Oxandrolone (
Oxandrin) is a
drug created by
Searle Laboratories, now
Pfizer Inc. under the trademark
Anavar, and introduced into the US in 1964.
Oxandrolone is a synthetic
anabolic steroid derived from
dihydrotestosterone by substituting 2nd carbon atom for oxygen (O). It is widely known for its exceptionally small level of androgenicity accompanied by moderate anabolic effect. Although oxandrolone is a 17-alpha alkylated steroid, its liver toxicity is very small as well. Studies have showed that a daily dose of 20 mg oxandrolone used in the course of 12 weeks had only a negligible impact on the increase of liver enzymes
[1][2]. As a DHT derivative, oxandrolone does not
aromatize (convert to estrogen, which causes
gynecomastia or male breast tissue). It also does not significantly influence the body's normal testosterone production (HPTA axis) at low dosages (10 mg). When dosages are high, the human body reacts by reducing the production of LH (
luteinizing hormone), thinking
endogenous testosterone production is too high; this in turn eliminates further stimulation of Leydig cells in the
testicles, causing
testicular atrophy (shrinking). Oxandrolone used in a dose of 80 mg/day suppressed endogenous testosterone by 67% after 12 weeks of therapy
[3].
The drug was prescribed to promote muscle regrowth in disorders which cause involuntary weight loss. It had also been shown to be partially successful in treating cases of
osteoporosis. However, in part due to bad publicity from its abuses by
bodybuilders, production of Anavar was discontinued by Searle Laboratories in 1989. It was picked up by Bio-Technology General Corporation, now
Savient Pharmaceuticals who, following successful clinical trials in 1995, released it under the tradename Oxandrin. As of 2009, it is the only drug marketed by the company.
It was subsequently approved for
orphan drug status by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating alcoholic hepatitis,
Turner syndrome, and
weight loss caused by
HIV. It is also indicated as an offset to
protein catabolism caused by long-term administration of
corticosteroids. In addition, the drug has shown positive results in treating
anemia and
hereditary angioedema. Because of its potential for abuse, it is categorized as a
Schedule III controlled substance in the US.
In a randomized, double-blind study, patients with 40% total body surface area
burns were selected to receive standard burn care plus oxandrolone, or without oxandrolone. Those treated with oxandrolone showed improve body composition, preserved
muscle mass and reduced hospital stay time.
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