Anadrol
Oxymetholone · Anadrol-50 · Anapolon · A50 · A-bombs · Drol
Last updated
At a glance
320
Testosterone = 100
45
Testosterone = 100
Overview
The OG Wet Bulk Kickstart#
Anadrol (oxymetholone) is the compound bodybuilders reach for when they want the scale to move now. 10–15 lb in the first 2–3 weeks isn't unusual, strength goes up almost daily, and the pumps get borderline painful. It earned its reputation as the go-to kickstart for long-ester cycles — you front-load 50 mg/day for 4–6 weeks while your Test and Deca build up, and by the time the orals drop, the injectables have taken over. No other oral hits as hard on the scale in that window.
What makes Anadrol different from Dianabol or other mass orals is the mechanism. It doesn't aromatize, but it still produces classic estrogenic effects — gyno, water, moodiness — via direct receptor activity, which is why AIs don't touch Anadrol gyno and tamoxifen does. It's also a potent erythropoietic agent (originally developed for aplastic anemia), so hematocrit climbs fast and strength gains come partly from blood volume and glycogen, not just hypertrophy. That's the upside and the catch in one sentence.
"Lean body mass increased by 3.3 ± 0.5 kg (50 mg/d) and 4.2 ± 0.5 kg (100 mg/d). Trunk fat decreased significantly in both groups. HDL cholesterol decreased by 19–23 mg/dL; ALT rose 72 U/l at the 100-mg dose." — Schroeder et al., 2003
In this guide we'll cover dosing (why 25–50 mg is the sweet spot and why 150 mg is almost always a bad trade), cycle structure (kickstart vs. standalone blast vs. pre-show fill-out), stacking with Test, Deca, and Tren, side-effect management (liver, BP, lipids, hematocrit, non-aromatizing gyno), and the PCT protocol to run afterwards. The goal: keep as much of that scale weight as possible, without trashing your bloodwork getting there.
How Anadrol works
Androgen Receptor Agonism#
Oxymetholone is a synthetic DHT derivative — a 2-hydroxymethylene group at C2 and a 17α-methyl group bolted onto the dihydrotestosterone skeleton. Like all AAS, the primary action is direct agonism of the androgen receptor (AR) in skeletal muscle, driving myofibrillar protein synthesis, satellite-cell recruitment, and nitrogen retention. The on-paper anabolic:androgenic ratio is roughly 320:45, which predicts the real-world behavior: huge mass and strength output with comparatively modest virilizing drive per milligram.
Because it's already 5α-reduced, oxymetholone is not a substrate for 5α-reductase — finasteride and dutasteride do nothing to blunt scalp or prostate androgen load. Guys running a hair-retention stack alongside Anadrol need topical AR antagonists (RU58841, pyrilutamide) at the scalp, not oral 5-ARIs.
"Lean body mass increased by 3.3 ± 0.5 kg (50 mg/d) and 4.2 ± 0.5 kg (100 mg/d). Trunk fat decreased significantly in both groups." — Schroeder ET et al., Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 2003
Paradoxical Estrogenic Activity Without Aromatization#
This is the mechanistic quirk that defines how Anadrol is managed. The 2-hydroxymethylene group blocks A-ring aromatization, so oxymetholone is not a substrate for aromatase — yet users reliably develop gyno, water retention, and an HDL crash that look exactly like estrogenic side effects. The current mechanistic explanation is direct agonism at the estrogen receptor (and possibly the progesterone receptor) at supraphysiologic concentrations.
The practical consequence: AIs don't work on Anadrol gyno. Anastrozole and letrozole have nothing to aromatize, so they can't shut the pathway down. SERMs (tamoxifen 10–20 mg/day, raloxifene 60 mg/day) are the only mechanistically coherent option, because they block the receptor itself. Keep nolva on hand before the first pill, not after the lump shows up.
Erythropoietic Drive#
Oxymetholone was originally developed and FDA-approved for aplastic anemia, and the erythropoietic signal is genuinely strong — hematocrit and hemoglobin climb fast and high, often pushing users past 52% within weeks. This is part of why the compound feels the way it does in week one: fuller muscle bellies, denser pumps, and a strength jump that precedes any real hypertrophy.
"Oxymetholone strongly stimulates erythropoiesis and can rapidly increase hemoglobin and hematocrit, compounding atherogenic and thrombotic risk." — Grant B et al., Ann NY Acad Sci, 2024
The flip side is cardiovascular load. Elevated hematocrit plus the HDL crash plus water-driven blood pressure is a genuinely atherogenic and thrombotic combination — not theoretical. CBC at week 2–3 is non-negotiable, and therapeutic phlebotomy (or a Red Cross donation) is the standard intervention when hematocrit climbs above ~54%.
Glycogen Retention and Intracellular Hydration#
A large fraction of early-cycle weight is intramuscular water and glycogen, not contractile tissue. AR agonism upregulates glycogen synthase activity and increases sodium/water retention inside the muscle cell, which is why Anadrol users report scale jumps of 15–25 lb in four weeks while actual lean tissue accrual is closer to 6–10 lb in a responsive user.
For bulking, this is a feature — the cell swelling is itself an anabolic signal, leverage goes up, and training volume tolerates more load. For cutting or pre-show, it's a liability: Anadrol spills many users over at show weight, which is why pros often swap to low-dose dbol or superdrol for the final fill-out. Plan around the water — don't pretend it isn't there.
Hepatic First-Pass and 17α-Alkylation#
The 17α-methyl group lets oxymetholone survive hepatic first-pass metabolism, giving it ~80% oral bioavailability and an 8–9 hour plasma half-life. The same structural feature is what makes it hepatotoxic: the methylated C17 position resists normal hepatic clearance pathways and produces dose-dependent cholestatic stress.
"After 16 weeks, the mean gain in body cell mass was 3.8 ± 4.2 kg in the 100-mg group and 2.9 ± 4.5 kg in the 150-mg group (NS), whereas the difference in hepatic toxicity was significant (25% vs 43% incidence of ≥5x upper limit transaminase elevation)." — Hengge UR et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2003
This is the single most important dosing paper for the compound. 150 mg is not more anabolic than 100 mg — it's just more hepatotoxic. The curve plateaus; the liver load doesn't. This is also why stacking Anadrol with a second 17α-alkylated oral (dbol, superdrol, halotestin, oral winstrol) is a mistake — you double the hepatic tax for negligible additional muscle. TUDCA 500–1000 mg/day is standard mitigation, but the real protection is dose and duration discipline: 50 mg × 4–6 weeks captures most of what the compound has to offer.
Protocol
| Level | Dose | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 25–50 mg | Once daily | Documented entry-level range |
| Mid | 50–100 mg | Once daily | Most commonly studied range |
| High | 100–150 mg | Once daily | Once daily is fine given the 8–9 hour half-life; many users split AM/PM to smooth the trough and reduce nausea. Take with food if GI upset is an issue. |
Cycle length & outcomes
Documented cycle
4–6 weeks
Plateau after
5 wks
Cycle Notes#
Anadrol is a kickstart compound, not a cycle base. It hits fast, plateaus around week 4–5, and the hepatic/lipid damage keeps accumulating past the point where the gains stop. The entire protocol is built around getting in, getting the benefit, and getting out before the liver panel and lipid panel get ugly.
Cycle Length by Goal#
| Goal | Cycle Length | Daily Dose | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-ester kickstart (Test E/C) | 4–6 weeks | 50 mg | Weeks 1–4/6 of a 12–16 wk cycle |
| Bulking blast (Test + Deca/NPP) | 4–5 weeks | 50–100 mg | Weeks 1–5 of a 12 wk cycle |
| Powerlifting meet peak | 2–3 weeks | 50 mg | Final 2–3 weeks into meet, last dose 1–2 days out |
| Pre-show fill-out | 10–14 days | 25–50 mg | Peak week lead-in with carb load |
| TRT pulse (advanced, single-compound) | 3–4 weeks | 25–50 mg | On top of stable TRT |
| First Anadrol experience | 4 weeks | 25–50 mg | Test-only base, isolate the compound response |
6 weeks is the ceiling for almost anyone. Hengge's 16-week trial showed the hepatotoxicity curve climbs steeply past that window — 25% incidence of ≥5× transaminase elevation at 100 mg/day and 43% at 150 mg/day — without meaningful additional muscle gain.
"After 16 weeks, the mean gain in body cell mass was 3.8 ± 4.2 kg in the 100-mg group and 2.9 ± 4.5 kg in the 150-mg group (NS), whereas the difference in hepatic toxicity was significant (25% vs 43% incidence of ≥5x upper limit transaminase elevation)." — Hengge et al., 2003
Translation: 150 mg isn't more anabolic than 100 mg — it's just more hepatotoxic. There's no upside to pushing past 100 mg, and a strong case for most users never exceeding 50 mg.
Onset Timing#
Anadrol is one of the fastest-acting orals in the arsenal:
- Day 2–3: Pumps get noticeably heavier, glycogen fullness visible.
- Week 1: Scale up 4–8 lb (water, glycogen, some early protein synthesis signal). Strength already climbing.
- Week 2–3: Peak "full" look, strength gains compounding, appetite either surging or crashing (individual).
- Week 4–5: Gains plateau. Scale may still creep but it's water, not tissue.
- Week 6+: Diminishing returns, accumulating liver and lipid damage. Get out.
No Tapering, No Loading#
Anadrol does not require a ramp-up or taper. Start at your target dose day one, run flat, stop cold. Splitting AM/PM (vs single dose) smooths the trough slightly and reduces nausea for users who get GI upset — that's the only schedule variable worth tuning.
When you drop Anadrol, expect to lose 8–12 lb of scale weight within 2 weeks as intracellular water and glycogen normalize. This is not "losing gains" — it's water coming off. Judge the cycle by what you keep 4 weeks after your last pill.
On-Cycle Bloodwork Cadence#
This is non-negotiable for Anadrol. The compound moves lipids, liver enzymes, and hematocrit fast enough that you need actual data, not vibes.
| Timepoint | Panels |
|---|---|
| Pre-cycle (baseline) | CBC, CMP (incl. LFTs), lipids, E2, total/free test |
| Week 2–3 | CBC (hematocrit), LFTs, lipids, BP at home daily |
| Week 5–6 (if extending) | CBC, LFTs, lipids — decide whether to drop early |
| 2 weeks post-drop | Full panel, confirm liver/lipids trending back |
| PCT week 4 | Total/free test, LH, FSH, E2 |
"Lean body mass increased by 3.3 ± 0.5 kg (50 mg/d) and 4.2 ± 0.5 kg (100 mg/d)... HDL cholesterol decreased by 19–23 mg/dL; ALT rose 72 U/l at the 100-mg dose." — Schroeder et al., 2003
If ALT/AST clear 5× upper limit, or hematocrit crosses 54%, or systolic BP sits >145 on telmisartan — drop the drol. The rest of the cycle (test base, deca, whatever else) continues without it.
First Anadrol Cycle#
If this is your first time running oxymetholone specifically (not your first cycle overall), run it isolated on top of a Test-only base so you can read your own response:
- Test E 400–500 mg/week × 14 weeks
- Anadrol 25–50 mg/day × weeks 1–4
- Tamoxifen 20 mg/day on-hand for gyno
- TUDCA 500 mg/day, telmisartan 40 mg/day from day one
- Bloods at week 2 and week 5
Start at 25 mg. The community consensus is real here — most of the strength and fullness lives at 25–50 mg, and the side-effect tax at 100 mg is not proportional to the gain.
"The consensus seems to be 50mg is the default Anadrol dose for most, with advanced users pushing 100mg. 25mg is underestimated—most of the size and strength comes with much less in the way of sides at that dose." — r/steroids compound thread, 2024
You can always run it again at 50 or 100 next time knowing exactly how your liver, lipids, and BP responded at 25.
Anadrol for Cutting#
Short answer: no. Anadrol is a wet compound that smashes HDL and drives water retention — the opposite of what a cut wants. The narrow exception is the 10–14 day pre-show fill-out at 25–50 mg in an already-lean bodybuilder using it for glycogen super-compensation, not fat loss. Even then, many competitors get better results from low-dose Dbol or superdrol in that window because Anadrol spills them over.
For any cut lasting more than 2 weeks, pick Anavar, Masteron, Winstrol, or Primobolan. Anadrol has no role.
Anadrol for Bulking#
This is where Anadrol earns its reputation. The protocol is nearly always the same: front-load it onto a long-ester bulking cycle for the first 4–6 weeks, let the injectable base take over at steady state, and keep running the base for another 8–10 weeks after Anadrol drops. Test + Deca + Anadrol kickstart is the classic and still the best mass protocol in oral-assisted AAS — just respect the liver timer and run telmisartan from day one.
Body Transformation Preview
Lean Mass Gain
9.4 lbs
7.0–11.7 lbs range
Fat Loss
0.0 lbs
0.0–0.0 lbs range
Lean Gain by Week
Risks & mistakes
Common (most users)#
- Water retention and bloat — Expect 5–15 lb of scale weight in the first 2 weeks, most of it intracellular and subcutaneous water. Keep sodium moderate (not low — you need it for the pumps), potassium high, and water intake aggressive. Don't try to diurese it off; it's part of the mechanism.
- Elevated blood pressure — Systolic routinely climbs 15–25 mmHg within 2–3 weeks. Have telmisartan 40–80 mg/day on-hand prior to starting the cycle, not after your cuff reads 150/95. Check daily with a home cuff.
- Appetite suppression and nausea — Counterintuitive on a bulking compound but extremely common. Split the dose AM/PM and take with food. If you're running it for mass, force-feed — the water and strength will mask poor intake until you drop the drol and realize you didn't actually grow.
- Headaches / feeling "full-headed" — Usually BP-driven. If they persist past week 1, check your cuff and dose the telmisartan.
- Acne and oily skin — Androgenic signal. Keep a standard regimen going (salicylic acid wash, benzoyl peroxide spot treatment). Accutane users should not be running Anadrol.
- Lethargy / poor cardio — Hematocrit is rising and water is up; conditioning suffers for the first 2–3 weeks. Back off conditioning volume and lean into the strength work, which is where the compound shines.
- Mood swings / aggression — Real but manageable. Sleep and food volume both help.
Uncommon (dose-dependent or individual)#
- Transaminase elevation (ALT/AST). 100 mg/day produced a 25% incidence of ≥5× ULN elevations over 16 weeks; 150 mg/day pushed that to 43%. At 50 mg × 12 weeks ALT rose a mean 72 U/L. Check LFTs at baseline, week 2–3, and 2 weeks post-drop. Run TUDCA 500–1000 mg/day. If ALT/AST climb past 3× ULN at the week-2 draw, cut the dose in half or drop it.
"After 16 weeks, the mean gain in body cell mass was 3.8 ± 4.2 kg in the 100-mg group and 2.9 ± 4.5 kg in the 150-mg group (NS), whereas the difference in hepatic toxicity was significant (25% vs 43% incidence of ≥5x upper limit transaminase elevation)." — Hengge et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (2003)
- HDL crash. HDL drops 19–23 mg/dL at 50–100 mg over 12 weeks, with LDL rising in parallel. This is not optional — it happens to everyone. Mitigation is limiting duration (≤6 weeks), citrus bergamot, aggressive cardio post-cycle, and not running Anadrol back-to-back with other orals.
"HDL cholesterol decreased by 19–23 mg/dL; ALT rose 72 U/l at the 100-mg dose." — Schroeder et al., Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab (2003)
- Erythrocytosis. Hematocrit regularly hits 52–56% at 100 mg/day. Check CBC at week 2–3. Therapeutic phlebotomy (or a blood donation) if Hct crosses 54%.
- Gynecomastia. Oxymetholone doesn't aromatize but directly activates the estrogen/progesterone receptors at high doses. AIs will not fix this — reach for tamoxifen 10–20 mg/day or raloxifene 60 mg/day at the first puffiness or lump.
- Accelerated hair shedding. Androgenic signal on the scalp. Finasteride does not help (Anadrol is not 5α-reduced). Topical AR antagonists (RU58841, pyrilutamide) are the only scalp-level counter if you're predisposed.
- Erectile dysfunction / libido crash. Especially when stacked with nandrolone. Tadalafil 5 mg/day throughout the cycle handles most of it.
Rare but serious#
- Cholestatic jaundice / peliosis hepatis / hepatic adenoma. Documented with prolonged high-dose oral 17α-alkylated use. Warning signs: yellowing of sclera, dark urine, right-upper-quadrant pain, persistent itching. Stop immediately and get LFTs + imaging.
- Thrombotic events (DVT, PE, stroke, MI). The erythrocytosis + HDL crash + BP rise stack is a real thrombotic signal, not a theoretical one.
"Oxymetholone strongly stimulates erythropoiesis and can rapidly increase hemoglobin and hematocrit, compounding atherogenic and thrombotic risk. Notably, side effects include marked hepatotoxicity and severe reductions in HDL." — Grant et al., Ann NY Acad Sci (2024)
- Severe hypertension / hypertensive crisis. Systolic >180 or diastolic >110 is an ER visit. Don't "ride it out."
- Kidney strain. Rare but documented with high-dose, long-duration use — typically in users running Anadrol + Tren + high-protein diets without adequate hydration. Watch creatinine and cystatin C on bloods.
Hard contraindications#
- Pre-existing liver disease or baseline ALT/AST elevation. No exceptions.
- Stacking with another oral 17α-alkylated compound (superdrol, dbol, halotestin, oral winstrol, M1T). Doubles liver load for negligible additional muscle.
- Baseline hematocrit >52%. You will push into frankly dangerous territory within 2 weeks.
- Untreated hypertension or dyslipidemia. Get the BP and lipids handled first.
- Prostate cancer or severe BPH.
- History of DVT, PE, stroke, or MI.
- Running standalone (without a testosterone base). HPTA crashes within days and you will be hypogonadal, flat, and miserable by week 3.
- Pregnancy. Teratogenic.
Gender considerations and PCT#
Women should not run oxymetholone. Virilization risk (clitoral enlargement, voice deepening, hirsutism — some of which is permanent) is high at any effective dose, and oxandrolone is a far better-tolerated DHT-derivative with a fraction of the sides and none of the hepatic drama. There is no physique goal Anadrol achieves for a female user that Anavar doesn't achieve more safely.
PCT is mandatory. Oxymetholone suppresses the HPTA rapidly and completely, and since it's almost always run on top of a testosterone base, PCT is timed to the long ester, not to the drol itself. Wait for testosterone to clear (typically 2–3 weeks after last Test E/C injection), then:
| Protocol | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nolva + Clomid | Nolva 40 / Clomid 50 | 40 / 50 | 20 / 25 | 20 / 25 |
| Enclomiphene (simpler) | 25 mg/day | 25 mg/day | 25 mg/day | 25 mg/day (±wk 5–6) |
Pull bloods (Total T, Free T, LH, FSH, E2, LFTs, lipids, CBC) at 4–6 weeks post-PCT to confirm recovery. If LH/FSH are still suppressed or total T is subclinical, extend PCT another 2–4 weeks before declaring a crash and escalating.
Stack & combine
Multipliers applied when these compounds run together. Values > 1 indicate a bonus on that axis. Tap a partner to expand the mechanism.
| Partner | Type | Lean | Fat loss | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| synergistic | ×1.07 | ×1.02 | ×1.11 |
FAQ — Anadrol
Research & citations
5 studies cited on this page.
Conclusion
Anadrol is the definitive oral for rapid mass and strength — if you want explosive early-cycle scale movement and unmatched fullness, it delivers. Handle it with respect: the gains come fast, but so do the side effects if you overstay or overdose.
Key takeaways:
- Standard dose: 25–50 mg/day (most run 50 mg); advanced users push to 100 mg with close monitoring
- Cycle length: 4–6 weeks max — gains plateau hard after week 5, liver and lipid sides keep climbing
- Route: Oral; split dosing (AM/PM) can help with GI side effects
- Always stack on a testosterone base — never run Anadrol alone
- SERMs (tamoxifen/raloxifene), not AIs, are your defense for estrogenic sides; TUDCA and telmisartan are non-negotiable for liver and BP
- Best use: Kickstart for long-ester bulks, heavy mass stacks, or short powerlifting peaking phases
If you respect Anadrol's ceiling, watch your labs, and plan your stack, it is unmatched for sheer size and strength in a short window. PCT is mandatory — stay equipped and you'll walk off with real, sticky gains.