Anadrol, which is the brand name for oxymetholone, is a synthetic form of testosterone. This medication can be used for the treatment of some kinds of anemia but it can also be used illicitly because it has powerful performance-enhancing effects. Anadrol can also disrupt the body's balance of sex hormones, leading to a number of side effects.
Medical Uses
Anadrol is most commonly used as a treatment for anemia, Drugs.com explains. Patients with anemia have impaired red blood cell production, which can lead to pallor and fatigue. Anadrol can be effective at treating many different kinds of anemia, including congenital aplastic anemia, myelofibrosis, hypoplastic anemia and acquired anaplastic anemia.
Mechanism
Anadrol is a synthetic derivative of testosterone. Testosterone can have a number of effects on the human body, including the stimulation of lean muscle growth as well as red blood cell production by the bone marrow. Anadrol is chemically similar enough to testosterone that the body responds to it as if it was testosterone. As RxList explains, Anadrol has anabolic effects, which stimulates the body to make new tissue. It also has androgenic effects, which allows it to affect sex hormones.
Body Building
Anadrol is also used by some body-builders to help increase muscle mass and strength, the Mayo Clinic explains. Anabolic-androgenic steroids, which also include oxandrolone and methyltestosterone, can increase muscle size and also speed recovery after a workout because they can reduce the amount of damage that muscles receive after an intense workout. Anadrol can also lead to increased feelings of aggression.
Administration and Dosing
When taken orally for the treatment of anemia, the recommended dose is between one and five milligrams of Anadrol for every kilogram of body weight. It can take several weeks for Anadrol to work, so most patients should use the medication for three to six months at a minimum. Often once the anemia has improved, patients can lower their dose or eliminate the medication altogether. Anadrol can also be injected or applied topically in cream form, though this is more common when it is used for performance-enhancing purposes.
Side Effects
Many of the side effects from Anadrol use are the result of its effects as a sex hormone. Patient's can develop male pattern baldness and a loss of sexual desire as a result of the body's attempts to deal with the increased testosterone signaling. Patients may also develop acne and anxiety as well as unusual sensation in their skin. Some patients report a headache and a general feeling of discomfort throughout the body. Men can develop enlarged breasts whereas women may have an increase in body hair and an enlarged clitoris.
