Oxandrolone (Anavar)

Active substance: oxandrolone
Tradenames: Lipidex, Oxandrolone SPA, Anavar, Oxandrin, Oxandroland, Oxanol, Xtendrol 

Oxandrolone is a steroid derived from dihydrotestosterone . It was designed to have a clear separation between the anabolic and androgenic effect, and no estrogenic effects.  Oxandrolone is known for promoting qulity gains in muscle mass and strength, without many side effects. Milligram per milligram, is 6 times more anabolic than testosterone itself, but without the androgenic effects associated with it. Nevertheless muscle mass gains are not as impressive as compared to the ones seen with testosterone.  It's the steroid of choice for those who want muscle definition, its anabolic effects are useful during weight loss diets,topreserve muscle mass. In reasonable doses oxandrolone does not have any major side effect. This is due to the fact that it was originally designed for women and children.

As a therapeutic agent is used on several situatons. Oxandrolone is most often prescribed when weight gain is necessary as a result of infection or surgical intervention, and in  any condition that causes drastic weight loss. It is useful in treating the side effects of prolonged exposure to corticosteroids but also osteoporosis. It is also used in the treatment of hepatitis, growth deficits in children and HIV infections.

Oxandrolone does not aromatize (and it doesn not convert to DHT), so adding an antiestrogen during the cycle is not necessary. It is a very popular steroid among athletes, swimmers or gymnasts, and in any sports where the athletes don't wanna be to big, only want to boost muscle strenght without waterand fat retention. Many say that the gains in muscle mass seen from oxandrolone, although not as impresive as with other steroids, are of superior qulity. However, for most, the number of ounds gained will be far below expectations, many who use this steroid having unfounded illusions about the muscle gains that will occur. 
Athletes do not use oxandrolone to gain muscle mass, simply is not that effective in this regard. In bulking periods oxandrolone is used to reduce weight gain that can result from a high calorie diet and increase the potency of other steroids such as Sustanon 250 or trenbolone. Oxandrolone is a steroid more useful for cutting. In general only female athletes use it to gain muscle mass.

Its most important traits are the ability to increase nitrogen retention in muscles, decrease SHBG (a protein that inactivates testosterone) and inhibit glucocorticoid hormones. Retention of nitrogen promotes an anabolic environment, reducing SHBG increase the effectiveness of testosterone (and other steroids that are administered concurrently with oxandrolone), and glucocorticoids are catabolic hormones that destroy muscle tissue, the most well known being cortisol. 

Another aspect that makes it popular among athletes and endurance athletes is that it increases the number of red blood cells, increasing muscular endurance and cardiovascular endurance. Muscle strength  is also increased, but not as much as with other steroids. Oxandrolone sustains a better recovery after exercise.

Oxandrolone is one of the few steroids to directly affect fat burning. Most steroids increase metabolism but do not directly burn fat. Oxandrolone can directly affect lipolysis (fat burning) by its strong binding to the androgen receptors and decreasing the levels of a globulin that binds to the thyroid hormones, which increases the efficiency of the T3 hormone secreted by the thyroid gland. But the fat burning properties of oxandrolone are not completely conclusive, and there are studies that support these effects and others that contradict them.

Regardless of its capabilities to burn fat directly remains one of the best steroids for muscle definition. When you want to burn fat you must eat fewer calories than you burn. Simple! Without this fat loss does not happen, no matter what you do and what drugs you take! The problem is that when there is a calorie deficit you lose muscle mass. No matter how well planned is the diet, some muscle tissue is lost if there is not present an anabolic agent such as oxandrolone. Therefore bodybuilders and fitness models use it when they want to lose fat following a low-calorie diet. Also, after the fat is burned the muscles have a harder look and more pronounced vascularization.

Oxandrolone, even in increased doses, does not significantly influenc testosterone production. But testosterone suppression is still possible. It has been found that high doses of Anavar (50-60 mg / day) can reduce the androgen levels by 50%. Some men will feel ok with these levels and will recover quickly, but it is an individual response. Depending on needs,apost cycle therapy can be followed  asfter oxandrolone administration.

Side effects are mild but are possible at very high doses or very sensitive users: acne, oily skin and hair growth acceleration. Although it is C17-alpha alkylated it's less toxic to the liver than other alkylated steroids. That's because it is not metabolized by the liver for a long time. To be on the safe side you can use Liv 52 or  Essential Forte N. Can be administered in cycles of up to 12 weeks, but recommended are those of  6-8 weeks. 
For those genetically predisposed it can cause hair loss. In women can cause virilization, especially when used in large doses.

Oxandrlone is recognized for its abilitys to reduce the good cholesterol (HDL) and increase the bad cholesterol (LDL). If you already have poor cholesterol levels you should not take oxandrolone! Healthy individuals need to supplement with significant doses of omega-3 during oxandrolone cycles and avoid excess sugar and saturated fats. It is recommended to do cardiovascular workouts, especially HIIT.

It is preferable to take the onxadrolone pills on an empty stomach. Doses are 15-30 mg per day, especially for improving athletic performance, but better results are obtained at doses of 50-60mg / day, especially if you want to lose fat or slightly increase in muscle mass. 

Some individuals go up to 80 mg/day but this greatly increases the risk of side effects and liver toxicity. It can be stacked with 200-400 mg of testosterone when you want to build muscle mass. For cutting can be combined with 150 mg per week of trenbolone or 300-400 mg per week of Primobolan . 
For women, doses are between 5-10 mg / day. 

It is currently marketed by the pharmaceutical company Savient, but there are several other companies that produce generic oxandrolone, as Watson Laboratories Inc. No pharmaceutical company in the world sells onxadrolone under the name Anavar. All products named Anavar are manufactured by underground laboratories. 

Oxandrolone is expensive and is one of the most faked steroids out there. There are many manufacturers that make illegitimate steroids and oxandrolone, but most often is underdosed or contains another active substancem like low doses of Dianabol,  which is extremely cheap compared with oxandrolone. Original products are extremely rare and difficult to obtain on the black market.

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