Anavar (Oxandrolone)

Anavar is one of the most popular steroids when it comes to getting ready for a competition. In this Anavar Review, you will find out more about Anavar dosage, benefits, side effects, various brands and legal alternatives, and much more.

What is Anavar?

Click play the video below to listen to what Dr. Rand McClain has to say about Anavar:

Anavar or Oxandrolone is an oral anabolic steroid that was created for the first time way back in 1962. Yep! it’s been more than half a century since it came into inception.

Back in the day, it was developed with the objective of promoting lean muscle mass in people who were known to be suffering from the muscle-wasting disease. Not just this, here was a drug that was created as a supposed «mild drug» that could be easily consumed by women and children.

It was way back in 1964, that an American company named G.D Searle & Co. launched Anavar into the market. At that point in time, it was successfully used to treat catabolic illnesses, burns, and infections as well as for post-surgery recovery in women and children. Not just this, it was also used for treating osteoporosis since it could increase bone mineral density.

With more studies and trials, Anavar become one of the safe medicines and till today it falls under the list of FDA-approved medicines. This is unlike most other anabolic steroids that are either not approved or banned by the FDA for human consumption.

Having said that, it is important to keep in mind that Anavar falls on the list of banned substances as far as recreational purposes are concerned.

However, this drug started getting a lot of bad press since it was being used by athletes and bodybuilders to get an edge over other players or competitors in various competitions. And this was largely because of its performance-enhancing effects. No wonder, G.D Searle & Co decided to pull it off the market way back in 1989.

However, it was relaunched by another company called BTG (Bio-Technology General Corp) in 1995 under the brand name Oxandrin. BTG had an agreement with Searle that they would manufacture this drug but solely distribute it to BTG.

BTG was able to earn orphan drug destination and was allowed to sell it for treating various conditions that included rare muscle-wasting diseases, AIDS, Turner syndrome, and muscular dystrophy. I must mention here that for a period of 7 years BTG enjoyed exclusive rights to sell this drug on the market. No wonder, it increased the price by a whopping 1200%!

This drug is still being sold under a newly formed company called Savient (formerly BTG). Moreover, there are generic versions also being produced and sold.

Having said that, Anavar remains one of the most expensive steroids on the market. Some of the factors contributing to its high price include excessive demand and just a few labs producing it.

Anavar is a steroid that is commonly used by bodybuilders for a cutting cycle. This is because it not only burns fat but also helps preserve and increase lean muscle in the body. Not just this, a lot of powerlifters also use it to gain strength. Moreover, it is one of the few steroids that is used by female bodybuilders and athletes.

Anavar Benefits

Anavar is one steroid that enjoys massive popularity among bodybuilders and athletes as well as powerlifters. The main reason behind that is that it offers quite a lot of benefits while being mild in terms of side effects. As a matter of fact, Anavar is often considered a mild steroid as compared to other anabolic steroids such as Dianabol, Deca Durabolin or even Trenbolone.

Let’s have a look at some of the main benefits of this drug:

Fat Loss

One of the most important benefits of Anavar is that it is supposed to be excellent for fat loss. What it actually does is that it tends to increase the T3 (Triiodothyronine) to T4 (thyroxine) ratio in your body. What you need to know is that T3 is the active thyroid hormone in your body and it is responsible for a faster working metabolism so that your body is better able to burn fat. As a matter of fact, it can be compared to free testosterone which is great for building muscle and T3 is simply amazing for burning excess fat.

According to research and studies, a moderate dose of Anavar such as 20 mg per day can help lose as much as 4 lbs of fat within a period of 12 weeks. But what is even more interesting is that the same group of people in this study showed an increase of 7 lb of muscle during the same period. Thus, it can be said that Anavar seems to have better anabolic effects as compared to fat-burning effects.

One of the most important features of this steroid is that it helps burn both subcutaneous and visceral fat. This is unlike most of the other anabolic steroids that have the propensity of reducing subcutaneous fat but increase visceral fat. This is largely because Anavar helps improve insulin sensitivity.

Muscle Gain

Like all other anabolic steroids, Anavar too is essentially a form of exogenous testosterone. What it means is that it will certainly help you gain muscle mass.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that Anavar has a very high anabolic rating of 322-630. The only thing is that such a high anabolic rating does not really translate into massive muscle gains in reality. In other words, if you are someone trying to bulk up, you should consider other steroids such as Dianabol, Anadrol, Trenbolone or even Testosterone. Alternatively, you may also stack some of these steroids with Anavar.

What makes Anavar a popular choice among bodybuilders is that it helps you gain lean and high-quality muscle mass, which is what most gym freaks and professional bodybuilders strive for. What it also means is that it doesn’t make you gain water weight or feel bloated unlike other bulking steroids such as Dianabol or Anadrol.

Yet another benefit of Anavar is that it does not aromatize. This clearly means that it won’t increase your estrogen levels. In other words, it can help you look and dry and cut so that you can achieve that much-desired shredded look!

Athletes also love this steroid since it is essentially a dry steroid and does not make them carry excess water weight while performing.

Fact check – Women are prone to experience better muscle gains as compared to men when on Anavar. Even a small dose such as 5-10 mg per day can make them gain lean and dry muscle mass.

Amplifies Strength

One of the most significant benefits of Anavar is that it simply amplifies strength. This is slightly unexpected for most people since it is a cutting steroid and does little to gain muscle or weight.

This increase in strength could be contributed to it being exogenous testosterone. Moreover, this is a steroid that leads to a dramatic effect in ATP (Adenosine phosphate) production as well as creatine content inside the muscle cells.

High levels of ATP can do wonders for your strength and stamina and make you establish new personal records with your lifts, whether on bench, deadlift, or squats!

Normally, during the cutting phase, it so happens that you tend to lose strength since you cut down on your calories but when on Anavar things actually turn out to be rather the opposite of this with you have more strength than ever. In other words, you might end up having more strength in spite of cutting down on calories.

It doesn’t get any better than this!

This is what makes it a popular choice among powerlifters before a competition when seeking more strength without gaining excess weight.

You would be surprised to know that most professional powerlifters back in the 1970s were all on Anavar!

Thus, it can be said that Anavar is not a girl steroid and it clearly has the distinction of being used by some of the strongest men the world has ever seen!

Mild Side Effects

When considering side effects, Anavar seems to be the best choice when it comes to steroids so much so that it is often called a mild steroid!

Research has shown that it is surprisingly safe (as compared to other steroids) in terms of long-term medical settings. Since the side effects are milder, it is often the first choice of bodybuilders just starting with steroids and seeking modest muscle gains.

The underlying fact about steroids is that the better the results, the more severe the side effects are!

When compared to some of the other steroids, Anavar seems to pale in terms of muscle gains but what is certain is that its side effects are quite tolerable. In other words, the pros outweigh the cons, which makes it a popular choice among bodybuilders and athletes.

Less Liver Toxic

There’s a major difference between Anavar and other C17-aa steroids. Anavar is essentially a c17-alpha alkylated oral steroid and it is supposed to be fully active while bypassing the liver. When compared to other C17-aa steroids, it is likely to be less toxic to the liver. One of the main reasons behind this is that a major part of this steroid is metabolized by the kidneys and not the liver. It is only a small percentage of Anavar that is likely to pass through the liver which makes it less hepatotoxic.

According to research, when compared with Fluoxymesterone (C17-aa steroid), 20 mg of Anavar causes 72% less BSP (Sulfobromophthalein; a marker of liver stress).

Even though liver enzymes including AST/ALT are likely to increase when on Anavar, it is not likely to be as high as it is in the case of C17-aa steroids. Not just this, what is even more interesting (as shown by research) is that these elevated enzyme levels are likely to get back to normal when you stop taking Anavar.

Having said that, it does not mean that Anavar is absolutely safe or it cannot cause liver damage. If you consume a heavy dosage of Anavar for a longer period of time, you are certainly risking your liver health.

No Gynecomastia or Water Retention

As mentioned above, Anavar does not aromatize. What it means is that there is very little chance of experiencing gyno when on this steroid.

Another important fact is that Anavar does not even increase Progesterone levels in your body. Thus, there are no chances of getting progesterone-induced gyno too.

Moreover, Anavar is also not likely to cause water retention in your body, thereby reducing any other chances of getting gyno!

Anavar is likely to create a dry and ripped look by eliminating water from your body. It comes with a diuretic effect that is likely to enhance vascularity as well as muscle striations.

Less Androgenicity

Since Anavar is already a derivative of DHT, there’s absolutely no conversion to DHT through the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. Thus, it comes with mild androgenic side effects. As a matter of fact, it has a low androgenic rating of 25!

Theoretically speaking, the androgenic side effects of this steroid should be quite mild but when you look at the practical side of things, acne, male pattern baldness and prostate enlargement are some of the side effects that can actually occur because Anavar is a DHT-based steroid.

One of the most crucial factors at play is your genetics here. Some people may experience heavy hair loss when on this steroid and others may not experience it at all. Moreover, such side effects are often reversible when you stop taking the steroid.

Find out more about Anavar results with before and after pics by clicking here.

Suitable for Women

Anavar is one of the few steroids that are suitable for women. One of its main benefits is that it does not cause virilization or the development of male features in women. No wonder, it is often described as a female-friendly steroid.

Some of the virilization side effects could include deepening of the voice, growth of facial and torso hair, clitoral enlargement, more pronounced jawline, smaller breasts, irregular periods, etc.

Since Anavar does not lead to virilization, most women bodybuilders and athletes prefer using it so that they can keep their feminity intact.

Word of caution: Virilization side effects are possible when taking Anavar in higher doses for a longer period of time. What you need to keep in mind is that it is still a steroid and women should cap the daily dose of this steroid at 10 mg.

Increased Recovery, Endurance & Speed

One of the most important benefits of Anavar is that it speeds up recovery. This is the main reason that it used among burn patients. Faster recovery is what makes it extremely suitable for athletes since it makes them increase their training intensity and duration. More training leads to a direct positive impact on their performance. Not just this, Anavar is also likely to increase red blood cell count and ATP production, which bears a positive impact on muscle endurance.

Apart from strength and endurance, Anavar can also help field athletes increase their speed. No wonder, it is often used by those sprinting, swimming, or boxing. More often than not, such athletes and professional sportsmen stack Anavar with other steroids to improve their performance.

Awesome Big Pumps

Anavar can help you get awesome pumps too. This is because it causes intracellular water retention that leads to constantly full and pumped muscles throughout the day. This is what makes it so appealing to bodybuilders who want to look big and pumped!

Thus, Anavar is a steroid that can help you achieve muscle fullness coupled with a dry and ripped look, which is what most bodybuilders long for. On top of this, it also helps enhance vascularity.

To clarify things a little bit, Anavar fills water inside the muscle cells but it expels fluid or water outside the muscle cells. Thus, it not only helps you get awesome pumps but also enhances vascularity.

However, there could be a flip side to this as well. This is because some users report massive pumps in the lower back that can be quite painful and uncomfortable.

Anavar Side Effects

Anavar is termed as one of the safest steroids. However, it does not mean that it does not have any side effects. Even though the side effects of Anavar are mild, long-term use of this steroid in higher dosages can cause a lot of internal damage to your body.

When used in heavy doses some of the resultant side effects could include the following:

• High LDL cholesterol
• Testosterone Suppression
• Kidney Damage
• Hair Loss, etc.

Let’s check out each of these side effects in a little more detail…

High LDL Cholesterol

One of the most significant side effects of Anavar is that it can lead to high LDL cholesterol in your body.

Its worth mentioning here that LDL cholesterol is the bad cholesterol and HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol.

Initially, when Anavar was launched into the market, it was thought for being good for reducing overall cholesterol. However, later research proved otherwise and showed that it negatively shifts the ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol levels in Anavar users.

Here are some of the results of a study:

• Men with HIV that took 20 mg of Anavar per day for 12 weeks experienced their HDL levels go down by as much as 30%
• The second group of men that took 40 mg of Anavar per day, experienced a 33% drop in their HDL levels. Not just this, their LDL levels also rose by 30%.
• Men that were given 80 mg of Anavar per day experienced a 50% cut down in their HDL levels.

It is important to understand that elevated levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to a lot of problems such as:

• Arteriosclerosis or clogging of arteries that can further lead to high blood pressure almost certainly
• Hypertension, heart disease, and even stroke.

On the positive side of things, cholesterol levels are known to get back to normal once the user stops taking Anavar.

I must mention here that a high dose of Anavar can lead to flushing of the face or body. It may make your skin appear red thus, and this certainly is one of the signs of increased body temperature as well as high blood pressure.

It’s important to note here that those who already have high blood pressure or are genetically prone to heart disease must not take Anavar.

Suppresses Testosterone

Since Anavar is exogenous testosterone, it will definitely spike up testosterone levels in your body. And once your body finds an excess of testosterone in the bloodstream it will slow down endogenous or natural testosterone production in order to reduce cardiovascular strain.

Here are some interesting results of a study with respect to testosterone suppressing effects of Anavar:

• After a period of 12 weeks, a group of men taking Anavar within 20-40 mg per day range experienced 45% suppression in their testosterone levels.
• Another group of men who took 80 mg of Anavar for the same period, experienced 66% suppression in their testosterone.
• Another research showed that even a small dose of just 2.5 mg per day in young boys delayed puberty by shutting down endogenous testosterone secretion.

Most bodybuilders who take Anavar experience an improvement in their well-being, confidence, motivation and aggression as soon as the effects of exogenous testosterone kick in. However, this effect does not last long and once the body starts suppressing testosterone, they begin experiencing tiredness, fatigue and even poor or sluggish libido.

One of the most obvious signs of testosterone shutdown is testicular atrophy because of less sperm production by the testes. Anavar not only reduces sperm production but also affects fertility since it can result in sperm damage too. However, once you stop taking Anavar, sperm production and quality are likely to improve.

Testosterone levels may take 1-4 months to recover post Anavar cycle. It is extremely important to plan a PCT beforehand in order to help your body step up its natural testosterone production as soon as possible. What you need to keep in mind is that the recovery period depends upon the dose of Anavar that you consume. The higher the dose, the longer will it take for endogenous testosterone production to get back to normal.

Kidney Damage

As mentioned above, Anavar is metabolized by the kidneys rather than the liver. While this makes Anavar less hepatotoxic, it certainly puts your kidneys under a lot of strain causing injury (to the kidneys) over time.

If someone has a history of kidney issues, he should avoid taking Anavar.

Hair Loss

As mentioned above, Anavar is a DHT-derived steroid. What it means is that it can speed up hair loss in men who already suffer from hair loss or are genetically susceptible to losing hair.

It must be noted that DHT is a powerful androgen and it binds to the hair follicles resulting in inhibited growth. It can certainly lead to thinning, recession and hair falling out.

The extent and degree of hair loss that one experiences is affected by his genetics.

How to Prevent Hair Loss on Anavar

As far as treating Anavar hair loss is concerned, there are two main options that include:

• Directly treating the scalp
• Blocking DHT internally

The main aim of this treatment is to block DHT.

One of the options to do so is with the help of a shampoo that tries to block DHT at the follicular level. Even though it is less effective as compared to blocking DHT internally, it carries the advantage that it targets the scalp specifically.

As far as bodybuilders are concerned, this seems to be a better option of the two since they want to keep their DHT levels high (in their bodies).

The second option is to try and block DHT internally. This can be done with the help of medicines such as Finasteride or Propecia which is an FDA-approved medicine to reduce hair loss. However, research has shown that most men lose muscle mass when on this pill. In other words, taking Finasteride could counteract the anabolic effects of Anavar. In other words, it can kill the whole purpose of having this steroid to build up hard and dry muscle mass.

Is Anavar Legal?

Here are some important key points to remember:

1. Initially, when Anavar was launched into the market, it was legal to buy it for bodybuilding purposes. What it means is that you could buy it with a doctor’s prescription in order to gain muscle and strength, and to cut fat.
2. When the Anabolic Steroids Control Act came into existence in 1990, it became illegal to buy Anavar without a medical reason. As you can make out, at this point in time doctors stopped wiring prescriptions to bodybuilders and athletes who want to have Anavar for gaining muscle or for cutting fat.
3. The current status is that Anavar is illegal for recreational use in most countries around the world including the US and the UK. The only exception is Mexico where you can still buy it across the counter
4. If someone in the US is caught possessing Anavar, he can be fined up to $1000 and jailed for up to 1 year. This is for the first-time offense.
5. If someone, on the other hand, is caught selling this drug then he could be fined for as much as $250000 and also jailed for 5 years. This again is for a first-time offense and repeated offenses may lead to a bigger fine and longer jail term.

One of the best alternatives is to use legal and safe Anavar alternatives such as ACUT from Brutal Force or Anvarol from Crazy Bulk.

Legal Anavar Alternatives

Legal Anavar alternatives are supplements made with natural ingredients that mimic Anavar so as to help you get all the benefits of the steroid while doing away with all the negatives. Not just this, these legal Anavar alternatives do not even require a PCT. The best part is that they can be combined with other legal steroids to help you get even better and faster results.

It is hardly surprising that such supplements have become quite a rage within the bodybuilding community and are highly preferred by those that want to stay natural.

Some of the most popular legal alternatives for Anavar include:

• ACut from Brutal Force and
• Anvarol from Crazy Bulk

Anavar Dosage

Anavar is a steroid that can be used by both men and women. However, the dosage should be different for both.

Here are typical dosages for men and women:

Anavar Dosage for Men

I must mention beforehand that getting pure Anavar is not easy for most people. Whatever is available is on the grey market and most sellers sell adulterated Anavar with the real concentration of the steroid being quite low.

The dosages mentioned below are for pure Anavar only:

• Initially, when Anavar was launched into the market a dose of 5-10 mg per day was quite popular.
• However, most athletes and bodybuilders now consume 15-25 mg per day.
• More often than not, this Anavar cycle lasts for 6-8 weeks.

I must mention here that even though it is considered a mild steroid because of fewer side effects, when consumed in a large dose for a longer period of time, Anavar can be hepatotoxic, cause LDL cholesterol to increase, and suppress testosterone production in your body, necessitating a proper PCT.

How about doses?

The half-life of Anavar is supposed to be 9.4-10.4 hours. What it means is that you need to split your daily dose into two so that your system carries enough Anavar throughout the day for producing results.

Anavar pills are usually available in the strength of 2.5 mg, 10 mg, or 20 mg.

Most male bodybuilders split the daily dose into 2 doses with each having a potency of 10 mg.

One of the best times to consume a dose of Anavar is 45 minutes before a workout. This not only improves your energy and strength levels but also helps improve your focus and drive.

Anavar Dosage for Women

• Initially, there were no instructions on how much Anavar should women be taking as a daily dose. However, it used to be mentioned that pregnant women should not use this steroid.
• Women seem to have arrived at a proper dosage through trial and error and now a daily dosage of 5-10mg is considered most suitable for gaining muscle or cutting fat, while avoiding virilization effects.
• Not just this, the length of the cycle is also limited to just 4-6 weeks. Yes! women should not have it for more than 6 weeks in a single cycle.

Anavar Cycles

Anavar Only Cycle

Most hardcore bodybuilders tend to stack Anavar with other steroids. Anavar only cycles are not so popular since they tend to be mild and Anavar is known to produce better results when it is combined with other steroids such as testosterone.

One of the implications of stacking Anavar with another steroid is that it is likely to increase side effects.

Having said that, Anavar only cycle is still effective and it is more suitable for beginners or first-timers who do not have any experience of having steroids. It is supposed to be a wiser choice for beginners since its side effects are relatively mild and newbies that have less body tolerance for steroids can make a good start with it.

However, those seeking massive improvement in muscle mass and strength gains are going to be disappointed with an Anavar-only cycle. For such guys, there are other steroids that are more appropriate and these could include Dianabol or Testosterone.

Anavar Cycle for Men

Here’s what an Anavar only cycle for men should look like (for beginners).

Week	Dosage
1-3	15 mg per day
4-6	20 mg per day

As a beginner, you need to limit your cycle to just 6 weeks.

As your body gets used to it, you can increase the daily dosage to 20 mg per day in future cycles. Moreover, you may also extend the length of the cycle to 8 weeks.

Anavar Cycle for Women

This is what Anavar cycle for women (beginners) should look like:

Week	Dosage
1	5 mg per day
2-5	10 mg per day

Women (first-timers) should begin their cycle with a 5 mg dose in the first week to be later increased to 10 mg per day from the 2nd to the 5th week. They should also cap the cycle to 5 weeks.

Once a woman user, gets used to this steroid, she can increase the daily dosage in future cycles to 10 mg per day and also extend the length of the cycle to 6 weeks.

Anavar and Test Cycle

Testosterone needs no introduction and almost everyone who has ever been to a gym knows the effectiveness of this steroid for both gaining muscle and strength. No wonder, testosterone is often stacked with Anavar to produce faster and better muscle gains while ensuring that the muscle gained is utmost lean.

Testosterone is an injectable steroid and some of the common esters used along with Anavar include Enanthate or Cypionate.

Word of Caution – As far as beginners are concerned, a testosterone-only cycle is a far better choice since stacking testosterone and Anavar can not only lead to testosterone suppression but also result in an increase in LDL cholesterol levels in the body.

Here’s what a beginner Anavar and Test Cycle should look like:

Week	Testosterone	Anavar
1-2	200 mg per day	15 mg per day
3	300 mg per day	15 mg per day
4-5	300 mg per day	20 mg per day
6	350 mg per day	20 mg per day
7	350 mg per day	——

Anavar and Test Cycle (Intermeditate)

Following is a cycle for men who have prior experience of using Anavar and Testosterone together.

Week	Testosterone	Anavar
1	200 mg per day	20 mg per day
2-5	400 mg per day	20 mg per day
6-8	500 mg per day	20 mg per day
9	500 mg per day	—–
10	200 mg per day	—–

Anavar and Test Cycle for Women

This is a stack that is not recommended for women. The main reason behind this is that exogenous testosterone is going to increase the chances of virilization manifold. Professional female bodybuilders do use these steroids in combination but they also experience masculinization even at moderate doses.

Anavar is often clubbed with other steroids in a stack by bodybuilders to get faster and better results from their workouts. It can be stacked with anabolics with steroids such as Winstrol, Dianabol, Trenbolone, etc. I have covered such stacks in detail in another article. Check out the Best Anavar Stacks to get more details on these stacks.

Anavar and Andriol Cycle

If you do not know what Andriol (testosterone undecanoate) is, let me tell you that it is the lesser-known oral version of testosterone.

Andriol is less popular than injectable testosterone because of two main reasons:

• First of all, it is more expensive than injectable testosterone.
• Secondly, it is less powerful too.

Then why use Andriol?

Andriol is a perfect choice for those that do not want to use an injectable steroid/testosterone and yet want better results than an Anavar-only cycle.

Even though there are other powerful and oral steroids available such as Dianabol and Anadrol, what makes testosterone undecanoate a better choice is that it is considered to be a safer oral androgen!

In comparison, Dianabol and Anadrol are known to be highly toxic to the liver.

More importantly, a 10-year study has shown that testosterone undecanoate does not elevate liver enzymes. Another positive thing about Andriol is that it does not cause gynecomastia or prostate enlargement.

Here are some more details of such studies:

1. In one of the studies, 35 men were given 80-200 mg of testosterone undecanoate for a period spanning over 72 months. It’s worth noting that 9 of these men has never received any androgen treatment in their life before this study. Surprisingly, none of these men experienced gynecomastia at any stage during the study.
2. In another study, 33 men were given testosterone undecanoate for 10 years and out of these just 2 men experienced a mild reduction in urine flow.

When talking of side effects, Andriol is considered in line with Anavar and is classified as a safe drug.

Having said that, it is important to mention here that LDL levels are likely to increase and testosterone levels will be suppressed post-cycle but this effect is not going to last long.

How to ensure the best results from Andriol?

Here are some important tips to follow:

• You must make sure that you consume Andriol with food. The main reason behind that is that the bio-availability of this is very low when it is taken on an empty stomach.
• Furthermore, it is recommended that you should include at least 19 grams of fat or a minimum of 30% of your meal’s calories come from fats. This is important because a high level of fat results in a higher serum testosterone level when taking Andriol.

This is what your Andriol and Anavar cycle should look like:

Week	Andriol	Anavar
1-4	240 mg per day	20 mg per day
5-8	280 mg per day	20 mg per day

Do You Require a PCT on Anavar?

The main objective behind a PCT is to help your body restart its natural testosterone production. Moreover, it also aims at making you retain all the gains that you made during a cycle. Not just this, it also tries to help your body produce hormones as normally as possible so as to ensure proper physical and psychological health. I must mention here that a lot of suppressive steroids can make you depressed, fatigued, and experience other side effects such as roid rage, etc. A PCT is an attempt to get back things to normal once again!

As far as Anavar is concerned, it can be suppressive or it can lower natural testosterone levels in your body but it may not shut down testosterone production completely!

When you use a moderate dose of Anavar or a 6-8 week cycle, it is quite possible for your testosterone levels to remain significantly high. This is the reason why most men using Anavar generally avoid a PCT and wait for their testosterone levels to get back to normal within a 1-4 month period.

However, when Anavar is stacked with another steroid, the suppressive effects are supposed to be more profound thereby requiring an aggressive PCT strategy.

One of such PCT is described below:

• hCG – It is recommended to consume 2000 IU of hCG for a period of 20 days (taken every 2 days)
• Nolvadex – It is further advised to have 40 mg of Nolvadex daily (split into 2 doses) for a period of 45 days
• Clomid – 100 mg of Clomid (split into 2 doses daily) may also be consumed for the next 30 days.

Now, I must mention here that the PCT described above must be taken only when you combine Anavar with a harsh anabolic steroid.

And if you consume Anavar only during a cycle, then having just one of the abovementioned PCT drugs should be more than enough to get back testosterone production in your body to its normal level quickly.

When Should I Begin PCT?

This is where the half-life of Anavar plays an important role. As a rule, you should be able to start PCT as soon as the last dose of Anavar leaves your body.

As mentioned above, the half-life of Anavar is 9.4-10.4 hours. This, you are required to consume two doses a day. In order to calculate the time, when you should be beginning with the PCT, you need to use the formula 5.5 X half-life. In other words, you should be starting with your PCT after 5.5 X 10.4 = 57 hours after you took your last dose.

Do Women Need to Run a PCT with Anavar?

One of the most common perceptions is that women to do not need a PCT.

Having said that, more often than not women too feel suppressive effects after a steroid cycle. Thus it is always advisable to plan a PCT beforehand even in the case of women.

Though women produce much less testosterone as compared to men, it plays an important role in their overall health, well-being, libido, and of course, in retaining gains made from a cycle.

Some of the common issues that women experience post-cycle include depression and poor libido or sex drive. These two are likely to stem from extremely low levels of both testosterone and estrogen.

Nolvadex can be used effectively for PCT in women. It can help you get over depression very quickly but restoring the menstrual cycle to its normal level may take 3-6 months. Moreover, both the dosage and the duration of PCT should be less than what men are supposed to have.

Here’s what Nolvadex PCT for Women should look like:

Week	Dosage
1	20 mg per day
2	15 mg per day
3	10 mg per day
4	5 mg per day

I must also mention here that in order to restore low androgen levels, women are generally prescribed DHEA. And thus, a preferred PCT could be DHEA 25-50 mg per day for a period of 4 weeks.

Moreover, hCG is generally not recommended for women as a PCT and the reason behind that is that it can lead to enlargement of the ovaries, thereby resulting in virilization. Furthermore, Clomid is also not suitable for women since it is likely to make ovaries oversensitive.

Anavar Reviews

Click Play the video below to find out more about the experience of this bodybuilder with Anavar.

Kai not only mentions his experience of taking this steroid but he also pinpoints how to find out if the Anavar you are taking is pure or bunk.

Takeaways from the video:

• The effects of this steroid kick in really fast. If the Anavar that you are taking is absolutely pure, you can feel the effects within 10-15 minutes of having it. As a matter of fact, this is the most sure-shot way of knowing whether Anavar you are taking is genuine or bunked. If you do not feel the effects kicking in within 10-15 minutes then you are most likely using a bunked or adulterated product.
• Secondly, it can give you massive pumps so much so that you might find them somewhat difficult to handle.
• Finally, Anavar can make you feel extremely hungry!

Where to Buy Anavar?

I must state it very clearly that it is illegal to buy Anavar for bodybuilding purposes in most countries around the world. What it means is that most bodybuilders try to source it from the grey or black market.

Two of the most common situations include the following:

• You ask someone at your local gym to get you some Anavar or your coach at the gym recommends Anavar to you and he or someone associated sources Anavar from the grey market
• You try to get Anavar from a website online

Basically, there are 2 types of Anavar that you can get, which include pharmaceutical grade and the one sourced from underground labs.

With no authority regulating the production of steroids, most of them are produced in underground labs. You never know whether such uncertified labs exist in the seller’s own house. What it also means is that there are no quality checks and this tends to pose a high risk of side effects to the consumer.

I would like to remind you here that there are not many pharmaceutical companies that produce pure Anavar.

Pharmaceutical grade Anavar, on the other hand, is made under the strict supervision of scientists. Labs here such as Anavar is produced has stringent regulations in place and is guaranteed to produce pure and genuine product.

Anavar Brands

Let’s have a look at some of the Pharma grade Anavar products being sold worldwide:

Generic Anavar

There are a couple of pharma companies that produce generic Anavar in the US and these could include Par Pharm, Upsher Smith, Watson and Sandoz. Moreover, you can source Anavar in teh strength of 2.5 mg and 10 mg doses.

Oxandrin (Savient)

Savient (formerly BTG) is the same company credited with getting Anavar back into the US market in 1995. It produced Anavar under the brand name Oxandrin that are now available in the form of 10 and 25 mg pills.

Xtendrol

This is a product that is produced by a Mexican company by the name of Atlantis. As mentioned above, it is legal to buy Anavar in Mexico for bodybuilding purposes. Xtendorl comes in the form of 2.5 mg pills.

Oxanabolic

This one is a product of a Malaysian Company called Asia Pharma and it comes in the form of 10 mg pills. One of the benefits of this product is that you can check the authenticity of their products online with the help of a unique ID that is mentioned on the box.

Oxandrolon

This is a brand name under which Balkan Pharmaceuticals from Moldova produces Anavar. It also comes in the form of 10 mg tablets and you can check and verify their authenticity online through their website.

Price of Anavar

One of the limiting factors of Anavar is that it turns out to be one of the most expensive steroids on the market. You should not be surprised to find that the per-day cost of this steroid could be within the range of $3.75 to $30 and it varies depending upon the strength and dosage of the product used.

However, things seem a bit different when it comes to bodybuilders. This is because most of them buy it from underground labs and thus, the cost is likely to be much lesser.

Are Anavar Gains Permanent?

The golden rule is to keep training if you want to retain all the benefits and gains experienced through a steroid cycle. According to research, you tend to lose Anavar results when you do not combine it with training. In other words, the results are temporary and you tend to lose them when you stop taking Anavar.

Having said that, a lot of bodybuilders tend to keep most of the gains made during an Anavar cycle (even if not all), if they keep training with weights on a regular basis. One of the main reasons why most bodybuilders who work out regularly keep these gains is because Anavar does not shut down testosterone production completely. What it means is that the body is not in an excessive catabolic state when they off the Anavar cycle.

If, however, you take Anavar for losing fat, then it is quite possible that you should be able to retain those results whether you workout or not. In such a case, your diet comes into play and as long as you consume the right amount of calories, the fat will not come back!

How Long Does It Take For Anavar To Work?

As mentioned above, Anavar is a steroid that has a short half-life of 9-10 hours and you need to consume two doses a day to ensure that your body has enough Anavar to produce results.

Pure Anavar, as mentioned in the video above, produces results very quickly. As a matter of fact, you begin noticing the results in as little as 10-15 minutes of taking the first dose.

One of the most immediate effects of Anavar is that it helps you get a real solid pump. In fact, the pump that you get can be really difficult to handle at times.

However, when it comes to muscle gains and fat loss, it might take you at least 2 weeks to get noticeable results.

Even though Anavar tends to increase serum testosterone levels in your bloodstream, very quickly, it doesn’t mean it will translate into almost immediate muscle gains.

Furthermore, I would like to mention that the muscle gains you experience with this steroid aren’t really dramatic. It is a mild steroid in comparison to other anabolics such as Dianabol etc.

However, things tend to be a bit different when it comes to women. Most women that consume Anavar at 10 mg per day, notice quick muscle gains, usually within the first 10 days of the cycle. Men are known to produce at least 20 times more testosterone than women. As a result, women are known to be more receptive to testosterone effects. Thus, a woman taking just 10 mg of Anavar per day is likely to experience faster muscle gains as compared to a man taking 20 mg per day!

FAQs

Should You Take Anavar on an Empty Stomach?

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that when anabolic steroids are taken with meals, their absorption into the body gets inhibited. The main reason behind this is that these steroids are basically fat-soluble compounds and they dissolve quickly when taken along with dietary fat. Thus, it is better to have Anavar and other anabolic steroids on an empty stomach, if you want to get the best results.

Can I Drink Alcohol when on Anavar?

One of the underlying differences between Anavar and other anabolic steroids is that most of this steroid is metabolized by the kidneys. What it means is that it is likely to put less strain on your liver. Theoretically speaking, this should make it possible to have alcohol when taking Anavar. However, there’s another angle to this story!

Alcohol bears a negative impact on your cortisol levels, making it difficult for your body to burn fat when taking Anavar. Not just this, Cortisol produces a catabolic effect in your body, thereby resulting in the loss of muscle mass.

Thus, in order to get the best results from your Anavar cycle, you must avoid having alcohol.

Will Anavar Cause a Failed Drug Test?

It depends upon the body testing you. If you happen to be an Olympic athlete, then you are most certainly going to fail the drug test. Anavar falls on the list of banned substances by the IOC, WADA, USADA and many other sports bodies, including MMA.

When it comes to the army, they don’t really test for anabolic steroids. They test for other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, etc. Why they don’t test for such steroids is because such tests can be quite expensive.

Having said that, the army might test for such steroids if they expect the use of any steroids to be rife in any particular unit.

One of the best ways to get around such tests in the army is to have a prescription ready with you. For instance, if a soldier has low testosterone and has a prescription for TRT, his drug test might be accepted even if he tests positive.

Will Anavar Cause Sleep Problems?

It is not uncommon for most users to experience sleep problems or insomnia when on anabolic steroids and it is no different with Anavar. Typically, this is an issue that lasts for the first few weeks within a cycle after which the sleep pattern improves.

One of the best ways to avoid this problem is to have your dose of Anavar earlier in the day so that there’s no excessive stimulation of the central nervous system by the time you hit the bed.

Moreover, you may also add a supplement to calm down your central nervous system and one of the best options is supplements that have Valerian root as the intrinsic ingredient. Such a supplement is quite effective in mild insomnia and may reduce the time that it takes to fall asleep.

Can You Run Anavar Cycle All Year Round?

Since Anavar is considered a mild steroid (due to less severe side effects) it is one steroid that is being regularly used by bodybuilders and fitness models. Some of them are known to use it all year round. This is especially true in the case of Instagram models and those that appear on magazine covers since they are under a lot of pressure to look sleek and ripped throughout the year.

However, this is something that can really increase the suppression of testosterone as well as raise LDL cholesterol levels to a really high level. Thus, it is not recommended to have Anavar all year round.

Conclusion

Anavar is a steroid that is often described as a mild steroid since its side effects are less severe as compared to other anabolic steroids that are commonly used by bodybuilders. Having said that, it is still a steroid and its use in bodybuilding is not recommended. With advances in sports nutrition, new and highly effective supplements have been launched that can help you get amazing results while staying natural so that you do not even require a PCT.

This is why I recommend that you try natural legal alternatives to Anavar such as ACut from Brutal Force for some amazing results without any side effects.