While Anadrol (Oxymetholone) may be widely revered as one of the strongest androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) available to bodybuilders wishing to boost their strength and rapidly increase muscle mass, it is also generally acknowledged to be one AAS that could potentially cause severe side effects.
But it must be said that the level of toxicity of Anadrol to any bodybuilder is influenced by a host of factors including the physiological makeup of the user, their age, gender, health status at the time of using Oxymetholone, their Anadrol cycle duration, dosage plan and frequency of use.
Indeed there are a number of anecdotal and studied side effects from Anadrol use, but in this post, we will highlight eight of the most common Anadrol side effects experienced by bodybuilders during and after their cycle.
We will also provide you with useful tips to hopefully help you deal with and resolve the eight common Anadrol side effects mentioned here.
The 8 Common Anadrol Side Effects
It is worth mentioning that the side effects stated here are those sampled from over 100 active bodybuilders that have run an Anadrol cycle in the past 5 years.
#1. Liver Toxicity and Damage
Before you start any AAS cycle it is important to know their levels of toxicity. In the case of Anadrol, it is a c-17 alpha-alkylated anabolic steroid that is first metabolized by the liver before it is absorbed into the bloodstream and muscle tissues.
As such, Anadrol is quite hepatotoxic in nature and can elevate both AST and ALT liver enzymes which would indicate the inflammation of the liver and possible damage. A liver function test is the sure-fire way to determine if your liver enzymes have been elevated.
The good news is that the elevated liver enzymes should return to their normal level after your Anadrol cycle, but in the event of an Anadrol user having a pre-existing or undetected liver-related condition that compromises their liver, they may be at a greater risk of hepatic peliosis or even liver failure.
To avoid elevated AST and ALT levels during your Anadrol cycle and the liver complications that come with such elevation, we advise that you make use of liver protection supplements like tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) which is a bike acid that occurs naturally in the body. TUDCA works by halting the excessive elevation of both AST and ALT liver enzyme levels.
Many of the bodybuilders approached for our survey suggested that taking a dose of 500mg of TUDCA daily was effective in protecting their liver from the dangers of excessive AST and ALT liver enzyme elevation.
In addition to this, most bodybuilders mentioned that they avoided drinking alcoholic beverages which can indeed heighten liver toxicity, especially when taken during an Anadrol cycle.
Other bodybuilders claimed that intermittent fasting was also advantageous in protecting the health of their liver. It must be said that while it is a known fact in the medical community that alcohol can be highly toxic to the liver, there is need for further research to ascertain anecdotal claims about intermittent fasting being effective for liver protection.
#2. High LDL Cholesterol
Using Anadrol could put you at risk of having a high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level which then puts you in great danger of myocardial infarction (MI).
As a result of Anadrol being inherently potent, it is also cardiotoxic in nature as it promotes water retention while at the same time reducing hepatic lipase as the Anadrol compound leaves the liver and enters the bloodstream.
To lower your LDL cholesterol levels while you are on an Anadrol cycle, you can take 4 grams of fish oil daily along with your recommended Anadrol dosage. Fish oil supplement will also help to boost your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) “good” cholesterol levels which in turn protects your heart health.
Also, engaging in a minimum of 20 minutes cardio workout 3 to 4 times a week will stabilize your blood pressure through increased vasodilation.
Anecdotal claims of a ketogenic (keto) diet being helpful in reducing blood sugar levels which then leads to lower blood pressure is also worth considering.
#3. Acne vulgaris
One common side effect of Anadrol is acne vulgaris. This is mainly due to the androgenic properties of Anadrol promoting a greater production and secretion of sebum which leads to excessively oily skin, blocked skin pores, and acne as a consequence.
Bodybuilders that are genetically susceptible to acne vulgaris and who run an Anadrol cycle regardless of this fact would be more prone to this skin condition.
To treat acne, your physician may prescribe medications, such as; retinoids, isotretinoids or benzoyl peroxide to help inhibit the effects of bacteria causing acne.
#4. Testosterone Suppression
Anadrol provides your body with copious doses of exogenous testosterone which leads to the shutdown of your endogenous testosterone production for weeks or even months on end after your Anadrol cycle.
Testosterone suppression can cause a myriad of health issues including fatigue and low-libido. To resolve the problem of testosterone suppression, you need to articulate a post-cycle therapy (PCT) protocol before you begin taking Anadrol.
Your PCT protocol will help to boost the recovery rate of your hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA). Typically, your PCT protocol would involve you taking selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) and Clomiphene citrate (Clomid) to help regulate your estrogen levels while boosting endogenous testosterone production.
The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may also be taken to help rapidly restore your HPTA. If you were on a standalone Anadrol cycle, using either Nolvadex or Clomid may suffice, but where you stacked Anadrol with other testosterone suppression AAS, you may need to use all three medications under prescription.
#5. Gynecomastia (Male Boobs)
Aromatization of Anadrol does not occur when this AAS is taken and therefore the exogenous testosterone provided by the Anadrol compound does not convert to estrogen in the same way as other potent AAS like testosterone enanthate.
However, Anadrol is known to directly stimulate estrogen receptors (ER) in the body and because of this, there is a possibility that users may experience gynecomastia, otherwise known as male boobs.
To avoid this side effect from occurring, you can include an aromatase inhibitor like Arimidex with your Anadrol dosage plan.
You can also make use of SERMs like Clomid or Nolvadex, as these medications can block estrogen right from the estrogen receptor (ER) phase.
#6. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
One other major androgenic side effect that could be caused by Anadrol use is benign prostatic hyperplasia, otherwise known as prostate enlargement. An enlarged prostate can make urination quite tedious and uncomfortable.
The good news is that this side effect is rare in Anadrol users and often solely occurring in people with pre-existing prostate health concerns. However, to avoid this health challenge, you should have a thorough medical checkup and prostate examination before running an Anadrol cycle. You should also avoid running an extensive Oxymetholone cycle and/or with a high daily dosage plan.
#7. Hair Loss
Similar to acne vulgaris, hair loss is one concern that is synonymous with Anadrol use. There are different ways that this hair loss may occur. The first is the thinning of the hair and the second is the recession of the hairline and balding of the hair.
But whichever way hair loss occurs in Anadrol users, it is usually caused by excessively high dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels.
Fortunately, there are a few medications that you could use to prevent hair loss and one is by blocking DHT with finasteride.
But note that DHT is a very strong hormone that will help you in experiencing greater results from your Anadrol cycle.
Some bodybuilders sampled in our survey claimed that Bee propolis which is a natural supplement can stimulate the high production of hair keratinocyte and prevent hair loss in the process.
But it must be mentioned that genetics plays a big role in the severity of hair loss in bodybuilders. Those that are genetically predisposed to hair loss and balding will naturally be more susceptible to androgenetic alopecia or hair loss than others.
#8. Bloating
As already mention before, Anadrol stimulates estrogen receptors and this can lead to water retention in users, as the high estrogen levels in the body will lead to a corresponding rise in sodium retention.
Bloating is unavoidable if your diet is rich in sodium despite an already high water and sodium retention. You can work on your diet and ensure that your daily sodium intake is significantly lowered while running an Anadrol cycle. This way you would retain less water and sodium during your Anadrol use.
Conclusion
Anadrol is one of the most potent orally administered AAS available to bodybuilders looking to build muscle mass, strength, and endurance. However, caution must be applied when using Anadrol as there are minor and severe side effects linked with the use of this AAS.
Anadrol is hepatotoxic in nature and may cause liver toxicity, but using a supplement like TUDCA will go a long way in protecting your liver. Other possible side effects associated with Anadrol use include hair loss, bloating, acne, and gynecomastia.
It is advisable that before you run a standalone Anadrol cycle or stack, you have a medical checkup as well as seek the recommendation of a physician or experienced bodybuilder and trainer.
