Last updated: June 19, 2026
What is Anadrol?
TL;DR: Anadrol (oxymetholone) is an oral anabolic steroid originally developed for treating anemia and muscle wasting. In bodybuilding, its used for fast mass and strength gains — often 15–25 lbs in a 4–6 week kickstart. Its also one of the harshest orals on the liver and the most likely to cause estrogen-driven side effects. The strength is real, the trade-offs are too.
Anadrol is a 17-alpha-alkylated steroid, which means it survives the first pass through the liver and ends up in your bloodstream intact. That structural change is what makes it active orally — and what makes it hepatotoxic.
How does Anadrol work?
- Strong androgen receptor binding drives rapid muscle protein synthesis
- Increased red blood cell production — thats why its used clinically for anemia. The bodybuilding side effect: better oxygen delivery to muscle during training
- Glycogen and water retention in muscle tissue gives the noticeable size pop within the first 2 weeks
- No direct conversion to estrogen via aromatase — but it can still cause estrogen-like side effects through alternate pathways, which is why aromatase inhibitors dont always fix Anadrol bloat
What does an Anadrol cycle look like?
- Standard dose: 50 mg per day, oral
- Heavier dose (experienced): 75–100 mg per day, oral
- Duration: 4–6 weeks. Never longer due to liver strain.
- Almost always stacked with injectable testosterone (300–500 mg/week minimum)
- Used as kickstart for the first 4 weeks of a long testosterone cycle to drive early gains while test ramps up
Anadrol is not a first-cycle compound. It hits hard but the side effects — mood, blood pressure, liver markers — require base experience. Injection technique for the stacked test is non-negotiable, and so is estrogen control.
What are the most common Anadrol side effects?
- Liver strain: ALT and AST elevation is the rule, not the exception. Yellowing of the eyes is a red flag — stop immediately.
- High blood pressure: Often the biggest acute issue. Driven by water retention and red blood cell increase.
- Water retention and bloating — puffy look. Some users like it for the size, others find it uncomfortable.
- Gyno (gynecomastia) — despite no aromatization, Anadrol can directly stimulate estrogen receptors. Standard aromatase inhibitors only partially work.
- Headaches from elevated blood pressure
- Loss of appetite — unusual for a steroid. Some users have to force food.
- Mood changes — irritability, aggression in higher doses
- Hair loss if predisposed
- Suppression — shuts down endogenous testosterone fast. PCT or TRT required.
What support compounds do you need?
- TUDCA (250–500 mg/day) — liver support. Standard for any oral cycle.
- NAC (600–1200 mg/day) — antioxidant for liver and cardiovascular support
- Telmisartan or other BP med — if pressure climbs above 140/90
- Aromatase inhibitor or SERM (Arimidex, Tamoxifen) — for gyno if it shows up
- Salt restriction — helps with water retention and blood pressure
How much weight can you gain on Anadrol?
- Weeks 1–2: 5–10 lbs (mostly water and glycogen)
- Weeks 3–4: Another 5–10 lbs (water + muscle)
- Weeks 5–6: 2–5 more lbs
- Total possible: 15–25 lbs during the cycle
- What you keep after cycle: Roughly 30–50% of total weight gained. The rest is water that leaves once the compound is out.
For comparison: Dianabol typically gives 10–20 lbs in the same window with less water and less liver strain. Anadrol hits harder and dirtier.
Anadrol vs Dianabol
- Mass gain: Anadrol > Dianabol
- Strength gain: Roughly equal
- Liver toxicity: Anadrol significantly worse
- Estrogen-related side effects: Anadrol harder to control (doesnt aromatize but acts on receptor directly)
- Water retention: Anadrol heavier
- Energy/sense of well-being: Dianabol usually feels better day-to-day
Many users prefer Dianabol as a first oral and save Anadrol for advanced cycles. See our Winstrol master guide for the cutting-side oral comparison.
How long does Anadrol stay in your system?
- Half-life: 8–9 hours
- Detection in urine: Up to 8 weeks
- Detection in hair: Several months
Most users split the daily dose into two parts (morning and evening) to keep blood levels steadier.
Is Anadrol legal in Canada?
Anadrol is a controlled substance in Canada (Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Schedule IV). Personal use possession is not criminal but importation, trafficking, and prescription-only supply rules apply. Bodybuilding use is unregulated outside the legal supply chain.
What about Anadrol for women?
Not recommended. Anadrol is highly virilizing despite not aromatizing. Voice deepening, body hair growth, and clitoral enlargement can show up within 1–2 weeks at any meaningful dose. Female bodybuilders who use Anadrol typically run 12.5–25 mg for very short periods (2–4 weeks), and many side effects can be permanent. For female anabolic use, see our Anavar cycle for women guide instead.
What bloodwork should you run with Anadrol?
- Before cycle: Full lipid panel, ALT/AST, hematocrit, blood pressure, testosterone
- Mid-cycle (week 3): ALT/AST, hematocrit, blood pressure
- Post-cycle: Full lipid, liver, testosterone, estrogen, recovery markers
Anadrol is one of the most-monitored steroids because the liver markers move fast. Stop the cycle if ALT/AST go above 3x the upper limit.
Sources
- FDA label — Anadrol-50 (oxymetholone), Roxane Laboratories
- Hartgens F, Kuipers H — Effects of Androgenic-Anabolic Steroids in Athletes (Sports Medicine, 2004)
- Clinical pharmacology of oxymetholone in anemia treatment — multiple hematology reviews
Related Compound Profiles
