hormoneControlledSchedule III (US)Prescription only (US)
OxandroloneBenefits, Dosage & Interactions
Also known as: Anavar, Var
Oxandrolone, also known by its brand name Anavar, is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from dihydrotestosterone. It was first synthesized in 1962 and introduced as a mild anabolic agent with reduced androgenic activity compared to some other steroids. Research on Oxandrolone focuses on bone and joint health, muscle and strength, and tissue recovery.
How much Oxandrolone do people take?
10 mg twice daily is the amount used in most published burn trials. Route reported: Oral. Frequency reported: Twice daily in those trials. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for Oxandrolone — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.
See the full reported protocol and its sourcesResearched by DoseRoutine Research TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSE, SO, PMPLast updated Educational reference only — not medical advice. Always confirm dosing and safety decisions with a licensed clinician.
Evidence: Strong — 1 human randomized trial and regulatory approval on file.
Evidence strengthStrong · 4/4
PreclinicalStrong human evidence
1 human randomized trial and regulatory approval on file.
Plasma half-life
9–10 h
Default unit
mg
What published protocols report
Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.
Reported for Oxandrolone in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.
Oxandrolone compared with similar compounds
| Attribute | Testosterone enanthate | Nandrolone decanoate | Oxandrolone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Injectable androgen ester | 19-nortestosterone ester | Oral 17-alpha-alkylated androgen |
| Route | Intramuscular | Intramuscular | Oral |
| Half-life | 4-5 days | 6-12 days | ~9 hours |
| Evidence grade | Strong | Moderate | Moderate |
| Oral stability | Not orally used | Not orally used | Orally active |
| Typical published cycle | Ongoing while prescribed | 12 weeks to 6 months in the wasting trials | Weeks to months in the burn trials |
| Main studied use | Male hypogonadism | Wasting in dialysis and HIV | Lean mass after severe burns |
References & evidence
Documents the Oxandrolone entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.
- [1]Effects of oxandrolone on lean body mass (LBM) in severe burn patients: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trialGusti NRL, Saputro ID, Rizaliyana S · Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters · 2022 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 35582088
- [2]Oxandrolone for burn patients: a systematic review and updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials from 2005 to 2025Lou J, Xiang Z, Zhu X, et al. · World Journal of Emergency Surgery · 2025 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 41023744
References & Evidence
Sources on this page that document Oxandrolone dosing, timing and safety.
- [1]U.S. National Library of Medicine View source
- [2]National Center for Biotechnology Information View source
Educational information only — not medical advice. Dose ranges vary by person, indication and prescriber.
What is Oxandrolone studied for?
What is Oxandrolone?Sources for this section: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Oxandrolone, also known by its brand name Anavar, is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from dihydrotestosterone. It was first synthesized in 1962 and introduced as a mild anabolic agent with reduced androgenic activity compared to some other steroids. Historically, it has been used in clinical settings to promote weight gain in individuals who have experienced significant weight loss due to surgery, chronic infection, or severe trauma. It is also used to treat bone pain associated with osteoporosis and to promote growth in some children with growth delay. As a controlled substance, its medical use is regulated, and non-prescribed use is considered illicit (Drug Enforcement Administration, FDA).
What does the research say about Oxandrolone?
Tap a section to expand.
Oxandrolone exerts its effects by binding to androgen receptors within target cells, similar to natural androgens like testosterone. This binding initiates a cascade of genetic and cellular events that ultimately lead to increased protein synthesis, particularly in skeletal muscle, and a reduction in protein breakdown. Unlike many other anabolic steroids, oxandrolone is not readily aromatized into estrogen, which means it has a lower tendency to cause estrogenic side effects such as gynecomastia or water retention (Examine.com). Its oral bioavailability is enhanced due to its C17-alpha alkylation, allowing it to be taken by mouth. This modification, however, also contributes to its potential for hepatotoxicity. Its anabolic to androgenic ratio is generally considered favorable, meaning it tends to promote muscle growth with relatively fewer androgenic side effects such as virilization in women or male pattern baldness (DrugBank).
Source for this section: Sources for How does Oxandrolone work?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
In clinical applications, oxandrolone has been studied and approved for several therapeutic uses:
* **Promotion of Weight Gain:** It is used to help patients regain weight lost due to extensive surgery, severe trauma, chronic infections, or other conditions causing significant catabolism (FDA label).
* **Treatment of Bone Pain in Osteoporosis:** Oxandrolone has been shown to alleviate bone pain and promote bone density in individuals with osteoporosis in some clinical settings (PubChem).
* **Growth Promotion in Children:** For some pediatric patients experiencing growth failure, oxandrolone has been utilized to stimulate linear growth, though its use in this population is carefully monitored due to potential side effects on bone maturation (Examine.com).
* **Treatment of Alcoholic Hepatitis:** Studies have investigated its utility in improving muscle protein synthesis and overall nutritional status in patients with alcoholic hepatitis (MedlinePlus).
* **Burn Injury Recovery:** Oxandrolone has been studied to improve protein synthesis, reduce catabolism, and accelerate wound healing in patients with severe burn injuries (Cochrane Review). These benefits are attributed to its strong anabolic properties, which help counteract muscle wasting and support tissue repair.
The therapeutic efficacy of oxandrolone is supported by various clinical studies. For instance, its role in promoting weight gain and improving nitrogen balance in patients facing catabolic conditions is well-documented in medical literature (FDA label). Research published in journals like *The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism* and *Burns* has explored its benefits in burn patients, demonstrating improvements in lean body mass and bone mineral density, alongside reduced rehabilitation time. Studies on osteoporosis patients have indicated its potential to increase bone density and reduce associated pain, although other treatments are more commonly used today. In pediatric growth disorders, while effective, its use is carefully considered due to the risk of premature epiphyseal closure, which can halt linear growth (Examine.com). Overall, clinical evidence supports its anabolic actions in specific medical contexts, emphasizing its role in counteracting muscle wasting and promoting tissue repair. Off-label use of oxandrolone for enhancing athletic performance or body composition lacks scientific support for safety and efficacy and is not medically recommended (NIH ODS).
Oxandrolone has a range of potential side effects, which can vary in severity and depend on individual factors and duration of use. Common side effects may include:
* **Hepatotoxicity:** One of the most significant concerns is liver damage, including elevated liver enzymes, peliosis hepatis (blood-filled cysts in the liver), and hepatic tumors. Regular liver function monitoring is crucial during treatment (FDA label).
* **Lipid Changes:** It can adversely affect cholesterol levels, typically by lowering high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the 'good' cholesterol) and increasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the 'bad' cholesterol), which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (MedlinePlus).
* **Androgenic Effects:** Despite being considered a 'mild' anabolic steroid, androgenic side effects can occur, especially in women and prepubescent males. These can include acne, oily skin, hair loss (androgenic alopecia), and hirsutism (increased body hair). In women, virilization symptoms like voice deepening, clitoral enlargement, and menstrual irregularities may occur (DrugBank).
* **Fluid Retention and Edema:** While less common than with some other steroids, fluid retention can occur.
* **Testicular Atrophy and Suppression of Endogenous Testosterone:** In males, exogenous testosterone administration, including oxandrolone, can suppress the body's natural production of testosterone, leading to testicular atrophy and impaired fertility (NIH ODS).
* **Psychological Effects:** Mood changes, irritability, aggression, and depression have been reported with anabolic steroid use.
* **Gastrointestinal Issues:** Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can occur.
* **Skeletal Effects:** In children, anabolic steroids can cause premature epiphyseal closure, leading to stunted growth (Examine.com).
This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Source for this section: Sources for What are the side effects of Oxandrolone?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Individuals considering or using oxandrolone should be aware of several critical warnings. It is a Schedule III controlled substance under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act, meaning its non-medical use or distribution is illegal (Drug Enforcement Administration). Due to its potential for hepatotoxicity, regular monitoring of liver function tests is essential. Patients should be monitored for changes in lipid profiles due to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (FDA label). In females, signs of virilization should be closely watched, and the medication may need to be discontinued if such changes occur. Males should be aware of potential suppression of natural testosterone production and associated complications. Diabetics should use oxandrolone with caution, as it may affect glucose tolerance (MedlinePlus). Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular, liver, or kidney conditions require particularly careful medical supervision. The potential for dependence and abuse is also a significant concern, given its nature as an anabolic steroid.
This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Source for this section: Sources for Who should avoid Oxandrolone?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Oxandrolone is contraindicated in several situations to prevent serious adverse outcomes:
* **Prostate Carcinoma:** Due to its androgenic effects, it is contraindicated in men with known or suspected carcinoma of the prostate or male breast (FDA label).
* **Breast Carcinoma (Males):** Similar to prostate carcinoma, it is contraindicated in males with breast carcinoma.
* **Hypercalcemia in Cancer Patients:** Anabolic steroids can cause hypercalcemia by stimulating osteolytic activity in bone metastases; thus, it is contraindicated in cancer patients with hypercalcemia (DrugBank).
* **Severe Hepatic Impairment:** Given its hepatotoxicity, it is contraindicated in individuals with severe liver disease or significant hepatic impairment (MedlinePlus).
* **Nephrosis or the Nephrotic Phase of Nephritis:** Its effects on fluid and electrolyte balance can worsen these conditions.
* **Pregnancy and Breastfeeding:** Oxandrolone is classified as Category X during pregnancy due to the risk of fetal harm, including virilization of the female fetus. It is also not recommended during breastfeeding due to potential harm to the infant (FDA label).
* **Hypersensitivity:** Individuals with known hypersensitivity to oxandrolone or any of its components should not use it.
This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Source for this section: Sources for When should Oxandrolone not be taken?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Oxandrolone can have significant interactions with various medications, leading to altered efficacy or increased toxicity:
* **Oral Anticoagulants (e.g., Warfarin):** Concurrent use can significantly increase the anticoagulant effect, leading to an elevated risk of bleeding. Close monitoring of INR/prothrombin time is crucial (FDA label).
* **Corticosteroids and ACTH:** Co-administration can increase the risk of edema.
* **Hypoglycemic Agents (e.g., Insulin, Oral Antidiabetics):** Oxandrolone may alter glucose tolerance, potentially requiring adjustment of insulin or oral antidiabetic dosages (MedlinePlus).
* **Other Hepatotoxic Medications:** Combining oxandrolone with other drugs known to cause liver damage (e.g., certain antifungals, statins in some cases) can increase the risk of hepatotoxicity. Patients should discuss all medications with their clinician (DrugBank).
This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.
Source for this section: Sources for What should you not mix with Oxandrolone?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Oxandrolone has a reported half-life of approximately 9 hours. For prescribed medical use, the exact timing and frequency of dosage are user-directed and must be set by a licensed clinician based on the specific condition being treated, individual response, and potential for side effects. It can be taken either with or without food. Compliance with the clinician's instructions is critical for safety and efficacy (FDA label).
Source for this section: Sources for When should you take Oxandrolone?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Put it into practice
Reading about Oxandrolone is the first step — DoseRoutine helps you act on it. These free tools turn what you just learned into a routine.
What interacts with Oxandrolone?
Frequently asked questions about Oxandrolone
Oxandrolone is medically used to promote weight gain after significant weight loss due to surgery, trauma, or chronic infections. It's also used for bone pain in osteoporosis, to promote growth in some children, and for alcoholic hepatitis and severe burn recovery (FDA label).
Oxandrolone is a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States. Its medical use is legal only with a prescription from a licensed clinician. Non-prescribed use or distribution is illegal (Drug Enforcement Administration).
Key side effects include liver damage (hepatotoxicity), adverse changes in cholesterol levels, and androgenic effects like acne and hair loss. In women, virilization symptoms can occur. It can also suppress natural testosterone production in men (FDA label, MedlinePlus).
Oxandrolone is often considered milder than many other anabolic steroids, with a more favorable anabolic-to-androgenic ratio. It is not readily aromatized into estrogen, reducing estrogenic side effects. However, it still carries significant risks, particularly hepatotoxicity (Examine.com).
Yes, oxandrolone has been prescribed to women in specific clinical situations. However, it carries a risk of virilization, which includes voice deepening, clitoral enlargement, and increased body hair (DrugBank). These effects can be irreversible.
Oxandrolone is a hormone, and interactions are possible with prescriptions, hormones, peptides and other supplements in the same routine. With a reported plasma half-life near 9 hours, separating doses can change the picture as much as removing one. Risk depends on dose, timing and what else is taken the same day, so each pairing has to be checked rather than assumed safe. The free checker at https://doseroutine.com/interaction-checker covers Oxandrolone with no sign-up.
The reported plasma half-life is about 9 hours, which is what drives how often it is redosed. It is a controlled substance in some jurisdictions, so the prescribed amount is the only appropriate one. Ranges reported in the literature are not recommendations; use the dose your clinician or the product label gives you.
Combining a hormone like Oxandrolone with TRT is usually a question of labs rather than a blanket yes or no: the ester, injection interval and any aromatase inhibitor all change the answer. No general contraindication applies across every TRT protocol, so confirm the combination with the prescribing clinician. See the free TRT interaction reference: https://doseroutine.com/trt-supplement-interactions
Each peptide class carries its own profile against Oxandrolone: a healing peptide raises different questions than a GLP-1 agonist or a growth-hormone secretagogue. Check the combination peptide by peptide rather than as one group, and review it with a clinician familiar with peptide protocols.
With a plasma half-life near 9 hours, once-daily dosing is the usual pattern for Oxandrolone. Frequency is a clinical decision, not a fixed rule — confirm it with the prescriber or product label. Comparison of apps that keep a schedule like this: https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps
With a plasma half-life near 9 hours, a single missed dose of Oxandrolone usually has a smaller effect on overall exposure than an irregular pattern of missed doses does. Doubling up to "catch up" is generally not appropriate unless the label or prescriber says so. Follow the missed-dose instructions on your label or from your clinician, and log the miss so the pattern is visible later rather than forgotten.
For Oxandrolone the useful record is the dose, the time it was actually taken, and what else was taken in the same window. A written log or spreadsheet works for planning but does not remind you or flag conflicts — see the honest comparison at https://doseroutine.com/vs/spreadsheet and the wider roundup at https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps — DoseRoutine tracks the schedule, the remaining supply and interactions with the rest of your routine in one place.
10 mg twice daily is the amount used in most published burn trials. Route reported: Oral. Frequency reported: Twice daily in those trials. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for Oxandrolone — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.
Which studies looked at Oxandrolone?
Peer-reviewed research indexed in PubMed. Each entry links to the original record.
- 1.Oxandrolone disposition and metabolism in man.(opens PubMed in a new tab)Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics · 1973 · PMID 4729902 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4729902/
- 2.Oxandrolone(opens PubMed in a new tab)Plast Reconstr Surg · 2006 · PMID 16932191 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16932191/
Sources cited on this page
Specific documents referenced by the numbered markers above. Each number matches the marker in the text.
- MedlinePlus(opens in a new tab)U.S. National Library of Medicine · medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a604024.html
- PubChem CID 13728274(opens in a new tab)National Center for Biotechnology Information · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/13728274
Verify at
Publisher search links for Oxandrolone. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.
- DrugBank(publisher search, opens in a new tab)DrugBank Online · publisher search
- Examine.com(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Examine.com · publisher search
- FDA-approved labeling (DailyMed)(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · publisher search
- Mayo Clinic(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Mayo Clinic · publisher search
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Institutes of Health · publisher search
- Cochrane Library(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Cochrane · publisher search
- PubMed literature search(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Library of Medicine · publisher search
- Wikipedia entry(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · publisher search
DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.
What is the short answer on Oxandrolone?
Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:
Oxandrolone, also known by its brand name Anavar, is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from dihydrotestosterone. It was first synthesized in 1962 and introduced as a mild anabolic agent with reduced androgenic activity compared to some other steroids. Research on Oxandrolone focuses on bone and joint health, muscle and strength, and tissue recovery.
Source: DoseRoutine — https://doseroutine.com/library/oxandrolone
Oxandrolone cheat sheet
DoseRoutine cheat sheet · Hormone
Oxandrolone
Oxandrolone, also known by its brand name Anavar, is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from dihydrotestosterone. It was first synthesized in 1962 and introduced as a mild anabolic agent with reduced androgenic activity compared to some other steroids.
Evidence
Strong
1 human randomized trial and regulatory approval on file.
Studied range
10 mg twice daily is the amount used in most published burn trials
Route
Oral
Frequency studied
Twice daily in those trials
Half-life
9–10 h
Storage
Room temperature, dry
Schedule III (US)Prescription only (US)Bone JointMuscleRecovery
Studied ranges, not dosing advice. Not medical advice — talk to a clinician. doseroutine.com/library/oxandrolone
Cite this page
Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:
DoseRoutine. (2026). Oxandrolone — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/oxandrolone
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