Oxandrolone
Also known as: anavar, var
A mild oral steroid with a reputation for lean gains — but an oral 17-alpha-alkylated compound, with the liver cost that carries.
Legal status: UK: Class C controlled drug and prescription-only medicine. Supplying it (including to friends) and importing it by post are criminal offences; personal possession for your own use generally is not. Checked 2026-07-26.
Prohibited in sport: Yes — on the WADA Prohibited List.
Approved medical use: Used medically (where licensed) to help restore weight after trauma, surgery or catabolic illness.
What it is
Oxandrolone is an orally active anabolic steroid derived from dihydrotestosterone. It is chemically altered (17-alpha-alkylation) so it survives digestion — the same alteration that makes every oral steroid harder on the liver. It has genuine medical history in helping people regain weight after serious illness.
In the settings where it is licensed, it is prescribed short-term and monitored to aid recovery of lean mass after burns, trauma or catabolic illness.
What’s claimed
- Lean muscle gain with less water retention than other steroids
- Strength gain
- A 'mild' or 'safe' reputation in fitness circles
What the evidence shows
That oxandrolone increases lean body mass in clinical populations is well-supported (Gold). The 'mild and safe' reputation is not: it is oversold. It still suppresses natural hormone production and, as an oral 17-alpha-alkylated steroid, still burdens the liver — 'milder' is relative to other steroids, not to not using one.
The risks
- Hepatic: liver strain and abnormal liver enzymes, the shared cost of oral 17-alpha-alkylated steroids.
- Lipids: marked lowering of HDL ('good') cholesterol, a cardiovascular concern.
- Endocrine: suppression of the body's own testosterone production.
What needs monitoring
- Liver function tests
- Lipid profile
- Blood pressure — arranged and interpreted by a clinician.
Sources
- NHS. Anabolic steroid misuse — health risks and the law.
- GOV.UK. Controlled drugs: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 drug classes.
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The Prohibited List.
- Pope HG, et al. Adverse health consequences of performance-enhancing drugs: an Endocrine Society scientific statement. Endocr Rev. 2014;35(3):341-375.