Anadrol® is the brand name for a synthetic anabolic steroid called oxynetholone. This steroid is used as a stimulant for muscle growth as well as a treatment for a wide array of conditions, including anemia and osteoporosis. Though it has been approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institute of Health (NIH) has stated that it might be carcinogenic.
The steroid was developed by Syntex Pharmaceuticals in 1960 and has been trademarked by Alaven® Pharmaceuticals LLC. Originally, the drug was intended to promote the growth of bone, a process that can help stem the effects of osteoporosis and certain forms of dwarfism. It also can help with anemia, which occurs when there are too few red blood cells in the body. Like many steroids, Anadrol® also is capable of stimulating muscle growth. It has been used in malnourished patients or for those who suffer from underdeveloped muscles.
Since the development of Anadrol® in the 1960s, many other drugs that treat osteoporosis and anemia have been approved by the FDA. Today, Anadrol® is not regularly prescribed to treat those disorders because of its many dangerous side effects. Instead, Anadrol® primarily is used by bodybuilders and other athletes to help gain mass, though the practice is not sanctioned by the FDA.
Anabolic steroids such as Anadrol® mimic testosterone, the male sex hormone. Testosterone is responsible for the development of physical characteristics in men, such as the growth of male sexual organs, facial hair and bone mass. Testosterone is the reason why men tend to be larger than women.
Like almost all steroids, Anadrol® has a long list of side effects. Using the drug for a short period of time can cause diarrhea, acne and bloating. Structurally, it is similar to the hormone testosterone, so some masculinizing effects can occur as well, such as vocal deepening and, in men, variations in testicle sizes and erections that are more frequent and sometimes painful. It also can lead to rapid weight gain, which, for bodybuilders and malnourished patients, is an expected and desired side effect.
Long-term side effects are less well established. The liver appears to be the most affected by the drug, which is expected because the liver is responsible for breaking down medicines in the body. A handful of studies have shown that prolonged use of Anadrol® can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. More studies on the topic need to be conducted, but the NIH has added Anadrol® to its list of substances “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”