Oxymetholone

Oxymetholone, sold under the well-known brand names Anadrol and Anapolon, is an extremely potent oral anabolic steroid. Chemically, it is a derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), modified with a 2-hydroxymethylene group and a methyl group at the carbon-17 alpha position (17-aa) to confer oral bioavailability. It is one of the most powerful oral AAS in existence, known for producing exceptionally rapid and dramatic gains in mass and strength. Clinically, it has been used to treat severe anemia by stimulating erythropoiesis, as well as osteoporosis and HIV/AIDS wasting syndrome.

Primary Uses and Potential Benefits in a Research Context

Oxymetholone is a subject of research for conditions requiring a maximal anabolic response.

• Severe Anemia: It is studied for its profound ability to increase red blood cell production, making it a powerful agent in hematological research.
• Muscle Wasting (Cachexia): Its immense power in promoting weight gain and muscle growth makes it a key compound for investigating treatments for severe wasting syndromes.
• Mass and Strength Studies: It serves as a benchmark for studying the upper limits of pharmacologically induced muscle hypertrophy and strength gains in short periods.

How it Works (Mechanism of Action)

Oxymetholone is a potent agonist of the Androgen Receptor (AR). Its 17-aa structure allows it to be orally active. Its mechanism is unique among DHT derivatives:

1. AR Activation: It binds to the AR to produce strong anabolic effects.
2. Non-Aromatizable but Estrogenic: As a DHT derivative, it cannot be converted to estrogen by the aromatase enzyme. However, paradoxically, it is known to be highly estrogenic. It is hypothesized that oxymetholone or one of its metabolites may be able to directly bind to and activate the estrogen receptor, a trait not shared by other DHT-derived steroids.
3. Erythropoiesis Stimulation: It strongly stimulates the production of red blood cells, likely through a combination of direct bone marrow stimulation and increased erythropoietin production.

Potential Side Effects in Research Studies

Oxymetholone is associated with a harsh side effect profile, combining the issues of a potent oral steroid with strong estrogenic activity.

• Hepatotoxicity: It is a 17-alpha-alkylated oral steroid and is extremely hepatotoxic. It poses a significant risk of liver damage, including cholestatic jaundice, hepatic neoplasms, and potentially life-threatening peliosis hepatis with long-term use.
• Estrogenic Effects: Despite not aromatizing, it can cause severe estrogenic side effects, including significant water retention, gynecomastia, and high blood pressure.
• Androgenic Effects: Its androgenic effects are relatively weak for its anabolic strength, but it can still cause acne, hair loss, and virilization in female subjects.
• Cardiovascular Strain: The combination of severe water retention, hypertension, and a profoundly negative impact on cholesterol levels makes it one of the most cardiovascularly stressful AAS.
• HPGA Suppression: It causes a rapid and severe shutdown of natural testosterone production.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How can Oxymetholone be estrogenic if it’s a DHT derivative? This is a unique and not fully understood property of Oxymetholone. The leading hypothesis is that the molecule itself or one of its metabolites can directly activate the estrogen receptor, bypassing the need for the aromatase enzyme.
• Is Oxymetholone liver toxic? Yes, it is considered one of the most liver-toxic oral anabolic steroids available for research. Liver function must be a primary monitoring point in any study involving this compound.
• Is Oxymetholone suitable for “cutting” research? No, absolutely not. The severe water retention it causes makes it completely unsuitable for research into lean, defined physiques. It is exclusively a compound for studying raw mass and strength gain.
• Why is it used to treat anemia? Because it has a very powerful effect on stimulating red blood cell production, which can counteract the red blood cell deficiency that characterizes many forms of anemia.