Anavar Cycle: Key Information and Frequently Asked Questions

What is Anavar?

Anavar, or oxandrolone, is one of the most commonly used anabolic steroids, with both men and women cycling it. Some bodybuilders utilize Anavar all year round, similar to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). However, this is not recommended due to excessive hepatic and renal toxicity.

Anavar’s benefits include the ability to increase lean mass and muscular strength while decreasing a person’s body fat percentage simultaneously.

Is Anavar Toxic?

While some individuals believe Anavar may have a lower risk profile compared to other anabolic steroids, it is crucial to understand that all steroids have the potential for toxicity and should be used with caution.

This article will discuss standard doses of Anavar but emphasizes that individuals should consult with healthcare professionals before considering steroid use, as every person’s health status and risks vary.

Disclosure: We do not accept any form of advertising on Inside Bodybuilding. We monetize our practice via doctor consultations and carefully chosen pharmaceutical recommendations, which have given our patients excellent results.

Anavar Cycles

1. Anavar-Only Cycle

An Anavar-only cycle is commonly practiced by novices and intermediates throughout a cutting phase. An Anavar-only cycle can enhance fat burning while adding moderate amounts of muscle mass.

Based on our observations, women generally engage in Anavar-only cycles, whereas males with prior steroid use are more inclined to combine Anavar with other substances.

Anavar may be considered by some users for a cycle, but novices should be prudent, as the drawbacks of using anabolic steroids, such as Anavar, can outweigh the potential benefits.

Anavar-Only Cycle for Beginners

For Men

Week	Anavar
1	15 mg/day
2	15 mg/day
3	15 mg/day
4	20 mg/day
5	20 mg/day
6	20 mg/day

 

The toxicity of an Anavar-only cycle should not be underestimated.

The follow-up cycle to this commonly begins with a dose of 20 mg instead of 15 mg and is extended up to 8 weeks.

For Women

Week	Anavar
1	5 mg/day
2	10 mg/day
3	10 mg/day
4	10 mg/day
5	10 mg/day

 

This Anavar cycle is common among women who are beginners. It is essential for females to be cautious regarding the dose and cycle length to avoid masculinization effects occurring.

Can Anavar Cause Virilization?

Though some women may experience fewer virilization effects with Anavar compared to other steroids, individual responses vary, and there can still be significant dangers involved.

We have observed the following virilization side effects:

1. Hair growth
2. Clitoral enlargement
3. Breast reduction

Such side effects remain possible on Anavar in supraphysiological doses.

When adopting a dosage of 10 mg/day for 5 weeks, the risk of developing masculinizing side effects may be lower due to the modest dose and shorter cycle duration.

We typically observe virilization side effects gradually occurring and exacerbating over a sustained period of time. A woman should discontinue her cycle if she begins to experience any unwanted symptoms.

2. Anavar and Testosterone

This cycle is typically only utilized by men due to testosterone causing virilization side effects in women.

Testosterone will produce significant increases in muscle hypertrophy and strength, hence why it is referred to as a bulking steroid.

Our lipid profiles indicate that testosterone is cardiotoxic, although less so than other anabolic steroids. Furthermore, testosterone is not particularly hepatotoxic, as it is an injectable steroid. Hepatic and cardiac health are the two main concerns we have when someone is using anabolic steroids.

In regard to side effects, testosterone suppression will be severe when stacking Anavar with testosterone. Equally, cholesterol levels will rise higher compared to taking either Anavar or testosterone by itself. We have also found androgenic side effects to be more prevalent with this duo, such as:

1. Seborrhea (oily skin)
2. Acne vulgaris
3. Male pattern baldness

What Testosterone Products Are Used in Bodybuilding?

1. Testosterone suspension
2. Testosterone cypionate
3. Testosterone enanthate
4. Testosterone acetate
5. Testosterone propionate
6. Sustanon 250

These various forms of testosterone possess distinct esters, which determine their absorption rate and duration of presence in the body. The standard forms of testosterone are enanthate and cypionate, attributed to their affordability and ease of administration.

Anavar and Testosterone

We have known this cycle to be utilized by bodybuilders following an Anavar-only cycle. It is a less aggressively dosed cycle, more commonly implemented by beginners or intermediates.

Week	Testosterone	Anavar
1	200 mg/week	15 mg/day
2	200 mg/week	15 mg/day
3	300 mg/week	15 mg/day
4	300 mg/week	20 mg/day
5	300 mg/week	20 mg/day
6	350 mg/week	20 mg/day
7	350 mg/week

 

This stack will significantly enhance muscle-building and strength results compared to an Anavar-only cycle.

Anavar and Testosterone for Intermediates

Week	Testosterone	Anavar
1	200 mg/week	20 mg/day
2	400 mg/week	20 mg/day
3	400 mg/week	20 mg/day
4	400 mg/week	20 mg/day
5	400 mg/week	20 mg/day
6	500 mg/week	20 mg/day
7	500 mg/week
8	500 mg/week
9	500 mg/week
10	200 mg/week

 

This is a common follow-up cycle to the first Anavar and testosterone cycle listed.

We find that intermediates who have previously administered Anavar or testosterone individually during single cycles commonly utilize this stack.

Consuming higher doses than those specified in this cycle significantly increases the risk of side effects without yielding any notable additional results in our experience.

Anavar and Andriol Cycle

What is Andriol?

Andriol is the brand name for oral testosterone, also known as testosterone undecanoate. The drawback to oral testosterone is that it is notably more expensive than injectable testosterone. With Anavar also being a costly compound, this cycle can cost hundreds of dollars.

Generally, anabolic steroids are hepatotoxic, as indicated by our liver function tests. However, Andriol does not cause any notable hepatic strain, based on long-term research. A 10-year study of men utilizing Andriol observed no notable increase in alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. These findings also align with our anecdotal data.

Furthermore, the kidneys aid in metabolizing Anavar, increasing nephrotoxicity and decreasing hepatotoxicity.

Week	Andriol	Anavar
1	240 mg/day	20 mg/day
2	240 mg/day	20 mg/day
3	240 mg/day	20 mg/day
4	240 mg/day	20 mg/day
5	280 mg/day	20 mg/day
6	280 mg/day	20 mg/day
7	280 mg/day	20 mg/day
8	280 mg/day	20 mg/day

 

Should Users Consume Andriol With Dietary Fat?

Some users combine Andriol, or testosterone undecanoate, supplementation with a high-fat snack or meal. Users should aim for at least 20 grams of dietary fat with each dose. Research has shown that the biological availability of oral testosterone is approximately 50% lower when taken on an empty stomach (1).

3. Anavar and Winstrol

For Men

Week	Winstrol	Anavar
1	20 mg/day	15 mg/day
2	20 mg/day	15 mg/day
3	25 mg/day	15 mg/day
4	25 mg/day	20 mg/day
5	25 mg/day	20 mg/day
6	25 mg/day	20 mg/day

 

Testosterone and Anavar can also be implemented as a cutting cycle. Users can expect:

1. Pronounced fat loss
2. Significant muscle hypertrophy

Anavar and Winstrol possess many similarities, with both decreasing fat mass and water retention while increasing lean muscle mass. Also, both are oral steroids that do not require injections.

We have found Winstrol to be the more potent of the two steroids, causing more deleterious side effects. Thus, an Anavar and Winstrol cycle is often utilized by intermediate or advanced steroid users, at the expense of potentially increased complications.

What Are the Side Effects?

With the addition of Winstrol, users can expect Anavar’s usual side effects with more pronounced:

• Liver toxicity
• Testosterone suppression
• Cardiovascular strain

Due to the harshness of Winstrol, this cycle only lasts 6 weeks. Advanced users can extend the duration to 8 weeks; however, this is not advised.

We commonly observe this type of cutting stack when bodybuilders are preparing for a competition, attempting to reduce body fat and preserve muscle tissue.

For Women

Week	Winstrol	Anavar
1	5 mg/day	5 mg/day
2	5 mg/day	10 mg/day
3	5 mg/day	10 mg/day
4	5 mg/day	10 mg/day
5	5 mg/day	10 mg/day
6	5 mg/day	10 mg/day

 

Winstrol is not generally advised for women because of its high tendency to cause masculinization.

With very cautious doses (5 mg), it may be possible to avoid virilizing side effects; however, each woman may respond differently.

Despite a modest dose, we find Winstrol continues to produce significant anabolism and fat loss due to the potency of the compound. However, the above cycle presents high toxicity for females.

We have found the risk of virilization to increase when stacking Anavar and Winstrol together. Thus, we only see this attempted in certain circumstances, such as preparing for an important competition where there is pressure to place high.

However, if women are merely attempting to improve their body composition, Winstrol may be deemed unnecessary.

4. Anavar and Clenbuterol

Clenbuterol is a beta-2 agonist and has been utilized in medicine as an anti-asthma drug. Clenbuterol is utilized by bodybuilders due to its stimulating effects on metabolism.

Clenbuterol has potent effects on the central nervous system, causing the body to raise adrenaline production. Consequently, body temperature increases, and users enter a state of thermogenesis, effectively accelerating fat loss at rest.

Clenbuterol has also been shown to exhibit anabolic effects in animals. However, anecdotally, we do not see the same muscle-building properties in humans. Thus, an Anavar and clenbuterol cycle may enhance fat loss while moderately increasing muscle hypertrophy and strength.

Due to the stimulative effects of clenbuterol, energy and motivation levels are likely to increase.

Clenbuterol, like Anavar, is available in tablet form. Considering that clenbuterol is not classified as an anabolic steroid, the following side effects are unlikely to be an issue:

1. Gynecomastia
2. Liver toxicity
3. Acne vulgaris
4. Water retention
5. Endogenous testosterone suppression

Can Clenbuterol Cause Cardiac Issues?

The main concern we have with clenbuterol is cardiotoxicity, with it potentially causing tachycardia. We have also observed clenbuterol causing insomnia, anxiety, depression, and nervousness in users. It is banned by the FDA and several sporting federations due to it being a growth-promoting compound and its adverse effects.

Anavar and Clenbuterol for Men

As detailed below, clenbuterol is cycled in increments. Thus, bodybuilders commonly slowly increase the dose every few days until achieving a maximum dose. It is structured this way for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, a person can gauge their sensitivity to clenbuterol by starting on a low dose and increasing it steadily.

Starting on a high dose prematurely may result in harsh side effects such as:

• Tremors
• Insomnia
• Tachycardia

Furthermore, we find users build a tolerance to clenbuterol swiftly. Thus, an incremental dosing strategy can enhance fat loss throughout the cycle.

For harm reduction purposes, bodybuilders are less likely to utilize a clenbuterol cycle beyond 6 weeks. After this time, the body’s temperature normalizes, signifying a halt in thermogenesis and thus fat loss.

In this cycle sample, the Anavar dose of 20 mg/day is maintained for 8 weeks. This dose is commonly adopted by individuals who have previously taken Anavar or other anabolic steroids.

Days	Clenbuterol	Anavar
1-3	20 mcg	20 mg
4-6	30 mcg	20 mg
7-9	40 mcg	20 mg
10-12	50 mcg	20 mg
13-15	60 mcg	20 mg
16-18	70 mcg	20 mg
19-21	80 mcg	20 mg
22-24	90 mcg	20 mg
25-27	100 mcg	20 mg
28-30	110 mcg	20 mg
31-37		20 mg
38-44		20 mg
45-51		20 mg
52-60		20 mg

 

Anavar and Clenbuterol for Women

Clenbuterol does not produce virilization side effects in women. In contrast to anabolic steroids, a woman’s dose of clenbuterol is typically similar to a man’s.

Women produce a fraction of testosterone compared to men. Consequently, a reduced dosage of anabolic steroids effectively replicates the same degree of effects in women as in males.

In clenbuterol’s case, because it does not affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA) but instead the central nervous system, women typically take a similar dose to men.

The Anavar dose below reflects a cautious dose utilized by our female patients. A higher dose of Anavar is more common among more experienced users, commencing at 10 mg per day.

Days	Clenbuterol	Anavar
1-3	20 mcg	5 mg
4-6	30 mcg	5 mg
7-9	40 mcg	10 mg
10-12	50 mcg	10 mg
13-15	60 mcg	10 mg
16-18	70 mcg	10 mg
19-21	80 mcg	10 mg
22-24	90 mcg	10 mg
25-27	100 mcg	10 mg
28-30	110 mcg	10 mg

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Real-Life Experiences of Anavar?

Below are several anecdotes of Anavar use, shared from our private Facebook group.

I’ve been on 60 mg split over 3 times a day for 4 weeks, and I’m getting some lower back pain, stomach pain, and a really dark yellowish urine. I’ve just dropped back to 40 mg a day to see what happens. I’m running test enanthate and using a liver support.

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High doses of Anavar give me back pumps and jaw pumps as if I am chewing tough meat like beef jerky. I never do over 40 mg on orals because back pumps are annoying, and never more than 4 weeks.

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I get slightly elevated liver enzymes on Anavar (like a couple beers worth), and I can finish fast in the bedroom. Otherwise, 100% good things. Great stuff.

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Anavar is great stuff. It helped my wife a lot, especially with her libido. Not as much for me, but I did gain some size. She took 20 mg a day for 10 weeks. I took 50 mg a day for 10 weeks. We both take testosterone. She is on 20 mg weekly; I am on 100 mg split into 2 doses weekly. No negative side effects from Anavar for either of us.

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Is Post-Cycle Care Mandatory?

Implementing post-cycle therapy (PCT) is beneficial as Anavar will decrease endogenous testosterone production. This may be less severe compared to an Anadrol-only cycle; however, we have observed hypogonadism transpiring from Anavar-only cycles. Without PCT, testosterone deficiency may last for several weeks or months.

Our patients are typically advised to implement PCT following the use of any anabolic steroid, as it accelerates the recovery process.

What Are the Experiences of Anavar Users After a Cycle?

During this time of recovery, users may experience:

1. Fatigue
2. Decreased well-being
3. Diminished libido

These aftereffects impact both men and women. This is because anabolic steroids also affect a woman’s hormones, with their endogenous testosterone levels declining.

Although women have a fraction of testosterone compared to men, it remains an important hormone in their body chemistry.

Women at our clinic have reported a mild downturn in energy, libido, and fatigue following an Anavar cycle.

What Medications Can Increase Endogenous Testosterone?

We have experienced success with men taking a protocol of either Nolvadex or Clomid to aid HPTA recovery. In this instance:

• Nolvadex is dosed at 40 mg per day for 45 days (2 x 20 mg pills taken daily).
• Clomid is dosed at 100 mg per day for 30 days (2 x 50 mg pills taken daily).

Users should initiate their PCT approximately 57 hours after the last dose of Anavar. This is the estimated time that Anavar will completely exit the body.

You can calculate the full clearance time of a compound by using the following equation: 5.5 times the half-life. Anavar’s half-life is 9.4–10.4 hours.

Which Supplements May Alleviate Liver Strain?

Individuals seeking to reduce hepatic damage on Anavar may take tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). Clinical research has shown TUDCA to significantly lower ALT and AST liver values (2).

A liver support supplement is crucial when stacking Anavar with other hepatotoxic orals, such as Winstrol, Anadrol, or Dianabol. However, such steroid combinations are not advised as the possibility of hepatic injury or other adverse effects remains.

Can Users Consume Alcohol During an Anavar Cycle?

Alcohol should be avoided when utilizing oral anabolic steroids, as we have found it to exacerbate liver values.

Alcohol increases cortisol, a catabolic hormone that will blunt some of Anavar’s fat-burning and anabolic effects.

If individuals notice their skin or eyes transitioning to a yellow color and experience pain or discomfort in the abdominal region, they should immediately cease Anavar supplementation and visit their doctor.

What is the Law Regarding Anavar Use?

Anavar is illegal to purchase for bodybuilding purposes due to the Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 (3). Purchasing anabolic steroids from unregulated sources poses significant health risks and legal consequences. Therefore, individuals may consider safer alternatives.

Nevertheless, the acquisition of anabolic steroids is a prohibited activity that entails numerous additional drawbacks. These include Anavar supplements being counterfeited, underdosed, or contaminated with dangerous substances (4).

Are There Alternatives to Oxandrolone?

Some bodybuilders opt for legal Anavar alternatives, such as Anvarol, which mimics Anavar’s fat-burning and anabolic effects. We have not observed Anvarol causing any side effects, although it is possible for individuals to experience minor reactions.

Anvarol users are unlikely to experience testosterone suppression, raised cholesterol levels, or major adverse effects associated with Anavar (5).

Anvarol is FDA-approved and available to order online without a prescription. It is also considerably lower in price than Anavar, which can be costly to cycle. Anvarol may be perceived as less effective than oxandrolone, but its safety profile can appeal to those looking to avoid the harsh effects associated with traditional anabolic steroids.

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