oxymetholone oxymetholone oxymetholone, sold under the brand names anadrol and anapolon among others, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (aas) medication which is used primarily in the treatment of anemia. it is also used to treat osteoporosis, hiv/aids wasting syndrome, and to promote weight gain and muscle growth in certain situations. it is taken by mouth. oxymetholoneclinical datatrade namesanadrol, anapolon, othersother namesci-406; nsc-26198; 2-hydroxymethylene-17α-methyl-4,5α-dihydrotestosterone; 2-hydroxymethylene-17α-methyl-dht; 2-hydroxymethylene-17α-methyl-5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-oneahfs/drugs.comconsumer drug informationpregnancycategory x routes ofadministrationby mouthdrug classandrogen; anabolic steroidatc codea14aa05 (who) legal statuslegal status ca: schedule iv us: schedule iii pharmacokinetic databioavailabilitywell-absorbedmetabolismliverelimination half-lifeunknownexcretionurineidentifiers iupac name (2z,5s,8r,9s,10s,13s,14s,17s)-17-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethylidene)-10,13,17-trimethyl-1,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16-dodecahydrocyclopentaphenanthren-3-one cas number434-07-1 npubchem cid5281034drugbankdb06412 nchemspider4444502 yuniil76t0zca8kkeggd00490 ychebichebi:7864 nchemblchembl1200585 ncomptox dashboard (epa)dtxsid5023794 echa infocard100.006.454 chemical and physical dataformulac21h32o3molar mass332.484 g·mol−13d model (jsmol)interactive image smiles o=c4/c(=c\o)c1((cc21cc3(2cc3(o)c)c)c4)c inchi inchi=1s/c21h32o3/c1-19-11-13(12-22)18(23)10-14(19)4-5-15-16(19)6-8-20(2)17(15)7-9-21(20,3)24/h12,14-17,22,24h,4-11h2,1-3h3/b13-12-/t14-,15+,16-,17-,19-,20-,21-/m0/s1 ykey:icmwwnhduzjfdw-dhodbpelsa-n y ny (what is this?) (verify) side effects of oxymetholone include increased sexual desire as well as symptoms of masculinization like acne, increased hair growth, and voice changes. it can also cause liver damage. the drug is a synthetic androgen and anabolic steroid and hence is an agonist of the androgen receptor (ar), the biological target of androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (dht). it has strong anabolic effects and weak androgenic effects. oxymetholone was first prescribed in 1959 and was introduced for medical use but shortly after was discontinued due its high lipid toxicity in the year 1961. it is used mostly in the united states. in addition to its medical use, oxymetholone is used to improve physique and performance. the drug is a controlled substance in many countries and so non-medical use is generally illicit. medical uses the primary clinical applications of oxymetholone include treatment of anemia and osteoporosis, as well as stimulating muscle growth in malnourished or underdeveloped patients. however, in the united states, the only remaining fda-approved indication is the treatment of anemia. following the introduction of oxymetholone, nonsteroidal drugs such as epoetin alfa were developed and shown to be more effective as a treatment for anemia and osteoporosis without the side effects of oxymetholone. the drug remained available despite this and eventually found a new use in treating hiv/aids wasting syndrome. presented most commonly as a 50 mg tablet, oxymetholone has been said to be one of the "strongest" and "most powerful" aas available for medical use. similarly, there is a risk of side effects. oxymetholone is highly effective in promoting extensive gains in body mass, mostly by greatly improving protein synthesis. for this reason, it is often used by bodybuilders and athletes. non-medical uses oxymetholone is used for physique- and performance-enhancing purposes by competitive athletes, bodybuilders, and powerlifters. side effects