Lower numbers = closer to natural. Higher numbers = more enhanced.
Why this rating?
Anavar has a high anabolic:androgenic ratio (322-630:24) but is considered one of the mildest steroids. At typical male doses (40-80mg), effects are moderate, strength preservation during cutting rather than dramatic mass gains. Women see more pronounced effects at 5-10mg due to lower natural androgen levels. While clearly providing advantages over natural, its mild nature and frequent use as a "starter" steroid place it at the lower end of enhanced.
Overview
A mild oral steroid often used for fat loss and by female athletes. Known for its favorable safety profile and ability to preserve strength during caloric deficits.
Important Warnings
- •Despite its "mild" reputation, Anavar suppresses HDL cholesterol hard. Monitor lipids
- •Still 17-alpha-alkylated and hepatotoxic: do not treat as liver-safe
- •Stacking with another oral (e.g. Winstrol) compounds lipid and liver strain
- •Frequently counterfeited/underdosed on the black market
- •FDA withdrew approval of prescription oxandrolone (Oxandrin) in 2023 for safety/effectiveness reasons, no legitimate US pharmaceutical source remains
Purpose & Use Cases
Cutting
Preserves muscle and strength during aggressive caloric deficits.
Female Use
One of the few steroids with acceptable virilization risk for women at appropriate doses.
Strength Without Weight
Increases strength without significant weight gain, ideal for weight-class athletes.
Benefits
- Preservation of strength during caloric deficit
- Increased vascularity
- No water retention or bloating
- Suitable for women at low doses
- Mild side effect profile
- Enhanced fat oxidation
Good to Know
A DHT-derivative: finasteride will not protect your hair
Anavar is already a DHT derivative, so there is no testosterone-to-DHT conversion for finasteride/dutasteride to block. Hair impact is milder than Winstrol or Masteron, but if you are DHT-prone a 5-AR inhibitor does nothing for it.
"Mild" refers to sides, not the liver or lipids
Oxandrolone is still 17-alpha-alkylated and hepatotoxic, and it hits HDL cholesterol harder than many stronger-looking orals. Treat it with the same lipid monitoring and cycle-length discipline as any oral. The gentle reputation is about virilization and water, not cardiovascular safety.
One of the few female-friendly steroids
At 5-10mg/day virilization risk is low, and women typically recover without formal PCT. Men need standard PCT. As with any anabolic, the muscle memory (retained myonuclei) means a past run keeps your natural ceiling slightly higher.
The most counterfeited oral on the market
Real oxandrolone is expensive to produce, so black-market "Anavar" is frequently underdosed or replaced with cheaper orals like Dianabol or Winstrol, which is often why users get unexpected bloat or harsher sides.
No longer a legitimate US pharmaceutical
The FDA withdrew approval of Oxandrin (oxandrolone) and its generics in 2023 for safety/effectiveness reasons, citing peliosis hepatis, liver tumors, and adverse lipid changes documented over decades of use. There is no legal US prescription source anymore, so every dose in circulation is imported or underground.
Dosage Guidelines
| Gender | Dosage Range |
|---|---|
| Male | 20 – 80 mg/day |
| Female | 5 – 10 mg/day |
Women should start at 5mg and assess tolerance. Men often need higher doses for noticeable effects.
Side Effects
Lipid Disruption
very commonSignificant reduction in HDL cholesterol, often worse than other orals.
Omega-3 fatty acids 4g daily; regular cardio; keep cycle short.
Testosterone Suppression
commonMild to moderate suppression of natural testosterone.
Standard PCT after cycle. Less suppressive than many other steroids.
Liver Strain
uncommonMild hepatotoxicity relative to most oral steroids. Oxandrolone is largely cleared renally rather than hepatically. Still 17-alpha-alkylated: elevated liver enzymes are seen with high doses or prolonged use, and rare but serious cases of peliosis hepatis and liver tumors are documented, which is part of why the FDA withdrew its approved prescription products in 2023.
NAC or TUDCA for liver support; avoid alcohol; keep doses/cycle length reasonable and monitor liver enzymes.
General Mitigation Strategies
Omega-3 fatty acids for lipid management. NAC/TUDCA for liver support. Standard PCT for men; women typically recover naturally.
Support Supplements
Ancillary supplements commonly run alongside Anavar to manage side effects, support the target tissue, or fill nutrient demands it creates.
Lipid support (omega-3 + citrus bergamot)
KeyAnavar suppresses HDL surprisingly hard for a "mild" oral. Omega-3 helps triglycerides; citrus bergamot lowers LDL via statin-like flavonoids and is the most evidence-backed lipid tool here.
- Dose
- Omega-3 2-4 g/day; citrus bergamot 500-1,000 mg/day
- Timing
- With meals
Liver support (TUDCA + NAC)
Oxandrolone is 17-alpha-alkylated and the mildest oral for the liver, partly excreted unchanged by the kidneys, but still hepatotoxic. TUDCA/NAC support bile flow and glutathione.
- Dose
- TUDCA 500mg/day; NAC 600-1,200mg/day
- Timing
- Through the cycle
- When
- Lower priority than lipid support here, but sensible if stacking with another oral or running longer.
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
Men require standard PCT. Women typically do not need PCT at appropriate doses.
How It Works
A DHT derivative that does not aromatize. Binds androgen receptors in skeletal muscle to increase nitrogen retention and protein synthesis, and has a documented anti-glucocorticoid (anti-cortisol) action that blunts muscle breakdown, an anti-catabolic effect that helps preserve lean tissue during caloric restriction. Also promotes lipolysis, aiding fat loss during a cut.
Hormonal & Androgenic Profile
322-630:24 (oxandrolone): very high anabolic-to-androgenic dissociation
Does not aromatize, no AI needed and no gyno or water-retention risk.
A DHT-derivative (already past 5-alpha-reductase), so finasteride/dutasteride are useless. There is nothing to block. Its androgenic hair effect is real but relatively mild for a DHT-derivative.
Notably suppresses HDL (often more than its "mild" reputation suggests); no water retention or estrogenic BP rise. Lipid strain is the main cardiovascular concern.
Fundamentals
Reference on the practices relevant to Anavar: how they are done and where they go wrong. Not a recommendation to use it.
Common Stacks
- Anavar + Testosterone - Enhanced cutting
- Anavar + Primobolan - Female-friendly lean mass
- Anavar + Winstrol - Competition prep (harsh on joints)
Detection Times
Oxandrolone itself has a short ~9-10 hour half-life, and standard urine testing typically detects it for roughly 3-4 weeks after last use. Anti-doping research has identified long-term sulfate-conjugate metabolites (e.g. hydroxylated/17-epi metabolites) that can extend detectability beyond that window in some cases. Precise timing is dose/duration-dependent and lab-method-dependent.
Legal Status
Schedule III controlled substance (USA). FDA-approved prescription products (Oxandrin and generics) were withdrawn from the US market in 2023 for safety/effectiveness reasons. There is no longer a legitimate US pharmaceutical source, so all product in circulation is imported/UGL.
Legal status varies by country and changes over time. This is a general summary, not legal advice.
WADA Status
Oxandrolone (Anavar) is explicitly prohibited as an anabolic androgenic steroid.