in most countries. And as a result of this, most people turn to the black market to get their hands on it.
Most times, buying from the black market means paying cash for it from someone you trust or know at the gym, but some bodybuilders will buy it illegally online and have it discreetly shipped to their home.
When it comes to Anavar, there are two grades it comes in:
Most steroids sold today come from underground, non-certified labs that are often set up in the home of the dealer. Given this, high risks companion use of UGL-made steroids given the unregulated environment they are made in.
Of all steroids sold in the black market, UGL Anavar is among the most popular and abundant as very few pharma companies produce it. Adding to this, lab-made Anavar is much more costly than Anavar made in street labs, which makes UGL Anavar pills all that more enticing to bodybuilders on a budget.
Pharma-grade Anavar pills are made in certified labs by trained scientists who formulate it for medical purposes. Regulations they must follow are in place to ensure the end product is safe for use as it will be prescribed to people struggling with cachexia; a condition that causes rapid weight and muscle loss.
There are times when Pharma-grade Anavar leaks to the black market via special connections. A person who knows a manufacturer or doctor who prescribes it may sell the script themselves, and on the black market where demand from bodybuilders is soaring. Always leverage extreme caution with UGL drugs!
Of all steroids faked in the UGL drug market today, Anavar is likely the most counterfeited of them all!
With few licensed pharmacies making the steroid, reliance on UGL Anavar has only grown over time. Lab-made Anavar is also much pricier, so it is not uncommon for street-level dealers and manufacturers to cut pills with other compounds in the name of profit.
One common scam is a dealer who sells Dianabol pills labeled as Anavar as Dianabol is a cheap oral steroid to produce, and many sellers take advantage of this by mislabeling their homemade tablets.
Some dealers take the extra step of using a drug test kit to ensure their cut and tainted product has just enough Anavar to test positive, which is why you should use a purity test instead as it will tell you if the dose was reduced.
The best way to avoid scams when buying Anavar is to go through a known and trusted source. For example, if a person from the gym had good results from Anavar they bought from a person they recommend, there is a good chance the seller has the real deal.
In other cases where a trusted source has yet to be found, much trial and error will often pursue, and perhaps side effects too as you do not know if you are getting genuine Anavar.
Another way to not get scammed when buying Anavar is if it comes in a box, you can go to the website of the manufacturer to enter the unique identification code printed on the labeling but this can only be done if the packaging it came in is new and unopened; if the box is open or unsealed, exercise caution.
Below we cover legitimate pharma companies that manufacture Anavar to this day but on a final note, be wary of sites and company that sell pharma-grade Anavar directly as it will not come from certified labs or federally regulated environments. Official labs do not directly sell Anavar to the general public!
Our website only sells genuine and laboratory tested Anavar, tested by third party companies.
Generic Oxandrolone, or SPA, was discontinued in Italy some time ago so pharma-grade Anavar is rarely found in Europe but in other regions of the world, these lab-made pharma-grade Anavar products exist:
BTG, the US-based company that raised the price of Anavar by twelve hundred percent when it brought it back to market in the nineties is the same brand that now makes Oxandrin, which is the same product under a new name. However, a newer company known as Savient also manufactures Oxandrin too and sells two unique bottle variants; one being sixty 10mg pills and the other being a hundred 2.5mg tablets.
Once the orphan drug designation held by BTG ended their monopoly on the drug did too, and not long after, generic Oxandrolone hit the scene to stake its share in the lucrative market. To this day, generic Oxandrolone is sold in the US and made by official pharma companies like Sandoz, Watson, Par Pharm, and Upsher Smith, who manufacture them in dose sizes ranging from two and a half to ten milligrams.
This is made by a Mexican-based pharmaceutical company named Atlantis. Their bottles contain thirty, two and a half milligram Anavar pills that are legal for Native Mexicans to buy with bodybuilding intent.
Made in Malaysia by Asia Pharma, their bottles of Anavar contain a hundred 10mg tablets, and each box has a unique identification code you can run on their site to ensure you have a genuine product in hand.
Created in Moldova by Balkan Pharmaceuticals, this was the last company to sell pharmaceutical-grade Anavar in Europe but they still sell and offer it in bottles of twenty 10mg tablets. Each package also has a unique ID number, which, you can search on their site to verify you indeed have an authentic product.
Anavamed DEUS MEDICAL
Anavar by Beligas Pharma
Oxandrolon Hilma
OXANDROLON by SUPERHUMAN PHARMA
and more.
As said a few times above, the price of real, lab-made Anavar is high as BTG’s monopoly on it made its price soar skyward. Depending on the daily dose, cycling Anavar will cost four to thirty dollars per day.
Cost of Pharma Anavar
Given these figures, a bodybuilder cycling twenty milligrams of prescribed Anavar per day can expect to be nine hundred dollars out of pocket while a woman taking ten milligrams daily for four weeks will pay three hundred and eight dollars.
However, many bodybuilders buy Anavar from the black market given the high demand and low supply of genuine lab-made Anavar. As such, bodybuilders who cycle UGL-grade Anavar often spend much less as it costs much less to manufacture it.
Based on many sources and online feedback from users, the prices you can expect to pay for Anavar are:
Join us below as we answer common inquiries of those who want to try Anavar for the very first time.
Per research, taking Anavar without weight training will give muscle gains but ones not lasting; if training does not take place, you can expect to lose gained muscle mass once the Anavar cycle comes to an end.
However, bodybuilders who perform weight training during and after their cycle can sustain newly built muscle and strength as Anavar does not fully shut down the production of endogenous testosterone. As such, muscle-wasting effects post-cycle are very unlikely if you continue to work out at the normal pace.
This said, fat loss is permanent so even if workouts are not done post-cycle it will continue to remain off.
Given its short half-life, Anavar is quick to kick in.
It often goes to work in nine to ten hours with noticeable results often taking shape within two weeks.
However, despite Anavar causing a fast rise in serum test levels, you should not expect astounding, hulk-like results right away as it while it is fast-acting, it is rather mild and brings results that are not dramatic.
In contrast to others like Dianabol, an oral fast-acting steroid with a half-life of three to six hours, Anavar does not give herculean gains in short time frames as it is a mild-natured compound ideal for beginners.
Though women who take a mild dose of ten milligrams daily can reap exceptional gains! For a woman, a daily ten-milligram dose of Anavar can deliver the same effects had by a man taking twice the daily dose, which is due to the fact men produce about twenty times more endogenous testosterone than women.
Anabolic steroids are fat-soluble and should not be taken with food as the ability of the body to absorb it will diminish; the only one exception is Testosterone Undecanoate as dietary fat improves its absorption.
If you searched ‘My Anavar is not working’ there is a chance you have a diluted or street-made product.
Those who take equal doses of Anavar for four or more weeks with no results are often taking a rip-off of Oxandrolone as while it is surely not the most potent and powerful steroid around, its enhancement to lean muscle mass is rather dramatic in clinical settings.
Sadly, reality has it that many steroids sold today are counterfeits as the black market is full of fake pills and supplements. In the event you cycle Anavar for a month or more and see none to very little results, test the compound using a kit and you will likely learn you do not have the real deal. If the purity is low, you can bet it is a FAKE!
To start – YES – Anavar and Winstrol may be taken in tandem as many bodybuilders out there take both.
Winstrol is one of the most popular oral steroids, and it taken with Anavar can accelerate fat burn and the development of enhanced strength and lean muscle mass, and without noticeable water retention!
However, stacked together, higher blood pressure and increased testosterone suppression will occur as Winstrol is highly hepatotoxic and can cause AST and ALT enzymes in the liver to rapidly rise. Given this, this duo should only be utilized by experienced steroid users who have a cycle or two beneath their belt!
Women who want to maintain their beauty and femininity should avoid and never cycle Anavar as it is highly androgenic. As such, virilization and masculinization, like a pronounced jawline, can take place.
Based on clinical trials and studies, Anavar is anecdotally safer than Winstrol so it is best in terms of side effects. Anavar also stimulates the creation of ATP in the muscle cells while Winstrol, which has diuretic properties, can cause the muscles to look flat as it can cause intracellular fluid in the muscles to secrete.
But even so, Winstrol remains superior and more effective at making lean muscle mass easier to build.
Winstrol also has an injectable form – named Winstrol Depot – which is more potent than Anavar and the oral version of Winstrol. The results of Anavar and Winstrol taken together are more pronounced than either taken alone. It is a common stack but not ideal for beginners given the intense side effects it can bring about.
Tren is usually injected with its most popular versions being Acetate and Enanthate.
There is also Methyltrienolone, which is just the oral variant of the intravenous form.
The effects of Anavar and Trenbolone greatly differ as Anavar is mild while Tren is potent with effects that make huge muscle mass gains a breeze for even those who have been hitting the gym for months with no results.
However, side effects of Tren can be serious with high blood pressure and a shut-down of testosterone production being common symptoms; this means Tren is not suitable for women who want to preserve their femininity.
In low doses, injectable Tren may pose little risk or harm to the liver as it directly enters the bloodstream and does not get sent to or processed by the liver. On the other hand, oral Tren is highly hepatotoxic, so much so it was banned and no longer able to be created as research deemed it too dangerous for intake.
As a beta-2 sympathomimetic compound, Clenbuterol is used to treat hypotension, a fancy name for low blood pressure, but as a bronchodilator, it is also effective at opening airways as it smoothes and relaxes tissue, making it an effective treatment for those who struggle with asthma.
Some bodybuilders refer to Clenbuterol as a cutting steroid, similar to Anavar, but it is not anabolic as it does not derive from exogenous testosterone, so no significant changes to testosterone levels usually occur when cycling it alone.
However, while studies on animals say Clenbuterol has muscle-gaining effects, its anabolic potential is debated and controversial as many bodybuilders have cycled it with no muscle hypertrophy achieved.
Note: Like Anavar, Clen burns HUGE amounts of FAT so cycling them together can cause a significant decline in your body fat percentage – especially since Clenbuterol affects the central nervous system.
Clenbuterol works by engaging thermogenesis to elevate body temperature and metabolism. It also enhances lipolysis by way of removing triglycerides from fat cells.
This trait is why many bodybuilders take it before professional events as it can enhance the fullness of muscles and speed at which the body burns away stubborn fat. Many people also stack it with a thyroid medication, like Anavar, as this can enhance the rate of fat burn even more.
Unlike some steroids, Clenbuterol does not suppress testosterone but it can cause myocardial injury and cardiovascular strain as it stimulates the CNS and boosts adrenaline levels in the process, this results in a quicker heart rate and in turn, a higher risk of heart enlargement – a condition known as Cardiomegaly.
Side effects of Clenbuterol can include:
Side effects of Clen are often quick to subside post-cycle but symptoms of Anavar-induced testosterone suppression can persist for several months. In such cases, an aggressive post-cycle therapy is suggested.
Anavar vs. Sarms
Short for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, SARMs are a recent invention of scientists made to elicit positive, anabolic effects of steroids with none of the side effects that often companion their use.
In essence, they are made as a safe alternative to steroids that cause virilization or high blood pressure.
Unlike some other steroids that have been around and studied for many decades, SARMs are a newer arrival so not nearly as much is known about their effects over the short and long term, and results are often conflicted as while some achieve muscle gains from it, there are many cases of none reaped at all.
Some SARM users say side effects are more intense and pronounced than Anavar, which may be true as one study showed SARMs can cause noticeable symptoms by:
One doctor said its side effects are similar to taking fifty milligrams of Anavar daily, and that very little fat loss and muscle gains were observed in patients. This means a low dose of Anavar may be safer and more effective than taking SARMs but more research is surely needed for this to be conclusively known.
Another thing, SARMs, unlike Anavar, are not FDA-approved as a medical treatment, and the Food and Drug Administration has even issued health warnings to those who are thinking about trying them out.
SARMs do have one benefit over Anavar, though, as it does not cause virilization or masculinization in women but this only holds true for authentic SARMs. Only buy from a supplier you can entirely trust!
Also known as chlorodehydromethyltestosterone, Tbol, or Turinabol, is an oral and mild anabolic steroid used like Anavar during cutting and bulking season. It is also suitable for and popular with women given its weaker side effects and androgenic traits that let women build muscle without masculinizing impacts.
Nicknamed Baby Dbol for being a weak and derived form of Dianabol, Turinabol never aromatizes into estrogen so it is far less androgenic than its father compound. Given this, it delivers dry gains and lean muscle that compliments the effects of Anavar quite well as the two stacked together will burn fat and increase strength and muscle even faster; it is no surprise athletes heavily rely on it as it may enhance:
Of the two, Tbol is more harmful to the liver as unlike Anavar, it is a c-17-alpha-alkylated compound that does not get sent through or processed by the liver. In the Golden Era of bodybuilding, German athletes were infamous for using Tbol but it was known many had liver problems from cycling it for lots of years.
A patient of one doctor who took Tbol solo for one to two years had liver failure and a positive diagnosis of peliosis hepatis (cysts in the liver filled with blood) which are results consistent with German athletes.
There were also cases of female, East German competitors who lost hair and developed manly effects by taking Tbol but most say them stacking it with other anabolic compounds is the culprit of the virilization.
For the most part, Tbol is suitable for women in low doses in short cycles as low amounts are unlikely to cause symptoms of virilization. However, Tbol and Anavar cycled together will influx cholesterol levels and slow the production of endogenous testosterone. Most say Turinabol is slightly more effective than Anavar at building muscle but less so than Winstrol. In terms of strength gains, Anavar is more effective than Tbol and will make huge pumps and new benching records easier to set but go easy to avoid injury!
While not advised, those on Anavar can drink low amounts of alcohol with no serious side effects or liver problems as it is mainly metabolized by the kidneys and not the liver so it poses very little hepatic strain.
However, the downside is it has a negative impact on cortisol levels and can limit your ability to burn fat.
Plus, it is a catabolic hormone, so heavy alcohol use during an Anavar cycle can further limit muscle gain.
While little alcohol consumption is unlikely to prevent gains it should be avoided to maximize outcomes.
Let us face it, if you want to improve physique and composition by burning fat and building muscle, you need to be mindful of how many calories you intake!
How many calories a bodybuilder should take daily is not a universal figure as it should be tailored to the specific fitness goals of the person. Let us say, for example, you cycle Anavar with the goal to bulk from lean muscle mass. In this case, a calorie-surplus diet is best as it will make muscle and strength easier to enhance.
On the other hand, if you cycle Anavar in aim to burn fat, a calorie-deficit diet is ideal as it will let you speed up fat loss and retain muscle you already have. If you want to stimulate your metabolism while supporting the cardiovascular system, do HIIT and cardio training as these will help. And if you want to burn fat and build muscle in equal amounts then maintenance calories, which are based on normal Daily Value figures, are what you should maintain.
When it comes to foods you should eat while on Anavar, you ideally want to eat clean foods that contain unsaturated fats and unrefined carbohydrates. Remember, healthy foods are low in sodium and help to keep water retention under control; this makes it simpler to get the dry-ripped look Anavar is known for.
Junk food and unhealthy snacks should not be eaten while on Anavar as these can cause sodium levels and water retention in the muscles to rise. Simply put, they can prevent results of Anavar from shining by inhibiting and preventing the ripped, dried-out effect it is known to deliver. Try to avoid such foods as consuming them can reduce muscular striations, vascularity, and definition, which you do not want!
The answer to this varies based on the type of test being used and the drugs it is capable of testing for.
For example, if an Olympic athlete or MMA fighter were to be drug tested, the one administered will be testing for steroids like Anavar, and if they test positive for it, they will be banned from the sport as they are not allowed.
When it comes to most jobs, and even those in the military, the drug tests used do not often check for anabolic steroids as ones that do are much pricier. Rather, most tests only look for drugs like opiates, cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines, a person on Anavar who is given one of these tests will not yield a positive result. However, a test that can pick up steroids like Anavar may be used if there is reason for the employer to believe steroid use is taking place.
Some people have symptoms of insomnia or issues falling asleep when on anabolic steroids like Anavar.
For many bodybuilders, falling asleep is hard the first few weeks but then easier in the weeks to come.
One way to avoid insomnia while on Anavar is to take doses earlier in the day as the central nervous system will not be as stimulated at bedtime.
You may also use a supplement to relax the CNS as this can make it easier to relax and unwind the mind. Valerian root is one trusted supplement that can tackle mild cases of insomnia as shown in studies that claim it makes falling asleep faster and quality nights of rest a breeze to enjoy – it might for you as well!
In one study that gave patients valerian root to analyze sleep patterns, thirty-six percent of participants were able to fall asleep faster from just one dose of valerian. Also named Valeriana Officinalis, Valerian is an FDA-passed herb nicknamed Nature’s Valium as it is an organic product with possible sedative-like effects. It also has GABA-enhancing properties so it may even avert symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Anavar is mild and deemed by most studies as being safe over long-term use so it is not uncommon for bodybuilders to cycle it year-round. Models that appear in magazines or photo shoots are infamous for using Anavar all year long given the intense pressure on them to sustain a ripped and defined physique.
The main benefit of cycling Anavar from the start to the end of the year is your body fat will remain low while muscle fullness remains preserved, and thanks to its anabolic support and properties, those using Anavar year-round do not need to diet or train as hard to look their best. But keep in mind, most people do not need to cycle it every month as a bulk of the fat loss and muscle gains it brings are permanent, so rarely is there a need for perpetual use.
If there is a downside to using Anavar all year long it is testosterone suppression, as well as elevated blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, can persist for longer periods of time. As such, when the person finally does stop taking Anavar, it will take longer for their body to produce natural testosterone at pre-cycle levels. Plus, prolonged use of Anavar can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease occurring.
Using Anavar year-round on low doses will yield similar results and symptoms as someone taking much larger doses over a short span of time – just a fact to keep in mind as you decide the best cycle for you.
A person who gains weight while on a calorie-deficit diet is likely taking Dianabol labeled as Anavar, and if so, bloating and water retention are other symptoms likely taking place. Furthermore, if gynecomastia or excessive breast tissue growth occurs you can bet it is Dianabol as Anavar will not have such anabolic effects.
Benefits of Anavar include:
Downsides of Anavar include:
